Praise God for the Wonders of Nature

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?  In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. -- Job 12:7-10 NIV

God is glorified through all of His creation.  As we meander through roughhewn paths of a dense forest, scale the slopes of a majestic mountain, or take a walk along the sandy shores of an ocean beach, we enjoy the Lord’s magnificent gifts. He is the creator of all shapes and colors, textures and movement, scents, sights, and sounds.  Each facet is a gift to be cherished and enjoyed:  the azure sky, the turquoise sea, each unique creature that flies in the air or lives in the watery depths. Every sweet scented flower and shade-giving tree, the warmth of a bright sunlit sky, the comfort of a cooling breeze, and the sound of waves, wind, or gentle crunch of dried autumn leaves under foot—all have been bestowed upon us.  Every flavor and every aroma adds to the variety that we acknowledge as the spice of life. It is incumbent upon us to use the senses the Lord has given us to unwrap each gift throughout the day, acknowledging and thanking the Giver for each treasure that He has bestowed upon us.

Holy Housekeeping 7:  Watch for Mold

Do you not know that your body is a house of God where the Holy Spirit lives? God gave you His Holy Spirit. Now you belong to God. You do not belong to yourselves. God bought you with a great price. So honor God with your body. You belong to Him. -- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLV
 
Just as we guard our residence from mold, we need to prevent this substance from invading our spiritual homes. Sin is the mold in the lives of Christians. Three aspects of this toxic substance share common threads with sin. 

First, sin, just like mold, needs a source of moisture. Temptation is the moisture that allows this harmful matter to grow. But, just as it is not possible, or practical, to remove all moisture from a home, neither is it possible to remove all temptation. We need to co-exist with both. It is excessive moisture in the presence of darkness where mold will flourish.

Second, mold thrives in dark places, where there is no light. But, thankfully, Jesus gives us blessed assurance, as He proclaimed, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12 NIV).

Finally, mold, unlike dirt, will inevitably grow. We need to examine our lives for areas where we are straying from God’s Word. The tell-tale sign that an area of sin has taken root is that it gradually increases in duration and/or intensity. 

Once we discover areas where spiritual mold is growing, we need to allow the light of the Lord to shine brightly. As we confess, repent, and turn from our sins, Jesus promises "to forgive us" and "cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9 NIV).

Holy Housekeeping 6 - Trim the Bushes

Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. -- Matthew 5:15-16 ESV
 
Just as overgrown shrubberies may obscure the location of a house from visitors, each of us may have erected hedges to prevent others from seeing what is within us. Keeping our faith private can be tempting, since it may be disconcerting to reveal personal beliefs that are at variance with others.  We may feel vulnerable, exposed, and open to ridicule as people view us as being “different”. Or, we might simply be worried that others will be uncomfortable, being confronted with views that differ from their own. 
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But, Jesus urges us to not hide our light under a bushel. "…Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16 NIV). We might wonder if letting others see our good deeds seems boastful. Yet, our underlying motivation is key to the distinction. As others see the Lord working through us, they will give glory to Him. St. Francis of Assisi explained our mission well with these words, “Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.”  Our actions do speak louder than words. We ought to be ready to share the gospel to anyone who asks, with actions and words.  

Holy Housekeeping 5  - Proper Maintenance

Do you not know that your body is a house of God where the Holy Spirit lives? God gave you His Holy Spirit. Now you belong to God. You do not belong to yourselves. God bought you with a great price. So honor God with your body. You belong to Him. -- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLV

Are you keeping your mind and body as healthy as possible? Every part of your body is a precious gift from the Lord, from the brain in your head to the toes on your feet. Our Lord has entrusted this amazing dwelling place to you, having appointed you building superintendent. How would He rate your job performance? Is the structure clean and free of debris? Is it in good repair? Are you performing all of the required maintenance?  Would OSHA inspectors find safety hazards? 

The Lord has blessed each of us with access to much information which, if followed, could keep us active, strong, and healthy. The amount and types of foods and nutrients we consume, the exercise we follow, and the hours of sleep we get are all important in preventing inflammation, disease, and early death.  Are we being responsible caretakers?
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Some will attempt to justify a lack of effort, citing very health-conscious people who still developed cancer or died of a heart attack. They argue that there is no point in trying.  But, the same rationale can be applied to a house. The dwelling may be extremely well-maintained, but still completely destroyed by a flood, earthquake, or tornado. Does such an outcome justify neglecting maintenance of the structure?  Certainly not. Just so, each of us ought to do our utmost to preserve the body that is home to not only ourselves, but to the Lord Himself.

Holy Housekeeping 4 - Keep Pests Out

Do you not know that your body is a house of God where the Holy Spirit lives? God gave you His Holy Spirit. Now you belong to God. You do not belong to yourselves.  God bought you with a great price. So honor God with your body. You belong to Him. -- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLV

Exterminators will affirm that the best way to keep mice, roaches, ants, mites, and termites out of our homes is to prevent them from entering in the first place. Just as prudent people seal cracks and openings in order to keep these destructive pests out, we, as Christians, ought to regularly check ourselves for gaps where sin can enter. As we discover are own vulnerabilities, it becomes imperative to quickly seal them, lest full blown sin enter. Weaknesses for drugs, alcohol, or sex are fairly easy to identify.  But, other pests are more subtle. An unhealthy desire for wealth, status, pleasure, or popularity, can infiltrate any aspect of our beings. A seemingly innocent emotion such as worry or a strong desire for comfort can be spiritually destructive. Regularly fellowshipping with other Christians, self-examination, along with daily prayer, and study of God’s Word will help to prevent sin from entering and taking root. 

But when an infestation does occur, simply vacuuming up the crumbs and washing the linens may not be enough. Sometimes, we have to call in the professionals. A caring Christian pastor or counselor may be needed to lead us back to the Lord. 

Yet, the Book of Psalms explains the best way to deal with anything that can corrupt our souls.
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalms 139: 23-24 NIV).

Holy Housekeeping 3 - Check the Foundation

In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.--Ephesians 2:22 ESV

A tragic event in June of 2021 brought to mind the importance of a dwelling’s foundation. On that day, a beachfront condominium building in a suburb of Miami collapsed, killing 98 people. It is believed that the foundation was at fault. Foundation problems can arise due to a variety of issues such as faulty concrete mix, unrepaired cracks, water/drainage problems, temperature changes, tree roots, or the quantity of rebar. If structural conditions at Surfside were addressed long ago, the lives of so many might have been spared.

Jesus explained the importance of a solid foundation. "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash" (Matthew 7:24-27 NIV).
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As Christians, the Lord lives within us. Jesus has established our foundation. How do we keep this incredible dwelling place strong and secure? It is vital that each of us studies God’s Word daily and becomes part of a solid church family, not resting on faulty ideas, but instead, strengthening the foundation continually with spiritual rebar. Believers must remain alert for the trickle of doubts and temptations that can erode the foundation. Finally, it is essential to keep the warmth of love active throughout the day, lest frozen insensitivity cause cracks in the base.  

Holy Housekeeping 2 - Leave Your Shoes at the Door

Do you not know that your body is a house of God where the Holy Spirit lives? God gave you His Holy Spirit. Now you belong to God. You do not belong to yourselves. God bought you with a great price. So honor God with your body. You belong to Him. -- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLV

According to a University of Arizona study, after two weeks, a new pair of shoes has collected 421,000 units of bacteria on the bottoms. The bacteria includes E. coli and other organisms that can cause meningitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and a number of other maladies. For this reason, in many parts of the world, it is standard practice to leave shoes at the door.

As we “walk” through the day, each of us tracks into our hearts a multitude of impurities that will negatively impact us mentally, physically, and spiritually. Through the people we encounter, and all that we see, hear, and experience, both intentionally and inadvertently, we carry in contaminants that will corrupt us in body, soul, and mind.  

How do we prevent our bodies and minds from being infected? The Lord gave us the answer. "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23 NIV). How exactly do we guard our hearts?  Paul explains, "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" (Philippians 4:8 NIV).  We ought to fill our minds with pure thoughts, leaving bitterness, resentment, jealousy, and worry at the door.