19 May 2011

Making Our House A Home

Where we live really matters. I'm not talking apartment versus house. Renting versus owning. Living in a neighborhood versus living in a residence hall (which is what I do since I run the place).

What matters is how we feel when we're at home. When we walk in the door, do we let out a sigh of relief from the day and feel relaxed? Do we feel safe and comforted? Do we feel cozy (my favorite feeling)?

Does our home feel like a place where our family lives and loves?

If you're anything like me, you go to great lengths to fill your home with beautiful things. Purposeful items and memory-filled trinkets. You love a great Pottery Barn knockoff and would never buy what you could make (for much less mind you).

So I'd probably say that our homes feel like places where our families live and love and make messes and cuddle and jump on the bed and kiss goodnight.

But when we're at home, snuggled on the couch or washing the dishes, do we feel God?

Before we made our house a home, God was there, waiting for us to unpack and join Him. He fills every nook and cranny of our space and longs for us to view our homes as a place of worship and reflection. A place where we can dwell in His presence.

I love having beautiful reminders of Christ and His love around our home. Things I can see throughout the day to help me stop and think about Jesus. I also love having these little pieces around for others to see and know that our house serves the Lord.

I was honored to do a product review for (In)Courage and  DaySpring. Their Inspired Deals this month features items for our homes that celebrate our savior.


I was given this gorgeous piece by Urban Soul. 


Although it's a little hard to tell in the picture, it's not just pure black, but instead has a great texture of gray shades.



This month has been a hard one, and Kyle and I have needed to rely on the Lord's strength more than ever. We really can do anything through His strength is there when our strength isn't.

What do you have around your home that speaks to your faith? What reminders do you like to keep?

(In)Courage and DaySpring are offering a $35 credit so you can add a few things to your home. 

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment about what makes your house a home.

For extra entries, spread the word! Leave a comment each for bloggin, FBing, tweeting, etc.

Please know that shipping charges will apply to the winner's purchase. Giveaway ends Sunday at midnight.

How lovely is your dwelling place,
   LORD Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
   for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
   for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
   and the swallow a nest for herself,
   where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
   LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
   they are ever praising you.

Psalm 84:1-4


** I received this item free from Dayspring to review. The opinions in this post are all mine. 

13 comments:

  1. I love having my husband's photos on the walls. It makes this house OUR home.

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  2. always having family and friends near and dear is what makes my house a home :)

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  3. Curtains. I know it sounds weird but we've lived here in this house for about a year and a half and I swear, the only rooms that really feel like "home" are the ones with curtains!

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  4. I love that print! Wonderful! The one thing that really made our apartment feel like home to me was hanging photos/plaques on the walls. The first year or 2 that I was here I didn't hang anything up for fear of getting in trouble with the landlord. I was told I could put things in the walls just not a huge holes. When we got married we finally did that. We have wedding photos on our walls. We also have two pieces that have the poem, "Marriage Takes Three." What a beautiful reminder that our marriage requires Christ to function.

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  5. art on the walls! that's the first thing i always put up, in my dorm room, then my apartments, and now myy house. love your blog!

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  6. I would say the one thing that has made wherever we live a home is the truth of God's Word. I think of proverbs 24:3-"By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;". The only wisdom and understanding that my husband and I have come's from scripture. The truth of the Bible is all we know to live according to. In fact, every room in our house has at least one verse on the wall....except our bathroom. :)

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  7. I love inspirational art and having the Word of God displayed throughout my home.

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  8. I have a collection of angels that I love that were given to me by various family members and close friends during different times of my life either crisis or celebratory. I also have a frame with the verse from Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, The conviction of things not seen". I also have decorative crosses that for me are a daily reminder of the sacrifice God made by sending His only Son to die for our sins. They remind me to pray and lean on Him always. Right now we are leaning hard as we are going through life ending issues with my father.

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  9. My God, my husband and my sweet Alie make my house a home. OH and the Gizmo kitty! :) I need more reminders of just who my God is around my home and that is why I am entering this giveaway! :)

    Sending prayers for you and Kyle.

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  10. What a precious post! Funny enough our hand me down furniture. Hubs and I started off very young and took anything anyone wanted to give us. In time it all has come together and carries a story and so much love of those who stood with us and carried us through from the beginning!

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  11. Love, hope, and faith make my house a home!

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  12. I love sharing meals with friends and family at our house. It's what makes me feel like I can truly share my home with others.

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  13. I love that photo with you and your husband with the big balls. SO FUN!! I had a great time at our meet up on Sunday! :)

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Thank you for coming along for the ride with me. Your comments make my day!