I live in a wonderful community. There are many singles, marrieds, and widows(ers). Many of our new residents\u2019 spouses passed on within the last few weeks or months. That is their main reason to move closer to their children and choosing this community as their new home. Often, when I meet them and inquire, tears well up in their eyes.
I\u2019m a veteran at this station of life after eleven years since my own sweetheart received his promotion to heaven. But not a day goes by without me remembering that precious love and I, too, from time to time, can\u2019t hold back the tears. It\u2019s okay. Those of us who loved and still love much get to express that love in tears and laughter and carrying on to live our best life for those we love so deeply still here.
I say it often: \u201cOur spouses completed their God-given assignments. We are still here to complete our assignments with joy, peace, hope and determination. It may seem like our loved ones are in our past\u2026.but, thanks be to God and His promise forever and ever\u2026\u2026they are in our future!
The phrase: \u201cHe brought the house down\u201d is said of an entertainer who performed extremely well and the audience gives applause and a standing ovation, along with cheers!
I thought about that statement yesterday when I read this scripture penned by Paul the Apostle: \u201cFor we are God\u2019s fellow workers; you are God\u2019s field, you are God\u2019s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.\u201d (1 Corinthians 3:9-11)
God brought the house down when He sent His beloved Son to earth as the foundation for our spiritual houses. I\u2019m often asked how I can be so optimistic, so living-above-the-fray, so enjoying life to its fullest. It\u2019s because I know the GREATER ONE lives big in me and \u201cGreater is He Who lives in me that he (the devil) that lives in this world.\u201d (1 John 4:4)
The enemy wants our lives to be like houses that are built on sinking sand. Tough times come, disappointments abound, loved ones pass on, but if our \u201chouse\u201d is built on the firm foundation of the Greater One, our houses will stand strong. Though it may feel like the strongest pillars of our lives get knocked out beneath us, when we realize God is with us and in us, we can be shaken \u2013 and not fall apart. There are many pillars holding up our spiritual houses: our families, our friends, and most of all — God Himself. If He is our \u201calways and forever\u201d \u2013 our houses will not crumble.
God brought the house down and that house lives BIG in us. God has taken up residence in us. \u201cAnd in Him, you, are being built together to become a habitation in which God lives by His Spirit.\u201d (Ephesians 2:22) We all know that God has chosen to live in the hearts of His people \u2013 you and me. God has taken up permanent residence in us. Like this little girl in the photo, we can also say: “I know where God lives!”
God began to live in us when we first gave our hearts to Jesus. At that moment, Christ’s presence filled our being. Jesus said, “I am in my Father. If a man loves Me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:20-23).
Thanks for the reminder, Lord! You brought the house down into me. I better make sure I clean house often to make sure it’s a holy habitation worthy of Your presence.
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