Renovating Your Heart
I write books and blog posts for Realtors and recently wrote a post about house flipping. My post made the point that you can’t just make a few cosmetic adjustments and hope to make a profit. A successful flip needs to dive deep, correcting structural flaws in the home. I finished writing and thought, wow, this applies to people as well!
Sure, I feel better about myself when my hair and nails are done and my makeup and outfit are on point. But without diving deep and tending to any structural—health and spiritual—flaws, I’m the cliché Realtors call house flops, “slapping lipstick on a pig.” (1 Peter 3 3:4)
In my article I point out that successful flips will gut places of the home that buyers find less ideal and turn it into something livable. This means breaking down walls, raising ceilings, and adding square footage.
Isn’t that what God does when we let him into all our crevices—past the façade?
He takes away the ugly places of our hearts, prepares them for newness. (2 Corinthians 5:17) We can all hold some pretty ugly things in our hearts, but when we receive God’s love and spend time in His word, those ugly places are gutted, so He can make way for the good things in store for us.
He breaks down walls I’ve built between me and others, allowing me to build relationship. The grace He extends to me flows into my broken relationships allowing wall-breaking forgiveness. With walls down, I realize I don’t need to be perfect—He is perfect enough for all of us—and I can develop real relationships with people, so that we can all share in God’s love.
He raises the ceiling on my dreams. When I think of how much He loves me, loves all of us, it is through faith that self-doubt and fear are erased. I’m able to go after big dreams that He’s placed in my heart, instead of settling for smallness. (Ephesians 3:20)
He increases the room in my heart. His great command for us is to love others (Mark 12:31). There’s no disclaimer on that command—nothing saying only people that look like you, or that are nice to you… all people. This causes me to look at everyone with the same love Jesus has for us, and my heart has expanded exponentially because of this.
These God-given upgrades far exceed any value lipstick or a new outfit gives me (no matter how much I still enjoy those things!).
When I combine my outer, cosmetic appearance (think new fixtures and paint for a home) and take care of my health (like a good house-flipper fixes any deficiencies in a home), and let God increase my value through gutting out the ugly and replacing it with grace, faith and love, I am the successful person I’m designed to be.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14NIV)
Are there places in your heart or life that you need God to renovate? Spend time in His word and prayer, asking for him to break down walls, raise ceilings and increase room for love.
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#GatherHer Fall Bash || Fashion & Philanthropy
Shop for a cause || Donate Clothes
***In response to the devestation that's happening right down the road from us, Created Woman has decided to help in best way we know how - through FASHION! So on 09.14.17, we are not just benefiting one good cause, but 2!!
**Who are we donating to?
Clothing:
This has become a personal story for us! 2 of our CW Family members live in the Golden Triangle of Texas - Beaumont - Port Arthur - Orange - which is my hometown, the place I grew up and love very much! As my own family sits stranded and I watch like many of you from a far as friends ask to be rescued and posting pictures of their homes surrounded by water, I know there has to be a way I can help. This is what we can do, this is all I know to do. Will you help?
15% of Shoping Sales:
Diana's I Will Live Foundation that supports Ovarian Cancer. Help HER!
In typical #GatherHer style, we will still do some very familiar things like have fun, shop and hear from an amazing speaker that we are super excited about! That won't change. But what has changed is our impact. It will be BIGGER!
**Bring***
~ Bags of clothes! We want to fill a u-haul! Clean out your closets to donate to the victims of Harvey! Every size women, men and children. After #GatherHer a team will go down to the Golden Triangle to drop off donated clothing to local churches in the area who are collecting for the cities of Orange, Beaumont & Lumberton. The cities where our CW Family lives!
~ Money to shop! 15% sales benefit Ovarian Cancer through Diana's I will live foundation. https://www.diwlf.org/
#TexasStrong #PrayforTexas #PrayforGoldenTriangle #PrayforHer