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Faith Filled Friday Blog Link Up

4/12/2012

31 Comments

 
I'm so glad you are here! I hope during your visit you get a glimpse of God's heart for we become what we are gazing at. Currently I am writing my way through Judges sharing glimpses of God's heart and character for a weekday devotional. To check out the entire series so far head on over the the Judges Devotional.   

Hospitality at it's finest

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I went to college to be an elementary school teacher. Deep down the reason was because it was the only thing I thought I was smart enough to do. A couple years into school I had to observe some classrooms and I came home crying everyday because I hated it. It's important for kids to learn History and English and so on but I didn't want to be the one to teach them. All I wanted to do was teach the Bible. But I had no idea what that could look like for a woman. I talked with my pastor and he had me start reading biographies of missionaries. Not long after I talked to my friend Erica about going to Africa with me to visit some missionaries to see what they did. So we were off and I was overwhelmed by the African's generosity even when they had nothing. One family gave us their banana type things and I'm pretty sure it was the last food they had. 

Two years later I went to Nepal and found Nepalese people who shut down their stores if you want to have tea with them. In Mexico they invite you over for dinner and you are there for at least three hours. It seems so many cultures value being with people and offering hospitality above most other things. Above their to-do list, schedule and making money. Kind of like father-in-law in Judges 19.

"His father-in-law, the girl's father, prevailed upon him to stay; so he remained with him three days, eating and drinking, and sleeping there. On the fourth day they got up early and he prepared to leave, but the girl's father said to his son-in-law, "Refresh yourself with something to eat; then you can go." 
This happens a few more nights and finally after a vacation the Levite was"unwilling to stay another night, the man left and went toward Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine." Judges 19:4-10

Like I said in yesterdays post, I dread what's to come in this chapter and am trying to celebrate the verses right in front of me. But all I can think about is this father. If he were to know what was to come, he wouldn't be acting this way, he wouldn't be treating his daughters husband with such delight. He would hold hid daughter tight and never let her leave. 

But we, just like him, don't know what's coming and all we can do is trust the Lord, the One who knows. And if we are walking with Him, we are right where we need to be. So, it seems like a good time to do a heart check. Are you walking in the Spirit, walking with the ability and strength the Lord supplies or relying on your self to live what God has called you to?

In just a few verses, the father-in-law's hospitality is going to be starkly contrasted and the reason the Lord says, "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling" in 1 Pet. 4:7 will become clear. Home is where the heart is right? So when we let people into our life, we have to make room for them. We have to say no to something we may want for their sake. When we aren't in the habit of saying no to every desire we may have it grows. How desperate we are to abide in Christ. The One able to keep us from falling and to present us without fault and with great joy! (Jude 24-25)
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Faith Filled Friday Blog Link Up

We exist to glorify God, to display His heart and character. And I just love how we are all uniquely built to do that. So every Friday I want to give you, uniquely designed by God, an opportunity to link up your thoughts on God, art, baking, photography, parenting, marriage, writing or blogging and more if they tie into or display the the Lord somehow. 

So go ahead and link up below by clicking the link below and following the prompts. I just humbly ask that you please let your readers know by including a link at the bottom of your post (or somewhere on your side bar) or put my button code (found on my side bar or the Faith Filled Friday Tab) so they can find these other great people glorifying God and we can continue to grow as a community. Thanks!    

In effort to encourage others in their writing by faith, please take a minute to comment on the two posts linked up before you. 


I'm linking up with Spiritual Sundays    
31 Comments
peggy aplSEEDS link
4/12/2012 07:20:31 pm

indeed we don't know what's coming in our life and we really have to just trust in God. thank you for sharing and hosting!

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Laura link
4/13/2012 07:24:06 am

It can be so scary sometimes till I remember that if the Lord allows it, He's planned for it. Thanks for joining in. I appreciate you Peggy. :)

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Lyli@3dLessons4Life link
4/12/2012 08:54:38 pm

There is a lot to chew on in this post. Oh, to be "desperate" to abide in Him!

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Laura link
4/13/2012 07:24:41 am

Thanks! Have a great weekend friend.

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Rina Peru link
4/12/2012 09:36:30 pm

Only yesterday as I was singing "Nothing Can Separate Me" in my morning devotion, I thought about all the years that the Lord had cared for me, through sickness and suffering and healing. And I was reminded again that the safest place to be is in His presence - to linger there. And even when we have to go about our work or journeys, His presence leads, shields and protects us.

Blessed weekend!
Rina

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Laura link
4/13/2012 07:25:43 am

So true! And the safest place for my kids... seems harder for me to trust Him with them than it is to trust Him with me.

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Lori @ Everyday Truth link
4/12/2012 09:59:33 pm

What a great reminder to set aside the things that seem so important for the people who really are most important. Great insight into those verses.

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Laura link
4/13/2012 07:36:14 am

Thanks Lori. And thanks for sharing about Susie mag. Sounds awesome.

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Sylvia R link
4/12/2012 11:17:00 pm

"Funny," I was just reading 1 Peter 4 this morning, and the verse that grabbed me this time was v 7, with the emphasis on "hospitality TO ONE ANOTHER." And I thought how we don't do this enough. I thought of how I need to be sure I show/offer hospitality to my family, to my husband, my most familiar friends, as much as to anyone. And how biblical hospitality doesn't mean throwing dinner parties or hosting church picnics or doing events, but simply giving people the time, consideration, care, and concern they need, unselfishly. Good thought-provoking post. Thank you, Laura, and God bless!

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Laura link
4/13/2012 07:39:33 am

How cool! I love when God does that!
Such great insight Sylvia, thanks for sharing!!

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Deb link
4/12/2012 11:47:43 pm

Thanks so much for letting me join. I placed your button on my Link-Ups page at the top of my blog. Our daughter and son-in-law are in the process of adopting from Uganda and I cannot wait to see smiling little faces like in your picture in our home!!! HOPE you have a weekend full of blessings!!!

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Laura link
4/13/2012 07:41:58 am

Thank You for joining. :) I love your heart for the Lord, the lost and the preborn. So beautiful!!

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Joe Pote link
4/12/2012 11:51:32 pm

"How desperate we are to abide in Christ."

So thankful, for His hospitality!

Thank you, Laura, for a beautiful post on a difficult passage.

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Laura link
4/13/2012 07:43:47 am

Thanks Joe. Yeah, this chapter... ugh... well, it just brings so much sorrow and I'm just not excited to write about it. Wish I could just rush through it to the end but I guess without the bad news exposed the good news doesnt seem good.

Thanks for your encouragement.

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Laurie Collett link
4/13/2012 12:18:12 am

Thank you, Laura, for your insight into this portion of Judges that I always dread because of the horrible ending soon to come. Praise God that we can trust in Him and know that He works all things together for our good.
Love in Him,
Laurie

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Laura link
4/13/2012 07:45:55 am

Yes! I feel the same, dread... and praying the Lord uses it. Not many spend time blogging about such awfulness... and I think there is probably a reason for that, lol. Well, if God considers it that important to put in Scripture, I want to value it as much as He does. Have a great weekend friend.

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Salina link
4/13/2012 01:34:47 am

Laura, I really loved this. I too went to college to be an elementary teacher. I graduated with the degree, even went on to finish my Master's, but I do not teach in a classroom. Like you, I don't want to be the one to teach them history, etc. I'll leave that to my husband.

Thanks for reminding us that trusting our Lord is the only option we have. ♥

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Laura link
4/13/2012 07:47:33 am

It is so interesting how the Lord shapes us all so unique but we are the ones that try to fit ourselves into the 6 categories the world has for us. Good thing the Lord is big enough to push us when we need a good pushing. :)

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Robert Moon link
4/13/2012 02:11:47 am

Although my wife and I have not been "missionaries" we have a missionary heart and have sent many with our contributions and prayers.

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Laura link
4/13/2012 07:48:18 am

That is so so awesome Robert! You guys are just so great, and I appreciate you guys a ton!

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Anita link
4/13/2012 11:42:58 am

Hi Laura, thank you for your post. As I have been seeking God's direction for my next steps with Him, I have been so amazingly blessed in how our glorious Lord places His deep love on our hearts for those around us, for His people and the lost.
In a world that is so busy, time for people seems to get lost in the busyness, time is a precious gift. :)

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Laura link
4/14/2012 06:26:19 am

Oh so true! Time... seems like I value it more and more each day.

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JoAnne Potter link
4/13/2012 10:19:06 pm

"It seems so many cultures value being with people and offering hospitality above most other things. Above their to-do list, schedule and making money."

Although I appreciate your insights regarding these verses, the above pierced my heart. How in the world do they learn this kind of hospitality? What kind of world have we made for ourselves...so full of riches but so poor in generosity?

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Laura link
4/14/2012 06:32:13 am

What a great question! I have no idea how they got so hospitable though I bet cultural and family influence play a big role.

I heard on the radio this morning (oh my... or maybe it was yesterday....?) the radio host talking about how blessed we are. And it's true, we are. But God blessed us to be a blessing and that just gets left out a lot. I think the majority of American moments are spent trying to get more and talking about how much we have. And it's just not in our face all the time to bless others since we've been blessed. I just wonder how this could change. I think it has to happen in communities and spread grassrootish.

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Nikki link
4/13/2012 11:13:02 pm

You totally inspire. And there's no greater joy than being what He wants......

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Laura link
4/14/2012 06:33:59 am

Oh Nikki, you are so sweet, thank you!!

Great post btw. :)

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Steve Heany
4/15/2012 12:24:16 am

Laura,
Thanks for your blog and devotional of Judges. I especially love it when you take a daily personal experience from your life and share it, like you did about Easter weekend. Sometimes as we try to share the word and Gods love for us, it is easy to say "This is what the bible says and you should do this." By giving a real world example and showing our weaknesses as well, I really feel it is easier for people to see, that taking the word and the Lord to heart can be done in this complex world.
Thanks again,
Steve Heany (I think you know me)

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Laura link
4/15/2012 01:04:16 pm

DAD!!! How sweet of you to come by and comment! You are the best!!!! Thank you!!!

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Charlotte link
4/15/2012 06:48:10 am

I'm also amazed at how those in other countries seem to be so much more generous with what they have than we do. We could learn much from them. Thank you for sharing your insight with us on Spiritual Sundays again.
Blessings,
Charlotte

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Laura link
4/15/2012 01:05:37 pm

Oh Charlotte, I'm grateful to. You're always so good about stopping by. Thanks! And thanks for hosting!!

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baby girl dresses link
4/21/2013 07:56:59 pm

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this Currently I am writing my way through Judges sharing glimpses of God's heart and character for a weekday devotional. To check out the entire series so far head on over the the Judges Devotional. It is extremely helpful for me.

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