Day 11: Hotel Liquidation

Ahhh…Saturday.  Our oldest three were invited for a playdate/sleepover so most of the day we only had the little raccoon in tow.

My brother-in-law, Aaron, built a dining room table for us.  It’s a beast.  It sits 10.  And since it’s arrival, it’s only been able to accommodate one person, because we only have one dining room chair.  So on this Saturday, mostly free of kids, we added a Hotel Liquidation Warehouse to Lent.  It was a very fruitful trip.  We walked out the door with 6 more chairs, a desk chair, 5 mirrors, a little footstool, and more than enough chalk-paint projects to keep me busy.  For me, having this many creative/remodel home projects is like Christmas morning.  I can’t wait to start.

The purpose of these purchases is not just to appease my creative appetite, however.  The goal is to have a plethora of chairs around our gigantic table so that we can fill the seats with warm bodies.  We want to have friends over for dinner.  We want to share life with some people.  We just need somewhere for them to sit.

So while I anxiously await adding brushes, paint, and furniture wax to Lent in the next few days, I also look forward to adding friends at my table.  Acts 2 is my inspiration for these future gatherings…(no pressure.)

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.  And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.  And all who believed were together and had all things in common.  And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved”

Acts 2:42-47

Day 12: Blue Raspberry Pedialyte 

One kiddo didn’t make it all the way through the sleepover.  The tummy bug struck.  So on this twelfth day of Lent, we added blue raspberry Pedialyte.  Poor thing.  Such a little body having to go through such a tough day.  Praise Jesus for electrolytes.  Again, I am made thankful for the healing powers of Jesus and the medicine that He has provided through doctors.

So many fluids are lost during these unfortunate illnesses.  This little one was so thirsty, but couldn’t keep anything down.  I can’t help but think of spiritual thirst and my own failure to keep the living water in my system.  How many times have I gleaned from the Word, only to regurgitate it?

Sharing biblical wisdom is a great thing, but only after it has first permeated through our own souls.  I think more often than not, I take it in, only to spew it out moments later, avoiding deep mediation to have it’s way in me.  I think this often translates into feeling like I am always pouring into others, but never being filled myself.  Well, it’s not for a lack of the Spirit desiring to dwell in me.  It’s not due to a lack of service of those around me.  It’s because I’m rejecting the powerful work of Jesus from actually hydrating my parched soul.

What a humbling (and gross) reminder to spend time meditating and soaking in His word.

“Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.””

John 4:13-14