Thursday, September 9, 2010

A "CLEAN MACHINE"

I’ve been cleaning like a madwoman the last few days.

I’m having my writer’s group over today…and “The Hub” insisted that everything be “military” clean.

And, to his credit, he spent yesterday afternoon helping me.
(Yup, he’s a “keeper!”)

Most of the work was the ordinary stuff of housecleaning – dusting, scrubbing, scouring, washing, polishing, vacuuming, dusting again (because I think you’re supposed to vacuum first, and then dust…)

But, there was one job I kept putting off – until “The Hub” ever so gently said,

“Sweetie, what about the bottles in the window?”

OK, you need a little background here. I LOVE bottles!

They are one of my collecting “weaknesses.” And so, in the garden window over my sink in the kitchen, I have my collection of bottles. Some are antique reproductions, some are old, some are new and inexpensive – but they’re all different shapes and sizes, all different colors of the rainbow!

And when the light shines on them – my window resembles a stained-glass window from a beautiful old church. I think it’s dazzling!!

But… these bottles have to be cleaned…each one…all 45 of them!!

So, I carefully removed them from the window – paying extra-special attention to the ORDER I have placed them in (it’s important – I have to have all the colors and shapes spread out JUST SO…) – and then I started the rather arduous task of wiping each one down with a damp cloth.

I was surprised at just how dusty and dirty they had become.

But I was even more amazed at how much brighter and more colorful they were when that old dust and dirt came off!!

It reminded me of myself…

How often do I allow myself to become “dusty and dirty” in my walk with the Lord?

Can I fall into the trap of thinking that “all is well” – when in truth, I need to do a little “cleaning?”

It’s all too easy to become complacent in our faith, to walk the same old path with God, to think we’re reflecting Him properly.

But I don’t want to settle for a “dim” reflection!

Those bottles were beautiful before I cleaned them. It wasn’t until I looked at them more closely that their “uncleanness” showed up. It wasn’t until I had washed them, and put them back into the window, that I fully realized how truly “unclean” they had been – how much the dust and dirt had dulled them.

Now, with the sun shining through their gleaming surfaces, I could see the FULL beauty of their colors!

Lord, I don’t want to be dusty and dirty. I don’t want to be a dull reflection of You. I want You to shine through me with all Your glorious colors.

I know that’s going to require cleaning – so, clean me, Lord.

“Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin…and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow…Create in me a clean heart, O God.”
(Psalm 51:3, 7, 10)

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me…Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalm 139:23-24)


Need a little cleaning?

I did…



BLOG = “Blessedly Leaning On God!”

10 comments:

  1. Hi Sharon,

    This is a wonderful post of sharing God, I do appreciate you sister. This morning in prayer I found myself confessing my sin, asking the Lord to help me. Old habits are that familiar part of my life that give me comfort and a sense of safety but Christ says to surrender.

    Those two scriptures speak to my heart, "Wash me clean...Create in me a clean heart...Search me, O God...lead me along the path of everlasting life."

    Blessings and peace.

    MTJ

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  2. All I can think to say to this is, "Man... you're good!" That's a great analogy, and you're right. Things "look" clean until they're really clean. Then, they become BEAUTIFULLY clean, and there's a difference. Just like us.

    OK... I guess I had more to say than that man your're good thing.

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  3. That was a great reminder. How beautiful that window must be. You will have to share a picture one day.

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  4. MTJ - Yes, God is working on some "comfortable" and "familiar" sins in my life, too. It's hard - especially because they are well-entrenched, and not always recognizable. I, too, ask God for HIS help - He knows my heart, He's the only One who can clean it...
    As always, thanks for your kind words.

    Debbie - I'm glad you enjoyed this. You know, I'm glad you kept "yakking" because I love this: "Things 'look' clean until they're REALLY CLEAN. Then, they become BEAUTIFULLY clean, and there's a DIFFERENCE." That was perfect...

    Debby - Glad you stopped by. I still have an OLD camera (ie - spools of film!). Next on my "technology update list" is buying a digital camera. When that happens (sooner than later, I hope) I will be HAPPY to share a picture of my "stained-glass bottle window!"

    GOD BLESS YOU GUYS!

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  5. I bet those bottles are so beautiful, but wow such a lot of work with washing them all!! I thought that was nice your hubby helped too with the house chores :)

    I think until we get our perfected bodies when Jesus comes back, we'll always have something getting dusty on us that will need to be cleaned; thankfully we have the "Master Cleaner" on our side who is always willing to put us back on the right track :)

    betty

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  6. Betty - OK, the ugly truth is this - I hardly EVER wash those bottles!! Yes, "The Hub" is such a thoughtful, caring man - I'm lucky! I agree, we will always need washing, polishing - sometimes scrubbing and scouring - until Jesus comes back. But until that day, what would we do without Him? (I LOVE how you called Him the "Master Cleaner!" - very clever :)

    GOD BLESS!

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  7. Isn't it nice to have someone to occasionally nudge us to clean things up? Our homes as well as our inside "stuff" that need to be wiped clean. Thanks for this gentle reminder. I'll be doing some cleaning myself today. (home and the heart)

    This was a great post.

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  8. This is a beautiful analogy, Sharon. Yes my prayer is "cleanse me, oh God."

    Blessings,
    Joan

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  9. I don't know about your house, but dust seems to accumulate rapidly at mine...daily...so just like a daily swiffer duster gliding across the surfaces of my home, His new mercies every morning are needed for this "dusty" child...I want to shine for Him....

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  10. Denise- Sometimes those "nudges" need to be shoves!! (Home and the heart!) But I'm glad that "The Hub" keeps me on my toes (He's MUCH more of a clean guy than I am - I'm a "messy" if left to my own devices!!) AND...even more important, I'm so glad that God cares about cleaning off my spiritual "dirt" too!

    Joan- Thank you. It's my prayer, too - I just want God to give me courage if the cleaning involves scrubbing!!

    Karen - What is it with dust?! It does seem to accumulate SO FAST! I really LOVED the swiffer duster analogy!! (So clever!) We are all such "dusty" children - but what a loving Father to choose us to shine for His glory - and may we shine BRIGHT!

    BLESSINGS!

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)