Pot Luck or Pot Blessings -- It's About Hospitality

I am an experienced "Pot Luck" covered-dish toter. I can't begin to tell you how many covered dishes, salads, main dishes and desserts I have made over the many years of my church-going or friends-celebrating-together life. And less I offend some of my sweet Bible-toting friends with the "luck" part of pot luck, I also refer to those amazing food-out-of-control events as "Pot Blessings". I can't think of any times when there were too much of one food item, because the cooks, I'm quite sure, are inspired from Heaven Central when they plan out their culinary treat.

Truly they are blessings because we are sharing a "family" meal together to celebrate our friendship with each other and our friendship with Jesus. I witness that every month when I attend a wonderful fellowship group in my community. This fellowship group's common language is kindness, generosity, love -- or better put, it's about Jesus. We literally break bread, chicken, and all kinds of other goodies together. You don't hear talk about politics, the economy, complaints about what's going on here or there or everywhere. You just hear positive people talking about positive things.

Christ started that fellowship when He broke bread with His disciples. Coming together to celebrate Him in us and us in Him. Some of my favorite memories involve yummy food and sharing God's love and caring like this. Scripture shows us how important it was to God for us to break bread together. Acts 2:42,46: "They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart."

When we share our gifts, talents and ordinary household meals and items to bless and serve others, we aren’t just being nice. We’re being obedient to God’s Word as this verse says: “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:9-10).

Our aim should be the same for everyone. We shouldn't offer hospitality — or a home-cooked meal — to impress others. Instead, we want to refresh them. To give them a place where they can relax and unwind. To provide a setting where they can talk and question and contemplate. When we offer hospitality with gusto, without grumbling, or complaining, or fretting over our not-so-nice-anymore home or stuff, we are doing exactly what pleases God — using our gifts for His glory.

Where Two Shall Agree.....

I’m in my cozy chair all set for my morning devotion and prayer time and I remember the sweetest surprise last weekend. My dear friends, Charles and Sheila Michie, invited several mutual friends over for a pot luck meal. Little did I realize it was a set-up to celebrate my birthday (26th). I was so grateful for this precious time of, literally, breaking bread together.

Christ started that fellowship when He broke bread with His disciples. Coming together to celebrate Him in us and us in Him. Some of my favorite memories involve yummy food and sharing God's love and caring like this. Scripture shows us how important it was to God for us to break bread together. Acts 2:42,46: "They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart."

Like that scripture says "breaking of bread, and in prayers", that's how it played out for us Saturday night. Following our meal, we headed to the Great Room where we sang and praised God that led right into individual prayer for each of us. At one point, I sensed the importance of the prayer of agreement for couples and for any of us who need a prayer of agreement. That kind of prayer is similar to a contract. I know what it means to have a binding contract having been in the real estate business for over 40 years. Contracts are the tool used to legally bind the parties in agreement to the specific terms and acts.

An executed contract is a done deal like Jesus' words in Matthew 18:20 about agreement -- when we take those words to heart and action. “I tell you, if two of you on earth AGREE about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.” That, my friends, is a 3-fold agreement contract. A husband, wife AND God the Father. A friend, another friend AND God the Father. Think about this tremendous tool God has given us. So when I hear someone say “I set myself in agreement with your prayer – maybe for a desire for a better job, the well-being of a child or family member, or wisdom coming when making a big decision -- an agreement is taking place. Bottom line – because we’ve initiated a binding contract, we will NOT come out of agreement with them.

It is beautiful when a couple joins hands, prays and agrees together. The answer to that prayer is not up to us. It is up to Jesus’ words that when we agree in prayer, in the presence of God, it will be done by our Father in His perfect timing and His perfect way. Especially, when couples are able to breakout of their stand-off when they are in dis-agreement and come together in solidarity IN agreement, mountains move, waters are parted and heaven touches earth. I assure you….I speak from the many answers to prayer that my husband and I received because of our agreements in prayer.

The enemy desires for us to get into dis-agreements because he comes to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). But, Jesus came to give us abundant life and has given us the “how-to” by staying IN-agreement with Him and each other. Imagine the walls coming down in our marriages, our families, our businesses, our finances, and our health as two come together in unity and in agreement. Nothing is impossible with God, when we agree.

Celebrating Faith and Friendship

Day 251 of Photo Inspirations -- Celebrating Faith and Friendship -- That's Christmas!

Yes, my photo inspirations for today are these precious women that I do life with. That's what a small group is all about. We share and celebrate each others' victories and we pray and encourage each other in times of need. These women inspire me in so many ways.  

Last night, we had the sweetest time of celebrating this wonderful time of the year. After a yummy "pot blessing" meal (better known as "pot luck") which we do each week, and since this is the last meeting we'll have until January, we reflected on the good things God has done for us in 2015. We heard about babies on the way for children who couldn't conceive before, children's fresh commitment to God and attending church regularly, healing from insomnia, no surgeries needed, healing from feet and leg issues, gift of steady work, healthy grandchildren born, husband having steady work, God meeting the needs of others, etc. As I listened to these praises and thanksgiving words, I thought "When our praises go up, His blessings come down!" That's just the goodness of our Heavenly Father Who inhabits our praises and Who takes pleasure in blessing us. 

Then lots of laughter ensued as we played the Nativity Ornament or Gift Exchange Game. We each had brought a wrapped ornament. You might want to do this fun game with a group -- it's quite humorous and the message of Christ's birth comes through loud and clear. This is the website: http://www.diva-girl-parties-and-stuff.com/right-left-christmas-game.html

God is always speaking to His kids. Fact is, are we always listening to Him? He speaks to us when we're still, and even in the fun, merry-heart times. These photo inspirations are the ornaments we received at the conclusion of the game. One of our ladies' received an ornament that had owls in it. She was so inspired because lately God has been speaking to her about cultivating His wisdom -- the owl represents "wisdom". It was a vivid reminder that God is speaking to her -- not just in her private, quiet times, but right when there's laughter and celebration -- in the unexpected times.

Isn't that God's normal mode of operation. When we least expect it, He shows up. He gives us an illustrated sermon that verifies His Word to us. Jesus lives in His children, so since He is inside us, how could we expect anything less than hearing His voice. From Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone HEARS MY VOICE and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.”

God in us! How profound is that promise? With God in us, we have a wealth of information dwelling inside us. Having trouble making a decision? Christ can help. He lives within us. Can’t stop worrying? Christ can help. Can’t forget the past and forgive the one who hurt us, or forsake a bad habit? Christ can! And He lives in us. We just have to watch and listen. Emmanuel -- God is with us.