Keep The Fire Burning 7/5/2019

Good Morning,

I am always willing to keep up a theme if I like it. So today I am once again celebrating Christmas In July with a pot of Door County White Christmas Coffee.

In our home we have a fireplace which we use to take the chill out of our home during those cold fall and winter days. Rene and I tend to keep our house a little colder than most people, So when we receive company, I turn up the heat and make a small fire in the hearth. The fire not only warms up the house but we find that it lets our visitors know they are warm and secure while in the walls of our home. Many a person has crawled over by the fireplace to warm up and before long they are asleep in front of it. We see it as a compliment if a visitor feels welcome and secure enough to fall asleep.

Acts 16:33-34 New International Version (NIV)

³³ At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. ³⁴ The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

In order to provide that comfort we need to have firewood handy and ready to burn. We perform that chore in the spring and are ready for the fall by July. We do like to offer visitors something to eat, which means we need to have food available. So we keep a stock of hamburgers in the freezer for that surprise visit. Or we always have a good supply of eggs on hand and can whip up pancakes and eggs in a few minutes. Notice that none of the food is all that fancy, but it comes from the heart.

What does this all have to do with July? It means, be ready at all times to show hospitality to those who grace your doorstep. Show them the love of Jesus Christ by your actions. I learned to do this from a family who welcomed me into their home many years ago. Rene and I discussed how they treated visitors before we were married. I explained to her that it was how I wanted our home to be used. She wholeheartedly agreed with me and that is how we modeled our response to visitors and why we are prepared all the time.

So start cutting some wood if yo have a fireplace, and watch for a deal on eggs!

Have a great day.

Marty