happy new year to everyone!
we passed new year's eve and day with family and had a wonderful time cooking, playing games and visiting together. it is good to be able to offer hospitality and to give of one's self. i find that each time i'm able to do so i enjoy it more and more.
today is a rainy day and we are hopeful that the groundwater and rivers/lakes will be more replenished with this rain. i also hope that the rain will make a difference with the garden this year. last year it was difficult because of excess heat and not enough rain. we were on water restrictions and did our best to water the plants sparingly. evenso, we had a fairly good harvest, all things considered.
i leave with some of my favorite verses:
"...But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing."
1st Thessalonians 4:10b-12
Showing posts with label nkjv. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nkjv. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
hospitality
this past week, we had the privilege of showing hospitality to my father-in-law. he was in need of a mini-vacation of sorts; for some time to relax in a peaceful setting.
i must admit i was hesitant at extending an invitation, especially an open one. our cottage is so very small, with only one bedroom and one bathroom. it can also be very cold in the winter in the rooms furthest from the heater, with ice forming on the inside of the windows over night despite our best attempts to insulate them. also, my FIL brought his young boxer and we have two dog-phobic cats. so perhaps one can imagine what a slight panic i felt at this visit, even while knowing in my heart and soul that showing hospitality is a calling of the Christian life.
so what did we do? we opened our home, small and chilly as it is, up to my dear FIL (and his boxer!). the cats stayed in the bedroom, door shut and small ceramic heater running, for the visit's duration. dear FIL slept on our guest futon in front of the monitor heater, with his boxer curled next to him on an old(er) blanket. we ate simple meals, at the table, and gave thanks for the what the LORD had provided. we spent time talking about all manner of things. i learned that upkeep of even a small house takes a large amount of energy when company is staying over. most evenings after cleaning the kitchen, i was so tired that i didn't have the energy to worry about the next day's activities, cleaning jobs, or meals. and all-in-all, i found that the LORD blessed me greatly by allowing me to be a blessing.
even in the midst of our little, the LORD can use it to accomplish much.
Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"
And they said, "Seven, and a few fish."
So He commanded the mulitude to sit down on the ground.
So they all ate, and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.
Matthew 15:34-35, 37 NKJV
i must admit i was hesitant at extending an invitation, especially an open one. our cottage is so very small, with only one bedroom and one bathroom. it can also be very cold in the winter in the rooms furthest from the heater, with ice forming on the inside of the windows over night despite our best attempts to insulate them. also, my FIL brought his young boxer and we have two dog-phobic cats. so perhaps one can imagine what a slight panic i felt at this visit, even while knowing in my heart and soul that showing hospitality is a calling of the Christian life.
so what did we do? we opened our home, small and chilly as it is, up to my dear FIL (and his boxer!). the cats stayed in the bedroom, door shut and small ceramic heater running, for the visit's duration. dear FIL slept on our guest futon in front of the monitor heater, with his boxer curled next to him on an old(er) blanket. we ate simple meals, at the table, and gave thanks for the what the LORD had provided. we spent time talking about all manner of things. i learned that upkeep of even a small house takes a large amount of energy when company is staying over. most evenings after cleaning the kitchen, i was so tired that i didn't have the energy to worry about the next day's activities, cleaning jobs, or meals. and all-in-all, i found that the LORD blessed me greatly by allowing me to be a blessing.
even in the midst of our little, the LORD can use it to accomplish much.
Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"
And they said, "Seven, and a few fish."
So He commanded the mulitude to sit down on the ground.
So they all ate, and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.
Matthew 15:34-35, 37 NKJV
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