Building What Matters: A Spiritual House for Our Kids

 3 Ways to Craft Christlike Hearts at Home 

What are you really building as a mom?

When the Bible calls Jesus a “carpenter,” the original word is tekton—a builder, a craftsman. In a region where homes were made of stone, Jesus understood foundations deeply. So when He spoke about building a house on the rock, He meant it.

In this episode, we talk about what it looks like to build a spiritual house that lasts—through prayer, loving others well, seeing the overlooked, and remembering that we are still being built too.

Mamas, the houses of wood and stone may fade, but what you build in faith will stand forever.

Transcript

Building On A Sure Foundation

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This is Jenna Marie Masters with the Real Mom's Real Faith Podcast. I am so glad you're here so you can be encouraged to trust God with all the things one day at a time. Hi, thank you for coming back to episode 30 of the Real Mom's Real Faith Podcast. This week we're going to be talking about building, because whether we realize it or not, every single one of us is building

Jesus The Builder And The Rock

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house. I'm going to tell you something that surprised me years ago. When the Bible says that Jesus was a carpenter, it may not be exactly what you think of when you think of what a carpenter is. The Greek word is tecton, and it doesn't just mean carpenter the way we often picture it. Tekton means a craftsman, a builder, a workman. And in the region where Jesus grew up, homes weren't primarily built of wood. They were built of stone. So many scholars make a strong case that Jesus was a stonemason. Now, this has no bearing on his work as Savior of the World. I just think it's an interesting thing to think about because it gives us really fresh meaning to some of his words. Think about this. Jesus is called our sure foundation. He is called the stone the builders rejected. He is called the precious cornerstone and the chief cornerstone. So Jesus didn't just talk about building things, he was a builder.

Childhood Home And Lasting Work

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And that's why this passage grips me so deeply in Matthew 7. It says this These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a wise builder who built his house on solid rock. The rain poured down, the river flooded, the winds blew, but the house did not move. It was fixed to the rock. Look, Jesus was a builder any way you want to look at it. And I believe he's calling us to be builders too. A while ago, my parents drove by the house where my brother and I spent our childhood. And afterward, my mom called me all emotional and she was crying. She was like, it's the ugliest house on the block now. And all the grass that we once played on was like brown and crunchy. And there was no trace of the care my parents had put into it. And after we hung up, I just whispered out loud, like, don't cry, mom. The house wasn't meant to last. It was what my parents built inside those walls that had eternal implications. My parents had built me a spiritual house, one founded on Christ, and decades later, it's still standing. Today I want to share three ways that they did that, but also a fourth way that I want to start implementing into

Cementing Prayer Into Daily Life

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my home. The first one, we've talked about it a bunch on this podcast, but is to cement prayer into the foundation of your home. Prayer filled my childhood. It was out loud prayer. It was at dinner, at bedtime, over sickness, over friends. And now as a mom of four, prayer can feel like another thing on the to-do list. I totally get that, but prayer isn't another task. Prayer truly is the glue that holds your family together, that holds you tight to Jesus. Pray on that way to school. Have every kid pray out loud. If both parents can't be there, call your husband on the speaker phone, pray out loud with them there. Five minutes, that's it. Whenever you hear a siren, teach your kids to pray right away for those people who need help. Even toddlers get this. When my six-year-old hears a siren, she'll say, Mommy, don't forget to pray. Prayer should not be some decorative tassel that's hanging out on your family. It's meant to weave through each minute, like holding your days together. What are we teaching by this practice? Well, you're pouring a strong foundation. You're telling your kids, look, God always listens to you. Prayer is for all times because God is with us at all times. Psalm 116, 2 says, Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath. The second thing that my parents did was they really helped us to find worth in the nooks and grannies, I'm gonna call it. Growing up, my mom would pack homemade goodies and take me to visit widows from church. And I remember sitting on these floral couches, like super restless and bored. And then Grandma Myrtle, who we were visiting, would pull out cards and puzzles and she would come and sit with us and play. The truth is I didn't understand at the time how holy this lesson was. Because my parents weren't just preaching that everyone was worthy of love and attention. They were showing me. This is one of my favorite habits to

Teaching Worth In Quiet Places

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cultivate because it speaks volumes to our kiddos about their own self-worth. And it can be much easier than you may think. We can start by looking at the people physically near to us. Do you have an elderly neighbor or a single mama nearby? Once a week, just double your dinner recipe and have your child take over the meal, or invite them to one of your kiddos' sports games or plays or recitals. People feel so loved when they're invited, even if they say no over and over again. Keep inviting them. At my old house once a month, we used to set up chairs on the lawn and have the kiddos invite them out for some lemonade. So easy to do and fun. You see, when my parents took the time to make someone feel valued and they included me in the process, they were showing me that everyone is worthy. And that meant I was worthy and that I could actually love like Jesus too. I didn't have to be grown up to do that. I look back now and I look at the value and what my mom was doing by bringing me along with her. Because a lot of times as moms, we leave our kids behind when we go love on other people, don't we? Because we think they're gonna get in the way, they're gonna get bored. You know what? Let them get in the way. Let them get bored. Because when you start including your kids in loving others, you're showing them that they are capable of loving like Jesus, just like you are. The third thing my parents did was they helped me to see who was on the bottom floor. Let me explain. There was a homeless man who sat by the Carl's Jr. that we went to every Sunday after church. And my dad used to buy extra bags of hamburgers for him every time. And I remember as a little kid it being kind of scary. I was really unsure of like his filthy, life-worn hands were coming out, grabbing at the food, and my dad didn't shy away. He spoke to that man like an equal and he offered him prayers, he offered him help. And I realize now that if it weren't for my dad, I don't think I even would have noticed that man. And if I did, I probably just would have been afraid. So I want to teach my kids to keep their eyes open for people on the floor of life, those that need encouragement

Seeing Who’s On The Bottom Floor

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and prayer and love and practical help. And a straightforward way to do this is simply calling it out. That simple act draws their attention away from themselves and onto others. You can say, Do you see that man? Because God sees them. You can tell your kids, that was someone's baby. I wonder what hardships brought them to this place. And if you feel safe and comfortable, you could ask the person, what is your name? Because no longer are you going to be saying, Do you see that homeless lady? But rather you're saying, Hey kids, do you see Rebecca? Let's pray for her today. There are so many ways you can help people who are in this position. I just want to give you one simple thing you can do with your kids. What are we teaching when we do this? Well, when my parents taught me the value of seeing people who tend to get overlooked, they were really teaching me that God loves and sees everyone. And the last thing I want to talk about is crafting a heart that knows it's still being built.

Living Stones And Legacy

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First Peter says we are living stones being built into a spiritual house, being built, not finished, and that matters. There are hundreds of ways to build holy habits when you're a family on a mission, and each family has something unique to offer. But the heart of this is choosing to make it an intentional part of our lives. Because life is a breath, right? Houses of wood and stone, they crumble, the branches of epic climbing trees, they eventually rot away. And as they do, let's keep choosing to be families that build something that will last. Because someday God will equip our children to build a spiritual house with a unique rhythm and a calling that's all their own. And it's not going to be a new house. Instead, they're going to expand on the construction that we've started, I hope, just as I prayerfully add on to what my parents crafted for me. And one day we'll all dwell in the house of the Lord together forever, and the grass will never turn a dusty brown, and the paint will never peel. And I imagine we will have tears, but tears of joy. But I'm not sure if tears are allowed in heaven. So don't cry, moms. These houses, they're built to last. So, my friends, whatever you feel like you're building today, whether it feels holy or not so holy today, brick by brick, prayer by prayer, and moment by moment, the builder himself is

Resources, Devotionals, And Gospel Plan

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with you. If this episode encouraged you, share it with another mom who's building in the middle of the mess, just like all of us. And don't forget to follow the podcast so we never miss an episode. If you have a moment, please jump on up to rate it and write a review. It really helps other moms find the podcast. And I'm excited to send out the family devotional that goes along with this. If you are not getting the family devotionals, hop on to Instagram and just type in the word rooted to any of my posts and you will start getting family devotionals. Also, I cannot believe how many people are reading through all four gospels this month with me. It's so exciting to see everybody so excited to read God's word. So if you are interested in reading through all four gospels in the month of February, I can also send you that plan too. You just need to write the words no Jesus, K-N-O-W Space Jesus on any of my posts on Instagram, and that will be sent over to you right away too. So I'm excited. I hope that you're loving these resources. Have a great week. Don't forget to follow, save and share, and subscribe. You're awesome. Give it up for a mommy! Yellow we ask. Love it.