Friday, March 2, 2012

Building a Doll House: The Foundation - Chapter 3

NOTE: If you missed Chapters 1 and 2 of Building a Doll House, you can find it in the column under "blog archive" to the right.

The most important portion of any building is the foundation, for without a strong, firm foundation, there could be an issue with instability. As we began the process of the dollhouse, Mason wanted this house to be used by our great-grandchildren; therefore he knew it needed to be sturdy. Glue was simply not enough. He needed to use pin nails. However, the pin nail air gun he had inherited from his father would not do. It didn’t have a safety latch which meant someone could get hurt. The obvious solution? Buy an updated version that would work and would be safe.

In our lives we too need a foundation that is strong. One that will hold up when we encounter troubles and trials. One that is built to last. One that not only uses glue, but pin nails. God plus His Holy Spirit plus His Word plus…well you get the picture. The foundation of our faith must be built upon God’s love and grace and forgiveness. Upon Jesus, “a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation.”

Sometimes we rely on what past generations have handed down to us. Right or wrong. What we must realize however, is that our faith must be our own. We must spend time and energy to build this faith for ourselves.

We knew that without a firm foundation, the dollhouse would not be able to stand up to the weight we were going to place upon it. In our lives, without the correct foundation: one that is not stable or sturdy, one that cannot withstand the storms of this life, the entire home is susceptible to collapse. Never underestimate the benefits of a firm foundation.

Listen to Jesus’ words from Luke 6:47-49 from The Message.

“These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on.

 If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss.”

I pray that we will not be called a dumb carpenter…in the case of the dollhouse or in our daily lives.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

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