The House that Bears His Name

Good morning to all on this Tuesday morning. Yesterday was my beloved's birthday (Waine) and he said he had a GREAT day. Aleron came over to break bread with us and I prepared some Seafood Fettuccine which my beloved indicated was "just delice". We are preparing to host Mackenzie and Brooks next week and their Poppop and Nanna have a fun filled week planned for them which includes a trip to Orlando to celebrate Kai's 3rd birthday on July 31st. My cousin Sharon sends me daily messages from Joel and Victoria Olsteen and today's message was from 2 Samuel 22:50 "For this I will give you thanks and extol You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing praises to Your name”. I was reminded that blessings should prompt us to praise God and give Him the GLORY as well as the THANKS! Since all of us woke up this morning, we should give God thanks. If you are reading this BLOG then He also woke you up with a reasonable portion of your RIGHT MIND; we should thank Him for that. Our daily success however is defined by the EVIDENCE of the LOVE of God for you and me. Hallelujah!!!!!!!!

I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah 7 verses 30-34 "The people of Judah have done evil in my eyes, declares the LORD. They have set up their detestable idols in the house that bears my Name and have defiled it. They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind. So beware, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when people will no longer call it Topheth or the Valley of Ben Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter, for they will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room.  Then the carcasses of this people will become food for the birds and the wild animals, and there will be no one to frighten them away.  I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, for the land will become desolate." May the Lord add a blessing to the reading hearing of His Word.

What is the house that bears the Name of the Most High God. Sure Jews and Gentiles have had places of worship all through recorded time. Even when finding caves inhabited by humans there is evidence that they too had a need to worship a Higher Power. I think though, that God is also talking about US--we Christians are the House that Bears His Name--the very annotation "Christian" means to be Christ Like. So now Jeremiah is hitting home because as Christians we set up "idols" in this House that Bears His Name. I know Christians who harbor anger as an IDOL; who harbor GREED as an IDOL; who harbor WORRY as an IDOL; who harbor NEGATIVE THINKING as an idol; who harbor POWER as an idol; who harbor ENVY as an IDOL and the list just continues. As Christians there should be no idols in the House that bears His name. This House should reflect Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. If your house that Bears His Name is not reflecting these fruits from the Holy Spirit then evaluate what IDOL has to be removed. Can't be any other explanation. When our House that bears His Name reflects what it was intended for then what Samuel talked about will be on our lips from the minute we wake up to the minute we close our eyes again;  we will extol the power and glory of God even in our sleep! To God be the Glory for the Great Thing He has done today!!!!!!!

Now may the LORD bless you and keep you; may the LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; may the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace. Amen

Stephanie