Welcome Heart, Sue Donaldson, Speaker

The word "hospitality" can put you into a tizzy of stress, fear, inadequacy or guilt -- especially the guilt! ("I know I should've had them over, but...") All those amazing "should's" that God never intended when He said, very simply: "Practice hospitable." He didn't say: "Put on a five-course meal, get out the china and linens, oh, and don't forget the babysitter and housekeeper..." He did say "practice" and with practice comes ease and enjoyment (honest.)

Here are 5 steps to put His wonderful command (not a suggestion) into practice. You might already do all or most of them - go ahead and check them off your list!

Hospitality in Action

Practicing with 5 “P’s” – not including Pride!

1. Practice with...

- one recipe (cake, bread, entrée, coffee, tea)

- one menu

- try one time of day

-  a friend

(imperfection makes your guest at ease, so don’t practice too much!!)

2. Pool ...

-your resources – when someone says, “Can I bring something?” say, “Yes” (even if it’s pretzels for the kids)

- your friends’ talents – (décor, cleaning, creativity)

3. Party Purposefully ...

-provide an activity - ask everyone a simple question, everyone write in a card for a sick friend, share your funniest vacation story

-make the event a “relationship builder”

-include newcomers and old friends

4. Pray ...

-for yourself (peace, courage, time, ability)

-for opportunities to invite someone over

-for your family

-for your guests, that they may see Jesus at your table

5. Prepare ...

-begin stocking your pantry with things to prepare last -minute

-organize your recipes

-be ready, whatever the season!

-when you meet that next person, say, "Can you come over this week? I can do Tuesday noon or Sunday night - which works best for you?" They will be delighted! And, when they say, "What can I bring?" Say, "Chocolate or vanilla - your choice."

PS Let me know how it goes.

Faith is a gift. Some people are more gifted than others. Sometimes we can't muster any faith to get us through hard - terrifically hard - times. That's when a friend comes in to take up the faith-slack.

I've had to say: "Look, it all seems unbearable right now. Nothing is how it's supposed to be. And, the future doesn't look much better. I can't change that. I will have faith for you that you will survive, God will sustain, lightness of heart will again be your's." And, others have done the same for me.

Our journey is meant to be a shared journey. Do you have someone close by to carry faith enough for both of you, at least for the time being? If not, ask the Burden-Bearer. He knows all about it.

Paul wrote: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2) Now, what was that "law of Christ?" To love God and to love another as much as you love yourself. Sounds like lifting a burden to me. And, since loving one each other is the main thing this side of heaven, we are always in the process of carrying another as well as being carried -often, simultaneously. So, take heart, ask God for a fellow - traveler, and look out for one who may need to use your shoulder and faith for awhile.

PS Two weeks ago, good neighbor Christy came down with a bad cold. Over went the leftover potsticker soup to her front door. Yesterday, the crud hit this house. After work, there was Christy's lovely lemon chicken dinner (also, leftover!) AND Carlock's cheesecake for our family. I could get used this burden-bearing/sharing.

Bill Hybels wrote:

“We reach out to God... but then we often fall back and try to face our difficulties in our own power – because at some basic and perhaps unconscious level we doubt if God really can make a difference in the problems we are facing – we don’t ask God for help because somewhere, well beneath our surface layer of faith and trust, we don’t believe God has the power to do anything about them.”

Now that’s convicting. I began praying about some things that are totally out of my realm of control and expertise... so that I could “practice” believing God had the power to answer (oh, yeah - that's just about everything...) God is answering. I need to remember so I have more faith for the next "practice session."

How's your unconscious level - believing or doubting?

"The trouble with human relationships is that man without God does not realize that all men are sinful, and so he hangs too much on his personal relationships, and they crush and break." - Francis Shaeffer

Too bad that those who have God still forget this truth. We try to hang too much on all manner of things and people and projects.

God is the main One from whom we get life. All else can be enjoyed and learned from and tasted to the full, but none will completely fill.

Any relationships crushing and breaking around you? They aren't meant to hold up perfectly. Ask Him now, "Lord, be first, be the main. My real life is You. Amen."

We want to be a good witness - to God's greatness and salvation. How do we go about doing that huge and privileged task? Do we give up before even starting and just leave it to the preachers and evangelists - don't they have a special gift from God to do that very thing? "After all," we might say, "I give to the Billy Graham Association and pray for the missionaries on Sunday morning when I'm reminded..."

I love what Paul wrote in Philippians 2:14- 16  - "I will do all things without comlaining or arguing, so that I may become blameless and pure-- Your child, O God, without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom I shine as a light in the world, holding out the word of life." (Face to Face paraphrase, K. Boa)

Living "without fault" - that's some bright light! Imagine a whole day without complaining or arguing . . . all for the sake of showing off our Savior who went to the cross without a murmur.

I remember a great Portuguese word I learned in Brazil (or, Brasil.) Not exactly sure I remember the spelling, but the word is "saldages." (a soft "g" makes it beautiful.) It means "homesick for some place, someone, or something." I think I'm feeling "saldages" for my two older girls off in college. It was bound to hit me - probably because I drove our short-lived Italian student, Carlo, to the airport yesterday. His mom had been feeling "saldages" for him and is rejoicing at his safe return - I know, we are facebook buddettes now.

(Carlo had just said, "Now I've learned about women!" We laughed ... a lot...just glad to have helped him out...)

Mary Grace says "Good bye" to her Italian big brother.

Sunny comes inside to say, "Ciao, Carlo."

The girls have been calling - and not just about money  - so that's a warm and fuzzy feeling, and I'm so very grateful. I wonder if God missed Jesus those 33 years years?? Not sure I can wrap my mind around that one.

I do know that I want my life to be one that makes others feel homesick for Jesus. He is the only One who satisfies, comforts and redeems. I can't make that happen. It's a holy thing and a Spirit thing. Pray that today - "Lord, may I make people homesick for You today - a little bit of saldages can make all the difference in someone, eternally. You are their real home - they just don't know it yet. Amen."

PS

Of course, Bethany might not feel too homesick since she can walk to the beach from her school every day...

God doesn't see me as great to begin with - "she just needs a little work..." He has night vision - looking in the deepest recesses of my heart - and, loves me anyway.

David cried out to God for forgivenss in Psalm 51 after he blew it big time with Bathsheba. . . and was caught. I wonder if he was secretly thankful he got caught? I think so. I hate getting caught. But, the relief of repentance and forgiveness outweighs the short-lived satisfaction of sin.

Daily I need to pray with David: "Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." (vs. 10)

Tim Arlen told us yesterday that "to create" means to make "out of nothing" - just like when God created the world out of darkness.

When I finally acknowledge how badly I've behaved - and, get to the end of all my self-justification and defenses (that can take awhile,) I am so glad God has been waiting nearby for me to take His hand and start again. It's a miracle. He takes what I give Him - my sin - and makes purity and righteousness. That's something out of nothing. That's quite the creative act. "God created the heavens and the earth and a new heart in Sue on Monday."

Most families have pet names – names that are endearing or silly—some so intimate that only those “in the know” –are privy to.  Those few in the know are set apart as intimate.

As God’s children, we are set apart,  privileged, named by God as one chosen to know Him. And a good way to start to know Him better is to know Him by His names.

In A 31 Day Experiment – Knowing God By His Names, the author, Dick Purnell begins: “I wanted to know God intimately, so I started a search for God’s names.  It took me six years to study thoroughly every verse in the OT.  I was overwhelmed at the number and complexity of the titles God uses for Himself.” (Six years? Don't worry - it's short book - a page per day of the month.)

He found 211 names for God and leads you on a study of just 31 of them – I wonder if they were his favorites?

When we come to know God by name—not just a label – but as One who lives up to what His name means-- our faith is increased – which in turn, increase our peace and security..

If someone knocks on your door at night, when you’re alone, and you call out, “Who’s there?” And your husband answers, “It’s Mark. I forgot my keys.” You relax. You’re secure. You know his name represents security and trust. And you recognize his voice.

In Ps. 9:10, David addresses God: “Those who know your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”

Wanting to get closer to God? Start with His names. He's got them for a reason, and He actually lives up to them.

The traditional plaque reads: "Prayer Changes Things." I know that's true, from observation and experience. But, is that God's only intent?

Chambers said: "Prayer is the way the life of God (in us) is nourished. We look upon prayer as a means of getting things for ourselves; the Bible idea of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself." Utmost, August 28

For most people, that sounds audacious - getting to know God Himself? Yet, that's what He had in mind when He made us. . . a people for Himself . . . to know and love and care for.

Today's question: Do you know God? For me, that's a daily prayer (when I remember.) I do know He loves to answer that one-- it was His idea.

You're just 5 ingredients away from a decadent dessert using a package cake mix! (I knew half the family wouldn't savor the coconut, so I made just a half-recipe - splitting one layer for this recipe, and one layer split with chocolate pudding filling and a light chocolate frosting glaze.)

You do need to plan ahead slightly, but I prepared the cake before dinner, and by the time dinner was over, the frosting and filling were ready to easily assemble. It does need to remain refrigerated, so plan on making this the next time you clean out your refrigerator - or, use this as motivation to clear out your fridge! It's heavenly.

Coconut-Sour Cream Cake

1  yellow cake mix (I used French Vanilla - yum!)

1 16 oz sour cream

2 cups sugar

4 cups shredded or flaked coconut

1 1/2 cup cool whip

Garnish: fresh strawberries (opt.)

Prepare cake mix, using 2 9-inch round cake pans. Cool layers. Slice each cake layer horizontally in half, using a long serrated knife. (tricky but doable)

Combine sour cream, suagr, and cocount in a bowl; stir and cover. Chill 1 hour or more (do this while cake is baking or before making the cake) Reserve 1 cup sour cream mixture. Spread reminaing sour cream mixture between cooled cake layers. (it acts as a yummy "glue" to repair any mis-cut layers)

Fold whipped topping into reserved sour cream mixture. Spread on top and sides of cake. Cover and chill if it lasts that long. Garnish, if desired.

I made this last night just because and topped off breakfast with just a teeny tiny slice- a coconut danish, if you will - but it does make a glorious Easter Brunch cake! (add jelly bellies for garnish.)