Corona Devo 1939

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. (2) Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.    ~Hebrews 13:1-2

I'm not sure if they were angels...but I am also not sure that they were not.  And that's why God says do not forget to show hospitality to strangers...because we never know.

I read this verse first in the morning, before starting my day and without any idea of the people I would encounter in that day.  But God knew.  He always knows.

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. (2) Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.    ~Hebrews 13:1-2

Because of a few different events (on the same day), I encountered some people that I knew, and many that I did not.   

My first "entertaining" came when I was exiting a door and a man that our family has known for about nine years was entering.  He started a conversation with me.  

"I want to thank you for the kindnesses of your family.  You have a special family", he said quietly.  

I thanked him in response.  He is a knowledgeable older man who has been influential and has taught our children and many young people...much.  

I often thank him for his investment in the next generation, and I was about to press on and out through the door, but he continued.

"Where does your family go to church?", he asked.

I told him the name of our church, and then I looked him in the eyes as I said, "We would love for you to come with us one Sunday soon."

He said, "I would like that", and I knew that he meant it.

It's difficult to remain composed when your dreams (and prayers) are coming true (someone is seeking Jesus and I could be blessed to aid in the process)...but I held it together, and we parted in a very average way even though I think something anything-but-average transpired between us in that doorway.

He had said that my family "was special", but what he doesn't know is that my family is not special.  God is special, and anything special about my family is God, and Him shining through us...but it's not us.  It's Him-through-us.

But, Him-through-us was God's plan all along in terms of leading others to Himself. 

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. (16) In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  ~Matthew 5:14-16

~~~

Later that day, a woman walked in that I had met only once before.  I said hello politely and asked her how she was doing?  Her strained face told me that she was not okay, and in the next thirty seconds, she shared with me that she had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer.  I believe she has five children and one of her littles stood holding her hand silently right now. 

The reality of her statement hung in the air and I saw the sadness and questions and discombobulation in her eyes.

"Where do we go from here?" seemed to be the question she was asking. 

What do you say?  What can you say to Cancer?  

I told her that I will be praying for her recovery and I meant it.  (Pray for Janell with me).  But I also told her about God--that He loves her and that He will not abandon her (He won't.)   My mind (of course) went first to Christ, and I shared His hope with her.  

But my mind went second to a sister-in-Christ of mine whose husband had stage four incurable cancer., and the doctors told her husband that it would be a couple months at best.

But he didn't listen, and that was a year and a half ago.  

He and his wife got busy living...not dying, and they took vitamins like Zinc and D3 and he ate apricot seeds and stopped eating sugar and today he is cancer free.  

The cancer doctors can't explain his healing, and neither can I, but what if what helped him could help the saddened woman sitting with her seven-year old across from me at the table right now?  

I didn't orchestrate these conversations, but what if God did?

• Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.  ~Psalm 139:4  

• Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. (2) Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.    ~Hebrews 13:1-2

~~~

Still later that day, I met a Jewish lady who taught me a new vocabulary word: bashert.  I loved the sound of it (a Jewish word), and I loved the meaning of it even more when she told it to me: meant to be, as if events have been orchestrated (by God) in order for the result to fall into place: meant to be.

After asking me where our son was headed to college, I gave her a short synopsis of our family becoming aware of a university thirty-hours from our house.  I told her about the past couple months and the rapid order of events, emotions, experiences, confirmations, and now, our current (complete) peace with his college choice. 

My (new) Jewish friend identified the whole process perfectly: bashert (meant to be). 

I absolutely agree.  

And not just about our son's college choice--this whole day has been bashert (meant to be).  Each exchange, each person, each opportunity for faith and life: bashert.

Coincidence?  No way.

Random?  I doubt it.

Ordained?  Why would that be so hard for us to believe?

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. (2) Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.    ~Hebrews 13:1-2

A seeker wanting to come to church...

Hope of Heaven and possible healing...

A new vocabulary word from a new friend...

            All of it: Bashert.

I'm not sure if they were angels...but I am also not sure that they were not.  And that's why God says do not forget to show hospitality to strangers...because we never know.

Blessings,  

sarah  

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com