52 families in 52 weeks....

On a Sunday a few weeks back, our pastor was speaking about grace. Speaking about grace received and grace given and it got me to thinking ~ to knowing ~ that I haven't been trustworthy with the grace He's bestowed upon me or even with the grace I've received from others throughout my life; received with about as much enthusiasm as opening a box of socks at Christmas.

"oh. thanks..."

What grace Judas and Peter received as they ate with Jesus one last time; Him knowing what they couldn't and yet hearing Him say that He'd deeply desired eating that meal with them.

Grace.

God acting on our behalf to do what we can't.

As he continued to speak I started thinking about food and meals and having people over; people from our church. People we know and people we don't and how amazing it would be to really invite people in and open our home to share a meal with them. I told Michael about my idea as we were driving home from church that day and he said, "you could blog about it. call it 52 in 52." Brilliant.

So here we go. 52 in 52. We're going through the church directory and starting in the "A's". Our first dinner is this coming Friday and will be with a family we know and it should be a merry bunch. We also know that sometimes it will be a mom with her kids or a dad with his or a single man or a single woman or a couple without children or someone elderly or with health challenges. Some people we've hurt and some we've been hurt by. Sometimes we'll have a lot to share and sometimes it will be tricky to put a full meal on the table but I've made a decision to never ask those coming over to bring anything. This isn't a pride thing; it's a faith thing; a trust thing; a loaves and fishes thing. And we're involving the kids in deciding what to make and preparing the meal. Especially Evan who really needs some positive direction in his life right now.

The body ministering to the body. Partaking in something that Jesus partook in; breaking bread and sharing a meal with those He knew as well as with strangers. There was grace in those meals and grace at those tables; amazing grace....given and received.

I look forward to partaking in that kind of grace ~ the kind that changes you. The kinds that sinks you and uplifts you all at once.