My Rock and Foundation

I think the story about the Three Little Pigs is an excellent one to illustrate how we are to build the foundation of our lives and homes. It tells of how each little piggy built their homes from either straw, sticks, or bricks. The first two get blown away by the puff of the “big bad wolf”.

     The story is similar to what we are told in Matthew 7:25, “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” 

     My Rock is God! The big bad wolf is Satan and his ways.  So how do I want to build my house? 

Strong Foundation

I enjoy looking at floor-plans, not that I ever want to be involved in building another house, yet I remember how the foundation of my house was set. It reminded me of the scripture in Luke “…they dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.” 
     At the time I was not much interested in the foundation or the main structure; like insulation and such. It was my husband’s job to take care of that. I was waiting for the interior part – the one where I could start putting things inside. I was thinking about stuff to make it pretty not what would really make it a home. The things unseen but felt should really have been on my mind, first and foremost, in order to create a home with a solid,  unshakable foundation. Things like: 

            Love for family and others  

    Forgiveness toward all  

    Consideration of other's feelings and opinions

    Humility and Humbleness to wipe away the dust of pride 

    Prayer at all times daily

   As I was thinking about what to add to the above I remembered the Fruit of the Spirit. Those all should be in the home:

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control

     These are the things that make a strong foundation, not just in the home but in my life. If I apply the Fruit Of The Spirit, I become stronger; my foundation becomes stronger, and I am better able to stand should my foundation becomes shaky.

                             

  

 

 

 

The Three Little Pigs

     Most everyone, I am sure, remembers the children's story of the Three Little Pigs.  One built his house of straw, the other built his house of sticks, but the third one built his house of bricks.  The big bad wolf came along and blew down the house of straw and sticks, but he could not "huff and puff and blow" down the house made of bricks.
     I tell this story to relate it to 1 Corinthians 3:10-15  "According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it.  But each man must be careful how he builds on it.  For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.  If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward .  If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
     This tell me that as a Christian and believer in Jesus, the Son of God, I am to put Jesus first in my life.  Then I am to perform all my work to the best that I can, being watchful to follow the Ten Commandments and apply the scriptures to my daily walk.   This also means I am to love others, put judgmental attitudes behind me, toss away criticism of others, steer away from gossip, and develop quality workmanship.  I am to be respectful, prompt, courteous, forgiving, and appreciative.  God expects me to build my foundation, not from hay and sticks, but bricks of gold and precious stones that cannot be burned.  He expects the best I have to offer both at home and on the job, always ready to share the wonderful story of salvation.  

The Carpenter's Foundation

     We studied about the foundation and the cornerstone set by Jesus last Sunday.  It reminded me of how precise a carpenter has to be when he constructs a home.  However, no matter how solid man sets a foundation, there is only one which will truly stand, and that is the foundation and cornerstone set by Jesus.   No other can raise a temple in three days, but when Jesus died on the cross He raised a temple in three days, and he established Himself as the very cornerstone of life.    Ephesians 2: 20b "...Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone."  John 2:19 "Jesus answered  and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

The Carpenter’s Foundation

Wham, wham, wham!
Tap, tap, tap!
You could hear the echo of the hammer
  as the boy worked along side his dad-
  a simple life portrayed.
It was just a carpenter’s trade,
  one the boy had come to do.

Wham, wham, wham!

Tap, tap, tap!
The foundation soon to be hammered in place;
  the cornerstone set!
A death to cover mankind's debt.
This Carpenter would build the way
  with blood and sweat.

Wham, wham, wham!

Tap, tap, tap!
Do you hear it pounding in your ear-
  the nails being set in place,
  see His pain, sweat, and blood
  dripping with His labor of love?

Wham, wham, wham!

Tap, tap, tap!
One cross with 3 long nails-
  the people's anger unfurled.
A foundation set before the world.
Behold the tender embrace
  of a Carpenter come to build a dwelling place;
A cornerstone set by His nail-scarred hand,
  unshakable as the earth quaked and rocks rent the land.

Wham, wham, wham!
Tap, tap, tap!
The final nail in place;
  the Cross slammed into the ground.
Darkness fell and silence was the sound-
  a death, a resurrection, a call!

Listen! Rid your doubt,
  heed His shout,
  “It is finished! Come unto me."
By the Carpenter's nail-scarred hand,
   He has set us free.
                             Mary Crisp Jameson