Thursday, November 17, 2011 - Wrap, Don't Warp

"The world of the generous gets larger and larger."

Proverbs 11:24 (the Message) 

    One day last week Nick said he thought it would be cool to be able to "warp" from place to place, from era to era.  It took me two seconds to see how we would ruin our lives with such a "gift."  Relationships would evaporate completely as we warped past each other and never stayed in one place long enough to build one. Who would stay put and keep the home fires going? Where and when would home be?  Where would we go to get wrapped in love, joy and peace? 
     We've already warped our lives and relationships to the point many people feel isolated and lonely on a daily basis and those feelings are keener during the holidays when we all dream of Norman Rockwell Thanksgivings and Thomas Kincaid Christmases.  If you're one of these people, feeling out of touch, out of the loop, and out of sorts, you're not alone.  Each of us feels it to some degree for different reasons, different losses, different choices, different distances.  It reminds me of when I learned that everyone in a crowded room felt the same way I did: shy and hesitant to initiate conversations, yet we quickly judged each other as unfriendly or "snobby."  
     God designed us so that when we wrap other people into our lives, our own fire grows a little brighter, our own loneliness eases.  Christ calls us to take the initiative and open our doors and hearths to each other, to be hospitable and loving.  I foresee a toasty Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas for believers who stop wishing they could warp here or there to make plenty of room at their tables, in their hearts and around their hearths this year.
Father, may we not plan picture perfect holidays that leave out the very Spirit that we celebrate. May we be conscious of people around us who hurt with fresh losses and holidays without someone, holidays away from family or in new places.  Use us to minister through hospitality to whomever You lead. May we be Christlike and loving, kind and giving, receptive and unselfish.  Thank You for using us to help others survive and thrive during the holidays.


In the Name of Your Son Who invites even me to heaven's table 


"Every day they continued to meet in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."  
Acts 2: 46-47 (NIV)


Inspired by Live Loved, by Max Lucado