maturity

Redefining Sin?

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This should have been posted the day after the last entry, but for the past few weeks, I’ve been working to “walk the talk.”  So the next few entries may be a catch-up.  I pray you’re also experiencing spiritual growth and maturity as you yield to the Holy Spirit.

After my food-induced “judgment blackout,” I repented to the Lord for allowing myself to lapse long enough to even pitch my tent in the direction of Sodom, though I was nowhere near the city limits when I began my “just a little taste, just this once” sham of a self-deception.

I buffeted my body (punished it, not like going to a buffet – LOL) and talked to myself the whole way to the gym for 30 minutes on the elliptical.  I had to PAY for the overindulgent caloric overages I’d permitted in the previous 7 days. In my past days of denial, I might have nervously laughed and said, “Oh goodness, I ate a bit too much!  How on earth did that happen?”  But now that I’ve matured, I’ve gotta walk in truth and admit, “Yep, it was the sin of gluttony – not at all pretty, but true.  Father, please forgive me!”

Confession is good for the soul.  God hates sin – but He loves the sinner.  When we repent and ask Him to cleanse us, He is faithful to do so.  But we can’t wallow in what He’s lifted us out of.  I challenge you to call sin what it is (not a “weakness,” “deficiency,” “illness,” or “disorder” – just plain, outright SIN that goes against God’s holy Word.  Then repent and go another way.  We can’t keep coddling and making excuses for our sins if we expect to be delivered from them.

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”

(Isaiah 5:20-21)

© Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

 

Desensitized, Numb, Oblivious – or Just Callous: What Are YOU Crying Out Against?

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I wonder how you can effectively speak against something that still has a grip on you?  It’s virtually impossible – without being a hypocrite.  Selah.  It’s time to let God deal with the real, hidden matters of our hearts…

 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”

(Ezekiel 36:26)

 “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”

(Ephesians 3:16)

I recently experienced an abysmal descent into self-destructive behavior that lasted for a few days.  What did it start with?  One simple (unwise) decision that caused me to let my guard down.  I knew it didn’t even look innocent, but I took the plunge anyway…starting with a single faltering step.

For me, the trigger was eating some food items – in larger quantities – during some “free” business meals – over several consecutive days – that opened the door to me getting reacquainted with my old “comfortable” (over)eating habits so quickly it made my head spin.  I went from desensitized to numb to oblivious in a matter of minutes.  Three days later, I found myself reluctantly (yet giddily) buying 2 tubs of ice cream (because it was Buy One – Get One FREE, of course…no other reason…yeah, right!).  I convinced myself that I was disciplined enough to portion it out throughout the week…with it in the house with me…over a weekend…who was I fooling?  Only myself.  Within 3 days, I could see the bottom of the Rocky Road container.  At that point, it felt like a downhill slide, so I polished off the 2 remaining cones “to get rid of them” (yeah, right!)…and last night, I just went ahead and polished off the rest of the tub – in what amounted to one bowl.  Oh, for shame!

At any point, did exercise cross my mind?  Not for one exhilarating, chocolate-filled moment.  Not beyond opening the drawer to get yet another spoon…but I guess that doesn’t count, eh?  I got so sedentary by having a “day off” (which rapidly snowballed into several “days off”) of my routine and rigorous healthy regimen that I looked forward to watching my TV shows on DVR – for hours.  But that activity (or inactivity) opened a door that I obviously didn’t need to walk through, because the next day, I was feeling downright cruddy.

Only when I was asked to pray for two separate situations of serious need did I break outta my self-induced funk and see the stealthy trap of the enemy for what it was – a snare intended to get me out of position with Christ.  Before those “calls to intercession,” I was so sluggish I could hardly hear the voices of my family members, let alone the Lord.  I was just caught up in the euphoria of “doing what I was big and bad enough to do.”  In this case, it was eating what my flesh desired without regard to consequences.  And yes, the scale creeping up instead of down provides irrefutable evidence of my indiscretions…sigh.

What finally snapped me back to the reality of being who Christ called me to be (24/7/365 – not just when convenient or when I feel like it) was 1) a web search showing the link between glutton and idolatry (which I’d been putting off, but gee, is it undeniable!), and 2) a web search that turned up the base, depraved status of people who call themselves the Lord’s church but are far from it.  So I was reminded of the critical importance of remaining steadfast and prepared – a vessel of honor fit for the Lord’s use whenever He calls.

I felt the cloud of heaviness lift as I called on the power of God to help me walk in obedience.  I confessed my struggle to my husband, who graciously covered me in prayer and reaffirmed his commitment to support me (including help with slowing down my ice cream intake – thanks a lot, dude – no, really, I mean it).  After reminding me of last week’s Sunday School title (“Get Back on Track”), he even brought in some fresh cucumbers and tomatoes from the garden and presented them to me with gentle (yet firm) encouragement, “Go ahead and enjoy these today!” 

Whether you’re desensitized, numb, or oblivious in the midst of your own situation or struggle, there’s hope, friends!  Jesus came that we might reach out to Him and accept the lavish gifts of salvation, forgiveness, redemption, and restoration through His blood when we repent and receive Him – and of course, choose to turn from our sin.  When we receive Him, we are immersed in His extravagant, all-consuming presence.  Like a dry, brittle sponge getting saturated by the Holy Spirit, we are transformed and rejuvenated by His infinite power.  He is so refreshing.  Necessary.  Vital.  Imperative. 

Stay connected to your Source – your very life depends upon it.  I know mine does.

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”

(Isaiah 58:1)

© Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

From Birth to Cap, Gown, & Tassel in 60 Seconds Flat

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I hadn’t planned to cry.  I was genuinely excited about seeing all the “little people” (many of whom were almost as tall as me) dressed in white for the Kindergarten Promotion Ceremony.  As they began the processional, “Pomp and Circumstance” blared through the distorted sound system.  Uh oh – I reached for my tissue as I remembered holding my daughter as a toothless newborn what seemed like just a few months ago.  The music swelled and a drumroll signaled a crescendo; I remembered her first steps, eating solid food, first tooth lost…

I dabbed my eyes a bit more as I realized how much they’d all grown this year.  There was no chaos or extraneous chatter – the classes stood and were seated in the orderly manner they were instructed.  It was beautiful to behold.  The parents, on the other hand, followed directions worse – when instructed to hold applause until the end of each class’ names being called, parents began loudly calling out their children’s names.  I know we’re all proud, but really…a bit of decorum helps us all, folks.  However, I digress… She waved at me as she crossed the stage.  What a remarkably beautiful young lady she’s becoming…must not think of wedding yet…Sweet 16 comes first…oh Lord, help me!

To the tune of “New York, New York,” they sang (as only children can), “Start spreadin’ the news, we’re leavin’ today…we wanna be a part of it, First Grade, First Grade…if we can make it here, we’ll make it anywhere…so here we come,First Grade, First Grade!”  That did it!  I didn’t downright boo-hoo, but I was much more emotionally sensitive than I expected to be.  The icing on the cake was when the principal announced them as the Graduating Senior Class of 2023 – I went there.  In an instant, I reflected on my own high school graduation and how my parents were so proud of me after all they’d put into raising me.  Now here I was full circle in the process.

The children turned the tassels on their plastic-coated mortarboards.  “Gee, they’re really growing fast!” I sighed wistfully as I prepared to return to work, beaming inside and out.  Next school year will be another new leg of this journey called growth, development, and maturity.

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”

(I Peter 2:2)

 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

(II Peter 3:18)

 © Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Success = Consistent Progress (and vice versa)

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I have each child’s report card in front of me, and I‘m so proud that both of them received straight 3s (consistently meets expectations) for all 4 consecutive quarters of the school year!  Not that it was easy, but my hubby and I kept prodding them, and they kept pressing.  Their stellar report cards (along with quarterly awards recognition for Academic Excellence, Exemplary Citizenship, Perfect Attendance, and Accelerated Reader) provide an accurate reflection of the hard work they did all year long.

As a self-described “artistic type,” I had great disdain for consistency in my younger years; truthfully, I thought it was boring.  However, maturity has taught me that some achievements only come as a result of consistent effort and execution.  I relied too heavily on chance or being fortunate when I could’ve been assured of my outcome from the beginning if I’d been willing to do the same thing each time – start early (instead of waiting until the last minute), take time to study and do research (instead of cramming and flying by the seat of my pants on what I thought sounded good), and apply myself consistently (instead of being sporadic, unpredictable, and driven by whatever mood I happened to be in).

Funny how it took my own children in elementary school to drive this lesson home to me, but I’ve finally “got it” and I understand the importance of consistency.  I believe God uses our children to help bring us to where we need to be.  There was no way I could help my son do well with his Science Fair project if I didn’t face my own anxiety over the subjects of Math and Science.  I really can’t stand to dust and ironing is a foreign concept (though I love to vacuum), but that matters not since I’m responsible for training my children in proper housekeeping techniques.  So in order to accurately demonstrate the skills and provide a credible example, I have to get over myself.  May we as parents and leaders be ever mindful of the critical role we play in developing those following in our footsteps.

Congratulations to all graduates celebrating the fruit of your labor – job well done!  Be richly blessed as you advance to the next level of applying yourself to be excellent in Christ.  🙂

“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

(Joshua 1:7-8)

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 3:14)

© Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Spic ‘n’ Span Clean: Reconciling From the Inside Out

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Every now and then, we get a good wake-up call that reminds us of exactly where we are – and how far we have yet to travel on the path of spiritual maturity.  Whether it’s an issue of true forgiveness (not just that lip-service stuff), letting go of a habit we’ve been convicted of – multiple times (yes, change requires a converted heart), or just downright being obedient to the voice of the Lord (the first time), let’s balance the books and settle some things once and for all.  By dragging things out over time, we impede our own progress.  Resolutely determine that today will be a new start.  Put off the old man (Colossians 3:9) and be renewed in the spirit of your mind (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Let us take an accurate personal inventory and give the Holy Spirit free reign to ensure that we’re clean through and through – not just in the places where others can see.  There’s no need for hypocrisy (double standard, insincerity, pretense, two-facedness), for God sees it all, especially the hidden man of the heart (I Peter 3:4).

Father, help us to silence the tumultuous turmoil that bombards our minds, and toss out the accumulation of useless mental clutter that’s collecting dust and slowing our growth in Your Word.  We desire to hear Your voice clearly without interference, distraction, or distortion.  Wash us clean, Lord – from the inside out!  This is the cry of Your children’s hearts today…so we can remain in constant, unbroken, uninterrupted fellowship with You.  Amen.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 

Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

(Matthew 23:25-26)

 © Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

The End is Near vs. Emergency Preparedness and Staying Ready

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This title was brewing in my spirit all day, but from a different perspective (think recent apocalyptic prophecies and wild weather epidemics).  However, the way I spent my last 2 hours was the icing on the proverbial cake.  Just what was I doing, you might inquire?  Teaching ALGEBRA to my 2nd grader for his homework sheet due TOMORROW.  Eeeek!!!  Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggghhhh!!!   The end surely must be near…

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

(Matthew 27:46)

As if enduring the torture of working on a science fair project over several months of my adult life wasn’t penance enough (I guess it wasn’t), I had to face yet another one of my idiosyncratic hang-ups from the high school/college years:  math phobia.  Yes, I know I’ve worked at a bank for 8 years.  Yes, I’ve finally learned to TRULY balance my checkbook within the past 2 years.   Yes, I’m acutely aware that my God has a sense of humor second to none.  See, I’ve always been the liberal artsy type – the KHS TV/Radio Club President (geez, I’m dating myself – that was in the early 90s…before the term “media” became savvy), the show choir song ‘n’ dance gal, the Speech Communications major extraordinaire, the one whose “gift of gab” helped get her outta many a sticky situation. 

Yet, here I sat at MY kitchen table with MY child, reviewing math concepts his teacher had just introduced today: finding missing numbers.  Like I’m some expert on unknowns – kumbayah!  I cringe and shudder to even reminisce on the math requirements I trudged through – including 9th grade Algebra, and 11th grade Algebra II (God bless my teacher and her many hours of after-school help on my behalf).  I won’t even mention 10th grade Geometry…let’s have a moment of silence for the only “C” on my “I graduated as one of the top 10 students with “highest honors” transcript.

Remind me to tell you why my dad says we have the smartest dining room table in Virginia…I vaguely recall that it had something to do with me taking a “teleclass” for Statistics through community college one summer – thinking I wouldn’t need to actually watch the classes…until I ‘fessed up to my dad a week before the exam and he had to coach me through probability and Lord knows what else in no time flat.  Parenting – the job that keeps on giving…

Tonight, after realizing that my son didn’t understand the process for getting to the answer, I pulled out the blue and red checkers from the Connect Four game, 4 sheets of scrap paper (we used the front and back of 3 sheets), AND my calculator, to boot.  After I talk with the teacher tomorrow, I’m sure I’ll realize I did it the hard way, but we had to solve 10 – a = 4 without a negative number (a concept that hasn’t been introduced yet)…so you can probably imagine my BFQ (brain frazzlement quotient) after an 8-hour workday full of its own idiocy.  In the end, the boy made me proud – I don’t know if he was just pretending to “get it” so I’d let him go to bed at 10 p.m. (bless his li’l belly button – he’s usually crawling into bed by 8 p.m.), but he was able to show me his work after about the 12th problem we had to correct.  We’d stuck it out together.  Go, Team Cathcart – beat those mean ol’ numbers!  We RULE! 🙂

Nevertheless, God gives more grace to the humble…’cuz baby, I sure needed it tonight!  Lord, I thank You for being ever-present and ever near.  You are my Solution in the midst of every problem, puzzle, quandary, and conundrum.  Because You are more than able to equip me to handle whatever emergency arises, I can rest in You.  Selah.  Help me keep my heart ready to yield to Your every command. 

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”

(Matthew 24:3-6)

 © Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Solitary Confinement: Confessions on Kicking a Bad Habit

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You know, the flesh can talk really loud.  When you try to ignore it, it starts yelling.  Put it into withdrawal from its appetite of choice, and it launches into a full-blown temper tantrum.  Maybe that’s why Paul said, “I die DAILY” in I Corinthians 15:31.  Being “crucified with Christ” is the only way to keep the flesh in check!  The flesh must be starved; otherwise, the more you feed it, the more it wants.  They say that confession is good for the soul, so here goes…

I recently rediscovered how competitive I am…with myself.  A couple of weeks ago, I pulled up a computer Solitaire game to wind down one evening before bedtime instead of doing a crossword puzzle.  Harmless, right?  So I thought…

Forty minutes later, I had gotten the hang of the scoring mechanism, and I learned how time figured into my score.  And I wanted to beat it.  So I said to myself, “Just one more game…”  But that “one more game” wasn’t enough.  Ten games later (can you say compulsive personality?), I’d won several games, but I still hadn’t beaten my “best score.”  I was giving myself the gift of bags under my eyes, but I was fixed (more like fixated) on my goal.  I’m sure God would appreciate me having that same laser-like focus on His Word.  Imagine – having an addiction to the Word of God; we’d be unstoppable, saints! 

A few days later, my hubby came in to bowl a couple of games on the Wii. He must’ve seen my eyes glazed over as I peered intently at the computer screen, concentrating on winning.  He laughed and said, “You’ve got a Solitaire “jones,” girl!”  As much as I wanted to disagree, I knew he was right.  And I had to break that preoccupation – unproductive “idle” time was was creeping into “idol” territory.  He “sentenced” me to “no Solitaire games at night” for a couple of days straight.  I began to itch.  But I knew it was for my good, since I’d been mega-sleepy the mornings after my private Solitaire tournaments.

One night I was just waiting for him to fall asleep so I could – yep, you guessed it – go play Solitaire.  He put the brakes on that and told me to stay in the bed and channel surf until I got sleepy.  Now I KNOW channel surfing is a waste of time, but here I was stuck with the “lesser of two evils.”  I wasn’t at obsession level with this game (yet), but this seemingly harmless way to spend time had captivated my affections.  I was actually plotting and scheming when I could have my Solitaire time (making provision for the flesh)!  I don’t think the game itself is bad – it just became bad for me because I wasn’t disciplined enough to read my Word first or stop playing after 15 minutes and finish my other evening tasks (making lunches, laying out children’s outfits, loading the dishwasher) like I had some sense.

On yet another evening (I hadn’t learned my lesson yet – this went on about 2 weeks), I tried to circumvent the process of breaking my habit and “having just a li’l bit.”  Yeah right.  Actually, I was just planning to “do my own thing” (Did I really say that?  Yes.  It’s the truth – and that makes us free).  I figured that since I’d be sitting under the hair dryer for an hour, I could play Solitaire (multi-tasking – LOL) – after all, it wasn’t extra time I was spending on the game…it was just time I’d already be awake that I’d be using for personal recreation…right?  WRONG!  Time is God’s gift to me, and if I’m going to be a wise steward over it, I have to use it as HE directs.  Though I’d already set the laptop next to the hair dryer, I said ALOUD, “Flesh, you are NOT going to get what you want this time!.  You are going to read this Sunday School lesson and meditate on the Word of God for the hour you’re under the hair dryer.  This is what we’re gonna eat for the next hour.  You are starving from Solitaire.”  Do you see a theme here?  I had to actively choose righteousness and building up my spirit man.

I could’ve been content that I’d “given up” my spy TV program a couple of months ago.  I could’ve continued to rationalize that I “deserved” some time for a comparably innocuous relaxing activity.  But I was setting myself up for a fall.  When God points something out, He wants us to take action right then.  Nothing should have “beloved” status in our lives but Jesus.  However, is that really the case?  We’re in an information-driven society; would you go through withdrawal if someone took away access to your e-mail, iPod music downloads, cell phone, online social networking, text messages, novels, games, favorite TV programs, etc. for a week?  Be honest…with yourself!

Now I KNOW I’m not the only one who needs to use the invaluable resource of time more productively for God’s glory!  Today, I challenge you to solitary confinement with His Word.  Declare war on a time-waster that has usurped your single-minded attention on and devotion to your First Love!   Deny yourself something that you enjoy and instead, spend that time with your Creator.  You just might be surprised at what He shows you during your time of communing.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

(Galatians 2:20)

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

(Galatians 5:24)

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

(James 5:16)

© Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Ignoring the Obvious: Do You Hear What I Hear?

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On an old SNL skit, whenever someone said something displeasing or annoying while she was supposed to be providing customer service, “The Vancome Lady” character (aptly played by Nicole Sullivan) would to cover her ears, look away, and say loudly, “La la la la la la la la la – I’m not listening to you!  La la la la la la la la la…”

I had an “ah-ha” moment the other day when I realized I’d been doing this to God…and it wasn’t funny.  I was drinking a glass of water when I acknowledged that I hadn’t heeded what He said a long time ago that I’d made food an idol (among other things).  “Surely not me, Lord!  You can’t possibly be referring to me,” I reasoned.  But indeed, He had my name, address, and zip code – He knew exactly and precisely to whom He was speaking.  And He was right.  But I had been in denial.

When we ignore someone, we imply by our actions that we esteem them lightly – if we esteem them at all.  We disregard them and everything they stand for and represent.  Take inventory of your own attitude to see if you’ve scornfully despised, disdainfully disrespected, discounted, overlooked, passed over, written off, cancelled, or nullified someone God put into your space for a specific purpose in this season.

A wise son heeds his father’s advice.  So it is with us as children of the Most High.  Why should He dispense the wisdom of the ages when we won’t obey?  We must take obedient action; we’re accountable for what we’ve heard through God’s Word and His ambassadors.

“I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice.”

(Jeremiah 22:21)

 “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”

(Mark 13:33)

© Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Rotten Fruit Does NOT Get Better With Time

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Perhaps I’m unconsciously nurturing my unbeknownst-to-me inner scientist.  Maybe I’m a high-stakes risk-taker and just don’t know it yet.  Whatever the reason, more often than I care to admit, I have experiment-worthy items hiding in the back of my fridge.

“Fresh” is not a relative term, I’ve learned.  Yet, I keep wondering, “How could something that was so good 2 weeks ago be spoiled now?  A once-sweet, firm, ripe fruit is now sour, fermenting, and soggy.”  Well, fresh items deteriorate when not connected to their source of nutrients.  When plucked out of fertile soil and whisked away from exposure to regular water and sunlight, the fruit can be sustained on its own for only so long.

How does this apply to our own lives?  If we had (past tense) the fruit of the Spirit in operation in our lives in the past, but now it’s not operating at optimal level, we need to reconnect with our Source (through reading the Word, spending time in prayer, and listening to hear what God is saying specifically to us) so we can bring forth some fresh fruit.  Just a thought…ask God what He has to say about it.

Read on to see what the Word says will happen to a good-for-nothing tree producing bad fruit…

“Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

(Luke 3:7-9)

 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

(Galatians 5:22-23)

© Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

You Can’t Take It With You – and don’t dumpster dive to retrieve it!

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There they stared at me:  reminders of pleasant memories – my birthday dinner, our family vacation…and the list goes on.  But really, after I recorded it in the checkbook, did I still need to keep the receipt?  No.  But honestly, I forgot the receipt was in there…so the clutter just continued to build up.  And receipts seem to have magnetic powers, as they obviously attract more of their own kind over time.  Maybe those dark folds and crevices of the purse are good for reproduction…

Whatever the case may be (and I think background, detailed reasons, and sentimental reasons are significant), I had to let it go.  Not to say that it wasn’t representative of something positive in my past, but I don’t need to keep that representation to my own detriment – particularly when space is at a premium.  By the same token, we sometimes hold onto memories that have become mental clutter.  Take a personal inventory today and see what old thoughts you can discard to free up some space in your mind.  Your thinking will be clearer and your heart will feel lighter.

Forgive my 12-step program tone, but I am in the process of becoming a reformed clutterbug…ooh, I do hate to admit that!  But as they say, admitting you have a problem is half the battle.  And as my hubby says, doing something about it is the other half…please pray for me, y’all!  As I’m learning to only hold onto things with eternal value, I acknowledge that I have miles to go on this journey! 

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.”

(Proverbs 3:13-18)

© Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart