Straight from a Housewarming Heart
By Lisa Elliott

“I’ve come to find out about your Jesus house.”

My neighbour stood at my front door waiting in anticipation for an explanation. My youngest daughter and her granddaughter, whom she was graciously and lovingly raising, had become the best of friends. We had also become friends over time and had shared many pieces of our lives together. But this was new.

“A Jesus house?” I asked. Somewhat baffled and bewildered.

“The other day, my granddaughter came home from visiting your house and told me she wants a Jesus house like her friend, Erin.”

Still wondering what on earth she could be talking about, I wondered if I had left a nativity scene lying around. Mind you, this was the middle of July.

“I don’t understand,” I replied.

“Maybe it has something to do with you saying grace before you eat.” This was her final attempt at bringing clarity.

I smiled at the sudden realization. I told her that in our house, we believe in Jesus. I went on to disclose that my husband was also the pastor at a local church. So, there was bound to be a lot of “Jesus talk” in our home. Over time, I shared my personal salvation testimony with her, telling her how I came to know Jesus when I was fifteen and how I’d grown in my faith since then.

That Christmas, I took it a step further and gifted her and her granddaughter with some children’s worship tapes. She was beyond grateful. She said, “Great! Now I can make a Jesus house, too.”

This recollection got me thinking. What exactly constitutes a Jesus house? Here are a few ideas:

• Display Scriptural artwork throughout your house.
• Play worship music softly in the background as you host unbelieving company.
• Open your home and your heart to those who enter your house.
• Offer practical help to neighbours. (Meals, lawn care, snow shovelling, etc.)
• Initiate godly, encouraging conversation as you wait with other parents at the school bus stop.
• Write prayerful notes to unsaved family and friends.
• Express genuine interest in those who serve you in your community. (Grocery store, bank, coffee shop, etc.)
• Host your kids’ school teachers for a quick lunch or treat them to a coffee.

“For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life” (2 Cor. 5:15-16).

* * *

Need a little extra encouragement? Discover more inspirational blogs by Lisa Elliott, Straight from the Heart.

About this Contributor:

Lisa Elliott is an inspirational speaker and award-winning author of The Ben Ripple, Dancing in the Rain, and A Ministry Survival Guide. She’s also a writer for Just Between Us Magazine, theStory, and Good Ground. She and her husband, David, have four children (three on earth, one in heaven) and serve the Lord together in Stratford, ON, Canada.