"Gather" at the Cross!

Nowadays, many families do not use china to celebrate holiday gatherings! When we were growing up, our Grandmother did! Grandpa expected all of his children and grandchildren home every holiday (which was approx 22 adults and 34 grandchildren); except Christmas! Christmas was celebrated together, a week before the holiday, at a club house in Indianapolis; so each family could be at their own home! 

So every 4th of July, Easter, and Thanksgiving, we ate on china; not paper plates! I asked her, after I was old enough to understand, why she didn't use paper plates; after all, you can throw them away and it's easier to clean up! She responded, "I want to use my china while I'm alive! Why have something if you don't use it? I know when I die, somebody else will enjoy it; so if I have it now, I'm going to enjoy it now"!

Over the years of reading and meditating on the Word, God serves us His best also - His only begotten Son! We tell ourselves, I'll wear that mink coat one day when I go somewhere nice, or I'll  use my beautiful dining room one day when I host a New Year's Day dinner, and on and on! No, use it now, wear it now, and enjoy it now! Whereas; many of us, not taking into consideration, our time here on earth is brief! 

 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32 ESV)

I often look to yesterday to understand today! If we think about it, paper plates are not as sturdy and reliable as china! It didn't take long either to wash, dry, and put them away for the next gathering; because everyone rolled up their sleeves and helped! How many of us hoard our best in a closet for another day; and do not enjoy it now? 

It's because we are more concerned about what people think, than pleasing and serving God! To utilize the best is not bragging, but showing appreciation and gratitude to God for His provisions and love; and others will benefit too! How, you ask? Because they will want what you have; and when they ask, your response will be, "God blessed me with this"! If they do not know Him, they will want to!

Who has believed what he has heard from us?
    And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,
    and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
    and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men;
    a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
    we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
    yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
    and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
    so he opened not his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
    and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
    stricken for the transgression of my people?
9 And they made his grave with the wicked
    and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
    and there was no deceit in his mouth. (Isaiah 53:1-9 ESV)