Zombie Land

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2

At a recent doctor office visit, as I sat in the waiting room, I had to chuckle under my breath. All four other people in the room were all on their electronic mobile devices. Even a mom with a small toddler was clicking away on her mobile phone while her son sat clicking away on his little lap top electronic game. I was thinking what a society we had become who are on the verge of not only neck problems from looking down all the time, but of lacking social skills of face to face communication. I do it too but I try to be aware of the fact that I need to put the phone away at times and communicate with people the good old fashioned way. It reminded me of zombies, but not in the Halloween sense, just sort of zoned out and not speaking.

If this describes you, why not sit back and take stock of your time on your mobile devices. Sometimes running to our source of text messaging gets to be a habit. Facebook posting also can consume us. Try to really limit the time you are on your cell phone or other device. Maybe take inventory of how much time you are dependent to run to your device to check the status of things be it Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook. Perhaps ask yourself how important is it that you know every fact about trending events. Will this make your life more vital. 

Try to escape the electronic world and pick up a book, maybe the Bible. Tune out the noise, the distractions, and maybe even turn off your phone. Just be at peace and enjoy a disconnected moment or two. 

PRAYER: I thank you Lord for those genius people who invented all the wonderful devices for communication today but help me Lord not to consume myself hour after hour just glued to them. Help me to schedule time for face to face communication. In Jesus' name.Amen.

HOUSE GUESTS. FRIEND OR FOE?

There are those people out there who love  to entertain and do not mind an unexpected guest dropping by and then there are another group stressed our and worried about their house and their food. Which group do you fall into to?

You may recall the story about Mary and Martha in the Bible in Luke 10:38-42 which says "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worriedand upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

People are not looking for dust bunnies and things out of place. The best thing is just be hospitable. The difference in hospitality and entertaining, according to my definition, is that hospitality will say "come on in and throw on a hot dog" and entertaining frets for weeks and has to be perfect with nothing in disarray. Almost  everything has to be 100 percent in place and don't forget to get out the fine china. Which place are you more  relaxed in?

Proverbs 15:17 says " Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf where there is and hatred."

Your home is a gift from God. You should be a good steward of it and keep it clean and ideally use it to have both friends and strangers over. Use it for God's glory.

Hebrews 13:2 reminds us "





Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.


PRAYER: Father I give to you any concerns over inviting people not my home. I know you want me to share and to bring people in for comfort and maybe food. Help me to get over any fears of worrying what people think and to find a friend to invite over. In Jesus name. Amen.


Reading  Suggestion: a book I read back in the late 70's should be available through Amazon and it is called ' Open Heart, Open Home' by Karen Burton Mains.

HOSPITABLE PERSON OR ENTERTAINER?

Do you know the difference between being hospitable or entertaining people? Many people have grown up used to having folks in their homes all the time. It could be students after school, a sports team, cast of a play, youth group, missionaries, bosses, or simply just good friends coming over. For many, it may be a huge ordeal and make you stress to think about what to have, what to wear, cleaning and preparation. The difference is do you think about an informal gathering with your  guests being hospitable to them or do you feel you have to  put on some sort of show?

Proverbs 15:17 says "Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred." This verse says to me it is better to serve hot dogs and potato chips and be relaxed than to stress out trying to make it all perfect.  Proverbs 17:1 says "Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife." Ecclesiastes 4:6 says "Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind." Remember Martha and Mary when Jesus was coming for a visit? One of them was all stressed and running around in a tizzy and the other was saying in effect "Chill out, calm down". You can read it in Luke 10:38-42 and as you may recall Mary was calm wanting to visit with Jesus and listen to his teaching and Martha was all sort of 'strung out' fretting over the preparations to make things in her estimation, perfect.

I feel friends, or strangers, would rather have you peaceful than all strung out and not able to enjoy their visit. There are rare exceptions of those whose talent and gift lies in doing lots of fancy preparations and it does not phase them but for the rest of us try to calm down and be hospitable. Do not worry about the 'dust bunnies' or a magazine out of place. Try to relax and enjoy your company. Do not feel you have to try out some new recipe to impress someone. If someone drops in you did not expect be a servant of the Lord and put on an extra plate and serve them what you are going to eat. I remember an incident several years ago with country spare ribs and a drop in guest. This is something I serve on New Years but during the year I would not think of it as supper guest fare. But we had a surprise visitor and I hardly had enough for three people but I prayed over that crock pot and the dinner and I had more than enough to spare and as I recall we enjoyed our visit. The gentleman, who was an Army friend of my husbands, loved the ribs too. How about that?

Remember the command to entertain strangers too? You never know when one might be an angel. Matthew 35:35 says "For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in." Do not wait for a special occasion and if you are able help someone. Once in the middle of the night a friend called us cause his car had broken down and needed help. I thought of the Bible verse that said 'if a man comes to you at midnight for bread do not turn him away." Luke 11:5-8  says "Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’ “Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs."

Are you that midnight friend, the drop in brother, the unannounced employee from out of town, the needy stranger? Hebrew 13:2 says "Remember to welcome strangers, because some who have done this have welcomed angels without knowing it." Do not worry about fine china, special gourmet food or all the preparations. Relax and give it to God. There will be times you need to 'entertain' but better to be 'hospitable' for the Lord and enjoy your time with your guests.

PRAYER: Father in heaven, I thank you for the abundance of food I have and for the ability to cook. I thank you for the home you have provided for me. Help me Lord to look for opportunities to open my doors to not just friends but to those who need a friend. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Book Recommendation: 'Open Heart Open Home' by Karen Burton Mains. It spoke to me several years ago and perhaps it will speak to you.