Knock, Knock... Housekeeping

I so wanted to blog this yesterday, and start the Week off on a positive note. But alas, my day past by in a blur... Ash had remedial, and supper (roast chicken and veggies) took a whopping 3 hours to cook!! My oven chose last night to give me a hard time! Oh and  I cleaned house like a mad woman possessed! Why is it that after the week-end the house looks like a tip?! Me thinks I need to call a very serious family meeting! And on that not let me start my post.... (^^,)

So one of my job descriptions is The Maid. I clean house. But I have an agreement with the girls that they are responsible for their bedrooms, and their playroom. Of late though, cleaning of the bedrooms has been abandoned. So on Thursday (the start to our long week end) I layed down the law! Bedrooms had to be cleaned by Sunday, or else!!!

Eventually on Saturday, I jumped in to help Ash out. Not that I have control issues!! No ways! I could see that she was totally overwhelmed! I would have been too,( her room could have given the Clean House crew a good run for their money), but I am the Mom and have to face such matters. So I bravely took a deep breath....

Ash very, bravely said I could publish the first pic!! Shame look at her hanging her head in shame!! LOL

Good thing Kenz didn't get lost in there

Well two hours later the room was tidied up, 2 rubbish bags full to the brim with rubbish, and 4 loads of washing!!! Yes you read it correctly

Then on Sunday, it was Janique's turn... She however would not let me even take a pic! LOL Also the same amount of rubbish, but thankfully only 3 loads of washing!! So when I said to her, "Oh my word!! More washing, I don't think I'll get it all done today!!" she calmly looks at me and says sweetly " Don't worry mom, you have tomorrow as well to do it" Ha!! I did the grown up thing, and walked away!

It has been amazing to see the change in the girls, they are allot calmer, and not as argumentative with each other, and this has gotten me thinking....

During my quiet time yesterday, I decided to pick up The Message Bible. It's written in contemporary language. I enjoy reading it, because it is like reading the most wonderful story book. Eugene Petersen took 10 years to write it, and it is a wonderful accompaniment to The NKJ that I usually read.
I am an ordered and structured person, I like things to be neat and tidy. When I start reading I always start at the beginning. So in my true style I stated in Genesis... then I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to go to Romans! ( big step... not even the start to the New testament LOL).

I got to thinking, I thought about the girl's rooms, and of all the clutter and junk that had started to pile up, and eventually take over their spaces. And then I thought of our spiritual walk, and how it is supposed to be a walk, of freedom, and walking in close relationship with our Father. But how often do we loose perspective, and seem to veer off the path, or even stop walking for a season?

I think it may have something to do with the clutter that we pick up... Things like how we see ourselves, our past, our current circumstances, offenses, being too tired or just plain lazy, being too busy... The list could go on.

How do we clean up?

Well I believe that it is up to us to take the first step. Jesus has done it all for us already.

Here are a few passages that jumped out at me, from Romans. ( I read the first 6 chapters, he doesn't list the verse numbers...)

Chapter 2
If you go against the grain, you get splinters, regardless of which neighborhood you're from, what your parents taught you, what schools you attend. But is you embrace the way God does things, there are wonderful payoffs, again without regard to where you are from or how you were brought up.

God pays no attention to what others say (or what you think) about you. He makes up His own mind.

Chapter 3
God sacrificed Jesus on the alter of the world to clear the world of sin, having faith in Him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public - to set the world in the clear with Himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. This is not only clear, but it's now - this is current history. God sets things right. he also makes it possible for us to live in His rightness.

Chapter 5
By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us - sets us right with Him, makes us fit for Him - we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open His door to us! We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand - out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.

Chapter 6
Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the Cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life - no longer at sin's every beck and call! What we believe is this : if we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in His life-saving resurrection. We know that Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with Him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin, and alive to God. That's what Jesus did.

So be encouraged today, as you start cleaning up, and getting rid of the clutter. Jesus has already done it! All we have to do is line up with His thinking and His way of doing things. Difficult I know, but life is a marathon, not a sprint, and we need to take it one step at a time! But we have the advantage! Precious Jesus and the Holy Spirit are walking with us!!!

Happy Cleaning (^^,)

Chat soon

Niqui xx