Renovation

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition tv show

"And do not be conformed to this world, but betransformed by the renewing

of your mind, that you may prove what is

that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Romans 12:2

I don't watch a lot of tv but sometimes I will sit through The Extreme Makeover: Home Edition tv show. It's a reality series on ABC where needy and deserving families get their often nearly condemned homes replaced with a brand new beautiful home complete with new furnishings, appliances, etc. The families are sent away on a dream vacation for a week. When they return, their entire neighborhood, family, and friends are packed behind a bus that obstructs their view of the new home. When the lucky family returns to the cheers of the crowd, Ty Pennington (The Host) says, "Move that bus!" and the family's dream home is revealed. It's really heartwarming to see their tears of joy as they see the exterior and then tour the interior and backyard with the cast.

The Word says the ultimate goal that God desires for each of us is our transformation....a renewing of our mind. Through sanctification we are transformed and renewed into the image of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 6:19 says "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit..."

In order for Christ to abide in us... our temple, our house, our body... must be fit to live in. That means there must be a tearing down of strongholds, a rebuilding, and renovation in our spirit. A renovation of a home doesn't happen overnight and neither does this sanctification process. It is just that ... a process.

I love this...
“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right, and stopping the leaks in the roof, and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably, and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (London: William Collins, 1970), 172.

Be Humble

Naptime at Gigi's

Malli - 8 weeks old

So anyone who becomes as humble

as this little child

is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 18:4

When I keep my grandaughter Malli she lets me know when she is hungry, needs her diaper changed, or just needs to be held. She doesn't hold back. She cries out for help. She is helpless and totally dependent.

It is really no surprise that Jesus instructs us to humble ourselves as children. Children are innocent, pure, honest. Too often in this journey, I am stubborn, prideful, and arrogant acting as if I have all the answers and can figure things out alone. Jesus says we should come to him as children—honest and straightforward with our needs.

If I desire to meet the needs of Malli, imagine how much Jesus longs to meet my needs. But first, I must humble myself.

1 Peter 5:6-7 says Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

If I am a follower of Christ and a true born-again believer, then I have one purpose...to glorify God. God is best glorified when I humble myself before Him and others.

Lord, Jesus I need you today. I cry out to you and confess that You alone have the answer to what is troubling me today. I come to you as a child totally dependent on Your strength, Your wisdom, and Your grace. I look to You. Amen.

A Sweet Gift...

249. a new baby boy, a nephew...Grayson Thomas Morgan

More for the 1000 Gifts List...

Give up the bitterness,

the anger,

the sadness
for what isn't,

that you wish you had.

And embrace the gift

of what you do have.

For therein is really what you want more of...

Joy.
-Elizabeth Elliot

244. the joy of Malli's contented, sweet spirit

245. the joy of dinner with my daughter, Savannah-Jane

246.the joy of watching rain fall on the pond

247. the joy of rocking Malli on the porch

248. the joy of hearing frogs croaking at night

He Maketh No Mistake...

A dear friend sent this to me today, perfectly timed.

Thanks Denise!

My Father's way may twist and turn,

My heart may throb and ache.

But in my soul I'm glad I know,

He maketh no mistake.
My cherished plans may go astray,

My hopes may fade away.

But still I'll trust my Lord to lead

For He doth know the way.
Tho' night be dark and it may seem

That day will never break;

I'll pin my faith, my all in Him,

He maketh no mistake.
There's so much now I cannot see,

My eyesight's far too dim;

But come what may, I'll simply trust

And leave it all to Him.
For by and by the mist will lift

And plain it all He'll make.

Through all the way, tho' dark to me,

He made not one mistake.

author unknown

My times are in Your hands.

Psalm 31:15

This is a portion of a sermon by John Piper where he preached on God's sovereignty...

God the almighty reigns in all the affairs of men. He rules the nations (Daniel 2:21) and he rules families. His providence extends from the U.S. Congress to your kitchen. Let's be like the women of faith in the Old Testament. Whatever else they doubted, they never doubted that God was involved in every part of their lives and that none could stay his hand (Daniel 4:35). He gives rain and he takes rain. He gives life and he takes life. In him we live and move and have our being. Nothing—from a toothpick to the Taj Mahal—is rightly understood except in relation to God. He is the all-encompassing, all-pervading reality. Naomi was right and we should join her in this conviction. God the Almighty reigns in all the affairs of men.

A great quote(source unknown):

"The sovereignty of God means that God can do any thing He wants to do, any time He wants to do it, any way He wants to do it, for any purpose He wants to accomplish."

Malli...a gift, oh so sweet...

243. Malli's tiny foot

Malli, our Boa Baby

Photos courtesy of my sister, Kathy Graham

Put on...

242. watching a child paint

a heart of compassion,

kindness,

humility,

gentleness

and patience.

Colossians 3:12

I confess... I am no artist, but I do love watching children create their own artwork. Give them materials, encourage imagination and creativity, and watch the magic begin.

The room was quiet, very warm that day. Twenty-one children crowded into the small area. Paint and paper spread before them. Each canvas empty. The possibilities...

Then I noticed the young boy sitting without paper and paint. He just sat with the other children...watching. That small frame with large, sad eyes. All of the other children were painting. All of them, except this one. I looked for paper and paint for him, but someone said, "Don't bother, he's too young, he'll just make a mess."

I asked the well-meaning teacher if it would be alright if sat with him on the floor. She agreed.

He needed no instruction from me, really. Just encouragement. I watched as this child sat for twenty minutes dipping the brush into the paint bottle, methodically stroking the brush onto the paper, making irregular, uneven shapes with no real form. I watched and spoke gently, cheering him on in his first paint experience. Occasionally his eyes would meet mine, searching for approval. What a thrill for me. What joy I found in that moment. Encouraging, spurring on this little one.

God spoke to me that day in that hot, cramped classroom. He longs to show His compassion to all of us. How many times have I failed to allow Him to do so through me? What could He do with my canvas if I allowed Him to take control? Am I impatient, quick to judge, limiting possibilities. Psalm 103:8 says: The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

Lord, help me to put on your heart ... a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience today. Amen.