The House

      My love and I have been in the process of buying a house these past few weeks. We are extremely excited about the prospects of workshop space and a laundry room. As we have worked through this process, I've begun to realize what  big deal buying a home can be. With the type of loan we were able to get the bank requires that the house we purchase be in pretty good condition. They require that the roof be good and the paint un-chipped. That the electrical sockets be up to code and so on.
       So, this summer we began our search for a home... and we found one. It's adorable and it has a 3 car garage and pole barn so we were both sold. However, the bank took a look at it and came up with a list of "problems". Issues that would have to be resolved before we could close. And so we struck a deal with the home owners and this past weekend, they allowed us to come in and work. We patched shingles, put up drywall, installed a bathroom vent and added more insulation. All this in the hopes that maybe now the bank will give us the green light and we can start calling this place our own.
       In all this, a thought occurred to me. The bank says that in order for us to buy this place, it has to meet a certain level of "goodness". And in order for the bank to approve we had to make adjustments to it, clean it up, patch it up, make it presentable. I realize that this is the exact opposite of  what the One who loves our hearts does when He calls our names. It says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,  for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." As believers, God dwells in us. And when we first came to Him, He didn't look at us and give us a list of repairs. A list of things that were wrong in us and that needed to be taken care of us before He would call us His and dwell in our hearts. Instead, He bought us with His blood, as is.  And the great thing is that He knows just what to do to start tackling that long list of repairs that we all have. He provides the TLC that all of our lives need. 

"Why do you give up on yourself, when God will never ever give up on you?"
 ~Nkosinathi Mehlomakulu
    

Summer Nights

        Last night the moon was out and almost full. The air held just enough chill to make it nice and the bullfrogs and crickets were singing their songs. I climbed the latter up to the roof and sat there for a few minutes. Loving the sound of the country at night. There is something magical, peaceful and wonderful about a summer night. For some reason it is a time of day when I more readily feel at peace. Maybe it's the quiet of it, the coolness, the moon... Whatever it is, I love it, I'm reminded of the peace and love of the One who created the stars. So, enjoy your summer nights and be reminded.


"We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls." ~Mother Teresa