Predustination

I'm a huge believer in predustination, that is the practice and belief that one must pre-clean the house before the housekeeper or maid shows up.  Today is our pre-construction meeting where we will meet the builder in charge of all things construction concerning or new home.  We have printed off our fact sheet and have our building folder ready to go.  This is the last meeting before construction begins and this is the last time we will have a chance to change our mind or change anything about the house.  Actually, we feel like we have looked at everything and with Dani's watchful eye at the design center, all things are covered.  Yet in the back of my mind I keep thinking, should we add an ice machine that makes ice like Sonic ice?  Maybe I'll float that idea in the meeting today.  Sonic ice is incredibly good. 

My devotion this morning is titled A Wide Open Spacious Life based on II Corinthians 6:1-13.  The Message Bible adds this little sentence that is huge in profound truth..."Our work as God's servants gets validated-or not-in the details."  Paul wraps up this passage with, "Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life.  We didn't fence you in.  The smallness you feel comes from within you.  Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way.  I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection.  Open up your lives.  Live openly and expansively!"  Of course in this season I equate spacious in house terms.  Small is a term that has taken on new meaning in these past few weeks.  Small and spacious being exact opposites yet very synonymous in meaning.  My desire and prayer is not to live a small life! (well except maybe in clothe size)  In the Pray portion of the devotion we are to pray about the opportunity to live a wide open, spacious life and to work hard with a heart of gentleness, holiness and honest love and with a life of power and joy.  Maybe this devotion is my predustination for preparation for the next few or possibly long months, depending on completion.  Our lives will be wide open and spacious and validated in how we handle the details in the construction process.  We have already spoken of our life in Christ to our salesman and I don't doubt that we will look for the opportunity to share Jesus with those building and constructing.  Once the framing is up we intend to write some verses on the 2x6 lumber.  You can't write scripture on lumber for all to see then act all mad and angry in and at the process of things or ideas.  Our work as God's servants gets validated or not in the details. 

"People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly...in hard times, tough times, bad times, when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating,; with pure heart, clear head, steady hands,; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right; when we're praised and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all."  II Corinthians 6

That is one huge run on sentence.  I knew I liked Paul.