Nine years ago, we began planning to build a home. As we made our plans, many decisions were made: what type of home to build, what type of foundation, one story or two, would we have a garage and the biggest decision of all.... what our budget would be. We are frugal people by nature, so we did a lot of research, negotiations and chose to do much of the work ourselves in order to save money and stick to our budget. Although building a house can be stressful, it was actually a lot of fun for us too. We enjoyed the process and even plan to do it again someday!
We wanted to make sure our home was built on a good foundation. We wanted it to be strong and to be able to withstand storms and high winds, not only physically but spiritually as well. When the block was finished for our basement we put Scripture inside the blocks all around the basement, and then as a family, we held hands and prayed that our home would be built on the Solid Rock, Jesus Christ. That it would stand strong through any and all storms that raged amongst us and that through Him we would be safe and kept from harm. We lived in that home for almost 8 years and God answered those prayers. When we moved last summer, I knew that wherever the Lord led us, we would dedicate our home to Him and ask Him, once again to protect us and our home from all storms that may come our way. Although we did not build the home we are in now, we still wanted God to be our foundation. We buried Scriptures around our home and again as a family prayed for God's blessing. "A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables." ~ Proverbs 24: 3-4 The above two verses say it all. They show us exactly what it takes to have a strong, full and blessed home. We can take every physical precaution available to build a strong house. We can use cement blocks, enhance them with rebar and pour them with concrete, but still have a weak house. Our strength comes from wisdom and understanding. Both of which come from the Lord. If you want a strong home, strengthen your relationship with the Lord. Read His Word, talk to Him, praise Him within the walls of your home, speak of Him to your family and all guests that come through your door and live His words out loud in your own actions, attitudes and words. "A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. "~ Proverbs 14: 1 We have the power to build our homes. We can build our homes strong and mighty, or we can tear them down with our own hands, words and actions. Where will our strength come from? How will we choose to build our homes? Will we cover our home and everyone in it with prayer? Will we care for our home and family knowing that both are gifts from God? Will we seek wisdom and fill our homes with love, patience, kindness and understanding? Or will we tear our homes down with pride, anger, judgment and impatience? When we moved last summer, we did not know where we were going, but we knew that we would be downsizing. Cleaning out a two story home with a full basement and a small barn was not an easy task. It also made me realize what accumulates over the years... junk. Oh, don't get me wrong, we have good things too, but most of our belongings were no longer important, usable or needed. We threw away, gave away and only kept what fit in a pod, small storage building and our camper. It was cleansing really. I don't want my home to be filled with junk. Not physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. My tone in our home can and will set the mood for everyone else. Ask me how I know. Because I have tore down my home by my bad attitude. I have crushed spirits with my lack of understanding and I have hurt hearts because I have had no compassion. I refuse to be okay with that. I want to build my home. I want to fill it with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. I want my home to be filled with precious riches, not because I went out and bought the best but because I have Jesus in my home to stay and because I am striving everyday to build my home on His ways and His Word. Our commitment to build our homes can only come from one source, our faith in Jesus. Let's commit to serve the Lord and build our homes on Him. "....But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." ~ Joshua 24:15c Keep building those homes, Sweet Sisters, and let's grow in God's grace and knowledge together! Joyfully His, Andrea
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For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. " AuthorHi! I'm Andrea, wife to my handsome hubby, homeschooling mama to my 7 amazing blessings, and daughter of the King of kings. I am so glad you have stopped by my little piece of the web. My prayer is that the Lord will use this blog to encourage you in your personal, daily walk with Christ. Archives
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