My Dwelling Place

“Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling…”

Psalm 91:9-10 (NKJV)

I am going to share from the heart in this article. These are words that have been stirring in my heart. In June, Cindy, John, Cala, Sarah T. and Taylor came to Quincy (where Dianna Hummel and I live) to have our REST Retreat. The theme was “Being Still” before the Lord, quieting ourselves before Him so that He could pour into us what He wanted. You can find recordings of this on the REST website. It is well worth a listen. The retreat sparked something in me that the Holy Spirit is still stirring up, especially this past week. 

Something the Lord has been stirring up for a while at Crossroad Church is the idea of the “well”, the “waters”, and the “River”. I also am gaining some deeper insight into these terms in a class that I am taking under Cindy. One Sunday in June, this came to me during church: “Come to the Table. Come to the Well of Living Waters.” The idea of coming to the table

reminds me of Psalm 23:5 and Song of Solomon 2:4. It also makes me think of Miss Kathi Ferguson* and my grandmas—Grandma Shirley Farha and Grandma Velma Pfaffe, whose arms and tables were always open for their grandbabies to come and partake of the goodness of God and experience His great love through them. It reminded me of my sweet Mama, Jeanne Farha, who would sit at the kitchen table early in the morning with her Bible open and her cup full–ready to pour into her babies’ hearts (whether spiritual or natural children). The idea of the well makes me think of coming to an oasis to be refreshed, restored, and revived, to be reminded of how good our God is to us. It makes me think of my grandma in-love, Joyce, who prays everyday for her children, her children’s children, and their children. Her heart, her home, and her table are always open to her babies too. Inviting our children to catch the fire for prayer and the inspiration to persevere is a great honor that can occur when we make space for God in our homes and hearts. We are His dwelling place and He is our Dwelling Place. 

There is another special lady, a saint, who I never had the honor of meeting on this side of Heaven, but someday, I will meet her there. This dear lady is Grandma Joyce’s mom, Grandma Mae, my husband’s beloved Great Grandma. My husband tenderly gives the account of how Grandma Mae’s sewing room was open for her babies to come on in. There, Adam would find her crocheting and humming hymns, such as “I Come to the Garden Alone.” There, he experienced the tangible peace of God and learned to quiet himself in God’s Presence.

Over a week ago, at church, the Holy Spirit gave me this concerning my nieces and nephews (but it could be for all children):

“My babies, don’t look down on any of them. All My babies need a Place. Give the space to make a place for Me in the house like Grandma Mae did. Give the space to make a place for Me.”

When I shared this with Cindy and a few other ladies at our Annas’ Prayer time, she thought of the table, too, and of gathering around it. Whether we have a room or a table or both, we can give a space to make a place for God in our living spaces. We can allow our loved ones to taste and see that God is good by NOT shooing them away when they come near and wonder what is going on. We can invite them into our Dwelling Place as we pray or worship or read the Word or all the above and more. We can be like Grandma Mae and let our babies sit near the quiet waters and have their souls refreshed and restored. We can be like my mom and be ready to share a cup of coffee and a whole lot of joy, faith, love, and encouragement as our loved ones gather near. I am not saying that you should not get away with the Lord by yourself, not at all. I am saying that we can let our cups, that have been filled with the Holy Spirit during our fellowship times with the Lord, overflow onto our babies (whether spiritual or natural children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews). As we draw from the wells of salvation we can let rivers of living waters flow out of us and flow onto our babies (no matter how young or old they are). Let them see the Light in you, for that is part of the goodness that draws men to repentance. I cannot help but believe several of you may already be doing this. Let this be an encouragement to you to keep going. It makes more of a difference than you know, even if your babies do not have the words to express that yet. Never underestimate the power of a praying, Holy Ghost-filled Mama or Grandma!

You see, we are Kingdom Ambassadors. When we invite our babies to come to the table and sit with us and fellowship with God, we are giving them a taste of Heaven. We are giving them an invitation to the Kingdom of our God. In God’s Kingdom, fear and anxiety cannot stay. Instead we are given quiet and rest for our souls. Burn out becomes burn off as Pastor Mama Rita says! Distractions flee and peace and focus are enjoyed. We are inviting them to take a seat at the table in the Kingdom of God! This generation needs the invitation we can give. Our hearts were created for such moments to receive!

I was given this last Sunday at Church:

“Burn out is false. Burn out is NOT for My Kingdom. I refine with fire. I RESTORE. There is NO such thing as burn out in My Kingdom. What do I say? Do NOT grow weary in well-doing. What do I say? Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. In this place of REST, I restore you, little ones. What do I say? Come to Me. Come to the Living Waters. Come to the Waters! Isaiah 55. Burn out is a lie.” 

Isaiah 55:1-3 (NKJV):

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you–the sure mercies of David”.

Dianna Hummel said in response to hearing Isaiah 55, this is “for anything, NOT just food. Go to the Word!” Amen. We can invite our loved ones into our “Dwelling Place” and let them partake of the spiritual food that God has given us. Be blessed and victorious, dear ones! Love to all of you!

*Kathi Ferguson's message "Jesus at Our Kitchen Table" can be listened to here.