Home Should Be A Refuge

Our community was devastated by a storm this weekend. It knocked out power, leveled trees and severely damaged houses. There are people even today that are still without air conditioning - and it's going to be about 100 degrees by mid-day.


You can imagine the energy level in town right now. There are frantic people trying to find out when they'll have power again. Some are trying to find a place to stay until their home is livable. Many are just standing around talking, trying to figure out how to get things cleaned up and back to normal. Frenzied is a good word, as the daily routine has been knocked out of whack.

In contrast, our land was barely touched. Sure, we've got a few limbs down, but the house is fine and we're all safe and sound. We're not dealing with the life-altering damage that others just a few miles away are.

A friend came to fish the ponds yesterday and commented on how quiet and peaceful the property is. We're far enough off the highway that you can't hear much traffic. There are no city noises or other people to deal with. Once you drive to the top of our hill, you're pretty secluded from the world outside.

This the haven he was desperate for after a night of no power, having to go out looking for a meal and interacting with other anxious people. This isn't a normal situation, and there was very little peace to be found within the city limits.

It blesses my heart that the home we've created is a refuge for someone other than us. We've always felt like this was our safe haven from the trials and tribulations of the day, and it means even more that we're able to share it with someone else who needs some peace and quiet.

But it's not the peace and quiet that comes from the world. We have purposely bathed our home in prayer and thanksgiving for the many blessings God has bestowed. No amount of landscaping, paint, furniture or electronics can ever add up to the security of trusting in the Lord.
The next storm that comes along may damage our house this time, but that can't destroy the refuge that God has created in our home.
For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. Hebrews 3:4

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Recovering An Old Card Table And Making It Usable Again

Image
This card table recover project has been on my to-do list for months. I've been using it as my workspace in the craft room for quite some time, and it sees a lot of abuse. Here it is now, with a neutral cover on it so I can take better pictures for my tutorials. There were dents and dings in the old blue covering from metal tools. And yes, I've used my embossing heat tool on it several times, leaving pretty good scars. The padding underneath the blue cover also made it difficult to keep paper crafts flat when adhering them together, so it was time for something new. That's where a simple vinyl tablecloth comes in handy. The process to recover the table is pretty simple, but I learned a couple of lessons the hard way. I share them with you now. First, don't do this on any surface but a carpet. I tried it on the deck int he sunshine to get better pictures, but all it did was tear up the cover. Second, get a second pair of hands to help you kee
Read more

Simple DIY Beaded Keychains

Image
We're having so much fun putting together goodie bags and door prizes for our upcoming ladies retreat at the church. So many of our ladies have donated craft supplies, decorations, time and energy to treat our visitors to an amazing time. These keychains are just one of the gifts some of the attendees will find in their bags. All you need to make them are a variety of beads, some fairly thin yet sturdy cord and a jump ring. Cut a length of cord, fold it in half and string it through the jump ring. String matching beads on both sides. And tie it off with a double knot. So simple, yet so pretty. Here's another variation: Cut a length of cord, fold it in half and thread it through a jump ring. Tie one or two beads on one side and tie it off with a knot. Make the other side longer with additional letters and beads before tying it off. Make a variety of lengths, colors, patterns and phrases so no two are alike.
Read more

Debilitating Disappontment

The things of this life tend to disappoint us. People aren't who we'd like them to be, events we'd hoped for never occur and things we'd expected to happen in a certain way never come to pass. I've tried relying on everything else in this life - relationships, career, better finances. When we look to mankind for answers or for hope, we will surely be disappointed. Our own misconceptions of life's circumstances leads us down a long, dreary path. What we plan and see inside our head doesn't always match what others see, or what may actually be reality. Looking into ourselves for "clarity" directs us straight to depression and failure. Have you ever heard yourself say, "I couldn't care less" and truly meant it? Having confidence in our own power to change our outlook means that we care more about the circumstances themselves rather than how to grow as Christian women. God is the only unchanging factor in our uncertain world. Focusing on
Read more