“”Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV
As I’m writing today about our house, I am reminded of this passage in Ezekiel:
“And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.
Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.””
Ezekiel 37:3-5, 11-14 ESV
For both of us, this is more than the journey of building a house. We are walking in hope and a fresh experience of grace as we dream, plan, and watch these dry bones come to life. It’s breathing something sweet and refreshing into our own spirits in ways we did not expect.
In September, during an intense season, the Giardinos were in town and came to see our house. By way of blessing us, they wrote prayers and Bible verses on the “bones” and doorposts of our home. (And a few thoughts from the brothers!)
We love that the Word of God lives in the bones of our new home. And, while there is no magic to this and it’s now all covered by drywall and paint, we know it’s there and we will remember. A home built on the foundation of the Word of God is sure to withstand any trial.
The Giardino Journey 