…we will have matching pillows and curtains.
…we will have spotless floors and counters.
…we will have original art and many framed photos.
I’ve realized recently that’s what my house says.
Now, I’m pretty sure – and I suspect my well-worn Pottery Barn catalogs will agree – that none of those things are inherently bad. But when they take my focus away from the Lord, I might be in trouble. Looking around my house today, I know that in all my shopping and planning and measuring and ordering, I left out the most important part of decorating my family’s home.
(And don’t think for a minute that I ever achieved those spotless floors. Buying another black picture frame is much more fun than actually pulling my broom out of the closet!)
When my husband and I moved into our first apartment, I covered every inch of our walls, tables and counters. I’d learned how to dress a home from my mom, and in those first few years, our house looked much like hers. From embroidered pillows and framed verses to stacks of Bibles and arrangements of figurines, our home shouted, “We are Christians!”
(Meanwhile, our gold and orange floral, hand-me-down couches shouted, “We are newlyweds!” But that’s another topic altogether.)
Years later, when we moved into our first house, I had learned a bit more about my own style and scaled back my décor drastically. I never unpacked those pillows and prints that had adorned our newlywed home, and most of the figurines fell victim to one garage sale or another. Our freshly painted walls were left empty on purpose, to create the illusion of more space or more peace or more something.
It’s only been in the past few months, nearly eight years after moving into our house with cans of paperbag brown paint and new leather couches, that I realized what I’d done. Creating my own style somehow turned into removing any hints of my personality and – more importantly – my faith!
As soon as I realized that, I began filling up our space with signs of life – and signs of Life. Little by little I’ve added prints to the wall and frames to the desks with my favorite verses and reminders that no matter what color the curtains are (or how messy the counters are), my house will serve the Lord.
This month, DaySpring is offering amazing deals on beautiful items that will allow us to share our love of God – and dedication to serving Him – in our homes.
These beautiful wood carved wall hangings are on sale. Ask, Seek & Knock is only $17.99,
and the Ichthys hanging is just $29.99.
This ornate metal collection is on sale. You can get the pressed tin cross for $7.79,
the cross serving tray for $17.99, the cross napkin holder for $11.99, the cross trivet for $6.59
and a set of coasters for $11.99.
During the month of May, you can also use the coupon code MAY20 for 20% off. What a great deal!
How do you and your house serve the Lord? And how do you help your house “say” that?
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