My fellow travelers, welcome back….thanks for sticking with me for this last post.
Now my last part to this is something one might find pleasant, others; not so much, and it’s the Spring cleaning one must do at this time of year. This is the best time because according to research we are sluggish and too sleepy in the Winter. Spring cleaning has also been a tradition since the days when soot from coal heating devices was clinging to everything in the houses our ancestors of the 1800’s were familiar with. I recall someone telling me as a child how people would empty their homes and put everything outside and proceed to beat their cushions, mattresses, old heavy drapes and hang out the bed sheets after the old fashioned washing out on the lines in the sun to keep them white. Anyone else remember stories like that? I probably would have loved it!
I’m one of those rare birds who doesn’t mind cleaning (except for refrigerators….LOL!) I don’t like stale, musty, crusty, old and withering stuff around me. It’s probably why I don’t care for antique things, they make me feel old! That is true! Here is where I rejoice! I love to dump the “old” stuff.
I am not a pac-rat nor am I a hoarder, and I love to open the windows and let the fresh air come in while I’m dumping the old; that’s just me. It’s a healthy catharsis to get rid of old stuff, one even feels lighter!
Here’s the thing and I’m leading to something….I think also that my Heavenly Father schedules His Spring cleaning. Holy Spirit points things out that need to go, right? This is that “inner man” stuff like wrong thinking, attitudes that produce wrong actions, etc. He knows that these things need to be purged because at some point they will hurt us or those around us or our fruit could be bitter, sour, or rotten. Of course in the process, this isn’t the only time the residue of the old sinful life is being dealt with because Holy Spirit is doing the work of the cross constantly, but we do have to yield to the process.
By now I just chose to submit to it because I know the fruit will be sweet and good and it’s called the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Hebrews 12:11 (KJV) it’s called discipline too and it’s really a good thing even if the process is painful to our flesh. It does build character. As a person who desires to represent Jesus well, I need to abide in Him. John 15: 4&5 says this; “Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” (KJV)
I can say; “Look what the Lord has done!” I am not who I used to be by the Holy Spirits power and I give Him all the glory and praise for all the changes. This is Holy Ghost Spring cleaning! I still have a long ways to go but I feel good about the learning. I can see that it’s a vibrant blooming relationship and I wouldn’t trade that for anything! I also want to be able to say like the Apostle Paul; “I am dead to the world and the world is dead to me.” I am alive in Christ!
Thanks for joining me on this one fellow travelers, I hope I didn’t lose you along the way! Till next post…..one more picture of a joyful lady!!! Happy Blooming!!!
Boot-camp Has Chandeliers Blog 