Posted in FLYING and HGP

These past weeks as I have gone through each of the areas of my house to de-clutter, I have learned something about myself.  You see I come from a long line of "keepers".

My Great-Grandma was a "keeper" in a time where you used everything.  She could turn the littlest of nothing into a whole lot of something.  She didn't have much but what she did have she always seemed to make last a long time and nothing went to waste.  Old clothes were turned into quilts, flour sacks were made into dresses and yet she always had plenty and was never lacking.

My Grandma grew up in the depression era where you kept EVERYTHING because you might need it.  Consequently broken lamps, spare parts, chipped dishes and window frames grace her rafters.  She has things that she doesn't even know what they are for.  She is a "keeper" of all the things that the world might need -LOL.

My mother was a single mom who couldn't afford much after paying for us kids.  Things were kept because she never knew when another might come along and of course you would save the good stuff for ONLY the good times.

Where does that leave me?  Well, I keep because:

j I could use it for something else.

k I might need it someday.

l I might not be able to afford another.

And then I end up feeling like a stuffed tomato which is just ludicrous.  At one point, I even considered that these were the thoughts of a good steward but in reality it isn't.

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.  Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.  Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire.  You have hoarded wealth in the last days.  James 5:1-3

In approximately 20 years what you have now will be rotten, useless and not working – maybe even sooner.  The world will tell you it is out of style, you won't be able to fix it and it isn't good enough.  Yet, I doubt that God will stop providing and too much stuff really just distracts from our service to Him.

This past month I would have rather spent my time doing something fun with PEOPLE instead of de-cluttering and hanging out with useless THINGS.  I need to catch myself when I think, "Oh!  I could use this for….  I should save it."  These are just the thoughts that the enemy wants to use to choke me, suffocate me and drown me in my S.T.U.F.F. so that I no longer have time for His work, so that I am embarrassed to have people over and so that my "meek & quiet spirit" is gone and all I have is discontentedness.

But the biggest lesson that I have learned is that when we KEEP things that take all our energy, then we are no longer clinging to Him or trusting Him to provide.  He knows our future and when we doubt, we doubt Him.  Doubt only brings discontentment and opens the door for every un-captured thought to take over.

So what makes you content?  Our children need to see that.  What causes your satisfaction?  Our husbands need to see that.  Truly what makes you relax and enjoy your husband, your family and your life?  Why aren't you doing that today? 

Today, I will be doing what pleases my husband --  the DREADED Garage Sale Day is here (You must know that when I decide my S.T.U.F.F. must go it goes - I DO NOT throw a garage sale --- it goes to the nearest thrift shop).  My hope and prayer is that EVERYTHING goes.  My kids pray that we make a bit of money.  My husband hopes that it teaches our children how business and selling works.  Say a prayer for me and then go find something that SHOWS your contentment in this life that God has richly given you.