River of Life Church
  • Home
  • How Can I Serve
  • Map
  • Pastor Mark Radeke
  • Giving
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact
  • ReMarkablog
  • Beliefs
  • Event Photos
  • Daily Bible Reading
  • Online Messages
  • Service Volunteer Sign-up

A Powerful, Quiet Gift

7/18/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
There is a spiritual gift of hospitality that does not seem to get as much attention as the demonstrative gifts such as teaching, preaching, or prophesying.  The gift of hospitality is a powerful gift that is amazing to see in action. I am writing this from Tremont, Illinois at the home where Rachel and the team has been the recipient of the gift of hospitality from Stan and Jeannie over the past eleven months.

We made it from Minnesota to Illinois with one cooler (see previous blog “Packing Light”) and four of us in a five passenger car. Rachel looked at how full the back was and gave real wonder if all her luggage would fit. I reassured her that the straps I brought would resolve any space limitations.

Stan and Jeannie made us feel very welcomed and showed us to “our rooms”. Each room was not only made up with clean sheets and towels, but had bottled water, snacks, and extra toiletries in case we forgot to bring toothpaste, toothbrush or anything else.

The couple hosted a get together yesterday evening with the parents of each of the A4 interns and some of the staff that instructed and worked with the interns. Each table had a white tablecloth, cookies and treats that made the setting special. Barbecued brats, burgers and side dishes filled our plates and stomachs.

Stan and Jeannie feel that the things they have are from the Lord and should be used for kingdom purposes. They use the extra rooms in their home to host pastors, missionaries, A4 teams, grandchildren and others who need a place to stay.

Our church has people with the wonderful gift of hospitality and they do not even know it! They make people feel at ease and welcomed the moment they step in the door. Their greatest joy is sharing the things God has given them.  They do not realize the power and grace their gift of hospitality brings into the lives of the people they touch. Rachel and the team have been so saturated with Stan and Jeannie’s gift of hospitality that now it overflows from their life.

Romans 12:13
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Mark Radeke

    Husband of one, father of five, pastor and friend of many.

    Archives

    December 2022
    March 2021
    April 2020
    January 2019
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All
    10 Commandments.
    Bible
    Business
    Christian Living
    Church
    Dreams
    Easter
    Evil
    Famous People
    Finishing Well
    Forgiveness
    Freedom
    Global Poverty
    God
    Grace
    Heaven
    Holidays
    Holy Spirit
    Hope
    Kingdom Of God
    Love
    Marriage
    Money
    New Ventures
    Outreach
    Parables
    Parenting
    Peace
    Poverty
    Prayer
    Prophecy
    Retreat Highlights
    Salvation
    Senior Citizens
    Spiritual Gifts
    Trinity
    Trust
    Valentine's Day Stats
    Water Baptism
    Wisdom
    Worship

    RSS Feed