building a beautiful home : abby's perspective

Today is the second installment of the Building a Beautiful Home series (here is Kelly's post if you missed it!), and I'm SO excited to share Abby's post with you next. Abby is another blog-based friend whom I've never met in person, but as she'll soon tell you, that doesn't matter much since we're basically the same person. God has such a funny way of bringing friends together in the most unexpected ways, and I'm so glad he sees fit to do so!

Abby is a dear heart and has a beautiful new website of her own; you should absolutely go visit her at This Life Abundant immediately if not sooner!

Thanks so much for sharing today, Abby!

First off, let me just say that Beka and I sing the same heart song.  I think God must have giggled to himself when he created similarities in people.  When he knitted together all of our little details, so that some people organize their thoughts the same way and get a kick out of the same things.  It's like he was thinking, "These two people would be grand friends, if I'd only cross their paths".

Well He did.

I've fallen head over heels for Beka's Beautiful Home blogging perspective and her gorgeous (brilliantly organized) new website.  Her passionate nature and drive to dive in and give glory to the Lord in every crazy thing just makes me grin.

She's a dearie.

As I sit here, contemplating the concept of what it actually looks like to build a beautiful home for the Lord in my life, I know three things for sure:

1.  I could write at least ten thousand words on the subject and wind up with a zillion frustrations and revelations about who God is.

2.  I could bore you to tears.

3.  I could just whip up a batch of scones, share the recipe with you, and call it a day.

And I promise if you read my blog you'll get all three, with gusto!

Pinned via Kerry's Kronicles

But in this small space, I'd like to share one simple thing instead.  Because shortest is sweetest, right?  (Says the girl that measures in at 5 feet, 0 inches.)  Here you go:

A heart that welcomes the Lord is founded on thankfulness.

If, like me, you want to have a life, a home, that "is becoming a holy temple for the Lord" (Eph. 2:21) you have to start with gratitude.   Why?  Because thankfulness really does lead to joy!

But it takes practice.

Unlike tidying up our actual houses for guests, it's not (like way way definitely not at all) possible on our own, no matter how much soap we use or many pumpkin-scented candles we light.  We need His help to have a warm and cozy heart that invites, "Come and dwell here".

We have to stop.  Daily.  And give thanks.

I promise, every time you look past the ugly and frustrating and focus on the glorious, you'll stop and say, "Holy cow I am blessed".

A joyful heart really is "good medicine" (Prov. 7:22).   And thankfulness a wonderful habit.  Here's one way that I stop and notice his goodness -- a list of thankful things from my last 24 hours:

- The tiny bubbles that form around steaming coffee in a mug

- Dad who called to say hi, just because he ordered a drink at Sonic and thought of me

- A husbands who snuggles me close, without any expectations

- A sundown wedding between a giddy bride and groom.  The stage:  one tree looming in front of a field

Just invite Him in.

After all, He's the one who inspires us in the first place to sweep the floors, bake some gooey chocolate cookies, and brew a big pot of coffee.