The LORD'S Doing

"The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD'S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes" Psalm 118:22

Christ is the chief cornerstone, the foundation, and the chief Top-stone in whom the whole building is completed in. God alone exalts Christ, and builds up His church, His people, the House of God....and it is marvelous in our eyes! We get to see His work that is always before our eyes, witnessing His glory, feeling His power...and we marvel!

I am reminded this new day of the Psalmist who said we are living sacrifices, hearts bound on the altar with the sacrifice of prayer and praise upon our lips....giving thanks to what we have witnessed, offering to God ourselves in gratitude for His redeeming love...it is all the LORD'S doing and so marvelous in our eyes!

The house that God builds is a blessing. God designed our earthly homes and families to be one of the greatest blessings in the world. Godly, peaceful, blessed and secure homes don't just happen. It takes dedication, self sacrifice planning, preparing and most importantly much prayer and with a foundation that is built on God. This is the LORD'S doing.

On July 3rd the foundation was laid for our new home. The day before the LORD took Randy home, this was his answer to prayer for me. Our grandchildren placed stones of remembrance and dedication on the corners of this foundation. These stones held great meaning for the children and they were reminded of Christ who is the firm foundation and chief cornerstone in our lives as believers and of Papa who was the cornerstone of our family. Prayer was offered to the LORD, prayers of thankfulness for this home, for answering Papa's prayers and for God's blessings to be poured out upon this home and upon our lives as we continued to follow Him. This was the LORD'S doing.

Last week one of the final projects was the installation of cabinets. The man the Lord sent was wearing a Calvary Chapel T-shirt to our surprise, and I had to hear his story. How beautiful is our Lord, so personal and so specific, ministering to our every need as only He can do. I found out quickly how he attends a CC west of Powhatan which was so remarkable and this truly was the Lord's doing. I shared of our testimony....our affiliation with the CC, how we first attended in Ft Lauderdale and how the Lord led us to Richmond 20 years ago. I shared our story of this house, a house that God was building. Quite remarkable how the Lord sent this man. The men who came earlier in the month, who sang songs of praise while working on our home (I wrote of them in the "September Skies" blog) .....how one morning when I was sitting outside reading in Psalms 52 and crying out to the Lord I came to the verse "bring me Your joy and praise"...how I then instantly heard the construction men singing to the Lord! How I wanted to meet them and thank them but they had left as I was on my way to see them. This cabinet man shared how he knew these men of God as I shared this story....they were his Pastor's sons! How I wanted to let these young men know how the Lord used them to bless me that morning....he told me they would....how God sent this man that day. How God is in every detail...how His love and care overwhelms me. This was the LORD'S doing.

The many prayers so many have prayed are part of our story and they continue to unfold this day...God working in our lives and in the lives of those around us. So many stories shared as the construction and craftsman come each day....so many needs they have where uncertainty lies, where storms have rolled into their lives, where direction is needed....great opportunities given to us to share of Christ and pray. Nothing is small with God, how He uses all things for His glory. This was the LORD'S doing.

These workers have been also used to bless our lives...each so diligent, as we witnessed their skills and God using them each day as instruments in His hands as part of Randy's prayer and Gods answers. I have been reminded again of how God gave all the craftsman the particular skills each needed in order to build the tabernacle...according to God's specific specifications., as God told Moses. One miracle about our home is that God gave us a vision a few years ago of a home much like this one...God has orchestrated each detail as He went before us while we were still....using so many hands, instructing them by His leading. This was the LORD'S doing.

By tomorrow the house should be finished, as many have asked. I am so thankful. I continue to wait on the LORD to move in....the next steps. God has carried me these last few months...from the selling of our home, to a temporary move, this next move...along with recent family visits, family, members sick, hospital visits, recent surgeries...all of what life can bring each day...in different seasons...God has been so faithful despite all the hindrances and hurdles life can put before us as I can hear His small and gentle voice speaking continually, "one day at a time". I trust in His infinite ability that will transform pain so it cannot destroy. Time often stops where I find myself suspended between a place that once was and where God is making something of it now, all to accomplish His perfect will through me. This the LORD'S doing.

As our grandchildren placed those stone's in the foundation of our home they were so sweetly confirming their belief that this house was from the Lord and as the foundation looked firm, sure, solid and lasting how much more did they learn and recognize that our home and our lives are built on Christ and how their Papa lived to help them instill that foundation in each of their lives...in those in the church, and in all those he met. Christ is the sure Foundation and it is man's greatest need to be reconciled to Him and become a part of His family. When we belong to Him we have the Hope of eternity and the Hope of knowing He is with us each day........."For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is in Jesus Christ" Corinthians 3:11

Although I may have missed responding to some of you recently and I have missed seeing you all as I allow the Lord to go before me and settled and establish me know I look forward to seeing you again soon. I am forever thankful for you and I pray for you always. I am thankful to the Lord for walking by my side, leading my steps, for being acquainted with all my sorrow, for holding me tightly in His everlasting arms. All praise and glory to Him, the One who is my sure Foundation, the chief Cornerstone of my life and the chief Top-stone who will carry me through, completing me, until my construction is finished........Thank you Lord....this is my LORD's doing.

"This was the LORD'S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. You are my god. I will praise You. You are my God and I will exalt You. Psalm 118:22-24, 28-29

Michelle A. Guerra