Matthew 25

35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ 

Lesson #3 (final lesson):

One of the great hallmarks of hospitality is the personal touch.  On the one hand, when you’re showing kindness to others it is very meaningful to consider their PERSONAL interests, likes, and appetites.  On the other hand, it’s always powerful to give something personal of yourself to the one you’re blessing.

How have you struck this balance in your own hospitality? 

Have you ever stopped to think about all the LITTLE THINGS that can throw up roadblocks to our happiness?

• Stub a toe
• That annoying contact lens rolling into the back of your eye
• SWEET preschooler practicing her ‘logo’ on the windows of your car with her smuggled crayon
• The afore-mentioned smuggled crayon ‘forgotten’ in her jeans pocket, but discovered AFTER they were washed (and dried)
• car sickness
• SURPRISE trip to the ER

The list goes on… Well, every one of these irritants are the direct result of a BROKEN WORLD (see Genesis 3 & Romans 8:19-30 ).  They are SIGN POSTS that things are NOT RIGHT.  HOSPITALITY answers life’s little irritations with life’s little blessings!  If sin can annoy us, God can use little things to LIFT US.  That’s why I believe that there’s power in the little things for good, because we all recognize the power of the little things for bad.

LESSON #2: HOSPITALITY is all about the LITTLE THINGS

So when we went to our hotel room after eating with new friends, we were greeted with 2 gift baskets filled with little things we loved… and I was SHOCKED to find GREEN TEA in the fridge in the room!  Can you see the smile on my face?  Thanks for the little things… they really do bless us!  

I know something about BIG families… My mom is one of six children, I grew up with three brothers, and (breathe, just breathe) I have FOUR kids of my own!

I have often said at Keystone: “We are family”.  This family atmosphere is not about our size, it’s about our spirit!  I LOVE BIG FAMILIES!!!  They are loud, funny, and full of energy.  There’s diversity and a multitude of gifts.  At Keystone, we felt like we were family when we were cramming people in my home; we also felt like family this Spring as we have grown like never before.

This week I witnessed something that truly inspired me.  I saw a very big family unify and love on each other with intimacy and vulnerability.  Fellowship Church in Grapevine, TX is one of my favorite churches and I love their pastor, Ed and his wife Lisa.  They are incredible.  This week their church family tasted what every family on the planet goes through when one of their leaders,  Vanessa Whitwell tragically died.

I encourage you to go to the church’s website and Ed’s Blog to see how this big influential church reveals its family DNA. 

The talk:  My passion for Keystone this Easter was was that we would recognize the need for every person to encounter a REAL experience with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.  This is what I meant by the SHIFT from WHAT WAS to WHAT IS… If Jesus is indeed ALIVE, then ‘HE IS.’  He stands ready to empower your life with the fruit of the Spirit that blossom regardless of life’s circumstances.

The Spirit: Wow.  Each gathering was doing their best to be the most excited!  I think everyone rushed to Cheesecake Factory to eat a piece of Chocolate Truffle Tower Cake!!! (confused?  Get the podcast!).  What an atmosphere of worship!  The VOLS were AMAZING… early to serve, great attitudes!  We DOUBLED our number of volunteers for this weekend… WOW.

The changed lives:  The baptisms were inspiring.  Pics coming soon!  I was able to baptize Ellie, my 7 year old!  SEVERAL people made the SHIFT for the first time and prayed to invite Jesus into their hearts.  Over 1300 people attended this weekend, and that means LOTS OF LIVES CHANGED!!!  Thank you, Keystone family… you invited, you served!!!  I pray we put a massive smile on the face of Jesus this weekend. 

This weekend we’re taking our campus to the NEXT LEVEL in a couple of ways: 

First, we have an OVERFLOW VIDEO VENUE for our 3 Sunday services, which will allow us to welcome everyone onto our campus without turning anyone away… I’m PUMPED about it.  It will be a more relaxed environment that will seat about 50 people.  We’re serving drinks and it will be a great ‘family atmosphere.’

Second, we’re adding a ‘yard’ in our LITTLE CAMPERS area (preschool).  This will relieve some of the crowding that resulted from such explosive growth among our little cuties!

Finally, we’re always increasing our effectiveness in all areas of excellence and creativity.  This weekend will be a MODEL for an AMAZING first-time experience for all of our guests.

Keep praying for God to do AMAZING things!!!