Archive for the 'Hospitality' Category

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Seed Sowing

Published by Nancy Ann on March 5, 2009 in Hospitality. 9 Comments

Though Peter warns us to be hospitable without grumbling, it does not follow that  hospitality is a drag. Far from it! All those labors I mentioned in the last post (menu planning, table setting, shopping, cooking, cleaning) that are related to hospitality can be very enjoyable. I love having people over for dinner, and I thoroughly enjoy all the aspects of it. But I still have to keep a sharp lookout for temptation, or I can stumble like Martha did. It is always the little foxes that spoil the vineyard.

In 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 Paul says some wonderful and important things that relate to showing hospitality. He says if we sow sparingly, we will reap sparingly; if we sow bountifully, we will reap bountifully. And, by the way, God loves a cheerful giver. He doesn’t want any grumpy sowing. And then in verse 8 he says, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” Notice the use of the word all: all grace, all sufficiency, all things, and every work. Sounds like there are no exceptions. Continue reading ‘Seed Sowing’

A Little Help in the Kitchen

Published by Nancy Ann on March 5, 2009 in Hospitality. 12 Comments

Hospitality is a way of showing friendliness, and what better way than to break bread together? But hospitality can be draining and stressful. Take a look at our friend Martha. She was entertaining the Lord Himself at her house, and she let the stress of all the preparations cause her to act foolishly. She needed a little help in the kitchen, and her annoyance at her sister is recorded for all time right there in the gospel of Luke (10:39-42) where the Lord gently but pointedly corrected her.

I have a lot of affection for Martha. Don’t you?  Had I been in her shoes, with my sister hanging out in the living room while I was madly trying to put on a fabulous feast for who knows how many, my name would be right there in Luke instead of hers. I think I know how she felt, though I am still surprised that she had the nerve to go ask Jesus to do something about it. I think I would have just stewed and scowled and been grumpy in the kitchen, snippy and chilly at everyone until I got my heart right. Continue reading ‘A Little Help in the Kitchen’