Episode 2 - 3 Things to do Right Now to Grow in the Inviting Life

Whether you think of yourself as a “host” or not, God has called each of us to be hospital, for the sake of the Gospel. Here are three things you can do today to begin, or to grow, in living the #invitinglife!

Pray
- First things first, ask God if, when, and whom He wants you to open your home.
- God’s word tells us He has called us to be inviting. (Did you know in both 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, hospitality is a qualification for church elders?) It also tells us His yoke is easy and His burden is light. And God calls us to have a pattern of work and rest as part of our worship… so it only makes sense that we should ask Him which we are supposed to do, and when!
  - Pray for Him to show you who you should connect with.
  - Pray for God to use you to bless someone else.
  - Pray for their hearts and lives to be moved by Him!
  - Pray for God to use the strengths He’s given and help you overcome your weaknesses and any barriers you think you have.
Plan
- Set aside time specifically for this purpose. This might mean dropping some things off your calendar. If we say we’re too busy, maybe we genuinely are too busy! So if God’s put someone on your heart, what do you need to eliminate to obey Him?
- If you’re hosting a gathering, create a to-buy list, a to-do list, and a simple timeline. (Let me know if you’d like help in this area!) And if you go this route, leave way more time than you think you need. I still don’t do that part well! 🙂
- If you don’t want to host, there are tons of other ways to creatively spend time with someone, inviting God into your interaction!!
  - You might be in a busy season and the timing isn’t right to host a big gathering – but maybe you need to walk your dog and there’s a friend who could use a little time outside.
  - Maybe you don’t see yourself as a host, but you make great sweet tea and can teach a young friend.
  - If you find it too hard to have someone over in this season for one reason or another, go somewhere! Meet at a coffee shop, support a small local business, or go explore a nearby park you’ve heard about.
- Block off the day or evening before to rest
Prepare
- Your heart – pray some more. 🙂
- Your day. Remember that time thing? Leave yourself time to be on time, and time to enjoy together. Don’t rush – be really present!
- If you’re hosting, here’s my #1 tip – prep the night before. If you’re going somewhere, the principle is to leave more time than you think you’ll need.
Bonus: Cook a Chicken (do a whole episode?)
- I mean this literally and figuratively. 🙂 There’s something about a roast chicken that to me, is the quintessential nourishing, welcoming meal. It’s probably why I so loved getting to photograph the first cookbook, Sunday Roast, written my my friends Josh and Gi! Whether you actually make one or just think through these ideas, here’s why I love a roast chicken:
  - It’s always a great idea to have a recipe you don’t have to worry about that you can make in a pinch. Whether you’re hosting for dinner or taking a meal to someone in need, to me, this meal says, “welcome.” It might be waffles and it might be cheese and crackers – do you have something you could put together easily to nourish someone you love?
  - Roasting chicken makes your house smell good… 🙂 lemon, garlic and herbs drizzled with olive oil and crisping on that bird welcomes anyone who opens the door. Think about all the senses in your home if you’re hosting – grab your favorite essential oils, open the windows…but consider getting creative about the environment! (When I’m choosing a place to meet a friend, I’ll almost always consider all the senses there – and if we can get outside weather permitting, even better!)
  - Meet a friend with a gift sometimes! Bring a gift that keeps giving… when I’m delivering a meal, I love to come early and put a chicken in her oven – it fills her home with the feeling of that home cooked meal! Then she can use the leftovers to make at least one other meal, too. y friend Kathy and her husband are masters of this – they thrift books and mugs often and gift them to people they pray for and know they can bless in the smallest, but really biggest, way.

Want to go deeper? Check out this post! 4 Ways to Practice Intentional Hospitality

Whether you’re hosting in a big way or just meeting a friend for a walk, try these quick things today to stretch you in living the inviting life.

Resources:

Check out this post on 4 ways to practice intentional hospitality!

Sunday Roast, the first cookbook from my friends Josh and Gi at Wild Roots Farm (which I had the privilege to photograph!)

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Highlights:

Pray for those God will call you to welcome with your life! He calls you to it, and He will equip you.
If you think you’re “too busy,” maybe you’re too busy. What can you eliminate to make space for inviting others into your life, and into fellowship with Christ?
Plan – even if you’re not hosting at your home, be intentional with your time and make space to truly connect with someone today.
Maybe consider roasting a chicken! 🙂