MIA

I can't believe it's been this long since I have blogged, but like I said previously, it takes a back seat to other things. I apologize to my faithful readers who I know wait on the edge of their seat to read my posts *not*.

This Christmas season for the Fluitt family has been full of parties, caroling, church musicals, blessing a needy family in Bowie, baking, and just hanging out with each other. We honestly haven't been too extremely busy.

Tonight, us along with other friends, were blessed to be able to deliver a Christmas meal and presents to the Weaver family here in our hometown. They are a needy family with a wonderful story. They had to pawn most of their belongings just to pay bills. They had absolutely nothing. No furniture, no stove, no dining room table...nothing!! Most of the kids' toys were pawned as well. My friend Brittani along with her small group wanted to adopt this family and we of course wanted to be a part of the blessing, so we jumped right in there sending out our own emails asking for donations to help this family.

A sweet family purchased a new stove for them. Other's gave living room furniture, tables, a dining set, rugs, dishes, etc. And yet others purchased new things and gave so generously. I know at least 80 presents were carried into the house. Joey and I brought them a meal consisting of a roasted chicken, homemade mashed potatoes, green beans, and homemade biscuits. My sweet friend Alicia made a homemade pecan pie and homemade cookies. They were able to eat first before we all got there to deliver the presents.

The two kids and then the parents got to open several things while we were there. Geron, the dad, cried when he opened a tool set. He had to pawn his tools to pay the bills. Anne opened a too cute outfit and some baking items and the kids opened transformers, coloring books, new scooters, etc.

That didn't even touch the surface. My family was blessed to be a part of this wonderful time of giving. To see the look on their faces when they saw the meal and the gifts was priceless!! This is what the love of Christ is all about. It definitely is so much better to give than to receive.

Tomorrow, Christmas Eve, will be our second "Christmas." We will have our family Christmas on Christmas morning, and then we will go to Joey's mom's and stepdad's on Saturday morning and his grandparent's on Saturday night. Our last "Christmas" will be on January 2nd. We will definitely be busy, but we love getting to spend time with our family.

We hope you have a wonderful time with family and friends!! May Christ's love shine bright in your hearts and may you be encouraged to bless someone else.

God's Promptings

How many times have we sensed the Holy Spirit prompting up to pursue someone and we simply had good intentions to follow up, but let it fall through the cracks?

I know it has happened to me before. Why? Maybe a lack of what to do or say or how to approach them.

The Lord normally doesn't put people on our hearts for no reason, but desires us to pray and seek a way(s) to reach out and pursue them.

This scenario happened yesterday to Joey when, during his quiet time, the Lord put a particular individual on his heart that he went to youth group with. This guy had definitely gotten off on the wrong path and wasn't walking with the Lord. He had been in prison for multiple DWI's. Joey told me about the prompting and I told him I would pray and ask the Lord to show him something specific that he needed to do. So, yesterday during his lunch break he tracked this guy down (he knew where he worked) and showed up and invited him to lunch. They went to Dairy Queen and over lunch this guy shared his heart with Joey and what had been going on with him and what God had been doing in his life. He is back in church and going to AA. Joey tried to encourage him and listen to him share his struggles/victories. He doesn't know why God led him to do it or why He prompted him to pursue this guy, but he didn't want to let it go. The guy gave Joey all of his numbers where he could be reached and invited him to go fishing with him sometime.

Joey may never know why, but only God knows what fruit will become of their meeting. Maybe the guy just needed a bit of encouragement; someone to show they cared; someone to reach out the love of Christ to him when the world has turned its back on him.

If the Lord puts someone on your heart, don't neglect the prompting. Pray and ask Him to show you a very specific way that you need to reach out. Could be a card of encouragement, a phone call, a lunch date, a gift of some sort, intercessory prayer on their behalf or something else specific. This person could be a believer or not one at all. The logistics in how you minister might be different if they know the Lord, but the point is don't ignore the Holy Spirit. Don't let shyness, pride, or busyness get in the way of ministering to someone. Tell them the Lord laid them on your heart and what the Lord showed you to do. You will be blessed and I guarantee will come away more encouraged than the recipient.

Hang up Your Hangups

Yep, that's what my friend Candy told me last night. "Jen, you just got to hang up your hangups!" I'll explain later.

Last night we were so blessed have to have Bro. Moises and his family, Bro. Ricardo's family, Bro. Marcos' family, and Isabel and her children all the way from Cordoba Mexico. In addition to them we had the Dalton Sr. and Dalton Jr. gang, Zack, and Zack's boss. There were 25 people in my house last night!!! I don't think I've ever had that many people, although the number has gotten very close (19-20.) We were so blessed to be able to feed everyone, worship (in Spanish...with the words of course,) and fellowship.

Since I'm not accustomed to cooking for that many, I think I did overkill on the the Chicken Spaghetti. I made two big pans even thinking that wouldn't be enough and I had one left over. I made two loaves of bread, a HUGE salad, tons of green beans, cut up two cantaloupes, and we had some left. Sandy brought dessert. I always get nervous about not having enough food to go around and since I was doubting about there being enough, I was praying as I was cooking and I said, "Lord, just as you fed a crowd with two fish and five loaves, make my food stretch to feed everyone and may no one leave here hungry." Wow, He fed my crowd with food left over! Everyone seemed to be stuffed and satisfied. It was such an honor and a blessing to be able to prepare a meal for them. They are such humble, sweet, servants of the Lord and I am thankful God allowed us to be His servants for the night. They genuinely seems appreciative for all the labors of love you do for them. You might not think cooking a meal seems like much of an offering of worship to the Lord, but when it's done with thanksgiving and with the intention to bless others, then it is worship and the Lord sees it as such.

Bro. Moises shared about the church in Cordoba and the work going on there. They are outgrowing their building and needing a bigger space. They have what I would call a pretty big building, and yet because God is at work in the hearts of the people there, they are in need of more space. The other sister churches planted nearby are in need of two pastors to help lead them. In spite of not having a pastor, Bro. Moises says they are growing too! With the population being predominately Catholic, the Church in Cordoba, "Belin Baptist Church," is growing and the TRUTH of Jesus is spreading.

Eunice, Rosa, and Mabel (all sisters 15, 17, 19) played the violin and the flute for us and we sang "You are my strength", "Holy-Holy-Holy", and "Amazing Grace." in Spanish. Yes, you can worship the Lord even singing in another language! They even sang "Be thou my vision" in English for us. The Mexico gang love it when we "try" and sing along with them in their own language.

The people got a kick out of us having a golf cart (It's my mom's, but we borrow it on occasion.) It's not like it's far to drive over here!! All the kids wanted rides. Bro. Moises thought it was funny that you can just go and buy these anywhere. We sure do take a lot of things for granted here.

Now, back to the hangups. Before everyone arrived, I was just talking to the Lord...out loud. If someone would have heard me they would have definitely thought I was weird, but the Lord and I have conversations like that often. I was telling Him how I wish I had a bigger house, bigger space, and an even bigger kitchen, seeing is that seems to be the place where everyone likes to congregate. I wasn't really grumbling or complaining really, just wishing and hoping...basically not having a contented spirit. I then said, "Umm, Lord seeing as I just got through reading a book on contentedness, I had better be thankful for what you HAVE given me instead of pining over what I don't have." I hate it when people have to sit on the floor, eat standing up, not have enough room to move a finger, etc. Just hangups I have. I've always had that hang up, even when we lived in our last trailer house. God provided it for us when we needed it, but it was dreadful looking on the outside (turquoise paint color,) and falling apart on the inside, (holes in the floor...not gaping ones, mice problem (gross,) 80's carpet in the bedroom, ultra tiny kitchen, etc.) This house was the epitome of trashy!! It was decorated cute and kept clean, but not my idea of a place I wanted to live in forever. In spite of all of that, I felt the Lord compelling me to have other's over in spite of all of that stuff. We did! We had families over from church we didn't know very well, friends galor, and family too! No one seemed to mind there not being enough space and most didn't even know my issues!

What is your hangup? A small house, an "ugly" house, no house, can't cook, not enough time, not good at small talk... The list can go on and on. But what does the Lord ask of us? He desires obedience and not sacrifice, to be hospitable, to serve others, to love others, to give Him our hangups so He can turn them into blessings for others and even ourselves. It doesn't matter what the size or look of your house is, what you fix for dinner, or if you can carry on a conversation, but it is important that you talk to your company, lol. When you are putting other's interests before your own, then small talk should be quite easy. Talk about what you DO KNOW and ask questions about what you DON'T know. What if you live in a RV and you can't have company inside...host them outside. Can't cook? Surely you can throw hot dogs or hamburgers on the grill. The food isn't important, it's the relationships that are being built. Small house...sit them where you can...table, floor, porch, yard, etc. Doesn't matter. Don't use your excuses to rob you of a blessing. Maybe your husband works long hours or weird hours, work around it, be flexible, write it on the calendar. Maybe you're short of cash and can't afford to lay an extravagant meal before someone. Again it's not the food, but the fellowship. Make a batch of pancakes. Cheap, tasty, and not time consuming. See, we have no excuses. Lay your talents, gifts, and offerings before the Lord and ask Him to bless it. We all have something we can give; a way to bless others. When you go to someone's home in Mexico, most homes are small and humble. You may sit at a table, on the floor, or a bucket will do. They prepare the meal with such love and it's such an honor to them to have you in their home. When Joey and I went to Mexico two years ago for a mission trip, some of the homes we went to fed us their last meal they had in their house. Wow! Would we be willing to give our best to someone who ate in our home? Perhaps the best meat, freshest vegetables vs. canned, etc. We were so humbled that they would do that for us. Again, such godly servants of the Lord.

I know I have talked far too long, but it's been on my heart lately. I want to be a living sacrifice to the Lord and to offer Him MY best, whatever that may be. It's the heart God is looking for.

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administring God's grace in its various forms."

1 Peter 4:9-10

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

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some have entertaned strangers without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Matthew 25:35-36

Group picture in my front yard.

Me, Libby, and Eunice

Blessings to you and yours.

Going Beyond Forgiveness

As I have been meditating on contentment; in my circumstances, with myself, and in relationships, I am forced to consider that there is "something" beyond just forgiving and forgetting. Did I mention that everytime I pick up "Calm My Anxious Heart," I am constantly rebuked, but yet encouraged? It's a good rebuking. I think everyone can say that they all have or have had relationship struggles either with spouses, co-workers, or friends. Maybe you're experiencing rejection, betrayal, or some other deep hurt. Or maybe you were the one who has wounded or betrayed another. All of these feeling are hard, especially when they come from those you love versus strangers or those you just met.

When we love, we open ourselves up to the possibility of being hurt. Much of our (my) discontent comes from expectations in relationships. Some of those expectations are legitimate, such as I expect Joey to provide financially for us as Scripture has commanded him to do, but it's going beyond those legit ones to ones that those we love might not be able to meet. Jesus in the garden the night before He was to be crucified, asked His friends to wait up for Him while he went alone to pray, but when He came back He found them asleep, not just once but THREE times. It's one thing to be disappointed once, but can you imagine if your friend's continued to fail you?

Maybe you were one of the friend's who feel asleep when you were asked to watch and pray, or maybe you were like Peter disavowing allegiance to a friend in her time of need. The barrier in the relationship is your fault or perhaps both your faults. You're in a stand-off and and no healing has soothed the hurt.

I've been there. I've been betrayed, rejected, hurt. Sometimes the hurt has been deep and yet other times maybe I just overreacted and got my feelings stepped on a bit by something that wasn't intentional. Jesus asked His friends to "share the load" with Him and they abandoned Him. His response? "Rise, let us go." (Matt. 26:46) I would have said, "Forget you. You weren't there when I needed you. You couldn't have even stayed up for one hour with me when I needed you the most. Good-bye. See ya." Jesus reached out to His friends even in the midst of betrayal. He could have left them sleeping and disowned them, but aren't you glad He didn't because if He had done it to them, He could have done it to you or to me.

For the Christian, forgiveness is not an option. Philip Yancey calls forgiveness an "unnatural act." It's so very hard to do depending on the depth of the pain and hurt. It doesn't feel natural, but it's a secret choice of the heart; not a feeling. If we wait until we "feel" like it then most of the time we never would. We like holding on to our grudges, our bitterness, our selfishness. It's natural...feels good. It takes work to "let go." I'm finding that I must continue to choose to forgive. It's difficult to forgive once, but what if the hurt just keeps on coming? Jesus said to keep on forgiving...as often as it takes (my paraphrase.) It's what He asks of me and you.

Does forgiveness always mean restoration or restitution? No, it doesn't. What about a situation involving business partners. One partner steals from the company and leaves the other one hanging. Should the offending partner forgive? Yes, but would it be wise to enter into another business transaction with him again? Or what about a friend who spreads lies and gossips about you around town and has repeatedly done so. It's probably not a wise ideas to remain in a friendship with that person.

Does it stop there? "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (Romans 12:9-10, 14, 18). These verses didn't say I had to feel loving, but that I was to decide to love, decide to honor. To bless is a choice of the will. How can you love, honor, and bless when you still don't feel like it. 1) Pray for the one who hurt you for God to bless them 2) Seek to do acts of love, acts of kindness. As you pray, ask God to give you creative ways to bless those around you. Going beyond forgiveness is more difficult than the initial act of forgiving. Do not let anger, pride, or not knowing how to respond or what to say stand in the way of offering forgiveness to others. How can we ask our Heavenly Father to forgive us if we can't forgive a brother? Maybe you didn't mean to offend, but they took it the wrong way. Go and seek forgiveness. Admit wrong even if it was unintentional. Relationships are precious to me and worth the work.

I'm so thankful the Lord thinks I'm worth the work.