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“By wisdom a house is built,

And by understanding it is established;

And by knowledge the rooms are filled

With all precious and pleasant riches.”

Proverbs 24:3-4

This week, as I celebrated one of my children, I realized again how much I feel deep pleasure when I craft design, color, and beauty and become an artist in my home. After so many years, almost 41, it has become second nature—and a deeply gratifying habit of life. I gather my worn dishes, mugs, set the table, play music, light candles, fix a beloved, old recipe and magically, everything comes to life. As women, one of the defining qualities intrinsic in being made in God's image, is the divine ability to create, to cultivate, to subdue, and to take all of the raw materials of our lives and to craft them into something beautiful.

When God laid the foundations of the universe, the splendor and magnificence of vibrant color, eye-captivating beauty, resilient, melodious sounds, the spontaneous response of the shimmering, sparkling morning stars was to celebrate with heavenly choruses singing His praises and worth, while the sons of God shouted and celebrated wildly with joy. (Job 38:6-8) What an overwhelming display of vibrant, heart-filling celebration of His glory it must have been.

So, when we want to display just a small bit of the divine through the beauty of our home, it must encompass all of the moments of life. We must rule over our domains in such a way to have order, rhythms, traditions, and anchors in our schedule that provide for this divine reflection of what God has done.

The Spirit of home, stands at the doorway to compel those outside to enter into a place of life, comfort, rest, beauty.

But, you say, "My life is already so busy, I don't have time to add one more ideal."

The challenge, then, is to find a way to weave beauty, color, and celebration into an already busy life.

Be sure to get a copy of The Lifegiving Home for more on this topic!