Sunday, February 27, 2011
What's Cooking?
It's often said, "God will meet you right where you're at." That is to say He'll meet you as you are. I had planned something quite different on my mind to jot down this morning and mere seconds ago I recalled something a friend posted on Facebook a few days ago. In it he cited a song he felt might resonate with those that because of their "situation" are not more of what God calls them to be. I know this friend's heart, I know his situation-I know what troubles him. I also know that in the midst of his situation he of course is not everything...yet, that God is calling him to be but he is everything God has called him to be at this time and in this "situation." This friend happens to have the spiritual gift of hospitality. He seeks opportunity to use his gift; he injects himself into situations to bless others with it. Nothing at all to be concerned about here my friend. You are always cooking up something for somebody and in the middle of your situation...well, God is doing some cooking of His own.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Stuff
I'm up very early again this morning on account of a regular problem of not being able to turn off my head and sleep like a normal person.
I've been thinking this morning, well...I've been thinking about this all week actually, about all this stuff we have in the house. One of the cool things about writing Life Group lessons (and as Pastors will admit they do when they draft their teachings) is I draw on personal experience and emotion to develop part of the material. This week Pastor Rob is focusing on hoarding. I was proof-reading some of the Life Group lesson material to Kristi the other day and when I got to the part about how garages these days don't even get used for vehicles but are used as the largest walk-in closet in the house. Kristi said, "you should put a picture of our garage in the lesson material." She's right-I should. I would guess that at least half of what is in there (and in Kristi's storage room in the basement by the way), hasn't been touched for at least 3-years. We both tend to use the same excuse, that "we might need it someday" or "that used to be mom's or dad's." We were both convicted this week that yes, while we might need these things someday, someone else really could use it today, and the next day and the next. What we have archived "treasured" as a luxury is a very real need to someone else.
Spring is a popular time for people to take stock of their possessions, decide what they can part with and have a garage sale; maybe they'll make $50 or so. Maybe a better thing to consider would be instead of using that effort to earn $50, that we would give it away to charity. My guess is that all this stuff we might unload in a garage sale that doesn't really amount to a hill of beans financially would be valued ten-times that to families in need because you can't really put a value on need. You simply need it or you don't. Think about that. If that doesn't do it then think about this: 16% of children in the United States, are in poor families. Yes you could get $5 for that hardly worn Winter coat you don't need but someone in need would respond as if they were handed a hundred bucks. That person could be someone in your own family or mine. We just may not know it yet.
I've been thinking this morning, well...I've been thinking about this all week actually, about all this stuff we have in the house. One of the cool things about writing Life Group lessons (and as Pastors will admit they do when they draft their teachings) is I draw on personal experience and emotion to develop part of the material. This week Pastor Rob is focusing on hoarding. I was proof-reading some of the Life Group lesson material to Kristi the other day and when I got to the part about how garages these days don't even get used for vehicles but are used as the largest walk-in closet in the house. Kristi said, "you should put a picture of our garage in the lesson material." She's right-I should. I would guess that at least half of what is in there (and in Kristi's storage room in the basement by the way), hasn't been touched for at least 3-years. We both tend to use the same excuse, that "we might need it someday" or "that used to be mom's or dad's." We were both convicted this week that yes, while we might need these things someday, someone else really could use it today, and the next day and the next. What we have archived "treasured" as a luxury is a very real need to someone else.
Spring is a popular time for people to take stock of their possessions, decide what they can part with and have a garage sale; maybe they'll make $50 or so. Maybe a better thing to consider would be instead of using that effort to earn $50, that we would give it away to charity. My guess is that all this stuff we might unload in a garage sale that doesn't really amount to a hill of beans financially would be valued ten-times that to families in need because you can't really put a value on need. You simply need it or you don't. Think about that. If that doesn't do it then think about this: 16% of children in the United States, are in poor families. Yes you could get $5 for that hardly worn Winter coat you don't need but someone in need would respond as if they were handed a hundred bucks. That person could be someone in your own family or mine. We just may not know it yet.
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