Like most women do after church is over, I was busy talking. And talking some more. I mean, hey . . . Sunday only comes once a week, and some of these people I only see once a week! That should be reason enough for all the talking.
While I was so busy at this talking thing, I did not notice that my husband had moved quickly out the front door to catch a visitor before he left. For some reason, Lowell had felt compelled to talk with this man and so followed him out the door. Meanwhile, I was still talking.
Lowell ended up inviting this man for lunch at our home and then said he needed to go ask his wife. That was me. His wife. Usually, Lowell will ask me first, but the situation doesn’t always allow that . . . so he was hoping I would be on board with this plan.
I suppose you’re wondering what I said.
I said yes. And in that yes was a lesson God had been teaching me for some time.
A home with love has expandable walls.
A heart filled with His love has expandable walls as well.
This man was visiting from another state and big city . . . and he had quite a story to tell. His life couldn’t have been more opposite from ours – yet God had led him to the truth of the Gospel and had shown Himself faithful in horrific circumstances. Raised in a secular Jewish home, he had went searching for truth in so many areas and had ended up deep in the occult for over 15 years. How God brought him out of that was an amazing story to hear!
During the week he was visiting the area, I could not shake the feeling that I was being taught a lesson – that there was yet another area I needed to give over to my King . . . it was my home. And so I laid my little home upon His altar and prayed a prayer like this:
If You can use my home to heal the brokenhearted,
to encourage the saints,
to love the sinner,
and to further the Kingdom . . .
then it is Yours.
Now I would see what my King would do with it.
We were able to have this visitor in our home several times that week, with Biblical discussions that went late into the night. It was in one point of a conversation that he looked at Lowell and I . . . and asked this question: “Were you guys expecting me?”
Now we had not known this man even existed before Sunday! How could we be expecting him?! So we told him no. But curiosity is one of my fatal flaws and I asked “Why?”
He sort of shrugged and said that earlier he had had a feeling he would be sitting here talking to us. Not to us exactly, but to Mennonite people in their home on his trip to Idaho. And discussing Biblical issues with them.
I can still get goosebumps when I think of that conversation. All the “what ifs” went pouring through my mind. What if I had been too stuck on a perfect meal to let this man in our home? What if I had not been willing to readjust my schedule or my kitchen table to include one more soul? What if I had said no to my husband’s request? What if I had closed my heart to someone who needed encouragement?
Would God then have said, “I will find someone else?”
I have learned that in opening my home . . . I must also open my heart.
I must be willing to walk through mud with them. Love them through the hard times. Listen when the tears flow. Laugh in the fun times, and rejoice in their joy. They say love multiplies the joy . . . and divides the sorrow. I want this to be my home.
This giving of my home is not just setting food before a person. Although it might not hurt to avoid the mistake I made once by serving moldy buns for Sunday dinner! And let’s face it . . . many times we just really don’t feel like it. I am not saying there is never a time to ask someone to postpone their visit to our homes. But it’s better if these times are more the exception than the rule. And perhaps you have a small home or small budget. But most homes can squeeze one or two more people in them – and popcorn is relatively cheap! 😉
Instead, this is about serving these people God brings to your door. When I go into it with the attitude or thought of “Lord, let me serve someone for You today” . . . I usually end up being more blessed than the ones who enter my home. They bless me more than I could ever bless them.
God has a unique way of turning the blessing of servanthood around . . . and pouring it back on you.
May this be our homes.
May they encourage the saints,
love the sinners,
and heal the brokenhearted.
May they be used of the King.
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Regina Shea says
Hi Kendra,
Thank you for this post. I used to think about inviting a guest to our home after church on Sundays at our old house but it was too dirty and messy for guests. Now that we are in our new house and state I have no excuse. Well actually since we are new to our church and state I should get to know some people. Anyway, I want to practice hospitality and since we know God led us to this house we want to honor Him by having guests over for meals.
Kendra says
That is an awesome attitude to go into it with!! Isn’t it funny how we humans need each other’s company – that God made us to need each other’s fellowship? I think it’s great!
Sheri says
So… What DID you serve!?!? Unexpected company always sounds so easy…. until it actually happens! For me it is so easy to stress the entire visit and when they leave fervently hope the unexpected doesn’t happen again real soon…And yet deep down I know there ARE always blessings reaped and I DO want to be used of God. Maybe praying this prayer daily will help me! The last time this happened at our house I thought I was staying calm as the salesman picked and skipped his way through the meal that I had somehow managed to flop – tried and true though it was… but then sat on edge while my husband navigated through the visitors constant and heated obsession with politics.. Yes, I needed this post!
Kendra says
Maybe I am mean, but this comment made me smile! 😉 Because I’ve been there. On this particular Sunday, I already had a roast in the crockpot, so we served that. But when I have unexpected company, I remember that most people enjoy the fellowship we can give them . . . even if we laugh at moldy buns on the kitchen table! If I have nothing planned, pancakes are easy enough to prepare from scratch – although I usually am out of pancake syrup . . . so that might pose a problem.
Diana says
I love this post! This is really something with which I struggle. In fact, I’ve been thinking about it this week. Tim Challies wrote an article last week in which he said that “Christians are not allowed to have pet sins” – and I have to admit that my pet sin is a hatred of hospitality. I’m so bad at it (socially awkward introvert) that my instinct is to run screaming rather than embrace it. But again, Christians don’t get to have pet sins, so… maybe I should work on it!
(I should say that I love having planned guests… it’s those unexpected guests that drive me batty.)
By the way, pancake syrup = 2 cups of sugar plus 1 cup of water, bring to a boil, turn off heat, add 1 tsp. maple flavoring. There you go for those surprise-guest pancakes!! 🙂
Diana
Diana says
By the way, this post is so good that I have to print it off for my reading notebook! Thanks again! 🙂
Kendra says
You are welcome and thanks so much for the pancake syrup recipe!!
Rosina says
This is a beautiful example of hearing and obeying God’s voice, and the rewards of doing so! Thanks for the inspiration to keep our hearts and homes open!
Kendra says
Thank you, Rosina!
Sandra Miller says
Edifying. Thanks for sharing.
Melissa M. says
Oh so convicting!
Mom G says
I especially appreciated this blog as today in our Sunday School lesson we read how Matthew, a despised publican, prepared a great feast for his many sinner friends to meet his new Master after leaving his tax booth. He was a changed man & used his hospitality as a missionary effort. Isn’t there something about eating together around a table that brings us all to the same level? We ladies can embrace this ministry as we have been taught to cook & keep house. God bless you & the other homemakers out there!
Kendra says
Thanks so much, Mom!!
Rhoda says
Thanks for this post, Kendra! Tomorrow my ‘new friend’ (who’s not plain, but loves the Lord) is coming to my house and I’m going to teach her her 2nd lesson in sewing. She came to my yard sale a month ago and shared her heart about wanting to learn how to sew garments/dresses, so she can start her own fashion show and boutique. (She wants to bring back more modest clothing and at the same time incorporate the family unit. Bless her heart!) She’d been praying for weeks that God would lead her to a Mennonite woman who was willing to sit down and teach her the basics of sewing. Last week, as she was watching every move I made at the sewing machine, she confided in me, “You know, I’ve asked many of your kind of people to teach me, and they all took my name and number and said they’d call me back. Not one of them did.” I got goosebumps, just thinking how close I was to NOT allowing her to come!!
To make a long story short, a special relationship has been borne and she spent a few hours pouring her heart of pain out to me and asking desperately for advice and direction. She smokes, but says, “I know Christians don’t smoke! I’m not a whole Christian.” She lives with a man for 13 years and has a 5 year old daughter. She wants to get married but he doesn’t, so she stays with him so her daughter has a ‘father’. Problem is he spends all his extra time at the gym and no time with them. She also expects him to be gay.
Pray for my new friend! She has sins that have not been covered under the blood and such a limited understanding of God and His love! Pray for me tomorrow as she comes again, that my witness may be pure, humble, and full of wisdom. Thanks for letting me share here. It’s heavy on my heart. The amazing thing is that I’ve never done anything like this before and it is extremely stretching! (Which is not a bad thing!) 🙂
Kendra says
Rhoda, that is awesome!! You will never know how far-reaching your actions are, so you just keep right on giving. I know how scary it can be when someone comes to you for advice and you realize that your life is pretty great compared to theirs……just encourage her to cultivate her relationship with Christ. This is one piece of advice I received when I began counselling someone, and now that “someone” is off getting ready to counsel someone else! Some of us plant seeds, some water, some are there for the harvest of another’s seeds…..but it is God who gives the increase. He uses us all!!
Rhoda says
Thanks for this! I need all the advice and counsel I can get!