By Karen Oliver
When I went to pick up Salha for an event, she welcomed me warmly at her door, invited me in, and said, “Please sit down.” (“Does this mean she’s not ready to go?” I wondered. I had texted her that I was on my way.) Later, I realized that she was not ready to go on purpose! To Salha, leaving with me right after I entered her home would be most unwelcoming.
She presented me with a glass of juice on a small plate. Her husband introduced himself, and a pleasant 10-minute conversation followed. The message was clear: “We are honored to have you in our home.”
God can prepare us with the same attitude, if we ask Him.
1. Start with prayer
Do you feel invaded when unexpected guests appear? When opportunities to host arise, do you focus on why you can’t rather that why you can? God can change our attitudes from “can’t” to “can,” if we ask Him to. If you sense that you aren’t as hospitable as God wants you to be, ask Him to change you. He will.
Conclusion: God can make us eager and ready to be hospitable if we ask Him.
2. Regard people as more important than things
Being on time is a thing–one that’s pretty important to most Americans. But what is “on time,” anyway? I think that Americans tell time by the minute hand, Asians by the hour hand, and Africans and Latin Americans by the calendar! For Americans, being on time shows respect to others, but in other cultures, being friendly and taking time to get to know others is more respectful than arriving on (American) time. (The exception might be getting to the airport or bus station on time!)
Conclusion: Making time in your life for others honors and blesses them and God, who knows how much time we have better than we do! Ask Him to give you a people-over-things mindset.
3. Prepare for unexpected guests
The doorbell rings. You weren’t expecting guests, but there stands the Iranian couple you met last week at a Bible discussion! What a relief that you keep a large bottle of fruit juice and some not-very-sweet cookies on hand for just such occasions! As you open the door, you mentally clear your calendar for the next hour and pray that the friend you’d planned to meet for coffee in a half hour will understand. You send her a text, ask God’s favor on your time with your guests, and head for the juice and cookies.
Conclusion: Keep beverages and snacks on hand. And trust God with your other commitments when surprise visitors come.
4. Keep your house ready for hospitality, mentally and physically
Oh, no, visitors–and the house is a mess! Years ago, a friend’s mother told her, “Don’t ever refuse to invite visitors in because your house is a mess.” All that unexpected guests need is a warm welcome and a place to sit. In truth, our messy house bothers us more than it bothers our guests. If your house isn’t as tidy as you’d like, start small. Keep one area of your home guest-ready. And remember that your times are in God’s hands (Psalm 31:15). Then you’ll have a peaceful place in your heart and in your home for unexpected guests.
Conclusions: Welcoming others is more important than having a clean house. God is in charge; we are not.
5. Focus on what you have, not on what you don’t have
Sometimes we don’t open our home and life to others because we’re looking at what we don’t have. Last year, my pastor advised, “Accept your inadequacies, then refocus on God’s sufficiency.” So hand those “I-don’t-have’s” to God and ask Him to show you what He’s given you for being hospitable. No guest bedroom? Do you have a sofa that you can sleep on so your guests can have your bedroom? No snacks? Offer slices of fruit, even a dish of canned fruit and a napkin, presented on a plate. And offer at least three times! In some cultures accepting the first offer means that you’re greedy!
Conclusion: Trust God to show you how to be hospitable.
6. Expect good things to happen
“Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!” (Hebrews 13:2, NLT) Years ago a family in Iowa opened their home to two Chinese men whose group was touring agricultural training facilities in the US. One was a very tall graduate student who spoke little English; the other was his interpreter. Today, that tall student is president of China! When his former hosts visited China last year, he made sure they were treated with great honor. While this is a wonderful story, the best thing that can happen because we show godly hospitality is that our guests eventually trust Jesus, who welcomes the world to His home and table. He will reward our efforts as He chooses.
Conclusion: “You reward everyone according to what they have done.” (Psalm 62:12)
7. Be spontaneous!
Just before Christmas when I was decorating my tiny Christmas tree, I looked out my front window to see a young woman and a little girl walking by. I guessed they were from the Middle East; many of my neighbors are. I felt God prompting me, “Invite them to come in!” So I did. The mother hesitated, but when I said, “Would you like to help decorate my Christmas tree?” her daughter’s face lit up, and mom couldn’t refuse. The next half hour was one of the best of the season. The three-year-old hung five ornaments (all on the same branch) while her mother took photos, shyly saying, “We don’t have a Christmas tree in our house.” The mother and I got to know each other over juice and exchanged email addresses. I pray that I’ll have more time with them.
Conclusion: God has good surprises for hospitable people.
Write An Encouraging Letter To A Student
January: The sun rises late and sets early; sometimes it’s behind thick, gray clouds for many days. “Wind chill” becomes important to students who wait at bus stops. How long until spring? January and February can be tough for internationals, especially those from warm countries and those who didn’t go home on winter break.
This month we suggest that you write an encouraging note to an international student—someone you know through airport pickup or hosting, who attends your Bible discussion group, or who lives across the hall, across the street, or even across the country.
What to write? How about sharing a memory of this time of year from your own school days? Assure your friend that that spring will come, and it will be beautiful. Tell your friend a characteristic of Jesus that you see in his/her life. Tell a funny story. But most of all, say that you’re praying for your friend and asking God to carry them through these gray days and help them experience His love.
The medium? Because not many people actually write notes on paper anymore, not many people receive such notes. Words of encouragement on an attractive card or stationery that can be read and reread are so welcome!
However, you may have your friend’s email address but not “snail mail” address. You can send an electronic card using websites such as Hallmarkecards.com, Crosscards.com, punchbowl.com/ecards, DaySpring.com/ecardstudio, JacquieLawson.com, AmericanGreetings.com/ecards, or bluemountain.com/ecards.
Do it! It can mean a lot to the person you write to. And it can brighten your day, too!