Hospitality: friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors or strangers. The Bible instructs in Romans 12:9-13 NIV — Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

There is an entire industry devoted to hospitality. Colleges offer hospitality degrees. My favorite vacation spot, Disney World, has perfected the business of hospitality. So how do you and I individually obey this command to practice hospitality? As you worship today, ponder and brainstorm what hospitality means to you. Think about hospitality through the lens of Christianity. This week we will explore different avenues to practice hospitality.

Let’s pray. Dear God, fill my mind with ways You would have me practice hospitality. Guide and direct my thoughts so I may be able to receive Your message for me this week. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Ephesians 5:10 MSG —- Figure out what will please the Christ, then do it.

What are your take-aways from this week on intention? Click here as we discuss our take-aways and thoughts in today’s See You Saturday video.

Isaiah 40:31 KJV — But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.

Today’s verse is the same I shared on Sunday of this week. As I mentioned on Sunday, this is my life verse. This verse encompasses my faith journey. As we finish this week together, I encourage you to identify your life verse. We would love to hear from you and have you share your life verse with us. Comment on this post on WordPress, Facebook or Instagram. Share with us the verse and/or the reason the verse is important to you.

I pray this week you have become aware and examined your intentions. May God open each of our eyes not only to His presence but also to our intentionality within the days He has gifted us. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the time I have. Open my eyes to my intentions. May I reflect You in all I say and do. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Interesting fact about my birth — My parents spent their time focusing on my arrival and learning to adjust to life with a newborn. My dad didn’t spend any time preparing a sermon because he planned to use the one he had prepared but didn’t preach the day I was born. On the Saturday following my birth he contacted the Lay Leader who filled in for him to thank him. Only then did he find out the Lay Leader had read dad’s sermon that was left on the pulpit. Back to the drawing board!

Romans 12:9-10 NIV — Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Are you able to spend time with your family? What do you do with the time you are with them? Is the TV or your phone the focus of your attention? Be aware of your actions and your focus when you are able to be with your family. Spend time intentionally thanking God for the family and love in your life. What can you do to show sincere love and attention to your family? What can you do to show them your gratitude?

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for my family. Open my eyes to the ways I can show love to them and help me to be intentional about my time with them. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Interesting fact about my birth — I was born on a Sunday around 1:00 pm. I was healthy and weighed 6 pounds.

Ephesians 5:11 MSG — Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness.

The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas tend to be full of busy schedules. I have encouraged you to evaluate the activities you are choosing so you can give only the best to your choices. Today I challenge you to examine your time within your schedule. Are you using your time wisely? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts, words, and actions within your time? Are you wasting your time on useless work? Is your time full of busywork?

Prayerfully consider your time. Allow God to show you any pocket of time that perhaps you are wasting. I am not encouraging you to become busier but to be aware and intentional about your use of time.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank you for the time I have today. Open my eyes and show me any moments I am wasting on barren pursuits. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Interesting fact about my birth — On the day I was born, the Lay Leader at my dad’s church filled in for his absence, led the service, and preached.

Ephesians 5:17 NIV — Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

As we move toward Christmas, we all begin to have full schedules. If you are like me you may often feel like a circus clown juggling plates while riding a unicycle. The clown is often off balance and more often than not a plate gets dropped. As we have been talking about being intentional about our time, I realize I want to do better this holiday season. I vow to lay down some of the plates I am juggling this year and intentionally serve only the best on the plates I carry!

As I start each morning with devotion I will turn to the above scripture to be sure I am following God’s will. I will allow God to guide my intentions for each day as we close out 2023. I challenge you to do the same. May we be ever present in the moments of each day so that our actions reflect our intentions. Ultimately our overall intention is to be the best reflection of Christ we can be. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, as I spend time with You each morning, show me Your will. Each day may I live up to the potential You have for me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Interesting fact about my birth — When my mom called my dad and told him it was time to go to the hospital, dad rushed out and left his sermon laying on the pulpit.

Ephesians 5:11-17 MSG — Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.

Yesterday I encouraged you to intentionally reflect. In 2018 my word for the year was intention. Merriam-Webster defines intention as a determination to act in a certain way: resolve. As we continue to move closer to the end of 2023 I encourage you to be very intentional about your time. In October, did you start the Last 90 Days challenge? How is it going? Are you relishing your time? What can you do today to be intentional? Most of all, I encourage you to spend time in prayer and devotion to “Make sure you understand what the Master wants” as it says in Epesians 5:17 MSG.

Let’s pray. Dear God, help me to have resolve and be intentional with my time. As I spend time with You, open my mind and direct my path so I am sure of what You want for me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Interesting fact about my birth — On the Sunday I was born, when my mom went into labor, my dad, a United Methodist minister, was at church across the road from our house preparing for worship.