2 Corinthians 4:18-19 ...as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient; but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Floods. Earthquakes. Fires. Hurricanes. Tornadoes. One can hardly go for a day without seeing images of people whose homes have been destroyed and demolished, often leaving nothing except their foundations. What do survivors search for in the rubble? Reminders of what lasts when the physical is taken away.

It's important to remember that we are only stewards of what we, today, call home. It will not last forever, but what happens inside its walls will. Remembering this urges us to focus less on stuff and more on meaning. I know people who give their children and grandchildren experiences as gifts as Christmas rather than something that will eventually be used up or thrown away. It's important to hold onto what we have, but let's hold it loosely, for it's not our eternal home.

That's what Advent is all about. We prepare our homes for Christ's coming now because we know he will come again. Today's home is temporary; our heavenly home will last forever.

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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

 

Joshua 24:15  But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

A lot goes into transforming a house into a home. We tend to focus on the here and now, but what about the lasting impact of home? What will be remembered when we or others move on? It won't be the things - it will be how we and others felt in the comings and goings, the welcoming and the goodbyes.

The true essence of home is the emotional attachment it holds. It's not one thing; it's nurtured and cultivated over time. The feeling of connection lives on in memories. It's what pulls us home and what pushes us out the door with the reassurance that we will always be welcome.

Homes without Christ at the center may stir warm memories, but the ones rooted in Christ stand apart because they are where we also learn that what we experience here is part of a much larger picture. It's where Christ's love is reflected in what we say and what we do. It's where we learned that Christ came that first Christmas to prepare a place for us in a forever-lasting home.

--Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Luke 6:38 ...give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.

Remember learning about root words? The root word for hospitality is hospital. originally derived from the Latin word hospes. At its core, hospitality means caring for the needs of others.

In digging a bit deeper, we must ask ourselves if we hoard hospitality for those with whom we already feel comfortable or if we are willing to break out of our comfort zones and welcome those who are different, or even difficult. After all, everyone has the need to feel respected and cared for.

The greatest gift we have ever received is Christ, born to be our Savior. It was a gift for everyone, not just a chosen few. Hospitality rooted in love is a gift. Not a tangible gift that can be unwrapped, but one that gets internalized and lasts well beyond the moment. It's not accidental - it's intentional, and it's filled with blessings. For it is in giving that we also receive.

Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

 

Romans 12:9, 13  Let love be genuine. Contribute to the need of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Things to do, people to see, places to go. It's easy to become so laser-focused we don't others who are far from family and home, either physically or emotionally. Neighbors, coworkers, people from church. What if we put ourselves in their shoes? What might it be like to have no one to see, no places to go?

Stop for a moment. Look around. Is there someone you can invite into your space? It's been said that sharing a meal fosters connection. The Bible gives us many examples: Abraham and Sarah hosted three strangers, Jesus cooked fish on the beach after his resurrection, the early Christians looked out for each other through hospitality. Invite others into your home, or meet for lunch or coffee. What's important is helping them feel seen, valued and invited.

A welcoming spirit may be exactly what others need right now. As Jesus opened his heart to us, let's open ours to others.

-- Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

 

Proverbs 24:3-4  By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

A house is filled with stuff, but a home is filled with security, warmth and comfort. It's where relationships are nurtured through meaningful conversation and shared meals. It's where mistakes are made and forgiveness is practiced. It's where we can be ourselves and be loved for who we are. It's a place of vulnerability and trust, of being present for each other. This type of presence is much more valuable than the presents under the tree, especially if it is modeled after the presence of Christ - always there, always listening, always loving, always forgiving.

This Advent, promise yourself that every person who sets foot in your house will, above all else, feel at home in Christ's love.

Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,
 

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

The proverbial fixer-upper. Sometimes a house needs renovation because of age or neglect, or maybe it is no longer functional. First on the list is to find a contractor, hopefully one who sees possibilities and potential. If the foundation is stable, amazing transformations can happen.

There's a parallel here to us and Christ. Sin took the perfectly designed world God created and thrust it into disrepair. God promised to send a Savior who would bring the ultimate renovation through restoration and reconciliation. That Savior is Jesus Christ. He was born for us, gave his life for us and rose for us. Through Him we are made new, full of possibilities and potential. We can barely believe the transformation.

This Advent let's give thanks for God's amazing work in us as we resolve to live a life that brings honor and glory to him and him alone.

Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

 

1 Corinthians 3:11  For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Water leaks that go unnoticed, monster tree roots that crowd the foundation, scorching heat that the soil and makes it settle. These problems and others can lead to shifting foundations, and shifting foundations lead to cracks, and the cracks will only get worse if you do not find the right fix. Can you relate?

Shifts happen. Medical diagnosis, a lost job, a failing relationship, fear for the future. This season of the year seems to magnify shifts that already exist. Tensions heighten, schedules overwhelm, expectations are replaced with disappointments, spending goes into overdrive, and soon the cracks begin to show. The Currier and Ives Christmas is simply not going to happen.

In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus tells the parable of two builders: one who builds his house upon the rock; the other who builds his house on the sand. Which one remained intact when the rain fell, and the floods came, and the wind blew? Take a deep breath, and shift your focus back to Jesus, your refuge, your rock, your foundation.

Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,