God's household

A friend gave me a daily devotional a couple months back, and I recently picked it up and have been loving the beautiful words and daily Scripture readings. This verse really spoke to me this week:

Psalm 27:4 The Message

I'm asking God for one thing,
only one thing:
To live with him in his house
my whole life long.
I'll contemplate his beauty;
I'll study at his feet.

The imagery of living with God in His house is so poetic. Can you picture it? Coming downstairs in the morning to see God sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a glass of orange juice, gathering around a HUGE rich wooden table laden with good things to eat, each member pitching in to help with the household chores. Idyllic, peaceful, harmonious... in today's near 100 degree heat and being 37 weeks pregnant, it seems pretty perfect.

Now. I'm well aware this is probably not what the psalmist had in mind when penning this psalm. Written in the Jewish context, this likely was a reference to the Temple, where God's people gathered to worship Him. Today, the church usually reads this verse as an encouragement to desire to remain in God's presence, despite our physical location of being at work, home, church, wherever. But go with me a minute.

In a household, there are rules (guidelines, whatever you want to call them). Some spoken, some not. We abide with other members of the household, each playing a role, doing our part. In our humanity, it's messy. We don't always get it right. Actually ,we often get it wrong. But there is a certain way of doing things, of approaching things, that is expected. There is a culture to our home.

As I consider my longing to live with God in His house, am I being mindful of His rules? His guidelines, the "culture" of that household? Isn't this what I mean when I say I am trying to live a Christian life - abide by His precepts, His desires for me, His ways and purposes? It's not so different from being part of a household. The household (body) of Christ.

One of the pieces to being part of God's household is looking at life and my circumstances with a God-perspective. A few months back I took part in a women's Bible study, and one of the huge things that really convicted me was the necessity of looking at the world with God tinted lenses. Using His Truth to filter our experiences through. I am not talking about evaluating science through a biblical worldview. This is not the age-old-I'm-so-done-with-it-God-did-it-somehow-and-who-cares-how argument of creation versus evolution. I am talking about the day in day out grit of life. When we face things that are hard, even devastating and crushing, we need to see it through God's Truth. And when we face things that are beautiful and rich and satisfying, we still need to see it through God's Truth.

Welcoming a new baby into a home while my husband seeks a new job to better support his family, while receiving rejection letter after rejection letter, all the while pretty much hating his current workplace? Uncertain of how my own maternity leave with end, seeing roadblocks instead of options? I feel pretty desperate some days. But I cling to the hope that with God tinted lenses, this is an opportunity for us to see Him provide in His ways, His timing, for His purposes. He is GOOD. HE IS ALWAYS GOOD. Does this mean it will work out like we expect and hope? No. But He is good.

The death of a beloved Grandpa, father, father-in-law? Terrible. Maybe even with God tinted lenses it is terrible, after all, we weren't really created to endure death, death is the result of the fall. But with God-tinted lenses, it has also been an opportunity to love and grow closer to a Grandma, mother, mother-in-law. It has been an opportunity to serve, and be served, by a lovely woman who has much to teach and share.

How about something wildly thrilling, like the beauty of good friends and community? A chance for us to enjoy good company? Yes, absolutely. But with God-tinted lenses, it's also a chance to invite others who need this same fellowship, who need people to live life with them, who don't have people to call on.

Too bad I can't buy God-tinted lenses at the store. It's hard. I struggle to orient myself correctly to view the minutes and hours of my day with this in mind. It's a daily prayer, to wake up remembering that I am a member of God's household, living in His home, abiding in His ways.

Studying at His feet.

a glimpse of the Father's heart

Luke 15: 20-24

The younger son got up and started back to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him. The son said, “Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son.” But his father said to the servants, “Hurry and bring the best clothes and put them on him. Give him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. Get the best calf and prepare it, so we can eat and celebrate. This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found.”

And they began to celebrate.

This afternoon I stood in the driveway and waved good-bye to my 2 1/2 year old and husband. A camping trip was just not something this 35 weeks pregnant mommy could do, so it's a daddy-daughter weekend trip, with me joining just for the day on Saturday. I haven't had a weekend to myself like this in at least 3 years, and while I've been anticipating the freedom, and leisure, the sleeping in (oh, the sleeping in!), my heart caught in my throat as I watched them drive away, praying safety and protection, joy and good memories over them.

I missed the bright presence of my daughter almost immediately, and was glad to have things I wanted to do that took me out of the house for the first part of the day. It's too big and empty without them here, something is so obviously missing.

How must the Father's heart break when His children turn away?

No wonder the father in Luke 15 saw his lost son returning home, even while he was still a long way off. He'd never stopped waiting, hoping, praying, anticipating the joyous return of his child.

Whether we wander for years or our hearts stray only momentarily, God the Father is just waiting to celebrate our return to His embrace.