Phase 2 of The House Behind The Trees ~ The downstairs #TeelsBuildaHouse

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So we are starting the downstairs ... I HATE to say basement because we had a basement in our old home, where you opened a door and went down stairs separated from anything else. It was a finished basement complete with a bedroom, craft room, family/game room and we spent a lot of time there ~ our oldest son moved down there in jr high and stayed through high school ... until we finished the master suite in the attic then he moved back up to the bedroom floor with his brother and sister.  So here our downstairs is open to the rest of the house, you can see through to the outside from the top of the stairs going down because we have a wall of windows down there as well.  We really didn't plan to have a kiddo down there but since we are having to do a switch-a-roo with rooms (I'll explain later) he is moving home soon and will be downstairs. Anyhoo, our downstairs will house our main family room, our middle sons room, a full bath and kitchenette.  I thought it would be fun ...
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Be Who God Created You to Be

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"God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’" Job 37:5-6

What would it look like for you to admit today what you are and are not made for? God says to the snow, "Fall on the earth." That’s it, just do one thing, fall. Then He says to the rain shower, "Be a mighty downpour." Essentially, He’s saying just do the thing I’ve actually created you to do ~ you are rain, so rain. You’re snow, so snow. Do your thing. Do the thing you love to do, what you’ve been created to do. I love the simplicity of that, the tremendous weight it takes off my shoulders. God’s asking me to be the thing He’s already created me to be.

So many of us twist ourselves up in knots trying desperately to be something we're not or someone else ~ trying to fulfill some endless list of qualities and capabilities that we think will make us feel loved, wanted, safe or happy. In reality, that’s an exhausting way to live ... I know because I’ve done it and some days still struggle with it!

We’ve gotten wrapped up in what someone else wanted us to be, what we thought would keep us happy and safe and gain us approval. I’m finding there’s tremendous value in traveling back to our essential selves, the loves and skills and passions God planted inside us long ago. When I look at my life, I see the passions and dreams I’ve carried through my whole life being wife, being a mom, being a teacher, even things as simple as being creative, loving food, travel, reading, golf,etc. These are things I’ve always loved, and they continue to bring me great joy and fulfillment ... these are the desires, passions and dreams that God put right into my heart.

We often fight who God created us to be by creating layers of expectation and pressure that are unattainable. We live in a culture that tries to define what it means to be a woman, what it means to be a success, what it means to live a valuable life, instead be who He created you to be and do what He created you to do! The snow is only meant, created and commanded to fall. The rain only meant, created and commanded to pour down. You were only meant, created and commanded to be who you are!

Dear Heavenly Father, today, please give me the courage to live the life You’ve called me to with the same contentedness and confidence as the falling snow or the pouring rain. Please help me to walk away from roles and expectations that other people have for me, and to live in peace with the exact way You created me! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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