A-L-STELLHORN@webtv.net

"When God's children are in need, you be the one to help them out. And
get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner, or if they need
lodging, for the night." Romans 12:13 (Life Application Bible)

(Paraphrased) "Hospitality focuses on the guests. Their needs...whether
for a place to stay (or sit) nourishing food, a listening ear,
acceptance...are of first importance. Hospitality can happen in a messy
home. it can happen around a dinner table (or on a front porch) where
the main dish is canned soup. It can even happen while the host and
guest are doing chores together. Don't be afraid to offer hospitality
just because you are too tired, too busy, or too poor to entertain."
Romans 12:13 (Life Application from the Life Application Bible)

     THE FRONT PORCH

Have you ever noticed, as you were driving or walking, down some
street,in some town, the lovely "front porches?"

The front porch, more than likely, is the first thing you notice about
a house. It is the "invitation" to a home, a lifestyle, so to speak.

Some "homes" have very simple porches, some homes have only a few
concrete or wooden steps leading to a small landing. Then again, there
are those "homes" that have such an inviting "front porch" of ornate
"Gingerbread" that it makes you just want to go sit on the porch and
drink in the sweet scent of the surrounding flowers and stay awhile,
meditate, "dream a little dream." Or, you just might have a little talk
with God and give Him all your cares of this life, (with some
THANKSGIVINGS sprinkled in among your words), prompted by the soothing
ambiance of the "front porch."

So after you have stopped awhile and rested, given all your cares and
concerns to God, you might LONG to be invited into this lovely "home."

How like front porches are we. We each give a "view" of what might be
inside. Some of us are "plain folks", some of us are "vibrant folks",
and some of us are "flamboyant folks." We give an invitation to those
we meet along the pathway of our lives. What is your invitation like?

How great a gift we have to give, when our "front porches" reflect what
is in the "inside of our homes", or us.

Have you thought about how your "front porch" invites others to want to
get to know you, converse with you, fellowship with you? Have you
thought about how the "invitation" you give to others might bring them
closer to our Lord, just by wanting to come and "sit a spell" with you,
relax with you, be quiet in prayer with you?

Think on the ways, today, that you can make your "front porch" more
inviting to your fellow man. Make sure your "front porch" is alive with
sweet 'scents" of love.

Do you give off an "aroma" of haughtiness because you are "one of the
flock?" Do you show a demeanor of "you better clean up YOUR act or "you
are going straight to HEll." when you meet the "unattractive retributes
of your fellow man?"

How about when you have a "rich man," a "poor soul, drunken with the
sorrows of life." "a young innocent" come to your "front porch?" How do
you greet them, offer them Christian fellowship and Christian
acceptance where they are "right now?"

Do you write them off as "I'll never be able to come up to their
standards, why bother," or "too much for you to handle",
"too much patience required of you." man GET AWAY FROM ME, you "lowlife
fellow man?"

Dear Lord, please help me, beginning this day, to make my "front porch"
all it can be. Please help me to be "inviting" to my fellow man as he
approaches me this day. I pray that I am able to allow the love of You,
dear Lord, to welcome all who come to me or who pass by me this day, to
radiate with SONSHINE and give a kind and loving invitation to "come
and sit a spell" with me. Please help me take the time to listen, if that
is all that is required, and then maybe to "plants some seeds of faith."
And after my fellow man has "stayed awhile" close to my 'front porcha'
he will leave with a different spirit than when he came and "sat a
spell" or "passed by."

As you go out into the world today, think about what "your front porch"
invites. Think about the other "front porches" you meet today. Are some
more inviting. Learn from them, "sit a spell" with them. Maybe you will
come away renewed by the Holy Spirit.

Tonight as you "dream a little dream" upon the lovely "front porch"
keep this in mind. My front porch is a few concrete steps, leading to an
area surrounded above by Gingerbread. There are white "lacy-looking" wicker
chairs, on which to rest your weary soul, a lovely basket of pink
petunias hanging from the Gingerbread, where the Hummingbird comes to
drink the sweet nectar. There is a screened area surrounded by the
luscious aroma of Honeysuckle. Here you are welcome to come and "sit a
spell." My "home" is always open to you, to all of mankind.

Let the thoughts of the day ease away as you drink in the sweet aroma
of the Honeysuckle wafting in on the breeze of the evening. Listen to the
cicadas, of the late summer evening, singing their songs of love.
Relax, meditate, let your last words of the day be to our Lord in thanksgiving
for all you have received this day. Lay your head upon the soft pillow
of rest, close your eyes in sweet slumber, slowly drifting into a
peaceful renewal of your body and soul.

The morning breeze will awaken you, the morning chorus will bring joy
to your ears, the sun will shine gently upon your face. "YOUR FRONT PORCH"
will glow with love to all who "sit a spell" or "pass by."

Copyright by Altalee Stellhorn