How many of you recall when you were growing up the place where everyone went to hang out. It was usually a home where it didn't matter when you showed up you were welcomed. I recently heard a teaching regarding examining whether you lived in a house or a home.

So what makes the difference?

I have been in homes that were rich in love and acceptance and poor in respect to economics. I have been in homes that have been rich in love and acceptance that were filthy. I have been in homes that were rich in love and acceptance and all the furnishings were like Better Homes and Gardens.

So wealth or the lack of it doesn't seem to matter.

Even cleanliness didn't seen to stop it from being a home.

What the common denominators for me were a place where the people didn't put on airs. The people acted like you wre a family member. There was no sense of you being in the wrong place doing the wrong thing.

I think of times where I have visited at people's houses and ended up going in the wrong closet to get something like a towel and the host looking at me in horror. I had stepped into the secret place...crossed the boundary..went beyond the "guest" lines. There is something you feel in your spirit when you step over that line.

However, in a home, there is a safety and a sense of freedom. There are still boundaries but there is more a sense of what's mine is yours and what's yours is mine.

What defines a house? A house is a place to store your things. It may be a place where you store your people. You come and look at them on your way in and out. You may even have a conversation with them on occasion. But basically it is a stopping off place to get ready to go the next place you are going to. A house is a place that can be decorated to give an appearance of a home. It may have warmly dressed rooms and all the amenities that one would need to feel like they were in a home but there is something that keeps your spirit from feeling at rest. Your spirit realizes that the dressing are just a fascade.

What do you think makes a house a home?

What are you doing every day to create the environment, to build the relationships, to bring your mind back into the place you call home?

Many people come to their house but their mind is only on things outside the home. Can you settle in your mind to be home when you get through the door and leave the outside stuff outside?

What about Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Father God? Are they a house or a home? Do you just use them as a stopping off place to get a fill up and then you are off again? Are you at home with them or do you just have the window dressings so that it appears like everything inside is pretty but really you don't feel at home with one or all of them.

I have found that often people feel at home with one or two of the diety but rarely all three. I challenge you to examine if there is a member of the diety that you do not communicate with and begin to uncover why. Make your heart a home so that as Jesus stands at the door and knocks, you can open that door and he will come in and sup with you. Community is taught to us from our Father God. Did you ever realise how often God talks about eating and food? Relationship is surrounded with sharing food.

When I was growing up, I always ended up at my best friend Sheila's house. Her house was a great place to be away from my house. It had a lot of cool stuff in it. Her parent's were always at work so there were no rules. We would hang out together and do what kids do. Then we would go to her grandma's home and she would give us an afternoon snack. It was warm and loving at her home and we were always welcome!

Blessings on your development of your home!