How To Prop Up A Sagging House

Joshua 24:15 – And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (KJV)

We have inherited two huge family Bibles from the Poole side of our union, which are resting on the bedroom floor, all twenty-four-plus kilograms, until I find a permanent home for them. Between their inch-thick covers is a tremendous amount of additional Biblical information, together with a place for family records — nestled between the Old and New Testaments. Amongst the records in one Bible is an official marriage certificate for a marriage solemnized in England, dating back to 1848. Although the Bible weighs at least twelve kilograms, it had been carefully packed amongst the couple's treasures, and brought to the new world — Canada.

Much has been televised recently relating to the lifestyle of the pioneers of this country. Each day appeared to present a different and often a more difficult problem as they endeavoured to carve out a life from a stubborn wilderness. We can envision the stress upon their marriages, the stress upon their physical resources, and, indeed, the strain upon their very spiritual foundations. Where did they find the confidence, the courage to continue? The many bookmarks made from thinly-cut tree bark found throughout the Bible suggest that the original owners resorted to the Word of God, time and time again. We, too, enter into each day with its challenges — very different from those many years ago — but we still have financial challenges, which seem to rest heavily upon relationships, physical stresses, and, indeed, many circumstances which enter into our lives unexpectedly. We, however, can resolve to take the same action as those pioneers of long ago: to seek wisdom and direction from God's Word, to study the Bible as a family in the home or in a church setting. Then we shall find the strength, confidence, and courage to meet the challenge of our hour. Yes, we can discover a foundation worth building upon, which will never sag, but will always be firm, solid, and secure.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, help us not to become discouraged when unexpected difficulties arise, but to steady ourselves upon Your Word. Help us to make every decision of our lives within the framework of Your Word. We thank You, heavenly Father, for Your Son, Who is the living Word, through Whose authority we bring this petition. Amen.

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