Hospitable motivation?

I finally did the only thing I could think of to remove the winter blahs!  I invited people over for dinner and games!  Hey, don't knock a good plan.  It works...try it. 

Frankly, hospitality is one of those truly lost arts.  I think people make it too hard.  The house really doesn't have to be spotless...after this ice and melting my freshly mopped floors are covered with dog prints anyway!  HA!  

Setting a table with your best dishes isn't really what people are looking for anyway.  Most folks want to get to know the REAL you...not your best "put on" self.  Tonight, I'm truly welcoming our new friends to come do with us what we always do...eat personal, tortilla lite pizzas...gobble a yummy chocolately dessert...and play games.  Non-screen games...ahem!  Speed Scrabble and Attack UNO!

This is the season I hole up with deep books and warm, steaming cups of caffeinated goodness.  And although I learn a multitude of wonderful, heart changing things...sometimes it makes me sad and a bit too introspective.  I just finished Bonhoeffer, I read and am re-reading Embracing Obscurity  and I'm just delving into In The Land Of Blue Burqas and Tortured For His Faith.  AWESOME stuff...but hhhheeeaaavvvy!

So, I'm praying that by being real with you about my winter blahs I will encourage ya'll out there in the internet world my most fabulous imaginary friends  to tidy up a bit (we don't want to scare anyone now!) and invite people into your world. 

And you know I can't leave it alone.  People need to know about JESUS ya'll.  Create situations where you can speak about Him.  My home is the BEST place for this...cuz I have GOD'S WORD plastered on almost every wall...and I'm my most comfortable. 

OR...look around at who needs to be encouraged.  Probably it's not your bestie and her fam...those get togethers will work themselves out.  I've been so convicted lately...I just must do a better job of encouraging my sisters!!  If they are truly my SISTERS IN CHRIST...it doesn't matter if they are occasionally irritating or not remotely close to my age or unlikely to be close friendship fodder...we're related ya'll.  

Let God work out the details and just step out in obedience.  Blessings will replace your blahs!

AND...uh huh...yeah...

"I have a confession to make. I might be smiling and nodding but

I'm really only thinking about what I'm going to say next."

Yes, this is something that I struggle against. 

And as awful as this is when dealing with people...it is truly awful when speaking to God. 

Some good friends just shared some awesome prayer time encouragement with me.  One resounding thing they said was...

...after focusing on God's character and attributes...

...pouring out my thanksgiving... 

...BE SILENT.  

Wait and Listen. 

And although not my strong suit...I'm finding that it's true...so often my prayers can be full of me smiling and nodding and thinking about what I'm going to say next.  No listening.  No waiting expectantly.  I discovered I don't even always expect God to answer...and when He does I'm quite likely to miss out on thanking Him.  *sigh*

And...there are those times when I don't know what I'm really praying for...just HIS WILL...yet I still need to ASK for clarity and specifics to trust.  Those come from God's Word!  Before I read it...I've started praying that God would help me learn, see, grow...It does make a difference!

And prayer on the go is all well and good...("pray without ceasing', right?)...but sometimes it takes prayer on the knees.  Focused, alone, quiet.

And, oh...one last thing about being expectant.  I have to be ready to act on the guidance that He gives me.  No more doubting...only me ready for action...ready to OBEY.  Am I watching as I get off my knees?

Weekend Thought Provokers...

"Every cult of personality that emphasizes the distinguished qualities, virtues, and talents of another person, even though these be of an altogether spiritual nature, is worldly and has no place in the Christian community"  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"It is one thing to follow God's way of service if you are regarded as a hero, but quite another thing if the road marked out for you by God requires becoming a doormat under other peoples' feet.  God's purpose may be to teach you to say, "I know how to be abased" (like Paul).  Are you ready to be less than a drop in the bucket?  To be so totally insignificant that no one remembers you even if they think of those you served?  Are you willing to give and be poured out until you are all used up and exhausted--not seeking to be ministered to, but to minister?"  Oswald Chambers

What if...

...I pulled the difficult, prickly people in my life towards me, instead of self protecting and building up walls of bitterness inside? What if I truly listened to their words, even though I wasn't particularly liking their actions? What if I humbled myself?

What if...

...I trusted God as my Jehovah Jireh...The Lord Who Will Provide.  He is my God who "sees to it."  No matter what it might be!  Would He give love for those who are difficult to love?  Jesus loves me...this I know...for the BIBLE tells me so!

Christians show faith in God when we act on His promises.  

Oh Lord,  I want to see you in my circumstances.  Open my eyes to see You working all things out for Your glory!  Show me that You are my Defender!

My burning thoughts...

Recently, a house burned down on our quiet cul-de-sac.  I've been struck by so many things.  How we don't really know most of our neighbors...how the work days are long and the garage doors go down with a thud of separation. 

As it happens, I've been walking this particular road of conviction...and have struggled to get to know our neighbors.  I happened to know this woman was a Sister in Christ.  Knowing that practical needs probably didn't include a new Bible...I went and bought her one.  She stopped by after sifting over her sooty loss...and we cried together.  Hoping to be a blessing, instead I was blessed!  I found an amazing ALLY for the kingdom journey.  I was encouraged and amazed to see her walking so strongly.  I only hope I'd be the same.  She is seeing future opportunities for sharing of Christ's love and mercy!

More shocking still we discussed how far we are willing to walk on this road of obedience.  There's been a lot of "well, thank goodness no one was caught in the flames.  They all got out alive."  And to be sure, this is something to be SO thankful for.  But, as she so rightly pointed out...would we still be praising Him if all life was lost?...if only one survived?  Would God still be Sovereign...would all His ways still be perfect.  Even as I ask God to help me understand that this would be true...I beg not to be tested to those lengths.  But...wow!

I'm currently reading some life changing books.  Books that I anticipate will change how I do things;  how I approach living counter culturally in a world of excess.  Living different from the world, yet deeply involved with the world...for the benefit of God's glory.  When I've got it all sorted out I'll make my "changes" and let ya know.  Don't worry...I think it'll be obvious. 

Funny, how God points out to me the others who are struggling with these "issues"...and how quickly I want to judge their hypocrisy.  In anger I point at those who spout on and on about the poor, freezing homeless and then in practically the same breath boast of their affluence.  Ugh. 

Then, I turn the finger back at myself...and God uses my study of His Word to convict my heart.  Oh, how like Lot I am.  Not seeing God's mercy and repeated chances to fully commit.  Instead begging to live closer to the world...expecting to not be sucked in...not standing for Truth.  If I continue without regarding this, will I come out as one who goes to heaven but smells of smoke.  As one who's righteous but as through flames.

I have other burning thoughts...but this is getting long...so, I'll snuff out for today.

I pick REST!

Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

When am I going to learn that He does the pulling and I just need to walk before Him in obedience?

I'm always thinking about all the stuff being pulled in the wagon. 

"Uh, Lord...it looks kind of heavy...not sure I can bear that!"

And I'm freaked out by the mountains and canyons ahead. 

"Um, where are we going?  Are we there yet?  This can't be it!" 

Could you imagine actually saying these things to God?  But, when I fail to trust Him that's exactly what I'm communicating.  Sometimes it takes awhile down the road til my heart is humbled...and I seek out the rest that's been offered all along.

Unfavorite Bible Characters.

Boy, never...ever...think you have learned all you can from a passage of Scripture.  Don't think it's cut and dried...cuz it's active and living ya'll!

I have never really liked the Hagar/Sarai story in Genesis 17.  I have held back from 1 Pet. 3 for years because "You are her (Sarah's) daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear."  Uh...after Genesis 17 (and other times where she laughed at God's plan and lied for her husband) why would I want to be like her?... Due to this part of the story she's just manipulating God's plan...and her husband.  Then, there's Hagar, who I always felt got a rum deal and was also a bit brazen. Yeah, she's just so totally the best of both worlds.  NOT!

Then...I did my favorite Bible study this week...and it was as if God took the chapter and whapped me upside the head.  Ha....sometimes He needs to this with me!  Yeah, I'm like them...both of them.  The Sarah part I was ready to accept...I mean, if God puts her in that "mother" position I'll try to swallow it...but Hagar...Seriously!?

The question that splashed my coffee was, "why was Hagar unhappy?"  Oh, let me count the justified reasons!  I was so ready to defend her unhappiness...OUCH!  just like I'm so ready to blame my own unhappiness and SIN on other people's awful actions and behavior.  Just like I'm not willing to bow my PRIDE and be a SERVANT. 

Oh, how I'd like to run away from some of my difficult people situations...but just like Hagar...God would SEE me!  REALLY really see me!  My motives...my un-bowed, not servant-ness.  Yeah, the grammar's really flowing...I know...work with me people!  

The issues aren't always THE ISSUE.  I must trust God to deal with the bigger issues (ie. other people's sin) and I need to focus on my own attitude and heart being right before Him.

This really hurts my feelings.  Sniff sniff.  I'd really rather run away.  But, as God so patiently points out when he says "STAY"...there are things He needs to teach me where I am.  And just like with Hagar and Sarai...there are blessings I will miss if I rush ahead of God.  I do not want to dilute the best God has for me....by my impatience, my pride or my lack of trust in how He works out those perfect plans for me.  Perfect plans.

Oh Dear Lord,
Help me trust you.  Help me keep seeing myself in my least favorite Bible characters so that I can learn what they learned about how very awesome You are!  Thank you that you are El Roi...the God Who Sees Me!  Thank you for loving and blessing me when I buck against you and your best for me.  
Amen!