Bust Your Clutter, Free Your Life

I am on a cleaning spree. Not traditional cleaning with the Windex and Swiffer; I am cleaning OUT our house... and with it, our lives.

Tomorrow I am making my second donation drop in one week to a local charity. Let me clarify.

My second CARLOAD this week.


It is amazing how much stuff we Americans collect that just fills our homes with clutter. We (I) love yard sales, TJ Maxx, estate sales, the mall, and before you know it, your house is full of...stuff. (But it was on sale!, we say.)

"If you love trendy decor, it can be expensive to keep up with what is hot and what’s not! Just when you get all the latest stuff and start feeling all trendy, you open up a new magazine to realize your things are already hopelessly out of style. Or worse, they have fallen apart and it is time to reinvest in what is new. You don’t have to be a slave to trends dictated by someone else." - Melissa Michaels, The Inspired Room

And it doesn't have to be decor. Maybe it is clothes. Or toys. Or souvenirs picked up on vacations through the years. Or documents from the 1990's that are taking over your office.

(yes, that is a George Foreman grill that hasn't been used since college.)

Lately I am coming to realize that the accumulation of things is not only costing money. It is taking up our sacred space in our homes. Our homes are to be our sanctuary from a long hard day out, a place of peace and calm. But our habits of accumulation are defeating the life-giving purpose of those four walls. A cluttered space steals our peace of mind. Just think about it: which is more calming? A clear kitchen counter or one piled high with bills, books, and knickknacks?

A house full of stuff not only saps our peace of mind, but it robs our time. Which would you rather do on your Saturday? Go to the pool with your family or spend the day inside cleaning all your stuff? The more we have, the longer it definitely takes. (Again, compare the time it takes to clean a clear counter top versus one covered with objects.)

I don't consider myself a pack rat, but I am now finding myself on the fast track toward simplifying our home and life. In the evenings, I am going through our house room by room, closet by closet, drawer by drawer, and pulling out items that we don't use regularly or love. I am either tossing them out or donating them. Some donations have gone to the Salvation Army and others to the local Wellspring store, a ministry who supports women in crisis. {Another benefit to purging the excess: helping those in need!}

I got so excited on Saturday when several of the dresser drawers in our guest room were EMPTY. And the others were no more than half-full. No more drawers that get stuck because there are too many old shirts or picture frames crammed in.

I have listed several benefits above to decluttering our home -- money, time, and peace of mind. But there is higher purpose for streamlining and simplifying our life. I want to be free from concern.

"What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not;

those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep;

those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them.

For this world in its present form is passing away.
I would like you to be free from concern."
I Corinthians 7:29-32

Yes, we buy things. We use the things of the world but"as if not engrossed in them." "Engrossed" is a powerful word. It means, "to occupy completely, as the mind or attention; absorb." We live in this world, and therefore we use the physical things of the world - a home, a car or bus, clothing, food, phone, internet, furniture, gifts, television, etc. But we aren't to be ENGROSSED by them, completely absorbed by them. They can't be the focus of our lives!

Paul reminds us in these verses that the time is short. We have one short life here on earth. We must make the most of every day, not for our own pleasure and enjoyment, but for Christ and His kingdom. "This world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever. "{I John 2:17, NLT}

To live this way is to live a life free from concern. To fly above the circumstances, above the noise, above the stuff. To be free of heart and mind to focus on WHAT REALLY MATTERS.

Dean and I have a growing desire to capture each day for this higher purpose. To have time to devote to our friends and our family. To have energy and money to invest in the hurting, the broken, the weak, and the needy. To have quiet in which to hear the Father speaking and guiding us. "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.' " Isaiah 30:21b

I want to be free to hear that voice. Free from the love of things. Free from concern.

Our dear friends April and Matt just moved their family to Hong Kong to reach college students with God's love. The flats in Hong Kong are very small, and in preparation to move, they went through a downsizing process that took months. Many yard sales. Many items sold on Craigslist. Many carloads of donations.

Luke was not a donation :)

As they purged their belongings to the bare minimum, April challenged me to go against the flow of materialism that is prevalent in America. Although she was the one moving to a foreign country, she said, "We are being forced to downsize and keep it simple. It will be harder for you...harder to stay here in America and fight against materialism to put His kingdom first."

She is right. But no matter where we live, whether we have a big house with plenty of room for lots of stuff or reside in a small Hong Kong apartment, we have the same calling. We as Christians MUST put His kingdom first.

"A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." - Luke 12:15

Resources:
Stuff. A great article.

Becoming Minimalist: "A family of four in the suburbs becomes minimalists and so can you." Read about their story, starting with the first blog entry. Inspiring!
The FlyLady recommends the 27-Fling Boogie among other tips to beat the clutter.

A Mind is a Precious Thing to Waste

Real Simple

This post may be unpopular. But the Spirit is burning in my heart, and I feel compelled to speak.

Consider the strength of your mind. Your mind is among the most valuable things you have, for "As a man thinks in his heart, so he is." Our minds set the course of our lives.

Our hearts follow our minds. And they are the wellspring of our lives. Out of our hearts, we live life in Christ. Out of our hearts, the Spirit flows to others. "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." John 7:38

So what we think on affects our hearts and therefore, our entire being. It affects our ability to be at peace and remain focused. Our capacity to reflect and express Him. Our influence.

We are governed by our thoughts.

"Finally, {sisters}, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable
—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—
think about such things." Philippians 4:8

For some time now, I have noticed a trend among our generation and our culture as a whole. And I have been waiting and wondering who in the Church is speaking to this issue...for it is a cancer of the mind.

I haven't heard it addressed, and so I am compelled to challenge both myself and you with this:

We are steeping our minds in filth. And we call it entertainment.

We are mesmerized by the lives of famous people. The same celebrities who deny our God with their lips and pagan lifestyles.

We are addicted to following their lifestyles through magazines, tv, and the internet.

We are filling our mind with the antithesis of all we hold dear. Would we want our children to feast on the same mental diet of promiscuity, sensuality, marital unfaithfulness, arrogance, vanity, greed, lust, homosexuality, bisexuality, rebellion, drugs, perversion, eating disorders, and enslavement to materialism?


Neither does God want his kids.

"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?" James 4:4 - 6a

On Sunday our pastor Dr. David Cooper was preaching on Psalm 1. While not specifically naming this celebrity-obsession, he said, "We've been brought in from the kingdom of darkness and bondage to sin. Why go out and 'stand in the way of sinners'? Why go out and study and follow their lifestyles?

They {the media} will market and advertise the world. Do not take a second look at the path and direction of the world."

We have been called out of the world. And we need the fullness of our minds and hearts to live this new life.

Make a clean break. I implore you on behalf of Christ, stop buying "People {Exploited}" magazine in the checkout line. Cancel your subscription to US Weekly. By all means, turn off TMZ and Entertainment Tonight. Don't waste your precious moments visiting celebrity gossip websites. *THEY ARE NOT NEWS.* They are tabloids. Let's stop kidding ourselves, and raise our eyes and minds to the standard for which we have been bought.

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1

He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:15

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

James 1:27

Am I The Only One?

Am I the only woman who finds this attractive??

My Man scrubbing and cleaning our porch.

(do you know how much i hate this chore???)

What a turn on.

I guess it really is the little things for us women ;)

30's Priorities

I recently turned the big 3-0. My husband has me beat by a good stretch, so he doesn't think 30 is a "big" anything. But I know many of you understand. I am entering a new decade. A new phase of life.

I am no longer living in the decade defined by college and college-ish behaviors. The 20's mark a metamorphasis, a growth from carefree irresponsibility into a handful of responsibilities such as getting a real job, paying real rent or even buying one's own house. The 30's, on the other hand, may be many things, but two things they are not are carefree and irresponsible. For many, they include marriage, children, career advancement, home-buying, community responsibilities, and basically a lot of juggling of new adult responsibilities placed upon young shoulders.

I have turned that corner...

I am pleased to journey into a new season, but this new decade finds me reflective. I am asking,

What are my real priorities?

Beth Moore said recently, "This generation of women has bought the Lie. The lie is that 'You can have it all!'

She speaks to the belief that we women can--and should--be successful at all of these roles:

• A loving and nurturing wife


• A devoted and attentive mother


• An executive, advancing her career


• A good neighbor


• A Bible Study leader


• The Girl Scout Troup leader, the baseball Team Mom


• A connected friend


• An efficient home manager

She continued, "You can have a lot, but you CANNOT have it all."

This struck me during the week of my Birthday, and I have been considering its implications for my life. I believe she is right.

I cannot have it all.

I may have a lot--or even most--of these things.

But not all.

Over this next decade, I may be able to close that deal at work by working long hours, but I will not simultaneously be enjoying dinner with the family I love. I may be able to take a child to the ballfield several nights a week, but the house will not likely not be a Martha Stewart showroom. Because we are limited people with limited time, energy, and resources, we will end up trading some things for others. What will I choose? What will you choose?

We cannot have it all.

I am entering my 30's by looking in the mirror and giving myself a firm talking-to...and the permission to not do it all. I am looking in my heart and pondering what will be dropped.

Today, I began writing down my Life Priorities. They are a work in progress, but I will share.

My Life Priorities

1. Engaging Christ and His Kingdom {worshipping, going deeper with Him. supporting his work in the world through missions, our local church, and our community.}

2. Loving my Husband {this one is a favorite, but it will not always be easy. may I always give our marriage the priority it deserves.}

3. Creating our Home {making and keeping it beautiful, warm, smooth, and efficient}

4. Valuing Others {hosting, visiting, giving, celebrating & connecting with family and friends}

5. Choosing Health {providing healthy meals, staying active and fit, taking care of myself}

6. Expressing Creative Gifts {writing and other creative pursuits}

7. Managing Financial Goals {planning and saving for our family}

These top seven priorities may wax and wane within the list, but chances are, if it is not on the above list, it is not of great importance in my life.

Several of you have kindly asked why I have not posted on my blog lately. It is because while blogging and writing are important to me, they are #6 on the list. For the last few months, I have been concentrating on several other items, like #4, Valuing Others: we had several opportunities to host friends and family in our home this spring for meals, holidays, and weekends. I was also busy with #2, Loving my Husband. He also had a milestone birthday, and many of his family members from Florida surprised him to celebrate. These preparations were worthy of my attention for several weeks in April.

I am learning not to carry guilt for letting my blog stay quiet for some time or for dusty baseboards. I would rather have family around our table sharing a meal or on our couch sharing an evening.

I would rather celebrate the special occasions and loved ones in my life to the hilt!

I would rather spend time organizing and keeping our home than on a shopping spree in the city.

These are my priorities.

What are yours?