{ Gather and Give by Amy Nelson - TLC Book Tour }

About Gather and Give: Sharing God’s Heart Through Everyday Hospitality

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 18, 2022)

Hardcover: 208 pages

 

Now more than ever, the world is hungry to gather and thirsty for connection.

Many of us wish to share a meal, share our faith, and share our lives with others. We want to open our home to friends and neighbors for the sake of meaningful community, but we’re overwhelmed with hospitality hang-ups. How do I extend an invitation? What will they think of my house or the food? Our welcome has been influenced by the messages of the world that tell us hospitality is about our ability to be, host, live, and cook a certain way.

In Gather & Give, Amy Hannon inspires you to embrace the simple hospitality of the Bible that values connection more than perfection and people more than presentation. Amy shares scriptural principles and practical ideas to make everyday hospitality a natural, joy-filled part of your life. You will feel encouraged and equipped to view your home as:

• a holy wellspring of welcome to offer hope to a weary world;
• a strategic springboard for ministering to those around you; and
• the perfect platform for influencing others for Christ.

Find freedom in knowing that the hospitality of the Bible is uncomplicated and effortless, that a welcome can be used by God to share His love and hope with the world, and that there is abounding joy in following the Lord in His hospitality command. Whether preparing shrimp and grits for a crowd or picking up barbecue with new neighbors, you can invite with intention, plate with purpose, and love others well.

About the Author

Amy Nelson Hannon is a preacher’s wife, a mom of three, and the woman behind an influential andexpansive hospitality brand. She owns Euna Mae’s, a one-of-a-kind kitchen shop and gathering room named after her grandmother that is a special place to locals and has become a destination for many near and far. In addition to her brick-and-mortar store, Amy is the heart of a broad media platform that has included a daily cooking show on Northwest Arkansas’ NBC affiliate, a food blog, a cookbook, partnerships with national brands, and engaging social media. Amy uses every opportunity to share a message of simple, biblical hospitality.

Amy’s infectious personality and love for Jesus and the table are inspiring households from coast to coast to embrace the message of intentional kitchening based on 1 Peter 4:8-11.

 

 

My Thoughts:

I have not yet finished this one, but I am 3/4 of the way done, and I love every.single.page.  

 

I never used to like entertaining.  When I first got married, I avoided it like the plague.  I just found the whole idea of having people over, quite overwhelming and it gave me anxiety.  

 

I didn't know what to do, or I would drive myself sick preparing for the day, to the point that when it arrived, I just didn't enjoy it.  I felt overwhelmed and ready for it to be over, before the guests even arrived.

But as time went on, I started to try to enjoy the time spent with family and friends, and really began enjoying the whole process.

In Gather and Give, Amy Nelson shows us how to be hospitable, according to the Bible, focusing on sharing quality time with  people, not focusing so much on perfection, or worrying about what people will think of our food or our home.  Because really, in the end, that is not what it's all about.  It is about gathering, sharing, 

She offers tips, encouragement and even some recipes to share with our guests.

Hosting does not have to be this overwhelming, scary experience.  The world around us wants us to believe that in order to have someone over, you need the perfect home, the perfect food, the perfect conversation.  It is about ministering, talking about the Lord and sharing.

 

Keep it simple!!!

 

As I said above, I have not yet finished this one, but I can for certain tell you that it will be added to my favorite books pile.

 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Thomas Nelson, for providing me with a copy for this review.