EmmDev 2023-02-01 [Renovations (Revisited)] Renovations (Revisited)

Hi everyone.
I am so sorry that the devotions have taken so long to restart. We had a pretty hectic Dec and early January. It has taken me a lot longer to find my rhythms than I expected. I'm going to start by revisiting a short series I did in 2002 called "Renovations"...
Hope it is a blessing...
God bless,
Theo

Renovations (Revisited)

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? (1Corinthians3:16)

During December I managed to do a little bit of home renovating. Some of it was urgent, some decorative, and some functional. Some of the changes are visible while others are not. In many cases the invisible fixes are more important - the leaking pipe or the roof leak in the back of the cupboard will cause long term sadness if not addressed soon. The work I do is an indication of my commitment to the home.

God does not live in temples, churches, or cathedrals. He chooses to live in us. When we give our lives to Him, we're asking Him to be our new Owner. It follows that the Loving Owner will do some renovating... Over the next couple of days we'll be examining the kind of work that He would be doing...

Shaun Groves sings a song about God doing renovations in our lives. The song is from his album "Invitation to Eavesdrop" and it is an album well worth owning and this song is a prayer worth praying...

Welcome Home  

by Shaun Groves (c)2001 New Spring Publishing, Inc./ASCAP

Take, me, make me
All You want me to be
That's all I'm asking, all I'm asking

Welcome to this heart of mine
I've buried under prideful vines
Grown to hide the mess I've made
Inside of me - Come decorate, Lord
Open up the creaking door
And walk upon the dusty floor
Scrape away the guilty stains
Until no sin or shame remain
Spread Your love upon the walls
And occupy the empty halls
Until the man I am has faded
No more doors are barricaded

Come inside this heart of mine
It's not my own - Make it home
Come and take this heart and make it
All Your own - Welcome home

Take a seat, pull up a chair
Forgive me for the disrepair
And the souvenirs from floor to ceiling
Gathered on my search for meaning
Every closet's filled with clutter
Messes yet to be discovered
I'm overwhelmed, I understand
I can't make this place all that You can
I took the space that You placed in me
Redecorated in shades of greed
And I made sure every door stayed locked
Every window blocked, and still You knocked

Come inside this heart of mine
It's not my own - Make it home
Come and take this heart and make it
All Your own - Welcome home

Take me, make me - All You want me to be
That's all I'm asking, all I'm asking

(You can listen here: https://youtu.be/DPZtQGZUyMk )

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