This week my kids went to a camp where they learned magic tricks. At the end of the camp, the entire class performed for the parents, and we were all just beaming with pride as our little ones overcame stage fright and wowed the audience with their illusions!
On the way home, my daughter said something that made my mama heart melt; “Mommy, I was thinking about that Bible verse that said ‘do unto others as you would have them do to you’…and I decided to clap for every single kid! Because that’s what I would want them to do for me.”
Of course, tears welled up in my eyes as I said, “Oh honey, I’m so proud of you.” But in the back of my mind I thought about the hundreds (and yes, I mean hundreds) of times we have read the “Berenstain Bears” book about loving others.
Often times, I’m reading this book to her while she is playing and distracted or brushing her teeth, and I wonder: Should I even be reading this at all? I mean, is any of this actually sinking in?
Today I realized it sunk in. I also realized that those moments of story time reading are holy ground.
As we learned this week from Pastor Jason in the story of Joshua about the moment where a heavenly Commander told him to remove his sandals because of holy ground, I thought about the many ways we stand on holy ground without even knowing it.
Holy ground happens in so many little moments throughout our days - we enter holy ground when we read a bedtime story, when we sit down to truly look into someone’s eyes and have a conversation, when we go to work another day at a thankless job, when we wash the 100th dish.
Every simple moment of love where we choose to put another’s needs above our own and demonstrate the love of Christ is that special, holy ground. And we can’t miss it, because those moments are gone in the blink of an eye.
After that conversation with my daughter, I was led to worship. I thanked God for the fruit of the Spirit I am seeing in her little life. I praised Him for giving me a glimpse of my efforts as worthwhile. And I prayed for her future.
Every seemingly mundane, holy moment can usher us into a place of worship. Every part of our lives that goes unnoticed but is fully noticed by God can lead to a spontaneous time of friendship and love between our Savior and us. After all, He is our best friend. Why wouldn’t we share it all with Him?
John the baptist’s words echoed softly in my mind as I thought about the concept of “removing our sandals” and surrendering every area of our lives fully to Christ.
“John answered them all, saying, ‘I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire’.” (Luke 3:16)
When we surrender all we have to Jesus, even the hard, thankless, mundane moments…something beautiful happens. God’s Spirit lovingly pours out on us, and our lives become a true act of worship.
As we go about our days and show up for the people that are often times hard to love and serve, let us never forget the sacrifice of Jesus that makes all of this possible. In these moments friend, you are on holy ground.
On the way home, my daughter said something that made my mama heart melt; “Mommy, I was thinking about that Bible verse that said ‘do unto others as you would have them do to you’…and I decided to clap for every single kid! Because that’s what I would want them to do for me.”
Of course, tears welled up in my eyes as I said, “Oh honey, I’m so proud of you.” But in the back of my mind I thought about the hundreds (and yes, I mean hundreds) of times we have read the “Berenstain Bears” book about loving others.
Often times, I’m reading this book to her while she is playing and distracted or brushing her teeth, and I wonder: Should I even be reading this at all? I mean, is any of this actually sinking in?
Today I realized it sunk in. I also realized that those moments of story time reading are holy ground.
As we learned this week from Pastor Jason in the story of Joshua about the moment where a heavenly Commander told him to remove his sandals because of holy ground, I thought about the many ways we stand on holy ground without even knowing it.
Holy ground happens in so many little moments throughout our days - we enter holy ground when we read a bedtime story, when we sit down to truly look into someone’s eyes and have a conversation, when we go to work another day at a thankless job, when we wash the 100th dish.
Every simple moment of love where we choose to put another’s needs above our own and demonstrate the love of Christ is that special, holy ground. And we can’t miss it, because those moments are gone in the blink of an eye.
After that conversation with my daughter, I was led to worship. I thanked God for the fruit of the Spirit I am seeing in her little life. I praised Him for giving me a glimpse of my efforts as worthwhile. And I prayed for her future.
Every seemingly mundane, holy moment can usher us into a place of worship. Every part of our lives that goes unnoticed but is fully noticed by God can lead to a spontaneous time of friendship and love between our Savior and us. After all, He is our best friend. Why wouldn’t we share it all with Him?
John the baptist’s words echoed softly in my mind as I thought about the concept of “removing our sandals” and surrendering every area of our lives fully to Christ.
“John answered them all, saying, ‘I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire’.” (Luke 3:16)
When we surrender all we have to Jesus, even the hard, thankless, mundane moments…something beautiful happens. God’s Spirit lovingly pours out on us, and our lives become a true act of worship.
As we go about our days and show up for the people that are often times hard to love and serve, let us never forget the sacrifice of Jesus that makes all of this possible. In these moments friend, you are on holy ground.
Erika Pizzo
Erika is the author of the blog yourtemplecare.com where she encourages women to care for their mind, body, and spirit as they grow closer to Jesus. She also hosts the podcast “Temple Care” where she provides weekly messages of encouragement. Erika lives with her husband, daughter, son, and their fluffy poodle in sunny Southern California. Her two favorite things are a visit to the beach with a chai latte in hand.