I began Inscribe the Word Scripture Writing Plans in 2016, and every year, I am in awe of how God uses these plans to bring hundreds of thousands of people to Scripture. I am humbled and honored to bring this resource to you.

This year, our theme is The Spiritual Disciplines. By placing daily spiritual rhythms in our lives, my husband and I have decided to rebuild our lives around our apprenticeship to Jesus. You can read more about that HERE.

Each month in 2022, we will focus on a new spiritual discipline. I will also be including some books and resources to help you put that discipline into practice in your everyday lives. In January, we inscribed verses focused on Sabbath Rest. This February, our Scripture passages were on prayer. In March, we continued our study of the Spiritual Disciplines and studied Fasting. In April, we focused on the beauty of Praise & Worship, and in May, Silence and Solitude. This month, we take on a new discipline . . .

Hospitality.

My prayer is that you see these not as legalistic rules but as ways to Abide in the Vine each and every day. (John 15:1-8)

As we enter the summer months of BBQs, beach parties, campfires, and nights under the stars, I thought it would be appropriate to inscribe verses centered on the spiritual discipline of Hospitality.

When the Lord impressed upon me to choose this discipline, I was hesitant. I initially thought, "Oh, Gosh. I am not the best at Hospitality. I don't invite people into my home often, I don't have the money for lavish dinners, and I don't have a twelve-piece place setting of matching dishes." That may sound shallow to you, but it was the first thing I thought about when the word Hospitality was dropped into my spirit.

Many of us think that we have to give a whole day to prepare the fancy "Pinterest approved" meal to be hospitable. We need the perfect tablescape and the beautiful pitcher of fresh-squeezed lemonade on the Pottery Barn-inspired patio, with an appetizer to boot! This is the culture's definition of Hospitality. It isn't what the Bible says or what the Lord requires of us.

I have been quoting from Adele Ahlberg Calhoun throughout our series on The Spiritual Disciplines. She describes Biblical Hospitality like this. "Hospitality is not about impressing others with well-decorated homes and gourmet cooking. It's not simply for the gifted or those with clean homes. Neither is it just for women. Hospitality is a way of loving our neighbor in the same way God has loved us.

The early church shaped their life together around the practice of Hospitality. "They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people" (Acts 2:46-47). Our world desperately needs safe people and safe places. Hospitality is one way we become God's welcoming arms in a big and often hostile world." (source)

As I was writing this post, the Lord reminded me of a moment I had last week. A dear friend and one of the directors at the theater I own and operate asked if I needed help on a project we were working on together. It was early in the morning, and I looked around my home. It was neat-ish, but it wasn't perfect. I hadn't gone food shopping, so I didn't have anything to really offer her. Still, I said, "Come on over. The house isn't tidy, I don't have a hand towel in the guest bathroom, all I have to offer is coffee and popcorn, and I have a golden retriever who is shedding. But still, come over.”

And she did.
And we ordered lunch and laughed and worked and cried and reminisced and created a beautiful project together. I think, maybe, that's the kind of Hospitality Jesus had in mind.

Popcorn.
Coffee.
Dogs that are licking your hands.
And Jesus in the middle of it, sitting with us and sharing time.

As we walk through the summer months, may we keep in mind what the Bible says about Hospitality.
“Biblical hospitality is about more than sharing a meal or inviting friends over. It is the work of making room in our lives for others. True hospitality is a posture of charity toward the poor, of welcome toward the displaced, and of humility and gentleness toward the hurting.” (source)

BOOKS, PODCASTS, RESOURCES and WEBSITES

Making Room: A Study in Biblical Hospitality by She Reads Truth
What Does the Bible Say About Hospitality? by Got Questions
Practice Hospitality by John Mark Comer
Eating and Drinking Series by Practicing The Way