This past weekend, I went to Soul Rest, a women's retreat with almost 150 other women from church. The retreat was in Fredericksburg and was a great weekend of rest and hearing the Lord speak. Donna Otto was our speaker; an author and speaker from Scottsdale, AZ. I learned SO much about being a wife, mother, and homemaker. She is the founder of Homemakers by Choice and was very interesting. She talked about how important it is to guard my heart and guard my home. Donna is a strong believer in staying at home with your children and how important it is to make your home a place of shelter, safe and warm. Home is a place where God lives, therefore home is holy ground.
Remember the story about Moses at the burning bush? He was alone in the wilderness when he came upon a burning bush. He heard God speak, saying, "Remove your sandals from you feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." (Exodus 3:5) The Lord had important work for him to do and he needed to take off his shoes to show respect and humility in the presence of the Holy God. Donna states in her book, Finding Your Purpose as a Mom, "I believe that the Lord is speaking a similar word to women today who have the joy and responsibility of tending a home and caring for a family. Take off your shoes, He is saying. The place where you are cooking, cleaning, and raising the next generation is indeed holy ground because you are mine, and your home is part of my plan for changing the world. Regardless of who you are, whether you've made the choice to be a stay-at-home mom or work outside the home, whether you are married or single, whether your house is a double-wide in a desert or a mansion on a hillside...I believe this word is for you. Your home really is holy ground becuase it's a place where God has chosen to live and do His work."
She says that my home and my family are not only God's gifts to me, but a holy trust that are central to God's purpose for life. It's a place for me to live and leave a legacy - to build something lasting on holy ground.
I will post a poem that Donna wrote on my next post that is very special to my heart now because I truly believe that my home is holy ground. God's Holy Spirit was very evident this weekend at the retreat and it was so awesome to see Him work in so many broken and hurting women. He did a work in me.
2 comments:
Oh WOW. I would have loved to go to that! It brought tears to my eyes, and it was an encouragment that was needed greatly this morning. Thank you for sharing!
Oh Ash...thank you for sharing. It made me tear up and I'm not even sure why! I am so glad that the Lord brought that wise woman into your path and that He used her to speak to you. What an encouragement :)
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