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There are lots of definitions and ideas about hospitality, but the biblical view isn’t what you see on Instagram. We see it clearly in Jesus’ response to everyone He met. He showed it with one word – “Come!” This podcast shares the heart of Christ in regards to being hospitable and the practical ways we can demonstrate this godly character trait.
What will it look like? Here’s a clip to pique your interest…
Our houses get “decked out” at this time of year, don’t they? What better time than the holidays to invite folks over? If you need a couple reasons why it’s a great time to show hospitality, read on.
1. When you’ve gone to so much trouble to get everything sparkling and gleaming with decorations, you’ve already taken care of getting the house ready for guests!
2. There are usually enough snacks and treats in our kitchens to fill the neighborhood – so go ahead – fill up the neighborhood! Invite your neighbors over for a cup of coffee and treat! Invite them over for cheese and crackers and fresh fruit. Look what you have in abundance and share it! If you need a delicious and easy sweet popcorn, this Almond Toffee Popcorn is a favorite of mine.
Continue reading “Holiday Hospitality”What exactly is hospitality? Here’s my simple definition – Giving generously to meet the needs of another person. That could include a meal, a place to sleep, a cup of coffee, a listening ear. We must be sensitive to realize the needs of others and do what we can, (by God’s enabling) to meet them.
People are just not into having people over any more! We’re all too busy to take the time, too worried that our house isn’t clean enough, or that we just won’t measure up on some way, shape or form. We wonder how in the world we can fit one more thing into our schedule. Here’s what Martha Peace said in her book,
“So where do we find the time to follow Mary to the feet of Jesus? Where do we find the energy to serve him?…Because we are his children, Kitchen service will be the natural result of Living Room intimacy with God. Like Jesus, we must be about our Father’s business. The closer we draw to the heart of the Father, the more we see his heart for the world. And so we serve, we minister and we love, knowing that when we do it to ‘the least of these,’ we have done it unto Christ.”- (Having a Mary Heart…pg. 10)
It’s after we’ve had the quiet time with the Lord that we desire to serve Him. We don’t desire to just stay in the living room – we want to look for others whom we could serve.
We are out to bless – not impress! Perhaps this one thought is the most important. Lay aside all the expectations of the Food Network and Martha Stewart and just set out to be a blessing and you are sure to accomplish that goal!
Let me share with you a few ideas to reduce the stress of being hospitable.
1. Do as much as you can as far ahead as you can. This one principle will give you more peace than you can imagine!
2. Bake dessert – freeze
3. Bake breads – freeze
4. Make casserole and freeze
5. Mix up salads (without dressing)
6. Keep some sweets in the freezer and keep boxes of snack foods like crackers in your pantry.
7. Use your crock pot. Putting a meal in the crock pot will ease your schedule and allow you to do other things all day while dinner is cooking!
8. Communicate – Talk to the Lord about your plans. Ask Him who you should invite over. Talk to your family. Talk to your guests. Do they have food allergies or restrictions?
9. Fifteen minutes before your guests arrive, sit down with a cup of coffee and rest! Pray and ask the Lord to help you be a blessing to your guests and demonstrate the heart of hospitality – To bless them, not impress them!
10. Turn on some soft music and light candles before guests arrive. Dimming the lights will make it cozy and hide any dust!
To whom would the Lord have you show hospitality? Consider:
1. Strangers – – Heb. 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares
2. Fellow Chrisitans – Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
• Sunday school teacher/students
• Youth pastor
• Sunday school class members
3. Unsaved – Phil 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
• Child’s teacher at school
• Co-worker
• Visitor at church
4. The Weary – II Timothy 1:16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain
• Friend –Needs encouragement – New illness, stress, marriage problem, homeschooling mom…
• Missionary, Christian worker
• Evangelist
I pray this will encourage you to be on the lookout for someone the Lord would lay on your heart. Be like Onesiphorus…Paul said, “He oft refreshed me.”!
With love,
RefreshHer 