Over the weekend when I was out walking, it seemed like
the sky was on fire. It smelled like
everything was burning.
And that’s when I began to notice all the small piles of
trash burning in several places.
Maybe everyone felt it was time to clean. I could relate.
I think you can feel it when it’s time to “spring clean.”
You can feel when a change is needed, the old for the
new. Winter clothes get packed or given away. New or different clothes are
hung. Windows are opened, things are aired out. Nothing feels sweeter than when
this task is done… closets and files are purged. Laundry is cleaned and drying,
trash is removed. There is a newness, a
freshness in the air. I love it when
spring cleaning, or any season of cleaning, is done!
It’s not spring here in Ethiopia. There are only two
seasons… dry and sunny (most of the year); then a three month rainy season (usually
June- August).
But for me, I have felt the need to “spring clean”!
We often tend to live in clutter, don’t we? To hoard
things, to keep too much stuff. It’s often embarrassing how much we hold on to.
And things pile up.
And then there’s trash- we allow this in our homes, our relationships, our hearts and minds as well. And if we’re not careful to clean these things out IMMEDIATELY, they can sit there and affect us more than we realize.
The trash- the areas of unhealthiness or negativity, maybe
the hurt, or regret, or disappointment from the past or present, if left
uncleaned and unremoved- these can smell and pollute everything else. Our
behavior, our words, our actions, can show if there is something in our life
that needs cleaned. Maybe it’s
bitterness or anger. Or a hidden sin or addiction. Maybe it’s jealousy. So much
can rot in us and around us and can make our light dark for others- or smeared.
All of these things can distract us from God and others
and can make us miss the purpose we were made for.
What needs spring cleaned in your life, in your heart, in
your home?
Is there clutter? Is there trash?
Psalm 139: 23-24
Search me, O God,
and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any
offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Romans 6:12-14
Therefore, do not
let sin reign in your body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the
parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer
yourselves to God … for sin shall not be your master, because you are not under
law, but under grace…
Ephesians 4:22-24
Put off your old
self… and be made new in the attitude of your minds; put on the new self,
created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
Hebrews 12:1-2
Let us throw off everything
that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance
the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…
Ephesians 4:26,
31-32
Do not let the sun
go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. … Get
rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, … be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a
clean heart…
I’m so thankful that God can help us with “cleaning.” If
we ask Him to- He can show us the clutter. The trash. And He is more than
willing to create in us a clean heart, … to renew us, purge us, so we can
represent Him well. He can forever burn off the areas that are rotting and give
us a new look, a new song, a new story to live out.
Ezekiel 36:26
I will sprinkle
clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your
impurities… I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will
remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will
put my Spirit in you … I will save you from your uncleanness…
2 Corinthians
5:17
If anyone is in
Christ, He is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!
Isaiah 43:18-19
Forget the former
things; do not dwell in the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs
up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the
wasteland.
Revelation 21:5
I am making
everything new!
So, “spring cleaning?” Are you ready? Where do you start? Where do I start?
First, You Must
Take Inventory. Look into your
life, your home, your relationships. Under the bed, in the closets, in the dark
areas…. Look at it, and face those things.
Some good
questions to ask in doing this….
-Are priorities in the right place, wrong place?
-Are you doing too much of one thing; not enough of
another?
-Do you have too much of something that is distracting
you?
-Does any part of your life stink?
-Are there areas of unhealthiness?
(ask a trusted
friend or family member these questions about you as well, sometimes when
you’re in it, you can’t see it or smell it)
-Does your behavior, words and actions, reveal trash/clutter?
Then, Lift
Those Areas Up to God
-Allow God to burn what needs burned, to simplify and
clean where needed
-Have others pray for you and help hold you accountable
in keeping those areas clean and those priorities straight
- And remember to leave the trash outside, burning, and
MOVE ON in the newness and grace and you’ve been in Christ Jesus!
This is my prayer for you, and for me, in this spring
season! May it be our best season yet for God!
Onward in His grace!!!
Onward in His grace!!!
Prayer Requests, Praises
-A huge praise that my work permit-residence visa for one
year was approved! Thank you to everyone who prayed!
-I’ve continued teaching a new spring semester at the Evangelical
Theology College. I’m teaching a Communication-Writing course and a Youth
Ministry Course. Please keep those
courses and students and the staff there in your prayers. It's an honor and privilege to help build the church here.
-A new semester began this week at Hope College. I am
teaching about 120 students this semester. Please keep these classes and new
students in your prayers.
-Please keep my family in prayer. My sister Noel is
stateside now serving as the Mission point person at our home church. Please keep her in prayer as she continues
there. Our country overall needs a ton of prayer as presidential elections are
this year. And also remember to keep my parents, Jim and Rosie, in your
prayers. They are fantastic and such a blessing. They will celebrate their
wedding anniversary on March 26! Be sure to hug them for me if you see them.
:=)
-The countdown to Ethiopia’s Easter (Fasika) has begun.
The Orthodox here are in a two month fasting time. May we remember what Jesus
did for us and share this amazing news with others!
Thank you for praying for me and please let me know how I
can pray for you as well!
Blessings from Ethiopia!
