My 11-year old friend, Kenyan, walked into my home today for pizza and sledding. I've known Kenyan since he and Emily were in preschool together. I've known Kenyan's mom since high school and yet today was the first time Kenyan and his family have ever been in our home.
Kenyan looked around as his younger brother, Brody, said "what's that say?" pointing to a sign I have by my tv. Kenyan said "PRAY" and then he said, "Boy! You have all kinds of Bible signs around your house, don't you?"
Yes, Kenyan, I do. You see, a few years ago, you could have entered my house and walked all the way through it without seeing anything that would tell you that I love my God! I wanted to be a witness for Jesus and yet my own home, the place where people see me for who I am, had nothing to say about my Savior. While reading God's Word one day, this is what He showed me...
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
I made a commitment that day that I would begin displaying God's Word in my home...His commands and His promises. I decided to be sure that no one would ever enter my home again and not know where I stood with God. I wanted my home to be place of peace and rest that reflected God's Word to all who entered.
Now, lest anyone be confused, I have not gone to see Hank, the tattoo guy, to have God's Word tied on my hands and bound on my forehead. Instead, I am committing this year to hiding God's Word in my heart. So, while Kenyan and others see God's Word in my home, I am hoping that they will also see God's commands and His promises spilling from my heart over into my life.
Yes, Kenyan, I do have Bible signs all over my house. Thanks for noticing! I'll take that as a compliment!
Hey Heidi!
ReplyDeleteYou TOTALLY inspired me! One of my projects this year (call it a resolution, call it a goal, call it an item on my To Do List, whatever) is our home. I want it to be comfortable...comforting...warm...our sanctuary. So, after reading your blog, and having no money, I recycled some old refrigerator magnets! We had quite a collection -- doctor's offices, libraries, hotlines, utility companies -- and most were business card-sized. So I covered them each with a mailing label onto which I had printed my favorite Scripture verses! Then I covered them with a few inches of packing tape so that they can be easily wiped clean (my kitchen does see some explosions now and again). I love them!
Thank you for the inspiration!!
~S