Who is Building Your House?

Aaron Heinly did a great job this past Sunday, as he reminded us about
the real purpose of communion. As part of his exhortation he read a
letter that his wife Brandi had sent to their House Church. I felt
like her thoughts were very encouraging and would be a benefit for the
entire church.

I have been thinking on the verse from Psalm 127:1-2:
1 "EXCEPT THE Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it;
except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the
bread of [anxious] toil--for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in
sleep."

I particularly like verse 2 about working out of fear instead of
faith. It struck me even more several nights ago at the leadership
meeting with Pastor Mario. Pastor Mario spoke on our peace as the key
to winning non believers to Christ and winning our family to Christ.
He talked about children that are raised in a home of believers and
what happens when they grow up with the knowledge of God, but then
they see their parents getting a divorce, or struggling with sin, and
never having joy. He said something that really convicted me, he said
(basically) how are our children going to live a life for God when
they are seeing their parents frustrated, fearful, and discouraged?

Ugh, right through the heart! I have been trying to remind myself of
this the last couple days as things around us are breaking, as plans
are being changed, as schedules are filling up, and money is really
tight. What are Aaron and I saying to our children about what we
think of God when we are mostly discouraged and fearful? Are we
eating the bread of anxious toil? Working and worrying if God will
provide for us, and not taking rest in Him? What are we saying to our
children when we teach them about what the Bible says about God but
not trusting what the Bible says about God? That He is a peace-giver,
He is a Provider, and He loves us! If Aaron only knows about me but
does not trust me or enjoy me, or be at peace around me, what is
attractive about that kind of love? We need to go after the peace
that only Christ can give. We need to ask Him, beg Him for it! It is
a miracle when money comes unexpectedly and we can pay our bills, or
our car is suddenly running properly, but the bigger miracle for me is
peace in the midst of chaos. That is what the world wants! We all
want to know peace, peace that passes the understanding of man. The
only way to remove fear and bring peace is by replacing it with
confidence. We can not convince ourselves to not be afraid, but God
does make a promise that He can do that for us as we seek Him. None
of us can resist our children when they come to us for comfort, and
how much better is God at parenting, He invented it!

I say all this because I am challenged like never before to not be
afraid and to embrace my God and all that He has for me and my family.
I hope this encourages you as well.

Brandi Heinly