Saturday, June 25, 2011

fruit of hospitality

Come on in... take your shoes off... make yourself at home...
this is holy ground...
You are welcome here.  


The food is on the counter. The plates are stacked a mile high.
There is more than enough.  Eat and be satisfied.  

And they come.  This team of 20 from Indiana,
with a dozen or so from  Kampala International University, plus us...
34? 40? 52?  How many will You feed tonight?  

You take the bread. You bless it. You break it. 
You give it away and You give thanks.  
And so we join You in the giving.

Funny, this kingdom economy...
give away and pour out and empty yourself for others... 
and you. are. filled. beyond. measure.




excerpts of gifts #4137-4182
  • the team arriving safely
  • 19 alive, spirited young people- a breath of fresh air
  • their sheer delight in cold cuts and chips, apparently an amazing dinner after a week of african food
  • the happy hum of conversation
  • this big house filled to the brim- just what it was made for!
  • a bunch of people loving on our boys
  • hands clasped in a circle of prayer, lifting each other up
  • sweet girls doing the dishes
  • a shift in perspective, extending hospitality even to my boys
  • playing Toy Story Yatzee with Caleb
  • this moment of peace in the middle of a day
  • this home filled with people, food, laughter, stories, love
  • Gloria here to help us keep our home ready for guests
  • little boy climbing up into Daddy's lap
  • a bagel and coffee on a Saturday morning
  • this joy in serving, my cup runneth over

4 comments:

  1. So true that when we pour out we are filled beyond measure. Thank you for that reminder today.

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  2. To learn the lesson of being poured out is to learn to be like Him in all of His humility. And it is only in the emptying that we can be filled. It is a thought of wonder, yet so hard. Why is that????? Loved all the pictures today and your list! Thank you for being such a blessing to me!

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  3. It looks like you had a lovely week. :-) Hospitality doesn't seem to get a whole lot of verbal attention these days, but I think it's still as precious as ever. God bless you!

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  4. Amen for His kingdom economy – and God bless you for your servant's heart. That last little bit of your thank you list – that's the heart that God hearts. Godspeed in all that you do, and God bless and keep you and each and every one of yours.

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