For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
On Saturday Rachel and I stopped by to visit some friends. They are just completing the building of their new home and we have been privileged to watch, with excitement and wonder, the different stages of development over the past year. Tim and his brother Mark, along with the older boys, helped move the piano into the study on Saturday afternoon. The finishing touches are slowly and steadily being completed. It’s truly amazing to look around this beautiful home and know that Pam and Jay have done almost all of the work themselves.
Zachary is excited to move into the new house.
I heard that the carpeting was to be installed on Monday, covering the plywood floors of the upstairs, and thought that offered a unique opportunity. Treasuring and pondering the words in Hebrews about the LIVING Word of God, I asked if I could come over and write some verses on the bare floors. Receiving permission, Rachel and I brought our bag of Sharpie markers, grabbed two Bibles and set about to work.
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)
This family has been dear friends to us for many years and their love for the Lord is sincere and true. I was overwhelmed with a desire to bless and anoint the house with God’s Word in any way I could. I kept thinking about the power of walking in and on and through the living and breathing Word.
Emily works on the floor of her closet.
My Bible reading the night before led me to a verse for the boys’ bedroom which in turn brought me to a passage for the girls’ room. Suddenly I was eager to find verses for each of the upstairs rooms. A song of praise for the Lord in a room where music will be practiced, a reminder about physical training and godliness on the floor of the exercise area, verses about love and respect and marriage in the master suite, the passage from Philippians about thinking on that which is noble and pure and lovely and right for the library, the Bible treasure hunt was on.
After just a few minutes, Rachel and I were joined by Pam, Zachary and Emily, Bibles and Sharpies in hand. For close to an hour we copied Bible verses onto the bare, rough wooden floors of the upstairs. Pam found verses about clothing yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience and wrote them in the closet. Zachary wrote down his favorite verse, John 3:16. Emily copied parts of Proverbs 31.
It was a precious, sweet time, as we worked all the while amidst hammering and nailing as Jay put up the trim and the little ones played. Zachary told me he wished he could copy the whole Bible on the floor of his room so he could easily turn to just the right verse. There is power in God’s Word. It is ALIVE. It is HOLY. It is the power to change and transform our lives.
For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. (Hebrews 3:4)
May our hearts and homes be built on the solid foundation that is only found in Jesus Christ!!
Kathy
How sweet this is. I have friends who go thru all the rooms in a house with prayers and blessings. I think this is a wonderful idea. I love your room-verses. I love you. Am praying for David. Keep in touch. AK
What a wonderful idea!
We did this when we built our house!
Great idea, Kathy!!! I read a GREAT series of christian books called The Glenbrooke Series by Robin Jones Gunn. In each book, a friend is introduced and her story is told. By the 8th (I think) book, the last friend opened/remodeled a restaurant and all the other friends (from the other books) wrote the verse that the Lord gave them through the difficulties or lessons that were learned in their story (each book) on the floor. Anyway, it was an awesome example of friendship and blessing!!!! BTW, highly recommend the books!!!!
I have planned on doing that same thing in our remodel, when that time comes! So, don’t lose those Sharpies, my friend!!!
I had a fun time copying all those verses. One of mine for the girls room was:
”Many woman do noble things but YOU surpass them all” Proverbs 31:29
Thanks for the great idea, we love it! We continued writing long after you left and spent a good part of yesterday writing more verses. We finally came to the point where we had to stop so we could get some work done! I kept saying just let me write this verse, then I’ll get back to work, of course one verse led to another and another… anyway we are very colorful and covered with God’s word:) I also wrote a verse on the stairs with one word on each step so you can say it as you go up the stairs:) Delight yourself also in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
What a wonderful idea, Kathy and how sweet for you and Rachel to bless this family the God’s word.
I can remember my dad letting us write on the walls before he wallpapered, but we just wrote silly things. Scripture would have been so much better.
Kathy,
I LOVE this idea! We have some dear friends who are moving into a new house this weekend. I wonder how “weird” they would think I am if I ask if we can do this in their new home before the new flooring is installed? Hmmm… we’ll see!
I love this idea too! We do something “similar” whenever we build a house. Before they pour the foundation we bury a Bible in the ground. We then pray and dedicate the home to the Lord to be used for His purposes etc. . .
Many of our friends have taken the idea and now do the samething. Nothing like building your house upon the ROCK
I have to say, that I could not agree with you in 100% regarding Walking On the Word of God, but it’s just my opinion, which could be wrong
wow, I was brought to tears when I suddenly realized that ye are my Brothers and Sisters in Christ!
Sure will be nice to see you, in the Resurrection or perhaps in this Life!
Pray for me always and I´ll ask God to remind me to include you all in mine.