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hospitality

How does one intend to make a weekend trip to Chicago and end up staying in a strangers’ home on Monday night? Well, snow will do that to you.

our Planted cat on a snowy afternoon

Some of you may have heard about the snowstorm that swept the Northeastern part of the US a couple of weekends ago - and what better thing to do on such a weekend than road trip?! Well, it wasn’t our first choice, but unfortunately, the funeral of a friend of ours brought us out to Chicago, where, besides actually attending the funeral, we enjoyed being hosted by my husband’s former pastor’s family, who faithfully fed us many meals and let us hang out at their house. We also enjoyed sitting in on an hour of class at the Chicago Course on Preaching, which is near and dear to our hearts.

On Monday, we finally attempted to drive home, but after a couple hours of driving on snowy roads, we pulled off the main Indiana toll road to reassess our choice and find a place to spend the night. I soon remembered that one of my dear Planted classmates (who now lives in Hawaii and writes here) was from that area of Indiana, and after a couple hours and a Target run, we pulled into my friend’s best friend’s parents’ driveway (yes, you read that right) and walked up their front steps, where we were warmly welcomed in, served dinner, and given a place to lay our heads.

weeknight dinner at home - chicken corn chowder and almond flour biscuits

Hospitality is an beautiful gift and picture of the gospel. Sometimes we share hospitality with old friends, and other times to strangers we’ve never met before! It reminds me of Ephesians 2, where Paul reminds us that we who were once strangers to the promises of God have been welcomed in and treated like sons and daughters:

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ…So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundations of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

Ephesians 2:11-21

This passage is not about hospitality, but the concept of being brought near, once a stranger, now a daughter, is pictured so well when people welcome one another into their homes. I am amazed by peoples’ willingness to give of their time, energy, and resources to model this virtue and hope that I will have many opportunities to cultivate hospitality in my own home!

This passage also encourages me as I think about how often I still feel “far off”. It’s a great reminder that it’s the blood of Christ that allows me to draw near, confident in my identity as a member of God’s own family, growing into a holy temple. May you grow in your confidence in Him this week!

Singing God’s greatness: Take My Heart With Altar Fire

Prayer points:

• Praise God for the 12” of snow we have - if it has to be cold, at least it’s pretty!

• Please pray for CJ and I as we adjust to marriage and learn to show grace to one another in many areas.

• Please pray for our students as they prepare for some upcoming trips.

• Please pray for physical health. I’ve been dealing with some minor ongoing symptoms for about a year that I’m working to deal with through diet and lifestyle adjustments, but healing can be a slow process.

Ministry moment: This Monday, we hosted 6 prospective students, which made for a VERY long but sweet day. I am often prospective students’ first staff contact, so I love getting to meet them in person and get to know them a little bit.

Rooted in Him,
Kate