Hi, and thanks for joining us for another daily encouragement from the Our Daily Bread

Devotional. Our reading titled A Thanksgiving Blessing was written by Lisa M. Samra.

In 2016, Wanda Dench sent a text inviting her grandson to Thanksgiving dinner, not knowing

he'd recently changed his phone number.

The text instead went to a stranger, Jamal.

Jamal didn't have plans, and so, after clarifying who he was, asked if he could still come

to dinner.

Wanda said, of course you can. Jamal joined the family

dinner in what has since become a yearly tradition for him. A mistaken invitation became an

annual blessing. Wanda's kindness in inviting a stranger to dinner reminds me of Jesus' encouragement

in Luke's gospel. During a dinner party at a prominent

Pharisee's house, Jesus noticed, who was invited, and how the guests jostled for the best seats.

Jesus told his host that inviting people based on what they could do for him in return meant the

blessing would be limited. Instead, Jesus told the host that extending

hospitality to people without the resources to repay him would bring even greater blessing.

For Wanda, inviting Jamal to join her family for Thanksgiving dinner resulted in the unexpected

blessing of a lasting friendship that was a

great encouragement to her after her husband's death. When we reach out to others, not because of what

we might receive, but because of God's love flowing through us, we receive far greater blessing

and encouragement.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Luke chapter 14 verses 12 through 14.

Then Jesus said to his host, when you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends,

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