One of the ways we use our home to bless others and glorify our Heavenly Father is by practicing hospitality. I am not an expert in manners or entertaining, but here are some simple tips to aid you in opening your home to bless others!

Practicing hospitality can be simple and a blessing, but I've found that many people aren't in the habit of inviting others over to their homes, and in fact rarely fellowship outside of church services.

I am blessed to be married to a man who loves people. Even though my husband works away from home full-time, he's more than willing to invite guests into our home and we've been having company for, well, almost five years now!

I am still not what I would consider an "expert" in this area, even though we usually entertain guests weekly. I have those moments of forgetting to take anyone's coat. Just last week, we ate an entire meal and then one of our guests asked for a drink of water!  

We tend to "invite first, plan later" and have had many fun times figuring out how to fit 20+ people into our small apartment. We usually end up borrowing office chairs (and even a couple outdoor chairs sometimes!) and the piano bench to seat everyone. If it's nice, we eat outside.

I've found, though, that even big mistakes or awful-tasting food (yes, I've done that, too!) don't really matter much when you're serving with a cheerful smile and a warm welcoming attitude. (Although if you do serve food that didn't turn out right, be sure to offer some snacks after the meal or something, so your guests don't go home huungry.)

Getting Started by Inviting

If you aren't accustomed to having guests, the best way to get started is to simply invite someone! It's all right to leave an open-ended invitation, such as "We would love for your family to come over sometime for dinner. When might be a good time for you?"

Don't say, "Let us know when you want to come over." Your guests will feel like they're inviting themselves over. It's usually a good idea to suggest a time, such as "next week", not "when you have time". If your guests can't come or have to cancel, be sure to suggest a re-scheduling.

What to make, What to bring...

If this is the first time you have cooked for your guests, or they are people you don't know very well, you may want to ask them if they have any special food preferences or allergies. I sometimes have a list of a few different main dishes in mind, and ask the lady which she thinks her family would like best.

While in many places it is customary for the guest to bring a salad or dessert or part of the meal, never assume that your guests will be bringing food. No one enjoys being invited and then when they accept, being told what they must bring.

If my guests offer to bring something to contribute to the meal, I sometimes accept. It really is a help to have the guest bring a salad or dessert. If I already have the whole meal planned, or I especially desire for the guest to have a complete break from food preparation, I decline, saying, "Oh, thank you for offering! Just bring ourselves, and be sure to come hungry."

You may want to start small (i.e. inviting one small family over first, and gradually working up to a larger number of people), and of course, be sure you are inviting people with your husband's blessing! Mark any plans on your calendar so you don't forget!

The Next Step: Preparing

After you have invited someone and they have accepted, it's time to start preparing for their visit. Plan all the food, and be sure you have the ingredients you will need. It's no fun making a last-minute trip to the store (though we've done that a number of times, due to my poor planning!).

If you're unsure of your cooking abilities, you might enjoy reading my article titled Cooking Tips: How to obtain superior results when cooking.

When cooking for guests, I almost always use recipes that I've made many times before. Some of my staple recipes are listed here, which will give you an idea of the sorts of things I make for guests.  Be sure to make plenty of food!

I prefer to make dishes that can be made ahead of time and baked while the guests are arriving. Occasionally I do cook parts of the meal while the guests are here, but I find it difficult to cook and entertain at the same time. For that reason, I have a little list of all the foods for that meal so I don't forget to make anything. (I have a habit of forgetting the last-minute things like a salad or vegetable!) Read this for more ideas about cooking ahead.

Here are two sample guest menus -- one for lunch guests and one for weekend guests. These are just a couple times where I decided to blog about what we served our guests. :) Mrs. Wilt also shared a photo of how to properly set a table. Don't worry if you can't make yours look just like that, though. Our table is too small to do that with very many settings. Just put forth your best effort and use what you have!

You'll also want to do your best to present a clean and orderly home. I usually spend some time in advance ( 5+ hours before their arrival) making sure the cleaning is caught up. Obviously, if your house is filthy you will need to start working several days in advance. If you need encouragement and suggestions for keeping a clean home, you can read more here. :)

They're here, they're here!

Turn on your porch light and open your door with a welcoming smile! Enthusiastically greet your guests with handshakes, hugs, or however people greet each other where you live. Offer to take coats or provide a place for your guests to set their things (purses, etc.).

Get out toys for the children (if your guests have little ones, and you have toys!) and offer glasses of water or whatever you have on hand to drink. :)

I usually try to ask if the house is too warm or too cold (and will adjust the thermostat accordingly), and if it's their first visit, show them the kitchen, living room, and bathroom so they know their way around. :)

I usually have the meal ready within 15-60 minutes of the guests' arrival. I like to suggest a time to come and a separate time to eat. For example, "Could your family come at 4:30 and then we can eat at 5?" Or I suggest a meal time and let them know that they are welcome to come early. :)

When we have 4 or more guests, we often serve the meal buffet-style, using the counter to set the food, because our table is full of plates and glasses and silverware. It's informal, but it's comfortable and it's what we have and it works for us. :)

After the Meal

I usually allow my guests to somewhat dictate kitchen clean-up. I know that sounds silly, but here is what I mean. 

If the lady wants to help me clear up the dishes and tidy the kitchen after the meal, I usually welcome her help. If she is tending to children or would rather just sit in the living room and visit, then I do minimal clean-up and wait until after they leave to finish. I never tell the lady to help with clean-up.  

To make clean-up easier, I plan dishes that are made ahead of time, and I do my best to have the dishes from making the meal all washed before the guests arrive. I personally enjoy helping with dishes when we are visiting other families, but there are also occasions where I am unable to help (for example, when we are visiting a home where the children need constant supervision because of breakable things, etc.).

Either way, remember to have a joyful, servant's heart. Even if you're washing all the dishes by yourself at midnight.

All Good Things Must Come to an End...

So, you've welcomed your guests, you've eaten the delicious meal you made, and you've played games, visited, or whatever it is that you like to do. Don't rush your guests out the door; make them comfortable as the evening passes.

When they do decide to leave, hand them their coats, purses, etc. and thank them for coming. Tell them how much you enjoyed their visit.

And remember, hospitality gets easier every time. Practice and take joy in serving others. :)

Serving the Unlovely

At some point you might be showing hospitality to someone you don't love. It may be a homeless person, or someone with some "problems", or simply a nice person who is downright dirty or stinky!

It can be easy to slip into a selfish mode of thinking when you're required to open your home to someone "different". The best cure I've found is to think of treating that person just like you would treat Yeshua (Jesus). You would want to give your best to Him, and a wonderful way of showing God's love is by serving the "unlovely".