I hosted my first real dinner party at my house last night. You know, the kind where you get out the nice dishes and sit in the dining room? ( Sorry to anyone who’s been to my house recently…you didn’t get a real dinner party, I guess 
).
I have to admit, though, I was nervous. Not about what we would talk about, whether my children would be obnoxious or break a dish, or whether my food would taste okay (…well, maybe a little about that). I was mostly nervous about whether anyone would fall off our crumbling chairs that are part of our crumbling dining room set. So the pie in the sky dream is that I could go out and buy that brand new set I’ve been mooning over online for many months now. But, the reality is that I just can’t do it. And there’s no hope of it happening anytime soon, either.
So I was forced to make a decision: should I, then, not invite guests over or should I just deal with my aging, innefficient set that left some sitting on metal folding chairs and my kids at a separate table? My decision, obviously, was the latter. Why?
Because it seemed to me that this scenario was a little like the Mary & Martha scenario found in Luke 10. These women had the privilege of hosting Jesus in their home. Martha busilly scurried around trying to make everything perfect, while Mary simply sat at the feet of Jesus soaking in her time with him. I realized that I could scurry around trying to make everything perfect, or worse yet, not even have guests over. Or I could do my best to prepare for them, and then just enjoy the opportunity to bless people who were new and struggling to meet people.
I’m glad my pride didn’t get in the way of a wonderful night. I’m thankful that my food didn’t burn, that my kids were (mostly) well behaved, and that no one fell off a chair! I think I’ll do this again, metal chairs and all…
1. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” 3. For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper. And from the deadly pestilence. 4. He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. 5. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; 6. Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. 7. A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you. 8. You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked. 9. For you have made the LORD, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. 10. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. 11. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. 12. They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone. 13. You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the serpent you will trample down. 14. “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known my name. 15. “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16. “With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.”
28. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. 29. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 30. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
I AM
I AM THAT I AM
I am a father to Israel
I am a great King
I am alive for evermore (Jesus)
I am Alpha and Omega (Jesus)
I am for you
I am from above (Jesus)
I am God
I am God Almighty (more…)
1. So come on, let’s leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on “salvation by self-help” and turning in trust toward God; 2. baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. 3. God helping us, we’ll stay true to all that. But there’s so much more. Let’s get on with it!
