Cleaning Out.....

I'm sure none of you have this problem and this is probably going to qualify as the most boring post EVER.........

but I have this cabinet that has become my catch all, this is different from our junk drawer but anyway. This bottom cabinet is where I keep things like chip and dip platters, seasonal plates and bowls, cutting boards, grilling utensils and whatnots. At one time I decided I would also keep our phone books on oneside of this cabinet beside it's right next to our breakfast counter and that's where the phone is! But lately, it's become the place where you can throw anything that you're not sure where it goes or you know where it goes but you just don't want to make the effort to put it away.

But when Caleb opened the doors of that cabinet the other night and was almost crushed by the landslide of cutting boards and phone books, I knew I needed to get it organized. You won't believe the things that came out of that cabinet (you can't make this stuff up!)

~a hammer

~fishing line huh?

~various rolls of tape- electrical, packing & duct

~2 outdated phone books and school directories

~a can of black spray paint whaaat?

~a student handbook from 2005-2006

~hummingbird food no wonder we don't see any around here?

~2 packets of flower seeds

~a resistance exercise band still in the box, big surprise!

I took the time to put the things where they belong, well actually I made a stack of things for Steven of the things that belong out in his workshed and then threw away the other things. Once I got all the things out that didn't really belong there, I was amazed at how much space I have in that cabinet.

Since I've been working on this Bible study all summer, I realized that this cabinet is an example of what can sometimes happen in our lives. We all have things in our lives that, if we're not careful, will begin take the place of God. These things aren't always bad sinful things, in fact, they're ususally things that are good. It's when we allow these things to take precedence over our relationship with God, that it becomes a problem!

We have to love God more than we love our family.
We have to desire to please God more than people.
We have to protect our relationship with the Lord more than our feelings.
We have to know and obey the word of God better than...........ANYTHING!

I know for myself, I've learned that I have to constantly keep a check and if I'm not careful (or lazy) my life will begin to look like my cabinet. This summer, I've done some serious organizing and put those things where they belong. If we don't keep God in His rightful place in our lives, not only will our lives suffer but those closest to us, just like Caleb, will be affected as well.

So, I'd encourage you, check your cabinets. Are there things that need to be put in their rightful place? If so, spend some time talking with God about it. You'll be so glad you did!

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." Mark 12:30