5 things to do for a Spiritual Spring Cleaning

March 22, 2019March 22, 2019 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Y’all, the 1^st day of Spring was this week. And we have seen glorious sunshine for several days. Let me tell you, that does a number on your winter blues. It’s hard to be too gloomy when you have some bright sun beating down on your face. Don’t get me wrong. I am not mad at winter. Bless his heart. But he brought with him a lot of cold and rain. This needs to stop. I would like to say to winter, as my sweet Mama Boyce would say to a nosy neighborhood dog getting in her flower beds,

“Git out of here! Don’t make me take a switch to you!”

But that might be weird, because winter doesn’t really have ears to hear. Oh well, good idea, though.

When I think of spring, one of the things that comes to mind is spring cleaning. Spring cleaning may consist of washing windows, cleaning out closets, clearing out cabinets, dusting ceiling fans, pressure washing the outside vinyl, knocking down all the cobwebs (I get tired just thinking about it!). But you know something to consider, too, is cleaning out our God given house. Spiritual Spring Cleaning is a purging of the dirt in your heart & life. It helps to cleanse your soul of the trash, that may have accumulated. What’s a better time than spring to get rid of the mess? What kind of messes am I talking about?

Consider these-

Complaining
Gossiping
Envying
Comparing
Consuming
Doubting
Fearing
Hating

These things we should avoid doing and even hanging around places where these things are commonly practiced. They do not lift us up in any form or fashion.

Here are 5 things to help spring clean your spiritual life:

1. Take a good inventory of your heart. What are the things that need bagged up and trashed first? Start by thinking or “studying” about what changes you need to make. It’s always a good idea to think things through. The apostle Paul suggested this to Timothy in I Timothy 4:15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. (NKJV)

2. Make a plan. I have always heard it is wise to plan your work & work your plan. We need to plan ahead on how we are going to react when someone starts gossiping to us or about us. We should decide, ahead of time, to not let the little things irritate us. Plan on how you will decide to handle hard situations, before they happen. Plan on how you will handle a know it all. This way, you will have thoughtfully made an effort to change how you view and react to things in advance.

3. Take action. One way I love to take action is by making lists. Nothing is better than crossing something off my list. My list might look something like this:

Count my blessings
Give sincere compliments
Study the Bible
Thank someone
Share with someone how the Lord is working in my life.
Sit in the sun
Love
Be humble and kind
Remember if you can’t change it, let it go.

4. Pray about it. This goes without saying. We should pray always, about everything.

5. Practice it daily. Y’all, let’s do our best to have a clean heart. I believe it will not only be a blessing to us, but to everyone around us. It will encourage others & help them to see Jesus through us. God is always working for our good. I love the quote:

Practice makes perfect, so watch what you practice!

Let’s make sure we are practicing things that encourage and not tear down.

I sure hope everyone is ready for the weekend! I know we are. It’s been a long week. My dad had surgery on Wednesday. Then, we’ve had others in our family not feeling so very good. Prayers are appreciated. On a good note, I got to see my big brother this week. It’s always a fun time when we are together. Until next time I should be going because I should be washing clothes.

If you are still wanting more ideas on a Spiritual Spring Cleaning- just click here for another article I wrote.

This too shall pass, maybe like a kidney stone, but it will pass…..

March 2, 2017March 2, 2017 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

March is here, y’all! With that, Shannon over at Sweet Blessings has another precious scripture writing plan. March’s writing plan is about Grace.

a-grace-scripture-writing-plan-english Just thinking about grace made me think how much the Lord blesses us. A couple of weeks ago, I had some kidney stones or 3. Then, my Daddy had a spell with his heart, that put him in the hospital for a few days. Kidney stone pain & worrying about your Daddy pain can be pretty rough. And I know you are wondering how the Lord is blessing us with all of that. Well, with my Daddy’s heart problems we found out it was a warning. It was the calm before the storm. The doctor said it was just a precursor to a major stroke. However, since he had this set back, it got his attention to pay better mind to what he has going on. Because it is serious! He’s made some changes & is on the road to recovery. We are so grateful & thankful the Lord has given us the chance to get back on the right path health wise. I have to remember when I have trials, there have been so many good things that have happened in my life. We have to take the bad with the good.

Job 2:10 …Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (NKJV)

The Lord has always been in the second chance business. But more so than not, with the gospel. We had a teenager obey the gospel & be baptized Sunday night at church. It just made my heart happy for this young boy. He will never know more peace & contentment than he will know with the Lord. The Lord gives us lots of chances to get our hearts right. He listens to our prayers. He is with us during pain & when we need comfort. Things can sometimes seem hopeless, however, nothing in life is permanent. Just know, no matter what is going on in your life, it’s going to pass. If you have fallen on hard times & want to give up, don’t. Always know, if you are praying, God’s working on it.

James 4:14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. (NKJV)

It’s going to pass. If things are going good & nothing but rainbows & fluffy clouds are hanging around you. Enjoy it. It will pass, too. Just know no matter how bad things may seem, the Lord always comes in offers you a way to deal with it.

I Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (NKJV)

I leave you with this:

No matter what, this too shall pass. Perhaps like a kidney stone, but it will pass.
Be on guard. You never know what direction the devil is going to come at you next.
Trust God. No excuses. Just do that for me. Pretty please? You will be so glad you did.

So, the weather has had a mind of it’s own, obviously. Here in northeast Mississippi, it’s been 75 degrees, then 40 degrees, then raining & humid, then freezing, then 70 degrees again. All in one week. If we could have some winter weather, that would be appreciated, thank you very much. But oh well, we’ve about run out of time. Because it will be hotter than blue blazes again before you know it. Hope y’all are staying warm. Or cool, or what ever it is during a day’s time. Until next time, I should be going, because I should be washing clothes.

Don’t you just hate it when this happens?

The Voice! The Voice is back on! & matters of the heart

September 23, 2015September 23, 2015 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

I want to thank everyone who told me to get well soon last week. I think it must have really helped. Because I am feeling so much better this week! You all are the best!

I have been very delighted, to say the least, that The Voice has started up a new season. I have already made some picks on the ones to watch. I must say I get a tad emotionally attached to these singers every season. Last season’s winner Sawyer Frederick was so cute. I just wanted to put him in my pocket & carry him around. I put him on one of my Pandora stations. REALLY liked him. He reminded me of my own rockstar son. Also, a few seasons back there was Cole Vosbury & Nicolas David. We really rooted for them. When the season was over, I was sad & I missed seeing them every week. I added them to my Pandora station, too. So, it’s kinda like they aren’t really gone. BUT I LOVE that Gwen is back this season. I just really like that girl. She seems like a genuinely nice person.

So, I have had something on my mind this week, that I want to talk to you about. I know there are a lot of people that are doing their best to live a life for the Lord. I know we may not do some of what the world classifies the “BIG” sins. We don’t kill, steal, or commit adultery. We give of our means on Sunday & don’t miss church services, so we are good, right? Let me ask you this, when’s the last time you have taken inventory of your heart?

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. (NKJV)

We can’t really talk about what is in a person’s heart without talking about what comes out of their mouth. Do we look down on others, that they aren’t as “good” as we are? Do we love to “tote the tale” as my Mamaw used to say? Does it seem to please you to hear something maybe not so flattering about someone else, because it makes you not feel so bad about what you have going on?

Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. (NKJV)

Do we think, “I would never do that.”? Or I may do this, but she does that & that’s worse. Do we put others down instead of lifting them up? I really believe the devil comes at us in a different direction. He knows we try to keep a certain standard of living, so he comes subtly, in the form of jealousy or envy. He enters in our hearts with hatred for each other. Or the feeling of pride & I’m better than others. If you go to church every time the doors are open, but are quick to judge & make a biting comment, that’s a heart problem.

Instead of pointing your finger at someone & beating them over their head with their sin, why not show you care? Let’s have a gentle & caring spirit, like the Lord commanded.

Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. (NKJV)

You never know what kind of situation someone else is in & why they are doing what they are doing. Shame on us, as Christians, if we can’t stretch out our hand to help, instead of pointing our finger to criticize. How many times have YOU changed because someone was trying to shame you into seeing the error in your way? I’ve never seen those tactics work that well on adults. That’s why it is so important to do our best not to be judgmental. Because you never know when you will be on the receiving end of a bad situation.

Things happen to all of us in life. I have a son, that was raised in church, however, is not faithful at this time. I have had people make comments to me about his appearance & how they cannot believe that’s my son. Well, you know what, y’all? That’s rude & hurtful. I pray for him every day the Lord gives me breath. This has been a real game changer for me & I don’t specifically need others pointing his bad choices out to me. I know what they are. I pray for these people making these comments to me because, whether you want to acknowledge it or not, we are all in this together. Let’s act like it & help one another. Even when it pushes us out of our comfort zone. You never know how much an encouraging word means to someone who is going through a difficult time. We are to have a spirit of kindness & meekness. Not a spirit of judgment & critical opinions. Because y’all, that’s just what a person who is looking down their nose is doing. Giving their opinion. AND everybody has one. A person, who is truly caring & concerned for others, will react in love & humbleness to a troubled soul. That’s what Jesus commanded. This other stuff does not come from the Lord. Let’s make sure our words are seasoned with goodness & kindness for others.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. (NKJV)

Let’s not take things so seriously that we mouth off & hurt other people’s feelings in the process. Let’s not let the devil get in our hearts & give us a critical spirit. Let me also add, I am looking at myself, as I write all of this. I am guilty of these things myself. I do pray to be a better person & a faithful servant to the Lord. If I am busy doing the Lord’s work, I won’t have time to be on point to criticize others. I don’t want to lose sight of my purpose of serving the Lord, by letting the devil convince me it’s ok to be hateful when something doesn’t go my way.

Ephesians 3:17-18 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; (NKJV)

I know I am kinda all over the place with this. I just know how important it is to do our best to live a life without a critical spirit. You can have so many more blessings if you will keep an understanding & loving heart. We should pray for the Lord to direct our hearts. (Because Lord KNOWS I can’t do all this by myself.)

II Thessalonians 3:5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. (NKJV)

I hope everyone is having a blessed week. The weather has just showed out this week. It has been so pleasant outside. I want y’all to know since I felt bad last week, I have the ultimate Mount St. Laundry that has made an appearance in my bedroom floor. Yes, we are dressing out of the pile. So, until next time I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: pinterest,duoparadigms

A little boy that could…..

February 21, 2013 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Once upon a time a little baby boy was born. A baby?? What are we going to do with a grandbaby?

His aunt said, I will feed him! So, she did.

His aunt, Miss Neenee said, I will hold him. So, she did.

Then, his other aunt, (whew! That’s a bunch of aunts!) said, all baby boys need to be so comfy they can stretch out their toes. He needs to be comfy! So, he was.

This baby turned one year old. He was so happy!

This baby had the sweetest little heart. Then, the doctors found out it was a special heart. It had 3 tiny holes in it. Well, that would never do. The doctors said, “We have got to make this heart, good, strong, & healthy”. So, they did.

After that, the baby played & laughed & loved to be on his Aunt Neenee’s hip! He was such a precious sight that no one could believe he had one more, teeny, tiny thing wrong. One more time, the doctors said, “We have got to make sure this baby is perfectly perfect.” So, once again, they did. And that was today. Mr. Sweetie Pants had another surgery. And now, since God wants him to be big & strong & healthy He let him show the world the little strong trooper He meant for him to be. Thank you God for healing this beautiful, loving, & delight of our lives baby boy. (And his Grand-that’s me & Miss Neenee only cried a little. By a little, I mean a lot. )

The end.

I John 4:7 & 8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God & knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.