Upkeep

7:23 p.m. Today's project was indeed a project, one of several I've undertaken here at the house since Steve died. Tearing down old, termite weakened structures, building new fencing and repairing old plumbing were just the beginning. This list does not include the cleaning, clearing out, painting and redecorating my children have been doing to facilitate their moving in with me. Next up is painting the back of the house, preparatory to building a non-wooden patio awning before the sun begins beating down mercilessly on the south-facing back slider! As I mentioned yesterday to the Christian widows' group I've been blessed to be a part of, projects Steve and I would have finished if we had both continued in our careers, are now made possible by the wise provision he made for our family. As the leader of our group put it, the "fix its" are being completed in honor of Steve, a man who was able to build or fix anything!

Today, some brothers from church did a marvelous job of hanging a new steel door to replace the dog-chewed, termite-prone wooden back door of the garage, installed in our brand-new house in 1988. They installed the trims, step plate and a new door frame. It's sharp, secure, and closes so perfectly and silently! How I praise God for skilled builders, just as Moses chose Bezalel to lead the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness, Deuteronomy 31: 1-5:

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: "See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship."

As I looked at the door wehile the men packed up their tools, truck and trailer, I noticed that the door knob was in place, but the deadbolt wasn't--just a round hole was there!Victor, the boss, said, "The openings in new doors are much bigger than the one your old deadbolt fit into." So you'll need to replace it. " I looked a little sad, thinking of how one project leads to another, and asked if the openings are standard to fit the deadbolt assembly into, and yes they are.He even offered to come back and install it for me, but I told him that I'd ask my very handy son-in-law to help out. Victor commented, "That deadbolt is 25 years old, just like that door was!" So I did purchse a new deadbolt and made a delivery in the same part of Moreno Valley.

The Lord showed me a spiritual principle in all of this, so applicable to our "upkeep" in our walk with Jesus. If we desire to be strong in faith, a participant in the work of evangelism, and useful in ministry to the church in the ways He's created us for, we need to stir things up in our lives and

Examine yourselves, as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.(2 Corinthians 13:5)

That back door should have been replaced at least two or three other times over the last quarter century, not allowed to be chewed and rotted! But busyness, "pressing" matters with the kids, work, ministry, extended family, and public service and other bills just caused us to neglect our home. A succession of wooden doors could have sufficed, but a solid steel door at a much lower price would have been the best solution!

In this case of a structural repair, perhaps "better late than never" will do, if we don't wait for termite damage to become very costly to repair. But wisdom and wise stewardship are commended throughout scripture in Proverbs 24:3: "by wisdom a house is built;" and in I Corinthians 4:2, "Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful."

In spiritual matters, consistent attention and care are mandatory if one would be found faithful and fit for our Master's use. Just today, I spoke with a friend who had been away from the Lord and out of fellowship for probably a decade, but happily, is now back in fellowship, and realizing just how much they'd missed, is now making up time, very joyfully, but with some amount of regret mixed with her excitement!

If we would be free of regret, avoid costly spiritual and personal failings, and enjoy the sweet fellowship God intended us to have with Him,  let us be faithful, consistent, and devoted to the Lord, His word, and His people!