So I've heard from a lot of you that you're "behind" in The Clean Heart, Clean Home Challenge.  I thought I would continue to humble (embarrass) myself and help you to see things in a different manner for a moment...

Let me begin by saying, it would probably be easier for me to tell you what I have accomplished than what I haven't, as the list of what's been done in my home is shorter than the list of what's left to do!  When I began the challenge, I knew I would be having a baby before it was over and realized I would have to adjust the challenge to meet my needs (yes... I had to revamp my own organizer!!!).  Ladies... DO NOT GET STRESSED ABOUT NOT GETTING EVERYTHING DONE ON THE "TO DO" LIST!  The list was made to help you, not discourage you.  Now, I like to check things off a list just as much as the next person and I really hate not being thorough, but I can't fight the fact that my due date is less than 20 days away and there are things I hope to have accomplished before then!

Therefore, here are the things that have NOT been done in my home:

• the windows are not washed, nor the blinds in the bedrooms, or any of the curtains in the livingroom (which need it badly by the way)
• the window sills haven't been washed or painted (and it's driving me nuts)
• my sheets got washed, but my comforter and quilt did not
• my boys' bedroom got changed around (don't worry... my sister moved the bunk beds) but the carpet didn't get cleaned
• the front yard is looking nice, but needs mowing and the windows that were painted in the fall last year need to be scraped still
• EVERY door in my home either needs to be touched up with white paint, or a whole new coat!... not to mention most of the trim work as well
• my fridge and freezer have yet to be dismissed from their science projects growing in there (and I'm upset everytime I open the doors)
• the hallway linen closet is in dire need of an overhaul of organization and de-cluttering (which should really happen before the baby comes so I can find things!)
• the kitchen pantry... well... I have no idea what's exactly in there, but I did see wind chimes in there this morning (makes sense right?)
• my kitchen bottom cupboards... well, I can't find what bowl, pot or pan I need as they move with every child's dishwasher duty

Okay... I could go on, but I'll stop now.  Are you getting the picture?  Part of the purpose on The "To Do" List is to write what needs to be done, but then putting the date down next to the things you accomplish.  You may not get done with everything you want to do, but because you have things crossed off that are done, you can come back to those that aren't at a later date and finish them then.  You may be surprised at some spare time you're given one day, and you'll know exactly what you can do with it when you go back to your list!

In getting ready for the baby, I have decided that just getting organized and getting rid of the clutter would make a HUGE difference in my home!  I've went through closets and put away the winter clothing as well as bring out the spring/summer things.  We've cleaned under beds and went through drawers.  I've touched up noticable places with paint and waxed my kitchen floor to make it shine.  As I've gotten rooms "done", I've made sure each evening that they are picked up and everything is its place.  The rooms I've "finished" are anything but "deep cleaned" but, when someone walks into my home, I'm not embarrassed anymore either.  The deep cleaning is going to have to happen when I can get to it little by little, but for now, this is my life and I can live with the fact that I'm still blessing my family with a "picked up and organized home".  To be honest... how many people would know if you've washed your windows, trim work, dusted the ceiling fan, or touched up paint on the doors?  Unless things are really bad (and I have some of those spots as well) some people would never know that you even DID the deep cleaning.  Especially if you're really behind and the clutter is taking over your home, your family will not only be impressed, but thankful that the clutter is gone! 

One of my dear friends is doing the challenge as well, but she's adjusted it to fit her needs as well.  She is due the end of July and they are moving the beginning of July.  She is cleaning her rooms by organizing and de-cluttering and putting things into boxes.  She's not "deep cleaning" and her home is almost always picked up, (yes... I guess opposites attract since she's my close friend!), but the challenge has still been helpful to her.  She even made the comment that she was choosing to "ignore" some of the things on The "To Do" List since she never wanted to know that those things ever needed to be done!

So, with all that being said, now let me ask you the MOST important question... all you ladies who are claiming to be "behind"... How's the "HEART" part of the challenge going for you?  I have to admit, that last week, I allowed myself to get caught up in getting caught up and let my time with the Lord fall behind.  When I sat down on Sunday to do my devotion for the week, I was terribly convicted and wondered if part of the reason I was falling behind on my home cleaning was because I'd let my heart cleaning fall behind first.  I'd forgotten the most important part of the challenge!  So again I ask those of you who are behind and frustrated... how's your time been with the Lord?  See, I know that when my heart is right with the Lord, that I can better handle the spilled apple juice all over the freshly waxed kitchen floor... my response to the 3 year old peeing in the freshly changed bedding is more calm... I can greet my husband with a smile and a kiss even with no energy left... and I feel a peace that it will all be okay because I know it is, and not once does it cross my mind that I'm behind... because my heart is right where the Lord wants it.  But the minute I stray from being in His presence... I begin to get tense that it ALL won't get done, stress that there's too much to do, and begin to hear the lies the enemy speaks to me about never accomplishing it all and failing once again.

Ladies... this challenge to clean your home is not like others that focus on what everyone else sees.  This is about more than that... this about our hearts.  It's what our Lord and Maker sees... it's what He's molding each and every moment we let Him.  It's what's reflected in our actions throughout our days and conveyed to those around us. 

It IS important for our homes to be in working order.  It's wonderful to have everything "sparkle and shine", and know where everything is!  But it will ALL fall into place if we put the Lord God, the "Master Organizer" in charge of our hearts and our homes.  It may not be exactly as we planned.  We may not get everything on The "To Do" List done in 52 days... but we will walk away from the challenge with more than just a picked up home... we will have had life-changing walk with the One who knows the state our heart is in... and hearing, "Well done good and faithful servant..." are some words I long to one day hear...

Dear Lord,
    I pray for every woman who is taking part in The Clean Heart, Clean Home Challenge and ask that You bless their hearts and homes.  Please give them the strength they need to continue, and help them to find it from the only place that will give them enough... from YOU.  I pray they would seek You daily and meditate on Your Word, and as You mold their hearts each day, they would be cleansed with peace that surpasses all understanding.  May the challenge not discourage, but uplift and restore their spirit and may they see the fruits of their labor.  May those that dwell in their homes see an outer reflection of an inner restoration and may it catch like fire to anyone these women come in contact with on a daily basis. 
    Bless these ladies Lord, as they mean to do such good things.  They want their homes to be clean and orderly.  Please help them not to get caught up in the cleaning part of the challenge and forsake the heart part, but encourage them by allowing them to see the things they ARE accomplishing instead of the things they aren't.  Breathe new life into these women as they continue in their challenge so they will rest assurred that they are right on schedule according to Your plan for them.  I lift these ladies to You Lord.  May you bless them richly.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.