As the children and hubster drove off to school this morning, I saw a window of opportunity to open my actual Bible (how odd that sounds!) instead of my Bible app.  Granted, I love my Bible app, because I have my reading plans, as well as about a billion different translations, all available at the swipe of a finger.  But when I’m alone in the house, especially with the steady hum of rain outside the window beckoning me to sit and relax, it is the perfect opportunity to truly sit with God.

This morning I was feeling especially scattered when I sat down to read. No matter which passage my eyes came to rest upon, it seemed as if the words merely floated over my head, instead if soaking into it.  I tried switching subjects, chapters, books, and nothing seemed to speak to me. Then I happened upon a passage that talked about when God restored Israel: Ezekiel 36: 32-35 says: Be
ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel! ³³ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. ³⁴ The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. ³⁵ They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.”  

It got me thinking about my “town”. I feel very blessed to be able to work hard and provide for my family, and to have what I know are God’s blessings in my life. My “town” is my home, my life, my businesses, my family’s footprint in this life, and what I touch on a daily basis. But how does God feel about the little town I’ve built for myself? Do I see fruitful and blossoming, the same thing that he sees lying in ruins? Do I see my world around me as perfect, where he sees it as desolate? It begs the question, Lord, how do I make sure that the city (i.e. life) you have given me is bringing you honor instead of lying desolate and in ruins? How can we women make sure that our “town” brings honor to God?

First, make sure to communicate with your city planner. You wouldn’t build a real city without a master plan, and someone in charge to oversee everything, right? Well we have someone in charge, but often we forget and try to take matters into our own hands. That can end up messy, and really, isn’t our meddling what tends to get us into trouble to begin with? Our communication should be two-way talk and listen, not just us talking. And talking. Aaaaannnnnd talking some more. (Guilty over here!)

Two, make sure we are doing things that are pleasing to him while we’re in our town. For instance, in my businesses, I have committed to never tell a lie. That means not lying to a hostess to tell her I can be there at a certain time when I can’t, or to tell someone an item costs a certain price when it doesn’t. 


Three, make sure you are bringing your children up in a way that pleases God. This is hardest for me when I listen to music. There is some music from the popular radio station on my iPod, that I won’t let them listen to. It’s fun, and danceable, but some of the words, while not swear words, are still not positive and encouraging for them to listen to, so I don’t let them. But if it’s not okay for them, why is it okay for me? It shouldn’t be. What is holy and presentable for one should be holy and presentable for all, right?

Four, make sure your town is open for viewing. Have you ever had someone want to come to your house and you had to tell them “uhhhh… How about an hour from now?” because it wasn’t presentable? But God sees everything. Sometimes we think we need a minute to clean things up, forgetting that God has been watching our houses and towns all along. We – and I – forget that we can’t just allow God to see only the good parts of us on Sunday morning, because he sees us all week long.

As the season of Christmas flutters down on us like snow, may we take stock of our towns, and be thankful of the bounty we have that God sees, rather than the desolate wasteland we think it is. May we be thankful for our blessings, counting them one by one!