Peace and Patience ~ Making Your Home a Haven ~

Welcome to week 1 of the Making Your Home a Haven 5th Annual Fall challenge! I'm joining Courtney Joseph over at Women Living Well in this challenge where for the next four weeks we will be focusing on how to let the fruits of the Spirit set the tone of the environment of our homes.

This week we are working on having peace and patience in our homes.

Oh my!

Did God know what He was doing when He brought to my attention this Making Your Home a Haven challenge!

Let me tell you why...and let me also tell you all the things that helped to bring PEACE into the unexpected situation that had interrupted our lives and how I and my husband were able to experience PATIENCE through it all.

It all started when I was awakened by my cell phone at 5:15 a.m. last Wednesday morning - it was my husband on the other end of the line who told me the dreaded news - his car had broken down on his way into work. He was just up the road at a local convenience store and needed me to come pick him up and take him to work. So this meant I had to wake up our son and we both got into my mini van with our pajamas still on, drove up to the convenience store to pick up my husband, and proceeded to drive him to work.

Positive: My husband was not hurt.
Positive: I heard the cell phone and answered it when my husband really needed me.
Positive: He was able to get his car off of the road and into the driveway of a sweet elderly woman.
Positive: He still got to work on time. ;)

Later that day we went to pick up my husband when he was finished working. We had to call to get his car towed to a mechanic who would later tell us that the motor was DEAD! This means we are now down to one car in our home - mine. Now granted, I don't have an outside job since I stay at home to homeschool our son. Whatever errands I need to do, I can just wait until my husband gets home from his job which is usually no later than 2:00 p.m. each day.

Positive: We have my vehicle that we can share until God blesses us with another car for my husband. 
Positive: Our car insurance will be lower.
Positive: Less money for gas each week.

All of these positives helped us to have peace within the midst of this unexpected event in our home. My husband and I encouraged each other by **intentionally** looking for these positives that would bring peace into our hearts at what would normally be a troubling time. Let me tell you, we had to grow in our relationship with God and in His fruit of the Spirit over these past 17 1/2 years of our marriage to be able to walk through this experience together as we are. :)

Today we began the journey of patience as my husband searched for a place that would buy his car for parts. We had been praying all weekend that God would help us to get a good amount of money from it. Our prayers were answered and tomorrow Phil goes to pick up the check from the company who will haul his old car away.

Peace and patience. They are both fruits of the Spirit that God wants to develop in our hearts so we can live them out in our lives.

We can truly have peace and patience in the midst of the unexpected twists and turns of life when we rest in God and in His promises.

Can I tell you that God has put it on a dear couple's heart to give us a car that is just sitting in their yard. There is a repair that needs to be done on it, but it is in good running condition. We are praying now that the money Phil will be getting tomorrow from his old car will be enough to cover the repair for his "new" car as well as getting the plate/tags for it. We would appreciate your prayers as well.

With all of this going on, I admit that I didn't get around to buying my candle and lighting it today. But that's okay because all throughout the day I had this challenge on my mind. I was thanking God for His peace that has surpassed all understanding - that has guarded my and my husband's mind through Christ Jesus during these past several days. I've thanked Him for the patience both my husband and I have had with each other as our days have been out-of-whack with having to deal with all of this.

So there you have it! Yes, God knew exactly what He was doing when He brought the Making Your Home a Haven challenge my way! I am so thankful that God sees around corners and knows what we need even before we ask.

It's going to take intentionality on our parts if we want to make our home a haven. It's going to take us surrendering ourselves to the Spirit of God at work within us to cultivate His fruits of peace and patience within our hearts. When we do this we will begin to see changes take place inside of our homes...good changes...and isn't that what we all want?

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie