Those of you who have been a part of my daily blog for the last year know we have gone through some changes.
It was just a year ago we came home from the mountain, put our home up for sale, sold it, downsized, and moved into an RV fulltime. Yes, all that took place in less than two months. Then we moved to a little community called Queen Valley. It’s southeast of Phoenix, remote enough to be out of the metropolitan area and close enough to see our daughters and their families without a three-hour drive.
We feel we have the best of two worlds. The mountain in the summer months and the desert during the winter. Dave calls it chasing 70*.
We spent this weekend going through our little storage building and eliminating some more “stuff”. The additional need to purge was prompted by the scheduled delivery of my new washer and dryer today. Out with the old, make room for the new!
“ Brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.” II Thessalonians 3:19 ERV
We were grateful for the strength to do the work that needed to be done. Last night, with our weekend job complete, we sat. The Lord blessed us with this beautiful sunset. It was good!
This morning I was thinking about how much we cleaned out, threw out, gave away and sold just a year ago. It seems there are times like that in our spiritual lives as well. It’s important that we get rid of things that are unnecessary and add nothing of value to our lives – anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, lying, selfishness. If we let them go unchecked these old habits could fill a dumpster when we get serious about removing them. Then once purged, it often only requires a quick clean-up to remove any new debris.
“ Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete.” Colossians 3:9-10 MSG
So, what’s all this got to do with gratitude and our focus on the goodness of God? Glad you asked.
Our Father wants nothing but the best for us, that’s why He asks us to put off the old and take on the new. He doesn’t condemn, although, He is quick to convict. Condemnation comes from the enemy. Condemnation tears down and seeks to destroy, like a building that has been condemned.
Conviction points out what needs to be corrected and changed for our betterment. The Holy Spirit becomes our cheerleader – you can do better, you can succeed because Christ has given you all you need to be victorious!
“If you belong to Christ Jesus, you won’t be punished. 2 The Holy Spirit will give you life that comes from Christ Jesus and will set you free from sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 CEV
“A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully.” John 10:10 CEV
Our Father is a good father. I’m so grateful for His love and for the beauty He has created!