31 Days of Kitchen Inspiration Day 31: Giving of Ourselves Through Hospitality

31 days of writing on the same general topic.

31 days of Kitchen Inspiration.

I loved it.

I hope you did too.

Celebration Time!

Grab a bag and munch along with me…:)

Crispy Chocolate Popcorn with peanuts.  Mmmmm…

Thank you all for your commnts and visits during my 31 Days of Kitchen Inspiration series.  I loved everyone of them. They made it all the more fun.

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To finish up this series I wanted to talk a little about Hospitality.

May I encourage you to reach out to those around you – co-workers, friends, neighbors or ones that go to your church?  Share a little of your own kitchen inspiration by giving hospitality.

Hospitality really isn’t an option although most of us practice it that way.  It is a command from the Holy Bible.

Here are a few Scriptures that talk about it.

…given to hospitality. (Romans 12:13 Read the whole chapter.)

Use hospitality one to another without grudging. (I Peter 4:9)

I love these verses commending Gaius in III John 1-8 for his hospitality.

The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

²Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

³For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

⁴I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

⁵Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

⁶Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

⁷Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

⁸We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

Read about Lydia in Acts 16:15 – another one who showed hospitality when she received Christ.

Hospitality is a giving of ourselves.  We share our family, home, time and our finances through the provisions we set on the table.  It’s not about whether we have a fancy meal or a nice house.  It’s all an attitude of the heart.  Showing Christ’s love to others.

My father-in-law is probably the greatest example of hostpitality I have ever seen in that he doesn’t invite just the loveable but also the undesirable.  In his eyes, there is none better than another.  And I have heard many stories of where his love and giving of hospitality (along with my mother-in-law) made a difference in someone’s life.

Luke 14:12-14

¹²Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

¹³But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

¹⁴And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

We all have different gifts and callings in life but hospitality is not one that we can opt out on.

May I encourage you to open your door and invite someone that you have never had before for a time of fellowship at your table?  Who knows what impact you might have.

Here are some ways to get started.

1.  Pick a time when it would be good for your family

2.  Contact the family or whomever you have decided to share your home with.

3.  Plan your menu.  I love to cook new recipes and so who knows what I will serve visitors but I do spend a lot of time thinking about it.  However, if cooking is not your favorite thing, plan something simple.  Soup, salad and rolls can be a delicious meal especially in the Winter months, not to mention economical.

4.  Plan your evening.  Will you be doing anything besides your meal?  Singing? Playing a game? Taking a walk?  It’s okay to just fellowship.  We do that mostly ourselves but sometimes we feel inspired to incorporate other things, too.

The most important thing to remember is that you’re sharing the love you have in your heart for others.

Do you actively practice hospitality?  What have you learned along the way?  Please share. I’d love to hear from you.