I know how overwhelming hospitality can be. I felt really overwhelmed as a new wife inviting people into my home. I didn't feel confident in my homemaking skills. And I certainly didn't feel confident in my cooking skills. 

One of my biggest concerns was knowing what to cook for other people! And I know this is a big concern for many. But Summer is the perfect time to start diving into hospitality, or invite someone new over. So today we are going to be sharing a few tips for summer hospitality! 

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Here's a question I got from a reader recently that sparked the idea for this episode: 

"For now, I was wondering if you could perhaps share via podcast or blog post some practical menu plans for hospitality. A lot of the time I feel like I'm hesitant to have people over just because I don't know exactly what to fix. Planning menus for my own family isn't a huge challenge to me, but I feel like a lot of the meals I normally make for just us aren't really good "company meals." Either they can't be prepared ahead of time or I don't know what to have with them or they don't work with the season or they're just a little too unusual to have for company. I love doing soup/bread/salad, but with the warmer weather that doesn't work very well (I'm serving that tonight for company in 85 degree weather . . . oops!). Could you share some super practical suggestions for planning hospitality menus that are simple and frugal? And then maybe share some of your tips on how to pull it all together so you're not stressed out like crazy and exhausted by the time company comes (I've been there too many times!!)? With babies and their unpredictable schedules (as you know!) plus a super tight budget, I'm needing a better way to do hospitality so that I'm able to do it more frequently and actually look forward to it! :)" - Catherine

So today hopefully I've got some good ideas for you when extending hospitality (and how to make it easy during the Summer)!

Remember the REASON for your hospitality

I think a REALLY important thing (at least for me) is to again and again remember my REASON for hospitality. When I get too focused on the food, or the decor, or the activities...it's so easy for my heart to be in the WRONG place when extending hospitality. 

When it comes down to it, hospitality is about your HEART and the service you are providing. Because hospitality is about serving others, not empty entertaining for the sake of showing off your cooking or decorating skills. 

“First Peter 4:9 builds on the instructions to practice hospitality and reminds me that my attitude is of utmost important – I am to practice hospitality without complaining! This verse challenges me to conduct a heart search to discern what my attitude is and whether I am approaching this opportunity to minister enthusiastically (Colossians 3:23).” ~ Practicing Hospitality, Pg 23

So what's the purpose of hospitality? 

The ultimate purpose of hospitality is to minister to those around us – both believers and unbelievers. Our hospitality is a form of ministry and is a way that we show love, care, and concern, and how we can serve others!

“Hospitality from a Biblical perspective is to recognize that God is more interested in caring relationships than the mold behind the shower curtain…It need not matter if we live in a single-room apartment or a split-level ranch, the only real requirement is allowing God to use our lives and our possessions…Our homes and our lives are indeed the most powerful combination of minis...