One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4
The poet Maya Angelou wrote: "The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned." We need a place in the world and in our hearts when we can be ourselves. Where we are loved for who we are, warts and all. Where we are loved.
Christians live in the tension: we call heaven our home and surely that is were we belong. Yet Jesus proclaims "The kingdom of God is in our midst" (Luke 17:21). We have dual citizenship: in heaven and earth. That's why we need to take seriously the saying "don't be so heavenly-minded that you're no earthly good." We need to detach from worldly values that promote selfishness, rampant materialism and greed. We are to care for the world, be active in its healing and movements for justice, peace and righteousness. In doing so, we are living out the heavenly values, and witnessing to the "kingdom of God in our midst."
As we face the hurts of our lives, and go about the work of mending others, we are reminded over and over again that we belong to an eternal home that can never be taken away from us. We are sojourners on this earth -- and we need to remind ourselves we are just passing through. This is not a morbid thought. It frees us from the traps of judging ourselves and others by worldly standards, and guides us to to see ourselves, and others, through God's everlasting, loving eyes.
Let us find the kingdom, our home, in our hearts, and carry that piece of heaven wherever we go.
Listen to: Building 429 "Where I Belong"
Cf. Eph. 4:29: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usAwtKwICzs&feature=related
PRAY: " Your home is in our hearts. Help us keep our eyes on our heavenly home as we work to make a home of the world for all people and creation "
The poet Maya Angelou wrote: "The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned." We need a place in the world and in our hearts when we can be ourselves. Where we are loved for who we are, warts and all. Where we are loved.
Christians live in the tension: we call heaven our home and surely that is were we belong. Yet Jesus proclaims "The kingdom of God is in our midst" (Luke 17:21). We have dual citizenship: in heaven and earth. That's why we need to take seriously the saying "don't be so heavenly-minded that you're no earthly good." We need to detach from worldly values that promote selfishness, rampant materialism and greed. We are to care for the world, be active in its healing and movements for justice, peace and righteousness. In doing so, we are living out the heavenly values, and witnessing to the "kingdom of God in our midst."
As we face the hurts of our lives, and go about the work of mending others, we are reminded over and over again that we belong to an eternal home that can never be taken away from us. We are sojourners on this earth -- and we need to remind ourselves we are just passing through. This is not a morbid thought. It frees us from the traps of judging ourselves and others by worldly standards, and guides us to to see ourselves, and others, through God's everlasting, loving eyes.
Let us find the kingdom, our home, in our hearts, and carry that piece of heaven wherever we go.
Listen to: Building 429 "Where I Belong"
Cf. Eph. 4:29: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usAwtKwICzs&feature=related
PRAY: " Your home is in our hearts. Help us keep our eyes on our heavenly home as we work to make a home of the world for all people and creation "
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