Laced With Grace

Recently I went to an estate sale in our neighborhood, something I had not done before. I saw the sign at the end of our street with the address, date, and time, so I went to have a look.

As I entered the house looking at the stuff, I felt a weird emotional feeling that took me by surprise. Even though I did not know the person, as I looked at the stuff I began to wonder about the person and what sort of life he must have lived. I found that by looking at his stuff I could tell a lot about him. There was one entire room filled with wooden holiday lawn decorations that he had apparently made himself. Several boxes were on a table in the garage….one of hammers, another of screwdrivers, another of wrenches. There were stacks and stacks of bath towels and linens, cabinets full of old Tupperware dishes, and a box full of old picture frames.

Seeing all this stuff made me wonder about the story that was held in each item. How many years has this couch sat in this spot? Who are these people in these picture frames? How many people gathered to eat around this table? Who made these pot holders? There was so much stuff filling up all of the rooms, drawers, and cabinets.

I also considered my own stuff. What stuff do I hold onto or store away in my attic or garage that someone will have to go through some day? What value does this stuff have? Will anyone else know or understand the reason I held on to particular items for years?

We are reminded in Matthew of the lack of value in holding onto the things of this earth. These things that fill our homes and storage spaces have no value in eternity; they may seem valuable to us for a time, but we cannot take any of that with us when we die.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19–21

Instead of focusing on the stuff we have now, we need to store up treasures in heaven where it really matters. One day we will all be gone and the stuff that held such value to us will be on display at a sale where someone else sees it simply as a bargain.

Today I’d like to leave you with a question to think about honestly: What do you treasure?

Have a day of blessings!

(current pic of my garage)

Do you have a messy garage? Or maybe it’s not your garage, but you know exactly what it is. That overcrowded storage unit you really need to empty. Your pantry or those junk drawers. Or your fridge filled with rotting leftover containers. Wherever and whatever it is, it’s an area of your life that is a mess. It’s affecting your daily life, taking up mental space and sucking up all of your energy.

Well that’s my life right now. I’m in the middle of going room by room, organizing, purging, and cleaning. Call it spring cleaning if you want. Whatever this is, it’s exhausting. It’s hard work looking through every nook and cranny. Actually I’m growing weary as I approach the finish line. This has been a few weeks of focused energy and I know I haven’t gotten rid of everything I should have. But I’ve made it through my entire house except the basement and garage. Currently I’m finishing up my office. What a mess. Two days ago I finally threw away my high school graduation gown from 1986. Call me a sentimental fool.   It feels great to have labels and homes for everything I’ve decided to keep.

And as I’ve worked, God has been showing me the messy places of my heart. I’ve invited Him to walk with me through this process and He is faithful to reveal what needs to go. It’s humbling to see I still hide jealousy, comparison and bitterness in the closet of my heart. I see places where I’ve grown complacent and I see the results of neglecting those areas. It’s not pretty, but it’s been freeing to let God have my mess. He is making my old His new again.

What a gift to do something I’ve been needing to do and in the process do some heart work with God.

How about you? Have you allowed God to look into the rooms of your heart lately?

God longs to free us from our everyday messes. He longs to declutter our lives and make room for what matters most:

* Him

* Family

* Other people

Father God, thank You for Your love and faithfulness. Thank You for not leaving me as we go room by room through my mess. Thank You for speaking life to me when I grow weary. Thank You for making my heart Your home. I love You, Jesus. Amen

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! Psalm 139:23 ESV

PS There is a classic short story about our hearts called My Heart, Christ’s Home.

Hugs from Colorado,

Tiffany – Tea with Tiffany

In His Time

  For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.  A time to be born and a time to die.  A time to plant and a time to harvest.  A time to kill and a time to heal.  A time to tear down and a time to build up.  A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.  A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.  A time to embrace and a time to turn away.   A time to search and a time to quit searching.  A time to keep and a time to throw away.   A time to tear and a time to mend.  A time to be quiet and a time to speak.  A time to love and a time to hate.  A time for war and a time for peace.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NLT)

Timing is so important.  All the experiences listed in the above scripture are appropriate at certain times.

Jim and I have some important decisions to make; most of which have to do with our finances. One of our major decisions right now is in regards to our 17 year old car. Since purchasing the car in 2009 we have spent more money on repairs than it is currently worth.  We hate the thought of going into debt to purchase another vehicle – new or used.    In today’s economy one does not want to make a wrong or hasty decision.  When we do – it can lead to despair and even cause us to doubt or resent God’s timing.

The key to making sure we do not make hasty decisions is a four letter word most of us do not like to hear – WAIT.  This is so difficult when we believe we NEED whatever it may be – and sometimes we really may have a need, but God may want us to wait for His timing.  He only wants the best for us.  When we make a decision we need to have peace with God through prayer to discern, accept and appreciate God’s perfect timing.

So until Jim and I have peace, we choose to wait on God’s timing; trusting in His providence that our prayers will be answered in His time.