Organize with Jesus! |
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Changing seasons are a perfect time to re-set your focus on what tasks need done around the house. God provided us with these cues from nature to help guide our hands in the work that needs to be completed for this season. As fall creeps in, we are given the chance to prepare for the winter that approaches. Whether you are a farmer or in a studio apartment, there are things that you can do in the fall both indoors and out to prepare for the changing season. And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9 KJV  Declutter – Fall organizing Indoors 1. Go through your Summer wardrobe- what have you not worn this year, or last... Donate. 2. Same with your Fall wardrobe- Has your style changed since last fall? Did you save something that you no longer fit in? Donate what you already know you probably will not wear this fall. 3. Dust the cobwebs and dust that have collected in the corners, on lamps, bookshelves, etc. 4. As you are dusting, go through books, knick-knacks, and decorative items to decide if it is time to pass it along. 5. If there are children at home, now is a good time to evaluate how school organization is holding up with the daily grind. if not, explore a new way to keep coats, shoes, and backpacks looking tidy. Outdoors 1. Wash windows, both inside and out. 2. Dead head garden plants that have wilted, harvest garden produce, and prepare your garden for winter. 3. Hose down plastic garbage containers 4. Make sure the yard is clean of any blown in debris or trash 5. Clear cob webs from siding, entryways, and other crevices 6. Blow-out the sprinkler system, drain and roll up hoses.  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6 KJV
The Lord gives us this guidance from his word to remind us that we get out what we put in. This wisdom applies universally from our relationships, education, sports or hobbies, and yes, the upkeep of our homes. In order to reap the joys of a clean and organized, clutter- free space, we have to push ourselves to actually put forth the effort to get the fruits of the labor.
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When facing the clutter of our homes, we can also turn to Jesus as an example for guidance. What we notice in the gospels is that Jesus never worked alone. He turned to his disciples; guiding and directing them, but turning to their aid to complete his good work. I choose to remember that maintenance isn’t my job alone. I will set a system through You, Jesus, to share with my family and those who live in my home to delegate the chores.  Are there other people in your house? Pray for them and keep working on maintaining their own things. You will exhaust yourself when you clean an area to just to clean other people's stuff. Even young children can be brought up to keep their areas tidy and organized. Declutter the closets – remove all items and sort them into categories. Utilize bins, boxes, or other storage containers to keep things organized. Label them so others know where to find and put things away. Lord, You are the one who goes before me and gives me wisdom to choose the right containers, properly label them, and show me where to keep them. Art supplies- Use pencil boxes, small plastic organizer drawers, ziploc bags, or even decorated cans to sort supplies again by category; Pens, Pencils, Colored Pencils, Markers, Sharpies, Paintbrushes, etc. Old shoe boxes can be perfect to store supplies like paints, stamps, pipe cleaners, glitter bottles, and other art supplies. Children’s chore list- May lists are available online for age appropriate chores from toddlers to teens. Find your favorite or make your own. They key is sticking to it, even if it is only one thing each day. Basket for put away- Never get upset and fight about other people’s clothes and stuff. Gather all the loose things around the house that belong to others and give them their own basket to put away all those loose items. Talk about where it can go. Be happy with the clear space!  Children cannot do everything that they want to do. Sometimes we do need to let our kids experience what happens if they don’t do what is on their to do list. Can’t find your shoes? No clean spoons for breakfast? Teach them how our chores are set up to prevent these problems in life. As parents we need to transfer our wisdom and skills onto our children, guiding them to understand the principals we hope to teach.
Thank you lord for your guidance and example that we are not called to bear these burdens alone. -Your servant forever, Carol For every man shall bear his own burden. Galatians 6:5 KJV I desire and choose to get organized so I will have more time with my friends, family, and neighbors to fully enjoy their fellowship. I desire and choose to lean on You and let Your strength, wisdom, and processes take away stress in my life – each day – as I put my house in order for You! Lord Jesus, I commit, I do, and it is my desire and my will to organize my home, office, my time, one after the other in Your priority order. Lord, You guide me with your Word. You tell us, there is a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to cast away Ecclesiastes 3:6  everI choose, and it is my will that You, Jesus, will go before me and give me encouragement, strength, desire, and will to see what needs to be done, to work hard and fast. I use the power, strength, and wisdom You guide me to be accountable in my work in my organizing project to You and whoever else You want me to be accountable to. I praise and thank You, Lord Jesus Christ, God Almighty, that I am pleased and that You are true to be my helper. You give me whatever I need to be organized in my time and planning each day with You. Lord, You are my only powerful motivator for getting my house and life in order for You. Lord, help me to select the places, rooms in my home for 1 hour each day that bothers me the most to work on.  By getting my house in order, through your power, you give me freedom to share my home and open it to fellowship with others and focus on my fellowship with you. Free from clutter and mess, I can invite others into my home without the embarrassment of mess or clutter distracting from my time with them.
Thank You Jesus for going before me and teaching me how to be in Your order and organize in all areas of my life. I pray to You and praise You, my God above all Gods! -Your Servant Forever, Carol But all things should be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:40 As we keep clutter, we are giving up our living space. Your space, your work in paper list. To do list – reading, open mail, phone calls. Lord, help me have an order in this area. Declutter your office: Separate things into piles or boxes labeled- Keep for now Don’t need Not Sure Write down what it is in the box. For things that are time sensitive: Do Now! This week Next week This month Before leaving, take 5-10 minutes to clear off your desk! Let go of something old when you bring in something new! Email – get rid of all extras! Notebooks– copy important things from sticky notes and toss them. Lord, You are the one who goes before me and gives me wisdom to choose the right containers, properly label them, and show me where to keep them. List what You, Jesus, want me to remember.  Ask myself – why do I have this? Where does it go? Do I really want it? Do I still need it? Paper – get educated on paperwork. What do I really need? What is important to have? Projects – get a clean folder and put paper work in that manages projects I am working where I can get to it each day. Recycle box for paper by my space that I need to let go. Get rid of all extra papers. Daily reset my house in order. Put things away as I see where it goes. Lord, help me find a place for wrapping paper, cards, extra writing paper, tablets, only keep what I can use. Lord, you provide guidance in your word, guiding us to keep on top of our tasks. Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. Ecclesiastes 10:18  Bills:
Lord, thank You for going before me and giving me the desire and diligence to believe and trust You do have a plan and You will encourage me to make a list in each room that needs to be done and put in order for You.
Declutter Journey to Order: Get on the wagon and come along. Start with 10 things, 10 minutes in each room. Set a timer! Use the kitchen table to put the things you remove from each room, then put them away after the 10-10. You start in the office – 10 things in 10 minutes! Pencils, books, papers! All have to be put in the right place. What does not belong in that room, move to the kitchen table. Counts as one of the ten. Then leave the room and go to every room till you go through all the rooms. “And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all of his realm.” Daniel 1:20  Declutter in an hour a day:
“He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.” Psalm 47:4
Your Servant Forever, Carol Starting today, through Christ, I will keep everything I own in order and in its place at all times. My loving Lord, give me the strength to do so for You and Your glory. I pray all this in Your name, Lord Jesus. Amen. So be it. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.” Matthew 6:19 KJV  Declutter –
 “By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through” Ecclesiastes 10:18 KJV
Starting today, right now, through Christ, I will make sure all dishes are in the dishwasher or washed and put away before bed every night! Lord Jesus, give me the strength, will, and desire to do so. I pray in You name. Amen. Your servant forever, Carol What is the why behind our clutter? I did not learn how to deal with my stuff. Lord, show me how to be or do. I do not want to live that way. Telling your children to clean the house if you are not in order is not fair. 
 This fear is not of God. It is like we are saying, “God, You will not provide for me, so I will provide it myself.” Guilt tells us, “I must hold on to what has been given to me.” Shame tells us, “I spent so much on it.”
Lord, You can show me how to give it away. Thank You, Lord, for stuff. Peace is the other side of clutter. When I deal with my clutter, I deal with my life better. “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,” Hebrews 12:1 You pay the higher price on clutter. Remove the clutter and make room for the best things in your life. God has a plan for us in this world. Freeing from their clutter would change so they are free to change their world. What does God want us to do in life for Him? Jesus is putting a plan in front of you. Remove the excess – clutter free! I believe in miracles, because I believe in You! You will encourage and give me the desire to declutter my home. Father, Let me encounter each moment of today with a ready, “Thank You” on my lips. Your Servant Forever, Carol Dear Lord Jesus, help me to get rid of things I no longer use and no longer like. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I choose and my will is to be diligent in getting up out of bed, staying up, going right then to dress, wash my face and hands, put all my make up on, fix my hair neat and nice, brush my teeth, put deodorant and perfume on, and be ready for the day. Then I will pray, listen, and read the Bible every morning through Christ which strengtheneth me, for the Lord Jesus Christ and His glory.  10 habits to keep your house clean:
“And my people shall dwell in peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;” Isaiah 32:8  Make a list of things that may need to be done:
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 Your servant forever, Carol How happy You can make others happy. One thing I do understand is when I go into a thrift store I go into a dream world – trying to put things into my house to make it look better. I start planning, filling the basket with things I feel I can use to decorate the house which is already full. It is so much fun planning and buying. Of course, if a bargain, $1.00-$10.00 not usually over that. But a lot of $1.00-$10.00 stuff. I go home, try to find a place for everything. I have to push stuff together to put what I bought. So much stuff, Lord, I need Your balance. You need daily to remind me of what I am doing and give me whatever I need to stop. Help me to find the truth about myself and what’s going on and give me whatever I need to change these old behaviors that are not of You. This clutter battle is every day. I can’t wait until sale day, Tuesday and Wednesday, at the thrift store. I tell myself I am going for only one reason, and then after I get there, I find so much I feel I need and must buy because it won’t be there tomorrow. Lord, help me to recognize patterns why I go shopping what set me up. Lord, my son says, “Mom, no matter how much you give away, you will not stop cluttering till you find out why you bring it all in. The root reason.” Well, Lord, you know why. Share with me why. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21  Kingdom Principles:
 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”
2 Corinthians 10:5-6 Your Servant Forever, Carol Lord Jesus, I choose and it is my will that I diligently pay direct attention to all wisdom You give me to be organized for You and Your honor and glory. Amen. I desire and choose to learn Your organizing skills to put my house in order for You and Your honor and glory.  Bedroom:
Bathroom:
 Office:
Everything else, as you work on getting organized and in order, make sure you take the extra step and time to put it away in its place. "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;" Isaiah 1:16 KJV Your Servant Forever, Carol |
Carol Spiewak |
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