“Home is where the heart is,” is thought to have originated back to the Roman naval commander Pliny the Elder in 23-79AD. Home, is where you dwell. Although I have lived in different parts of Arkansas most of my life, I have also lived in Texas, Mississippi, Turkey, and Japan. But dwelling is more than where you lay your head…It’s where your heart dwells. It’s the ability to be in one physical location but watch the movie play in your heart of another. It is where your heart dwells that will determine a person’s Peace, their Joy…their Hope.

In the 1960’s & 70’s it was popular to “go find yourself”. This life strategy lasted from age 18 to 35 for me. Along my path were broken dreams, broken hearts…a searching for significance. My heart chased dreams in politics, then aspirations of great wealth in sales. While I had a loving & incredible wife and children, wonderful parents, and great friends, I dwelled on my dreams of success. Dreams that had no peace, joy, or hope…no substance. There was no anchor where I dwelled.

Today I recognize many people traveling down the same road I did singing Johnny Lee’s song, “Looking For Love in All the Wrong Places”. People thinking a new job, new house, new friends, new life partner, more stuff, more money, even a new President, will bring peace, joy, and hope. The stark reality is that there is only ONE place…One source for Peace, Joy & Hope in your heart.

I came to this stark reality on September 18,1984. I stood at the closet door that morning defeated from my inability to find my elusive dream when I heard His whisper, “Have you had enough, or do you want some more of this?” God loved me so much He rescued me from me. He changed where my heart dwells.

I believe this is the key to the strength to “Press on” in the middle of pain, suffering…life’s storms. For Believers in Christ, it’s the knowing that He holds me in the palm of His Mighty hand and that nothing can snatch me from His hand (John 10:28). This is the key many ordinary people of the Bible, who did extortionary acts of faith, found as the source of strength. Paul said it this way in Philippians 3:13-14, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I PRESS ON toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Savor these:

• “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8
• “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:6
• “Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.” Psalm 43:3
• “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” Colossians 3:16

David summed it up in Psalm 91:1-2, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

I have Good News. You can have this “No-Matter-What” Peace, Joy, Hope.

Answer the door! Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Rev 3:20.

Note: The picture is from a place Mary & I called Shalom.