Over the past couple of years, we have been saving up to add onto our home. We finally reached a point a month or so ago that we could start the process, and felt comfortable getting it up and dried in before this year's winter.

So about a month ago, just prior to my trip to Ghana - a crew broke ground on the foundation. They dug it out, and poured the concrete. Then they began the process of adding sub-flooring and framing the exterior and interior walls. Trusses were added to the tops of the walls, everything was sheeted with plywood and then windows and doors were installed. This week, the crew has been re-roofing the entire home in order to get it totally ready for the rains that will be coming soon. They should finish a couple of loose ends on Sunday after a break tomorrow. It still needs to have siding and exterior trim installed, but it is coming along quickly.

It has been quite the process, and has been incredibly neat to see the plan coming to fruition and the addition going into place. It has gone from a dream on paper, to a stark reality. 

It struck me as the crews were working - that there is a certain, very specific order to the process. Everything has to go a specific way. You can't put the walls up without a foundation, you can't put a roof on if there are no walls. It only works one way.

In Matthew 7:24-27, Christ talks of the importance of a proper foundation with which to build upon. That His believers are to build upon Him, and from that foundation, we continue to build upward with His law, and His teachings. They are like pillars in our life to support us and our endeavors as we go through life. They support the relationships that we build with God and with one another - allowing us to provide ourselves with the sort of coverage we need to protect ourselves from the rains of life.

However, from the top to the bottom - if anything is taken out of order... If the relationships are put before God, or put before His law - there is nothing to support them and it collapses. If our life is built on a foundation that is shaky, it will collapse. If we build that which guides us solely from worldly wisdom that isn't supported by Jesus Christ, it all comes down. Our relationships work because we do it God's way. In our marriages all the way down to our relationships with others - building our life upon the foundation of Christ, and upon His law - will help us to strengthen both ourselves, and others. 

We're headed up to the Seattle Young Adults Leadership Weekend as I type this - where the young people are looking at the concept of "Leaning Into God", putting their trust and reliance upon Him as they go through this life. As they prepare for career, marriage, family putting the focus upon their relationship with God and one another. They will have an opportunity to network with one another and have chances to build those relationships through the various activites. If built in the proper way - they will be relationships that last a lifetime. 

Your prayers for a weekend that is enriching and fruitful are greatly appreciated.

Have a wonderful Sabbath!