Today's was around the theme of hospitality, and it was written by my good friend, Nick Burr. I'm sure he/they won't mind me copying it here;
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4v7
"Bouquet residence – lady of the house speaking" shrieks Hyacinth Bucket. Another episode of the TV sitcom ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ has us laughing and cringing in equal measure as the self-styled, somewhat unsuccessful social climber seeks to maintain a rather delicate and transparent façade of suburban success. The plot hinges on ensuring the internal devastation in her world remains below the surface so that another candlelit dinner party will improve her standing in middle England.
I cringe inwardly because I can relate to poor Hyacinth. We have a large family and a modest house, and we don’t have much storage – so it’s easy to be self-conscious about our environment when people visit. Yet, on so many occasions we find that people relax and feel at home – because it is a home. We’ve stopped getting worked up about the clothes airer in the corner of the dining room and the cobweb we missed in the corner of the lounge. Equally, we are not worried if visitors scratch the floor or spill a drink because practising hospitality is not about us, and how we look, it’s about Him. Ezekiel talks about God’s blessings being like a shower where we gather together. ‘I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.' Ezekiel 34:26 (NIV)
And when people leave our home, they often remark on the atmosphere and how they felt when they were here - not on how it looked.
~ Nick Burr
Great stuff Nick. :) To follow '40 Acts/Give out, not up', click here.
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