"...within the walls of our own home."

It's been several months, lots of planning and organizing, loads of transition, but the hubster and I are finally in our new home. We moved in almost a week ago and it is so surreal. We, of course, are thankful to all of our friends and family for the amazing support, encouragement, and late nights of unpacking and putting furnitire and blinds together, but most importantly we are so thankful and amazed at the faithfulnes of God. The details we can go over in person, with a nice chat and a little cup of coffee, but just know that every decision we have made has been with peace and assurance that we are taken care of and blessed by an amazing and faithful God. No planning on or part, even though there was alot, could have ever resulted in us having our first house within our first year of marriage. It's all God and we like to keep it that way.
With that said, I am reminded of what has become one of my favorite quotes: "The most important work that you and I will ever do will be within the walls of our own home," spoken so eloquently by Harold E Lee. What goes on behind closed doors of an individual's home has such an impact on their life - children learn how a relationship should function by what is displayed in front of them by their parents; a husband and wife are able to build up or tear down one another and the relationship they have forged by how they communicate and treat one another when no one is looking; you have the opportunity to craft your environment by what you allow to be spoken and entertained within your walls and who you allow entrance into your home. Ultimately, it's your choice, but the significance of what occurs within one's home affects you and those closest to you. It's simple for me: I am able to choose whether our house is a place of peace or a place of strife. We all have that responsibility and it is one that should not be taken lightly.
I visited a friend of mine's house (shoutout to Heidi M) last week and she taught me how to make the most delicious jam. However, when I walked into her home the first thing I noticed was how peaceful it was. *I am a firm believer that when you walk into someone's home you can tell if their house is peaceful or chaotic.* Yes, it was clean and wonderfully decorated, but it was the environment that she had created for herself and her husband that stood out to me the most. Her house was engulfed in peace.
As the hubs and I settle into our new home, we are paying careful attention to what we choose to entertain and allow entrance into our home. What may seem small and trivial to some is of the most importance to us - we have been blessed beyond what we could imagine and it's our responsibility to be good stewards of what is in our possession.

The truth for a lie...

Romans 1:25 refers to individuals who know the truth of God, who know His character but choose not to follow Him, to trust in Him, those who "exchanged the truth of God for a lie." So often in our lives it is easier to believe the lies of the world, what we can see with our eyes and hear with our ears. We, as christians, are spiritual beings and therefore ALL things in our lives are spiritual, and when situations arise in our lives we can trust in the truth of God's Word or choose the fear that corresponds with the lies of the enemy. With every lie of the enemy comes fear: anxiety, worry, doubt, sickness, disease, death, despair, lack; but with every promise and truth of the Word of God comes prosperity, hope, love, health and wholeness, abundance, and peace.

In Genesis after Adam and Eve taste of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they are aware of sin, see that they are naked and they are ashamed of themselves. They hide their faces from the God that made them, that loved them, that walked and talked with them daily. God calls out to them asking where they are and after seeing that they have covered their bodies He asks them why. Adam and Eve respond that they are naked. And God, says, "Who told you that you were naked?" A few months ago Pastor Bill talked about this passage in scripture and how he pictured the same questions being asked of us when we choose to believe something the enemy has said to us - "Who told you that you were sick and dying?" "Who told you that you wouldn't amount to anything?" "Who told you that you weren't blessed and walked in abundance?" How God's heart breaks when His children who He has provided His Word for, sent His son to save and redeem, and set as inheritors on the earth to be blessed and walk in every promise established in His Word, choose to exchange the truth of His Word for a lie.

I want my life to showcase the promise of God's Word, to prove His Word is true. The manner in which you live your life bears reference to what you've chosen to believe - whether it's the truth of the Word of God or the lies of the enemy.