GIVE OTHERS THE GIFT OF YOUR HOSPITALITY...
There's a lot more to hospitality than inviting friends to your house for a meal
or party. Even if you don't like entertaining,
you can serve others through a hospitable attitude that will extend God's love
into any situation.
Here are some ways you can bless others through hospitality:
* Know that true hospitality involves welcoming and loving others for the
joy of doing so, without expecting anything in return. Study how Jesus modeled
hospitality, and pray for Him to help you use hospitality to bless others you
encounter.
* Don't worry about undertaking elaborate plans; instead, strive just to
be genuine when exercising hospitality. People will most appreciate
the love in your heart, which will be expressed whenever you genuinely try to
bless them.
* Get to know people you meet, so you can understand how best to serve
them. Just taking the time to listen to them will also greatly encourage them,
because it shows that you care about them as individuals. Try to restate what
you thought they said after they finish saying it, to show that you were
actively listening and to give them a chance to clarify.
* When speaking yourself, pay attention to your body language and tone of
voice, which are just as important as the content of what you say. For example,
you might make eye contact with others to whom you are speaking and lean
forward as you talk. You might also try to convey a sense of warmth in your
voice, and allow appropriate lulls in conversations so people can
absorb what you're saying.
* Consider how you might make your home or church building more inviting to
visitors, such as by adding light or
removing clutter.
* Ask God to help you discover your gifts, and reveal oortunities for you
to use them to serve others.
* Let volunteers who are serving others through some type of inistry know
that they're appreciated, and offer to help
them in any way you can.
* Help your church establish and maintain ministries to its local
community. There are lots of possibilities - support
groups, a food pantry, a furniture loan closet, a transportation program for
people who can't drive, etc.
* When you encounter someone who is suffering, cry with him or her. When
you meet someone who is rejoicing, celebrate with that person.
* Accept hospitality from others graciously. It's a gift to fully receive
help because it allows the person helping you
the opportunity to serve and the satisfaction of knowing that you were
blessed.
* Release your hold over people, possessions, dreams and traditions if
they are standing in the way of your hospitality. For example, be willing to
put aside your
customs and embrace the customs of another culture when seeking to share God's
love effectively with someone from a
different culture.
* Don't let busyness consume you. Carve out some unscheduled time each day
to be open to innovative ways God might lead
you to serve others.
* Always be willing to share the gospel with people you serve when God
brings about opportunities.
**********************************************************************
This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list.
To unsubscribe, send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
For automatic help, send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
In case of any issue related to the mailing list contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To know more about Jesus Youth, visit http://www.jesusyouth.org
**********************************************************************
