Mistake or Message?

This message was written by a Women's Ministry leader and published in the newsletter sent to the churches in 2003.

I discovered a mistake in my Bible! When reading through that wonderful passage in Romans 12:9-21 from a Bible I keep at my desk at work, I was intrigued when I read verse 13 - "Share with God's people who are in need.  Practice hospitality. Practice hospitality."  No, you are not seeing double.  There it was in Scripture - repeating something I needed to understand, something I struggled with.  Having people over to our place means I have to have everything perfectly in place!

People will not remember what you looked like or what you served them, BUT  they will remember how you made them feel in your presence (Arlene Taylor).

I am trying to exercise the true art of hospitality and not expect so much of myself.  To keep things more simple and enjoy people's company.  About 5 years ago I took this seriously and wrote a small article entitled 'Dinner Party Panic'.  As the Christmas season approaches and guests arrive, take it easy on your self and keep life simple.


Be careful, they're listening...
My wife invited some people to dinner.  At the table she turned to our 5 year old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing/?"  I wouldn't know what to say, she replied.  Just say what you hear Mummy say, my wife said.  Our daughter bowed her head and said "Dear Lord why on earth did I invite all these people for dinner."

Prayers with Candy/ Lollies...

By Mike and Amy Nappa  @ CBN.com
I found this thought while looking for another devotional on M&Ms.  I hope you enjoy this one and take some time to think about what the authors are really trying to convey in their thought about how to pray and make it more meaningful

You can use M & M's to help focus your family's prayers of intercession for others.
Next time you pray together,
Pass around a bag or bowl of M & M's the next time your family is gathered for prayer.
Let each person take a handful, but don't let anyone eat the candies yet.
Explain that the color of the candies will indicate the direction of the families' prayers.
Lead your family in prayer using this guide and stopping for prayer after explaining each color.

• For every green M & M you chose, pray for your spouse (present or future) or some other significant person in your life. This is a great way to get kids thinking about what qualities they want to find in a future mate. Encourage them to pray for this person’s safety, spiritual and physical growth, and so on).
• For every red M & M you chose, pray for a member of your family by name (a parent, son, daughter, brother, sister, grandchild, niece, nephew, cousin, aunt, uncle, and so on).
• For every orange M & M you chose, pray for a teacher in your life (a co-worker, a professor, a pastor, a Bible study leader, a child’s school teacher, a mentor, or another teacher).
• For every yellow M & M you chose, pray for one of your neighbors (a neighbor near your home, an office-mate, a person whose desk is near yours at school, or a neighbor close to your church).
• For every dark brown M & M you chose, pray for a leader in your life (a politician, a local businessperson, a celebrity, a member of your church’s staff, the "Prime Minister" or President , or another leader).
• For every light brown M & M you chose, pray for Christians in other countries.

This might be best used as an after dinner prayer time. Repeat this process as often as you family's kilojoule intake allows!

Bible Verse...

Therefore,I tell you, don't be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothing? See the birds of the sky, that they don't sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they? Mattthew 6:25,26 WEB

Burnt Biscuits

I was cleaning out one of my email accounts when I came upon this message sent by a friend earlier this year.  She reguarly sends out messages which are inspirational and thought provoking.  This is one of them and also ties in with the thoughts for this blog.  I hope you will enjoy this message from the heart...

When I was a kid, my mum liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.

On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed, yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mum and ask me how my day was at school.

I do not remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite.

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits and I will never forget what he said.

He smiled at her and said, "Honey, I love burned biscuits."

Later that night, I went to kiss my dad good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned.

He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your mom put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides, a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone."

Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I am not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else, but what I have learned over the years is that learning to accept each other’s faults, and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences, is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing and lasting relationship.

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship.

Do not put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket; keep it in your own.

God bless you today and always.

So, pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burnt one will do just fine.

Moreover, pass this along to someone who has enriched your life . . . I just did.