Building Cathedrals

So, when does a house become a home? And how does it stay that way? These very questions replayed over and over in my mind this past week... as my recent decision to say "no" to an amazing job opportunity still weighed heavily on my heart, a job that would have had me advocating for children living in extreme poverty all over the world!

I would ask hubby questions like, "Did we make the right decision?" or "Am I crazy to let that opportunity go?" or "Can't we have made it to work by juggling our schedules?"

Each time, our answer was the same --- if it results in us being unable to be here for our kids at a time when they still need us, how can we effectively advocate for other kids and what message are we sending to our kids?

And, each time, I breathe a sigh of relief... knowing that, though it was a difficult one to come to, I made the right choice.

This past Saturday, I came across this video via Ann Voskamp's weekend blog post...

"It was as if I heard God say, 'You are building a great cathedral. It will not be finished in your lifetime, and sadly, you will never get to live there. But if you build it well, I will.'" Beautiful, exactly the very words I needed to hear!

I am building cathedrals!

And that is an important job, a very important job. This is how a house stays as a home. These cathedrals might not be finished in my lifetime, but God lives in them if I build them well! What an absolutely beautiful thought!

So, I happily stay at my current job which I can do within the hours my children are at school. Ever thankful that it is still here for me. And I continue to work hard to advocate for children in need in a volunteer capacity, a role I absolutely love! And I continue to wait on God and surrender to His beautiful plan as I fulfill my first and highest calling right in the here and now, and that is to build these two cathedrals well! 

As I continue to count grace-gifts, with unending thanks... to The One who is always good and always loves... these are the things I am thankful for these two weeks... #2858 - #2870:

:: Saying "no" to a good thing in order to say "yes" to the best thing.

:: My girl filming her segment as a winner of this writing contest.

:: A friend's positive attitude and reliance on God, in the midst of devastating news.

:: Positive meeting at my boy's school to resolve some issues he is having to deal with.

:: AIDS Care season at our church!

:: Serving the least of these, together with our Home Church.

:: Going on a Sandwich Run for the homeless, with our church's youth.

:: Getting together and catching up with a friend over coffee at her kitchen table!

:: March is here!

:: My girl getting her learner's driver's license! 

:: Volunteering, with my girl, at a Compassion event over the weekend where 10 children got sponsored and 5 more being considered!

:: Our whole family volunteering at a basketball league for inner-city families! Grateful for future funding for this ministry from our church!

:: A full and meaningful Sunday!

Hello Monday!

Jesus whispers to the surprised, "They are blessed who are humble, for the whole earth will be theirs." (Matthew 5:5) The humble are the laid low and bowed ones, the surprised ones with hands open to receive whatever He gives.

~ Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts.

Choosing to live a surrendered life... because Christ's love compels me... and giving thanks for everything that my good God so freely bestows, so lavishly gives and so extravagantly showers!

Compassion is a command, an act of worship, a song of thanks to Him.

Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God!