Welcome to the "Fireside" and as always coffee and homemade goodies from Mrs. Quill await. Here we are on a Saturday night, "Quill" had a snooze this afternoon against his better judgement and now here I sit, midnight and wide awake. Sit in awhile, if you dose off I understand, its a safe place to rest awhile my fellow pilgrim.

As I was driving in the country today on my way to the busy City I took my camera as there are so many special things to be seen along the way. Today a few old abandoned homes caught my eye and I wanted to share them with you.

I could not help but think of the history they must have, maybe much lie ours as they someday are left behind. I think of this home we are in, what will it be like 20-30 years from now.

The house which Mrs. Quill and I renovated when we were first married had God's footprint left behind when we sold it.

During the renovations we took out all of the carpet and replaced it with laminate flooring both upstairs and down. Mrs. Quill's mother lived with us upstairs and we refinished all of the basement and created what we lovingly named "The Cove" where we lived. As I was laying the laminate we decided it would hold even more meaning if we were to place a chosen Scripture and leave it the for the future owners. Ours we choose was Joshua 24:15 "As for me and my household we will serve the Lord". Upstairs was Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart...Lean not on your own understanding...In all your ways acknowledge Him...And He will make your paths straight".

We prayed as we were doing the work and prayed for the additional five years we lived there and prayed again over the house the last day we were leaving. Trusting the home would be used for the Fathers glory.

We have driven past the old place a few times and I must admit we are saddened by what we see, the once manicured lawn and flower beds throughout the property have been reduced to weeds. The trees are in dire need of care and the general condition is simply shabby.

But we need to trust in Him that all will be restored, the occupants find their way, we are assured God's Word never is waste and we still remain strong the Scriptures under those floor boards will again come to light and be honored.

This home was prayed over many times, even before we bought it and has been prayed over daily. Our prayer has been that it become a place of safety, a place of rest and a place where peace can be found at all times. We trust that God has a plan for it as He does for us all.

As I look at the picture here I realize the truth in the words "It all belongs to Him". We all are truly blessed with such a generous Father.

Can you hear the children playing in the yard, hiding in the tree house, dogs barking and the smell of fresh bread cooking in the oven.

Can you hear the prayers before meals and the prayers as little heads fall into their beds after a day of chores and finally the freedom to simply be kids.

Can you see the parents as they spend the evening in the quite as the Dad reads God's Word to his loving wife of many years. The fire warming the house from the cool night air and yes it's there the creaking of the rocker as his wife darns the many tears in the children's clothes.

That would be my prayer for the homes you see here and the homes where ever you live that have been left empty. They are history, families are created here, grandchildren come home to visit, generations carry on and look they are still standing, yes worn but they have stood the test of time.

Homes such as these have meaning, the have provided shelter and love for families for years, it only seems right to leave them, to farm around them and care for the around them. They are a part of who the people that own them, remove it and it would be like losing a loved one. That is respect for your heritage and they to are a blessing to the passerby who happens along and ponders.

In many ways the day has been and interesting day as it made me think of my past, to look over where I have come from. To count the blessings of the lovely Mrs. Quill and the family we have. All that God has provided as we step into the "Fall Years" of our lives..yup it's creeping in on us all.

With God we have our paths lain out before us, the road is smooth and straight, yes there are valleys but in the valleys there are many blessings. I once gave a sermon and gave a definition of a rut as we all find ourselves in them once in awhile. A rut is simply "A grave with both ends kicked out" stay in it and we die.

I would like to leave you with a blessing tonight from Numbers 6:24 it comes from the heart of God and it is for all of us.

"The Lord bless and keep you and keep keep you...The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you...The Lord turn His face towards you and give you peace".

© 2010 "Quill"