Written
By: Kirk Peterson
Simpler
Times
I think of my home growing up as a kid and I’m
reminded of the awesome woods I grew up near, a place where my friends and I
could go exploring in and play. Warm,
comforting thoughts fill my soul…and I have great memories of that place. I often wonder what it would be like, going
back and walking those same winding trails through the scrub oak bushes and
pine trees, taking in the familiar smells of earth and gazing upon the majestic
Colorado Rocky Mountains painting in the background skyline. I know things couldn’t be the same, but part of
me wishes I could back to those innocent times of childhood and to the carefree
simple life I lived at home.
Our
home is something that we should build to cherish, a place we
can always call our safe haven that will guard us against the world and give us
comfort and joy. We should always feel
welcome there and our family should look to our home as a place for
encouragement when we are struggling and for a helping hand when we have
fallen. So many times in life I see
people struggling and being broken by the hardships of life, only to see them
fall back to the family that has always sustained them and home helps to offer them
relief at just the time needed most.
See
Image Here: http://www.amajesticretreat.com/images/pano1-l.jpg
Help
Those in Need
7Share
your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to
those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. 8“Then
your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your
godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you
from behind. 9Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he
will quickly reply. “Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your
finger and spreading vicious rumors! 10Feed the hungry, and help those in
trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness
around you will be as bright as noon. 11The Lord will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like
a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. 12Some of you will rebuild
the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of
walls and a restorer of homes. (Isaiah 58:7-12, NLT)
God’s word tells us how to live in life. Helping those in need and being generous with
all the gracious gifts He has given us is what we are called to do as Christians. Isaiah also tells us here to care for our
relatives in need. With all the
broken families in the world, and so many people turning their back on their
family, I have to wonder if we hold on to that truth enough…
God promises to fill our life with light and shelter us
from the darkness of the world if we help those who are less fortunate. How
encouraging is it to hear that God will restore us as we grow weary from the
world when we follow his commands to help the needy. Some will even go so far helping the weak
& destitute that they will be called rebuilders of walls and restorer
of homes!
Now that is something I want to be
called. Amen!
Sacred
Home of the Most High
4A river
brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High. 5God
dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God
will protect it. 6The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God’s
voice thunders, and the earth melts! 7The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among
us; the God of Israel is our fortress. (Psalms 46:1-7 NLT)
I believe Psalms is telling us here of the end
times. When the Day of Judgment is upon
the world. The sacred home of the
Most High will be here on earth and He will dwell in that city. All the kingdoms will crumble and the earth
will melt from the powerful voice of God, but the Lord will be among
us, not just with us, but among us!
Is your home a fortress from all the destruction in the
world? Is God with you and your loved
ones in your home? These are great questions and things I think
all Christians should be asking themselves.
It is something I continually strive to build for my family, a home
built on the foundation of Christ and a safe haven from all the storms that
life will bring.
See
Image Here: http://www.eborg2.com/Spiritual/BibleLists/0000-CityOfGold.jpg
Heaven
our Eternal Home
14For
this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to
come. (Hebrews 13:14, NLT)
Death is just the beginning. I tell these words to people who are dealing
with the loss of loved ones, for God’s word tells us of heaven and the eternal
promise He gives believers. My hope lies
in heaven, when the Most High will wipe away every tear, every pain, all
heartache and evil and we will live in perfect harmony with our creator in our eternal
home.
“Don’t
let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more
than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told
you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I
will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you
know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1-4 NLT)
Jesus
replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we
will come and make our home with each of them. “I am leaving you with a
gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot
give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. (John 14:23, 27 NLT)
Who
built your Home?
I pray that all of you reading this blog begin to look at
how to build your house as a safe haven from all the hardships of this
world. Jesus tells us that we are to
build our house on solid foundation, and there is no better place than God’s word
and our personal relationship with Him in prayer. I encourage you to dig into your bible and
let the advocate Jesus promised us after His resurrection to guide you into
truth. Then, your home will be a holy
fortress that NO STORM can ever break!
16I
pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner
strength through his Spirit. 17Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as
you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you
strong. 18And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should,
how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. (Ephesians 3:16-18,
NLT)
See
Daughtry’s music video “Home” here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bnX-6sJZBw
