Then the priest shall come and look; and indeed if the plague has spread in the house, it is an active leprosy in the house. It is unclean. And he shall break down the house, its stones, its timber, and all the plaster of the house, and he shall carry them outside the city to an unclean place. Leviticus 14:44-45 (NKJV)
I broke down the day I read these verses in Leviticus. I’ve read Leviticus every year for 30 years and I don’t think I’ve ever cried, perhaps was confused, but probably never cried. It was just too much for me to be reminded of our home we lost. Our rental house was overtaken by mold and we are still searching for a new one. Our bodies continue to be in pain, too. The same day I read Leviticus 14, our youngest son and I were sitting together reading his school book, the section was called, “We love our homes.” Oh, the tears came running again!
Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of family and friends. He sent from above, He took us; He drew us out of many irrigation waters. Yet indeed we also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord, for whom we have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that we may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having our own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.
I thought it was time for a MOLD update. Many of you know we left our rental home in November 2022 due to a horrible mold outbreak. We were hoping to be back in it before Christmas, but the owner decided not to repair it. So, in January 2023 we tossed 7000 lb. of belongings and put the salvageable items in storage. We’ve been staying at a guest house the Lord graciously provided until we find a new home. Today I share an update using Bible verses I’ve read recently. It’s neat how we can always find our story in God’s Word…
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For to us it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.
My flesh has been in pain over it, and my soul has mourned over it. Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is listless because of my groaning. But Abba Father knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. For our God has tested us; He has refined us as silver is refined. He brought us into the net; He laid affliction on our backs.
But as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Montana: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. We went through fire and through water; but the Lord will bring us out to rich fulfillment. And I will hope continually, and will praise Jesus yet more and more. We have learned in whatever state we are, to be content: We know how to be abased, and we know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things we have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved! Look on my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins. Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed, save me, and I will be saved, for You are my praise. Unless the Lord builds a house, those who build it labor in vain. Oh, Lord you are my strength. My God shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Blessed be God, who has not turned away our prayers, nor His mercy from us!
Today’s TEA CUPP: Write a Psalm (perhaps Psalm 30 or 31) down the left column in your prayer journal. Now pour out your heart to the Lord Jesus on the right-hand side column.
All my life He has been faithful and He isn’t going to stop now!
Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson (with verses from Leviticus 14:44-45, Job 13:15, Job 14:22, Job 23:2, Job 23:10-12, Psalm 18:6, Psalm 25:18, Psalm 27:13, Psalm 28:8, Psalm 66:10-12, Psalm 66:20, Psalm 80:19, Psalm 71:14, Psalm 127:1, Proverbs 12:13, Jeremiah 17:14, 2 Corinthians 1:3-12, 2 Corinthians 7:6, Philippians 1:12, Philippians 1:29, Philippians 3:8-9, Philippians 4:11-13,19)