Day Thirty Five – Removing Clutter

Trust in the Lord with all you heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5

Now that I’ve sorted, distributed, opened, saved and scanned one bag of mail, I can write a post.

Today, I would like to tell you about “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” I remember the first time I heard this proverb. I was doing a crafting project reluctantly for a former pastor’s wife. It seems she was always calling on me to do this and to do that, while my young children went without my guidance.

As I stood at the fabric counter complaining, forgoing all the dirty little details, the clerk’s life experiences had given her a birds eye view of my “good intentions.” Somewhere in-between me taking a breath, she took the opportunity to say, ‘the road to hell is paved with good intentions.’ Her words hit me like a ten ton brick! Why?

During that time I was a single mom that desperately wanted to be accepted. As I write this post and have moments of reflections, I just gotta say, “Boy! I was stupid!”

I was a single mom with little to no help financially from my children’s dads. And whatever money I had my kids were entitled to it first! I should have been at home with them, because they deserved home baked cookies. And most importantly they needed structure! Doing such would have helped them transition easier in every area of their lives as they grew into adulthood. Sadly, I couldn’t give my children what I didn’t have, my poor spirit felt abandoned. Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, today I pray for the souls that seek to be a part of something greater than themselves. Help them until you can help. In Jesus name I ask. Amen

Day Thirty Three – Removing Clutter

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Proverbs 31:10-31 NIV

When I was a young, single and a mom, I would pray the 31st Proverbs over my life. Then one day I realized God had fulfilled my request. I was alone when I discovered my prayer had been answered and I remember casting the sweetest smile of becoming one of my greatest desires. My children are grown and two of them live miles away from me. They are living their best lives as I seek to regain traction after my journey was interrupted by the foolishness of others. Yet, even on this stressful journey God is teaching me I must rejoice in good times and in bad times. Progress isn’t happening as fast as I would like but it is happening. Just the other day I decided to unload boxes [I stress boxes] of coupon finds of shampoo and conditioners to charities. Not sure of the recipients but I don’t have time to try and sell the items, as I need the space. Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Jesus, let us rejoice everyday in knowing you’re our shepherd! Amen

Day Thirty Two – Removing Clutter

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
Proverbs 13:4

I wrote this post four days ago and it was painful to throw good food away today.

Yesterday, I waited to hear from a friend concerning items she said she wanted. I have 10 family size boxes of Cheerios that expired in the month of August. I don’t want to throw them away because they could be food for chickens.

A week or so ago my friend told me she struggles financially to buy feed for the chickens and the turkey in her backyard. I was shocked she even had them! Especially since she has 11 dogs, not sure how many just born puppies and lord only knows how many cats and kittens. Given she’s the only person that works in the household I felt somewhat sorry for her on many levels.

I’m guessing the chickens and the turkey belong to her son-in-law that lives with her and doesn’t have a job. Well, any-who, the son-in-law said he would take the expired cereal off my hands. You would think since he doesn’t have a job and his livestock need food HE WOULD HAVE MADE THE EFFORT TO STOP BY MY HOME TO PICK THE CEREAL UP SINCE THEY WERE IN DENVER! I live minutes away from the highway! It would have taken him just a few minutes of his time to come to my home and pick up FREE food for his livestock! OMG! Some people really do come with special instructions! Really!

I started to take the food to them! Then I remembered my nasty habit of always trying to rescue people that have much more time than me. Later finding myself trying to pour and drink from an empty cup! Today, I will send my friend a text to see if she wants the food and give her one day to pick it up. If she tells me she doesn’t want the boxes of cereal I will post them in a community page as “FREE” with hours only for pick-up. If I still have the boxes of cereal by the time trash day comes around I will throw them away and move on with removing clutter from my home.

Well it’s four days later and they never showed up! Let’s pray!

PRAYER:

Father God, I pray for the lazy person that sits around waiting for things to fall in their lap. I pray that you stir up their spirit and show them the error of their ways. Let the slothful mindset they have end with them and not become a family legacy. Amen

Day Thirty – Removing Clutter

Today, I came on just to read something inspirational. Ask and it shall be given! I found a very profound blog post, simply written about knowledge being power. It’s thought provoking and moving! So, today I won’t be writing a post but sharing one and encouraging my visitors to read it. Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, your word say’s “we have not because we ask not.” Well today Lord I’m asking that you give people an appetite to seek knowledge to make wiser choices. Amen

Knowledge is power-Francis Bacon

Day Twenty Seven – Removing Clutter

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14:27

When I was a young woman my dad would always say, “My home is my sanctuary.” Meaning his home was his sanctuary. He was so at peace with apartment life that he kept his door slightly opened as he sat at his kitchen table in nothing but his whitety tighties! It’s clear to see he disregarded how his behavior could have made his neighbors uncomfortable. But! My son’s who were used to wearing bed/street clothing in our home quickly suggested to their grandfather to put clothing on during one of their visits. My dad told them, “This is my house.” So, as young men who wanted to spend time with their grandfather they overlooked what temporarily made them uncomfortable.

Now! I totally disagree with my dad’s actions when it came to him sitting around in his undies with the door open and in the presence of others. But! I wholeheartedly agreed with him that our homes are our sanctuaries! And! With each new day we need to protect its tranquility. As why I’m on this clutter removing journey because I DO NOT function well in chaos, never have and never will! Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, give those that seek peace your peace. Amen

Day Twenty Six – Removing Clutter

October 22, 2023

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17

As I continue on this journey of decluttering my home, I find myself with little to no support. And in turn without thought I’d made those that read my post the someone’s whom I was accountable to. For only God knew how the years of being involved in stressful situations depleted me of a natural resource of being a self-starter. So, therefore, to accomplish tasks that I would never need help doing, I’ve unconsciously made people of the Universe forces that hold me liable for removing the clutter from my home. This revelation explains why I try to write about my actions daily. Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, I call on you this morning. Life happens, bad days are a given and depression is always lurking and looking for victims, but you are ever present! You sit patiently and quietly waiting for God’s children to seek your help in matters that go beyond their ability to solve. Today, Holy Spirit, I ask for your infinite wisdom to give aid to those that don’t know how to seek your help when it appears they are totally alone. Amen

Day Twenty Five – Removing Clutter

October 21 2023

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

Well! Several days ago, I made it to the Salvation Army with my donations! When I opened the sliding door to the middle cavity of my van the guy said, “Wow! You got this car filled!.” Oh! Yes! I did have my car filled! And, I plan on filling it again until my home no longer has clutter. And, yes, I even donated those really nice storage bins because I’m not playing. I gotta get my home cleared, clean and remodeled.

Today I’m packing the car with items that can hopefully benefit Habitat For Humanity. All the items I’ve purchased within the last 20 years to upgrade the upstairs and or finished the basement of my home are outdated and taking up prime real estate in my garage. So! They gotta go! Including those 2 cases of red Christmas lights [tire screech]! I might want to rethink giving away the red Christmas lights! Especially since things are so expensive now! Ok! I’ll keep the cases of Christmas lights but I gotta give up something else to make space for them on a shelf. This is a Winnie the Pooh moment, think think think. I know! I can donate those ceiling fans I couldn’t sell on Facebook MarketPlace years ago. Clutter problem solved!

Side note: I haven’t posted in a couple of days because I fell off the wagon when it came to removing clutter from my home. Life happens! However, this morning I’ve dusted myself off from the fall and I’m back in the saddle! I have a house to clean and remodeling projects to complete! Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, sometimes we fall and our hurt determines how long we stay down. Today, Lord, I ask that you whisper in the ears of those that feel defeated they are loved. Loved by you, your son, the Holy Spirit and people like me that believe in you. Amen

Day Twenty-Four: Removing Clutter

October 17, 2023

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

Wow! Sometimes on my clutter removing journey I really do have funny moments. Yesterday was the 3rd day for me burning the left behind paperwork that belonged to my oldest son. Sadly, because life happens, I wasn’t able to burn all the documents consecutively but it did take three days of my life to attend to someone else’s responsibility. Any-who! I sent my son a text as I neared the end of the project. It had a photo of the cover of a family genealogy book. I asked him if the book was the one he was missing; because he claimed my mom had taken it and had gotten rid of it. He replied with a “yes.”

Well any-who, I sent the same photo to a paternal cousin. I told her how the book came to be in my possession. She said, “You should keep that book. He left it behind.” I told her I would make copies of the book for her and I and give the book to my son. The book means the world to him as it was given to him by my dad, his late grandfather. But here’s where the story gets hilarious!

After sending my son a photo of the cover I also sent him a photo of me reaching the end of burning his personal paperwork. So! When I called him he said, “MOMMA! You didn’t burn my book did you!” His question left me puzzled with my own question of “why would I burn his book.” Then I said, “No! Why would I burn your book!” He says, “Because the last picture you sent was of something burning!” I started laughing and assured him I didn’t burn his book. Afterwards, he told me how he got the book and how much it meant to him.

My son is extremely frugal! Extremely! He asked, “Mom, are you going to send that book to me when you send me my photos? If you do, I will send you the postage.” Now! He was willing to let me send him his photos/pictures/framed artwork on my dime, but that book means so much to him that he is now willing to pay postage for everything. Wow! And! The book is poorly put together and is stained with whatever! Yet, that small bundle of paper that’s clamped together with some type of closure means the world to him.

What I’ve learned from this moment is that sometimes we lose things of value and always find them when we clear clutter from our homes and our minds. Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, help us to clear clutter from our homes and or our minds and afterwards help us to organize and prioritize both spaces so we can enjoy our divine purpose. Amen

Day Twenty-three: Removing Clutter

October 16, 2023

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
PSALM 32:8

I had a case of these small vases and I donated the entire case.

The car is loaded from the back to the middle! And! I did leave the driver’s seat unfilled though! Because had I not, I couldn’t get all the stuff I have to donate to the Salvation Army!

When I was a young single mom I always made a dollar too much to get food stamps for a family of three and later four, therefore, I was always struggling to make ends meet. Since buying food took a big chunk of what I made it was not unusual for me not to have money to pay my electric bill. I’m not even sure how I heard about the Salvation Army but I went to them for help. I remember sitting in an office and being extremely nervous as I was being asked questions concerning my finances. Honestly, I was ashamed! I couldn’t take care of myself and the children that depended on me! I had to go to strangers and ask for help! OMG! Telling this story ties into my feelings concerning my snaky ex! Let me move on quickly before I get myself upset!

Well! Each time I had to go there I felt so bad for asking for financial assistance. So for two years they paid my bill. Both visits meant I got my bill paid once a year through their organization. And glory be to God, their kindness allowed me to financially breath and sleep without worry for at least a month or two. It was then when I began to give what I could share to the person ringing a bell standing near a red pot in front of King Soopers grocery store every holiday. My donations were never over $20 dollars but I gave what I had.

My son’s are all grown and making it on their own without help from me, their dad’s and or stepdad. And every now and then when a melancholy moment returns and visits them about our past life of never having enough money they find strength in their journey and push themselves to be inspired for greater accomplishments.

Today, despite my emotional ties to never having enough so long ago has also helped me when it comes to releasing unused items to a worthy organization that has a great humanitarian cause. May the items always give joy to the new owners. Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, thank you for keeping your eye on us and being an understanding teacher that lovingly instructs those that want to hear your wisdom. Bless all donations great and or small for the glory of God and for the good of humanity. Amen

Day Twentytwo: Removing Clutter

October 15, 2023

The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.
PSALM 33:11

As I write about my experiences with renovating my mom’s home and dealing with the snaky ex, I’m quickly reminded that some things perceivably hard and or bad gotta work a certain way to bring God’s plan to the forefront for our lives. Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, thank you for your strength and always let it be front and center on our journey. Amen