harnessing the good

last weekend we took the kids to the house with a very specific goal in mind:

blessing our home.

we had spent some time looking through the bible for verses and passages that spoke to us so that we could write them on the very bones of the house. why? because god told us to. in a manner of speaking.

1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. ... 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength ... 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

- deuteronomy 6:1-2, 5, 9

that is written on one side of the front door. good mojo every time someone comes or goes.

the kids actually enjoyed the exercise, and it opened up the bible in a whole new way for henry. i showed him how to use a concordance (dude, i went to a bible college. bet you didn't know that.) and he ran with it, looking up the words and ideas that are meaningful to him. he handed me some wonderful verses, and when i told him to pick his favorite for his room, he surprised me.

i guess our advice that he "choose his friends wisely" has sunk in.

harper had actually just finished vacation bible school when we did this, so there was a particular verse that she liked for her room:

then she turned around, channeled her mama, and wrote this:

(mama tends to be more of a new testament girl.)

i chose something a little less spiritual for the master bedroom ... i used the verse that was on marc's and my wedding program:

others around the house that are our favorites:

between the kids' rooms ...

(and i think we shall truly love our neighbors.)

in case you're wondering, marc also found a verse that's close to his heart:

("proverbs 13:4 lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper." in case you can't read it. so spiritual, he is.)

of course, the bible didn't provide all of the quotes we wrote ...

hey, i believe in all books. what can i say.

Comments

[Kimber-Leigh]

i love this idea...and i love the verses chosen here :) especially henry's!

[Anne Dolin]

What a wonderful idea! In the jewish faith, we have the commandment on a small portion of the Torah, rolled up and placed inside a mezzuah.