Building A Home

Building a home. Ahh... the sweet sound to most woman's ears; indeed may I say ALL woman's ears. We want to build a home in Him. We want it to be beautiful, comfortable, joyous. A place to dwell, a place to rest. A place of beauty.

Psalm 84:3 paints a beautiful picture of a sparrow finding and building her nest at the alter of our King. She first finds a place of security; a place of comfort and where she can trust in it for the years to come. She chooses the feet of our God. And then she begins to build. I just can picture it clearly; her actively choosing what to bring back to build her home with; discerning what will add stability, what will last through the storms.  She must toil, and she knows it is no easy task. It will take hard work, but her labor will not be in vain! If she chooses wisely, she will build a home of beauty at the alter of the Lord.

Verse four says "blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!" Is the Lord then saying that, with hard work and determination, we can build our own house in the house of Himself?!? That each room of our home, so whether we are sleeping, or cooking, and curling up in a comfy chair with a good book, we will be doing all these things in a home that is as much His as it is our own. Ever will we be surrounded by peace, and joy and courage because we will be with Him. Four walls of encouragement and edification; of love and reassurance. Now that is the kind of home I want!

Psalm 91:1 says that "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." It is a daily choice to dwell in His shelter, but it one of high worth. The pursuit of building a home that honors him, and glorifies His work, will be rewarding in the end. It is the beginning of the ability to rest while we wait. To wait for Him to speak, or to move or to call us out. Either way, in the midst of this world, His shelter is the only place we should desire to call home. Only there will we find a life of value.

A New Year, A New Blog

I can hardly believe it is a brand new year. 2012 already. When I look back on this last year, I see twelve months of testing, refining and growth done by our gracious Lord in my own life. On the first of January a year ago, I was sitting for the first time on a rooftop in Haiti, asking God if it was in His plans to move me to this broken country. Exactly a year ago was my very first day in Haiti. And unbeknown to me, I would shortly thereafter pick up my life and live in Haiti for over four months. A third of my last year was spent away from what I would have called home. But somehow, the Lord allowed Haiti to become home.

As always, God used every season of last year to refine me in his character. While I attempted to walk through each trial with humility and strength, I must admit that I failed more often than succeeded. But our loving Father was able to pick me up, dust me off, and love me nonetheless. Even when I fell short of His glory, the Lord still filled me with his truths and wisdom.

Eleven Things I Learned In 2011

1. The Law of the Lord is perfect. Psalm 19:10-11 says; "More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward."Jesus' truths are more important than this world. Always.

2. How to forgive. In much humility, this was a continual process throughout the year.

3. How to lay down my burdens at the foot of the cross and NOT pick them up again.

4. I will always fall, and Jesus will always pick me up again.

5. Community is vital for the soul.

6. How to capture my thoughts. I had no idea I am such a day dreamer! I think part two of this teaching will occur this year too. :)

7. The true meaning of being a disciple.

8. Giving up my plans for my life, and picking up the plans crafted by Jesus. His are better anyways.

9. Contentment in singleness. The Lord asked me to be single for a full year and spend that time growing in Him. Sometimes the Lord just wants you for himself. I learned how to build up my character in Him alone, to define myself through his eyes.

10. The true meaning of spiritual warfare.

11. The art of gleaning from wise women.

Already today the Lord has laid the foundation into a glimpse of what I believe 2012 will hold. I started the year off in a prayer room with four other lovely ladies and two pastors, praying and speaking wisdom into my life. I have no idea what this year will look like, and while I would not call them "resolutions" I did set a few desires before me to strive for over the next 365 days....

- To strengthen my walk and allow each day to be more upright than the last. Psalm 84:11 says For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. Who wouldn't want to see the good things the Lord has for us?

- To grow my roots deeper in Jesus that even if it is a year of drought, I will still be bearing fruit. Read Jeremiah 17:7-10. I want that.

- Grow in faith while I wait patiently for his plans. I want Him to write this year of my story. Here Jesus, I will gladly hand over the pen for my life.

- To abide and to serve.
 
Here we go 2012. I cannot wait to look back in twelve months and see all of His goodness in my life. And here is where I would like to welcome you to join me on my adventure. Who knows what is about to happen....