Boundaries and Broad Places

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

 Psalm 16:6

He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

Psalm 18:19

A dear friend shared Psalm 16:6 with me recently, when I was talking about feeling overwhelmed with being in our little duplex throughout this coming winter.  Indeed, the Lord has been teaching me contentment over the last year.  My prayer over and over again has been for Him to change my heart and teach me to enjoy everything about where He has me now.  Our small place, our dear, adorable young children, waiting for His timing on purchasing land and building a house.  Mostly, I feel like I am content, except when I really ask myself if I am complaining, even in my thoughts, about our place now.  Then, I know that I am not genuinely content.  But, slowly, the Lord is working in my heart to make me thankful for all the wonderful things about our duplex.  I thank the Lord for these things:  

• affordable enough to be saving money every month for our future home
• only one bathroom to clean!
• garage for tools, bikes, stroller, etc
• yard for the kids to play!
• basement for kitchen utensils, gadgets, hobbies and storage so we don't have to store our things in a storage unit
• our landlords are my in-laws!!!
• it is has absolutely everything our family needs and beyond!!

Shortly after reading Psalm 16:6, I read Psalm 18:9.  Two things struck me in this verse.  First, that the Lord rescues me to a broad place!!  I have been clinging to that verse for our future.  Praying that I would be truly content and grateful here. And be able to leap and stretch out and run and have lots of room for company and guests and animals and gardens if the Lord gives us land.  Second, I am so often brought to tears when I read that the Lord delights in me.  Not because of anything I do, or where I am, but because I am His!!!  His plan for me is perfect.  Only He knows when it is best for me to have boundaries, and when I am ready for broad places!  More to come on the broad places soon!!!