Simplify Sunday 3/21

Debbie McCuiston, self-proclaimed "Queen of Clutter-Free", does a segment for us each Sunday on simplifying our lives, getting rid of "clutter", and focusing on what's important.  We're really excited about this new segment - and hope you are too!  Take it away Debbie....
 

It's that time of year when visions of spring projects are dancing in our heads. If you are like me I have a project list a mile long. There are always more projects than time or money. There have been many times we have wondered if other people have a million projects that they are always working on or thinking about. Is it true that there are people that live in this great country that don't wake up everyday thinking about working on projects or really working on projects? What do they do with their time--or are they bored out of their minds?

We are dreamers-- always dreaming and planning what home improvement  we will tackle next. It seems that we have had the same projects going on for at least the last 5 years. I have noticed that as soon as you get close to finishing something-another something breaks. So you stop what you are doing and fix the problem. And on and on it goes.  Of our million pending projects, about half are ones we started and didn't finish. It seems to be a never ending circle. I am sure if we EVER get everything completed the very next day it will be time to start over and redo the first project because it has been so long ago!

 

I sat down this year determined to figure out why we never seem to make any progress on the project list. After taking a realistic look at what is going on, I have come to the conclusion that we needed a plan that we could stick with. I am one of those people that needs to put it on paper and be able to mark it off when it is completed. I guess its sort of like a grown-up sticker chart. 

 

As we started making the list, we wrote down all our dream projects and all the stuff that has to be done before the house falls apart.  We decided not to take the advice of all the "how to" shows that tell you to upgrade or repair with the idea of selling someday...always asking what this repair will add to the value of our home in the sellers market. To tell you the truth, I don't care. We plan on staying in this house until the Lord moves us on--either to heaven or somewhere else. We have been in our home for almost 25 years. I like it just fine. There are memories in every room in this house. I don't need an upgrade or to keep up with the latest or greatest. We have worked hard to make this house a home. All we really want and need is to make our home a place that people feel comfortable in, and that they know we care about them. The Lord has blessed us and we want to be able to share that with everyone and anyone that comes into our home. Now we have a purpose and a plan, next is putting it into practice.

 

We went thru the list and put them in order of importance--sorry that didn't work. So we listed them in order of what we wanted to do, grouping like projects together. We came up with 28 major projects. They range from finishing the rock wall in the front yard to adding a sun room on the side of the house. Then we took each project and broke these down into all the steps it would take to complete that job and gave it a ball park cost. We wrote each project on an envelope and the cost, numbered them, then put them in order. Now when we get a little extra money we will start filling each envelope. (The envelope system works like a dream, thanks to Dave Ramsey's financial peace university) When that project is funded we can begin. As hard as it was, not one of the envelopes have "hire this job out" on them, much to my sweet husband's disappointment. I guess I will have to continue to watch HGTV to be able to tell him how to do the next project on the list. Now we just need to find our own "rich uncle" and get a sneak peek at his very generous will. We just need $50K to get it all done.  Oh well, looking at the big picture and the BIG price tag it seems impossible, but breaking it down to one job at a time, it is much easier to see progress. So now in five years we can look back and see how far we have come and where we are headed. 

 

I believe we are like this with God.  We want to see the whole plan He has for our life. We think that God needs us to check the blueprint and see if it goes along with what we had in mind. But in reality if we saw the big picture and knew what was ahead we would be scared to death. We just need to trust that He has made these plans just for us before time began. If we keep our eyes on HIM and don't let the world set the standard for our lives It will get finished. In Jeremiah 29:11 God talks about the plans He has for us - plans to prosper us not to harm us....We don't need to see it all we just need to trust. When we plant a garden, we trust that those little tiny seeds will grow and prosper. If it is so easy to trust a seed, why do we try to second guess God or wonder where He is in all of this? Let us try to be more like the little ones in our life that trust us every time we hold out our hand and they put their sweet little hand in ours and would follow us to the ends of the earth and never think twice about it. May we set our eyes on the prize before us and follow with a child like faith. God is in control when we aren't!!!  Don't miss the journey of a lifetime worrying about the "what ifs". He has loved us since the world was spoken into place. Trust Him it's the best and hardest thing you will ever do!! My prayers are with you!!!

 

Any questions or suggestions please let me know--Love hearing from you queenofclutterfree@yahoo.com