Sep 2013
Foundation Meditation
When building a new house, the first thing that happens once the plot of land is surveyed and excavated is the planning and lying down of the foundation. The foundation is the base and has to support the weight of the house. It needs to be strong and able to serve its purpose for a long time while taking abuse from the weight of the house and conditions below ground. The foundation could be the difference between a house that is safe and strong for many years and a house that is dangerous to the people living inside.
The foundation of a house is hidden underground. Although it is not noticed or seen, it is an essential part of the house that we appreciate so much. Without a solid or stable foundation to support and anchor it, the house would not be as strong or secure. A building cannot stand (well) without a (firm) foundation. The Bible tells us that: “We are temples of the Lord.” Some of us may remember a song we heard as young children during Vacation Bible School or on sing-along cassettes about two men and their houses which illustrates the necessity for a firm foundation. One built his house among large rocks high on a cliff, while the other built his house on the sand. The house on the sand was destroyed and swept away when the wind and waves got strong, but the house on the rocks could not be reached by the waves and the wind could not move it from its secure place among the rocks.
When we meet people along the road of our lives, we have the chance to share Jesus with them whether through words or deeds or faith. Sharing Jesus may include but is not limited to: giving a lecture, having a discussion, or preaching. No. Sharing Jesus could be a hug, a smile, opening a door, helping someone in any way either big or small, listening, giving your time, or saying a prayer for someone or something. There are so many ways to share Jesus! Every time we do something to share God with everyone we meet, we are building a foundation and potentially creating (or helping to create) another temple of the Lord. Like the foundations used in houses, that while underground and unseen are essential to even begin to build and later to support and secure so the structure stays strong and firm, so too are the times we share Jesus with others we meet in our lives. The thing we did may have built or helped to build a foundation in Christ and they too may do likewise. Just because we may not see the impact we had, or perhaps there is no impact at all, does not mean we have failed. In these times we pray: “God, grant me the courage to accept the things I cannot change, the serenity to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
God has his reasons for what happens even though we may not like, or know, or understand why. For this, and all things in life, pray. Pray. Pray. Never stop praying. Don’t be afraid to ask. Ask often. It is said: “Seek and you will find, ask and you shall receive, knock and the door shall be opened. For anyone who seeks will find, anyone who asks shall receive, and anyone who knocks the door shall be opened.” Listen. Make sure to listen. He will speak, but he will not interrupt. He is patient and will wait for you to stop. Pray for wisdom, guidance, courage, strength, faith, hope, love. Ask Him to open our hearts and see with His eyes. Help us to love like you. Help us to be humble and remind us always; it is not about us, it’s about you. Anything we may have done or accomplished was not us, but you in us. And always Lord: Your Will Be Done. Not our will or what we want, but yours!
When building a new house, the first thing that happens once the plot of land is surveyed and excavated is the planning and lying down of the foundation. The foundation is the base and has to support the weight of the house. It needs to be strong and able to serve its purpose for a long time while taking abuse from the weight of the house and conditions below ground. The foundation could be the difference between a house that is safe and strong for many years and a house that is dangerous to the people living inside.
The foundation of a house is hidden underground. Although it is not noticed or seen, it is an essential part of the house that we appreciate so much. Without a solid or stable foundation to support and anchor it, the house would not be as strong or secure. A building cannot stand (well) without a (firm) foundation. The Bible tells us that: “We are temples of the Lord.” Some of us may remember a song we heard as young children during Vacation Bible School or on sing-along cassettes about two men and their houses which illustrates the necessity for a firm foundation. One built his house among large rocks high on a cliff, while the other built his house on the sand. The house on the sand was destroyed and swept away when the wind and waves got strong, but the house on the rocks could not be reached by the waves and the wind could not move it from its secure place among the rocks.
When we meet people along the road of our lives, we have the chance to share Jesus with them whether through words or deeds or faith. Sharing Jesus may include but is not limited to: giving a lecture, having a discussion, or preaching. No. Sharing Jesus could be a hug, a smile, opening a door, helping someone in any way either big or small, listening, giving your time, or saying a prayer for someone or something. There are so many ways to share Jesus! Every time we do something to share God with everyone we meet, we are building a foundation and potentially creating (or helping to create) another temple of the Lord. Like the foundations used in houses, that while underground and unseen are essential to even begin to build and later to support and secure so the structure stays strong and firm, so too are the times we share Jesus with others we meet in our lives. The thing we did may have built or helped to build a foundation in Christ and they too may do likewise. Just because we may not see the impact we had, or perhaps there is no impact at all, does not mean we have failed. In these times we pray: “God, grant me the courage to accept the things I cannot change, the serenity to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
God has his reasons for what happens even though we may not like, or know, or understand why. For this, and all things in life, pray. Pray. Pray. Never stop praying. Don’t be afraid to ask. Ask often. It is said: “Seek and you will find, ask and you shall receive, knock and the door shall be opened. For anyone who seeks will find, anyone who asks shall receive, and anyone who knocks the door shall be opened.” Listen. Make sure to listen. He will speak, but he will not interrupt. He is patient and will wait for you to stop. Pray for wisdom, guidance, courage, strength, faith, hope, love. Ask Him to open our hearts and see with His eyes. Help us to love like you. Help us to be humble and remind us always; it is not about us, it’s about you. Anything we may have done or accomplished was not us, but you in us. And always Lord: Your Will Be Done. Not our will or what we want, but yours!
