Are You Hiding Sparse Areas?

I have a very important tradition every year that drives my family crazy...I have to find the *perfect* Christmas tree. This year our hunt was way behind schedule due to our trip to the Packers game. So this afternoon, I got up out of my sick bed so we could find it. As we pulled up to our normal lot it looked like they were tearing it down. The man said, "All trees are $20.00 and you have until sundown, we're closing shop." Woah...we just made it! As I went through row by row of the tiny, sparsely branched trees, I became discouraged, asking one of the workers, "Do you have any large trees left hidden in the back or something?" "No, this is about it," he replied. I continued back and forth, having my son, little Josh, grab one just in case I couldn't find anything better. I finally narrowed it down to three best of the worst, giving in to the tallest one. Once we got home it looked even worse than I anticipated. The hubby tried to console me when he noticed the dismayed look on my face by saying, "It'll look better once we get it decorated." But there were too many bare spots to try to hide. So we rotated it to camouflage the worst parts and shoved it up against the wall. 

Friends, my poor empty branched tree reminded me of what I'd done for years in my own life. I tried to fix the outside while camouflaging the empty areas in my heart and soul that were in dire need of mending and growth. Year after year I put up a great front, but inside I was wilting. All my hiding began to become very apparent to those closest to me. I needed to make some big changes. 

So today because of this reminder I'm choosing to be thankful for this less than perfect tree! I'm thankful that when I decided to stop trying to hide, opening up my emptiness to JESUS, giving HIM access to all of my brokenness, I no longer felt the need to hide my flaws. HE took my less than and filled me with more of HIS Love and Forgiveness, causing growth in every area of weakness..the very things HE already knew I was lacking.

Friends, are you hiding sparse areas? Join me in continually taking it all to The LORD in prayer. We don't need to attempt to conceal...HE already knows. Let's expose those flaws to the Unconditional, Restoring Love and Light of CHRIST. 

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."~John 15:5

Jump on the Thankful Train...what are you thankful for?

Life Baggage...Clean Your Closet!

I have been planning to go through my closet and get rid of ALL the clothes I never wear. This can be a problem because I always think, "No not this, I might wear it again." Time after time and my bag ends up with just a few things in it, my closet is still a mess.

I also have a couple drawers next to my nightstand, they are overflowing with JUNK! Don't think this is a recent thing, when we moved 5 years ago, I was going to clean it out, shred the papers, get rid of old prescriptions...but I continue to just shove it closed, no one can see the stuff inside anyways, I'll get to it later.

This got me thinking, how many of us go through life carrying years of inner baggage...hurt, anger, insecurity, pride, jealousy...from place to place? We think that moving, hiding, cleaning the outside, pretending, will make everything okay. We wonder, "Why do I not feel better inside? It's been so many years since THAT happened! Whatever your THAT is, you still carry it around inside. Just like my closet and drawers, I can hide things by closing the door, but deep down I know it's there and it weighs me down.

I have some areas that need cleaning, people I need to forgive, insecurities, self doubt, anger and many other things to overcome. I have slowly been going through my inner "CLOSET" and "DRAWERS." We often find ourselves in the same problems and situations, over and over again, because we never get to the CLEANING process...running, hiding, and denying is much easier. We will never truly be free until we take a look at what we have been hiding behind our closed doors.

Start with something small, (hold your tongue when you want to let someone have it, smile when your feeling sad, don't gossip about others for a whole day, walk for 30 minutes today.) Changing the little bad habits, one day at a time, will help you to slowly get to the bigger things (forgive someone who doesn't deserve your forgiveness, forgive yourself, apologize to someone you owe an apology to, trust others, overcome self doubt, fear and anger) one drawer at a time. It isn't an easy task, obviously...you've been carrying it around for years. Yes, I know it can be VERY painful! Why not find a way to get rid of the trash buildup, it gets harder and harder to stuff your drawers closed. Things start to stick out of the sides, top and bottom. Stop blaming others and get to YOUR cleaning! YOU deserve the best...you can start fresh, one small drawer at a time!