Something old, something new ...

© 2016 Julie Crane All rights reserved.

Then he turned to the host. “The next time you put on a dinner, don’t just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You’ll be—and experience—a blessing. They won’t be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned—oh, how it will be returned!—at the resurrection of God’s people.” (Luke 14:12-14 MSG)

I used to knit mittens. And that’s all. Just mittens. Figured out that pattern and didn’t dare try anything different. It got boring sometimes – just knitting mittens. But one day I ventured out. I tried a sock pattern. Change was difficult – at first. But then it was so cool! I knitted socks! Then I reached out a little farther – and tried afghans. Despite the challenges and bumps in the road and mistakes made and learned from – the end result was awesome!

We all have “patterns” of living. Habits, routines … and we think we can’t move passed them. Maybe it’s an unhealthy diet. Or lack of exercise. Spending money impulsively. Thinking we don’t have time to read our bible.

But if we want things to get bigger, better, more interesting, more exciting … we need to choose to make a change. You can envision what the end results will be. You know the desires of your heart. Now you just need to take a step of faith and do something to head in that direction. Yes, you - can make something happen.

I recently had a conversation with a man who said we need more members in our church. And I asked him if he was willing to change how he spent his free time in order to build a relationship with someone, invite them into your circle of life, and then welcome them into your church family. Because all people want to feel known and seen and heard before they will feel they belong. Accepted.

If we keep things “boring”, the same, we don’t need God. If we repeatedly do the old, familiar things, we are the ones staying “in control”. And we literally do not experience God in all His profound awesomeness. It’s only in the steps of faith that we see God, feel God, sense His power and love.

What will you do today to venture out … and experience God? To be blessed and be a blessing?

It's time for a sock hop!