Entertaining Angels

The practice of entertaining others in our homes has been on my heart lately. Sometimes I wonder why I am pondering over something, only to find that the Lord has a beautiful lesson for me. I wanted to share this with you…

We are often “too busy” or too concerned with how many dust bunnies are under the couch to really reach out to others and connect on a deeper level. One day a week or so ago Kim Carter, a dear church friend of mine posted the following comment on Facebook:
This was in my devotion book and I wanted to share it.. Do not forget to entertain strangers for by so doing, some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 Opportunities to do good are everywhere, but they are sometimes fleeting. Don't miss a chance to be angelic. People with a heart for God have a heart for people. Hope everyone has a blessed day!

It brightened my day to see what had been on my heart written so clearly. Later that morning, I was watching the Today show (which is not part of my morning routine) and heard Kathy Lee talk about having a new co-worker over for a casual lunch in her home, and how her work relationship with this woman is now so close. She said that she and that woman were able to see each other as “real people.”
I know that I grew closer to the “little old ladies” that I have bible study with after having lunch at one of their homes last summer. I was so thrilled that she called my home and invited me to lunch that day. We forget sometimes that it is not an inconvenience to be invited and included in someone’s life.

With all of this fresh on my mind, I asked my good pal and “Entertaining Guru” Leighann Fleagle if she had any advice for ladies who are want to have friends over, but think it is too much work. This is her Top Five list:
1. I want to minister to the one(s) i'm having in my home. I want it to be comfortable and inviting. That does NOT mean pricey or loads of work! For example, I ask my gal-friends to even bring a pair of their favorite "skiffies" (my word for comfy socks/houseshoes). I wear them too! It puts everyone at ease and sets the tone for comfort! :-)
2. You always want your guests to feel special and expected. I try to use real placemats and napkins when I can, along with REAL plates/glass wear. Again, just a bit more "special".
3. When/if setting a buffet, for a group of people, keep in mind the 3 elements for an "attractive buffet" A) Color/cohesive-ness (everything should go together, not TOO many colors) B) Height (elevate 1-3 of your dishes, or maybe just the centerpiece) C) Use different TEXTURES (iron, ratan, glass, fabrics, etc)
4. A fun easy way to "decorate" your table/buffet is by using tiny /interesting "fluff items" (For ex. shiny jingle bells? holiday confetties? candies? glass beads or tiny hearts?? small flags?)
5. Keep in mind also, that you do not always have to have a full meal in order to enjoy company. It's great to have another couple or a lady friend over for a yummy dessert, or muffin, and a good cup of coffee!

I know that this is such a stressful time of year, and there is a lot of bad news in the paper, but with the holidays just around the corner, I pray that we can open our hearts and make some great new friends or become closer to old ones over the coming months.
I hope that this blesses you as much as it did me!