The mail carrier updated our new mailbox. That was the step that finally made it feel real. We have a home again! We have neighbors for the long haul, again. We can garden and grill and invite into our mess.To be fair, we could do those things before. And we did. We invited a lot of people into our mess, especially during demo days and moving. So much moving.
But now, our tall green house is home base. Friends and family can send packages and information to us here. Soon, no one will need to ask for our address any more. Already we've filled the rooms with hard work and laughter. We're working to build community and restore hope to a house that experienced too much sadness and neglect. So this is how we love: helping a 13-year-old house through it's awkward teenage years.
Beau worked so hard to replace the peed on carpet with beautiful wood floors. I spent hours searching for the perfect "warm greys" so even the walls reflect and spread light. Little Love helps us rearrange furniture and rugs on the regular. Even Rowdy is doing his part to greet visitors at the windows. But enough about us...
The true reason we are here is the neighborhood. This house is actually smaller than the little yellow house, but there's more room for community. Slowly and surely we're meeting the literal neighbors. Our house guards the corner of a unique cul-de-sac with old and new houses,condos, trailers and mobiles. Hopefully this Saturday we can learn more of our community story with a block party in our yard. A few neighbors have already told us that the treehouse playground in the corner of the lot is basically community property. We are so excited to become part of the family here in Sherman Heights.
Last night, the tall green house became Home. The five families of our Tribe came together after a hard season to celebrate. Really, that's why we wanted to move in the first place. This holy space, in between Port Orchard and Poulsbo, is perfectly placed for reconciliation and restoration. God keeps using our imperfections for Glory. We are here for it!
As the summer unfolds, I'm confident there will be a lot of challenges. Love rises to challenge. We're praying that God works beautiful miracles through us, in us and around us. We're praying for our neighbors and for our neighborhood. We know that Love can change every circumstance.
Sunday, June 9, 2019
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
No comments:
Post a Comment