The De-clutter Campaign...

So for the past 4 weeks...or maybe longer... I have been going through every drawer & closet, and every piece of clothing we own! We finally had our big garage sale this past weekend & wouldn't you know it would rain every day!!:(

It has felt so good to cut the cord of attachment & get rid of things we're not using. We had a guest missionary at our church in April & he touched on how we Americans store so many items in hopes of using them, or because we just have them to have them! My mind started to think of all the 'things'...all the 'clutter' I have....so I began to dig!

I have three boys & I love to buy them clothes....but we were being over run by bins of clothes that weren't being worn. Not to mention my closet with shelves full of lamps, pictures, pillows, linens, you name it I had it in there just because I didn't have a spot for it. WHY?!? Why do we do that? Why do I do that, I should say. Clutter does more than just clutter your home. For me...it clutters my mind...it makes me feel overwhelmed & every time I open that drawer or closet or see the bins FULL of 'things'....my heart feels the stress & I quickly close the door!

So like I said, I cut the cord of attachment & got rid of stuff! A garage FULL of stuff! Can I say I don't miss one item! Our sale was a success ...we sold $400 worth of 'clutter'...and our grand total with me & my friends who joined my 'de-clutter' campaign...we sold $899. and come change. Take that, Clutter!!!=)

My task is not yet complete....even though all the items that didn't sell went to the thrift store this morning, but I feel like I could get rid of even more. We just don't NEED so much! My children don't NEED so much. We have all we need in Jesus and as corny as that may sound, it's true.

This 'de-clutter' campaign has spilled over into our finances. Life will never be stress free, but there is a way to make things easier. It has even spilled over into my every day life. Over the past 4 weeks I've asked the Lord to help me 'de-clutter' myself.

To help me have fullness of joy & empty me of worry, fear, and anger.

There are some emotions I sometimes wonder why God allowed us to have, but since we have them, I need His help to keep them in check! I think worry is one of the biggest things people in our world struggle with today. Especially Americans, as so many are taking antidepressants & anxiety pills. Lord help me to cast all my cares at the feet of Jesus!

This de-cluttering me has really helped me to have a settled soul as talked about in 1 Peter 5:10,
"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."

I once heard a message preached with this text, and it was entitled 'A settled Soul'...it was an amazing message. One of those that I've never forgotten b/c the Bible really came to life & the truth of it made sense & was etched in my mind & on my heart.

A settled soul...there's nothing like it.

To first obtain it we must be a Christian. Meaning there was once a time in our life when we realized how much God loved us, that He sent Jesus to die for us, because of our sins. No one had to talk me into realizing I was a sinner....that was very clear to me by all the dumb things I've done & do in my life!! Then one must realize because of our sin we are separated from a Holy God, and only through the shed blood of the Innocent for the guilty could our sin debt be paid.

That is why Jesus came. That is why he died for us.....so that we can we reconciled back to God! I became a Christian on November 9th, 1997. My life has never been the same. That day I prayed, realizing my sin was taking me to Hell, and asked God to forgive me of my sins & to come into my heart & save me. I had complete faith that my sins were washed away at that very moment because Christ died in my place. I took him at his word that if I would have faith & believe, He would to the miraculous work of forgiving all my sins & coming into my heart.

Of course I didn't' feel funny inside nor do I have any special powers, nothing creepy happened. I did however have a peace in my heart that has never gone away. I'm so thankful for my Salvation, that although I still sin, and will always struggle with sin until I'm in Heaven, with Christ in my heart He gives me the ability to overcome sin! To defeat sin! Praise God for that!

I've heard people say that Christians have no freedom with all those 'rules' in the Bible, but that couldn't be farther from the truth! I'm free! I'm no longer bound by sin! Christ in me helps me overcome sin! Can the drunkard say that? Can the drug addict say that? Can the sex addict say that? Can the porn addict say that? Every time they try to stop they can't? Can the wife beater say that? Can those who commit adultery say that? They could, if they were a Christian and had the power of God on their life. With the power of Jesus anything is possible. Ephesians 4:13, "I can do ALL things THROUGH Christ, which strengthens me."

God wants ALL to be saved, and there is still a chance for even YOU to be saved today. If you would agree with God that you are a sinner & that your sins will take you to Hell. "For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

Remember God is Holy...he didn't create Hell for us. Hell was created for the Devil. But because we are sinners, our sin must be paid for in order to be in Heaven in the presence of a Holy God.
Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages (or payment) of sin is death, BUT the GIFT of God is eternal life, THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord." What a verse!!!


That is why Christ loved us so much He paid that sin debt. He became sin for us, He who knew no sin. He died in our place, so that we might be free from our sins!
John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."
Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Have you had a time in your life when you realized you were a sinner & you asked Him to forgive your sins & to come into your heart and save you? It's a serious thing! I meant it with all my heart the day I was saved. I wanted Christ more than anything else this world could offer!

Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Romans 10:9 & 10, "That is thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

I've never regretted one day with Jesus, I only regret I didn't receive His gift of Salvation sooner. There's nothing like having a settled soul!

There's nothing like having Christ live in your heart & give you the strength to de-clutter your heart & mind. He is precious to me! He's worth living for, He's worth dying for, He's worth being different from this world for.

How will people know that I'm a Christian if they don't see a difference in me? My goal is NOT to be different..don't get me wrong...I don't set out each day thinking, "How can I be different today to show people I'm a Christian?"...no, my goal is to be like Christ, and He makes me different.

So why would people reject that? Please don't' reject his gift of Salvation. He is coming soon! Every prophecy that fortold his first coming happened just as the Bible said, there are WAY more prophecies fortelling his second coming! Signs of the times are everywhere today. Will you wait? Will you put off Salvation? Will you reject Christ? I beg you, don't!! A settled soul can be yours & and Heaven is waiting for you.

Feel free to join the de-clutter campaign...you just may enjoy it.=)

If you've received Christ as your Saviour today, please email me, heidilynn08@live.com . I'd love to personally follow up with you & send you a free Bible study course.
Thanks for stopping by!~heidi