what I've been reading lately

I think that periodically I'll tell you about what I've read lately, especially if what I've been reading is convicting or causes me to change the way I do things. I've read a lot of books like that lately, so I figured it was time to share them.

It all started when I read Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert. It's been in my nightstand for ages, and as I have a goal to read all the books I own, I finally got to it. And boy, do I wish I had earlier. The author has an incredible story, first of all, but what hit me was her willingness to open her home to others. This is only a small part of her writing, not at all the primary focus, but I was so convicted by this that I began praying earnestly for God to show us how He wants us to use our home. And He has definitely made that clear to us!

There were a several books referenced in the above-mentioned book, so I ordered a couple that I had actually had on my amazon wishlist. The first was Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition. This was a hard read, I won't lie. I had to read it when I could completely focus on the book. It goes through a history of hospitality in the early church, how that particular type of hospitality fell out of use, and what we can do (and why) to pick it up again. Basically, hospitality is so much more than "entertaining" guests. It's actually not that at all. It's opening your home to any and all who need it, since our homes are not ours but God's. He has given us everything we have to be used to further His kingdom. Holing up in our homes and hosting dinner parties is NOT biblical hospitality; feeding, clothing, and housing the poor is. Fostering deeper relationships between church members is. And using everything we have for His work is, most definitely, biblical hospitality.

The second book I ordered was The Lifegiving Home. I have to admit, once I started reading this, I was slightly disappointed that its focus seems to be more on creating home for your family, as opposed to sharing home with others. BUT it's good for me to read about that, too, to ensure I don't open my home to others while neglecting the needs of my family. I'm not quite through with this one, but it is a good read!

Another book I heard about (from one of the above books; I just followed a rabbit trail basically when deciding what to read next on the subject) was Open Heart, Open Home (I've linked an updated version of the one I got from the library). I love this book! She just briefly mentions - as though she assumes we must already know - that hospitality is not optional for Christians; it's mandated. We are to open our homes, and help those less fortunate, period. She doesn't sugarcoat Christianity the way it seems many modern authors do. She talks in detail about allowing the Holy Spirit to work in and through us. And she encourages us that perfection need not play a role in hospitality; in fact, others feel more at ease when they see that our homes and our lives are not perfect! I'm not even halfway through this book and already loving it.

I can't leave off without mentioning the audiobook we just finished listening to, Love Does. The author pretty much just says "yes!" to most opportunities presented to him...and as a result, has accomplished some pretty amazing things for the kingdom of God and for our world.

So, what stood out to me so much about these books? And what have I done as a result of reading them? Glad you asked. Basically, God has made a few things clear to us: generally speaking, He wants us to open our home. I don't know what specifically that will look like, but it's like He's told us, "be ready! And be willing to use everything I've given you for the work I have planned for you."

In addition, He has shown us a specific way He wants us to use our home and resources, but I'll keep that under wraps. I will share that while we were planning to implement this at the end of the summer, God very recently showed me that since I already know what He wants me to do, I just need to do it! So we are :)

This is not to be something that brings us any recognition whatsoever, but it is to be done for God's glory and His greater purpose. Why am I even bringing it up? Because I'm still kind of shocked that a few books and prayers and searching Scripture has led to such a specific revelation.

What has the Holy Spirit been laying on your heart lately? And read any good books?