True inner joy & inner peace is accomplished/attained by what comes from inside not from that which surrounds us. A matter of semantics? Not really. Its having in place an unwaivering "plumbline" that all the rest of life and it's inevitable 'issues' are measured by. Its having a constant state of perspective that allows us to continually remind ourselves that even as bad as it gets here, this place is not our home and absolutely everything that touches our life is able to ultimately conform us more and more to the image of God and equip us to be a blessing to others who may go through the same trial some day. My husband's and my heartbreaking experience of losing three babies before finally having our one (now 18!) beautiful daughter could have derailed me emotionally forever. But it was that 'plumbline' and that 'perspective' that allowed me to finally, after many months of sadness and re-evaluation, decide that in the end, I am not guaranteed or promised anything - including children. I realized that my life's purpose (although I ached for it) was not to bear a child, but to bear a life - a life well-lived and full of eternal meaning. So, whether He ever blessed us with a child or not, I had a life to live and needed to get on with it. Yes, I did ultimately get my incredible daughter, but my JOY was not dependent on it anymore. I hate to think of the bitterness I could have possibly still been living with even these many years later had I not had the baseline, the plumbline of God's word to lovingly draw me back to Him, even in my heartbreak, and eventually move on. If your heart is breaking now over something, would you be willing to lay all those broken pieces out before you and allow God to take them & lovingly restore them -- maybe even in a new shape and way that you maybe never imagined before? I know for a fact that its possible - and it is life-changing. So, while beautiful environs and objects no doubt contribute to and are condusive to a happy heart and soul, they will not transform a heart that is not joyful & they will not magically create a happy home. As a woman, I place great value on creating a haven for my family -- a place they can retreat into after a day out in the world, being battered about at times. I desire to create a home filled with calm, beauty, wonderful scents, a feast for the senses, and a place where laughter is commmon and tears & honesty are never shunned. But what ungirds all the beauty, all the calm, all the laughter, & the love and acceptance is the foundation that was laid first...a unwaivering committment to God first and the simple but so life-changing way He shows us to live. Making peace with God first, is the real, true first-step in creating a peaceful, beautiful home. Its what allows us to see human flaws and appreciate them as part of the the 'total package' of someone - much the same way in which we appreciate & value the flaws and patina in an object we buy for our home. Its the character of a time-worn object that we love, right? Why not see our family and friends through those same eyes rather than than expecting "showroom" perfection from them all the time? We've been forgiven on a scale we'll never truly grasp (by God) -- can we not extend a bit of grace and forgiveness to those around us? Check out the various links; see if you don't find some answers to life's nagging questions (the kind that keep us up at night sometimes). I think you'll be pleasantly surprised... Begin your journey of creating beauty inside first. The rest will all fall into place afterward. Revive Our Hearts, a fabulous women's website. Aprile Sweers - a wonderful site devoted to women! You'll love this one! Ravi Zacharias International - the perfect site for those who suppose that Christianity means you've checked your brains at the door! What an incredible mind this man has! Kelly Green - A personal friend and absolutely incredible speaker. Don't miss his audio offerings on his site! Bell Shoals Baptist Church, Brandon, FL |
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