Sunday, August 15, 2010

The Command to be Hospitable (regardless of where you live)

I thought when we downsized (to a home that was smaller than our last garage) my 'hospitality' days would be over. Our previous homes housed many family gatherings over the years and I loved it!  I really did! I loved the preparations and I loved cooking and baking for my family and friends.

It's obvious due to the size of our new little bungalow that we won't be gathering 30 plus loved ones into our home for the holidays. But, we are still given the command to be hospitable in Romans 12:13 no matter what the condition or size of our dwelling.  It's not a suggestion or an option.. it's a command for a follower of Jesus Christ. So with that command the Lord gives His grace and as always makes it very possible.



Trying to obey the command to be hospitable while living in a barn has revealed some interesting things about myself that I didn't know or didn't want to face.  I never thought of myself as a materialistic person.  I never thought material things were important to me or that I tied material things to my reputation. We lived most of our married life in older homes and from paycheck to paycheck. It's only been the last 15 years that things changed for us financially.  We lived in several nice homes but I never imagined that pride had set in due to what we owned.  It wasn't until we moved into a barn that I began to see my pride surface.   Our situation has brought this sin to the surface and for that I am grateful because it clearly is opposite of everything Christ represented. (He was born in a barn! *Smile*)

Recently this sweet lady wanted to come by our home to take care of some business. I had been to her house and it was a big and beautiful. I found excuses to delay her stopping by  for several times until I realized what I was doing. I finally just got it out in the open and said, "we live in a barn". Whew! I felt so much better not pretending we were something that we were not. Now that the pretense is gone I can just focus on making her feel comfortable when she visits. 

I think learning to be content with your present situation involves embracing it as directly from God's hand. We are thankful for our little place. It's a great blessing to be rent free while we wait for a determination from Social Security. I want to thrive where God has placed us... not hide in embarrassment. God promises to withhold no good thing from those who are His and I believe He has fulfilled that promise in this provision. I've reminded myself often that 'this' and all it entails is a GOOD THING.. a precious gift given from the hand of God.

Lord willing, I will write soon about the practical things I'm  learning concerning hospitality in a small place.




My friend Pam came for lunch.
(Kevin said something silly and made us laugh!)

10 comments:

  1. Your bedroom looks very nice. Barn or no barn :-) I am glad you are learning what your stumbling blocks are. I think if we are honest with ourselves we all have prideful things we need to become aware of and root out. God is a good and gracious God and I love how he teaches us when we are willing. I love too that you honour his teaching to be hospitable. God bless you.

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  2. It is wonderful that your eyes are open to the lessons that HE is teaching you as you go through this trial in life. I am a true believer that good can come from our trials, heck I am living that life, thanks be to God. I do need to follow your lead and spend more time reading and studying my bible.

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  3. Well, you look like you are both having a great time. That is what it's all about. Your bedroom looks charming and I'm sure your small barn home is lovely. Nope, you sure can't beat free - what a great blessing for you.

    I have heard some of the most hospitable stories of people who have visited in 3rd world countries. Many have barely have anything to share, but do it so willingly - and with such joy too! Happy living with almost nothing. It is something we can all learn from.

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  4. I learned a long time ago that money, clothes, jewellry, cars or homes does not make one happy or any better than anyone else. We all need our health, without it we have nothing but with it we can provide, you are doing well my firned,
    .......:-)Hugs

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  5. I kind of 'snickered' when you gals mentioned my 'bedroom' looks nice. The reason I snickered is that I don't have a separate bedroom.. it's my bedroom/living room/dining room... all one room. But, it's cozy and homey I've been told! It sure demands ones bed is made daily! :-)

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  6. I was 15 years old before my mom and I lived in a place that was our own. I lived with one relative after another and even lived 8 years in the unfinished basement of a 150 year old house that was a nursing home! When I was 15 my mom bought an old house which was hacked up with a hatchet because the renters had been forced to move, and until I was 18 years old this house was getting new walls and ceilings and having a kitchen installed. Trust me when I say that I learned all my life that a home is where LOVE RESIDES, and not in the walls and windows! A home is where one is welcome. Growing up I've lived with relatives that had very nice homes and the home was cold and not friendly to a homeless child. I've lived in a rental house with a large family that got their food from a city dump...food given by stores where the food was outdated. Home is the HEART!

    I THINK you wrote a lovely post here, and I could identify with it! God bless you!

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  7. Hi.... Thanks for stopping by my blog, and your sweet comments.

    Home is where the heart is, and it sounds like your heart and love are in your home. I love the look of the barn, with the ivy growing on it and the pretty flower bed.
    We downsized too, and I've adjusted and love it!

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  8. I think your home is lovely. Any home full of love, to me it is lovely. It looks like a quaint little cottage from the side with the flowers and greenry growing. It is neat and clean.

    Oh, about the soap: It will be easy to make 2 pounds of soap from the recipe listed in my blog.

    http://gerrysoaps.blogspot.com/2010/07/easy-2-pounds-of-soap-recipe.html

    Gerry

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  9. Hello again :), I left a comment for you on my blog in answer to your question. I was not sure you would check back to receive it so I am leaving your answer here, also. I could not find your email address in your profile.

    I can find Coconut oil in all of the grocery stores and at Walmart (here in the SE).

    You can put your lye crystals in a plastic container. Pour the crystals into the water (not water into the crystals). Your water can be in a heavy plastic (like tuperware) or heavy glass, canning jar, etc. You can use stainless steel but not aluminum. Gerry

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  10. Opps I wrote a comment and was pushing the off button when I saw that I was suppose to type in word so I guess that comment is gone. Anyway I was just saying this is a great post and so true of us all, but your story is worth sharing and should be a blessing to anyone that hears about how good God has been to you. Linda

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