A call to change and the power to pull it off

"Grace," writes Max Lucado, "is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off."  (Grace, p. 8).  Today I want to answer that call and claim the power to bring about the changes I need to make in my home.  Through a post on my good friend Adelle's blog I became aware of an invitation to link up with others who want to accept the challenge of writing for 31 days on a topic of interest to me and hopefully to others. I have always wanted to write.  I have never given myself permission to take time to do so nor followed through with the self-discipline it would take to sit down and do it. This opportunity and challenge got my attention.  Now is the time.

So, the question is-what will I write about?  I have come up with an idea.  It scares me, but there is a voice calling me to change.  I've been teaching and encouraging on this subject of grace and it is time to practice what I preach.  For the next 31 days I am going to let go of the things that clutter my home.  No more CHAOS (can't have anyone over syndrome).  No more time wasted looking for things I can't find because of the mess.  It's time for a home that reflects peace and order.  I long for a home that makes me feel calm and not anxious and a home that says, "Welcome."

The truth spoken  in these 31 days will involve confession.  I am going to feel guilt and shame.  Who wants to admit there are coupons from the 80's in some of the file folders buried in plastic boxes?  Why did I save the monthly newsletters from Springridge Elementary School (circa 1983)? Stay tuned to learn just how many Oprah magazines I managed to save, pack, and move in the last 12 years.

Another Max Lucado saying comes to mind as I think about this project ahead.  This one is from the series on the life of Joseph.  Surely I saved one of the weekly bulletins where it was printed each week.....let's see... "With God’s power, I’ll get through this. It won’t be painless. It won’t be
quick. But God will use this mess for good. I won’t be foolish or naïve, but nor will I despair. With God’s help, I know, I will get through this. (from the 2012 series, "You'll Get Through This").  Actually, first confession, I couldn't find the bulletin...but it was online in the Oakhills church media archives. Lesson to self-you don't need all these things you have saved.  I know.  Now, let's see if I can do something about what I know but find so hard to act upon.  So it begins, 31 days of letting go.....

Day 2 of Letting Go

The Soundtrack for Day 3 of Letting Go

Getting Real Day 4 of Letting Go

Letting Go of Giving Up on Day 5

Keeping My Shine on Day 6 of Letting Go

Day 7-Gaining Momentum on Letting Go
Out of the House to Where? on Day 8
Letting Go to Take Back on Day 9
Some Things that need to be Done Get Done on Day 10
Back to Basics When Things get Hard on Day 11
Progress is Slow on Day 12
Rest on Day 13
How I'm Hanging in There with something hard to do-Day 14
Finding Something Special on Day 15
Trying to make my time behave on Day 16
The challenge of a bookshelf on Day 17
Treasuring Antiques on Day 18
What I did on Day 19
Loading up the tree on Day 20
Thinking of things worth saving on Day 21
You will notice there is no Day 22
Getting to the things I said I would get to later on Day 23
Confronting Psychological Obstacles on Day 24
Away from the house on Day 25
My weekend away on Day 26 and Day 27
I love being loved on in loved ones homes on Day 28