A Place To Call Home

 

            I've always been the sort of person who loves everything about staying close to home; a place that is cozy, comfortable, and inviting--a perfect oasis for a family of two. Mom and I ran a few errands the other day and even though I knew it was necessary, I still couldn't wait to come back home. Within a world full of raging sickness, increasingly careless drivers, and the worsening presence of evil---the idea of never venturing too far away provides a sense of comfort and safety. 

A simple thought such as this leads me to share this message with you today: 

    Through a time when darkness is doing its best to prevail, may your heart find a home with Jesus. I wrote a few notes down that go along with today's thought, but I will share those another time. My message this week is simply for those lost souls who just cannot find their way through such heavy burdens. So much heartbreak can be seen anywhere and everywhere---every family has a struggle---lately, there has been an unthinkable amount of loss. 

    Living right now can seem overwhelming. But I want to tell you that there's always a place to cast those burdens; an eternal love that will help to ease the worst of heartaches. 

A place to call home can always be found through running into the arms of Jesus. 

There's so much to be said (or written, in this case) about the unconditional love of Jesus; the amount stretches far and wide---and goes way beyond what anyone is capable of imagining. Placing your faith in the Lord guarantees the promise of a place to rest (and not only in an eternal sense.) You'll never be without a place to rest when life and its troubles cause your heart to grow weary.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

 "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29 KJV)

    The promise of shelter from those storms that grow stronger with each passing day has to be one of my favorite aspects of knowing Jesus. A place to call home must always be a place of shelter---a cozy place to escape the chaos of a storm and experience the peace that only Jesus can provide.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27 KJV)

     A breath of fresh and clean air that is free from the moldiness of this world is another promise to be made true through trusting in Jesus. Everyone wants a home that is clean and inviting---the same principle applies in describing the free gift of salvation that Jesus so freely offers. Eternal life in Heaven carries the promise of freedom from all sickness, pain, the pollution of sin, and evil---heartache--all of it gone forevermore. 

The Lord is inviting whosoever to trust in Him for salvation---so they may always have a welcoming place to run to; so they will never be without a place to call home. The world has nothing to offer you---and will never keep you in the arms of safety. May you find rest in Jesus. All He's asking is that you are willing. 

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13 KJV)

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9 KJV)

Let Him give your heart a place to call home today.

A Reminder to Be Thankful

     My heart is oh so happy that I am returning to Molly's Zone on this Tuesday morning! It has been well over six weeks since my blog anniversary post was shared; moving on up into September and all throughout the month of October proved to be a challenging period of time for my mother and me. 

I want to take this moment in time to simply praise the Lord both in the written word and within my heart for all of the recovery progress that my mother has made. It was truly a touch-and-go situation for some time; the unwelcoming presence of an autoimmune disease all too often leaves the heart filled with uncertainty.

Yet, in the midst of a relentless surge of fear---the Lord's faithfulness kept our hearts hopeful.

The ache of loneliness in walking through unfamiliar territory for the first time---sorrow that my heart has never known----the sort of friendship found through knowing Jesus forever fills my heart with peace that passes all understanding.

The devoted touch of His comfort found through the forgiveness found within His mercy and grace---the unconditional love that gently carried our broken hearts through the darkness; the sweetness of His love reverberated through the encouraging words and fervent prayers of loved ones near and far.

The magnitude of those blessings so often serves as a reminder to my heart to always be thankful. The Lord is gracious in providing for our every need (as well as a few wants). The smallest acts of His kindness and love must always be remembered as one travels along the pathway of life. 

May those small acts lead to some big moments of praise. 

May this thought for today be a reminder to always, always, always be thankful.

And whatever life may throw your way---Hold onto Jesus, and allow His light to shine right on through; allow Him to build and strengthen a heart of courage and hope within you. 

"Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord." (Psalm 27:14 KJV)

"Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever." (Psalm 106:1 KJV)