First Step... Just Rest

It may seem a bit odd that the first step in getting organized is to rest... REST in the presence of the Lord, that is. When your life feels out of control and you start seeing visions of your clutter rising up to swallow you, meditating on the Word is actually the best place to start.

I've always been partial to the Old Testament, with Job being one of my favorite books. I am overwhelmed by God's sovereignty as He comes alive on the pages. Let's see what Job has to say about wisdom:

But where can wisdom be found?

  Where does understanding dwell?

Man does not comprehend it's worth;

  it cannot be found in the land of the living.

The deep says , 'It is not in me';

  the sea says , 'It is not with me.'

It cannot be bought with the finest gold,

  nor can its price be weighed in silver.

It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,

  with precious onyx or sapphires.

Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,

  nor can it be had with for jewels of gold.

Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention;

  the price of rubies is beyond rubies.

The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it;

  it cannot be bought with pure gold.

Where then does wisdom come from?

  Where does understanding dwell?

It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,

  concealed even from the birds of the air.

Destruction and Death say,

  'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.'

God understands the way to it

  and he alone knows where it dwells,

for he views the ends of the earth 

  and sees everything under the heavens.

When he established the force of the wind 

  and measured out the waters,

when he made a decree for the rain

  and a path for the thunderstorm,

then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;

  he confirmed it and tested it.

And he said to man,

  'The fear of the Lord -- that is wisdom,

  and to shun evil is understanding.'

~Job 28:12-28

This takes my breath away every time. I'm captivated by the shear beauty of the words - how Job so vividly describes wisdom.

I'm also convicted that I do not live with wisdom, as if I fear the Lord. Do I truly revere the Lord, believing that He is always present, all knowing and that He lives in me? These truths grip me, guide me, haunt me.

How do we center our families around the fear of the Lord? Ask God what this looks like for you. His plan is perfect, but we won't know until we ask. Wisdom can only be found in the Lord. Pray. Pray. Pray. Then pray some more.

Learning to live in the fear of the Lord,
Em

By Wisdom a House is Built

Let me start my first blog post with a confession.
                             

                                At my core, I am a messy, chaotic procrastinator.

My tendency is to keep little piles of paper -- coupons, school work, magazines -- that eventually get recycled after going untouched for months. I have at least 4 "projects" waiting to be completed. I'm the mom that buys b-day presents on the way to the party. My house is dusty. The beds aren't made. There is a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. 

Over the years, in my vain and often painful pursuit of being organized, I have failed miserably. My house became a source of anxiety and frustration. My clutter became a distractor - from quality family time, from having friends over and from spending intimate time with my God.

At my most desperate point, as I was suffocating from too many commitments and heaps of hoarded craft supplies, God revealed His plan for my home:

   

           By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; 

           through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.  

           (Proverbs 24: 3-4)

Of course! Why had I been working so hard when I should have given my home to God in the first place? Because I'm stubborn, hard-headed and I think I'm always right. (But have you met the women in my family? I come by it honestly.) 

What does wisdom, understanding and knowledge look like for your home? Honestly, I don't know. God has purposed every family differently. Our common thread being that He longs to enter into a deep, abiding relationship with us. In the midst of this intimacy, you will find His plan and how your family fits His purpose.

             My first step in getting organized was simply seeking the Lord.

             *Ask for His wisdom.

             *How does He want to build your home?

Join me on this journey to rid ourselves of clutter, distractions and junk. Through seeking Christ, I pray that our homes will ultimately bring Him glory (and us a little peace instead of frustration).

Organizationally imperfect yet seeking His will,
Em

 A glimpse of what I feel like on the inside - x100 -  when trying to wrangle my messes.