Let the Master Architect Build You Up

Every time we drive by the Barkman House and the Captain Henderson House I am amazed at how they look. Both were built in the late 1800’s. Still standing and still beautiful they are proof that the right architect building a house will help it to keep strength and remain standing for generations to come. Of course both have been taken well care of, but someone had to start with a plan. Without an architect with a plan it’s hard to conceive of anything that will be worth living in.

That is how it is with the life of a believer. Even though saved, you must still have a plan for your life. Someone has to orchestrate things so that you are built up correctly and can stand the faith test of time.

There are two major architects in the world today. They are satan and God. Both are outstanding builders. Both want your business. Both want to build your house. One wants to lock you in forever, just like a bad mortgage. The other wants you to freely come and go with no burdens to keep you stationary.

Whoever you let build your house is the one that will ultimately decide how you live. The enemy of your soul wants to build the house. He will showcase all the flaws mistakes guilt chains and locked doors. And yet even though he builds on your fears and worries and unbelief, you will get all the blame for the poor workmanship. He won't take responsibility for a thing even though he will kill steal and destroy everything. All the time he is building he will tell you about yourself and your home: no good, not enough, poor quality, reject, impossible, second hand. He will try to build you a false façade but the interior will be gutted and nothing will be there to keep you safe and warm throughout your lifetime.

If God builds the house, there is an entirely different outcome.  He begins with the Perfect Plan, which is His Word. His tools are the Truth of His Word. He builds your interior first by giving you a Savior. 

 Jesus changes everything.  Then He gives you His architectural book, He hides nothing from you. He shows you how your home will be solid as though built on the Rock.  Every room will be pristine for you are washed in the blood of the lamb.  He will guide you into a home full of joy and peace. He will talk to you along the way and remind you that He has made all things new, including you. Perfected, gifted, strong, courageous, invincible, first run. His workmanship will stand the test of your time on earth. And as He is the finest builder in heaven or earth, He will get all the glory. You won’t care that He gets the glory because you know that without the Master Architect you would be nothing.

I don't know about you but I'd rather choose to give God all the glory knowing that His ways are most magnificent. It’s hard sometimes because we are human. We like to take matters into our own hands and do our own choosing. But when we let God choose for us and work through us He creates a masterpiece that will show forth the praises of Himself, for He brings us out of darkness and into the light of His glory and grace.

Oh beloved, maybe you’ve been building on a poor foundation. You may have been trying to build your own house but all your co-workers have left you high and dry. Things are about to fall in. You have been crying in the mess, but it’s time to cry out to the Only One who can fix the foundation, redeem the plan and renew the interior. Jesus will come and together with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, they will work as a team to set your home in order. Your life will be polished with His Word and you will shine God’s glory for the world to see. Others will come in and out of your life to be blessed by the workmanship and you will share that God came in and changed everything. What is breaking your heart right now will be remodeled so that you can live safe and warm with the Lord no matter what.

God loves you and He’s for you and that’s why He will come and help in whatever situation. He will let you know Him like a best friend. He will care for you like a Father. And He will build on the foundation that no man can destroy. Rejoice and let Him start building again as you live in the Light of His Word.

Matthew 7:25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Colossians 1:11-13 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light. For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son. NLT

1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Things Crumbling Around You?

When Danny decided to take the wall out between our living room and dining room, I was concerned about the support for those 16 feet of open wall.  He assured me that it was not load-bearing and that things would be fine. He beefed up the opening at the top with a couple of extra boards, so that it all matched. But the true support for the ceiling is due to the structure above you cannot see. 

There is no uneasiness in me when I walk underneath the opening. I don’t duck or dodge, thinking that any moment the ceiling will fall in. I can see no sagging or lowering of the ceiling or the support.  I don’t spend all my time worrying if this is going to work in the long run.  I don’t lay awake at night wondering if I’ll wake up in the morning and the support will have given way.  I just trust what my husband told me and live in the light of his knowledge about what I cannot see.

I know there are times, you may be going through it right now, where the support of a loved one or a friend or a pastor has given way. Maybe your own problems have caused you much sorrow and dismay. You may be hurting even now that it has all crumbled on top of you. Your heart is aching, your belief system is swaying and your faith is hanging in the breeze. You trusted and you believed in them, in yourself, but you were caught in the demolition anyway.  

Maybe you’ve been waiting for the answer found in God’s Word. You lie awake at night hoping, praying, seeking and yielding. Keep trusting Him for His Word is true and His care is complete.  He always answers and His answer is perfect for you no matter what your eyes may tell you and no matter what your heart may fear.

Oh beloved, God is your support! Even when no other person on earth supports you, you will remain standing if you trust in what you cannot see! He is the strength for your journey, the bearer of your load and the true support in every situation.  Demolition may be going on all around you, the foundations of the world may be crumbling, but you can trust God. He’s speaking to your heart this morning isn’t He? He whispers love words into your heart as He says go ahead and walk this walk of faith with Me. I AM the way, the truth and the life.  I AM able to hold you up like no one else. I AM your protection, I AM your guardian and fearless leader. What I say is true. What I AM is faithful. Wherever you go, whatever falls around you, I will be there to keep you strong so that you can endure all the way. I AM your trustworthy Savior and I love you.

Rejoice in His love today, beloved! For your foundation is solid and your way is safe as long as you trust in Him and walk in the light of His Word!  He is for you and that will let you rest in His promises and trust what you cannot see forever!

Psalm 46:1-2 &11 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.  So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.  The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.

Psalm 81:1 Sing praises to God, our strength! Sing to the God of Jacob!

2 Samuel 22:19  They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the Lord was my support. (NAS)

Psalm 33:21 For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name.

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation--so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?

Psalm 4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.

Will Your Foundation Stand?

Watching home makeover and home building shows is enlightening.  I mean, we just see a house, we love how it’s made and we want it. Some of us like different nuances of a house – modern, country, log cabin, rustic. But we all like houses. And we are all builders.

One thing that pops up on these shows continually is foundation issues. From Holmes on Homes to This Old House, each one of the hosts looks closely at the foundation to see if there’s a problem. Without a solid foundation, even the best of homes will have problems.

For homes older than 100 years, it is especially important to make sure it’s right from the bottom up.  Sometimes it has to be partially torn out and rebuilt to make the strength needed. Sometimes new homes have been made poorly in part because the builder didn’t care or made shortcuts that compromised the integrity.  These have to be shored up and redone, so that the beautiful new home stays standing in the rain, in the drought and the winds of time.

A sure foundation is the part of every believer’s life. Without the proper start, there’s nothing to build your faith on. Without the proper construction, there’s nowhere to stand. And without the proper builder, there’s really a trust issue. We cannot hope to live life to it’s fullest without making Christ our foundation. He is our solid rock and all other ground truly is sinking sand. We cannot hope to make it in this world and finish triumphant without making the Word of God our go to manual for all our life’s plans.

Oh beloved, God wants to be the Builder of your foundation! He has to be the chief cornerstone of all you build on in your household of faith. He’s the strength beneath you, the firm ground you walk on and the trustworthy finisher for all of your life. His love compels Him to guide you, direct you, and keep you safe in all that you do.  His love is outlandish! So much love He has for you that He will be there for you when your life is crumbling, when your heart is breaking, when your zeal is lagging and when your life is ending. He even took care of your heavenly home – making a home for you in glory that will stand forever!

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.

Matthew 7:25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. (NAS)

John 14:2 There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

Psalm 37:18 Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.

Bogged Down? Get Out God's Assignments and Praise Him!

When we lived in Tyler we had a huge detached double garage at the back of our lot. This is where I learned to love being a teacher. I had a chalkboard and I loved to write assignments on the board. Oh they’d be long, long assignments! Usually playing school only involved me and Dee Dee, a neighbor. But we’d play! Assignment seemed to always fascinate me. I liked having something to do, a list to remind myself and then to cross it off the list as I accomplished it.  I think that’s one of the reasons Precept Bible Studies was so appealing to me.  We had homework assignments during the week. We would be sent home to glean from the Word.  If you didn’t do your homework, you could not share in class the next week.  I’ll forever be grateful for our time as both Precept students and as Precept teachers.  Learning to study the Bible in depth and find nuggets of Truth for yourself – learning what it really means – gave us an incredible foundation for our faith.

Just as there were assignments in school and in Bible study, there are assignments in life. Some are wonderful – love, joy, peace, faithfulness, gifts of the Holy Spirit, to name a few.  Others aren’t so good.  Fear, condemnation, pessimism, gloominess, hopelessness, despair, to name a few.   One set of assignments is given to us freely by the Lord when we are saved.  The other set of assignments is from the enemy of our very souls. As with all homework we must be careful of what we’re working on – for what you “work on” is what you become proficient in. 

Oh beloved! Run to the Lord this morning and learn your rightful coursework! His Assignment Book is full of good words to learn, great precepts to walk in and awesome power for living!  Every good and perfect gift is from Him! Every sorrowful and depressing gift is from another. God says to you this morning, Come to me, Your Teacher, and learn of Me. When you know Me and My Word, you won’t be tempted to follow the wrong assignments. All of my gifts, every single one of them, are good and pleasing and kind.  I love you, and because of My Great Love, you have no worries concerning learning of Me. I AM for you, so you have no worries concerning following Me! The only way to reject untruth being spoken into your life is to learn MY Truth! Come, beloved, you are heavy laden with lies and discouraging words! Let Me speak Truth into your life so that when it’s all said and done, you will be able to live as more than a conqueror!

God loves you and His Word proves it.  He’s for you and His precepts light the path for you. Hallelujah to the King!

John 17:17 “Make them holy by Your Truth; teach them Your word, which is truth.”

Psalm 19:8  The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. (NAS)

Psalm 119:14-16 I will study Your commandments and reflect on Your ways.  I will delight in Your decrees and not forget Your word.

Psalm 119:110  The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts. (NAS)

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Shaky Ground? Run to the Solid Rock!

House Hunters International is one of my favorite shows. It’s almost like watching a travel show, seeing the beauty of other places across the globe. Things are not all the same when it comes to kitchens and bathrooms. American homes are pretty lavish in regards to the size and style of rooms.  It also amazes me that people have a budget for home buying that would make me able to retire comfortably for the rest of my life.  While I love the views and seeing inside homes, when it comes to balconies I have a hard time watching as home searcher and realtor step out to stand so near a sheer drop! 

Houses and apartments built in other centuries certainly must be less than steady! And the view from the high rises in some countries is literally breath taking.  I find myself holding my breath as I watch them lean over and look around! I always want to make sure wherever I am standing is firm and stable. I want solid ground beneath me. I do not feel safe unless I am sure of the platform holding me up.

Sticky situations and difficult days can be like standing on shaky ground.  We find ourselves sick to our stomach or reaching for something to hold onto while our world spins out of control. Often the view is horrendous and we want to step back to where we last felt secure. Often though, security is nowhere to be found.

Oh beloved, are you burdened by the sights in your life? Are you seeking for solace where none can be found? Do you feel as though your life has left you out on a balcony that’s rusted and weakened? Are you, like countless people across this land, wondering where the foundations of our faith have gone? Are you sinking in the sand of regret, fear and sorrow? Perhaps you are at a time of decision and you wonder which House you are going to abide in – the house of flesh or the house of faith? It’s time to turn to the One Solid Foundation left in this world!

Run to the Lord this morning and let Him be your sure foundation!  Let Him be to you a place of refuge and safety for all your needs, your hopes, your dreams and your desires. He alone is your Hope. He alone is your Source of joy, confidence, value, pleasure and peace! In this world you may see turmoil everywhere in the view outside the windows of your life, but in Him, you will find complete safety and a sure dwelling place built firmly on the Rock! Seek out His Word and stand upon it, for it will hold you when nothing else will. It will see you through when all else has fallen and it will keep you all the way to heaven! Oh rejoice, beloved, for He loves you and He’s for you and that’s what really matters.

Psalm 16:11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

1 Samuel 15:22  But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.

2 Samuel 22:32   For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock?

Matthew 7:24 Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.

Proverbs 10:29 The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright, but ruin to the workers of iniquity.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to Him and are safe.

The Lord Wants to Be the Foundation of All You Do

Some friends painted their rent house years ago and it looked great! Being a rent house they just wanted to get it ready for renters. It sure made the house look inviting and well kept…for a few months. Unfortunately it wasn’t long at all before huge chunks of the new paint began to peel away. I asked Danny why that paint was peeling so badly and so quickly. He explained that without the proper prep work eventually the covering will give way. It’s what’s underneath that makes for the success of the paint job. Paint can just be thrown on to look good but it won’t last.


Have you noticed that when you put Him first other things blossom and produce lasting results? Have you ever wondered why things falter or fail even when you do your best?

Oh beloved! The Lord wants to be your foundation for everything! It’s only when we put Him first, let Him cover all we do and say that our lives won’t peel apart. Run to Him this morning and ask Him to be the groundwork for establishing your life. He loves you so much that He’ll never turn you down for asking. Not only that, He will come in and “refurbish” anything you have left Him out of. His heart’s desire is not for our ruin but for our complete restoration! You are no rental in His eyes, you are bought with a price and He takes care of you as full owner! Thank Him this morning for His Awesome Complete Love!



Isaiah 33:6 NLT In that day He will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD will be your treasure.
Psalm 111:10 Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.

1 Timothy 6:19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

Are You Traveling Alone?

Last week-end we decided to take a leisurely ride with another couple. Neither of us have much free time to ride, but Saturday morning came and we met to eat breakfast together and decide what we were going to do. As we were eating a biker couple came in and the wife started up a conversation. They were from Louisiana and had been here 3 days but only been to Hot springs and back. They wondered if there were any good roads around the area. Danny knows the roads well so after some talk, the couple decided to ride with us. The route Danny took them on was beautiful and they saw sights they had no clue of. Oh beloved, are you out riding alone? Are you wondering where the beauty of the Lord is? Lone riders in unknown territory rarely know the best routes. Have you lost sight of the view from God's perspective? There is a better way. Don't go it alone. Run to the Ultimate Guide, the Word of God and ask the Lord. He will send you to the right "ride group", He'll give you good company to travel with and He'll guide you all the way to His destination.

Ephesians 2:20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

Acts 1:14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer..."

1 John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him