Merry Christmas! Is that plate still available?

Dear Friends,

Thinking back on Thanksgiving and how it’s a time of celebration, family get togethers, and having guests at our homes. I recently heard the story of a grandmother who sent a text out inviting the family over for Thanksgiving dinner. She accidentally sent it to a single young man not in her family. He responded, “Who is this, you’re not my grandmother but is that plate still available for Thanksgiving dinner?” She responded, “Yes, it is,” and that was the beginning of a long relationship. He has been coming to her house for over ten years for Thanksgiving dinner. Over the years as he eventually married and had children, he would bring his family.

This inspired me to think of this time of year and those people all around us that have no place to go, no family, no one who cares or even notices them. And the question I asked myself was, “Are you open to having people you don’t know over for a meal? Is your home available to those who feel abandoned, rejected, or just have no family around to go to?” Occasionally over the years one of our kids or grandkids would bring someone over for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Many times, we did not know them, but we always wanted them to feel welcome. We would try to engage them in conversation and hopefully before long they were able to relax and enjoy the time with us.

As we head into this Christmas season the focus is often on what presents are we going to give and/or what do we want for Christmas. What if we began to think about what we can do to open our homes to someone who does not have anyone to celebrate this season with. To just have a place available at our family celebration for a stranger that we can reach out to and make them feel welcome as a part of our family gathering.

Christmas is about the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, who came to save us from our sins and bring us into a relationship with Him. His life was a model of living in this world as a light in the darkness, especially reaching out to those outcasts, disenfranchised, lonely, hurting people that no one seems to notice or care for. What if during this season you thought about having a plate available at your table for one of these.

“For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you cared for me, in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? “The king will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Mt.25: 35-40)

As we wrap up this current year and begin a new one, we pray that you and your loved ones have a wonderful and meaningful Christmas season and a new year of experiencing God’s love and grace in your life.

God bless,

Mike & Jane

“Learning To Do What Jesus Did” is available on YouTube.

In addition to the 9 DVD series being available through Wholeness Ministries you can now watch the entire series on YouTube. The book, an excellent training manual, has been taught around the world and is available in English and Spanish. You can buy the Book, CD’s or DVD’s at the Wholeness Shop.

Learning To Do What Jesus Did (9 parts)
Available on Youtube