Faith Next Door: Simple Ways to Love Your Neighbors Well

The goal is to be able to share the gospel with them if they don't have a faith in Jesus. But that starts with a relationship. (upbeat music) Hello there, you are listening to The Girl Talk Podcast. My name is Carol. I'm Kelly, hey, I'm Trisha. We're so glad you've joined us today. We're gonna be talking about who's on your heart. Now, before you turn away from this episode, I have to tell you what we did in devotions back a couple of months ago. Do you all remember the guy was with us from Equip? Do you remember that devotion? Okay, let me remind you. Refresh. He asked for us on a piece of paper to draw a tic-tac-toe board. Remember this? Yes, yes, yes. All right, so thank you in your mind right now. Tic-tac-toe board, you know? And in the center square to write your address, okay? And then he asked us to go through our neighborhood in our minds and name all the people that lived in the houses around us and fill in the other blocks, right? And he said, he made this very powerful statement that I have not forgotten since. He said revival doesn't start in our churches. It starts in our neighborhoods. Revival doesn't start in our churches. And his challenge to us was to get to know the people that live right around in our neighborhoods. Now, if you grew up where I did, we always knew our neighbors when I was growing up. But as I've become an adult, I can't say that I know my neighbors on the level that I knew my neighbors whenever we were growing up, right? And one of the things that he challenged us to do was, he said, he said, I want you to think about something that you know from the outside of their house. So that might be, they have a Washington flag outside. So they pull for the Washington commanders, you know that, and football, or they have a Duke flag at, you know, they pull for it. Whatever the case is. Exactly. Something that you can tell from the outside, right? And then he said, learn something about them that you would only know from being inside their home. And that was such a powerful exercise for me because I can call most of the names of my neighbors. But as far as knowing them on another level, I really don't. And so that very week, I was praying through that with the Lord and I came home from work one day. And several of my neighbors were outside. We had, it was right before it got really cold. And they had a, our landscaping service, cut some trees for, so cut some limbs off trees that were kind of hanging over the road. They, they cut them, but they didn't haul them off. And so they were working two couples in particular. We're working to try to load those up on a truck and haul them off. And I got home and I didn't have anything going on. So I put on my clothes and I went out and I started helping. And it was so cool to just spend a little time with those two couples and they're one, one couple, both of them are retired, another couple, one of them's retired and just to be able to talk with them. And one lady, her mom had been struggling and she had been going to take care of her mom. And so just learning those little bits and pieces that maybe I didn't know beforehand was so powerful. And it was right after that devotion. And I thought, you know what? I really want to be more intentional about getting to know my neighbors and loving my neighbors well. I remember that devotion now. And I remember how powerful it was because I felt really good because I was able to fill in all of the eight blocks around my house and say, I know their name. I know there was one husband's name, I didn't know. But I knew their names. I knew something from the outside and I knew something from the inside. And the reason why was because just a week or two earlier, we had had a neighborhood potluck party. And so I was able to go, okay, this woman across the street, I know that she makes cheese. Like that that's her thing, she makes cheese. So I know that from the inside of her house. And she invited me to make cheese with her sometime. And I was like, well now how cool would that be to go and meet a neighbor and learn to make cheese? So it was such a good reminder to me that getting out there with our neighbors and being present with them, not blowing off the neighborhood potluck because you really don't, yeah, I don't really want to go meet anybody else. But actually, yeah, whatever, I'm going to go, I'm going to go and I'm going to meet my neighbors and I'm going to know their names and I'm going to know what they like to do. And it's going to make the experience richer for me, living in that neighborhood. Yeah, so good. And now I can't go, I can't wait to go make cheese with her. I'm trying to have it scheduled again. Can I have some cheese? Well, you know, and I'll get A's. Well, I know last year, or a year ago, back in the fall, we had Helene. And our neighbors became really important. Yeah. And I know your neighborhood did something that was really cool. Tell us about that experience. Yeah, we did, we set up food, food get together. Like all throughout the street, up and down the street, different people would host. Because you didn't have power. None of us had power. A few people had generators here and there. But up and down the street, people would hold. Come on over to our house. We're cooking, we're grilling, or we're just taking it out of where the refrigerator, whatever. And enough people kind of got together. We had like four of those down the street. And the hope was that we would keep those relationships going, but the reality is we haven't as much. Although I do know my neighbors a lot more than I did before that happened. And we still talk and say hello. And I know one particular neighbor, we pray for each other. I have friended her on Facebook and that all happened from Haleen. And I remember that devotion as well. And I feel like God has put on my heart to host a neighborhood party. I did that two years ago, right at New Year's Day. I gave out invitations up and down my street just to the people right around us. Maybe the first, maybe six people around us. And only one person came. But that was really nice. She came across the street neighbor. And we were able to get to know her a little bit. And she had just moved recently. But God has put that on my heart again. And tried to do something like that. Because it is so powerful. One of my neighbors is a pastor. He has a dog that he's named after A.W. Tozer. It's Tozer, pastor, jazz, and tozer. So that's really fun. Got to know his mom and different things like that. So there is such a richness in the people that are around us. And you know, sometimes I think just when I get home, I'm like letting everything down. I'm done. I'm going to put my pajamas on. I'm done pouring out. I'm not going to talk to anybody. I'm going to watch the Great British Baking Channel or whatever. I like that show too. But it's a good show. It's a good show. But I mean, there's an opportunity to really love on people that you get to know so often. I walk my dog twice a day. So I see people all day long waving at them, waving at them. And what if I was able to speak into their life more? Yeah. And so our challenge to you is this year to maybe do that exercise. Draw yourself a tic-tac-toe board. See who you can name, who lives around you. Explain that tic-tac-toe board. OK, so you know, you just use two lines up and down, two lines across. Side to side. Also known as a hashtag. # for our younger people. That's right. A pound sign for those that are older. The old school. The old school. Home phone. Yes. In the center block, you put your address, whatever your address is. And then you start naming your neighbors, the people that live around you. And it's just such a good exercise to-- and he was even telling us about a grid that one of his friends keeps. And he said, whenever I see them out somewhere, I was like, hey, what's going on? Or how's your daughter doing? She's gone away to college. Or, you know, what's going on with your job? Yes, I saw you've been gone a lot. Are you working out of town? What's going on with that? You know, things like that. He had kept that up in his house. And he would just make little notes on it so that all along the way, I have a retired school teacher that lives across from me. And I always had such great respect for her when I was in school. I never had her for a class, but she was an excellent teacher. And she lives across from me now. And then there's another lady who lives in my neighborhood who-- she's one of those people that you barely see her out of her house. She just closes her windows and her buns, and she doesn't come out very often. And so what would happen if I just began to pray for her? Oh, I love it. Just intentionally. So good. I know-- and I'm not as good about this as I want to be, but I know people who prayer walk their neighborhoods. Yeah. And as they walk the dog or whatever, they pray for the person as they pass by their house. Do that today. And that's a powerful thing that doesn't take any preparation. And you don't even have to have a pet. You can just walk around your neighborhood. And I did that during COVID. Because we were stuck. And what a rich experience it was to be able to walk around my neighborhood and pray for people. And if I had a grid, and I could remember people's names-- That's why I was good. It's so good, even better. It's so powerful when you're called by your name. Yes. Think about that. How powerful that is. And that is one step, one concrete step that I know I can take. Because I've got my grid filled out. And I know that one, that one, that one. I don't know that one. But if I ask them what their names are and remember their names, then call them by their names and pray for them by name, that's really, really powerful. And another thing-- and I thought of this idea just by talking to my dog. My daughter is very, y'all know this, she's very crafty. - Yes. - I mean, if you show her something, she can make it. Like, just she's that just as part of her gifting. Right, and so around Christmas time, we started thinking about ways, like little gifts we could do for our neighbors. And we thought, we thought of a couple of different things, but she was into crocheting. And so, she was gonna try to make little crochet nativity scenes, and they're not very expensive, but they're just little small, it was Mary Joseph, and then Jesus in the manger. And put those in a little bag, and include a card that says, "Hey, this is from Carol Nella, "and put our house number on it." And just say, if there's any way we can serve you or pray for you, here's our phone number. And stick that in a bag, and go put it on there to work. - I love that. - Yeah, and so we were just, we have been brainstorming, had been brainstorming ideas that we could do, and just little ways that you could reach out to your neighbors. And just to say, hey, we're here, if you need anything, I have some elderly neighbors who don't get out as much as they used to, and I'm one in particular neighbor, I'm his tech support, and all other things too. And I love me some Frank, and I get the opportunity to talk to him on a regular basis, and it is, it's a joy. And especially with my, I miss my parents so desperately, but having those relationships with older people who can speak into your life, who don't even realize they're doing it, it gives them value, and it also, there's such a treasure trove of wisdom that they speak. And even if you're just fixing their TV, or making sure their clock says it's right time. - It's one of the things I've loved about my neighborhood. It's so culturally diverse, we've got a wide variety of people. I got to know this one couple that's originally from Cuba, and they're in their 80s, or he's in his 80s, I think she's a good 10 years younger. And just to hear his story. So we walked around the neighborhoods when it was warmer, and he would tell me all kinds of stories about growing up in Cuba, and moving here from Cuba, and what that was like, and what it's like now to be an older man watching America, and just so fascinating to get to talk to our older generation, and hear their stories of things that we will never, ever experience, because our lives have been so incredibly different. And what a great way to share the gospel. - Absolutely. - We got to have some faith conversations as we walked around the neighborhood, because he's of a different kind of faith, different kind of background, but he would tell me all kinds of great things about what he believed, and then I would tell him what I believed, and we would have some, try to find common grounds, and just interesting thing, and I'm a better person for it. I'm a richer, and I would love to do that with more folks in my neighborhood, because they're such great, fun stories, and different, I mean, just like I said, different cultures all together. - Sure. - I'd love to know my neighbors better. Can we start talking about how to do that? 'Cause like, what are you gonna go ring their doorbell, and like, if you don't, so, I'm just curious how we would start something like this, yeah. - I mean, I think it could start with a little gift of some sort, like cookies or something, or, you know, a $5 gift card to Starbucks, or a coffee shop, some local coffee shops somewhere. - You're talking my language. - Or, you know, at Christmas time, because I love coffee, a lot of people get me those little sampler bags of coffee. Have you seen those? - Oh, yeah. - Like those mini bags, two ounce bags or whatever. - Yeah, we've got it. - I thought, I mean, that would be great, just to stick a candy cane on that, you know, maybe, or a hot chocolate, pack it a hot chocolate, and a note. You know, I mean, I think anything that you can think of, that it doesn't have to be hot, 'cause I'm not a baker, or anything like that. But anything that you can think of, that, you know what? That would be a nice treat. It would make somebody smile to that. Even if they don't like sweets, or they don't eat that, or whatever. - And then take it to them? - Take it to them. - And some of the people in my neighborhood don't answer their door, because that can be a little scary at times, if you don't know who it is. So sometimes we just, depending on the person, and if we know them or not, sometimes we just, we'll ring the doorbell and leave it there at the door, and, you know, who knows, will know, but you make yourself available. - Yeah. - And then they have your number, if they wanna call and say, thank you, or they have your number. If they need something, or they have your number, if there's something going on in the neighborhood, and maybe they fill in safe, or, you know, those kinds of things, I think it just builds a bond. And I mean, who doesn't like to get a gift? - Right. - Doesn't matter what it is. Who doesn't love to get a gift? - Yeah. - So, yeah. - I think one of the things you said that was great is make yourself available. And so, like, that's how I got to know my neighbors, was it's harder in January, I don't have dogs. But maybe you can do this, 'cause you have dogs, but walking around the neighborhood, and kind of timing it intentionally, to walk out the door at the same time, the other person's walking by your house. And so, I mean, it takes a little bit of, you know, stalking. (laughing) I'm watching out the door. Okay, looking, okay, now I'm gonna walk out the door. But walking out and then having an arsenal of questions that you can use as door openers to say, you know, hey, look at your dog, it's so cute. Tell me about your dog. Okay, now I'm gonna ask you about yourself. And now, I'm gonna ask you about all day plans, winners. - Your ex since, last year or whatever. - Don't say your ex since. - Your ex since, if it's in my ex. So, where'd you come from? - Yeah. - How long have you been seeing? - 10 a.m., right? (laughing) 'Cause most everybody that's from around here, ain't from around here. They are from around someplace else. And they moved here. - Yeah, yeah, getting to hear some people's stories, the questions in mind. - Yeah, and I think the goal is relationship, because the goal is to be able to share the gospel with them if they don't have a faith in Jesus. And I don't know of anybody who, I mean, when you think about it, everybody loves a gift. Everybody likes to know that they matter to somebody, that somebody was thinking of them, you know. I mean, all the things that you would like, somebody else would like, even like I say, even if they don't like cookies, or if they don't, you know, drink hot chocolate, somebody took the time to think about them and to make sure that they knew. And that matters. And I think in the world in which we live, where loneliness is at an all-time high, I don't think you're going to. And, you know, maybe you just, maybe you don't even ring the doorbell. Maybe you just leave it on their door, or just just kind of saying, we were thinking about you and we're here. If you ever need anything, here's my number. And those kinds of things I think go a long way, especially in this culture, in this day and time. - I have another good idea. - Okay. - This is something I think you might actually do. - I'm really excited. - People have ring cameras. - Yeah. - I think you need to come up with your own little choreography that you come up and you ring the doorbell, or not ring the doorbell, that matter, 'cause it's still gonna catch your video. - Yeah. - And you just create a little Christmas video or a little New Year's video, a little, yeah. Something that's like-- - There's all sorts of those on the internet. You can find it. Oh my goodness, they're hysterical. There's just one guy. - I just can't bring a cheer. - This one guy comes, yeah. This one guy comes over and tells like, dumb jokes, dumb dad jokes, and he's hysterical. And then there's another one I follow. I think they're on Instagram, and it sees two guys, and they lead worship on this guy's front doorstep every day. - Well, not every day, but they're posted, their video's posted. - It's so funny. - It is, it's hysterical, 'cause they do a whole thing. And it doesn't have to be anything elaborate, but it can just be to make somebody smile. - So it's like Christmas caroling, but in January. - Right. - But with different music. - Right. - So you're just, yeah, singing whatever. - Yeah. - You're doing a little choreography. - Okay. - I like it. - Little praise dance. - There you go. - You can do that. - Yeah, I mean, they'll definitely talk about you. - Yeah. - Or you could make up a song about your neighborhood. You'd like to do parody songs. - Yeah, good. I could. That does stimulate the brain. - You might end up in a restraining order, right? - That's right. We all come here if I'm, we'll rescue you. We'll try your brain. - I need a new place to live. - That's right. - A new neighborhood. - That's right. We want to ship this one out. (laughing) - You've been voted out of the neighborhood. - That's right. We'll keep the dog. That's right. - Well, hey, if you have ideas, things that have worked for you, we'd love to hear all about 'em. Let's share ideas. Let's encourage one another with the goal being to build relationships with your neighbors so that you can share Jesus with them. That is the goal of everything we do here at the Girl Talk podcast. We want to encourage you and your walk with Jesus. So if you've got a way that you can share that with your neighbors, we'd love to hear all about it. You can email us at [email protected]. You can also get in touch on the Facebook page, the Girlfriends of the Girl Talk podcast page. - Ooh, that's a mouthful. - You did it, though. - Hey, and don't forget, like and subscribe when you listen to this podcast, leave a comment. That just helps more people get to know the Girl Talk podcast and the whole goal of that is so they'll meet Jesus. So if you'd help us with that, we certainly would be appreciative. And you know what? We're gonna save you a seat next time we gather around these microphones for the next Girl Talk podcast. (upbeat music)