In a Room with Gideon

One of my favorite treats is to go away with my husband to a nice room for the night.  Over the course of several special occassions, James has made a tradition of treating us to a room at a bed and breakfast or nice hotel.  We both treasure the quiet time to simply enjoy one another's company, uninterrupted by the demands of life or our three little ones.  

Do you know what I love about the rooms?  They are tranquil.  All my needs are met:  I've got a comfortable place to rest, the room has been cleaned - there's no work to be done.  The room has been designed to be appealing - I'm surrounded by beauty.  It's as if we get a fresh start that night.  It's an adventure to "live" in a new place, to be in new surroundings.  I also love that my husband prepares ahead; he has surprised me several times by ordering a gorgeous flower arrangement to be placed in the room before I arrive.

The rooms are tranquil because they are uncluttered.  The drawers aren't crammed with stuff.  Well, maybe there's a Bible, a notepad and a travel guide.  A phone if you need to call for assistance or a wake-up.  There's just not a lot of stuff in there to muck up our enjoyment of spending time together.  I love that feeling.

My dear father-in-law, a Vietnam veteran, once made a comment to me along the lines of, "I'm a simple man; all I need is a bed and a bible."  Man alive!  If only I could be that uncomplicated!  If only my life were that streamlined.  I love the thought of a clear room with nothing in it but a Gideon's Bible.  Uncluttered.  Restful.  Renewing.  Prepared for me.  All I need. 

Scripture compares the relationship between Christ and the church to a bridegroom and his bride.  Just as my husband blesses me by taking me to a place of rest, scripture says this is what the Lord does for a believer:  "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."  Psalm 23:1-3. 

When I am with the Lord I am blessed:  my needs are met, He gives me rest, shows me beauty, leads me in tranquility, gives me renewal, and leads me in the right path - for his glory.

He also has prepared a room for you and me!  There is a room for each of us:  "Let not your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.  And you know the way to where I am going."  Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going.  How can we know the way?"  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.  From now on you do know him and have seen him."  John 14:1-7, ESV. 

Just like the rooms I so love here on Earth, maybe those heavenly rooms the Lord has prepared have their own handy Bible, notepad, travel guides and phone line. :)  He wants us to be with him - spending time in his word. He wants to renews us.  He wants to guide us.  He wants us to call on him!  He wants to bless us as we live in his grace.   

Sometimes getting to that place means making time and leaving the other stuff -  the clutter - behind. 

P.S.  James - you are my bridegroom, my "mighty man of valor."  Thank you for blessing me with your love. 

Welcome

This parable was taught by Jesus, and it is the foundation of this blog:

"Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.  Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?  And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.'  Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."  Luke 15:7-10, ESV.

I repent.  I've had enough.  I've lost a "coin."  It's called peace.  It's time for me to sweep my house to find the missing coin.  I want to be like the woman who searched and found it, so I too can call together my friends and neighbors to rejoice!

I have a problem.  I need to break free from it because it's holding me back from having peace and joy in my life.  It's affecting my family.  It's called clutter.  It's robbing our family of relationships.

Do you ever wish that you could have people freely into your home - without being embarassed?  Do you ever feel like the state of your home creates confusion and distraction in your daily life?  If your answer is "yes," then we have something in common. 

Today, January 17, 2011, I made a vow:  "I will not buy anything other than food until I have purged this home of clutter!"

Now, scripture makes clear, vows aren't to be taken lightly:  "Its better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay."  Ecclesiastes 5:5.  So I'm creating this blog to hold me accountable.

Perhaps by sharing my flaws and my work dealing with them I'll inspire someone else.  I know I'm not the only one out there with this problem! 
 
So here I go...........

"I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people."  Psalm 116:18

Lord, help me!  :)