My House, a fountain of blessing, my haven, my testimony

One of the deceptions of mission ministry is to believe that you must look like those to whom you are reaching out to. Tatoos to reach the tatooed, goth to reach the goth, preppy to reach the rich. Well, for me and missions, my mindset was, I must change my living lifestyle to reach those who are poor, needy, hurting... the list goes on.

Last night the Lord removed this deception from my eyes. Two dear people, whom I had never met before, and whom Jonathan hardly knew came to my house for dinner. And what a blessing it was! An older couple who have been on the mission field 30+ years!

They began to share stories from their life in Africa, and in Vietnam. And they told me: "Don't ever be ashamed of how you live. God created you, and raised you with your needs and desires, not so that you would be denied, but so that WHO you are can be a testimony to Christ. And this includes your home, and the atmosphere you create for yourself."

You see, the truth is, if we live like the world, then what good do we have to offer? If we look like the world, then what can we give to give to the needs of this world?

One of their stories from Africa was: they had a young african man come and talk with them, and they asked him how the appearance of their affluence made him and his people feel [They lived in a better situation then most of the african people there]. His response was this: "If you lived in a mud hut like me, and if your kids had the same health issues as ours do, then what would we see different in you that would tell us we have something to gain by listening and learning from you? However, we see your kids live long healthy lives, ours do not, and we see that you have a nice house, and we do not. Therefore you must know something we do not, and I desire to know what it is."

They also reminded me of the charge that God gave Adam, to take dominion over the land. Well, God has given me this home, and I am proudly taking dominion over it, and by the grace of God I will make it the most wonderful living space possible. Why?

It is not because my neighbors live this way, I am surrounded by little houses, slowly deteriorating, and covered in clutter. It is not because I am rich and have nothing better to do.

It is because this is my home. It is where I come home and rest, it is where I lay my head. This is my home, where I will host as many lost and saved people as I can while I am here. It is where the Lord has placed me, it is by His grace and by His will that I am here. So I will create a home AS UNTO THE LORD.

This is my home where I can honor my Lord in the way that I tend to His blessings to me. This is my home, and my avenue for creating beauty, and creating a lifestyle of beauty.

And as my home is a haven for little Cassidy, so it will be haven and testimony to many more. Giving God ALL glory and honor.

And when i move, be it another town, or another country, I will make for myself a home as unto the Lord, to the best of my ability! And I will not be ashamed to call it.... My home

We ALL have a home. My question is this:

What does your home say about the Lord? Your home is an outspoken testimony of God in your life. What does your home speak to the lost, to the saved, to those who need rest? What about to you? Or your family members?

I was raised in a beautiful home, where I knew the goodness of God.

Lets start a revolution of creating homes to be our testimonies!