The Open Door
What is it like to moveinto a home where just older people live?
My Grandmother Suderman learned, and brought her sweet and sunny
disposition with her. Ed and I, with our
four children went to visit. She smiled
and greeted us as we came to her Open
Door. She had many friends
there. People we didn’t know often
looked in the open door of her room, and told her, “Good Morning!” with a smile
on their faces. As I think about
Grandmother Anna, I reminisce and decide that she must have coined the phrase, Love is an open door.
As the weather becomes
warmer, I open my front door and think of my Grandmother and wonder if I share
her open door desire. I remember my mother’s description of Gerhard
and Anna’s first home, a dirty one room shack, after their marriage in March,
1900. There Grandmother made her first
home – with lye soap, she scrubbed the ceiling, walls and floor to make it
livable. She used wrapping paper to cut
lace-like curtains. Grandmother battled
field mice with traps, rags soaked in lye, nailing tin on the many holes. When a skunk tried to move under the floor of
their house, Grandmother said they must move.
They did – to the next section with a three-room house. The tax assessor must have thought it was
impossible to farm with their few possessions – two horses, one cow, a wagon, a
top-buggy and a sulky plow.
warmer, I open my front door and think of my Grandmother and wonder if I share
her open door desire. I remember my mother’s description of Gerhard
and Anna’s first home, a dirty one room shack, after their marriage in March,
1900. There Grandmother made her first
home – with lye soap, she scrubbed the ceiling, walls and floor to make it
livable. She used wrapping paper to cut
lace-like curtains. Grandmother battled
field mice with traps, rags soaked in lye, nailing tin on the many holes. When a skunk tried to move under the floor of
their house, Grandmother said they must move.
They did – to the next section with a three-room house. The tax assessor must have thought it was
impossible to farm with their few possessions – two horses, one cow, a wagon, a
top-buggy and a sulky plow.
Whenever we visited
Grandpa and Grandma, I remember open arms, and an open door and a loving
welcome. There was never a doubt or a
cross word when we went to Grandpa and Grandma’s house. When they came over, the love continued to
grow stronger. We did nothing to deserve
their love. We simply returned their
love. I will add, Love is an open door to the heart.
Grandpa and Grandma, I remember open arms, and an open door and a loving
welcome. There was never a doubt or a
cross word when we went to Grandpa and Grandma’s house. When they came over, the love continued to
grow stronger. We did nothing to deserve
their love. We simply returned their
love. I will add, Love is an open door to the heart.
A door opens to
love. A door opens to sharing. A door opens to fellowship. A door opens to living life with joy… “Look! I stand at the door and knock.
If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a
meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my
throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.
Revelation 3:20.
love. A door opens to sharing. A door opens to fellowship. A door opens to living life with joy… “Look! I stand at the door and knock.
If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a
meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my
throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.
Revelation 3:20.
One of the ‘open door’
scriptures I found is this: for they did not believe God or trust
him to care for them. But he commanded the skies to open; he opened the
doors of heaven.
He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave
them bread from heaven. Psalm 78:22-24
scriptures I found is this: for they did not believe God or trust
him to care for them. But he commanded the skies to open; he opened the
doors of heaven.
He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave
them bread from heaven. Psalm 78:22-24
God is love – Love is God – God personifies love. Even when we do not believe God or trust Him,
God is Love. The children of Israel are
his, and he continues to meet their needs.
Opening the door of heaven, God gave them the bread of heaven while in
the wilderness.
God is Love. The children of Israel are
his, and he continues to meet their needs.
Opening the door of heaven, God gave them the bread of heaven while in
the wilderness.
When life seems bleak and tenuous; overwhelming
darkness envelopes us, God still loves us.
He meets our needs. He opens the
doors of heaven and rains down His Blessings, His Manna. Just as the Israelites had to gather the
Manna each morning, we must choose to love and trust God. Is this too difficult to trust God, the
Creator of all that we see about us? You
say you can’t accept what you can’t see? You just shut the door to Light and
Life.
darkness envelopes us, God still loves us.
He meets our needs. He opens the
doors of heaven and rains down His Blessings, His Manna. Just as the Israelites had to gather the
Manna each morning, we must choose to love and trust God. Is this too difficult to trust God, the
Creator of all that we see about us? You
say you can’t accept what you can’t see? You just shut the door to Light and
Life.
The Open Door only happens with God in our lives. The Door is Closed when God is removed from
our hearts. It is our choice. What follows?
Fear and distrust enters our hearts.
We fear when we doubt those around us.
Why is it that insurance suggests two locks on the door? Why do businesses flourish that sell
security? Why do we need a gun to
protect ourselves? Why does road rage
escalate into aggressive behavior? Why
do countries need to wage war?
our hearts. It is our choice. What follows?
Fear and distrust enters our hearts.
We fear when we doubt those around us.
Why is it that insurance suggests two locks on the door? Why do businesses flourish that sell
security? Why do we need a gun to
protect ourselves? Why does road rage
escalate into aggressive behavior? Why
do countries need to wage war?
We have the power to not choose God, to
not choose Jesus. We have the power to close that open door that stands between
God and us. “I
know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can
close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.” Revelation 3:8
not choose Jesus. We have the power to close that open door that stands between
God and us. “I
know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can
close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.” Revelation 3:8
It takes strength to obey
the Word of God and not deny Him. For I can do everything through Christ, who
gives me strength. Philippians
4:13. And that strength comes only from
God when we trust Him.
the Word of God and not deny Him. For I can do everything through Christ, who
gives me strength. Philippians
4:13. And that strength comes only from
God when we trust Him.
How often when we moved
to a different home in our early married life, I thought a new coat of paint
would make things new. I did not
understand that transformation is also available for the mind and heart that
leads to Open Door living.
to a different home in our early married life, I thought a new coat of paint
would make things new. I did not
understand that transformation is also available for the mind and heart that
leads to Open Door living.
Do not conform to the pattern of this
world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing
and perfect will. Romans 12:2
world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing
and perfect will. Romans 12:2
“Keep on asking, and you will receive
what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and
the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks,
receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8
what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and
the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks,
receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8
This is God’s
promise to us…And to everyone who knocks,
the door will be opened. I am not waiting until the last minute or a
dire need before I knock on the door. I
keep seeking, asking, and knocking for the promises God has for me. It is not what I do for Him, but what He has
done for me that counts. Jesus died on
the cross for me and for you. We can
only give Him our hearts.
promise to us…And to everyone who knocks,
the door will be opened. I am not waiting until the last minute or a
dire need before I knock on the door. I
keep seeking, asking, and knocking for the promises God has for me. It is not what I do for Him, but what He has
done for me that counts. Jesus died on
the cross for me and for you. We can
only give Him our hearts.
Do you remember
the song that is taught to little ones?
It is for grandparents and parents, too.
“Jesus loves me this I know for
the Bible tells me so. Little ones to
Him belong – they are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible
tells me so.”
the song that is taught to little ones?
It is for grandparents and parents, too.
“Jesus loves me this I know for
the Bible tells me so. Little ones to
Him belong – they are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible
tells me so.”
The open door for me…the open
door for me…You are the Way, You are the Truth, You are the Life, You’re the open door for me…(Circleslide – Echoes of the
Light)
door for me…You are the Way, You are the Truth, You are the Life, You’re the open door for me…(Circleslide – Echoes of the
Light)
Comments? eacombs@att.net