INTRODUCING TODAY’S SPECIAL TREAT

Welcome to THE HOUSE DOCTOR section of The IN SEASON Lifestyle Blog.  Today we have a very special treat for you!

It gives me great pleasure to introduce our guest blogger:

ELAINE ETHRIDGE

If you have a heart that beats with passion for the task of making a house into a home, Elaine’s featured article brings forth some interesting points to consider.  She gives some great advice for a way to let our homes become the nesting ground for God’s fruit in our lives.

Thank you Elaine for sharing the beautiful words of your heart in the blog today.  I know everyone will also enjoy the awesome photos from your yard that were the inspiration for this article that follows:

ב BETH

(Writing and some Photography by Elaine Ethridge)

While reading the verse of the day this week, the LORD led me to dig deeper into Psalms 119. 

I found that this Psalm is divided by eight Hebrew consonants.

ב BETH is the consonant that precedes verses 9-16.

To my delight I discovered that ב BETH is the picture or symbol of a house, a house not so different in appearance from my bluebird house. 

As I read the passage, it occurred to me that it is all about housing, or making our heart a home for God’s word. 

These verses talk about hiding these words from the Psalm in our heart:

 Following them.

 Recounting them aloud.

 Meditating on them.

 Contemplating them.

 Delighting in them.

 Remembering them. 

KEY QUESTION:

How could we not know God and His character when doing these things?

(Here are the words from the passage of Psalm 119:9-16: NIV; “How can a young person stay on the path of purity?  By living according to your word.  I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees.  With my lips I recount all the laws that came from your mouth.  I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.  I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.  I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.”)

This IS how we know what we should do and when it is appropriate to do so!

This is how He leads us into purity, washes our thought life and confirms us to His image. 

Our heart, as a home for His word, becomes the nesting ground of God’s fruit in our lives.

God would have that fruit to mature and to take flight, bringing life to a lost and dying world.

A PRAYER OF THANKS AND A REQUEST FOR A CHANGED HEART

Oh God, thank you for your word!

Thank you Holy Spirit for writing it on my heart.

Thank you Jesus that you stand at my heart’s door and knock.  Your desire is to sup with me!  How amazing is that?

Lord, give me a heart completely open to you and your word.  Give me a desire to feast on it daily and fellowship with you. 

God I confess that I fast more often than feast.  Change this in me.  Come deposit your word in my heart!  Enable me to raise the cups of commitment highlighted in this passage and say “I will rejoice in following your statues.  I will meditate on your precepts.  I will consider your ways.  I will remember and not neglect your word.”    

In Jesus Name.  Amen.