Building Up or Pulling Down?

“Kristie, I’m sorry but we just can’t afford to build a house right now.”  I remember hearing those words 6 years ago and feeling distraught.  I had been dreaming of building a home with my husband.   The blueprints were already vivid in my mind!  The night my husband finally told me that it was not going to happen, I could not sleep.  I went to the living room, knelt by the couch, wept, and prayed.  “God, Thank you for blessing us with this home we are living in.  Forgive me for wanting more.  Take away my desires for a new home.  I want to find my contentment and happiness in You.  Amen.”

That night I gave my desires to God.  I realized that my husband wanted to give me my dream house but he did not have a peace about it.  I had to respect that and allow him to be the head of our household and make that decision.

The next few days, I grew closer to God as I strived to make our house a home.  I wanted to be the best wife and mother I could be.  Ultimately I wanted to be the Proverbs 31 lady (and still do)!    God showed me that it was my relationship with Him that would make me happy, not material things.

Proverbs 14:1  “The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her own hands.”

Wow!  What wisdom is spoken in that one verse!  To me, this verse says that a wise woman allows God to be in control, while a foolish woman tries to control her own.  It doesn’t matter if you are living in an apartment or a mansion.  In the end, your house reflects your heart.    Without Christ, the atmosphere is cold and depressing.

God wants us to trust in Him alone.  When we do this, no matter what surrounds us (brick, stone, or wood) He is in control and will make our house a home.

We were eventually able to build a home.  My husband and I committed  to use it to glorify God.

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  Joshua  24:15

*Also, read Matthew 7:24-29!

How about today?

Hours before the event, people began lining the streets.  Children were on their father’s shoulders.  The sidewalks became so crowded it was hard to breathe.  Cameras in hand, adults were ready to capture the memories.  

If you have ever been to Disney World, you too have experienced this scenario hours before the start of a parade.  Now remember there is a parade at least 3 times a day and every time the crowds gather.  If you do not want to get caught in this you must avoid the parade route!  

Oh yes, my family and I learned this the hard way!  We had no clue why there was tape on the sidewalks.  We later found out it marked the area where you were allowed to stand.  The first night at Magic Kingdom, we were getting ready to leave the park as the nighttime electrical parade began.  We couldn’t leave now, but the standing areas were full and Disney workers enforced that you must keep walking if you were not inside the tape.

 

Dennis did what any father would have.  He put Dawson on his shoulders and squeezed inside the taped area with thousands of others.  Tad squeezed through the people and made his way to the front!  ME? Well I ducked into a bakery where I could drink a cup of coffee and watch it through the window.  Every now and then I would walk outside to take a picture only to have a Disney worker tell me that I couldn’t stand there. HA!

Thinking back on this event, I thought about Zacchaeus.  Remember the story?

Zacchaeus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he.

He climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see.

 (Luke 19)

He wanted to see Jesus so badly that he ran ahead and climbed a tree!

If I had been there, I wonder what I would have done.  Would I have done everything possible in order to see Him or would I have casually sat back in ignorance? 

What would you have done?

How about today?

Do I do everything possible in order to meet with Him daily?  Do I walk with Him and talk with Him as I go about my day?  OR do I keep Him hidden until I need Him?

How about you?

Dear Lord, Help me to cherish the quiet time I have with You.  I want to long to arise before my family and begin everyday with You.  Help me to not take for granted the truth that I am Your daughter, a daughter of the King and You long to meet with me! Amen.