Meals Around the Table

One thing my mom tells me all the time, is that she misses having people sit around her table for a meal. As a teen I remember my mom telling us to invite our friends over for dinner. She would cook something up and my brother, myself, and a few chosen friends would indulge in dinner and dessert and discuss various topics.

My brother loved throwing some sort of little bomb out there. I swear, at that age he got his kicks off of saying something that would get someones dander up. Within minutes of his contribution a full blown heated discussion would ensue. My bro would quietly be sitting in the corner watching and laughing.

Sitting around the table is one of my most favorite things to do, with or without food. I love conversing with others about life, being challenged, or challenging someone else's thought process. I love digging a bit deeper to see what is behind the initial facade we all walk around with. I love listening to someone's heart. I love to laugh deeply.

Tables are for

~ eating
~ schooling
~ art projects
~ finding out hard and sad news
~ laughing with others
~ watching children grow in front of your eyes
~ random moments of goofiness
~ Inquisitions of the heart
~ tears and hurtful conversations 
~ where a tough but meaningful, "I'm sorry" is said
~ people from other nations sit and share
~ tea and coffee drinking
~ perching laptops
~ life decisions made
~ childhood memories formed
~ families meet at
~ prayers are murmured
~ friends are treated at
~ morning bibles place at

A home should have a weathered and stained table in every kitchen. Because the heart of who we are, always ends up at the table.

Cultivating Hospitality

Hospitality.... it's a huge thing on my heart. Back at FIRE Church, our awesome pastor, would speak on this topic regularly. In fact, FIRE's logo is "Loving God, Building Community, Changing the World." Many Sundays he would end his message with a challenge to invite someone over to dinner.

The hubs and I tended to take this challenge to heart. Nothing is more fun then having a rowdy group of people sitting around your table, eating good food, and having a down to earth challenging conversation. Of course, follow that up with dessert and a game, and you've officially filled my social love tank up!

Pic courtesy of Morgefile.com

Image URL:

http://mrg.bz/Zscve1

Image URL:

http://mrg.bz/Zscve1

So, why is it so difficult to find other people who will dare to invite you over?

I've spent many hours pondering over this, probably too many hours. I've come up with all sorts of theories and excuses.

~ my house isn't clean, pretty, or perfect enough to have someone over
~ I don't have my own life together enough
~ I don't have enough money to invite someone over
~ my kids might be too rowdy or out of control to actually have a conversation
~ our schedule doesn't permit it
~ I get nervous talking to other people
~ I'm not a good cook

The list can go on and on, trust me.

Now, I've introduced you to a book that kick started me into growing in hospitality, today I want to introduce you to a blogger that I've been following for a few years now. Her name is Hannah and she blogs at a few different venues. Her main blog is called Cultivating Home. What I enjoy about her is that even in her writings, she invites you into her home and encourages you in a Godly lifestyle. If you are looking to grow in hospitality, you may find a few challenging points here. In the meantime, check her out and enjoy!

We've Got a Weiner....

This morning, I took everybodies names, carefully making sure that I gave you the correct number of entries and placed them in a bowl.

And then I had the fabulous Elijah pick one.

NONYA..... you are my winner!!! Congrats girl. I need your address to have it sent to you, as I will have it ordered from Amazon and directly sent to your house! You can email me at njoythejourney77atgmaildotcom.

Homemade Hospitality - Giveaway

When I was newly married and newly saved, my husband and I belonged to a wonderful small group. Truthfully, I don't think our marriage would have survived, had it not been for that small group. We learned so much about Christ, ourselves, and what He had intended for us as a married couple.

During our years in small group, one of the things that grew in us was hospitality. Oh, did my husband and I LOVE to have people over for dinner, games, and more. After awhile we ended up having people live with us. It started with my mom and then during our years in NC, we hosted 11 different college age girls.

Right now, it is just the kids and us. I'll be honest, I am already yearning to have someone live with us again. My heart LOVES to encourage others. I can't help but enjoy living life with other people!

Anyways...

Hospitality is a gift. It is one that you CAN grow in. It is also a gift that anyone can have. I, personally, think that hospitality is a choice.

Here are some of my own opinions on hospitality...

1. you do not have to be rich to have people over
2. you can be in the middle of renovating a home and still make it feel warm and inviting
3. people really just want to be listened to
4. when you listen to others you are seriously showing them Christ's love
5. you'd be surprised at how much people love a simple meal and sitting at a table with a family
6. no one has it all together.... no one
7. there are too many excuses to not have someone over
8. those excuses are not from God
9. as Christians, we need to step it up and start showing tangible love
10. I've got a great book to help get you started....

Back when I was in small group, I had a friend of mine give me a book called, Homemade Hospitality by Barbara Sims. I have to chuckle, because I am sure that she doesn't know just how much that book spoke to me. It's a simple book, grandmotherly like, with wonderful little hints of how to just make your home a place that is welcoming. This book inspired me that I could have people over even if my house was old, run down, in process of renovations, far from perfect, and more.

I'm doing a giveaway. One copy of Homemade Hospitality for one of YOU!

Here are the rules to enter....


Leave a comment by doing one or all of the following:
1. Entry #1 - become a reader of mine. This is easy, you can sign up through Google Reader or Network blogs. If you are already a reader of mine - then just tell me that!
2. Entry #2 - blog about this. Go ahead... tell all your friends about this little giveaway. And you will get another chance to win this book.
3. Entry #3 - Facebook about it... now, c'mon on friends. I have almost 500 of you on Facebook.


There you have it! You have up to three chances to enter this giveaway!


The giveaway will close on Thursday night, February 4, 12 pm eastern standard time.


Here is the disclaimer boring part...... I am not working for Barbara Sims or any sort of book company, etc. I am literally buying this book on my own and will mail it to you out of my own moolah. Why? Because I really like the book and I want to see others encouraged and hospitable! That is it!


Also, this giveaway is open to US residents only.


I'll randomly pick the winner on Friday, February 5th.