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Greetings from Home Dear Blog-Nog Friends,

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A few days ago, in the midst of a beautiful, sunny Summer day, a sudden rain drew me outside for a refreshing walk through our back lawn greenery.

Along the path I met Mr. Turtle.  He was so intent on hurrying home to get out of the rain that he didn’t deviate from his course one bit.  Instead of sliding off the paved path and hiding in the grass, as he normally would at the sight of human feet, he stretched his little legs for all they were worth, scurrying to get to the shelter of home, as he passed close by my feet.

It was such a rich picture of the phrase “there’s no place like home,” that I stood in the rain to watch Mr. Turtle’s zeal, heading for his own little house (he lives under the north side of our back porch deck).  Taking a short cut, he encountered a log blocking his entrance.

Then, like a camouflaged, miniature Marine helmet with legs, he tackled the “log obstacle course” – he kept slipping back, but kept trying.  Home was just one heavenly tumble away, as he wobbled on top of the log, then vanished into the cozy privacy of home.

By now, I was drenched, and hurried to the shelter of my own house.  Inside, reflecting on Mr. Turtle’s house took me back to my reasons for writing the Christian Mother Goose selection called “God Planned Houses.”  Here are three of those verses:

As we look throughout creation, the plethora of God’s wonderful creature world shows us, over and over, the variety of ways each one establishes its own house.  Psalm 104 lists many of these creature-homes.  “The trees of The Lord…the cedars of Lebanon, which He hath planted; Where the birds make their nests: As for the stork, the fir trees are her house.  The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the badgers.” (verses 16-18)

All of this activity is a great panorama of how close to the heart of our God is the principle of “home,” even to His creatures.

The Christian Mother Goose book, “Stories of Jesus,” is dedicated in loving memory to my dear friend, Mrs. Helen Doyle.  Her love for Jesus was reflected in a home of such warm hospitality, love and laughter, that those very Christ-like expressions brought about the following amazing story, as told to me by Helen.

The Doyle family lived on a farm in Western Colorado.  It bordered the beginning of a large stretch of uncultivated land.  A small, primitive cabin hovered on its horizon.  One day, Helen’s husband, Gilbert, noticed smoke coming out of the cabin’s chimney.  He assumed someone had bought that undesirable property.  Gilbert was right.  A few weeks later that “someone” came knocking at their door, late one night.  An anxious, very young lady said, ”I’m your new neighbor.  I knocked because I heard your laughter and happy conversation, and I knew you would help me.”

Her name was Becca, and her mission was to find help to get her sick, young husband, Bill, to a hospital.  The Doyle’s immediately took Becca under their wing, and took Bill to the local hospital, where they found he had pneumonia.  While he recovered, the Doyle’s took care of his pretty, young wife.

Nothing was asked about the reason for choosing such unproductive land, and why they lived in the bleak cabin remained a mystery.  But Gilbert and Helen soon won the hearts of the young couple, who seemed to need their friendship so much.

And while Bill and Becca loved the warmth of the Doyle’s Christian home, they politely declined any invitations to church.  Until one Sunday morning they said they would like to go to the small town church with Gilbert and Helen.  What great joy it brought, as Bill and Becca gave their hearts and lives to The Lord Jesus that day, and became “fellow citizens of the household of God.”

Then the mystery was revealed.  And how great are the intricate weavings of The Lord as evidenced by Bill’s retelling of their story.  He was the grandson heir to a large American enterprise. He had become so disillusioned and distressed with the emptiness and false glitter of the lifestyle he grew up in, that he and Becca (though very young) got married and walked away from the big city.  They boarded a plane without any plans, and got off in Grand Junction, Colorado. Then, after driving aimlessly around, they purchased the isolated land by the Doyle farm.  But, a new, transformed life and adventure now lay before them. (How large is God’s net for the “fishers of men!”)

Now, let’s go back to the theme of home building. It’s the privacy, privilege and ownership of your own front door that establishes the American dream.

In these tumultuous last days, when hearts can tremble, it is comforting to remember that it was God’s plan in the first place, for a home to embrace the liberty, love and life of a family.  How gracious that even God respects the privacy of our home and heart.

As we look at the current world political systems invading the sacred ground of homes today, we see how stark the contrast is between God’s plan for the principle of a home and that, for instance, of the 1848 Communist Manifesto, co-authored by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.  On the abolition of private property, let their own words speak, quote: “Socialism: A system of society or group living in which there is no private property.”

May those ominous words, dear reader, be a solemn warning as we cast our votes this November election.  Remember our Founding Fathers and the sacrifice they made to give birth to the Republic of the United States of America. And may I paraphrase: “Take heart, who knoweth that we have come to America for such a time as this!”

The Lord Jesus, speaking to trembling hearts in John 14:1-2, encourages us to “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions….”  The glories of Heaven are here represented as God’s “House.”  The “House” of our Father God – The God of true “Home.”  A home of joy, fellowship, abundance, security and eternal life.  The Lord Jesus Christ Himself stands at the front door to welcome all who put their faith and trust in Him.

And may reflections of that Heavenly Home be seen in our own homes here on earth – even to include little Mr. Turtle.

Thank you for your reader-fellowship today, and God bless you,

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Christian Mother Goose®

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