Yard sale!

Literally.

We are having one tomorrow and Saturday.

It’s been a plan for a while now, but being this close to the reality is a bit disturbing.

Mostly to my house.

Dragging things out of the closets, out of storage in totes, it out of the hutch and cabinets means stuff everywhere!

I don’t like it.

But it needs to happen.

Because to go through our stuff and move it on is both wise and generous.

It keeps us from becoming over whelmed by the “things”.

Helps us keep our priorities straight and it places items out for others.

As I’ve been going through all this stuff it’s caused me to reflect.

Going through “stuff” shouldn’t be kept to the physical, but it’s important for me to allow the Lord to do this in my heart as well.

To take time to open the closet and drawers and cabinets of my life to Him and be sure there’s nothing I’m treasuring which doesn’t belong there.

Just like the items accumulate, so can bitterness.

Even more important than cleaning out old clothes I don’t wear, is cleaning out old habits or unhealthy thoughts.

But it takes time, effort, and attention to deal with stuff, physical or internal.

I praise God for His Word.

Daily, reading, and prayer sustain the soul.

Study, teaching, and time away from the regular routine give the Lord opportunity to “deep clean”.

So, as we prepare for our yard sale, I’m praying.

I’m expectant that the Lord will use this activity.

I’m also seeking Him for a “deep cleaning” within.

Matthew 23:25-26 NKJV — “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

I want to be clean, everywhere.

John 13:8-10 NKJV — Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for reminding me how important it is to get rid of things. To let go of stuff, both inwardly and outwardly. Lord, I know You have washed me completely in Your blood and redeemed me. Lord, please continue to cleanse my heart and mind for living in a sinful world with a sinful nature means I get dirty and sometimes I don’t even notice. Lord, I don’t want to sin. I want to be set apart for You. Please continue to help me hear Your voice and walk in Your ways. I love You, Jesus. Amen.

Just a mess

Yes, this isn’t what we want.

No, it’s not going to stay this way.

But this kind of mess is easier to deal with than others.

This week at work I had a child lie to my face.

When I called them on it they weren’t even a little remorseful.

My first feeling was of shock and anger.

Not deep or fiery, but the anger when wrong is committed and the person does not care.

I was still thinking about the child after work and praying for God to show me what the deal was.

The mess is on the inside.

I thought about that for a long while.

Up until the Lord spoke I had been focused on the event and how to handle the next one if it should occur.

I’d missed the actual issue.

For a child to feel completely at ease with such behavior when I know they have been taught it’s wrong, means something.

So, I’ve been praying for the heart of this little one.

There is a mess inside which needs God’s hands to clean and throughly place in order.

However, the child needs to want to change.

They need to realize they are a mess before anything can happen.

The same is true for me.

Without my realization of a mess and my willingness to fix it, I’ll live with the inside out of place.

Messes happen, but we don’t have to live in them.

Jesus is waiting for an invitation to change the mess into a masterpiece.

“Dear Lord,

Thank You for showing me the mess inside this child whom You love so much. Please help me to continue to pray for and encourage them every chance I get. Thank You for all the messes You have cleaned up in my own heart. Thank You for continuing to help me be aware of the status of my heart. I want to be Your masterpiece, please continue to form my heart with Your hands. I love You, Jesus.♡”

Spring clean

My daughter took this as we were preparing to land in Seattle.

I was blessed to be able to visit my grandmother, aunt, uncle, and cousins recently.

Unfortunately my hubby couldn’t take off from work and stayed home.

While he was here he started a major spring cleaning.

To the point of bleaching the white kitchen cabinets kind of cleaning.

It was a lovely surprise to come home to.

Of course I’m now in the place of daily cleaning, trying to keep up the beauty.

It reminds me of my walk with Jesus.

I rarely need a huge overhaul spiritually if I keep up with the daily spiritual relationship.

Yes, there are those moments which cause extra time: the soup boiling all over the stove or news of a loved one being given a number of days left on Earth.

However, normally to keep on top of clean it takes self discipline and attention to details.

Did I speak only words of edification today?

Did I wash at least one load of clothes?

Did I put priorities first?

Did I stay humble?

As I polish the furniture am I allowing God to polish my character?

Sometimes I can say, “yes” and sometimes not.

That is why this is self discipline, it’s not easy.

Thankfully I know God is walking me through each step, guiding me each day.

Up close

Details,
can be elusive.

It takes getting up-close,
magnifying the miniscule,
focusing on what normally goes unnoticed.

Effort,
time,
tools,
talent.

But what are the details which are worthy of so much effort?

Lately,
it’s been my reactions.

The tools used to magnify the miniscule is the Bible and prayer.

The time has been in quietness before the Lord.

The talent has been to be real with Him,  Who created me.

The result has been to see myself a little clearer.

Busy with schedules and tasks and lists which check off one at a time, can keep me from noticing the prick, the nudge, the pull at my heart strings.

Who wants to stop and stare at the details, revealing the weakness within?

I honestly don’t.

But I am.

And I will continue to.

Because the details of my reactions tell me the opportunity to hone something inside my character is available.

Not only in the words out of my mouth,
but the sighs,
gestures,
roll of the eyes,
tone of voice,
or even in the stony silence,
my attitudes are revealed.

Pride
Stubbornness
Selfishness
Fear
Distrust

All these have been unearthed with my focusing on details.

They weren’t “in your face” but they were there just the same.

I could have found excuses for every occasion,
blamed each on circumstance,
dodged the truth and backed away…

Yet these words kept me from running.

“How can you, being evil, speak good things?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things,  and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” Matt. 12:34b-35

I don’t want to hide evil in my heart.

Even if it is only the smallest seed it can grow to ruin the beautiful.

I asked the Lord:

“Clean me Father. Heal my heart of the designs of sin. Give me love to replace anger and hurt. Humility to replace pride and haughtiness.  Faith to replace fear and distrust. Lastly, forgive me please for allowing the seeds of sin.”

With a
Deep breath
and
renewed strength my eyes catch Ps. 16:11

“You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fulness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures
forevermore.”

With this all I can say is:

Amen.