Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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How to Find Community

May 24, 2017 by Kristin 23 Comments

In March, I spent the weekend with some of my favorite writer friends. That was the first time I met Christen Price in person. She had driven from Alabama to my lake house here in Kentucky, yet she radiated hospitality. One of my favorite parts of the weekend was going on a walk with Christen and our other friend Amanda. I’ve since read her book, “Invited: Live a Life of Connection, not Perfection.” She’s real and encourages women well. I’m glad to welcome her to my blog today as she shares about one of my favorite topics and includes one of my favorite scriptures.

*****

Women need friendship like a flower needs water.

When my husband and I moved to our hometown, I was thirsty for friendship. Sitting alone in my bedroom, I felt the pull of wanting to belong. One of the most difficult things about moving to a new city is finding community. We can easily experience FOMO – a fear of missing out – and make our homes in silos while hiding behind our smiles.

Loneliness is a disease. The best cure for this disease is to find community, which often involves vulnerability, risk-taking, and letting people into our not-so-perfect lives. In an effort to make new friends, I began to ask girls to join me in a small group. Soon, a group of us began to gather for dinner and discussion once a month.

Acts 2:46-47 describes how the early disciples experienced community by saying, “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” Sharing beyond the walls of their homes, the followers of Christ gathered together to tell the message of Jesus to the people. They were not exclusive – daily God increased the number of people who were being saved. The breaking of the bread and extending of grace was an open invitation. All were welcome to listen, eat, drink, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

If God is inviting us to a table that is always open and never reserved, who are we inviting to sit at the table with us?

When I first began to be in fellowship with the girls from my small group, I felt like for the group to stay safe, it needed to be inclusive. But, as our group grew, the complete opposite happened. A fellowship of friendship formed, a kind that would never have happened if not for our group being centered on Spirit-led conversation. Adding more seats to the table has only increased our joy, not diminished it, which leads me to believe in the efficacy of an open table.

When a group is exclusive, there is a certain amount of trust and camaraderie between friends, but it can make those not part of the group feel very unwelcome, unwanted. If you’ve ever been on the outside of a group of friends, it’s easy to ask yourself, “What do I have to do to fit in, be invited, and belong with these people?” It’s like in the movie “The Help,” when Celia Foote shows up at Elizabeth’s house with a pie, and instead of inviting her in, Hilly tells all the girls from Junior League to hide and be quiet. Friendship becomes a game of cards, luck, and elitism. But fellowship is different.

Fellowship is unity, something that binds
people together from the inside out.

{Tweet that.}

Fellowship is not just about friends being together, it is about friends coming together to do God’s will. The early church went out each day to teach the truth about Jesus, help the sick, and share what they owned with the apostles. Fellowship was an action shown through generosity, hospitality, and serving.

Being a fellowship of believers, we each play our part in the body of Christ, but we also exist to connect to one another so that we display His perfection together. Next time you meet a girl new in town, remember what it was like to be in her shoes. Extend an invitation and help her feel connected in community. Widen your circle, and welcome her to the table.

About “Invited”

In “Invited,” Bible teacher Christen Price weaves together personal stories with a practical party planning handbook as she shares about her own struggle with perfection when she moved home and began to build community. Her desire for perfection causes her to experience anxiety and meltdown when parties (and life!) don’t always go as planned.

With kindness, honesty, and Biblical truth, Christen will encourage you to overcome the hurdles of perfection by finding balance instead of breaking down; receive others in love by releasing your anxieties to God so you can rejoice in the moments worth celebrating; and discover that the antidote to perfection is embracing the beauty of imperfection and present not only yourself, but your home in an artful way so you can give and receive joy.

Celebrations, whether they be special occasions, a surprise party, or a spontaneous cookout on a Saturday night, are about spending time with the people we love. Hospitality helps us to pursue Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith, so we can invite others to join us in a party we will never forget. Connected to Christ, we find wholeness, completeness, and beauty so we can celebrate the life we’ve been given.

“Invited” officially releases June 1, but you can preorder it now.

About Christen

Christen Price is a writer for The M.O.M. Initiative and founder of Undivided Women, an online Bible study community. With the heart of a hostess, she writes devotionals, designs party printables, and creates inspirational art in her Studio that invites women to celebrate their people, place, and purpose. Christen is married to her best friend, Raleigh, and their crew of three little ones, two dogs, and four chickens call the countryside of lower Alabama home. Connect with her at christenprice.com.

*****

This post includes excerpts from “Invited: Live a Life of Connection, not Perfection.” Used with permission.

*****

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Filed Under: books, Porch Stories Tagged With: community, guest post

Comments

  1. Michele Morin says

    May 24, 2017 at 6:37 am

    This sounds like a good companion read to Never Unfriended. Thanks for the heads up — Christen is a new author to me!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      May 25, 2017 at 7:48 am

      It definitely has some similar themes. This is Christen’s first book, so I’m glad you could “meet” her, Michele. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Patricia Krank says

    May 24, 2017 at 6:59 am

    I enjoyed reading Christen’s post. I have experienced some of the same feelings she did, being lonely in a new place. I also understand becoming anxious when my attempts at entertaining don’t always go as planned. Though we regularly open our home I always have a certain level of anxiety over it. Sounds like I need to read her book.
    Thanks my friend,
    Patti
    P.S. Kentucky is such a gorgeous state and I am a wee bit jealous that you have a lake house there!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      May 25, 2017 at 12:06 pm

      It’s a good book and I do think you would be encouraged by it, Patricia. I’ve lived in Kentucky my whole life. But, hey, you can rent out lake house – vrbo.com/741043. 🙂 I’m glad you’re here!

      Reply
  3. Lisa Appelo says

    May 24, 2017 at 7:05 am

    Christen (and Kristin), it’s early morning here and that book cover is making me all kinds of hungry. It’s so hard to be the new girl…whether it’s a new town or new situation. The older I get, the more I see how many women feel sidelined and so need that invitation.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      May 25, 2017 at 7:48 am

      Isn’t that book cover lovely? So inviting. Glad you’re here, Lisa!

      Reply
      • Christen Price says

        May 29, 2017 at 2:22 pm

        The cake on the cover is my husband’s grandmother’s pound cake. It is as delicious as it looks!!! Thanks for reading Lisa!

        Reply
  4. Liz Rigby says

    May 24, 2017 at 7:31 am

    Such a simple idea to invite gals over for some food and fellowship, and yet it was one I needed to hear! Thank you for sharing this post and linkup with us, Kristin.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      May 25, 2017 at 7:46 am

      So glad you’re here and could be encouraged, Liz!

      Reply
  5. Meghan E. Weyerbacher says

    May 24, 2017 at 9:43 am

    Just wanted to say, loved this. Love both of your hearts and I am praying I can be this kind of friend to others..but can I confess something here? I am also praying for someone like you all (with a hospitality heart/nurturing heart) to come into my life (in person, face to face). I need it and would love to bless them to. Blessings to you both!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      May 25, 2017 at 7:46 am

      Praying about it is a good place to start, Meghan. Sometimes reaching out being that kind of friend fosters those kind of relationships for you too. I sure wish we could talk about it in real life. Meanwhile, I’m glad you’re here.

      Reply
  6. Sue Donaldson says

    May 24, 2017 at 9:59 am

    So true – loneliness is a disease and all things hospitality fights it. Great post!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      May 25, 2017 at 7:44 am

      This goes along so well with what you write about. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Becky Hastings says

    May 24, 2017 at 10:23 am

    Beautiful reminders today about God’s heart for us! Thank you for reminding me to step out!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      May 25, 2017 at 7:44 am

      Christen’s words were good for me too. Thanks for being here, Becky!

      Reply
  8. Susan Shipe says

    May 24, 2017 at 1:49 pm

    Loneliness is a disease and is prevalent – in all ages and groups. Great guest post.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      May 25, 2017 at 7:44 am

      Glad you’re here, Susan, and that you enjoyed the post today!

      Reply
  9. Gayl says

    May 24, 2017 at 4:04 pm

    I love this! Connection is so much more important than Perfection. And this – “Hospitality helps us to pursue Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith, so we can invite others to join us in a party we will never forget.”

    Blessings!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      May 25, 2017 at 7:43 am

      I love it too and definitely recommend her book when it releases next week! Glad you’re here, Gayl!

      Reply
  10. Ginger Harrington says

    May 25, 2017 at 1:01 pm

    Loved this on friendship and fellowship. Looks like a great book to enjoy sharing. Best wishes on the book launch to Christen! I’ll share and pin to help get the word out:)

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      May 25, 2017 at 1:47 pm

      Thanks for helping spread the word. I know Christen appreciates it!

      Reply
    • Christen Price says

      May 29, 2017 at 2:24 pm

      Thank you so much Ginger!

      Reply

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Telling stories is my therapy and I love sharing them with friends on my porch.

The main characters in my stories are my entrepreneur husband, our ninth-grade girl who never forgets, our have-no-fear sixth-grade boy, and our joy-filled kindergarten girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

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I’m honestly surprised I didn’t read this book I’m honestly surprised I didn’t read this book sooner. I loved so much about it, but I did want some of her stories to be  less repetitive and offer more practical advice for living out “radical, ordinary hospitality.” Rosaria Butterfield defines hospitality like this as sharing what you have in real time, preparing to continually life this lifestyle, and bringing strangers in so they become neighbors who become family. 

I took notes throughout, but especially during the introduction. I came away with an appreciation that hospitality can involve lists, schedules, and habits. I felt encouraged, even if I thought the book could have been organized better to include practical tips and other people’s stories. 

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