SHARING

Because Keith had some previous commitments, I worked at the house for several hours alone last week. I was looking forward to this week when we could work together again. I made the comment to him, "It's much more fun when there is someone working with me. It goes much faster." Profound, I know. 

I would tear down part of a wall and then have to stop and haul out the dirt. This became drudgery all alone. I worked slower and my thoughts would discourage me. When Keith was helping me, a rhythm developed. I would do my part; he would do his. When one was tiring, the other encouraged. We set goals for ourselves and enjoyed a couple snack breaks together, feeling refreshed and ready to go again. We could even share laughs when we'd make silly mistakes or made discoveries.

At one point, I was working upstairs while Keith was removing plaster in the dining room. I heard him call me to quickly come a see what he discovered...

Walnuts! We had some laughs as they tumbled out of the wall as if in a bubblegum machine. He filled a 3 gallon bucket with them! Once upon a time some squirrels must have been storing up their treasures...

And today, we were honored to have more friends join in the work for several hours. Our work was made easier. More was accomplished in less time. We enjoyed conversation and worked hard together. Their help encouraged me.

I asked God what he wants to say to me...the word SHARING came to my mind. Sharing our lives with others is what God wants us to do. 

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Hebrews 13:16

Thank you, Father God, for showing me what pleases you today. Bless our friends for their generosity. Increase generosity in my heart. I want to do good and share with others for your honor and glory. May this house be a place where sharing with others happens; a place where you are pleased; a place where you are praised.

LABOR

While shoveling out piles of old dust and plaster after demolishing some walls, thoughts of "hard, common labor" came to mind. Nobody really sees or appreciates this part of the renovation work. Mostly, they will enjoy the finished product; the fruit of the unseen difficult labor. But it is necessary work which needs to be done in order for our dreams and goals to be accomplished. I was covered with dust and dirt, wearing a dust mask to prevent it from getting into my lungs. My back was tiring from lifting and carrying. "This is hard work!", I thought. Load after load of trash was carried outside. The dumpster was filling fast.

Demo means piles of garbage...

The dumpster is sitting at the back of the property...a longer walk than hoped for but the soft soil in the yard prevented it from being brought closer. We're thankful for a wheelbarrow.

After one long day of clearing out the 1st floor after demo...another day's worth is yet to be deposited.

With this task, God reminded me that someone has to do the dirty work. Someone has to "carry out the trash". In that moment, He prompted me to begin praying for friends and acquaintances who are longing for freedom and healing in their lives. A teacher once said that part of praying of others is like being a garbage collector. When we pray for and minister to people in need of God's touch, we carry their "garbage" to the cross and give it to Jesus to carry and dispose of. This word picture has helped me understand my role in the Kingdom of God. It is a labor of love. It may not be glamorous work, but it is necessary work.

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor is not in vain." 1 Cor 15:57, 58

I am challenged in this. My labor in the Kingdom does not always need to be something extraordinary. It may mean doing a lot of behind the scenes labor. In that I am fulfilled. As I carry "garbage" to the Father, He takes it from me and disposes of it. In this we find victory. My labor is never in vain. Thanks be to God!

WALLS

Today I'm thinking about WALLS. Walls are built for many reasons. Some are good and some are bad. In a house, the walls create rooms and boundaries which contain certain tasks or events in our daily life. I'm glad there are walls around my bathroom for obvious reasons. The walls around the space in which I sleep create a safe quiet place for me to rest at the end of the day. The outside walls of my house protect me from the weather, keeping me safe and warm and dry. Walls are good.

But sometimes, walls are not so good. This weekend we began to knock out walls in the house we have just begun to care for. For the "new" spaces to take shape, old walls need to come down.

 ...making room for new spaces...



Other kinds of walls exist in our lives too. We build walls in our mind and in relationships. These walls can also have a positive or negative influence in us...the way we think, act and relate to others. While at times these kinds of walls can protect us from pain and hurt, most of the time they hinder us from living in freedom.

While I was pounding my way through a wall in the house, the words to a song came to my mind. "We will break dividing walls; we will break dividing walls; we will break dividing walls in the name of Your Son..." 

There are so many walls that divide us. It takes hard work to break through and tear them down. It takes perseverance and strength. I want to trust Jesus to do this work in my heart. I want those walls that limit a victorious life to come down so that there is new space for more of Him.

Will you join me in this demolition work?

SETTLEMENT

She's ours!  

This afternoon we signed lots of papers...and finally the keys were put into our hands. All the plans and dreams for this house can now begin to take shape. Tomorrow is the first day of demolition. Keith and I have 1 month to do some grunt work. Our hands will get dirty and our bodies will grow tired. We are gathering the tools we will need and prioritizing the list of tasks we were given by our contractor. 

If you read other entries in this blog, you know that I like to ponder the meaning of words. So what is SETTLEMENT? ...an act of bestowing or giving possession under legal sanction; a covenant, agreement, contract or understanding.

The former owners bestowed the responsibility of caring for the house upon us today and we have been given possession. It is now our duty to care for the property. Our signature at the bottom of papers today sealed our promise and covenant to care for the house. 

Entry...

My mind is also drawn to what this means for me in my spiritual life. I am in a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ. His blood sealed His promise to love and care for me. It is a legal and binding covenant. I am his. He has plans and dreams for me. As my hands get dirty and my body grows tired as I work for him, may my "house" reflect his character and care. 

"Lord, tomorrow as Keith and I begin to care for the house, show us how you care for us. Teach us about covenant and spending our lives for you. Use this house to build your kingdom."

SYNCHRONIZE

Yesterday Keith and I took some time out of our schedule to SYNCHRONIZE. We do this every now and then so that life doesn't get away from us. We ordered lunch at our favorite sandwich shop and went over our calendars together. It is a fun way to stay up to date with each others heart, plans and visions for the future. Many times we are able to look back and see how God led us, how He has answered prayers, and envision what He has for us in the future. We know that in order to be effective in life and ministry, we need to be "one".

synchronize (verb): to cause to indicate the same time, as one timepiece with another; to cause to go on, move, operate, work, etc., at the same rate and exactly together.

Considering the dictionary definition above, what a wonderful description of a marriage. I am so thankful for a wonderful supportive husband.  As we face a big renovation project in our future, we are very aware that our communication must be open and current. We chose to block out specific days and evenings to work together on the house. We noted important family events which we will intentionally guard so that we can be present and involved. It is crucial for our health and sanity that we remain unified, keeping a rhythm to our days, weeks and months.

At this time last year we were enjoying a lovely vacation together in St. Lucia. What a wonderful time it was as we relaxed and celebrated 25 years of oneness in marriage. We enjoyed times of reflection and future-planning as we talked and reminisced. 

How important it is to take time apart to synchronize in marriage. It is likely that our unity and oneness will be tested and fleshed out with the house project we are embarking on. We are taking it one step at a time, purposefully setting time aside to synchronize in order that we can move forward and operate at the same rate and exactly together.

I love you, Keith. I'm so glad to be your partner in life.

By the way...during our synchronizing lunch we got a text from our Realtor saying that everything has been approved by the bank. Settlement takes place on March 11. Let the work begin!

"Caring for the house" involves not only caring for yourself, but for your relationships with others. With whom do you need to synchronize? And what does this mean for our relationship with God? How often do I synchronize with Him? 

Father God, cause me to move, operate and work at the same rate and exactly together with You. Amen!

FAVOR

We received the news first thing this morning. The appraiser's report was in our favor. The appraised value of our property, with the planned renovations taken into account, were reasonable and in line with comparable properties in the vicinity...making the amount of our bank loan reasonable and acceptable.

We are happy and thankful for these results after a couple weeks of waiting and wondering what the outcome would be. Now that we have the approval for the loan, settlement for the sale of the house seems to be the final step before we officially own the house...and then the work can begin.

My hands are very ready to begin work in this dining room. The arched doorway will be widened and trimmed to match the doorway into the foyer. The wood floors will be refinished and the walls patched and painted. Crown molding and a lovely new chandelier will grace the ceiling.

There is a longing inside of me to care for this house. It needs a caretaker. Years of neglect and poor choices have left it cold and empty. Its heart and personality need to be restored; its destiny needs to become reality. I have looked upon this house with favor. The appraiser has looked upon it with favor. It was important to see past what is, in order to see what it can become.

Lives are much like houses. We need to be cared for and loved. When neglected, our hearts become cold and empty. When others favor us, restoration happens. God always looks upon us with favor. He sees past what is on the outside and all that is not good. He sees what we can become. He longs to be our caretaker. 

"May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us - yes, establish the work of our hands."                  Psalm 91:17