Rest = Release, Readjust and Receive

 The school year is about to start and with it, millions of teachers all around the United States are letting out a groan. We look back at the fleeting memories of our summer break and we wonder, where did the time go?  I love being in the classroom...but it is exhausting.  Regardless of what some may say, teachers DO need the break.  Otherwise, retirement age for educators would be 35 years old.  I know I would never make it to 60+ if I didn't have my summer break.  

The thing is that work never ends when school is in session.  It follows us wherever we go, 24/7.  Anyway, sorry for the whine...maybe I should just have some cheese and crackers too. 

At any rate, all this whimpering about the end of summer break and the beginning of the school year (boo hoo) brought me back to the second to last chapter in Jamie Erickson's book Holy Hygge.  This chapter is on the topic of rest.  And I love it!

I've always felt guilty whenever I rest.  There is so much to do...how can I pause and rest? (including during summer break). I agree with the author when she writes:  "as women, we live hurried lives.  Our days are long, and our to-do lists are even longer.  We often feel tossed into the deep end, and we never seem to have enough time or energy to come up for air.  Our physical and mental busyness has spiritual repercussions.  We're asphyxiating our souls." (p. 175)  WOW! Regardless of our occupations, teachers, business people, healthcare personnel, homemakers, entrepreneurs, mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, single, married, divorced, in-between, women in general, all women I believe suffer from permanent exhaustion.  And I believe most of it is caused by us thinking we just can't rest.

There's a 2011 movie called I Don't Know How She Does It, with Sarah Jessica Parker which touches on this subject.  One of my favorite scenes is when she is lying in bed awake thinking about a study that found out that 60 some percent of women with young children don't sleep through the night, and that they are puzzled about what causes it.  She says something like, "well they could've asked me...it's the list."  Then she goes onto the endless litany of things that are in her list.  I don't think it is only women with young children who can't sleep through the night.  I think most women are plagued by this ailment.  

It is not only the to-do list.  In my case it is the combination of the "to-do" and the "to-worry-about" lists which keep me awake at night.  And...the thing is, my biggest source of fatigue and over-weariness is my lack of faith.  I discovered this truth when I read Erickson's words on pages 177-178, "just as the wandering Israelites had to trust God to keep the double portion of manna fresh on the Sabbath, you must have faith in God's ability to sustain you by obediently forfeiting your labor for a time.  When you intentionally set aside a portion of your week to ignore the urgent emails, let the dishes pile up in the sink, and disregard that time-consuming errand, you're not being lazy.  You're confidently placing the tasks of tomorrow into God's hands and confessing that His grace is sufficient for today...Sabbath rest is a tithe of time allowing you to release the burden of a completed to-do list to God and receive the gift of His favor for your obedience."

To rest doesn't mean we don't care.  We still care for our loved ones who need us, but with a trusting attitude, "releasing our congested schedule to Him." The act of faith involves "releasing and receiving." And I would add also, readjusting.  We release our calendars/agendas/lists/fears/worries and receive His peace as we readjust the way we live the other six days of the week...the way we say yes and no to new commitments...the way we carve out time for praise and worship every day...the way we listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit...the way we trust that He is with us, and that we are not alone.

I could just keep quoting things from this chapter on rest.  It's all so good and so relevant, but that's not my intention here.  My goal is to actually remind myself that I need to keep the commandment and have a holy rest.  The enemy is the one making me think I cannot do it.  My lack of faith is causing me to believe his lies.  Pausing is not a sin.  It is part of the promise of an abundant life.  It is part of the promise of freedom.

The school year will begin, and the work will pile up, but I will keep this chapter handy whenever I feel myself being crushed under the stress of an all-consuming work, praying my faith will increase and I can release, readjust and receive for a more balanced state of mind...and less groaning and whining from my end. 

May the Holy Spirit help us to keep the Sabbath Holy with the realization that it is for freedom that Christ has made us free.  Amen.

Let Us Light Our World Together

Go Light Your World

Lyrics by Christopher M. Rice

There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Frustrated brother, see how he's tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, she's been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

We are a family whose hearts are blazing
So let's raise our candles and light up the sky
Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus
Make us a beacon in darkest times

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world

Take your candle, and go light your world

This was the song we used to wrap up this summer's book chat on Jamie Erickson's book Holy Hygge. We gathered around a "fake" firepit, held candles and listened/sang this poignant song.  The words floated around our church's fellowship hall, resonating in our minds as a call to action...a much needed call to action.  Our world needs our light...the Light...and if we don't carry it into the darkness...who will?

The song starts by reminding us that there is a candle in every soul.  And indeed, there is.  Jesus Himself talks to us about it.  He is the Light of the World (John 8:12) and since He is in us, we have His Light too, and we are supposed to let it shine!  He told us so in His Sermon on the Mount:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5: 14-16

However, the question is: what's the state of our candle? Is it brightly burning? Is it dark and cold? Is it somewhere in the middle? Is it high upon a stand? Or is it hidden under a bowl?  Honestly, at this time, I don't know what the state of my candle is...

I know darkness has not and will never overcome Light (John 1: 5) No matter how much the world rejects the Light because they love darkness, Light wins!  But in the meantime...what am I doing with my Light? I worry it might be too dim or too hidden.  I worry it is not powerful or even visible enough for others to see it.  I think of my surroundings at work, for example and I think, what can my little light do here, all alone? And I get even more discouraged. I feel so helpless.

The other day, however, I read a brief devotional in Our Daily Bread that addressed this in a very encouraging way.  It reminded the readers that being "the light of the world" is not a solo act.  And it pointed to Ephesians 5:8 where Paul calls believers "children of light" and how we should live as such.  Then it went on to explain that, "being light in the world is a collective effort, the work of the body of Christ, the work of the church." And that when we get discouraged, "thinking our life testimony is just one little dot in a midnight culture of pitch black, we might take assurance from the Bible that we are not alone.  Together, as God guides us, we make a difference and glow a brilliant light." Like Paul continues to say, we must take advantage of every opportunity and "be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Together as one church, one body.

Today, as I remember our big circle of about 30+ women gathered together around the glowing, fake firepit, each one carrying a candle and singing "songs from the Spirit" I see this coming to life.  I see the power of our individual lights when they are not one single dot in the dark, but many dots coming together to form something bright and beautiful.  I see how it is impossible for darkness to overcome the Light.  

We are not one single dot on the vastness of the night sky.  We are, "an easily recognized group of stars that appears to be located close together," a constellation.  And there is a brilliance in a constellation that is impossible to deny.

If we each carry our candle, together, we can certainly light the world.

May the One Who Is The Light help us carry His candle that is in our souls alongside other believers so we can let it shine brightly in the darkness of the moment that we live in.  In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!

Comfort in Suffering

 Once again Jamie Erickson's book Holy Hygge has deeply moved me.  This time it was chapter 5, dedicated to Comfort the one that touched my heart.  It is not comfort as in being physically at ease in your favorite chair or having enough money in your bank account to not have to worry about expenses.  It is comfort as in easing/soothing one's feelings of distress, pain and grief.  Needless to say, it was a profoundly challenging chapter to read and digest.

If you have never lost anyone close to you yet, please make sure you go and give all your beloved a big hug and a kiss, and tell them you love them.  At least, send them a text or give them a call...because we never know when the crushing claws of grief may grab us, threatening to rip our hearts and souls to pieces.

Topics about loss, suffering, pain and grief are way too gut-wrenching and often make us very uncomfortable given the raw vulnerability that such hurt typically leaves in our core.  Depending on our personalities and on our individualities, bringing up this topic can be just plainly difficult.  Many of us avoid it because it is too much.  Many of us don't want to expose our wounds.  We try to move on, but in reality, the wound is not healed regardless of how many years have passed.  My Dad died almost 11 years ago and I still have a hard time talking about it.  Fifty years is not long enough to soothe the heart of a mother who lost a child.  Twenty two years is but a vapor for someone who left things unsaid to her Mom before she passed.  Thirty years carrying the regret of not saying one last "I love you," to the spouse who left this world in a hurry is not sufficient to appease the mind.  It's just not an easy thing to talk about openly.  It's too heavy...

I believe, however, that healing is possible on this side of Heaven.  It might not be complete and full, but enough to allow us to live the rest of our lives with our eyes on eternity and our feet on the ground.  But, how? I think the way to healing is Hope.  Like I read in the devotional, Our Daily Bread, "Biblical hope is much more than mere optimism; it's an absolute certainty based on God's promise, which He will never break." 

We go back to Scripture and we find comfort in the confidence that Jesus' words are true!

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? John 14: 1-2

We read about His promises in Paul's words,

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-14

And again, we read what Jesus says:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3: 16

And we realize that "hope is a golden cord connecting us to heaven. This cord helps us hold our head up high, even when multiple trials are buffeting us." (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young) We find His promises in the Bible and we cling to them with the confidence of someone who trusts that His word is true, and that His love is real.  That is Hope...that is the Hope that heals the wounds caused by loss.  We surround ourselves with the Word and with those who believe in His promises, our brothers and sisters in Christ and together, holding each other, walking shoulder to shoulder, leaning on each other, carrying each other, we discover joy again...the joy that Hope brings.  Hope helps us remember that the "road we're traveling together is ultimately the highway to heaven." (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young) And we don't walk that road alone.

May God's word penetrate our mind, body and soul so we can cling to the Hope that is the Person of Our Lord regardless of our circumstances, our loss, our pain, our grief or any of the bumps on the road.  Amen!

Contentment

 "An ocean-front beach condo!"  That's pretty much my standard answer every time I'm asked one of those icebreaker questions such as: name your favorite vacation spot...or...what would you buy if you'd win the Powerball...or where would you want to retire...or if you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live...etc.  

Owning a beach-front condo or visiting for a long stay or a short stay or just longingly looking at one on my TV screen is one of those long-standing dreams I've had for the last 30 years. Actually, it doesn't even have to be at the ocean...it could be by a lake...not even a great lake...some nice pond would do...well...maybe not, but a nice body of water that I can just sit and stare at would be OK.  The way the prices on water-front properties are lately, though, make me think that dream will stay a dream forever.  And the thought of not being able to enjoy the breathtaking beach views brings a lot of disappointment to my heart.  Therefore, to compensate for my shattered dream of owning a beach place or living near one, I spend considerable amounts of time and money planning our next vacation by the water.  This summer, since Dan has been blessed with summers off, I really went a bit overboard.  I'm loving it, but our budget has been stretched so thin, I'm afraid rice and beans will be in our menu for the rest of the year.

The truth is, I have a restless spirit that is constantly longing for what's next...for a place to escape...for the elusive wave that will shake off my inability to just sit still and settle comfortably in one place.  After reading chapter 6 of Jamie Erickson's book Holy Hygge I believe my issue is that I have a sort of discontentment that is deeply rooted in my heart, and it is time I surrender it to the Cross. 

I believe I have to accept the fact that the hole in my heart will never be filled with a beach condo or a lake house or a deck overlooking an infinity pool.  That emptiness is not about disliking the place where God has placed me or thinking He made a mistake when bringing me here.  I have not been missed matched.  I'm just longing for home, and my true home is not on this side of Heaven. My longing is not of this world and its material things.  The hole in my heart is God-shaped and only He can patch it up.  

I've known this for a long time, but reading this chapter has made it so clear, I just want to cry.

Like the author of the book says:

"I could move to Timbuktu.  It wouldn't really matter.  Despite the location of the patch of grass I call my own, it will never feel green enough or warm enough or fill-in-the-blank enough this side of the second Garden of heaven.  That longing for something better or best is a remnant of Eden - a chronic case of heart-burn that's been plaguing humanity since the first forbidden bite. Because you see, the enemy knew even then that if he couldn't steal our faith, he could at least try to distort our perspective."

And, it is all a matter of perspective: how we see things. Like when we go to the eye doctor and get a new prescription for glasses, our perspective needs adjusted on a regular basis as well.  Discontentment can dig up a rut so deep that it swallows us once we fall into it, keeping us from seeing, making us believe this is it.  In reality, we can step out of that ditch and discover the blessings that have been hidden due to our distorted view of our surroundings.  Not owning the dreamed ocean front condo means I'm free!  I'm free to plan visits to a wide variety of different ocean front properties around the world! If I had my own, I would be stuck having to go to that same one every vacation I take.  My finances are free since I am not enslaved by a lender that shackles my wallet with monthly mortgage payments. My mind is free since I don't have to constantly worry about maintenance, home owners association payments, repairs, renters, and the myriad of complications that come up with homeownership.  I'm free to keep planning trips that become lifetime memories of exciting adventures otherwise not possible.  

I know this is just a silly example, but contemplating the lessons in chapter 5 of this little book has reminded me that there is always a blessing behind every unrealized dream.  We just have to wake up, open our eyes, put on our new glasses, see it and give thanks for it. 

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4: 12-13

Mistakes

 Last Wednesday, we had another really exciting book chat meeting for Jamie Erickson's Holy Hygge book, and I have to say, I enjoyed it thoroughly!  I pray everyone in attendance was able to hear the Holy Spirit speak and received blessings from the two chapters we studied.

It's really interesting how this little book can be both light but also insightful.  

One of my favorite parts of the evening was when the question was asked about purchases that might have been mistakes.  I shared one of mine in great detail...but I have many others that popped into my mind as I was thinking about this topic.  What can I say, I like to shop. And among my favorite shopping experiences are those that involve something for the house.  I get these ideas in my head about how a certain corner or wall in our house would look so much better if only I could get X thing to make it perfect.  I hardly ever have money, so often, I end up just buying a very cheap version of what I had in mind, just so my vision would come into reality.  And many times, I end up regretting the purchase and having to either return it or donate it.  

I could share many examples.  This practice frustrates my dear husband very much...especially, because, usually, I buy the items without telling him.  He is too nice to fight me on them.  But, recently, he did tell me that he is tired of me buying things that later end up in the Goodwill box.  He said I have to learn the art of waiting:  waiting until we save up the money to buy a quality item (or until I forget my idea and desist...which I know would be his prefered option).  

Sometimes, the purchase is too big, and I have to live with the mistake for a long time... Sometimes, it's worse: others have to live with it for a long time.  The particular example I'm thinking about was Dylan's bed.  It was shortly after we moved to Slippery Rock.  He was going to get his own room, and I wanted to make it special by getting him a new bed.  My vision involved one of those beds that were kind of like a loft, sitting up high so we could put a desk underneath or a reading nook or something really cool.  I've seen an IKEA room decorated just the way I wanted it, and if I could just have bought that showroom right the way it was, I ... I mean...Dylan would have been the happiest kid alive!

Of course, we didn't have money for buying a full IKEA bedroom set, completed with cool storage and wall art.  So, I went to the Walmart website instead.  In there, I found what looked like a good compromise.  It wasn't a loft bed, though.  It was more like a bunk bed.  The top was a twin size and the bottom was a full size bed that turned into a couch.  How cool is that! right? Well, the nightmare began when the box arrived.  It weighted a TON.  Poor Dan.  He wanted to put it together right away so Dylan could have a bed.  When we finally got the extremely heavy boxes upstairs, Dan opened them only to realize that there were about 10,000 pieces.  OK, I am exaggerating.  It was more like 2,000.  I couldn't believe it!  Then, of course, it took several nights of Dan working on the stupid bed after work, and several mistakes, before the bed was ready to be used.  By then, Dylan had been sleeping on the floor in Grant's room for maybe 2 weeks.  

Finally, there it was, the bed was up, the kids tried it, and were excited for about a minute.  It was so uncomfortable...it was like sleeping on a bed of nails.  I tried adding more padding to the mattress, and fluffy pillows and comforters...but nothing worked.  The good thing is that Dylan was still young...but the bad thing was that Dylan was still young.  There was NO WAY on this side of Heaven that Dan would even let me talk about getting rid of the bed.  That bed was in that room to stay.  Dylan actually slept in the guest room for a couple of years, until he decided to brave his bed again.  

9 years later, Dylan figured enough time had passed, so he ask for a new bed for Christmas, and this past year Dan said yes.  But then, the terrible realization of having to put the monster apart came over him...but...the good news was, we listed it for sale on the Facebook Marketplace and the stupid bed sold in a couple of hours!  That was enough motivation for Dan to get his screwdriver and disassemble the 2,000 parts.  He was nice enough to take pictures and organize all the parts very neatly so the new owners would be able to put it back together again without much trouble. 

Dylan got his IKEA bed (not a loft, but a cool one, nonetheless) and I began to learn my lesson: stop being restless and wait in the Lord.

It's funny how today at church, Pastor Dan gave an amazing sermon that touched on certain aspects that apply to this situation.  He was preaching on Psalm 84 and on how we have a home like no other.  I can stop striving for something better.  There is no need.  I already have my perfect home in Him.  Creating an atmosphere of peace where there is enough space for Jesus and where there is room for the gospel to be shared is what I need.  Other than that, it becomes superfluous and actually dangerous.  I don't need to keep up with the latest trends on HGTV.  All I need is to remember that,

Better is one day in your courts

than a thousand elsewhere. Psalm 84: 10a

May He who has given a home to the sparrow, show us that He has made a home for us as well.

Seasons

 I love to read, but I don't really have much time for it during the semester.  I bundle all my reading for the summer.  This is another reason why I look forward to summer SO MUCH! It is my absolute, most favorite season.  Listing the reasons that I love summer with such intensity would take volumes...so I won't...I'll just say one: summer reminds me of home.  On the other hand, winter...I couldn't even begin to mention the reasons I dislike winter...just the thought of it makes me want to vomit (I hope I haven't offended my winter-fan-friends).  Fall makes me way too melancholic and spring is riddled with allergens that make my life miserable.  So summer is not only my favorite season, but the only one I truly like.

The reason I'm thinking about this is because, as I was reading chapter 3 of the book Holy Hygge by Jamie Erickson, which is on the subject of well-being, I read something that really spoke to me.  As the author discusses the importance of self-care, and how it is not selfish to carve out time to "plan for you," in order to be able to care well for others, she talked about how her Mother in Law told her to reserve a hobby that she enjoys, for the winter months in order to help her cope better with the awful Minnesota cold season.

The author relates what her Mother in Law told her in this quote:  "A hyggelig hobby, she said, would not only help me survive the winter, but it would also help reshape my feelings about the season even before it arrives.  I'd be able to look forward to that time instead of confronting it with a sense of dread." (p. 94) 

Wouldn't that be nice?  To anticipate the arrival of winter (or fill-in-the-blank-season) without dread...sigh...maybe, I should take her advice and save some of my reading for the cold months?  That could be a step in the right direction, I think.

Seasons, however, are not just limited to the spinning of the Earth around the sun.  Nature often works as the perfect analogy for what we go through in life.  As we all have experienced, our lives go through different seasons too.  Some are cheerful and bright.  Some are not.  What a blessing it would be to look forward to all of our seasons regardless of how awful they may seem, wouldn't it? As with the idea of reserving an enjoyable hobby for the season of the year that we already know we don't like/appreciate/love/look forward to in order for us to actually stop dreading it, how marvelous it would be to discover a way to survive the difficult seasons in our lives without fear/disappointment/hurt/heartache...sigh...

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3: 1

I believe the point of this most beloved passage of Scripture is to demonstrate that there is purpose in everything we experience.  Nothing is wasted in God's economy.  He designs every single part and detail of His plans for each of His children and for the whole universe for a reason and with a point.  Nothing is left to chance or caprice, including the seasons in which our heart is pierced with pain. 

Like the author says about the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 3: 1, "it indicates an ordained purpose; something, or more specifically Someone, outside of yourself who determines the time and eternal reason of this moment.  You and I can keep wasting time watching the clock, hoping a particular season will pass quickly, or we can embrace every moment, knowing God has an eternal purpose for them all." (p. 95)

I know I cannot anticipate all the rough seasons I will experience in my life, so it is not easy to prepare for them.  But one thing I can do is to stay close to the One Who Knows and Determines every spin of my world.  Therefore, something that can help us keep our eyes upon Jesus is to stay in the Word and in fellowship with His body.  Together we can survive our less-than-ideal seasons as we remind each other that God has a purpose for everything.- praying boldly and without ceasing, holding each other's hands and seeking His face -.  

May the Holy Spirit open our eyes and allow us to see the point of what we are going through...the lessons...the grounds...the reasons, as much as we are supposed to figure them out.  May He give us awareness that we are not alone as we walk through the fires and high waters, for He is right there with us, leading us and showing us the way. 

Question: What's your least favorite season? What hobby or activity can you reserve for that season to help you enjoy it more? What additional ideas could help us cope when we go through difficult "seasons" in our lives?

Love it or List it

 I enjoy watching home improvement shows...I know...what can I say.  One that I used to watch a lot was called Love it or List it.  That show frustrated me, though, because in most of the episodes I watched, the owners ended up "loving" the house...ugh...that drove me crazy.  Even the spouse who wanted to move initially, would end up "loving" the remodeling so much that they would also be convinced to stay.

I couldn't stand it! so I had to stop watching it.

Strange, right? I know.  I just get anxious when it comes to the thought of getting too attached to a house.  If you ask Dan, he'll tell you that the phrase:  "let's sell the house," comes out of my mouth at least once a day...every single day. I have issues...I know...

Anyway...as I read chapter 4 in the book Holy Hygge by Jamie Erickson, I started to think about this thing...and something in the book made me pause and consider my particularity when it comes to my aversion to the thought of getting attached to a house.  The author says:

"We've forgotten what it feels like to be at home in our homes." (p. 113)

Is that what has happened to me?

It's not about the house, how big, beautiful, stylish, organized, cleaned, etc. etc. it is.  Like Erickson reminds us, for the most part of His life, Jesus was basically homeless...but He knew how to make a home, because He is home.  The life of Christ shows us that a home should provide "an atmosphere where heavy-hearted people can unleash their burdens, find refuge, and be fully fueled and supported so they can go back out into the fray and do God's work in the world." (p. 113)  Home is where the Light of the World shines to make darkness retreat and where God is revealed to all who come in.

I don't know if I have ever made a home...

My focus has always been on the building, the house, the material things inside of it.  I don't know if I have ever, truly placed my energy into shaping the spiritual aspects of home.  I lost my childhood home in my early forties and that has caused me to reject the thought of getting attached to a house...but...has that heartbreaking incident also caused me to ignore the fact that home is where the heart is?  Have I neglected the cultivation and nurturing of an atmosphere that promotes well-being? Have I forgotten to invite Jesus to dwell in my house?

Perhaps, it is time for me to "love it." Maybe it is time for me to stop being afraid of losing the house, and just direct my efforts to creating an atmosphere that reflects the holiness of the Spirit who dwells in it as I honor Him with everything that goes on inside my home.  Like the book author says: "from the movies we watch to the songs we listen to, from the money we spend to the activities that command our best attention - every yes and no we give with our time, talent, and budget should declare that Christ is an unseen but ever-present participant in the culture of our home." (p. 121)

It is time to remember that a house is nothing without Jesus.  Therefore, I should take the author's advice and "be in the Word, and make the Lord my focal point."  

Question to ponder: Besides being in the Word on a daily basis, what other things can we do to "love" our homes and make them show that Jesus is the center, the focal point?