As a new mother, I was on the receiving end of some really sweet encouragement. I remember the feelings of gratitude, of wanting to pay it forward- and I remember how hard it was to do much of anything, beyond taking care of my baby at that time.
Read MoreShortly after we were married, my husband and I moved hundreds of miles away from our hometown to go to college. We were strangers to nearly everyone in our new town. Not long after arriving, we ended up going to a church where we were warmly welcomed and shown what Christian hospitality is all about.
Read MoreAfternoon tea. You don’t have to be British and you don’t have to be a six-year-old girl to have fun with this idea. Hosting an afternoon tea is a sweet way to let your girlfriends know you appreciate them.
Read MoreWhen we think about preparing our homes for guests, I think a good question to ask is,
“What can we do to make people feel honored and loved?”
Doing what we can to make other people feel loved is the heart of hospitality.
Read MoreOver the next few weeks on this blog, we’ll explore different ways to connect with other people and welcome them into our homes and lives. These types of efforts are often rewarded by stronger community bonds and new friendships. Those are wonderful blessings: good for your heart, mind, and soul. But as Christians, there’s another, more important reason behind our desire to love our neighbors
Read MoreIn my early 20’s I met Jeanne Garison. Jeanne was wise, gracious, funny, and for some reason, loved me. She showed it by pouring her wisdom into me, her time into my time, her life into my life. Living life with Jeanne alongside made all the difference.
Read MoreCozy Minimalist is the name of an online decorating course, by Myquillin Smith (also known as The Nester). You may already know her from her blog and/or book called, The Nesting Place. After being on the waiting list for the months, anxiously waiting for her class to re-open, I finally had the privilege of taking her course- and now I'm happy to welcome you into my home, to share some before and after photos and tell you some of what I learned.
Because who doesn't love a good before and after!
Read MoreHygee: it's not a new idea (particularly if you live in Scandinavia) but for me, it's a fresh way of looking at life, something I've embraced
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. -Mathew 25:35-40
The Bible verse above, from Mathew, is a practical “how-to” of hospitality. I see four basic human needs that are directly addressed in this passage: food, clothing, shelter, and companionship.
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