God used a very ugly and painful situation to grow a very special friendship with another couple from our church, and we are so past the “I wonder if he/she will think of me if…” stage. We have accepted each other as we are with our quirks, riches and weaknesses, we love to go on vacation together in Maine and eat lots of lobster, and we help each other walk with the Lord.

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These friends have a God-given gift of hospitality. I love going to their home where I often nestle into the couch and sigh deeply with contentment. I like it there. I don’t have to put on any kind of a mask. When I am with them, I can ask the difficult questions, I can be myself. When I am not with them, I delight thinking about them, blessing them, planning to be with them. I love them.

I am at home with them.

And then, one day, as I was getting ready to go visit them, I heard my heart asking me this simple question: Is Jesus at home in me?

At home in my heart? At home like I am in these people’s house?

The question took me off guard.  Is Jesus at home in me? And what if He isn’t? What if this heart of mine is too cluttered, too dusty, too messy, too self-righteous? What if, even though He lives there, He isn’t really at home in it? Like “I was so looking forward to coming over and taking off my shoes and nestle on your couch to hang out with you at home?”

What makes my heart a home for Him? And what doesn’t?

The reason my friends’ house is a home to me is the fact that I know I am welcomed there. That’s it. Not welcomed because they have to, but welcomed because they want to. And we love the same Lord. We get each other. We accept each other. We believe each other. There is no suspicion of evil between us.

And what makes my heart a home for Jesus is the very same thing: He is welcomed there. Not because I have to welcome Him there, but because I want to. And I love Him. And I am beginning to get Him. And I respect His position. I believe Him. I don’t mistrust His intentions.

Yes, my heart is a home for Jesus.

Cultivating Thankfulness with Ann Voskamp

one thousand#473 The primitive Weaving Loom that we found at an antique shop

#472 My Hip not hurting at all today

#471 The Opportunity to do good

#470 A new tasty Lentil dish

Sometimes, I link up with any or all of these wonderful writers: Hearts 4 Home, SDG,  Hearts Reflected, WLW, EOA, Things I can’t say, Growing Home, Play Dates with God, Monday Musings, Hear it on Sunday, Inspire Me Monday, Tell me a Story, The Better Mom, a Mama’s Story, Into the Word, In and Around Mondays,OYHT, Gratituesday, Titus2Tuesdays, Extraordinay, Lessons from Ivy, Denise in Bloom, Sweet Blessings, Faith Filled Friday, Finding Joy

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