“What a lovely house!” (my first thought) “What
a lovely LAKE!” (when I got out of the car) “What lovely people!”
(meeting the Knapps for the first time). I was on my first “leadership retreat”
for a Pitt ministry, and the Knapps were hosting our college ministry
leadership team for a spiritual retreat. That August weekend Henry Sr. and Lucy
Knapp took off emptying their gorgeous lake home to us. A bunch of immature,
rag tag, obnoxiously loud college students. Fifteen of us! If that’s not a
picture of grace, I don’t know what is. “Here. It’s yours. Take care of it and
have fun!”
The “Conneaut Lake House” is where
Henry grew up. It is lakefront and lovely. Fast forward 34 years: I was sitting
with Hebron’s All Moms’ leadership team at the Lake House in January. We were
up there to pray and plan, be still and share—and still delighting in that home and that lake. I was reflecting
on the fact that this is my happy place. It means so much to me. Yet, I was
dreading 2023 for I knew the “end of a good thing” was upon us. I could feel it
coming: The Knapps/the people/the memories will not be here once this house is
sold. I’m not exaggerating when I say hundreds and hundreds of people have come
through that house. It’s been used for parties, gatherings, cousin time,
grandkids, ministry, retreats, ministers, missionaries, and many, many friends.
Most of all, it has housed my precious in-laws.
And yet, it’s just a house. I am struck
by how quiet that house is now. Since last fall, no one has been there. There
is no presence. No laughter. No holidays and gatherings. And this July 4th
there will be no swimming, no pontoon boat, no fireworks, and no annual cookout.
The Knapps (Henry’s parents) are not there. (They are still in Florida due to
Henry’s father’s illness). The walls would speak of so much activity, so much
joy, heated discussions, much laughter, and a lot of chaos. What makes the
story, however, is the gift of PRESENCE in that place. Ultimately,
Henry and Lucy are missing. The presence
is gone.
You know the saying “a house is a house - but love makes a home.”
I want to take that a step further. It’s the presence of the people that make a
home. Presence is our greatest provision. This week’s psalm, Psalm 84, speaks
of the DWELLING place of God. The Psalmist is longing for God, to be where God
is. He wants to know His presence, not just the building of the Temple. That is
the Psalmist’s longing and what is causing him to almost faint. He can’t get enough of God.
I have always wondered if I can really
say along with the Psalmist—“Better is one day in your courts, oh Lord,
than a thousand elsewhere!” Do I mean it? Is that true of me?
I want to love God and HIS PRESENCE
more than anything else in my life. I want to know that His presence is what
makes my heart His home. Otherwise, it would be empty, barren and useless. This
is what moves me from loving a house (a happy place!) to loving the Lord and
His people more. Am I so fixated on a house that I could miss He who dwells
there?
The Conneaut house is just a house, and
I release it to the Lord. “Better is one day…” Forget the lake this summer! I
want to be in His presence, longing for Him, praising Him, knowing Him more. No
matter what life brings. Hallelujah!
For worship this Sunday, read Psalm 84.
1. What makes the psalmist talk about God’s
dwelling place as “lovely”? What do you think he has in mind?
2. What about the building would make
the psalmist so very passionate (Verse 2)? Is there a parallel in your life? In
the church today?
3. In verse 4, it appears that the
psalmist is “blessing” birds. What is the meaning of this? Why do the birds
receive his blessing?
4. Geography lesson: “The Valley of
Baca” is an incredibly arid place, where no one goes if they can avoid it. In
verse 6, the pilgrims go through the valley. How does the author capture the
idea of God’s blessing?
5. Verse 10 is the capstone of this
psalm. What is the job of a doorkeeper? It’s evident that the author is
expressing his eagerness here, but eagerness for what? How might this be
captured in today’s world?
