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I often times wonder what life would have been like as a stay-at-home mom.  I wonder how many educational degrees I would have or how clean and organized my house would be(I know all you stay-at-home moms are laughing in my face right now but indulge my wayward thinking).  I wonder if my kids would be better scholars or have more interests.  I wonder if I would be closer to Jesus or if I would have memorized more bible verses.

It has been 10 days of stay-at-home mom for me.  No work, no agenda, just mommying and wifeying and homemaking.  I took some naps too and did the whole Christmas celebration thing as well, but mostly its been just doing life, in my house, with no work.

I love it!

As we speak, there is cinnamon roll dough rising over the fireplace (my husband is going to go crazy because I’ve been doing a lot of baking and his pants are fitting a little tight.  Sorry Babe!).  I have hugged my kids more and cuddled with the dogs for hours.  I did some cleaning and some reading and studying.  Its healing.

Last year the word of the year was SHIFT.  I liked the acronym and was interested to see how God would develop each piece of my heart but I did not like 2014.  It was hard at my job, it was difficult in various relationships, it was taxing on my family, it was full of not being home and stuffed with the world.  I did a lot of dreaming about moving into a tiny house or running away to the beach.  The one redeeming part of 2014 was the last 10 days.  I reset my focus and landed in 2015.

The word for 2015 was dropped in my lap yesterday, the last day of the old year and I actually didn’t like it so I swept it aside.

This morning, after prepping for cinnamon rolls, I asked the Lord again for the word.  He said it and I said “FINE! (blah, wonder what that even means, blah (grumble))”.

Now enter Isaiah 32:18….

Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation, And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places;

Perfect.

I’ll take that.  That little verse right there all encompassed in one word HOME.

This word was an oasis to the Israelite, it was to draw their eyes to the days of the Messiah, who is King of righteousness and King of peace, and to whom all the prophets bear witness.  It is a reminder that we have a reason to hope for good times at length.  The peace an quietness in this verse eludes to two different kinds of peace. Matthew Henry’s commentary says: “It is itself peace, and the effect of it is quietness and assurance for ever, that is, a holy serenity and security of mind, by which the soul enjoys itself and enjoys its God, and it is not in the power of this world to disturb it in those enjoyments” This peace is found in the way and work of righteousness.  “Real holiness is real happiness now and shall be perfect happiness, that is, perfect holiness, for ever.”

The second kind of peace is outward peace. Matthew Henry’s commentary says it best:  “It is a great mercy when those who by the grace of God have quiet and peaceable spirits are by the providence of God made to dwell in quiet and peaceable habitations, not disturbed in their houses or solemn assemblies. When the terror of Sennacherib’s invasion was over, the people, no doubt, were more sensible than ever of the mercy of a quiet habitation, not disturbed with the alarms of war.”

It is a great MERCY when those by the providence of God are made to dwell in quiet and peaceable habitations.

HOME.

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

It is often said “Home is where the heart is”, my home is fixed on Jesus.  My house is build on wisdom and understanding is from God.  The rooms of my home are filled with precious and pleasant riches given by the Father of Lights.  Every perfect gift comes from God and this gift of 2015, the mercy of a dwelling place of peace, the strengthening of my home, the building of my heart, I’ll take it!

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