Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Home (01/09/06)
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TITLE: Foundations of a Perfect Home | Previous Challenge Entry
By Bonny Miller
01/15/06 -
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Is it a home worth millions in the middle of “Who's-Who Avenue?”
Is it a home bathed in all the luxuries anyone can ever imagine?
Is it a spotless, meticulously crafted, everything in-its-place home?
Or, perhaps, the perfect home simply has nothing to do with the tangible...
“Our house and everything we own is gone, but we still have each other. We still have our faith, and God has us in the palms of His hands.”
What a testimony! It was a testimony that came from someone who just lost everything during
the ravaging floods in New Orleans.
And here was I, in the comforts of my snug house: television blaring, remote controller in hand, dinner in the oven, feeling overwhelmed at the thought of the (simple) household chores that awaited me after a relatively easy day at work.
This woman's testimony literally brought me to my knees. Tears streamed down my cheeks.
Tears of shame...
I was living a life of complacency. I was allowing the world to dictate who I should be, not who God wanted me to be.
Be in the world, not of it.
Tears of sorrow...
Thousands, even millions of souls perish every day without even knowing about God.
Share God's love. Spread His Word. A moment of one's time witnessing may mean an eternity to another.
Tears of thankfulness...
I was a witness to this woman's faith, obedience, humility. God carried this woman, her family, and thousands more souls safely through the devastations of nature's wrath.
Tears of joy...
God was lifted up in front of millions in spite of adversity and hardship.
God does not bring suffering or pain. God brings hope because of it. He will endure it with you and will help you to overcome it.
God is a living, merciful God, full of grace. God's love for us is Holy and pure and flows constant from the depths of His heart, reaching beyond the depths of reality as we know. This love is so very sacrificial that Jesus chose to die on the cross for you and for me. He knew us even then. Should you be the only one on earth, He would still choose the cross.
Is not God worthy of honor and praise at all times?
Tears of humility...
for seeing life for what it is: a blessing from God; for what it should be: obediently dedicated back to God.
We ARE because He is. We CAN because He empowers. We SHOULD because of Who He is- and Who we are not.
Tears of compassion...
for all the souls who are suffering because of the sins in the world- some by self-choice, some by the choice of others: sorrow, pain, hunger, abuse, hatred, anger, bitterness...
Upon hearing the woman's testimony, I am sure that her household is one that chooses to live for God.
Knowing she lost all her possessions: photos, furniture, maybe antiques or heirlooms, pictures her children drew that hung on the refrigerator, clothes, her entire house- filled with a lifetime of labor and memories, this woman of faith...
...chose to focus on the foundations of love, family, hope, and prayer.
...proclaimed her faith that God will provide.
...didn't allow anger, frustration, or fear to control or to consume her.
...continued to reach out to others without a single possession in hand, yet with the very light of God in heart.
Joshua 24:15 ... But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. (NIV)
She demonstrated the Fruits of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control... (NIV)
The very foundations of her “house”, her home, is not that of wood, cement, steel, or of any other materials. Its foundation is purely that of solid rock, of God, our redeemer. And so was the reason behind her faith which became her testimony.
Matthew 7:25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. (NIV)
The world desperately needs to listen for and to embrace God's Word in the midst of all that is happening around us today. God is calling. Are we listening, really listening and living like that woman of faith? Redefine what “Home” means to you. Is God the “Who” or the “What” of your household?
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