Monday, January 4, 2010

CLEAN OUT, THROW AWAY, KEEP, SIMPLIFY

Whew!  Just finished cleaning out the pantry.  It's New Year's Day - a great day to start cleaning out, throwing away, and just generally simplifying my life.  I began in my walk-in pantry.  It's not huge, but it is large enough that it sometimes looks like a small grocery store.  I frequently cook, so I like to keep ingredients on hand so a trip to the grocery store isn't necessary too often.  As I cleaned, straightened, and organized my shelves, I checked for outdated items.  Shocked, I was!  I had a number of old dates on canned goods, boxes, etc.  How long had it been since I had completed a thorough cleaning of my pantry?!!

You might imagine that I began to think about what I needed to clean out in my life.  I began to ask myself - what do I need to get rid of, what do I need to clean up, what do I need to keep, and how can I simplify my life?  At times, I try to do too much - too many different things - so I have been asking God what He wants me to keep and how does He want me to simplify my life.  What does God want me to do with the resources with which He has equipped me?

God has a plan for my life and yours.  "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 29:11)  How can we find God's plan for our lives?  I think the verses following this verse shed some light on the question.  "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you."  (Jeremiah 29:12-14a)

As I organized my pantry, I made decisions of what to keep and what to throw away.  I need to do the same in my life, but it is not as simple as looking for a date on a can or a box.  I need God to show me.  Is it time for reflection and inventory?  Is it time to seek God with all our hearts?  Oh, yes!  We have a whole new year in front of us so let's ask Him what He wants us to do with it.

Prayer:  Lord, what do You want me to clean out, throw away, keep, and/or simplify in my life?  Help me seek you with all my heart in 2010.

Serving Him,
Kay Martin 

Note:  Now on to closets, drawers, cabinets, etc.!!  Wonder what all I will find?

3 comments:

  1. Thanks Ms. Kay!!! This post is very encouraging and helpful!! I love it!! I'm reading though Psalm 119 with the class :) <3 Tammy

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  2. Thank you so much for this reminder and encouragement Mrs. Kay!

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  3. Such encouragement from both the scriptures and YOU! Thanks for pointing me in the "simplifying direction"-one that often elides me. Sherry

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