A house into a home

Personal Photo: Clay bought these flowers for me the week we bought the house. I set them up and could not help but adore how lovely they were in a space that felt so unsettled still. The walls here are peeled wallpaper, the shelves are covered with plaster dust from fixing the wall, and yet the little blooms made the space cheery. I cannot help but think that the Holy Spirit begins His work this way, by beginning in us a small space where He can work and then fixing us up one step at a time, turning us into a glorious home for Him to do work in.

This weekend marks one year in our new house! For those of you who don't know, Clay and I purchased a 1900 Victorian Farmhouse on the Portage River in small-town Pemberville, Ohio. When we first looked at the house, we thought it might be too much work to undertake, and it was hard to imagine each of the rooms coming to life. However, when we walked the property, it was such a lovely day, and standing by the calm flowing river, we found the roots of hope and determination beginning to grow. We decided to buy the house, which took 60 days to close on because of how unique the house is in the area, and with some other complications along the way, we almost gave up entirely. We stuck it out, holding out hope that our dream of being able to own the house and the property would become a reality. Sure enough, on August 18th of last year, we became home owners. And ever since we signed the papers, we have worked so very hard to make this place a home.

It is no doubt that all these walls needed was a bit of love, and it was easy to tell that it had been neglected over the years. We replaced the electrical and the plumbing, removed the wallpaper from every room, and have gone through quite a bit of paint thus far. We weeded and mulched, took out carpet and replaced some flooring, and have learned an abundance along the way. Between my parents, Clay, and myself, we have completely transformed this place. The wallpaper filled rooms are now bright and clean with fresh paint, the failing appliances have been replaced, old nooks and crannies that were unloved have become renewed and refreshed to respect the character of a house built in a different time. The landscaping has transformed too; the overgrown weeds that were taking over are pulled and the area is full of vibrant annuals and perennials, there are bird feeders to welcome their lovely sounds in the morning, and there are half a dozen new little trees planted across the yard that will grow into some beautiful shade in due time. And while I sometimes walk from room to room and still see all of the things we have yet to fix, restore, or update, I do not want to miss the chance to reflect on how far we have come.

While I was eating lunch today, I chose to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine. Storms were brewing for the afternoon and even though it was warm, the gusts of wind made the summertime air feel charged with energy. Truly, it inspired me. I thought about our home, the changes it has gone through, the transformation from where we began. I could not help but imagine a sigh of relief when we began to take care of this house, instead of pushing it further. The old walls were filled with character, history, and life. It led me to consider the change that I have undergone since moving here, since I was in college, since I was in high school, etc. Change is a natural part of life, and sometimes it can be uncomfortable and disorienting. However, when it comes to our walk with Christ, the change of heart when we choose to live for the Lord creates a clarity that brings with it peace and safety. Just like how we can get caught up in the things that have yet to be done, have yet to be fixed, I think it is important for us to take time and consider the work that God has done in us, and how far we have come in our walk with Him.

When we constantly focus on what is still missing in our journey to God, we really have a glass-half-empty approach. And truly I think that we rarely consider progress when it comes to our walk in faith. Not every step in our journey with God is an easy one, and trusting in His plan over ours can come as a challenge. However, when we take a moment to look at life through the lens of God's love, we can appreciate how the Holy Spirit has transformed us into faithful children of the Lord. It can inspire us when all we see before us are the mountains we have yet to climb. Romans 8:37-39 reminds us that "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." This verse abandons any doubt that the obstacles in front of us can destroy us, can prevent us from finding God. In this way, accepting God's love and His guidance is the biggest leap of faith we can ever do. When we trust in that love, when we rely upon our faith in His guidance, our appreciation for every step in our walk with Him grows immensely.

God works in us every single day, and when we keep the door open to listen for His voice, to acknowledge His guidance, the progress we make can be incredible. 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit." Every time we grow closer to God, every time we make a change in our lives that is pleasing to Him, it is because the Holy Spirit just conquered another part of our flesh. We see ourselves every day, we are with ourselves all the time, so it can sometimes be difficult to recognize the changes that we have undergone for Christ, which is why it is so important to take a step back, appreciate the work God has done in us, and how we are growing closer to Him with the help of the Spirit. We are quite literally being transformed, being worked on daily to be more like the Lord. Isn't that incredible? What a blessing that we can come to God anytime, just exactly as we are, flawed and confused, and He accepts us, loves us, and works in us to bring us to the same glory as Himself!

When we cannot help but see all of the ways in which we fall short, it is important that we remember how loved we are by God. Quite literally He tells us that we are His children, that we are lights for His glory. Matthew 5:14-16 states that "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." This verse is so inspirational to me, as it directly tells us how important we are, how loved we are that the Lord has chosen us to be vessels to guide others to Him. We all still have a long way to go, and living for Christ is something that is often rejected and judged by others, but this verse alone reminds us that a life based on God is a life well lived. We are meant to help others, to give, to be kind, to represent God in everything that we do. These simple things are all seen by God, and even though we are far from perfect, God rejoices every time that His servants represent Him well.

I titled this article 'A house into a home' because that is really what the Holy Spirit does with us. He turns our weary bones, our neglected flesh into a strong, faithful servant of Christ. When we walk with God, when we accept His love and salvation, we are immediately transformed. The Holy Spirit creates a home within us, guiding us, loving us, and helping us grow. 1 Corinthians 6:19 states "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own." This verse directly tells us that we belong to God, that our bodies are for the Holy Spirit to work in, to create a home in. When we feel discouraged at our own failures, at the ways in which we still need to change, we can appreciate the steps we have taken to get this far, the moments in which the Holy Spirit conquers another part of our flesh, and the growth we have yet to experience with God at our sides. We have been turned into a home for the Holy Spirit and can therefore be a refuge for others in this world, guiding them to His love, and bringing others to know how absolutely transforming the gift of salvation truly is.