My life goes in cycles when it comes to ministry. When the kids were home, hospitality played a huge part in my life. When they got older, I was always on the look out as to what God would have me be involved in and who He was calling me to serve. He calls me to do different things in different seasons it seem. Recently, after the restrictions of Covid have been lifted a bit more, I was at that point again where I was trying to figure out what God is calling me to do and be.
With less restrictions and the opportunity to invite people into our home again, I picked up the old familiar pattern of meal prep with the idea of feeding friends and family as well as strangers. It is actually something I had learned from my sweet mamma. Growing up in Austria our house was always full of people. My mamma did not make lavish meals but they were tasty and they were plenteous for as many as needed something to eat. The blessings of having people over abounded. We met so many different people from all over the world and with many different backgrounds, with joys and with hurts, with gifts and with needs.
Last week on a beautiful summer day while preparing for our guests who were making a stop-over in our city, I stood there, wondering how God would be using me in this next cycle of life. Since hospitality seems to be something that comes natural to me and my husband, I don’t count it as much of a ministry, or certainly not as a service or even sacrifice for God. But I heard clear as day these words: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” As I pondered these words, I started smiling. My act of preparing food all these years is not just an act of doing but it is a gift to those who come in and out of our home. And, I wondered, just how many of these were indeed angels that have been fed and housed by us. As I continued to ponder, I understood that my preparing a meal for a traveling family was exactly what God was asking of me for this day. I wondered why I am always looking for the “more significant” thing to do.
And so as we sat together with our new friends, we were blessed. Not only were we blessed by their presences but we were blessed by the conversations and the encouragement that happened around the table. Words of life were given as we spoke of how Jesus was working in and through our lives. We received physical as well as spiritual food that day. I am not sure that these new friends were angels, but maybe, just maybe there was an angel sitting with us. I know that Jesus was and is with with us and that is is more than I could ever wish for.
Hebrews 13:2
With less restrictions and the opportunity to invite people into our home again, I picked up the old familiar pattern of meal prep with the idea of feeding friends and family as well as strangers. It is actually something I had learned from my sweet mamma. Growing up in Austria our house was always full of people. My mamma did not make lavish meals but they were tasty and they were plenteous for as many as needed something to eat. The blessings of having people over abounded. We met so many different people from all over the world and with many different backgrounds, with joys and with hurts, with gifts and with needs.
Last week on a beautiful summer day while preparing for our guests who were making a stop-over in our city, I stood there, wondering how God would be using me in this next cycle of life. Since hospitality seems to be something that comes natural to me and my husband, I don’t count it as much of a ministry, or certainly not as a service or even sacrifice for God. But I heard clear as day these words: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” As I pondered these words, I started smiling. My act of preparing food all these years is not just an act of doing but it is a gift to those who come in and out of our home. And, I wondered, just how many of these were indeed angels that have been fed and housed by us. As I continued to ponder, I understood that my preparing a meal for a traveling family was exactly what God was asking of me for this day. I wondered why I am always looking for the “more significant” thing to do.
And so as we sat together with our new friends, we were blessed. Not only were we blessed by their presences but we were blessed by the conversations and the encouragement that happened around the table. Words of life were given as we spoke of how Jesus was working in and through our lives. We received physical as well as spiritual food that day. I am not sure that these new friends were angels, but maybe, just maybe there was an angel sitting with us. I know that Jesus was and is with with us and that is is more than I could ever wish for.
Hebrews 13:2
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