Home for the Holidays

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Home for the Holidays

There’s no place like home

For the holidays

Especially when we’re scattered

All over the place

So my prayer for us all

This time each year

Is to treasure home

As we all draw near

Near to the Savior

Who drew near to you and me

And near to family and friends

Regardless of proximity

Home is far more

Than a mere dwelling place

It’s where the heart is

a treasured, sacred space

So let’s treasure home

Both near and far

And make our home

Right where we are

By loving God

Who loved us first

And loving others

Even at their worst

This is the Gospel

The greatest gift, the best news

It keeps us home

Keeps us grounded and true

And since it is better

To give than to receive

Let’s give others the gift of home

By living what we believe

And we’ll experience home

Like never before

This Christmas and beyond

Simply by loving even more

There’s no place like home

For the holidays

So make Christ your home

Now and always

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Return to Me

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Return to Me

“Return to Me.”

God spoke these words throughout the Old Testament to His people when they strayed, and He still speaks them, through His Holy Spirit, to His people falling away today.

Turning or returning to the Lord has always been the cry of the Father’s heart for His children because He alone knows what is best for us.

He made us.

He made us for relationship with Him.

Our sin severed it.

His Son mended it.

He made a way to return to Him.

He saved us.

Without Him, we are nothing, we have nothing, and we can do nothing (of any value, worth, or eternal significance), but in Him…

“we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28)

“are glorious riches” (Ephesians 1:18)

“all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26)

It’s a chide we’ve heard throughout time.

“Return to Me.”

And it’s time, once again, to turn to Him, turn away from sin, return to Him, because His great love is more than enough to cover it all, carry it all, and take care of it all.

He loves us so much. Always has. Always will. His love knows no end, which is why He asks us again and again to return to Him.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3, ESV)

“That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts...” (Joel 2:12 , NLT)

“‘O Israel,’ says the Lord, “if you wanted to return to me, you could. You could throw away your detestable idols and stray away no more.” (Jeremiah 4:1, NLT)

“I will give them hearts that recognize me as the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.” (Jeremiah 24:7, NLT)

“Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’” (Zechariah 1:3, NLT)

“Return to Me.”

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HOME

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HOME

Home is where the heart is, and your heart is where your treasure is. So treasure your home. Both here and now and now and forever.


I’ve been thinking a lot lately about “home” — not just our earthly dwelling place or physical residence, but also our heavenly resting place where we’ll forever dwell in His presence.

Our earthly home is here and now,

full of work to do and much to tend to.

Our heavenly home is now in forever,

full of work to do and much to tend to.

Since we live in the tension of the two, we must honor God by the way we tend the two.

We can’t be too heavenly minded to be any earthly good, but we also can’t be too earthly minded to be any heavenly good.

We have kingdom work to do here on earth. We have a God to praise and families to raise. Our homes are to be havens where we can live in light of Eternity until Eternity becomes reality and Heaven is our home.

Home is so much more than a mere dwelling place. It’s all the things that give that place and its people purpose and passion. Pondering it all has truly given me a whole new perspective.

Home truly is where the heart is; therefore “do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭6:19-21‬)

So raise your gaze. Look up from the yuck so you don’t get stuck. Put down your phone. Pick up your Sword. Defend your home. Honor the Lord. Treasure home. View dirty floors as holy ground and messy rooms as sacred spaces. See home as humbling and hopeful. Find rest in the routine. Stay faithful in the familiar. Make home your primary mission field so it will produce an eternal yield.

Home is where the heart is, and your heart is where your treasure is. So treasure your home. Both here and now and now and forever.

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