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Faith's Firm Foundation: Hospitality Week: Hospitality How To's From a Pro

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Hospitality Week: Hospitality How To's From a Pro

Is there any other time of the year when more entertaining takes place??  Well, with that in mind, I thought I would dedicate this week to the theme of HOSPITALITY!
So, Today is Day 1 and
Welcome To Hospitality Week!

All this week I will share with you encouragement, ideas, interviews and timely tips that will help you hop in and feel at home showing hospitality, but also remind us of the eternal value of hospitality, from a Scriptural point of view.  Some of the ideas and posts will be reminders (but who doesn't need to be reminded?) and others will be completely new to you, but this will be a fun week, so keep on coming back, you won't want to miss anything!

Today, I want to encourage you!  And, if you are a mom of many, you'll especially want to "listen up" as I interview Lynn, mom to 11!  However, everyone will learn something about hospitality, because she is a "hospitality pro."  Since the time the Lord graciously brought her into my life 16 years ago, I have been learning from her, and I look forward to introducing her to you and allowing you to glean some wisdom from her on a topic near and dear to our hearts:  hospitality.  Let's begin:

Faith's Firm Foundation:  "Are there any verses in the Bible that have guided or influenced you in showing hospitality?"
Lynn:  "Romans 12:13--"Given to hospitality."  Romans 12 was one of my first chapters that I had memorized, so I was greatly influenced by its instructions."

Romans 12:9-13--"Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. (10) Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; (11) Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; (12) Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; (13) Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality."

FFF:  "What are the most important things you would tell someone about practicing hospitality?"
Lynn:  "Showing warmth and excitement about your guests being in your home is more important than your home's cleanliness or how fancy your food is.  Learn some quick and easy meals to serve.  Work to have an "In-Home" store so you have ingredients and supplies on hand.  Clean your home for yourself--not for company, necessarily.  Work at maintaining an orderly home where there is a schedule of cleaning throughout the week.  Then your home will always be in fairly good order.  Then you can be impromptu to invite people over or if they happen to stop by you can ask them to stay.  Last of all, regarding hospitality:  "Just do it."  The more you do it the more comfortable it becomes."

FFF:  "What do you think is the purpose of hospitality--why is it important?"
Lynn:  "The purpose of hospitality is to show the love of Christ.  With that, hospitality brings many more personal rewards.  One major reward is learning to think of others.  We are all naturally self-centered.  Hospitality forces you to become focused on others, which is a discipline to learn.  'Hospitality may come easy to you, but not me' is just an excuse.  You can learn and it is a command from the Lord.  View your home, possessions, time as things to be used up for others.  The scratch on the table is a reminder of your grandchild being with you.  The worn-out rugs mean many people have walked through your doors.  I'm desirous to have my home wear out because of use, which involves people--eternal souls God has brought into my life."

FFF:  "How do you/did you do it with a big family--make it affordable--work out where to put people, etc."
Lynn:  "We have 11 children, 10 boys and 1 girl.  The oldest is 29 years old and the youngest is 10 years old.  All our children help in the kitchen.  My daughter was 5th born so our sons had to help.  Our sons know what it takes to make a meal--therefore they can really appreciate efforts of others showing hospitality towards them.  Teach your children how to greet people, to offer a guest something to drink (water, coffee, tea).  Teach them how to make coffee, how to set a table, how to carry on a conversation.  Crowded is OK.  People will feel included, so don't worry about a small home.  Use simple menus."

FFF:  "You mentioned rewards earlier, but what are other rewards and blessings of being hospitable? What would you say to encourage others?"
Lynn:  "The rewards are:  meeting so many people and they leave our home as 'friends.'  We love to hear how our guests became Christians and about their walk with the Lord.  These testimonies encourage our own children in their faith."


Aren't you encouraged to practice hospitality? I am!post signature
Edited and reprinted from an earlier post.

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4 Comments:

Blogger Jessica Kramasz said...

I have to admit this is a weakness for me. Thanks for the encouragement and I look forward to the rest of the posts this week.

November 29, 2010 at 7:34 PM  
Blogger Lisa said...

What a great reminder! I was encouraged to be more consistent and willing in this area :)

November 29, 2010 at 8:02 PM  
Blogger Annette W. said...

Wendy,
I love this post. The part about the rugs wearing out because of the eternal souls that have passed through the doors in her home, is my favorite. Something I need to remember; the value in really using things and truly loving people. Thanks, dear friend, for your heart- felt entries.
Annette

November 29, 2010 at 9:26 PM  
Blogger Wendy said...

Jessica,
Is this something we ever feel that we've got really down? There are also "seasons," but even with a little baby I'm sure you can show love to someone just by being yourself, and letting them share your life (and maybe a cup of tea:)! People just want to know you care about them.
Blessings,
Wendy

Lisa,
Consistency....yes, Jerry's been saying, "We need to have people over again," and I know he means "intentionally" planning, and inviting someone/a family:) Lynn is an encouragement to me to be prepared to show hospitality--thinking ahead.
We can pray for each other:)
Blessings!

Annette,
Yes, being willing to let things in my house be "worn out" and "used up" in hospitality to others is a heart attitude that doesn't come naturally for me--it comes with dying daily to self, and living for Christ, loving others as myself (which is all supernatural). Oh, may You live out through me more and more, Lord! Change me--I have so far to go.
Thanks, Annette, for your encouraging words--I'm glad you're on here now:) and I'm looking forward to seeing you and your family on Thursday.
Blessings,
Wendy

November 29, 2010 at 9:37 PM  

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Hi and welcome to my blog! Come on in and make yourself at home! I love connecting. Comments are the way to do that! Tell me about yourself. Please connect back, ok?
Blessings,
Wendy
If you would rather, my email address is faithsfirmfoundation(at)embarqmail(dot)com

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