Heaven - Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Hearts Overflowing

November 20, 2015 by Ellen Leave a Comment

You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God. Colossians 3:1 (GNT)

My attic is full to overflowing, and my closet is a jumbled mess. I have a lot of stuff. When my closets and cabinets get full, it’s time to clean out. I usually have a garage sale or donate to Goodwill. Some people rent storage units in order to keep all their stuff. As a matter of fact, the self storage industry in the United States generated $27.2 billion in annual revenues in 2014 (selfstorage.org).

I’m thinking that there are a lot of people like me, who like their stuff.

Our stuff brings us comfort, and makes us comfortable. It’s there when we need it. It’s a part of us. And yet, scripture tells us to set our hearts on the things above, heavenly things, not on our earthly stuff.

As much as I would like to practice this each day, it’s hard for me. I’m a visual person. I’ve never seen heaven. I can’t grasp how to seek heavenly things.

And yet the apostle Paul explains it so simply:

Set your hearts on the things that are in heaven. Colossians 3:1

What’s in heaven? Christ, who is seated next to God. Now, I haven’t seen Christ face to face either, but I’ve experienced His love through the hugs of my friends. His kindness has been freely given to me by strangers offering a helping hand. I know Jesus Christ through His word. I know He loved me enough to die for me.

When we look for Christ in our ordinary everyday, seek Him in the scriptures, and contemplate His Word, we will be setting our minds on heavenly things.

And you know what? It’s not as hard as I thought!

This post originally appeared on Deeper Waters.

Grace be with you,

Your Dream Home is Waiting for You

August 27, 2015 by Ellen 12 Comments

One of the hardest things after Mama died was letting her house go back to the bank. She and Daddy had taken out a second mortgage; none of us could afford to keep their house. It was a sad thing, letting that house go.

We didn’t really love the house, and none of us wanted it. It was musty, old and smelled of cigarette smoke. It had more wrong with it than right. But it was home for Mama, and when we would visit, she made it home for us. It was where we all got together, cooked, laughed and shared life.

And even though we didn’t love the house, we loved the memories of home that were made there. One time, when Mama and Daddy both happened to be in the hospital, my sister-in-law and I spent the night at the house, to make sure all was well. That night we learned plumbing. Because when the toilet doesn’t work, you have to learn plumbing.

Tammy and I slept on the recliners in the living room. We couldn’t get the gas heater to work, and it was cold in the back bedrooms. Or maybe we just wanted to be in the same room. Because you know the boogey man lives in the back woods of Mississippi.

One night, when I was there alone, I pushed back the curtains on the sliding glass door, and was startled at the person staring at me from the patio. It took about three or four seconds before I recognized my own reflection. But it could have been the boogey man.

Occasionally I get homesick for the smell of pine trees. I long for Daddy’s homemade yeast rolls dripping with butter, and playing the washer board game out back. I listen for Mama’s “Hey darlin’!”

Nothing can compare to home. I wonder what makes it so magical, what draws us? I believe it’s because our roots are there. It’s our foundation. It’s a safe place.

Maybe you didn’t have that foundation, that place you always went “home” to, like I did. Maybe you don’t have fond memories of home. Perhaps it wasn’t safe for you at all, and you long for a refuge, your very own safe place. It’s something you’ve never had.

Let me be the first to say: Welcome home!

There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? John 14:2 (NLT)

Jesus has a home prepared for you. He’s getting your rooms ready. There is more than enough space for you to spread out. There is an abundance of love to be poured out on you.

And what about the city where your home is located? Its Architect and Builder is God. The city’s foundations are firm and permanent. It is a forever city and will have your forever home on its streets.

Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. Hebrews 11:10 (NLT)

God set eternity in our hearts, and built a city for our home, and Jesus is preparing it for us. That warms my heart!

I can almost smell the homemade yeast rolls, can’t you?

Until next week,

Joining these lovely writers. Be sure to visit their pages, you’ll be encouraged!

Suzie Eller, Live Free Thursday