Cleaning Out The Junk

     For the past several weeks, I have been writing on the subject of seeds; springtime is upon us and it's always exciting to plant them and await the appearance of those tiny first buds. 

Another slightly less popular aspect of the season is the long avoided task of cleaning out the accumulated junk that somehow finds its way into every closet, drawer, and cabinet. 

The past few days have been spent cleaning and organizing. It's amazing what I have found by searching through the mess. 

I can't help but think about how we all hold onto so much junk in our lives. It's so much easier to just push it back into someplace where we can't see it.

Out of sight, out of mind...right? 

If we were all honest, no one wants to deal with junk because it all seems too overwhelming. It piles up quickly. It's usually more of a mess than we can handle. 

What junk are you holding onto?  Do you have bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, or some burdening sorrow in your heart? 

You don't have to take on the mess by yourself. Jesus is more than willing to lend a helpful hand. It's never healthy to hold onto what doesn't need a place in your heart. 

Jesus wants all of what you've been holding onto. Give Him your burdens and learn to let them all go. Let Jesus restore your joy.

It's time to start cleaning out the junk in your heart today.  It'll take some time to do, but you'll be glad you did. 

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit." (Psalm 51:10-12 King James Version)

The Seed of Contentment

 God doesn't always give you exactly what you want, but He will never fail in giving you what you need. 

That simple thought has swirled in my head a lot throughout the past week. Let us delve into the topic of contentment.

Our most perfect plans never usually work out as well as we want them to. Even as the Lord walks by our side, it is all too easy for us to become unsatisfied with what He has given us. 

It only takes a second to have a seed of dissatisfaction planted in our hearts just by the simple act of looking at others and thinking about what we don't have.

It's a must to remember that God always has a perfect plan in place. Every aspect is a connecting dot and has plenty of purpose: the family you were placed in, the friends and acquaintances you encounter, the situations you face. 

It's never easy to find God's goodness in the midst of our dissatisfaction. It takes a while to accept that we aren't in control of everything. It's all too common for society to make you feel as though you've failed miserably. That you're missing out on the best. Or that what you have simply isn't good enough. 

The power to overcome it all lies within the smallest seed of contentment. Try not to focus on the life you've never had, for God is always faithful!  And through it all, His goodness becomes even sweeter! 

What if your life plans worked out exactly the way you wanted? Who would you be? Would you even know Jesus? 

The precious power of God's goodness and grace should always be enough to help us remember the flip side of those what if questions. God plans are always bigger, better, and sweeter even when life isn't exactly what we pictured for ourselves. 

He sees what we don't and knows exactly what we need in order for His perfect will to be accomplished. 

Be content in everything; be thankful for the journey. 

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Phillipians 4:11 KJV)

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV)

The Seed of Reliance

 Have you ever been caught in a rainstorm without an umbrella?

Those kinds of storms are never fun. They seem to be the hardest and the most unexpected. Dark clouds cast an unsettling shadow over a perfect day. The raindrops are cold. You're suddenly soaked and running to find a place of shelter.

In your mind you're thinking: if I'd known this was going to happen, I would have kept my umbrella handy.

A most uncomfortable truth to accept is that we can never see what lies ahead for us. It's far too easy to forget how much we need Jesus. Even on our sunniest days, we still need keep Him close.

Lupus is an unfair autoimmune disease that my mother has battled for nine years now, and last summer, the flare up she experienced was her worst to date. It really shook our world to its core. We are still praising the Lord for all of the recovery progress she has made.

This unexpected situation matured our relationship and it definitely planted a seed of reliance on Jesus in our hearts. It was so hard to watch the most independent person I know struggle through simple tasks.

I remember how panicked I felt when this first came about. It hit out of the blue. I cried many tears wondering how I was going to help her as I felt incapable due to my own disability.

I knew how much she hated losing her independence. She wasn't able to walk or drive for the better part of six weeks. To say it was tough would be quite the understatement. I couldn't begin to imagine what she experienced through the moments I couldn't see. 

Jesus carried us through that time and we are so grateful. I know because of that experience I have a sense of confidence and that I never had before.

The sort of confidence that is only found through relying on the hope and provision that faith in Jesus provides. He's always there through each and every moment. We never saw that storm coming. We were never ready for it.

Yet, Jesus gave us the patience to go through it.

"By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;"

'And patience, experience; and experience, hope:" (Romans 5:2-4 KJV)

And though the days are much better now, not relying on Him will never be an option. It's never a great idea to be without a place to find shelter. It's never okay to rely solely on your own strength or independence. You're never capable enough to do it all on your own.

That seed of reliance is so crucial in our daily lives. We all need Jesus. Every single day. His guidance leads us in the right direction as we face each day. The sufficiency of His grace especially gives us the patience and the power that we need to walk through seasons of weakness.

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV)