This is Home

On Sunday we studied Psalm 91 in Sunday School.  It opens with, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty."  In a response to the question "What does it mean to dwell?" one lady said, "It’s where your home is."

 

I’ve been muling over that thought since.  It conjures up images of driving into the yard after a physically or emotionally draining day or evening.  Just walking in the door causes muscles to relax.  The next step might be to head to bed or do the dishes but it’s home.  A place to breathe.  A place to let go.   

 

That’s what God is.  Our dwelling place.  No matter where I am I can go ‘home.’  It might just be a sentence prayer in the middle of a day at work.  It might be silence while overlooking a lake.  It might be fervent silent pleas while looking into the eyes of a loved one and not knowing what to say.  It might be a cry for help right before a confrontation.  Anywhere, anytime, ‘this is home.’

 

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Jesus (Matthew 11:28)

Benefits of Mentoring

There’s something about mentoring that is becoming a safe guard, for
lack of better words.  So many times I have evaluated a situation,
given advice and walked away without any more thought than "wow, that
was excellent advice."  But lately I’ve started putting the advice I give against my own life and evaluating how I measure up. 

I say to pray about something, do I pray about similar situations?
I say Jesus is all we need, am I discontent with what I have?
I say to get into the Word, am I studying?
I say to use opportunities to be Jesus to others, am I being intentional?
I say to use truth in the face of lies, do I even try to fight?

I’ve got to say that the words coming out of my mouth have been convicting me, challenging me because for the most part I am not finding that I back what I say with what I do.  It’s so easy to see what needs to be done in someone else’s life without daring to stop long enough to make changes in my own.

At the same time there have been very few things that have stirred excitement for the gospel in my heart than pointing out to one of my girls how it works in her life.  I get so excited for them that God accepts them regardless of how they feel about themselves, that His Spirit is working in their lives even when they aren’t aware of it and that they can come boldly before God to speak to Him because Jesus has opened that door for them.  And then I think "That’s true for me too!"  Seeking to help them apply gospel to everyday life translates to the gospel coming alive for me!

Ah yes, we do need others in our lives, sometimes in ways we don’t expect.