This week’s challenge:  Prayerfully evaluate the spiritual climate of your home and ask God to help you establish an atmosphere in which the fruit of the Spirit clearly abounds.

Today’s challenge:  Make plans to invite someone to your home for a meal, or at least some coffee and hors d’oeuvres.

My heart pounded, the bats in my stomach beat their wings in rhythm, and it suddenly got very hot in the room.  “You want ME to host the evangelists?  At MY house?”

I had never been very confident hosting anyone, and I certainly did not relish cooking a meal in front of my gourmet-master-of-a-mother-in-law! These are people my husband and I respect immensely, and the pressure to treat them to the nicest atmosphere and meal possible almost made me crumble into a helpless pile of insecurity.  How would I pull this off?

I finally decided that I would have to just get over myself!  It was time to kick that paralyzing spirit of perfectionism out to the curb!  No more would I miss out on sweet fellowship with friends and family just because I was afraid it wasn’t going to be perfect!

Have you ever felt that way?  Have you ever been afraid to host people in your home because you are insecure about your hosting abilities?  That your home is not clean or nice enough?  That your cooking is not gourmet enough?  That you won’t know how to keep a conversation going or that people won’t have a good enough time?  Have you ever felt that if everything is not going to be perfect than it is not good enough to even try?  That is the enemy of perfectionism.  It is time to open the door and escort it out of your home for good!

My advice is to relax and be yourself.  You are who you are, and your home is what it is.  Do the best with what you have.  When you are relaxed, your guests will also be relaxed.  The important thing is to have open doors and open arms that make people feel welcome. Learn all you can to improve your hostess skills, but meanwhile, just start practicing. Your confidence will improve just by doing it.

Back to the evangelists.  Guess what; we survived!  We even had a wonderful time!  The lasagna didn’t have enough sauce, but everything else turned out all right.  Most importantly, we talked and visited and enjoyed each other’s company.

I decided then that I would make an intentional effort from that point on to invite people into my home on a regular basis.  I have even learned to enjoy it!  The evangelists have been back a few times too.  I also invited the ladies from my church to have Bible study at my house each week, and I’m not afraid to do it anymore!

From now on, my doors are open, and my arms are open to welcome people into my home.  Try it; practice it; relax; and enjoy it!  It is not about perfection, but it is about fellowship.  Don’t miss out!

Here is a yummy fall recipe I made up all by myself!   It is Soooooo good!Try it for a simple, casual weekend meal.

Shari Lewis’ Chili Spaghetti

• Handful of chopped onion (about ½ cup)1-1 ½ lb. ground beef or turkey
• 1 clove of raw garlic (or about 1 tsp. garlic powder)
• Cumin (about 1 tsp.)
• Chili powder (about 1 tsp.)
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• 29 oz can of tomato sauce
• Large can of pinto beans or chili flavored beans (I like Bush’s mild)
• Large can of Rotel tomatoes and green chilies (My family prefers mild, but original is also very good!)
• 1 packet of McCormick chili seasoning
• If you are brave, a pinch of Cayenne pepper
• Spaghetti noodles
• Tons of shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
• Optional:  chopped onions and/or sour cream

1. Brown meat with onions and garlic.
2. Add cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper to meat while cooking.
3. Drain.
4. Pour into crock pot with tomato sauce, beans, tomatoes, and seasoning.
5. Cook on low 2-4 hours.
6. Boil spaghetti as directed.
7. Ladle chili over spaghetti noodles and top with mounds of shredded cheese.  Add onions and/or sour cream if you wish.

Enjoy my favorite dish while watching a football game or relaxing with family and friends.  Have some sweet tea and something to cool your tongue for dessert.  Most importantly, enjoy each other!  That is what a home of hospitality is all about!

God bless!