Spiritual Inventory - Grab the Hefty Bags

We have been thinking of ourselves as a house. With thoughts of taking a spiritual inventory, we must count up what we have, what we are missing and how profitable we have been. The man in the mirror.

Some of us are pack-rats. We have picked up something from just about every place we have ever been. Some are just the opposite. Shutting out all and trusting little. The former picks up stuff voluntarily, (codependent) and the latter constantly takes in and stuffs it. Usually finding release in a fit of rage or vice.

Regardless, we have stuff. That's why we take an honest look at what we have "built" over the years. We are coming to find out that many of us are supporting far more weight than our architect's spec's say that we can support.

Most of my weight was anger, resentment, bitterness, despair, confusion, jealously, envy and pride. Just to name a few tons of superfluous weight to a crumbling structure.

Alcohol was merely a symptom. A quick-fix to try and support this bulging structure.

I had to remodel. I began to take a good hard look at my foundation. It had issues. Major issues. With the help of the Celebrate Recovery material and some honest people around me, I began slowly tossing out junk. 

Getting rid of the pile has been easier than I first thought when I first took inventory and wanted to deny it's enormous existence. 

I started with the most recent stuff. After all it is on top of the stuff I picked up years ago. 

I am realizing that I have to get rid of everything not put there by Jesus. I must get to Christ - The Cornerstone. 

Liberty. Clarity. Freedom. Who thought cleaning house could be this much fun. People want to forgive. People want to heal. Getting rid of the really old stuff has been made much easier by having the more recent stuff out of the way. (In my case, alcohol, which I actually thought could help me support all the old stuff)

Matthew 6:33 states to seek the kingdom of God first...and all the stuff will be added to you. This is beyond a revelation. We work on the depth and God brings the breadth.  

It almost seems too easy. Jesus actually helps us get rid of all the old stuff, and then he replaces it with the stuff we always wanted in the first place. (Joy, contentment, peace, trust, purpose) 

Everything.

I mean He is enough. All sufficient. Holy.

Very large and very in charge.

Some secrets for relaxing and better sleep

Psalm 4:6-8 (Message Bible)

Why is everyone hungry for more? "More, more" they say. "More, more". I have God's more-than-enough, More joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees. At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep, for you God, have put my life back together.

Matthew 11:28

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Psalm 127:1

If God doesn't build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn't guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. It's useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don't you know He enjoys giving rest to those He loves?

Heavy Load?