Joy

Well, it’s that time again. Time for a good spring cleaning! When I think about spring cleaning, I think about my house. My windows need washing, the rugs need cleaning, the ceiling fans need dusting, & the air conditioner filters need replacing. Y’all, I am just getting tired thinking about all of it!

Just think about it though.

Does our inner man need a spring cleaning, too?

What if we made a conscience effort to get the cob webs out of our hearts? What if we swept jealousy & comparing ourselves to others straight out the door? What would our God given houses be like if we just flat out wiped out hate and filled it back up with love? Like the love I have for chocolate gravy & biscuits.

James, the brother of Jesus, talks about this in

James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (NKJV)

Peter mentions it, as well, in

I Peter 2:1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,

And I can’t go without including the fruit of the Spirit (notice this says “fruit” as in singular, as in one-which means all of these beautiful qualities go together. As in you need to have all of these, not just pick which one you want to do & leave the rest out.)

Galatians 5: 22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (NKJV)

Let’s take a look at ourselves (me included, because I need it more than anybody!). Let’s make sure we have the most important aspect in our lives first, LOVE. Then, I really believe the rest will fall into place.

Matthew teaches in Matthew 12, that if we get rid of something bad in our lives, we need to immediately fill it back up with something good. If we don’t we chance more bad coming back into our hearts.

⁴³“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. ⁴⁴Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”(NKJV)

Whew! Spring cleaning is hard! Especially when you have to get rid of things like being unforgiving & having bitterness in your heart. Things like this is like old baggage you have tucked back in the corner of a closet & forgotten about. It’s been around so long, that you hardly notice it’s holding you up in your walk with God.

Ephesians 4:31-32 ³¹Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³²And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (NKJV)

How about we all get to work on spring cleaning? I know I sure need it. I’m so glad you stopped by today. I presented the good news to Miss Neenee last night that school would be out next month. As in NEXT MONTH. She was just pleased as punch to know she would have a break before long. Come on summer!! I hope you have a blessed week. As for me, I have got to be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: quotesgram.com, whatchristianswanttoknow.com, newhealthom.com

II Corinthians 7:4 …I am filled with comfort, I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.

photo credit: gospelgifs.com

Do you ever get upset when something unwelcome happens in your life? Why, a harsh comment, a financial problem, a sick loved one, a relationship that’s just not what it should be, an unruly child, dealing with addiction,*** any of these things can just take the friendly right out of you! It just seems like the weight of the world is hanging on our shoulders. How could things be any worse? How could anyone really understand? Then, those feelings of woe, depression & anxiety begin to follow you around. This week, I read about someone who loved problems. He even said they made him really glad. No, it’s not a man who’s cornbread wasn’t quite done, or who was a few bricks shy of a load. It was the apostle Paul.

Do you think the apostle Paul a little “cooky” for finding troubles joyful? I have to admit, joy is sure not my first knee jerk reaction, when problems come around in my life. However, Paul had accomplished something we all should work toward. He had trained his mind to see the good in all things. He had made his thoughts so pure, that no negativity was going to enter in his mind, to rob his joy. I kind of see it like a barrier, like a hedge around something. You make joy the center of your mind. When troubles start to come in, bad thoughts don’t get past the barrier. They just sort of bounce off. I think it would take a lot of prayer to keep that hedge up. But, I truly believe, it can be done. It’s all about what we practice & discipline ourselves to do. We have to include God in it. How else could it be done, than with the Lord’s help?

Have you ever come across someone who lives in the state of gloom & doom? Where nothing is ever right? The glass is always ½ empty. No one or thing has ever been created that could ever please them. Do you like being around people like that? Don’t be one of those people! Griping & nagging is not only not lady-like, it does not make you pretty (or most importantly Godly). I hope this doesn’t describe you.

When it rains, look for the rainbow.

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

And remember-life is only as good or miserable as you make it.

The apostle Paul was beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, stoned, and people did not want to believe what he said. Goodness gracious! What did he have to be happy about? He had Jesus. Sometimes things might get so rough, in our lives, Jesus might be the only thing we can see that’s good. That’s o.k. Because that’s all you need anyway. You have choices in your life. Choose joy!

Thank you for coming by to visit with me today. You would not believe the clothes, I have piled up, that need folding. It makes me think of how my friend refers to it as “Mount St. Laundry.” Both my girls, that are still at home, are in school. My husband & I typically enjoy wearing clean clothes, daily, as well. That makes for lots of clothes changes. I hope you have a good week. Come back to see me, soon. I have to be going now, because I should be washing clothes…..

photo credit: Naomi-cru.deviantart.com

***Small side note: Up in the 1st paragraph, I make mention of several things, that could really upset your world. On my first read over, I laughed out loud, when I realized I had actually listed dealing with addition, as one of those horrible things. I did correct it. However, am not so sure that for me, I did not have it right the 1st time! To read more about my dislike of math, click here.