Inviting Others In

Have you ever been invited in? Have you experienced the fruit or the joy that has come with having invited others in?

I recently asked in my stories, “When was a time you were invited in?” And the overwhelming response was this...you have been invited in in some way or another and it made you feel loved. You were included, cared for and it resulted in friendship.

This year the Lord has really challenged me to invite others in more. It’s SUPER easy for me to do this on the internet but as a friend in my local community He was challenging me even more. 

He was pushing me to invite others into my home. I have said this before and it is something I am REALLY working on and I even hate admitting, but I don't love hosting. Jesse does! I don't love the prep, the cleaning, the feeling that my house is unfinished or dirty or in some way lacking, um hello pride much?!)

He was pushing me out of my comfort zone to invite Into the day to day life and into the  routines I have held tightly onto.

I have definitely failed or deemed myself too tired at times but let me tell you, as I sit back and reflect on letting people in I am overwhelmed by the goodness and the fruit the Lord has brought to my life.

Because we  were letting people in, we started a small group. Friends from church who gather weekly around our table. We have already walked through so much together and the friendships that have formed are so sweet and life giving. An invitation was sent & fruit is growing!

By letting people in we host youth group at our house multiple times a month. It’s loud and chaotic but it's been a complete joy to get to know our youth leaders. ONE OF THEM WAS ONLY 3 MONTHS OLD WHEN 9/11 HAPPENED. Getting to know them has shown me 1) my age and 2) we get to lean in and mentor this group as they mentor our kids. It’s really weird to be old but it’s really fun too. Again this has shown me time together & Fruit!

By letting people in I am forced to let go of my desire to host only when things are perfect. I have said before that hosting isn’t my favorite because I find myself WILDLY insecure of, well everything, the floors aren’t finished, that stack of papers that just live on the counter and since I had covid back in January and still can’t smell, I have NO idea if my house smells. I just light the candles and pray. It has humbled me is what i am trying to say. It has allowed me to let go and just be present with those who can come and gather at our home. Freedom in Fruit.

How are you inviting others in? What is holding you back from joining that new class at church or the gym? What makes you say “No” to having friends over to your house?

Here are some ways you can invite others in TODAY:

Start a small group

Have a specific time you meet a friend at the gym or some sort of class.

Start hosting a Taco Tuesday and invite your friends over! (we got this idea from my friend Jess Massey. She invited us to one and it is now something we do 2x a month as well)

Have a friend(s) over for coffee, happy hour, or a meal!

Start a movie series or TV series together!