HOMEMAKER MONTH - Week 1 with Mary Bastos

Lessons from Renovating a Home

'Create in me a clean heart O God, renew a right spirit within me'. Psalm 50:10

Renewal is so important in a Christian relationship. If we are content where we are in our walk with God, if we don't desire to be the best example of his character, are we really representing Him?

The external appearance of a house may look amazing but it's the internal structure that is key. When we establish a solid frame, we can start to 'beautify' the inside. When my husband Sandro and I were looking for a place to call home, a key element we took into consideration was the overall structure and foundation. It didn't matter to us if wallpaper was peeling, floors squeaked or carpets required changing because the structural integrity and layout was what really mattered. All other aspects of the home can be changed, improved, and adjusted. Just like our Christian walk, Jesus is the foundation upon which we build a life, a career but especially a home.

Here is a before photo (before we cleared, moved things around and added our hanging wall garden).

Like renovations we need to strip away the useless, damaged areas, the tangled weeds that choke our personal growth with Jesus. Don't be deceived that is this is an easy job. It may test your limits, break you down or even make you want to quit halfway. "I have told you these things, so that in my you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Like most life lessons, growth often comes through trials. Just as physical strength is built through exertion and straining against resistance, spiritual strength is developed in the hard times of life. "No pain, no gain" as they say. 'But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31).

When you love something, you get to know it. I always imagined renovating was all daisies and rainbows, when it's a whole lot of (slow moving) time, hard work, extensive research, and tight budgets. Our current project is our backyard and looking back I am so grateful for what we have already accomplished. The research on the plants alone was unbelievable. Each plant had its own catered needs of sunlight, water, and fertilizer. If you didn't know already, plants are expensive so you don't want to just 'wing it'. It’s rather exciting looking back at what we started with. Gratitude is a virtue most worthy of our cultivation. In the Christian life, gratitude is to be planted, watered, dressed, and harvested. Gratitude gets at the very essence of what it means to be created, finite, fallen, redeemed, and sustained by the God of all grace.

Just like each one of my researched plants, Jesus knows all our needs, our strengths, and our weaknesses. "O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, by behold, O Lord, You know it altogether” (Psalm 139:1-4).

Sandro and I have been abundantly blessed to even have a home and call it ours (shared with the bank), our safe haven. When so many in this world are lost and can only dream of what we have. To us, the most vital aspect of our home is having Jesus' right in the centre. Regardless of disappointments, setbacks, or negativity you may experience inside your home, if Jesus is your foundation, it will not be shaken. Our home is our base and I'm sure over the years it will be forever changing, adapting, improving as we go through all life stages and change, even ourselves. In saying this, our little home will take our lifetime to construct as we should always be working on and building our relationship with Jesus. "Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you" (2 Corinthians 13:11).

Thank you for reading along of how our journey is going, take a moment to reflect on your life. I encourage you to check your foundations, invest time in what matters, give thanks and gratitude for what you have and most importantly choose Jesus to be the centre of your home and heart. Xx

You can follow along with Mary and Sandro’s home renovations on their Instagram account @bastos_house