We’re just passing through

My life is a simple one and from the outside looking in it may seem small and very ordinary. My home is 500 square feet, YES! you heard me right and my wardrobe is minimal along with a car that is over 10 years old. In each one of these things I just shared, the main thing that comes to the fore is that these are all just things. But, in the hands of the Almighty God, these things are now apart of a great story of God's provision and faithfulness to me.

Did you know that houses, tents and possessions were a big part of the stories in the Bible? The word "house" is found over 1760 times, along with the word "tent" (I include tents, because people lived in them and didn't just go camping) being found around 235 times and possession is found 130 plus times. You may be asking yourself "so what does that matter to me?" The reason I bring these stats to your attention is because we can learn a lot about ourselves when we see how we value our homes and stuff.

In 2012 I moved out of a 3 bedroom house with a 2 car garage into a room at my daughter and son-in-law's house. You heard me right, I said a room! I put my things into a storage unit and stayed there with them for over a year and helped take care of my granddaughter who had come into the world at just 27 weeks old. I may write more about her in another blog, but needless to say, she is a miracle and at the age of 10 she is thriving and beautiful. So, back to the one room accommodations I had for that year, although it was small, I had all that I needed and was able to be apart of what God was doing there. Shortly after that year I began to think it was time to move back out to my own home again and I knew that I wanted something smaller than I had before and by living the way I did for the year, I actually welcomed the downsize. I had prayed that I would find a one bedroom, one bath home that I could buy, not rent and God provided exactly that. I drove by the little house one day later and saw the for sale sign in the yard exactly 1 block from where I was living. It had been for sale for a while, but I never saw it until I had prayed for it. I have now lived there for 9 years and it has been the best home I've ever lived in for no other reason than God provided it for me. He gets all the glory! He gets all the praise!

In the Bible we read in the book of Joshua about the 12 tribes of Israel and there is an account of how they came to the river Jordan and needed to cross over it to go to their new home called, the Promised Land. 9 1/2 of these tribes went over the river Jordan but 2 1/2 stayed behind because they didn't want to leave their tents and possessions. Without telling the whole story to you, the 2 1/2 tribes valued their tangible stuff more than the provision of God in the new land. Our perspective is so important when it comes to living here on the earth because if things have you then you spend all your time managing things, but if you have things you can hold them with an open hand and be fluid in where and what God has for you.

There is an old song that tells the story of this world not being our home, were just passing through. If you have been a person who grew up living in the same home, going to the local school and church, you may have a hard time seeing this as a place you are passing through. My family moved every couple of years as I grew up and I went to many schools. I learned early on in my life how to let go of things, but what I did have trouble with was letting go of my heart. I guarded it very tightly and didn't let people really know the real me. God used the things of my life to help uncover the wounds of my heart. I thought if I had the house, the car and the stuff that I would be fulfilled, but if you think about it, Jesus was not all about those things. Right out of the womb, he was on the move from the cave, to the house that the wisemen came to, then, they were on the move again from Bethlehem to Egypt to escape King Herod's decree. There is another account of Jesus and His family travelling when he was 12 and then we are given details of the moves Jesus experienced starting around the age of 30 for 3 years and he had no house and very little stuff.... but, he was rich in His Father.

As we have arrived at our destination for this new year, may we remember that every "thing" is to be summed up in Jesus from beginning to the end of our time here on the earth.

I leave you with this verse as a reminder that Jesus the Master Carpenter is at work right now preparing for us our true home with Him. Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus and not on this temporary place we live, is the truth to The Life worth living.

John 14:1-3 (NKJV)

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

The door is open, come on in!

Dayna

Statistics and scripture referred to can be found at biblegateway.com

Joshua 3 and 13

Philippians 4:12

I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.

1 Timothy 6:6

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

1 Timothy 6:8

And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

Hebrews 13:5

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

I Peter 2:11

Dear brothers, you are only visitors here. Since your real home is in heaven, I beg you to keep away from the evil pleasures of this world; they are not for you, for they fight against your very souls.

Matthew 2:11

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.