The front door of your house
is like the side door to the church.
from the book: Keeping House
is like the side door to the church.
from the book: Keeping House
I just love that sentence, and how true! We are told in several places in Scripture to practice hospitality. There is nothing like letting someone in your home and having them dine with you to make yourself REAL to others! It's easy to be a certain way when you are at church, meetings or work, but when you ask someone to come to your home it's a whole new ball game.
To practice sincere hospitality you have to die to self ALOT! You have to get to the point that it is OK if everything is not perfect in the house, especially if you have younger children. You have to get to the point that it is not about serving an outstanding meal. But sincere hospitality is about the GUEST, not you.
Hospitality is not just for the people you enjoy being around, but also for those that are 'sandpaper' to your life. Even if someone shows up at your door uninvited, you should try to make them feel welcome. It is the willingness to open yourself up, open your home up, using your TIME, and money to lay down a sacrifice that is pleasing to God. It is the willingness to love people, as if you are attending angels unaware, that will show them that you are different. That all you are, all your have is Christ! Always giving God the glory.
We all have seasons and situations in life. If there is alot of illness, little ones, or unusual situations, you may need to back off and tend to those more pressing matters, but our overall attitude about practicing hospitality should be one of, "Yes, you are welcome to come over!" Hospitality should not be burden, or something to check off on your list of good deeds. It is an issue of the heart. If you are doing it because you feel like you have to, or to build yourself up or to impress someone, then there is no blessing in that, it is all vanity!
Your front door can lead people right into the side door of the church building, the Door that can lead to a life in Christ.
(The flowers in the picture are from Olivia's garden. A good thing about living in Alabama is you can have flowers in February!)
To practice sincere hospitality you have to die to self ALOT! You have to get to the point that it is OK if everything is not perfect in the house, especially if you have younger children. You have to get to the point that it is not about serving an outstanding meal. But sincere hospitality is about the GUEST, not you.
Hospitality is not just for the people you enjoy being around, but also for those that are 'sandpaper' to your life. Even if someone shows up at your door uninvited, you should try to make them feel welcome. It is the willingness to open yourself up, open your home up, using your TIME, and money to lay down a sacrifice that is pleasing to God. It is the willingness to love people, as if you are attending angels unaware, that will show them that you are different. That all you are, all your have is Christ! Always giving God the glory.
We all have seasons and situations in life. If there is alot of illness, little ones, or unusual situations, you may need to back off and tend to those more pressing matters, but our overall attitude about practicing hospitality should be one of, "Yes, you are welcome to come over!" Hospitality should not be burden, or something to check off on your list of good deeds. It is an issue of the heart. If you are doing it because you feel like you have to, or to build yourself up or to impress someone, then there is no blessing in that, it is all vanity!
Your front door can lead people right into the side door of the church building, the Door that can lead to a life in Christ.
(The flowers in the picture are from Olivia's garden. A good thing about living in Alabama is you can have flowers in February!)
2 comments:
Hi Kathy,
I just found your website and I am really enjoying it. I am a homeschool mom from North Alabama and I was wondering if we lived anywhere close to each other. I have 3 boys ages 21, 17, and I homeschool the 11 year old. I have been married for 22 years to my sweet husband. I am looking to do somthing profitable from my home in the near future I am sure I will learn alot from your website have a good evening.
Dru
We are in Blount County. You can email me here if you'd like:
kathy at teachinggoodthings.com
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