Although my kids would beg to differ, I do not like to clean house. I
told them there is a big difference in liking a clean house and liking
to clean that house. I can certainly like a clean house without at
all liking to clean that house! But all houses need cleaning. In fact,
mine is due a good cleaning right this minute! ... and to that end, I
am trying to teach my Abbs to clean house. ...you know, prepare her to
be a homemaker herself one day. She, however, may not consider it a
learning experience. I call it "teaching her" and she, I believe,
would call it "putting it off on her". That's the beauty of having a
daughter. It's my duty as her mother to teach her to clean. I've
taught her to dust, to vacuum, to sweep, to mop and even how to clean
the bathrooms ... or, come to think of it, did I just one day decide she
was old enough and say, Hey Abbs, the house needs cleaning ... you try
cleaning it, and I'll let you know how you're doing. ??? ... no, I'm
sure I taught her. ...and she does a great job, I must say. In fact,
that worked for a while too ... telling her what a great job she had
done. Now, however, she has decided that she doesn't really care that
I'm bragging on her and what a great job she has done as long as she
gets it done fast and out of the way. ... and gets a little "side
money" for her efforts (some of the best money I ever spent!). You see,
my Abbs does not like to clean house either. Guess I rubbed off on her! Maybe I should go try to teach my David now .....
Cleaning! Got to be done! ... like it or not, and I am reminded of a
particular year that I did a lot of housecleaning ... just not in an
actual house. There were many things in my life that particular year
that needed to be cleaned out, and NO, I am not admitting to anything!
...except the fact that I threw a lot of trash and garbage out that
year, and boy afterwards did it feel ... clean! We need to do that
sometimes, you know ... just throw out and clean up some ....
Acrostic:
C - CRASH, BOOM, BANG! ... well that's one way to get rid of it!
Ephesians 4:22-24 "That, in reference to your former manner of life,
you lay aside (throw it out!) the old self, which is being corrupted in
accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the
spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of
God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."
L - LONG-LASTING ... are the effects!
Galatians 5:16-25 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not
carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire
against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh for these are in
opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you
please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality,
impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy,
outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying's,
drunkenness, carousing, and things like these of which I forewarn you
just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall
not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control, against such things there is no law. Now those who belong
to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."
E - ERASER ... God has a big one!
Isaiah 43:25 - "I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions
for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins."
Isaiah 44:22 - "I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick
cloud, and your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have
redeemed you."
A - ALL-PURPOSE ... He offers to cleanse us all for His very purpose!
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 "For I delivered to you as of first importance
what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third
day according to the Scriptures."
Hebrews 10:22-23 "Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil
conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the
confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is
faithful."
1 John 1:5-9 "And this is the message we have heard from Him and
announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at
all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the
darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the
light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we
say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is
not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
N - NICE ... and clean!
Matthew 8:1-3 "And when He (Jesus) had come down from the mountain,
great multitudes followed Him, and behold, a leper came to Him and bowed
down to Him, saying, 'Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.'
And stretching out His hand, He touched him, saying, 'I am willing; be
cleansed.' And immediately his leprosy was cleansed."
CLEAN! He is willing! Are we?
"Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Psalm 51:10
Blessings!
Amen and Amen!
Kelli
