Hospitality: Learning to Engage in Meaningful Conversations

Hospitality is an opportunity to bless others by showing them value as image bearers of the Lord. We get to serve people through provision of a basic need: food (yes please!) and through another way: sharing the truth and encouragement of the Gospel.

Hospitality is all about showing folks Jesus. I have a simple recipe for hospitality: food + meaningful conversation = hospitality. It doesn't have to be overboard or complicated. Invite someone over, serve them something to eat, and encourage them.

Check out Episode 11 of the SPFPodcast to learn more about a biblical view of hospitality!

One thing we've used in our home to get the ball rolling on meaningful conversations are napkin questions to get all guests involved. These little questions written on napkins give every guest the opportunity to share and be known in a welcoming way. And it's fun!

Check out this video to learn more!

Get free questions for your conversation starters!

Get 40 free questions to help practice meaningful conversations in your home.

Is She a Good Mother?

There is a lot going on in the mother's life. She's trying to raise children while she herself is a work in progress. There is sin, there are shortcomings, there are questions that don't seem to have answers. There are crying babies and hormone charged teenagers and often a critical voice deep within picking apart her decisions.  

In the midst of each woman's journey as mom, we look at others and we critique. Others look at us and critique. What are they doing right? What are they doing wrong?

I had a thought today - since all of us fall short of the glory of God, and all of us are being transformed but have not yet "arrived," why don't we start lifting each other up in prayer? 

He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. Isaiah 40:11

Being a mother is a weighty responsibility for cracked and broken vessels, yet God still blesses us with children, and leads us and helps us as we love them.

God tenderly leads those who have young. Being a mother is no joke. It's a weighty responsibility for cracked and broken vessels (that would be everyone of us). Yet God still blesses us with children and he leads us and helps us as we love them.

As we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, so will our mothering. Do you want that? I crave it - I crave a better understanding of my role, I crave wisdom on how to discipline, I crave patience during a sleep deprived state, I crave the ability to show love toward my kids even when I'm irritated (at them). Other moms crave it too. 

So let us pray for one another, for other mothers. 

Jesus came that we might have an abundant life - that we might know him and follow him and share him. We should long for that for all people - including other mothers. 

Let us pray for one another so that mothers are lifted up, so that this next generation grows up to love Jesus and live for Him. Let us cry out for wisdom, patience, love, and endurance on their behalf to raise our children in the fear the Lord.

Pray for God to bless mothers with wisdom and courage to raise their children; for diligence and peace as they maintain their households.

Let us be for each other instead of against - because we are all works in progress growing in the grace and admonition of the Lord - because it's not about us but His glory.

When you see another mom, with her children, young or old, lift her up in a simple prayer:

Jesus, please lead her tenderly as she cares for her young.

The Feminine Domain

When I was 16 my parent’s bought me a car- a 1994 Nissan Sentra, manual, white, zippy. It might not have been the coolest car in my high school parking lot (and certainly not the newest), but I was delighted to have my own wheels, my own CD player, my own vehicle to take me wherever I wanted to go. My very generous parents entrusted me with that machine- they owned it, but I was a steward of the car. They charged me to make wise decisions, take care of the vehicle, obey the traffic laws, and go at least 10 under the speed limit at all times (well, maybe not 10 under;).

Have you ever thought of being a steward of your life? That God created us for a purpose, gave us roles and responsibilities and asks us to be faithful stewards with his resources? Let’s go a little further, have you ever thought about being a steward of womanhood and all that goes into the blessedness of being a woman?

 In the Beginning

There once was a beautiful paradise, a garden named Eden, filled with beauty, plants, and animals. It was also home to the first human beings- man and woman. They were created by God in his image, communed with God as they walked about, and were given purpose for their lives on earth.

God tells both man and woman, “Be fruitful, and multiple and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living creature that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28

When the man and woman were created, God gave them the command to rule, subdue, and to produce- we refer to this as the Cultural Mandate. It was God’s commission and authoritative instruction to humans to be purposeful with their lives on earth. God created man and woman with intention and deliberately designed them with specific roles and responsibilities to rule, subdue, and produce in God appointed domains.

The feminine domains include, but are not limited to our words, time, possessions, attitudes, body, relationships, talents, money, home etc. Within each of these domains, God wants us to rule, subdue, and produce.

Ruling, Subduing, and Producing in the Feminine Domain

We rule by making authoritative decisions regarding a course or destiny. In the kitchen domain I look that slimy raw bird in the eye, wait, um, chest, and decide on it's destiny. . . to be dinner for the family. In the time domain, I decide where I will spend the hours of my day.

We subdue by bringing under control by conquering, and keeping under control by diligent maintenance. In the attitude domain I bring under control my complaining by being thankful, and lets be honest, keep the complaints to a minimum by VERY diligent maintenance. In the home domain, I have to control the laundry by conquering the mountain every few days (and without diligent maintenance our house would turn into a giant pile of cloths and diapers).

We produce by having children, both spiritual and physical, by being productive in everything we do, and creating value all around us. In the word's domain, I am able to give life by speaking words of encouragement and truth to people around me, including my husband and baby girl. In the relationship domain, I sow the Word to hopefully produce other disciples of Jesus.

The feminine domain is a place of great freedom and beauty. It's a place where God has given women the charge of being good stewards, making wise decisions, growing in discernment, elevating our surroundings, mastering our gifts, and teaching our talents.

We have been given this trust. Let us prove faithful.