Review On The Book: Just Open The Door

As I find myself reading this book, the memories appear.

Opening Up and Letting people in...extending invitations to those I felt close to and had a good rapport with is something I have done countless times in my lifetime. The outcome: being gossiped about, finding that jealousy pushed them to truly dislike me and stab me in the back. Yes, you all know what I am talking about when I speak on learning those we called friends wore a great disguise and had us fooled. Enemies, that is exactly what they really were and when we found out who they were it was too late. We had already shared our innermost secrets and trusted them completely only to have it mishandled by them. Each and every one of us have faced these hurtful people and been the recipient to their cruel words, acts and deeds in our lives at some point and time. 

 So, I address the fact that those rude awakenings left me feeling rejected. I had not been extended the exact same support I extended to those I thought really liked me and accepted me as a person. 

 Rejection is not a very warm and fuzzy feeling... and now this book is taking me right back to the place I had escaped from for so many years now--- Extending myself...Opening up...Allowing people in, to possibly experience rejection again, Yikes! Why would I even agree to do something like that? I have learned to be cautious, careful and not allow myself to fall prey. I know, everyone is not the same and you live and learn. But! Opening the Door requires trust and servitude; it is an effort that is required on my part-- Oh how uncomfortable! 

Okay, so one point that is touchy for me is invites. So, this brings about flashbacks of my past experiences as well as a sensitive spark when it comes to my present.  The way this author is laying out the steps to do this is quite intimidating as I compare what I have done in the past against what she did. My outcome and her outcome have opposite endings. My present take on extending and accepting invites is complicated. I am not physically in the place I was many years ago. Not everyone fully understands my physical status, even when I attempt to explain it.    If my outcome had been like hers, I would not be reading this book in the first place! I know there are those out there who can relate to what I am desperately attempting to convey. 

  God orchestrates so perfectly, you know what I mean? He ensured that I had this book to read and review prior to me saying Yes to His plan. So, as I walk into this new season, I have an encouraging read that will help me address what I am going to be required to do...Open Up The Door.

Confession: As I exercise Opening Up The Door I confess that I expect people to not want to be around me or want to invite me anywhere because standing, sitting, and walking exasperates my body pain, which varies from bearable to unbearable minute to minute every single day. This has been my current situation for close to seven years now. Knowing the responses I have received over the years, I have become comfortable with not getting close to anyone. I don't have to open up and become vulnerable with anyone. There is a distance I place to protect myself and my feelings, which places my space in an off limits zone and rejection free. When I know that I will be rejected, I cannot feel the sting of it because I know what I will face the minute I open up  my mouth and  share my limitations.

Opening yourself up by inviting others into your space is difficult. As you look at your comfort zone and establish a venue that is feasible for you, you look into the amount of people you care to invite. Extending an invite to others will place you on the receiving end of rejection as you make your listing and understand the possibility that you may or may not receive responses from your guests. As your creative juices flow and you find yourself mulling over the particulars, you can find your list increasing. Excitement and apprehension may begin to battle it out but as you forgo the negativity take an inventory on what you are actually doing.

Are you Entertaining or being Hospitable?

There is nothing wrong with having everything fabulously in order. There is nothing with being extravagant. Just evaluate your motives. Can you be happy without being fawned over or receiving a single complement on executing a job that goes above and beyond one that would be considered the standard, well done?

When Entertaining, it’s a gathering that is all about me...look at me.. and look what I have. Guests are made to feel fortunate to be able to partake in your festivities that highlight: me, myself and I.

Whereas 

When offering hospitality, it's an act of giving of yourself in a selfless manner. Guests are esteemed and made to be the focal point. The goal is servitude, aiming to please them as they are made to feel at home.  Catering to them in every aspect displays a heart of giving instead of receiving. This is generated in the heart and is exemplified in how you host.

When we love Christ wholeheartedly, it extends to how we treat others. There is no room for an evening of entertaining and hospitality. The two will clash because they are the total opposite of one another. The need for approval and accolades will fuel the fire as you find yourself pushing aside humility in order to satisfy your pride. This all stems from how your personal view yourself, which will appear in your interaction with others through words, actions, and deeds.

Example: In Romans 12:13, Paul gives an instructive on hospitality: Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.This is one of the biblical ties Jen used in the book to reiterate denying ourselves and allowing God's love to flow through us to others.  In doing so, we can focus on what is important instead of being concerned about what others are thinking regarding the execution of how we extended ourselves to them.(i.e. the layout, guest list, food, décor etc.) 

When our hearts get tired and our innermost desires to be included, welcomed and accepted weighs on us, God knows how to meet us right where we are. Happenstance is not what it is; it is called divine orchestrating. This is what our Heavenly Father does for us, His children, as He shows us how important every part of our lives matter to Him. He calms our souls and soothes us by meeting us, our very need, exactly where we are at that specific moment  in our life.

Inserted Self-Evaluation Tidbit:

Oftentimes when we think about how we go about allowing others to enter into our space, what is our motive? Are we looking to make an impression on others or are we simply showing the love of Christ because He admonishes us to do so?

Being hospitable is what you make of it. You do not always have to open up your home to be hospitable. An invitation to meet for lunch at a restaurant or high noon tea is a form of hospitality. Extending an invitation to gather at a venue outside of your home, that is feasible for you, is perfectly fine. Even if your invites are turned down by some, it’s okay.  Do not take that as the cue to stop extending yourself to others. God knows which person(s) need to accept and will be blessed by your acts of kindness. An invitation alone serves as the base of your extension as you ensure others feel welcome. A kind gesture can definitely go a long way.

Bad experiences may be the reason why you may not feel the need to open up and allow others in, resulting in nullifying invites. Past pain and hurt, can be healed by God when we allow Him to enter into those areas in need of His attention. We have to let go, holding onto painful experiences hinders our ability of moving forward and experiencing God-opportunities. When God gifts us with second chances, how we view this precious gift God has given us will exemplified in how we handle our second chance. Its outcome is a direct reflection of how we chose to handle the opportunity God afforded to us. Move forward In Jesus Name and allow His love to shine through you in every aspect of your life as you embrace His opportunities of reaching out and extending yourself yet again. He will bless you in-the-midst of healing you.

When we love God wholeheartedly we give Him every part of our heart and follow His lead without hesitation. We forgo our past; we forgo how others view us. We forge on and understand that God is doing something amazing with our lives. Yes, He is even doing something amazing in a kind  gesture we extend to others that is intertwined with a simple invitation to allow others into our space. How we extend Hospitality to others is meant to be a mirror of Jesus Christ. A new space(I.e. your child’s dance practice, football practice or family day for your college student) can become your playing field that puts the love of Jesus on display, if you’re open to allowing God to use you at that moment and in whatever capacity He has placed you in for the time being.

Take each day as a brand new opportunity to impact a life. It can be done so with a smile or kind word; even a simple hello as you hold open the door for a person or two. Emerge from your safe place and allow God to use you right where you are for His glory and your good. There is no such thing as a small act of hospitality. An act of kindness allows you to open yourself up to others and be the face of Jesus. This is an avenue God uses to make His Name great.

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. (Luke 7:34)

 

Not everyone is receptive to our offerings..hospitality..although that may be what we may encounter at times, it doesn’t mean that we pack away our hospitality and invites or keep our invites a safe invite-consisting of those whom we know are in our comfort zone for the rest of our life. How many times has Jesus wooed us...extended an invitation to us and we just ignored His invite? In spite of our no responses, He continues to lovingly invite, call and woo us. In The Bible, Jesus posed questions, just as He does to us today when shifting our attention to areas we need to address. In the Bible, God knew the answer to the questions He asked before people responded, just like He knows the answer to the questions He poses to us as well. This is a method He used and still uses to reveal the depths of a person’s heart and understand where they are spiritually. In the Bible, He ministered to them, in their current state; He will do the same for us, if we open up our hearts and let Him.

The question: How are you? Many times this question is used as an ice breaker; a filler-in. How are you? because it is a question, it does require an answer. Most of the times no one is really expecting the person on the receiving end of the question to answer it, truthfully in full blown sentences that details how they are currently doing. But, you asked...so why wouldn't they answer, right? If you do not really care to know. If you do not have the heart and compassion of Christ to listen to what a person has to share- DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR. DO NOT extend the invitation of welcoming them into your space with the three worded question: How are you ?

When times get tough, do not run away from God. Do not hide from God. Immediately open up the door of your soul, extend the invitation to God and let Him into whatever it is you are facing and feeling that very moment. Receive what He has to offer so that He can fulfill all of His promises to you and show you the extent of His love for you and His powerful hand.

Jen made a very compelling statement regarding Opening the Door:“To love others in such a tangible way in response to God’s command-it’s worship. Doesn’t mean there’s not a cost to be counted. And yes, Sacrifice is definitely involved. But the leading motivation, the driving force, is a desire to worship God through giving ourselves. And the joy that comes from this obedience to Him makes it well worth it.” (Romans 12:1 NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.“When we choose to bring our whole self fully poured out at the table, we bring our surrender and sacrifice to His altar. Once we’ve laid it all down, He picks it up, shifts it, and refines it. And when He hands it back, those blessings, the joy of open-door living-they’re all worship.” Don’t wait until special occasions to pull out the fine linen, good china and light your candles. Shower and appreciate those close to you in the now-your son, daughter, a friend that may have dropped by, or just you by yourself. Live in the moment and welcome the peace and tranquility God brings. As you minister to others, allow yourself to be ministered to, even if you find yourself in a moment of having no one to minister to but yourself. Do it and receive all that God has in store to offer you.

This book was a great read that addresses stepping out of your comfort zone, stretching yourself and showing love to others unconditionally. It is filled with great truths about having the heart of Christ and living a hospitable life, with no regrets. Outlined in the book were various forms of invites...plenty of hosting ideas....and biblical truths. This book held nuggets that were interesting, intriguing and very helpful.  

Challenge:

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior...Here is how you become a Christian.

Romans 10:9-13: 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 3:23-26 : 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

John 3:13-21 : 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

God Bless!