Wednesday 28 May 2008

A Beautiful Home!

Memorial Day Weekend mama and I went north for several days. We had it very rough - we had to stay in a log home designed and built by my brother. As you can tell it is just made out of simple ordinary trees from the woods. Look at the floor - what kind of wood is it? And what is unique about it? I will explain later.

Now let me talk about this log home. This home is not a log cabin kit. He didn't buy the wood from a lumber yard. He went to the woods with a portable saw mill and cut and sized the wood to fit where he needed. Different types of wood for different areas. Some hard wood (Oak, Maple, Birch, etc.) and some soft woods (Pine, fir, etc.). Each log that was used for the outside structure was cut from a tree by my brother over a period of a several years. I believe there are over 200 logs used for the main structure. Probably more.

The kitchen counter is 3 pieces that he cut and put together. The kitchen cabinets were pieces of wood that he took to a professional cabinet maker that used his skills to make a beautiful set of kitchen cabinets.

Curious question - God created you. He wants you to have fellowship with you and for you and I to serve others. How are you doing? Did you know you are unique and that each of us have a special purpose? Well you say; "I have ruined my life with bad choices, some which have even physically been destructive." So what???!! Give what you have, even if you think it is useless.

Oh yes, I almost forgot the floor. Have you guessed what kind of wood? What is unique about it? Most of the floor wood is a hard wood - a wormy Red Maple. Thats right, wormy, defective wood. As the tree grew worms got in it and lived throughout the tree "destroying" what the tree really was "suppose" to be. As a result the worms "scarred" the wood inside through and through. What was thought by the tree to be defective actually created a beautifully designed wood pattern prized by those who work with hard wood.

So maybe you are defective, maybe you think your flaws limit you. God created you and He wants to use you just as you are. Why not right now whisper a prayer that He will take what you are and give it to him to be a blessing to many others. He (heart) you! After all, He died for you so you can live!

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Papa and Mama,
This is a beautiful example of how God uses people not because they have it all together but because HE chooses. I love this! I know I am one of the "flawed" in the worlds eyes, but I am a princess with purpose in the eyes of the King. You do inspire me and fan my flame...what would our fire be without a fan to the flame from time to time. Thanks for your email, headed out to lead a meeting for outreach, and I needed this reminder tonight! Love you so much!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Darla - life gets "wormy" but so what!! We are all beautiful in his eyes! Will pray for your meeting tonight.

Anonymous said...

You and Mama's prayers are precious to me, and a beautiful priceless gift from our Father! Thanks for having a heart that HE can speak to and will be obedient to pray. I still believe that is the most powerful gift He has given us, and I am sure HE smiles big on you when you offer up prayer for us (your children you haven't met yet)

Indian Lake Papa said...

I like your last word Darla, "yet"! We shall meet - and be sure mama and papa are praying for you!

Unknown said...

so very beautiful Papa! you do this every time! take something that most would miss and point it back to God!

wormy? oh yah! I like my worm holes. they add to my character. I really am ok with them. God has taken them and filled them with Himself. ugly to the world, beautiful to Him!

thank you for your kind words earlier. like Darla already said, I too needed this!

I love you,
your girl

Keetha Broyles said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous, GORGEOUS!!!

Great lesson too.

Anonymous said...

Papa, your brother is a real craftsman. I like the insight of your post. What to one eye is defective is beauty to another. Your bother was able to visualize how beautiful that wormy wood would look as a floor.

We all need to be able to look past labels like "defective" and "flawed" see the beauty that is in all of us, in our fellow man and in the world all around us.

Although I still find it hard to see any beauty in cats, at least the six I spent Memorial Weekend with. :)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful home! Tremendous lesson!

Janis

Robin said...

Wow! What an incredible work of art - don't think I've ever called a house that before... but it's a great application to what God wants to do with our lives and even our messes. Thank You!

Tam - love your comments about your worm holes being ugly to the world and beautiful to God - very cool.

Brandy said...

Papa! I would love an entire book on your little life lessons from everyday things. It's like your posts are daily devotionals that challenge us to look at the world around us a little differently. ;-)

Here is another blog that I read that talked about the very same thing...imperfections. And Tam's comment about God filling himself with her "worm holes" made me think of this blog. It's about a cracked pitcher, and how God fills in the cracks with Himself. It's a story you would love I think. Check it out:

http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/2008/05/past-and-pitcher.html

Love you so much!!!
Bran

CrossView said...

Gorgeous woodwork!
It's amazing what happens when a Mafter Craftsman takes hold....

CrossView said...

Master, I mean! =D

Indian Lake Papa said...

Tam - are worm holes are opportunities for God to work in our lives, and reminders to us that He cares! thank you for your insight.

Keetha - it is a beautiful home - it took him several years of hard work to complete, still working on it actually. Hum, sounds like what Christ is doing in our lives.

Ed - you are right, my brother is a craftsman. He dreamed of this house and then decided to do it! So your cattin around weekend is finally over! ha! I wondered how it went!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Janis - It is a beautiful home - God does beautiful work in our lives if we let him!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Robin - God does wonderful things in our lives if we just let him! Tam has great insight doesn't she?!

Hi Little One - thank you for your thoughts. I am working on a devotional - maybe some day I will get it done! I will check out that web site.

Crossview - He is a real mafter - I mean master! God not only uses are wormy parts, he gives us talents to use for him.

Anonymous said...

Papa & Mama,
I am praying for you today, as I know that when you stand in the gap for us in prayer, the enemy does not like it..Praying a hedge of protection around you! Because I LOVE YOU!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Darla - This really is a good day today - mama is working here on the camp as a volunteer cleaning youth summer camp cabins. Me, I am getting ready to mow my third lawn. God loves us - and it is great we can be his servants.

Tanya said...

Wow, I am in awe of this beautiful home of your brothers. Not because it is so beautiful, but that he used dysfuctional pieces as well as good pieces to make this beautiful home. God does do the same thing. He uses the dysfuctional pieces that are in us and He molds them and makes them into pieces that He uses to bless others. I remember a time in my life that I had done something so aweful and I was so full of shame for it. I cried out to the Father and you know, He ended us sending someone my way and I was able to use that shameful moment as a testimony for them. How awesome is that. He knows and if we are willing He will use us to glorify His Kingdom. Thank you so much for sharing this. Love Tanya

Kimberly McKay said...

What a beautiful post Papa. Wormy wood...I like that analogy. I've got a little wormy wood myself. Thanks for making me think and reflect some today. I needed that.

Anonymous said...

Papa, I was so amazed when I clicked on that picture and saw the floors! The reason is that my sister bought an almost million dollar home a few years ago, and paid a hefty amount to have a special craftsman come in and put those very "ruts" in their floors on purpose! So now people are even paying good money to make their perfections look flawed! LOL! Yeah, I'll keep my imperfections....it's in my weakness His strength is made perfect!!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Tanya - I was amazed at how determined and how persistent my brother was in building this home. It was not easy - it required special drying/curing techniques. Windows and doors had to be hung with special fitting techniques to allow for shrinkage. God works with us as unique people. You and I are special!

Kim - each of us probably have some wormy spots. God would prefer we keep our lives pure and flawless, free from sin, but He specializes in forgiveness and makeovers!

Kelly - you have talked about your wormy spots and yet just like the Red Maple you continue to grow and have developed into work of art for Christ! use your "defects" well! ha!

Ric Booth said...

Your post reminded me of the song "You're Beautiful" sung by Bob Carlisle. Have you heard it? Thanks for this post Papa.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Ric - I think I have heard of the song. Not real familiar with it though. I am amazed at how quickly we can see the defects in people rather than the beauty in the people - sad. I am glad my Savior isn't like that.

Life Adapted said...

Papa, I may be defective, but not wormy....ha.

I tagged you. Check out my newest blog.
Be blessed.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Ha! LA - maybe defective is a better word! I will contemplate the tag!

Anonymous said...

I really needed to read this today. "Defective" can be beautiful in God's hands.

Thank you for your prayers - we are in great need. Holding fast to the Lord who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond anything we could ask or think.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Michelle - thanks for stopping by.
it is amazing how God loves us! We may be a little defective for various reasons but we are created in His image! WoW!