Our recent move across state lines was a challenging one for my children. Katie’s heart has only known one home. So when our new home was finally ready, the children’s rooms were the first to be unboxed and arranged.
In fact, I couldn’t wait to show them their new rooms. My heart was blessed as they rushed in and saw their beloved toys and beds. They knew they were finally home. The wait was over. Their expressions and giggles said it all.
However, as much as my children love their new rooms, they will not stay in them for long. They love to follow me around the house. They long for my presence. To them, home is not their room, it is wherever mommy is!
The Father’s House
Jesus finished washing the feet of the Disciples. To add to their confusion, Jesus told them that He would be leaving them (John 13:33) and that they could no longer be with Him. Knowing the condition of their troubled hearts, Jesus said:
“Do not be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
~John 14:1-4 NIV (emphasis mine)
There is a room in the eternal house of God for those who have called on the name of Jesus to save them.
Now I know some of you are already wondering what the curtains in your room will look like, if you will have a queen or king size bed, or if you have a view of the Tree of Life from your kitchen window. Hang with me, I used to be an Interior Designer, and my imagination goes there sometimes…Scripture doesn’t go into detail about my room specs. So I need to STOP it…
just keeping it real…
Home is not the House itself
Please re-read the portion of Scripture I underlined above again. Did you catch what it says?
Whoa…
Our home is where the presence of God, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are. We, the forgiven and redeemed, will dwell with them for forever, and ever, and ever.
I needed to be reminded of this and to remember where I am headed.
And the present isn’t it.
Our wait for our new home will end
Jesus is in Heaven.
He is preparing…
He will come back and take us home.
Through the eyes of my children, I caught a glimpse of what awaits. My home is not just a room.
Jesus is where my home is.
When I see Him face to face, my expression will say it all…
Tracy, great post! Is it bad that one of my favorite things is the pic of the doormat? LOL!
LOVE your comment Nicole… you are just keeping it real! One word: TARGET :). Thanks for reading Nicole and have a blessed day!
Love this Tracy!! The past year, I have so been wrestling with the idea that the Holy Spirit is the one who makes my home a hospitable, restful place to be. I have been working on some different redecorating projects and rearranging things to get ready for our little guy in December, and so it has been really prominent lately. Sometimes all of that helps me prepare for and process through all of the emotions that come with expecting our first child. Sometimes it helps me feel a peace because I feel like our home is becoming more and more ready to have a baby in it. Other times though, it is totally a distraction from the truth that Jesus is my home and that is where I want my kids to be at home–in Him, with Devin and I. I have to remind myself that my heart is full when I am resting in Him and letting him build my home than when I’m striving to do it on my own through worldly means. And I think that the hearts of my children will be more full too when I let Him build our home because the Holy Spirit is just that amazing. 🙂
Thank you Ashleigh for sharing your heart, and AMEN to the Holy Spirit being amazing!:) I will continue to pray for you, Devin, your family and home. To beautify/prepare is not a bad thing (the Proverbs 31 woman was a pro, yes?) I just know that I can let it steal my focus. So blessed to hear that God encouraged you today. Jesus is coming back…praise Him!
Love you girl. Jesus is where my home is too. What amazing grace He offers us every day! So glad you guys are settling in well… ~ Love, Amy 🙂
Amy-His grace is AMAZING :). Thank you for your comment. Have a blessed evening!
This makes me smile! Enjoying His presence even in the here and now.
Thanks for the reminder that He’s coming back for us!
Christy-thank you for your comment. Praising God for His promise to return today! Have a blessed weekend:)
Dawn~ I am so glad to hear that your heart was encouraged! Yes, I love that we can experience His presence in the present too. It is just a taste of what is to come-Praise Him!!! Have a blessed weekend:)
Amen! Home is with the Lord … the prayer we all pray that we can direct our childrens eyes and hearts to.
Thanks Jenet for your comment.Glad your heart was encouraged. Praying for our children with ya:)
“They long for my presence. To them, home is not their room, it is wherever mommy is!” WELL SAID MY FRIEND. Cant wait to finally be HOME too but until then…a good reminder to MOMMY.
Kelley-it is so hard to remember this when they are constantly attached to our ankles, yes? This is another area where God is working on me…sigh. It is a blessed thing, to be loved so much :). Praising God for allowing us into His presence today, and for all of eternity. Hang in there fellow mommy!
Home is wherever He is! Beautiful reminder, Tracy. I want to live expectantly for this day when we are truly home! Thanks for linking up, friend!
Eileen-thank you for the link up opportunity! I love how you wrote “live expectantly”-amen! It is sometimes easy to become comfortable here. We are just passing through:)…Have a blessed day!
Tracy, we just moved all the way from Nevada to Alabama this year too. And one of my little darlings struggle with it also. I always tell my family (my husband needs to hear it too) that Home is where we are… but what you said is true… “I needed to be reminded of this and to remember where I am headed. And the present isn’t it.” Indeed, Home is where He is. I needed this reminder today. This reminds me of one of my favorite songs is by FFH… “One of These Days” http://youtu.be/CHdSgQVIb5c Thank you and many blessings!
Heidi-thank you for your comment! I love that song by FFH as well. Especially where they sing about “seeing the hand that took the nail for me.” Gets me everytime. Praising God that your heart was encouraged today. God bless you as you raise your little ones 🙂