My Lenten Focus: Home, Hospitality, Ministry

 

I've always been a homebody, that goes without question. From the time I was a little girl my only aspiration in life was to be a wife, mother and a teacher, and I've been blessed to be all of those. It is also true that I am an introvert and that social interactions, even if only for a few hours, can leave me physically and emotionally depleted. So it isn't surprising to me that in this lenten season I am sensing a deep call to home. I mentioned in an earlier post I plan to do my spring cleaning and declutter our home by donating 40 items over 40 days. But what has been a bit unexpected is, that beyond simply bringing our house to order, I also feel a call to open our home for ministry. That idea in and of itself doesn't concern me, I enjoy having friends over to share a meal or for a game night, but something about this stirring feels greater than that. And while I'm certain that gathering over a simple meal will likely be the starting place, I sense that what the Holy Spirit has in mind is much more.  

When the idea first came to me my initial response was "But . . . .

. . . we live 30 minutes from civilization, who would want to come here?

. . . our house is small, comfortable for us, yes, but you add 2-3 more people and we're already crowded?

. . . where would everyone park?

To be honest, I still have those questions, and yet this urging, I suppose you would call it, has not ceased. And so, with that, I've decided to lean into it by reading three books during this season. 

The first book I've chosen is . . .

Why Your Work In The Home Matters To God
by Courtney Reising

I chose it because it focuses on our work in the home, and to remind myself, as Thomas Moore says, that;

"The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest."

And here is a brief summary from Amazon; 

"When the work of the home fills our days, it is easy to get disillusioned and miss God’s grand purpose for our work. As image bearers of the Creator who made us to work, we contribute to society, bringing order out of chaos and loving God through loving others—meaning there’s glory in every moment."

I feel it is important in beginning this journey, to be reminded that my family and my home are my highest calling and ministry. Anything else that I am led to do will flow from that. Creating order in our home by organizing and decluttering will allow for our rhythms and rituals to flow freely and smoothly, freeing my time for minisry and setting the stage for hospitality.

Which leads me to the second book . . .

Sharing God's Heart Through Hospitality
by Amy Nelson Shannon

I chose this book for its focus on hospitality and viewing our homes as a place of ministry, a "domestic church", and when I read the summary on Amazon, I realized that this book may well address all of my "but's" and hesitations.

"Many of us wish to share a meal, share our faith, and share our lives with others. We want to open our home to friends and neighbors for the sake of meaningful community, but we're overwhelmed with hospitality hang-ups. How do I extend an invitation? What will they think of my house or the food? Our welcome has been influenced by the messages of the world that tell us hospitality is about our ability to be, host, live, and cook a certain way.

In Gather and Give, Amy Hannon inspires you to embrace the simple hospitality of the Bible that values connection more than perfection and people more than presentation. Amy shares scriptural principles and practical ideas to make everyday hospitality a natural, joy-filled part of your life."

This will actually be my second time reading this book, but if I'm honest, I don't recall much about it. I do remember liking it, but I feel that it will have more meaning and impact in this season. I was also elated to discover that the author has another book, Love Welcome Serve: Recipes that Gather and Give, and that it is free with my Kindle Unlimited membership. I'm looking forward to persuing it.

And finally, the third book I've chosen is . . .

Waking Up To God's Goodness All Around You
by Shannan Martin

As with Gather & Give, this will be my second time reading this book, however . . I do recall that upon my first reading I was deeply moved, and in this season the content seems fitting.

Here is the summary from Amazon;

"What does it look like to live lives of meaning?
And how do we do it between loads of laundry and reimagining leftovers?
Where do we even begin?

For Christ-followers living in an increasingly complicated world, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to live a life of intention and meaning.

But in The Ministry of Ordinary Places, speaker and writer Shannan Martin offers a surprisingly simple answer: it’s about being with people, the ones right next door. As she walks you through her own story she challenges you to see your community through a wider lens of love, following in the footsteps of a Savior who came as an everyday man and spent his life circled up with regular folks just like us. Along the way, she shares discoveries about the vital importance of showing up and committing for the long haul, despite the inevitable encounters with brokenness and uncertainty.

With transparency, humor, heart-tugging storytelling, and more than a little personal confession, Martin shows us that no matter where we live or how much we have, as we learn what it is to be with people as Jesus was, we'll find our very lives. The details will look quiet and ordinary, and the call will both exhaust and exhilarate us. But it will be the most worth-it adventure we will ever take."

I feel that reading through this book again will bring clarity to this calling I feel has been placed upon my heart. It guides you in the question, "Who is my neighbor", and reminds us that the places we find ourselves in life are not just determined by some random throw of the cosmic dice,  but that we have been specifically chosen and guided to the fields in which we are gleaning, "the harvest is plentiful".

With that, if anything about these books has stirred your heart or caught your interest, then I invite you to join me. I've linked (affliciate) each title throughout this post, but I would encourage you to check with your library, or if your local branch is affliated with Hoopla, I found each ot these titles are available to borrow.


I also just came across another title by Shannan Martin, Start With Hello: And Other Simple Ways To Live As Neighbors, which sounds fitting, as well.

As Lent last approximately sixish weeks, my plan is simple, to read one book every two weeks, which looks something like . . .

Glory in the Ordinary - March 5 - 18
Gather & Give - March 19 - April 1
and finally,
The Ministry of Ordinary Places - April 2 - 16

I'll be writing a review of each of the books as I finish them, and what the Holy Spirit showed me in the process, and sharing my thoughts here with you. If you'd like to join me in reading any or all of these books, I would love the company! Just leave a comment and let me know. There's no pressure or expectation, just an opportunity to deepen our love for and mission as wives, mothers and workers in the Kingdom.

Until then . . .

❊

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