From Tents to Temples

I sleep with a fan. So, you might call me a fan-atic. Hardy-har-har. If we go on vacation, the fan goes. If we forget the fan on vacation, we buy one. I can't sleep without a fan and if I try it's very difficult! Which brings me to the tent.

Some people like sleeping out in the great outdoors...with no fan. I, however, am not one of those people. I like the Hampton Inn and Suites if you want to know my hotel of choice. There I can plug in my fan, prop myself up on all those white pillows, clickity-click on the TV and watch the History Channel to my hearts content, or until my kids want to watch Sponge Bob. I admit right here, I like Sponge Bob.

None of these luxuries are in a tent. I remember a few years back we went camping with two other couples. Mind you, the camp was about 15 minutes from my home and after that night I swore that if we ever went camping again that close to home I'd do the smores, go home, sleep in my bed and come back out for breakfast.

No fan. No sleep. Tree frogs and crickets do not replace the nice white noise of my fan. Benedryl helps a little.

Not a pretty lady the next day. Might bite your head right off.

need...fan.....need.....bed.

I need what I need when I need it. My world. My...tent.

Ah, the tent. The tent of my life that I can zip up and not worry about what goes on around me. I might not mean to do it because, you see, I'm a stay at home mom. I can't get out there. Or maybe I do get out there, but still the whole world revolves around me and my tent. What makes me happy? What makes me comfortable? What is convenient for me?

It's so easy in this great country to get caught up in all the hype that says we deserve this and that. How many commercials do we hear that say "You deserve it!" How do they know? What if I'm a jerk? Do I still deserve that car or that shampoo? Sure I do! I'm an American!

I'm not trying to steal joy here. I love a good bottle of shampoo as the next girl. I love my fan. I love all the perks of living here, but I don't want those things to become what I serve and what I think I deserve.

What do we deserve? According to the Bible...death.

ouch

What do we not deserve? Grace. Oh, but isn't it so amazing that we get that grace!? That love!? What should that well up in us!? If we grab on to the fact that we have been given grace beyond measure for doing nothing; if we let that get down into the fabric of our being and soak into the core of our belief system, our tent of self-service would fall apart and a whole world of love and service would open up!

That's the thing I've learned about being all about me. That when I am all about me, my world is teeny tiny. But, when I let Christ rule my heart and I begin to look out at the wonders of the world and those who need Him, my world is HUGE!

When I take my eyes of myself and put them on Jesus, there is an amazing world of opportunity!

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

When Jesus humbled Himself to save me He sat down at the right hand of God. What happens when I humble myself to HIM? Hmmm, let's see...

No eye has seen no ear has hear, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9

For those who love Him. HIM. Not me, myself, and I, but who love God. We have no idea what He will show us and use us for until we unzip ourselves from our flimsy tent and let Him make us into His Temple! THE place where He rules and He gets the glory. THE place where He is worshiped and served. The glorious temple of God. That's you. That's me. And that is good.

Hey, the Temple...that sounds like a good study. What do you think?