Getting Our House in Order!

When my father-in-law was diagnosed with melanoma cancer, the doctors stated, at the most, he’d have only a few months to live. Dad was a strong man of faith (besides an evangelical pastor for over 50 years) and just wouldn’t accept that “death” threat. He remembered Isaiah 38:1-7 where Hezekiah, too, was giving a death threat. Isaiah told him that he needed to get “his house in order” because he was going to die. But, Hezekiah prayed: “Lord, I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done good in your eyes.” God relented and told Isaiah to tell him He had heard his prayers and will add on 15 years to his life. God did give Hezekiah 15 more years and when Dad prayed for an added 15 more years, God granted him 15 more years – almost to the day.

Dad had plenty of time to get “his house in order”. And, I took those words seriously since being on this shelter-in-place hiatus. I know there are those of you who were far more impacted than my little world with 24/7 children at home, businesses at home and others who lost their job altogether. So, please know my heart and prayers go out to those of you who are faced with far more challenges than me. My “little” rant is little, compared to others. But, please -- hear me out!

Many of my responsibilities came to a screeching halt. Most went online or not at all. That meant I had time – a commodity that I had hoped for in getting some “to-do’s” off my list. I woke up one morning with a fervor to “get my house in order”. I admit, I’m a full-on “Martha”. I calculated “I can get a lot done during this confinement AND I can also find time to be a “Mary” who sits at Jesus feet – plenty of extra time to do that too. So, I’ve been a part of Zoom meetings where we do just that – encourage, pray, and support each other. I’ve been able to attend on-line church and other on-line teachings and inspiration, besides finding more time for personal prayer.

But, that new fervor to “get my house in order” was like a neon sign in my head. “Make this time count!” It started with cleaning out closets and cabinets. But, then thoughts started racing through my mind – “If something happens to me, my kids would have so much to deal with. I knew this was perfect timing to "get my house in order" like, how my kids can get into my computer, know my passcodes and find all my blog information, have in one place – all business and personal matters, records, bank accounts, insurance policies, utilities, home information, monthly bills, medical information – doctors, health care decisions, our living will, power of attorney, burial literally everything, in one neat and tidy place. I don’t want to leave anything helter-skelter in the event of an emergency.

I’ll admit it – the task seemed daunting at first. It meant looking up phone numbers, digging through files, websites, printing out paperwork and setting up a binder, separated with categories. It meant adding my children to my bank accounts as co-signers. That was a tricky one with getting us altogether, while apart, but thanks to my bank officer and being the only customers in the bank at the time, we were able to accomplish it.

One of the greatest things my husband did for us, long before he was sick, was to set up a Living Family Trust for us. Family trusts protect our assets and benefit our family members beyond our lifetime and a living trust helps in avoiding probate issues. Why am I telling you all this today? Maybe you’re a young person, a young couple, or a young family and you think time is on your side for “getting your house in order”. We all know that our time on this earth is only known to God and this day could be our last day – no matter what age we are. I urge you to consider “getting your house in order” for those you love, too.

But, most important – is going back to that first paragraph and the scripture found in Isaiah 38 where Hezekiah could confidently say these words: “Lord, I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done good in your eyes.” That, my friends, is what our “spiritual house in order” should look like. That kind of life is the best life we can live – not only in our relationship with God – but leaving that “Living Will” of faith, devotion and good to our families, too.

I'm Claiming My Inheritance!

"Inheritance" is the name of my grandchildren's church youth group. I love that! I’ve thought about my own inheritance. I didn’t come from a wealthy family in terms of financial status and means, but how rich I am in the inheritance I received in the loving, serving and living in God’s grace and peace of my parents. In that sense, I have inherited abundance.

An inheritance is what we get for being part of a family that’s rightfully ours. Let’s pretend that our father is multi-billionaire Bill Gates, and he dies. We'd be very foolish to not take the time to read the will. We wouldn’t receive and enjoy the benefits from what belongs to us as a child of Bill Gates. Even more status with riches beyond measure is becoming a follower of Jesus. At that point, we’re not just a believer — we’re a BELONGER. We become a part of God’s family. Family privileges come along with that decision. We have a spiritual inheritance. Galatians 4:7 says "So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir."

What a shame it would be if we went through our entire lives and we didn’t know what benefits were available to us as children of God! Our loving Father didn't write a document that He put away in a safety deposit box and someday we’ll find out what the document says about our inheritance. Oh, no! We have already received our inheritance! We can already be enjoying the benefits of peace, joy, hope, love, overcoming faith, and walking in confidence in Whose we are, and best of all -- living eternally with Him!

When we read the Bible, we clearly can see God's LIVING WILL for us. It is all available to us right here – right now! It helps us live out God's purpose for our lives and to know the inheritance He has provided for us. His Word helps us grow and walk in that inheritance. Thank goodness for knowing we have been chosen, not forsaken; He is for us, not against us. We are who He says we are. Our great King welcomes us, sets us free, and is for us! I am a child of God. Yes I am! And so are you!