[New post] DO YOU KNOW GOD LOVES HOSPITALITY ALMOST AS MUCH AS HE LOVES YOU? PLUS, BREAD AND CAKE—WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE?
Sue Donaldson posted: "In case you forgot, I'm here to remind you—the most important thing about you is what God thinks about you* —AND HE LOVES YOU! He also loves hospitality and wants us to love it too. He said, Be hospitable (and don't complain about it) because it's for " welcomeheart.com
In case you forgot, I'm here to remind you—the most important thing about you is what God thinks about you* —AND HE LOVES YOU!
He also loves hospitality and wants us to love it too. He said, Be hospitable (and don't complain about it) because it's for our good and another's good. He loves hospitality and I want to make a habit of loving what He loves.
I use my bread machine to make French Bread and it usually turns out. My sister, Lynnel, told me years ago to make the LARGE loaf size, set it on the DOUGH cycle and divide it into two loaves, and bake in my oven rather than the machine. I usually do what my sister, Lynnel, says and in this case, I do it every time.
I've learned that warm bread out of the oven slathered with butter can further along any kind of relationship that needs furthering along. Here's the recipe I use: FRENCH HONEY BREAD
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling (I Peter 4:9).
I'm not sure if Peter had heard a lot of grumblings while his family was getting ready to host a big meal that included Jesus and 12 of his best friends. Or, maybe he had been the grumbler. I do know this: God's commands are for my good; I'd better not complain.
I'm less apt to complain when I put my mind on my guest. God has great things in store. I just need to set the table.
A BIG BIRTHDAY
I turned 70 in May. It was a great event. I won't need a funeral now.
Did I mention it was a great event? I think I may be saying that for years to come—when I'm way past 70.
I wrote a list: "70 THINGS I LEARNED IN 70 YEARS." You can get that list HERE if you are brave and intrepid.
Here's one thing I learned:
I culled out all the ones that mentioned hospitality. So here's that list for those less intrepid and brave—only 17 from the original 70.
Be encouraged. Don't grumble. Invite that neighbor. Make French Bread in your bread machine. Warm bread and butter comforts a sad heart and lightens a heavy load.
17 THOUGHTS ON HOSPITALITY FROM SOMEONE OLDER THAN YOU (MOST LIKELY)
If cooking or baking, double the recipe while the kitchen is still dirty; then freeze or give away the extra.
People are not projects.
Never pass up an opportunity to invite someone over.
You can host easier if you aren't thinking about yourself; you'll be less nervous if you focus on your guest and their needs.
Praying for others is the most important thing you can do for them. Inviting them over for meaningful conversation is the second most important thing.
Flexibility—not cleanliness—is next to Godliness (with apologies to Wesley.)
If lonely, bake a cake and share it.
Listening is a great act of love. We have two ears and one mouth for a reason.
Spending time with people or in the Word is never a waste of time because both last forever.
Throwing a party at a moment's notice is easier when there's cake in the freezer. Brownies work, too.
To have a small part in the fragrance of Jesus lingering in a room after your having left it is one of God's special graces.
You learn more from failure than success, learned from personal experience and good wisdom from my brother, Hyatt.
To display God's heart to the world is to open your door."Go into all the world" begins in your neighborhood.
Plan as much as possible, but leave the results in God's hands.
Never pass up an opportunity to affirm another person. Encouragement is the main dish at any meal
We are more like God when we throw a party. He's all about celebrations.
You never really know the hard places of a person's heart, but God does. Our job is to be a friend. His job is to heal and restore.
Look at #7. People are lonely. You may be lonely. Bake a cake. What's your favorite?
Mitzi shared this one with me. I bake it ALL THE TIME, lonely or not.
Chocolate Chip Cake
Recipe Type: Dessert, Tea, Brunch
Cuisine: American
Author: Mitzi and Taste of Home
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 12
I don't always use a bundt pan so I bake it for less time in a 9x13
Ingredients
1 package yellow cake mix
1 package (3.4 oz.) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 cup milk
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
5 T. grated German sweet chocolate, divided
2 T. powdered sugar
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease and flour 10 inch fluted tube pan.
In a mixing bowl, combine cake and pudding mixes, milk, oil, and eggs. Beat on low speed until moistened. Beat on medium for 2 minutes.
Stir in chocolate chips and 3 tablespoons grated chocolate.
Pour into floured/greased tube pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
Combine confectioners sugar and remaining grated chocolate; sprinkle over cake.
Yield: 12 Servings
3.5.3251
WHEN PREPARED, LIFE IS MORE FUN
Much of hospitality stress comes from never quite being ready. If I have cookie dough in the freezer or a jar of spaghetti sauce in the pantry, I feel prepared to host a friend or stranger. People don't really care that much what you serve; they are just pleased to be invited. My favorite store-bought spaghetti sauce is Classico. I add browned sausage (and mushrooms if the kids are not at home.)
EP 136 A LEGACY OF 70 YEARS: WHAT I'VE LEARNED SO FAR
If you would like to hear all 70 instead of read a list—or forward it to a friend, here's the Podcast, Ep 136:
PS *Lore Wilbert wrote in A Curious Faith: "The most important thing about you is what God thinks about you."
Once we get that down—that God loves us—we can invite the stranger, the acquaintance, the family member who may not be your favorite family member. Why? Because we gain strength from knowing God loves us, and we can pray that His love spills over onto that guest who needs to know they are loved, too.
PPS God loves hospitality because it shows off his welcoming heart.
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