September 9, 2008

Pressure washing –

My husband and son have recently pressured-washed our house. It is a white vinyl house with green shudders. Because of the water-restrictions in our city for the last year and half (or so), and because we needed to clean it before the restrictions, the white house was GREEN. I forgot to take pictures. That probably is a good thing. I do not think I really would want proof of how bad it was.
But can I just tell you how good it looks now? Clean. White. Fresh. Washed.

So, how did they clean it? First, they used bleach. Lots of it. Then they used the pressure-washers to wash off all of the mold/mildew/green stuff. On one side of our house, it is actually three stories high. The son climbed that ladder. He is a trooper and has no fear. It was good that I was not home that day. I am not sure I could have watched him on that high ladder, OR the husband on the roof of the front porch washing the front of the house. They did such a good job. Bleach, high pressure with water, and lots of hard work. Wonderful results.

So, how does it get there? How does it get that bad? Negligence. Just a little bit at a time. Over an extended period of time. Not really noticeable for a while. And then all of a sudden – it is real bad. Really obvious.

Just like we are.

Little sins are usually not very noticeable. And then one day you see the results. How did it get this bad? Just a little “yes” that should have been a “no” – one at a time – over an extended period of time. All of a sudden it is a REAL problem.

Now, it (our sin) is easier to take care of on an on-going basis. But I am afraid that does not always happen. And if neglected – then it is time for a ‘pressure-washing’ of our own.

Apply the Word. Lots of it. Dive in and stay there till you have answers. Acknowledge the sin for what it is. Then allow the power of the Holy Spirit to help you cleanse the whole being.

"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." (Ps 139:23-24)

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. " (Isaiah 1:18)

Confession is good for the soul.

Cleansing is good. For the outside of a home. For the inside of the soul.

Holding On…
DeeDee

July 18, 2008

Discipline

Several years ago – we were at Walmart… and I was intently looking at the exercise dvds. Studying them. My husband came and asked me, “What are you doing?” I told him – I was trying to find the exercise video that would actually jump out of the tv and pull me up off the couch and make me exercise. Of course, he just laughed and walked off. Probably because he knew how many exercise videos that we had at home. He knew I did not need a new one. I just needed to use the ones I had…. or the treadmill… or the ab machine… or the rubber band workout… or the small free weights … or whatever else that we have bought through the years that I thought I would use.

If only one would make me…. Then it would have to be easier.

Then there is the issue that I posted about a few days ago... Clutter. Paper clutter, specifically. I wanted someone to write me and give me the quick fix. Maybe I just wanted someone to tell me what my daughter did… JUST THROW IT AWAY. All of it. That would fix the problem. However, there is the fact – that I cannot throw all of it away. I have to go through it all. But I had the file folders. (mine are even color coded) I have the desk and the credenza and even a file cabinet. I just had to do what needed to be done. No easy way out.

Sorta like my Christian Life. It all takes discipline. It all takes just doing what I know I need to do.

I need to exercise to take care of this body. I feel better when I do. I just struggle getting started. Almost like there is a barrier there.

I need to continue de-cluttering my office. It will not happen by itself. I function better when I am organized. I just struggle getting started. Almost like there is a barrier there.

I need to “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.” ( II Timothy 2:15-Amplified) I am prepared for the day’s battles if I am studying the Word… if I am a workman that has no cause to be ashamed… if I am rightly dividing the Word of Truth. I feel better when I do. I function better. I just sometimes struggle getting started. Almost like there is a barrier there.

And in reality there is. It is a spiritual warfare. The enemy does not want us to excel in any area of our lives. Whether it is exercise to take care of the body (the temple of the Holy Spirit) or whether it is taking care of my earthly home and possessions or whether it is studying the Word to learn more about my Savior and be better equipped for service. So, the battle rages.

Sometimes you just have to do it.

You just have to get up and go out for the walk –
You just have to sit down at the desk and start sorting –
You just have to pick up the Word and study.

You will feel better when you do.

The battle is on – but we are overcomers because, “… greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (I John 4:4b)

What do you need to do today?

Just do it…

Holding On…
DeeDee

June 10, 2008

Up the Down Escalator...

Years ago, in our early years of marriage, my younger brother would come and spend time at our home. He is six years younger than me. I was married at 18 ... so you get the idea. We were all young. Trips to the mall were quite an adventure...and I could count on one thing. Sometime before the night was over, my husband and my brother would take a run up the down escalator. I just resigned myself to the fact that I could not stop them even if I tried.

Fast forward many years. My son becomes a young teen... and the practice continues. (Do you see the common denominator here???) My husband and my son... running up the down escalator. They would patiently wait until it was empty, and then they would take off! Sometimes someone would get on the escalator before they accomplished their goal... But they would continue. You could hear them saying, "Excuse me, excuse me" but they would press on!

Several things could be observed: (I was the observer along with many others in the mall who would stop to watch)

• You have to keep moving.
• You will back up if you pause or slow down.
• You must move faster in your pursuit of going up...than the escalator is moving down.

I am currently reading a book, Crazy Love, by Francis Chan. Look at this quote from page 93:

"If life is a river, then pursuing Christ requires swimming upstream. When we stop swimming, or actively following Him, we automatically begin to be swept downstream.

Or, to use another metaphor more familiar to city people, we are on a never-ending downward escalator. In order to grow, we have to turn around and sprint up the escalator, putting up with perturbed looks from everyone else who is gradually moving downward."

Chan then says: "I believe that much of the American churchgoing population, while not specifically swimming downstream, is slowly floating away from Christ. It isn't a conscious choice, but it is nonetheless happening because little in their lives propels them towards Christ."

Now, he is not talking about a works based salvation. Salvation is by faith, not of works... but our faith will be evident by our works. We will see our faith in our works. James 2:17 ,"Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

So the questions for today:

• Am I pursuing Christ?
• Do I let the grumblers/negative/complacent people that I come in contact with make me slow down? or quit?
• Does the race seem too hard? Have I lost my focus?
• Do I let the world I live in (the downstream of life)...set my pace... and keep me from pursuing Christ with all I am? Am I slowly floating away?
• What or who in my life propels me to my Savior?
• Do I need to re-adjust my priorities/my friends/my time so that nothing keeps me from my pursuit?

Philippians 3:12-14 : " Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. " NKJ

So, my encouragment for you today is to keep pursuing...
Up the down escalator...

Holding on...
DeeDee

A Journey Together

This is a devotional blog...

We are a group of ladies who were all blogging anyway...so we decided to share a devotional blog together.

Our title:
Holding On... to the truths of God's Word
because whether we are rejoicing or in deep distress; succeeding or struggling; laughing or weeping; We are striving to hold on to the truths of God's Word. We want to share with you.

As I have stated in my personal blog... we want to be transparent... we want to be real... we want to be encouragement...

So, join us on our journey. And comment along the way.

Holding on...
DeeDee