It usually happens during a week that I feel the most vulnerable and overwhelmed. My husband says something like, “I think we should have an open house after church on Sunday.”

I’ll instantly think of all that will need to be done to make that happen. I admit I’ll also get the vulnerable feeling in the pit of my stomach. After a year of rehabbing our home, my kitchen cabinets still don’t have doors and my bathroom is still missing drywall. I imagine what others might say about that on their way home from our house. I also wonder if anyone will even show up! What if we get ready and then no one comes? I wonder too, will I work myself into a frenzy of getting ready and get stressed out and worry about that more than more important duties like loving my family? Will it cause stress, not only in me, but in our home?

These are all very real thoughts that I must process when we invite people into our home. I imagine that most others grapple with these or similar thoughts, questions, and emotions too when they move toward hospitality in their homes.

Thankfully, I have a wonderful hospitality mentor in my life! Her name is Sue Donaldson and you can have access to her as well by subscribing to her wonderful blog:

I have gobbled up her free resources and bought her courses. Everything I take in from her seems to bring me back to gospel sanity and rational thinking in regards to loving others like Jesus by welcoming them into my home. My questions and fears fade and she leads me to fix my eyes on Jesus. Courage swells up in me and His purposes become more important and my fears, pride, and stress seem small.

Sue doesn’t just talk about hospitality, she LIVES it. That’s evident to me in her writing and also in conversations we’ve had. Sue has become an important mentor and coach to me through her blog. When I finished her new course this week, I knew I had to share it with my friends. Right now you can receive Sue’s course for just $27 (normally $97) if you purchase it before midnight on Saturday night.

This course covers so much! For me, the most important aspect is how it covers the truths that can empower us to overcome the challenges of doing hospitality.

She covers why we should bother with hospitality.

“A thriving woman experiences the joy and sees eternal value to bringing people together at the table.” -Sue Donaldson

She reminds us of the biblical truths that enable us to move toward others.

“When we begin to comprehend God’s relentless pursuit of us, we will more likely pursue others, for heaven’s sake.” – Sue Donaldson

Grounding myself in truth and getting to the root of what keeps me from doing or wanting to do hospitality have been life-changing concepts for me. In her course, Sue gets to the bottom of why we often don’t do hospitality. She reminds us of the truth that hospitality is not the same as entertainment. She even encourages us to look at any failures we’ve had in this area as benefits. She reminds us that there is more risk if you don’t take a risk by saying,

“Life is easier when we don’t take risks, but that’s not really living.”

Christians live the abundant life as we do what we feel we can’t do and depend on the Lord for enablement. We are enabled as we trust Him and depend on Him even in situations that look like failures or mistakes. He uses even those for His good purposes.

Sue doesn’t just ground us in great theology of hospitality, but she also helps us move from head knowledge to practical knowledge through her encouragement to just get started. Our steps toward hospitality don’t have to be grand. What we do doesn’t have to be a big deal! Her tips and strategies have helped me to feel and KNOW that I really can practically live out a life that is moving toward being more and more hospitable to the world around me.

In addition to all that I’ve already mentioned, here is what’s included in Sue’s course:

Eight Encouraging Lessons (approximately fifteen minutes each) with 8 Introductory videos (less than five minutes each) – Not overwhelming!

Lesson outlines with beneficial homework for each lesson

Lovely examples, quotes, prayers, and scriptures throughout each lesson

Reflection questions

Action steps

Recipes

Tips and Strategies

Once in a while, a course or a book comes along that I feel like I MUST share. This is one of those times! Grab Sue’s course NOW! It is well worth the full price and it’s on sale now for MORE THAN half off!! Click here to get it!!!

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter  4:8-9

I do not receive any compensation for any purchase of Sue’s course, I just appreciate her wisdom and want to share her with my readers. Click on Sue for her course!

Linking up this week with these awesome bloggers!