Hey friends! I’m going to get right to the point today. It’s Sunday, a day for rest and reflection. Therefore, I’m giving you something to contemplate today.

I may step on some toes here, and by this point I feel like we’re friends, so I can’t care. I need to tell you something, and I’m going to tell you this as part of our challenge.

Today’s challenge is to meditate on Isaiah 58:7 and Matthew 25:34-46. Just read them, mull them over, think about them. Do they effect you? Does this stuff matter to you?

I am going somewhere with this. I promise you. Yesterday I asked you to think of three people who need you to reach out in hospitality in the next week. And I reminded you that hospitality is an attitude. It’s not about Grandma’s apple crisp recipe. Friends, it’s an overflowing of our relationship with God. It’s an outpouring of who we are. It is also. . . and this is where I’m headed. . . Inclusive. One of the biggest differences to me between entertaining and hospitality is who’s invited. As a follower of Christ, though sometimes it is hard, everyone should have a seat at your table. We do at His! With the help of Sam’s Club and Pinterest, anyone can throw a great party, but WE can go after the people that don’t always get the invite. WE can reach out to the hurting and lonely and poor and sick. WE can pull out a chair for someone who needs to tell their story. For someone who needs to be heard (or seen or noticed). Sometimes making our home a refuge for us means then making our home a refuge for others. And others may mean the people you wouldn’t pick first.

So, think about yesterday’s assignment. Then, do today’s. And tomorrow, we’ll talk again.

Grace and Peace.