Cleaning Out the Clutter

My closet is cluttered and it’s starting to get to me!

I am so tired of clothes hanging off the shelves more than the hangers and tripping over shoes and things that need to go to Goodwill. I know it will take me a few hours to sort through it all and get rid of some stuff, but when I'm done I get to enjoy a clean closet! So that’s on my "must do" list this week.

I usually avoid cleaning my closet as long as I can because it’s no fun! But it never fails that the longer I neglect it, the worse things get, and the longer it takes to clean.

God recently reminded me that my heart can be the same way. It’s easy to let impatience, unforgiveness and my desire for things to go my way (I know that's control but it sounds better described as desire). Anyway, it's easy to let those things clutter up my heart. And the longer I let my heart stay cluttered with sin, the more of a mess I end up with in my thoughts and in my relationships.

I've been challenged about not letting clutter build up in my marriage while reading the book, "Love and Respect" by Dr. Emmerson Eggerich. Have you ever read it? This book is about the love a woman most desires and the respect a man desperately needs. Inside the book, Dr. Emmerson shares this:

"I wrote this book out of desperation that was turned into inspiration. As a pastor, I counseled married couples and could not solve their problems. The major problem I heard from wives was, "He doesn't love me." Wive are made to love, want to love and expect love. Many husbands fail to deliver. But as I kept studying Scripture and counseling couples, I finally saw the other side of the equation. Husbandss weren't saying it much, but they were thinking, She doesn't respect me. Husbands are made to be respected, want respect and expect respect. Many wives fail to deliver. The result is that five out of ten marriages land in divorce court (and that includes evangelical Christians). As I wrestled with the problem, I finally saw a connection: without love from him, she reacts without respect; without respect from her, he reacts without love. Around and around it goes. I call it the Crazy Cycle of conflict. In my marriage conference and book I help men and women learn how to:

• Stop the Crazy Cycle of conflict
• Initiate the Energizing Cycle of Change
• Enjoy the rewarded cycle of New Passion

Oh, I can so relate! As I shared in this post in December, showing my husband respect is something God has taught me the importance of over the past 15 years. I've had to work at it and find practical ways to show it. This book is a great reminder for me to ask God if there's anything cluttering up my heart or my thoughts or my marriage. I don't know about you, but I'm so thankful I don't have to do this de-cluttering alone. Like King David, I can ask God for help, by asking Him to give me a clean heart and renew in me the desire to keep it clean along the way! Hmm, I wonder if He'll help me with my closet, too!?

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

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Today's Give-Away

I'm giving away 2 copies of "Love and Respect" by Dr. Emmerson Eggerich and 2 tickets to this weekend's Love and Respect Conference in Charlotte, NC.

Make plans now to attend the
Love & Respect Marriage Conference
at Calvary Church in Charlotte, NC
February 13 &14, 2009.

Click here to read what Dr. Eggerich wrote on his blog this week about the conference in Charlotte this weekend. And let me know if you'll be there. My husband and I would love to meet you!

To be part of today's give-away, click on "comments" below and indicate if you would like to win the book, the tickets to the conference or either one. PLEASE include your email so I can contact you if you win. Thank you Love and Respect Ministry for today's great give-aways!