Some have asked why I named my blog “House of stain”? It would seem like an obvious answer, given that most of this blog is related to repurposing/refinishing objects and furniture (using paints or wood stains or whatever). But it’s actually deeper than that.
A few months ago I was reading a devotional about God referring to His “marriage to the church.” The devotional also refers to Ephesians in regards to explaining that spouses should love each other the same way God loves and treats His church. And two verses stood out to me:
“Spouses should love each other the same way Christ loved the church, and gave His life for it. He made it holy and made it pure by washing it with water and then with His blood. He did that so it would be a love that is blameless, without stains, wrinkles, and flaws.” Ephesians 5:25-27
I thought about that… Jesus died so that we would have a LOVE and relationship with Him that is pure and true, blameless, and without imperfections. I get that the name of the blog seems contrary to that, but it’s not.
You see, WE are not blameless and without imperfection. I fall short everyday. I forget to put dishes in the sink right after I use them because I have a toddler pulling on my leg. I sometimes take it out on my husband when I have a bad day. I’ve made errors at work and beat myself up for it, for months on end. I don’t always respond with love and grace when Griff has hit me, kicked, or thrown his entire plate of food on the floor (this morning). I say cuss words when I’m really frustrated despite my best efforts to not say them at all. I cry over not getting time to myself. But I also feel guilty for actually doing something for me. I am full of stains and imperfections. I’ve made some HUGE mistakes and some small ones. We are, indeed, a house of stains. Our house is not perfect, and neither are we.
But God’s love for us is. It offers forgiveness and washes us clean. He offers hope, love, empathy, compassion, and guidance through His word and His grace. He gives us a love that isn’t contingent on our actions. He knows we will make mistakes; He takes the blame, shame, and regret and bears it for us so that we are made new everyday.
Wood Stains come in all different colors, textures, methods, etc. Hence this cross that’s on our wall
($4.00 wooden cross from Hobby Lobby that I painted mint and stained to look more weathered with (drum roll, please… A tea bag)
And just like wood stains, our own “stains” are all different in nature, in all different colors, that affect us all in different ways: weather us, polish us, and can our state of being (our hearts). But the difference is that no “personal stain” is beyond God’s reach and ability to wash it clean to start over living a life with perfect love from Him.
I’ll keep my stains, and be joyful that God loves me enough to show me pure love over and over again.
house of stain 