Heaven’s Hospitality for Women

One day as I drove to a speaking engagement to a women's event in South Dakota I was praying about International Women's Day. It was heavy on my heart that the women of the world are not taught their value in Jesus. God began to place on my heart all of the stories that helped me realize my value. These stories are the very stories that helped me to discover my identity in Christ and that I am worthy of honor and respect. I could not wait to go home and compile the list of what God gave me that helped me to discover Heaven's Hospitality toward me! God gave this to me when I was writing and teaching Heaven's Hospitality so I called it Heaven’s Hospitality for Women. Jesus’ conversations with women reveal that He knew women had the capability to comprehend the gospel, discuss theology, be a witness, make disciples, provide financial assistance, and assist in ministry without being a seductress. Jesus allowed women to be actively involved in kingdom building. Jesus’ interactions with women transcended culturally defined roles. 1. Jesus honored His mother’s request to turn water to wine at the wedding of Cana (John 2:11). 2. Jesus initiates conversations with foreign women (John 4:9). 3. Jesus did not gloss over the sin but confronted the sin of the women He interacted (John 4:16-18). 4. Jesus allowed women to be actively involved in kingdom building (John 4:21-24; 39-42). 5. Jesus trusted a woman’s testimony to lead an entire village (John 4:21-24; 39-42). 6. Jesus revealed His identity to a woman (John 4:26). 7. Jesus healed women: Peter’s mother-in-law and Woman with blood flow (Luke 4:38-41; 8:44; Luke 13:16). 8. Jesus spoke to women in public and showed He was tender hearted toward their suffering (Luke 7:11-17). 9. Jesus welcomes worship from a sinful woman (Luke 7:38; Matthew 26:13). 10. Jesus forgave/forgives women (Luke 7:48). 11. Jesus gave dignity when man sought shame and when the law demanded judgment (Luke 7:36-50). 12. Jesus trusted women to be persons of faith (Luke 7:50). 13. Jesus allowed women to travel with Him for ministry (Luke 8:1-3). 14. Jesus allowed women to minister to Him financially (Luke 8:1-3). 15. Jesus confronted sin with mercy (John 8:11). 16. Jesus used affectionate familial terms when talking to women… daughter (Luke 8:48). 17. Jesus showed compassion to women and did not view women as unclean (John 8:43-48). 18. Jesus settled disputes with a kingdom view (Luke 10:41). 19. Jesus commends sacrifice of widowed woman (Luke 21:2). 20. Jesus noticed the outcast and socially invisible woman (Luke 21:2). 21. Jesus took care of His mother (John 19:26). 22. Jesus used women as eye-witnesses (Mark 16:11; John 20:11-18; Matthew 28:1-10). 23. Jesus parables about women to teach truth (Matthew 25, Luke 15; 18). 24. Jesus had theological discussions with the Samaritan Woman on Living Water, Martha on the Resurrection of Life, and Mary Magdalene was the first eyewitness after Jesus rose from the grave. I do not feel this list is exhaustive. I realize that I need to make a list for the Old Testament too! My favorite Bible story to use in the Old Testament is the Widow's Oil in 1 Kings 4:1-7. We also need to consider the Ten Commandments, the Great Commandment, the Great Commission, and the Spiritual Gifts. These are commands and gifts that are given with the intent that both men and women fulfill them. If I may encourage the freedom that is modeled and commanded to be lived out among us. Live in Heaven’s hospitality and be a blessing as you are blessed.

Heaven's Hospitality: How am I Giving Hospitality to my one?

The Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46) https://youtu.be/_mJ969mHD9M

Have you ever wondered, "Who am I responsible to share hospitality to?" I know for me it feels overwhelming to think that there is a whole world out there and I could be considered responsible for them. 

But, I AM NOT! I cannot give hospitality to the whole world! It is impossible. I cannot be communal to all people, or generous and sacrificial to all people. I am not capable to reach all people everywhere to share the presence of God or HIS plan! 

I recently had someone contact me from far away and tell me that God told them I was to give them money. I took the time to pray and ask God, "Am I supposed to do give money to this person?" 

It really bothered me because this person is a total stranger and not someone that I would even know if they had not found me via social media. But, I did not want to ignore it if God wanted me to do it. I prayed. I did not feel led to do anything. Then I struggled how do I gracefully help this person to hear that I do not feel I am responsible for their need. The person kept asking. I almost felt harrassed. I finally said, "God has not confirmed for me that this is what I am supposed to do." 

My hospitality came through the form of gracious and kindness in the face of a demand. The person then said to me, "Then I will pray you will hear from God!" 

This really bothered me because I am studying the importance of hospitality and I am seeking to honor God in what I do, how I give, and how I serve. And, I did not feel that the person was honoring me with hospitality the way they were demanding of me. I really struggling over the many requests that come in from strangers. 

We are called to be kind to all, but where do we draw the line? How do I know who to give my hospitality to? One truth that we discovered in this study is that in the Biblical middleeast hospitality is something that we do for a stranger not a family member. When we are kind to a family member this is considered to be steadfast love. I found myself asking, Does this make every stranger my stranger to serve? On some levels, yes! 

Kindness is easily given and will never be regretted. But, there is a difference from being welcoming, kind, caring, and loving to giving generously and sacrificially. 

As I reflect on Jesus' life and the way He walked around and served, I realized that He did not take care of all the people that bumped into Him, yet when the bleeding woman reached out to touch Him healing went out from Him. There were also times that Jesus allowed disciples to walk away simply because the message He taught was too hard for them to follow. This made me realize that if Jesus did not offer His gifts to all then I, too, should be wise in who and how I give and serve. This is when we must trust the Holy Spirit to work out in us. 

In the last year, I had another person contact me and ask me if I would train his wife. I was intrigued so I did my research and prayed. I felt led to move forward. This has proven to be one of the most blessed times for both of our families. We all know and feel the blessing of God at work in us. This person that was a stranger has become like family to our family. Greg and I know joy overflowing when we talk of them and in preparation to get together. 

I discovered that by freely giving our gifts of hospitality to this person both of our families gave honor to God. It wasn't about our gifts, but our mutual love for the LORD and His movement in us. Blessings overflowed. It was not a chore, but a delight to sacrifice together. 

I honestly do not know why God put on my heart to say "no" to one and a "yes" to another, but I recognize that we all have our limits in what we can do. I almost wonder if God made me say, "no" to the first person because that situation would take the glory away from God and not give it to Him. 

In today's Bible story, it opens with the Son of Man sitting on His glorious throne and gathering the nations to Him along with His angels. Glory is very prominent because the story is all about honoring Him. 

What if we asked ourselves, "How can I give Him the glory due His name in this situation?" and allowed that to determine if we are to say, "yes" or "no" and give our hospitality! 

In this, I am talking about more than neighborly kindness. I am talking about the communal, generous, sacrifice that will lead to joining Jesus as He serves amongst us in cognito!     

I am accountable to my one through The ONE! The very person in front of me should receive all of the fruits of the spirit that reside in me through Jesus! 

The last Bible story for Heaven's Hospitality releases us from the pressure of the whole world, but it holds us accountable to the least of these in our area of influence. 

I had to learn to recognize that my spirit of welcome is for all, but my time, talent, and treasures should be given out as the LORD leads in hopes that I bless Him unawares! 

Go check it out in Matthew 25:31-46. It will be very comforting, but get yourself ready because it will also be convicting. 

Who is your one?

How do I know I am not missing the one truth God wants me to know?

Sometimes we can be doing all the right things and miss the one truth that is the most important. Other times we can be in the right truth and not necessarily doing all the right things! 

How do we know when we are missing something that will make a huge difference in our lives and those around us? 

In today's Heaven's Hospitality story we will discover what two different men had to know in order for them to move forward in heaven's hospitality. What did God do to help each man gain the knowledge he needed? How did God speak to Cornelius? How did God speak to Peter? 

The one thing that really stood out to me was the fact that both men were doing life as they normally would do it and it was in their routine that God showed up and gave them a vision.

God made a way for each man to know what he needed to know so that he could serve Him better. If we trust God to reveal to us His plan in our lives he will meet us in our ordinary routine as we seek to draw near to Him and live out our lives. He loves to make ordinary moments into extraordinary. This is one of His many gifts He loves to pour upon us. 

We will also discover that heaven's hospitality is offered to all people everywhere, but not everyone knows that it has been offered to them.Do you see that with God there are no favorites! He loves all people everywhere! Every nation! Every tribe! Every tongue! There is none that are greater than any other. We all have blood and we all have skin. We may look different and have different customs, but the reality is we are all created in His image and He welcomes all! 

Which one do you more identify with Cornelius or Peter? Or do you not identify with either and feel like you are in the crowd? Would you consider asking God to reveal Himself to you and show you that He also welcomes you? 

 Shalom y'all!

Heaven's Hospitality: Joshua 2 Rahab and the Two Spies

I love that GOD is always at work! I love that HE uses unexpected guests in our lives to reveal His plan. I love that He will allow us to give hospitality to people that we may not even know that GOD is orchestrating something far beyond our imagination! I love welcoming people into our home and I love it when we have the privilege of different nations being represented. I often wonder what God will do through my dear friends and our lives as we enjoy a meal or visit. 

In this week's Heaven's Hospitality, we will discover that GOD uses unexpected guests to reveal His great plan in the life of Rahab, a prostitute, that was willing to lie to protect two spies from another land. Why would she do that? Well, if you are following this series you will have caught by now that Rahab was honoring the Biblical middle east ethics of hospitality. She recognized that God was at work and that His plan was unfolding. She did not want to be left out! I know I don't! 

May we all have such a heart to see GOD at work around us!

Heaven's Hospitality: 1 Samuel 25 Nabal, Abigail & David

Sometimes, when we are in a situation where we feel oppressed and not important we can discover that it is in the moments that God can most use us. In today's Bible story, we will discover that two oppressed people: a servant and a wife end up saving their entire clan and reminding the man of God, God's chosen path for him. As you listen to the story of Nabal, Abigail, and David unfold examine the outcomes of their hospitality and how it impacted those around them. The constrasts in this story are quite profound. Let me know what you discover! Shalom y'all!