It's cleared off!!

Well, I didn't get it done this past weekend, but I made it my mission today!  Do you remember the embarrassing picture I shared showing my kitchen table?  Just in case you've forgotten (don't know how you could possibly forget!!), here it is:

Yep!  Pretty bad...and we couldn't even eat together as a family.  I still had Valentine's Day decor set out.  Very sad.  BUT...today is a new day!

See for yourself!

Isn't it pretty?  I really wanted something springy looking, but I seriously had nothing to put out!  So, after stopping at Kohl's, I found this pretty candle and cloth napkin.

Sooo pretty!  The pink bowl was an after-Valentine's Day sale.  And, of course, jelly beans are a must!  The little chick and bunny are salt & pepper shakers!

The candle is called "Mango Coconut Smoothie".  I spent a lot of time smelling candles and this is the one that came home with me!

Last fall, Courtney at Good Morning Girls, gave us a mission to light a candle every morning.  The candle is to remind us to pray for our family. 

So, there it is!  A clean, cleared off table for my family to be proud to sit at and eat together!  I'm proud of it, too...and it only took a few minutes.  Remember, I have been trying to see what I can get accomplished when I have only a few minutes!  Have YOU had any success with a few minutes???  I'd love to hear about it!

Organizing bit-by-bit!

Shari

Spiritual Clutter vs. Balance

I haven't posted for the past few days for a number of reasons.

1)  I am trying to be more disciplined in different areas and found I was spending way too much time on the computer.

2)  Remember Good Morning Girls I wrote about in an earlier post?  I am re-committing myself to being disciplined to have my daily time with the Lord. 

We are studying the book of James right now...verse by verse.  This week was the beginning of James chapter 3, which covers the topic of our 'tongue'.  It's such a small, untamed part of our body...but it can be oh, so destructive!  We are expected to tame our tongue, or it will be like fire kindling that can set a whole forest afire!  Just a spark is all it takes to set something on fire.

I have been challenged to look at how I am using my tongue!  How do my words affect my husband?  Are they uplifting, encouraging, motivating, loving?  Or am I tearing down my husband?  Are my words 'biting'?  Are they judgemental?  I am asking myself the same questions regarding my children.

Proverbs 18:21 says "death and life are in the power of the tongue".  Is my tongue bringing LIFE to people I am around?  Or is it bringing DEATH?

Another thought that has been brought to my attention is this:

How do I speak or act when I'm away from my home?  In other words, do I act the same outside my home as I am when I'm at home with my family? 

The enemy, the devil, would like nothing better than to have us tear one another down, especially those we love the most!  Getting caught up in the spirit of gossipping, backbiting...all with the excuse of "this way I will know how to pray"...or maybe we share what doesn't need to be shared because, if we're honest with ourselves, it makes us feel good to 'know' something someone else doesn't know!  Maybe we've been hurt by someone...we may feel that we 'deserve' to talk to others...it's going to help us to feel better!  Not true!  I've been there!  I KNOW the lies the devil tries to get us to believe!  Talking about the one who hurt you, what happened, etc., only 'feeds' the spirits of unforgiveness and bitterness.  What happens is that the root of bitterness begins to grow and to take hold, which will ultimately lead to a spiritual death if not pulled out!  Our tongue can be sooo deadly!

Oh, I so want to create a Women's Ministry Program where I can share this message with ladies all across the nation!  I am praying about this...I have so many ideas of how I can use my ventriloquism to reach ladies with this message!

Maybe you're wondering what in the world this has to do with organizing?  Well, to me, it has everything to do with it!  You see, having a  personal spiritual life that is cluttered with ungodly attitudes, words, and thoughts, is as wrong as having a cluttered, dis-organized home.  We must have our spiritual life in order! 

Let's take all of the spiritual clutter to God in prayer, asking Him to help us to discipline and tame our tongue...and move onto the next level in our walk with Him!

Do you have anything to share on this topic?  I'd love to hear from you!

Organizing bit-by-bit!

Shari



Declaring WAR on Clutter!

Okay, so I've never linked up on another blog before, so if you've found this through goodmorninggirls.org, I do apologize for the 3 different link-ups!  I'm very new to blogging and couldn't remember my web address!  (I'm so embarrassed!)  I'm so sorry!  And, to make matters worse, I can't figure out how to delete my first 2 link-ups...

We are going through the book of James, reading a few verses each day for 12 weeks.  And writing the verses out! 

Here is what God is speaking to me about James 1:1-6:  My faith!  My doubting, my lack of wisdom...just ask, and He'll give it to me!  I am to have JOY during my trials!  Oh, boy...that's a hard one to follow through on!  Right now, I am in the midst of the trial of Clutter...but today, I have 'declared WAR on clutter'!! 

I'm also reading a book called "From Clutter to Clarity", by Nancy Twigg.  Through her book, I am realizing that my struggle is because of some internal problem.  I am trying to look at why I have clutter...not just physical clutter, but the emotional and spiritual clutter, too.  If you haven't read this book, yet, I would highly recommend it.  Awesome!  I may share more later...right now, I'm declaring WAR...on CLUTTER!!

Organizing bit-by-bit,

Shari

Putting MY HOUSE in ORDER!

I follow a couple of wonderful blogs...Courtney over at womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com is so motivating and such a wonderful, Godly woman!  Also, goodmorninggirls.org where I have been blessed with new friends through the Word and prayers for each other.

Today is beginning a new challenge over at Women Living Well...


Isn't this exactly my heart's desire?  Feelings of frustration have been overcoming me, as I look throughout my home and see what is left to do.  However, I know I am going the work that I am to be doing, because this is what God is asking me to do.  HE will give me the strength.  There's just sooo much to do!  In my Good Morning Girls group, we have begun reading the book of James together.  Chapter 1, vs. 2 says, "...count it all joy when you fall into various trials."  So...I am trying to "count it all joy when" I look around my home and see what is left to be done!  Thank you, Jesus for my home!

Hubby, daughter and I are hooked on the show mystyle.com/mystyle/shows/cleanhouse/ What motivation we receive after watching an episode!  My son is hating it!  LOL! 

But, for today, I am striving to work on my home, bit-by-bit, working today in my daughter's room.  I will post a before picture soon...just keep in mind it is NOT her fault for it looking this way!  She will be so embarrassed, because she has done very well keeping it clean.  However, when I worked in another area of the house, all the mess moved into her room...poor girl!  Also, working on revising my Home Management Guide, too.  My son is bucking it (surprise).

Organizing bit-by-bit,

Shari