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by Gail Rodgers
In our area the housing market has gone sky high. Everywhere people are talking about it. Some are relieved they bought before the climb started. Others are discouraged that they will not be able to move to a bigger house as their family grows. Some wonder if they will ever own their own home. A lot of emotion surrounds the issue of “your house”.
Where do you live? Is it an apartment, a cabin, a crowded area of the city, in the country, in a new home, an old home, a home in disarray with remodeling or repair?
As we discussed this issue of housing my dear husband offered one of his wise insights. He said, “A house is just the box that HOME is in.”
How true. The walls that contain your home, the location of it, whether it’s an apartment, a new home or even an unconventional home in a garage all pale in importance to what your HOME is like on the inside.
I don’t mean what décor you have or if it’s messy or clean. No, I mean what you have created within those walls. Regardless of the look and location of where you live, what atmosphere meets those who enter?
Is your home a refuge from the world for your loved ones? Is it a place where they can come when the world is harsh and they know they will find loving arms, even when they make mistakes?
We are not the sole contributors to the atmosphere in our homes. Those we share it with share that responsibility as well. Yet what we contribute does make a difference.
If you are feeling disgruntled with the place you live in, choose to change your attitude today, invite God to help you do one thing today to make it a pleasing place to come to. It may simply be putting a smile on your face and warmth in your voice as others enter.
Remember that the outward walls are simply the box that houses the heart of your home.
“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures” (Proverbs 24: 2 – 4 ).
~Lord, however humble or grand my home may be, help me to make it a place of peace for those who enter. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Questions to ponder: What is the atmosphere like in your “home”; is it a place of refuge? What is one thing you could do to make your HOME more of a place of welcome/peace even when mistakes have been made?
About the Author
This devotional was written by Gail Rodgers. Learn more about Gail: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/gail-rodgers/
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THE DEVOTION TODAY,”YOUR HOUSE”,HIT THE SPOT LIKE ALL THE DEVOTIONS I’VE RECIEVED SINCE I’VE SIGNED UP TO YOUR WEBSITE. MY HUSBAND CAN TELL YOU THINGS HAVE CHANGED. YOUR HOUSE HIT THE SPOT FOR ME BECAUSE I WAS THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO ALWAYS LIKED THINGS TO LOOK GOOD FROM THE OUTSIDE. MEANWHILE, THE INSIDE WAS TORN TO SHREDS.MY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD WAS THE SAME WAY. MAKE EVERYTHING LOOK GOOD FROM THE OUTER APPEARANCE, BUT I TRULY HAD NO LOVE INSIDE. GOD HAS HELPED ME SO MUCH IN THIS AREA. BUT, NOW BY READING THIS DEVOTION TODAY, I KNOW I NEED HELP IN OTHER AREAS. I LOVE TO ENERTAIN GUESTS AND VISITORS, BUT MY OWN FAMILY I HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THAT. WE HAVE FIVE KIDS.TO ME, THAT’S A DEMANDING NUMBER. THEY LOVE TO HUG AND KISS ME. NOT ALL THE TIME I WANT TO HUG BACK.PLEASE PRAY WITH ME CONCERNING THIS MATTER.
I beleive that HOME is where your heart is and if your heart is not well with your soul then no matter where you live or what you live in does not matter. Our bodies are the home for The HOly Spirit whom resides within us and we all need to clean out what is inside of us first so that our dwelling places here on earth can be filled with the God given Love inside of us.
I do not have a place to “CALL MY OWN YET” but thats ok because the inside of me has been changing more and more and once I get back to my home state next week and into the new little apartment that God has proveded for me then such will be filled with the new LOVE that has been given to me during this transitional period of my life.
We all need to be grateful for what has been given to us to live in and not take such for granted. There are so many hoemless people out in this world that do not even have a pillow to rest their heads upon in the late evening hours. Let’s not even get into the fact that they do not have a remote in their hands, a light of their own to flick on in the midst of a storm, etc. etc.
When we think about others whom are less fortunate then maybe we can truly learn how important it is for us to have a blessed place to call our HOME.
Barbara
Gail, thank you again..A devotional that hits the nail right on the head. Today am a reformed Martha and there’s lots more Mary in my life!…And, think I have a lot of company out there..It is a “woman thing” to want our homes to glow!..But the real glow comes from the Lord inside us..And, homes with Him in the dwellers ..do have PEACE!!! And, your husband was soooo right!…what a deep thought..and truth! This box that surrounds us..no matter what our building looks like..grand or modest…It is just the encasement for the real “home” that is inside! The outside of our “Box” a bit ragged today and in need of repairs because of an ongoing earthen challenge..But, the inside of our home today?..PEACEFUl…And, to us..still beautiful..So many prayers offered up here daily, it is a home sanctuary..Praises offered that we are even still in our home, given the earthen trial we’re going through..And I pray everyone who enters our door feels the PEACE..Especially our grown son and daughter and our granddaughters! We’ve changed over the years..and for the better! And, HE continues perfecting us every day!!
For Amonica…Enjoy those hugs every day!! Before you know it they’ll be grown and hugging their children! You are already on your way by recognizing the great truths in Gail’s writings here today!! Treat your family like honored guests ..that investment will return again and again! And, what a blessing..Five children..You are truly among the Blessed!!!!
Just this morning I was feeling so weary of our current circumstances, we’ve been living with my parents for nearly two years now and are so anxious to have our own place.
i don’t read these devo everyday but whenever I do it seems like its just what I needed at the present time!
What an encouragement to me today! I have been reading the devotionals and many times the comments as time permits, but I have never replied until today. I especially liked the part about “even when they make mistakes”. We are currently experiencing that in my family, yet our home is a place of grace and forgiveness. This devotional gave me added strength for the situation. Thank you.
Prayer For Barbara..
Asking All who read at this site to lift Barbara up as she makes her transition back to CT to be in close proximity her daughters.. Asking the Lord to be with you in powerful and special ways, dear Barbara..We Praise Him that HE answered the prayer for your new place..and now we ask for Peace, Tranquility, Provision for it each month..and great JOY in every space of it..May Nehemiah 8:10 reign!! Do it “One day at a time” like those wonderful slogans in Alanon and AA teach..I had two close and beloved loved ones who were set free by AA principles and the Alanon meetings changed my life :) ..and found so many who know and love the Lord there, too!…But their advice to “Live Life One Day at a time”? That is Biblical and for us all..no matter our particular circumstances! Your apartment will glow, too..for you take HIM in with you at the head of it..and that goes hand-in-hand with Gail’s wise words (and her husband’s!) today! God Bless you special Blog friend..And, there is great power in Corporate Prayer!! I know everyone who reads at this site, will join me in “prayer of agreement”..and these same prayers lifted for Chris, too! God Bless..And, your special words today help us all to think of those in even more difficult circumstances…and, cause our hearts to be “thankful”!!!
Our spiritual home is within as and invite our Lord in our heart so other can come into our life and see our life for chirst. we put welcome sign hey come on over let talk about God. I don’t have a home of my own but my son and his family just took me in and Iam thankful for what they have provide for me. Alway welome guest to talk about to many that comes they were christains family. Many time I prayed for my own house God has not grant me one yet, I live a very fixes income. But i Know that i have a opportune help them grow spiritual, just a week ago my daugther in-law had miscarriage and my son going through lot of pain of loss their baby and have a 3 year old grandson he was getting readyto be a big brother. I glad to be there pray with them and cry with them. were almost back to normal. we know God has taking our baby home to Glory. In the month May my daughter lost his uncle we were all their for the family in prayers support they need when they were going hard time. Iam Thankful God made us family. jean