Who said that it would be easy?!

Who said that it would be easy? Who said that it will be a continual joy?

When I first started home educating my Danny boy it was all lovely, joyful and full of blessings. It was a new experience, full of great hope and high expectations of myself. As the days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, and months into years, and those years have brought 2 more blessings into our life, the busyness... of life has somehow managed to take away the daily joy I once had.

A couple of months ago for my birthday, one of my best-friends gave me a book titled 'Hands Free Mama'. Upon receiving it I did not realize how much of an impact that book would have on my life. My friend could see that I needed it, and I am SO grateful that she followed the Spirits leading and gave it to me
You see, my life was so busy, yes busy even with things people would call 'good' things, that I was missing out on the daily blessings that God had given me, MY BOYS! Yes, I was giving my time to people who may of needed it, BUT I was not giving my undivided attention and time to those who needed me and my time the MOST, my family.

 Because of how busy my life was of doing 'good' things, I no longer was educating my boys in the ways I had planned and God had shown. It was all heading down the path of BEST Curriculum choices, workbooks, workbooks, workbooks, get your subjects done and lots of unpleasant speaking (from Bossy Mean Mama). Where had the happy times gone? How could they disappear so quickly? Yes, I had been tricked into the false teaching that busyness achieves much. As always, my loving Savior had brought it to the forefront of my attention, through a loving and faithful friend. Oh how our days are slowly getting better again. Yes, of course some of my days are still tearful and we are continually sending up prayers, but what a wonderful promise we have ------

"It costs something to bring children up in the way of God. It costs a mother's tears and a father's prayers. It calls for unflagging effort, for patient instruction, here a little and there a little. But this work pays. Parents can thus build around their children bulwarks which will preserve them from the evil that is flooding our world". {RH, July 9, 1901 par. 17}

I know it's hard to educate your child for the Lord. I know that at times you will feel that you have lost your own life and you don't know it no more. We feel alone, even though surrounded with so much love. Frustrated, because it's a struggle to voice your difficulties because many will only criticize. But STAND FIRM! You are doing an AWESOME work! Pray CONTINUALLY, and say this quote out LOUD with us....

'The greatest want of the world is the want of men,--men who will not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are true and honest; men who do not fear to call sin by its right name; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.' --Education, p. 57

Many blessings from our family to yours :-)

The GIFT we have ALL recevied

hos•pi•tal•i•ty

1. the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers; an act or show of welcome.

2. the quality of being hospitable and welcoming to guests or strangers. 

 

Hospitality is not an act that we should do from time to time, instead it should be a lifestyle. The lifestyle of hospitality if very different to entertaining guests. Entertaining guests means to put on a show and make everything perfect for a special occasion, whereas being hospitable means to be readily available at any time, may it be day or night, to welcome guests into your home and make them feel welcome to stay at your home and share a meal with you.

Hospitality was the lifestyle of the early church:

 

 "And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."   Acts 2: 44-47

 

Believers in the early church did not offer hospitality only once a month or 'once a blue moon'. It was a daily practise. They were so in love with the Lord and learning more about Him through His sacred word that they looked forward to the evenings where they could get together with other believers. And what time of the day was the perfect time? MEAL TIME. 

There is something amazing in the above passage. In verse 47, it states that the Lord added 'DAILY' to the church! Why do you think that was? The quickest way to become close friends with someone and have an opportunity to praise God in front of strangers or neightbours is to invite them over for a meal - right? If you were invited to your neighbours home for a meal, would you feel a little closer to them then if you never were invited? Of course you would!

 

I grew up in a home which practised hospitality continually. I would often come home from school and walk into the house where my mum would be sitting with her friends having afternoon tea. Often that afternoon tea would extend into the evening meal and what a lovely time we would all have. Also, we never had to ask mum if we could have friends over on friday night for opening of Sabbath and dinner, or for Sabbath lunch. My mother was amazing! Each friday night she made from scratch pizzas and apple crumble, and we would often sit around a huge bonfire which dad had prepared during the week for us. For Sabbath mum always prepared delectable food and always a special dessert to finish it off. Hospitality was a way of life growing up, and it has continued to be so in our family too.

You may say "You have the gift of hospitality, but I don't". Well have I got some wonderful news for you:

 

"Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."  1 Peter 4: 9,10

 

We all have the gift of hospitality. Yes that gift may not of been used before or for a long time, and for some it may come more naturally for others, but you do still have it. To be hospitable is command that is given to all believers; we are to be "... given to hospitality"  Romans 12:13

Do you know what the meaning of 'given' in the above verse means in the original language? The word translates to 'diōkō', which means to pursue, follow (after),  press towards. AMAZING! It's to be like an addiction: "I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)" 1 Corinthians 16:15

We should not only invite people to come to our home, but we are to pursue and give them little or no option to not come :o) How wonderful - imagine how our church would be and how many people would be added to our church if we practiced this biblical instruction.

 

As we draw nearer to the end of time the lifestyle of hospitality should be even more so practiced. Look at this ending address of Peters:  "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." 

Hebrews 10:24,25

I would like to close with a few sombering statements from Spirit of Prophecy:

     "A lover of hospitality" is among the specifications given by the Holy Spirit as marking one who is to bear responsibility in the church. And to the whole is given the injunction: "Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 1 Peter 4:9, 10.  {6T 342.4}  

     These admonitions have been strangely neglected. Even among those who profess to be Christians, true hospitality is little exercised. Among our own people the opportunity of showing hospitality is not regarded as it should be, as a privilege and blessing. There is altogether too little sociability, too little of a disposition to make room for two or three more at the family board, without embarrassment or parade. Some plead that "it is too much trouble." It would not be if you would say: We have made no special preparation, but you are welcome to what we have." By the unexpected guest a welcome is appreciated far more than is the most elaborate preparation.  {6T 343.1}  

...God is displeased with the selfish interest so often manifested for "me and my family." Every family that cherishes this spirit needs to be converted by the pure principles exemplified in the life of Christ. Those who shut themselves up within themselves, who are unwilling to be drawn upon to entertain visitors, lose many blessings.  {6T 344.1}  

... Christ keeps an account of every expense incurred in entertaining for His sake. He supplies all that is necessary for this work. Those who for Christ's sake entertain their brethren, doing their best to make the visit profitable both to their guests and to themselves, are recorded in heaven as worthy of special blessings.  {6T 344.4} 

...We are in a world of sin and temptation; all around us are souls perishing out of Christ, and God wants us to labor for them in every way possible. If you have a pleasant home, invite to it the youth who have no home, those who are in need of help, who long for sympathy and kind words, for respect and courtesy. If you desire to bring them to Christ, you must show your love and respect for them as the purchase of His blood.  {6T 348.1} 

The brows of those who do this work will wear the crown of sacrifice. But they will receive their reward. In heaven we shall see the youth whom we helped, those whom we invited to our homes, whom we led from temptation. We shall see their faces reflecting the radiance of the glory of God. They shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads." Revelation 22:4.

Blessings from our home to yours!