Corona Devo 1925

Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.  ~Proverbs 14:4

We do not have a clean stable right now...our house is in a bit of disarray and needs a wipe-down and a full vacuum treatment.  But, oh, how we are blessed by the large harvest that created the mess.  

Many friends and family recently came over and much food was enjoyed, and clean-up is an inevitable piece of the entertaining puzzle.  But as the author of Proverbs so poetically penned: we can either have a "clean stable" or "a large harvest".  I'll take the large harvest everytime, and I praise the Lord for the blessing of a stable that was full.

Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.  ~Proverbs 14:4

~~~

The multi-family vacation is a ton of work, I know.  Coordinating meals, sharing the space, dividing the responsibilities and time.  Compromise.  But the family ties that are woven and the memories made are priceless, and they become the foundational fabric of stories around the dinner table for years and generations to come.  

Make and take the time and effort to BE together.  It's worth the messes made.  It's worth the patience stretched.  It's worth the grace given.  The large harvest will be worth the messy stable.

When love permeates our spirit, it covers everything and everyone, and love paves the way for unity with family and friends.  This is the largest harvest we could hope for in this life.

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.  ~I peter 4:8

~~~

It's easy to cut-out the difficult people in our lives.  It's simpler (for us) to disengage with people that we disagree with or (just plain) don't like, but God never intended for His people to live on individual islands: He created us for community.  Yes, people will require an investment of our time, our resources, and of ourselves, but God designed the full life that way.    

Our lives will have fulfillment and depth when we share them with others.  Keep meeting together.  It matters and it makes a difference.  Keep encouraging one another.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (24) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, (25) not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  ~Hebrews 10:23-25

~~~

People are messy.  No one's life is a perfectly wrapped package tied up neatly with a bow.  Not mine, and not yours  But if we will open our hearts and open our stable, then we can let others in...to our friendships, our homes, our circles and to our faith too.  

Because---have you noticed?  Life goes pretty quickly. We just don't have the time and years to waste on resentments and serving only ourselves.  Jesus Christ died on the cross so that we might have life.  And not only life...but that we might have to to the fullest (John 10:10).  A full life comes from serving our Savior and sharing in community with those God has given us.

But Jesus Christ also died on the cross so that we might tell as many people as possible about His glory and His story...so that others might have the door to Heaven opened to them as well.  Our time is short, and hospitality is in short supply.  Love someone in the name of Christ today.  Let's open up our stable, and just watch and wait for the large harvest.  

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. (8) Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (9) Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (10) Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (11) If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.  ~I Peter 4:7-11 

~~~

As I vacuumed my stairs and sucked-up some frosting from a sugar cookie on one of the steps, my heart was happy as I recalled the little girl who had dropped the sweet crumbs as she intently licked and chomped the cookie while climbing the stairs with her tiny hands clenching the cookie.

And later, I had to smile when I saw the stem of a chocolate-covered strawberry in my master-bedroom bathroom garbage can.  "Who was eating a strawberry in my bathroom?", the logical and clean stable-side of me wondered.  But the large harvest half of my heart swelled with joy because there have been many oxen in the stable, and (at least) one of them was enjoying the sweets.

Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.  ~Proverbs 14:4

I'll take the large harvest everytime, and I praise the Lord for the blessing of the stable that was full.

Blessings,  

sarah  

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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