Amy Lively - How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird

2015 by Amy Lively

Published by Bethany House Publishers

11400 Hampshire Avenue South

Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

www.bethanyhouse.com

Bethany House Publishers is a division of

Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan

www . bakerpublishinggroup . com

Ebook edition created 2015

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4412-2854-3

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations identified T HE M ESSAGE are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations identified NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations identified NI r V are from the Holy Bible, New International Readers Version. NIrV. Copyright 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations identified NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations identified AMP are from the Amplified Bible, copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Cover design by Rob Williams, InsideOutCreativeArts

Author is represented by Books & Such Literary Agency.

A very timely book for a very isolated culture. Amy Lively offers practical help and guidance in the neglected practice of hospitality.

Dr. Dennis Rainey, president, FamilyLife

This ministry is changing lives in neighborhoods all over the communities that we serve. Amy has followed Gods leading into an untapped area of people that need Jesus. What a simple idea of reaching out to your neighborhoodthe area that God placed you in for His purposes and Kingdom. Amys ideas and excellent resources have offered a no-excuse zone for this ministry. The Lord said, Love me and love your neighbor. He chose Amy to show us the way. Thank you for this amazing resource! Now lets go make disciples!

Chrissy Dunham, director of womens ministry at Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, Texas

Amy knows God has given each of us a corner of the world to share the love of Jesus and the hope found in His Word. Her book equips women, spiritually and practically, to answer this call and open their hearts and homes to friends and neighbors.

Wendy Blight, Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker and author

Have you longed to reach out in your neighborhood but feel paralyzed by doubts and fears? Me too! Amys practical advice from her own experiences gives the equipping how to as well as the inspirational want to. She motivates you to push past the obstacles and live Jesus command to love our neighbors.

Amy Carroll, Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker and author

I am a product of one neighbor walking across a front yard and stepping into the life of another neighbor. Amys brilliant approach to engaging our neighbors is natural, fun, and life-changing! She provides every single thing you will need, including courage. This book and practice is a must for everyone desiring to honor and obey the Lord.

Debbie Stuart, church and leadership development director, Women of Faith

Amy gets itwe want to connect with our neighbors without being that neighbor (you know, the one who makes you want to screen their calls and dim the lights when you see them coming up the driveway). In How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird , Amy gives us the keys to really connect with those who live around usnot with an agenda, but with a heart toward real relationships. A must-read for anyone who believes that Love thy neighbor really starts at your front door.

Kathi Lipp, coauthor of The Cure for the Perfect Life and author of The Husband Project

With hundreds of friends on social media, why are we so lonely? In her amazing book, How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird , Amy Lively identifies the heart-need for deep connection thats not being met through a screen and offers a simple solution: Actually meet the people who live near you. Amys openness to share her successes and failures at reaching out will inspire you to try it yourself. If you still wonder how, Amy has packed the book with creative and practical ways to love those God has called our neighbor.

Glynnis Whitwer, author of I Used to Be So Organized and Everyday Confetti , executive director of communications, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Practical and insightful, How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird is a fresh reminder of Gods desire for us to love our neighbors in the midst of our everyday lives. Amy shows us step-by-step how to conquer our fears, connect with our neighbors, and have fun too! Highly recommend!

Cindy Bultema, speaker, Bible teacher, and author of Red Hot Faith

What does love your neighbor as yourself really mean? In this book, How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird , Amy Lively will give you the tips, tools, and techniques you need to love your neighbor in your own unique way. Whether you know the names of every person on your street, or couldnt pick them out in a lineup, you will learn how to develop a relationship and, ultimately, share Jesus with them. Amys book is a practical and encouraging tool to use as you are trying to apply Gods commandments to your life.

Jennifer Rothschild, author of Lessons I Learned in the Dark ; Self Talk , Soul Talk ; and God Is Just Not Fair : Finding Hope When Life Doesn t Make Sense ; founder of Fresh Grounded Faith events and womensministry.net

I dont know when Ive been more excited about a book or when Ive agreed with an author with more enthusiasm. Amys passion for her neighbors is catching. I hope her stories will grab your heart and motivate you as much as they have me. She really understands what heavenly hospitality is and shows the reader how to practice it as well.

Nan McCullough, Entertaining For Eternity

To Bob
who represents all my neighbors
who opened their homes to me
and graciously came into mine.