Spring Cleaning

Spring is in the air! 
Prom
Graduation
Greenhouses opening
Perennials popping up
Sports Cars coming out of hiding
Green grass...what a delight!

But then the dreaded dread: Spring Cleaning!

I remember when my sisters and I had to hand wash all of mom's dishes from the china cabinet!  Oh man, did I hate that job. Seemed a bit pointless to me to wash items that were first of all not used anytime recently (IE: no food particles on them) or secondly, would not be used anytime in near future!  

Now, being the owner of my own pad I get to choose what gets a cleaning and what doesn't. Wash fancy dishes before using maybe isn't the best system, but works for me. Windows...well, that happens occasionally. If we get a good rain/wind from northwest I can call it good on that side of the house. 

This year we add a graduation open house so that will include a scrub a dub-dub in the garage as well.  Yikes!   

So as I was raking dead leaves and hauling away today in between rain showers, I thought to myself...who am I doing this for?  The scripture that I used to pound into my children's heads when chore time was upon us came to mind; it was always an the attempt to spur on better attitudes.

Colossians 3:23-24

New International Version (NIV)

²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
  
And...

Ephesians 6:7

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,

Hmmmm...whose attitude needs to be adjusted now?!  
Who am I trying to impress by getting my gardens just so by June 1?
What about the cute little graduation "theme"?  (I still haven't been on Pinterest to get ideas!)
Clean windows and floors...who is it for?
Me? My husband? The graduate?  

Oh boy, heart check #5,336... 

Serve the Lord, not people. 
Work from the heart for your real Master, for God. (The Message)
  
Next, I googled "cleanliness is next to godliness".  Ha!  Not in the Bible!  But there is plenty to say about this subject of cleanness.  I could spend a week on this one.  

^{Matthew 23: 27-28} “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You’re like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it’s all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin you’re total frauds. 
The Message emphasis mine
For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! 26You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish,ⁱ and then the outside will become clean, too.

Well now,  Jesus is speaking here to the religious leaders/scholars of His day. They were hung up on their religion. The outward appearance of obeying the Laws; looking holy on the outside...but their hearts were far from Him. 

So what does this mean for me Lord?  It never ceases to amaze me how He hits me between the eyes every time.  As I was scouring through my Strong's Concordance and found there were 192 references to "clean" in different forms I said out loud, "I love you Lord", over and over. I love that He has me digging and cleansing as I write.  Blows me away that He cares about every detail of my life right down to my blingy blog. He is faithful!  

From here forward I will work as for the Lord. Each task I think has to be done, hand it to Him. Praise Him for each corner of our home, cobwebs and all. Every bit of food prep I will thank Him for His provision. Every dead piece of lawn; for giving us land and our black lab that brightens our days. Every scary moment for the future of my grad or how much food to make; praise that I have dear friends who have been through it and are only a call away. 
Thank you Lord!

And when I slip and my mind gets away from me, I will get on my knees and ask forgiveness.
He won't mind if I have a sponge in my hand...

Ramblings of the one being refined by spring cleaning,
Amy

Bag#43 Clothes
Bag#44 Miscellaneous household items