Bless this Mess?

Over the years I worked and was my mother's caretaker, I did not keep strict standards at my house regarding if something new came in, something old went out - as in I bought a new blazer, donate the blazer you rarely wear so it will go to someone who will wear it. As a result, my cabinets, closets, and drawers are stuffed to capacity. Along with thousands of Texans, I donated new clothes, gift cards, toiletries, and excess business clothes I rarely wore as well as my winter coats/jackets, and many Christmas decorations after Harvey hit in 2017. Decluttering was underway, full steam ahead. 

In early 2018, my mother required more care, I worked less, did more for her and would do it all over again, but I never resumed decluttering my home. Well, now - I have 2 homes filled with stuff. I started boxing and bagging items to donate at my mother's house and then I contracted pneumonia, which messed up "my" schedule, "my plan". 

I never really prayed about what to do 1st in the great declutter/donate job of 2 houses. I am bringing 4 pieces of furniture to my house along with her china, silver, and a few pieces of depression glass. After praying, I realized I cannot stick a for sale sign in her yard until I have an Order of Probate. (The case is chugging through the system.) I need to declutter my house and make room for what I am bringing here, then do her house. I can take boxes of her books to 1/2 Price Books and gather all the papers that need to be shredded but I don't need to fully empty her house 1st. I need to prepare mine. 

It is the same way with our spiritual heart if we've been away from the Lord for a long time, we need to remember He meets us where we are. We need to ask Him to plow up the fallow ground of our heart to prepare the soil so we can listen to Him, hear Him, and receive what He gives us. The line from the Christmas Carol Joy to the World states it well, Let every heart prepare Him room. Farmers prepare the soil before they plant if they want a good harvest. We must do the same. Talk to Him, tell Him your misdeeds and deeds, your actions and inactions, your lies by commission and omission, who wronged you, who you wronged. Pour it all out to Him. 

Ask the Lord to meet with you, where you are. He will meet you with open arms. He loves you so much He gave all to save you. As the father ran to the prodigal son, so the Lord runs to you.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.  And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.  Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.  And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.  So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.  And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!  I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’  And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.  And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.  And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.  And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’  But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,  but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.  But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’  And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”