Tighten It Up!

It is a phrase that is used when there is too much slack in a particular thing. I also use this term when telling my youngest son to clean his room. In this blog excerpt, I am using this term in that very manner. It's over due for Spring Cleaning.

Some people do this every season. It is why you see when the garbage truck comes around some have more junk at the curb then others. Then you have those who can find a use for everything they have whether it is broken up or just so old no one else can see a use for it. When the revelation knowledge comes for them to give up some things then there is a pityful garage sale a little too late. No one can use certain technological products that are obsolete. It's a waste of time having a garage sale when you waited too long to get rid of stuff.

Personally, I look at my closet that can get stuffed from time to time. I like to keep certain garments just to see if I can still get into them after so many years. But when they get too big and its been more than three years, I see no purpose in keeping them. I purchase mostly classical pieces that can stay in style for a longer length of time and are a blessing to those who can recieve them.

Spiritually though, it takes that time with the Lord in being quiet and hearing what He says (1 Kings 19:12 KJV). Then after that hearing, we are suppose to act on what we heard (Romans 10:17 NIV). Whether it is not to talk so much, use the talents you have instead of getting a second job, or clearing stuff off of your desk, closet, or house. It's the smallest of things to do and you would be surprised at how much more clearly one can think when those things are cleared away.

I have been watching a few shows about Hoarders and how they behave or what made them hoarders to begin with. Many times it was something traumatic that made them react in such a way. Your trauma may not be as horrific as someone else's and yet the reaction can be the same - or can it? Does hoarding happen all at once? Some became hoarders because of how they lived as children. But I believe once you establish a home of your own, you make certain decisions and maintain them. For the most part, it is a mental disease and has to be treated as such.

Spiritually; however, there are those who have attachments to things and have kept them within, thinking no one will know or see those things but them. You would be wrong. God sees the hearts of men and if He is the greater one living on the inside of others (1 John 4:4 KJV), they see it too. Not to forget that the truth always comes to light (Luke 12:2 KJV). So that which you believe is secret, when angry or reacting in some other emotion, that which is hoarded on the inside will be blurted right out. How does one clean that up when it has been exposed for all to see?

When Mel Gibson left his first wife with all of those children. I felt sorry for her that he would do such a thing when she had been with him all of that time. I even thought he was more attractive that he had so many children with the same woman and decided to stay with her for all of those years. Then when creating The Passion of Christ, he just reached another level of suave and debonair. Alright, he got drunk and said some things. It wasn't his best moment, but still - he created the movie about Jesus! Wow - right? Then this week his second wife released some audio tape of him going on and on about how he was really feeling about her. It was hateful, demeaning, and it exposed what he had been harboring about certain people for a long time. She had heard all of this before or her reaction would have been much different. What had his first wife been through for all of those years? I no longer felt sorry for her but could actually envision her dance of relief and utter joy that he finally left her for someone else. Mel Gibson's career after the inward appearance of his heart has been exposed to all? Its pretty obvious - isn't it?

It is a good example for us as Christians to keep a vigilant watch over our selves and those God would have us get up in the wee hours of the morning to pray for (Ephesians 6:18 AMP). Having unforgiveness in our hearts about a matter or person will lead to a lack in some other place in our lives (Matthew 6:14-15 KJV). It will start off very subtle and before you know it because you got use to it, it has become a mountain (Mark 11:23 KJV). Naturally we tend to view (think, ponder, speak, hash and rehash) the problem more then the solution. This practice is magnifying the situation we would rather get rid of. God is the All Mighty not the situation.

Oprah had a hoarder on her show. She was a mother of three grown children. She knew that the problem started when her children were leaving the home to establish lives of their own. So she began purchasing and collecting things to fill her empty nest. Her husband remained quiet. He just believed her shopping was making his wife happy and he allowed for the clutter to overwhelm him, her and their home. When she was ready to receive the help that she needed and finally relinguished her hold on all of the stuff, the therapist gathered and sorted through the mounds and mounds of things and categorized them in a warehouse for her to see. The family including her, marveled at how much she packed into a three bedroom, three garage home. The warehouse was the size of a football field. Then while she was coming down from the horrific sight, they walked over to another large room that the therapist covered with a curtain. He revealed all of the appliances and televisions that couldn't fit in the warehouse. The entire family began to cry.

Why does it have to get to that point? Why do we have to get so angry that all of the suppressed rage comes out to where families are destroyed, feelings are hurt, and relationships are damaged beyond repair. Wait... look at those descriptive words. Destroyed...hurt... and damaged. Who does that (John 10:10 KJV)? What would you have to do with him? Is he your friend? Does he give you comfort? Who are you listening to? Who haven't you forgiven? When did you stop watching? Why aren't you vigilant anymore (1 Peter 5:8 AMP)? When did you slack up on your responsibilities? What is it going to take?

Do you see your mess now? Are there some things that you can let go of? Do you see the purpose of blessing those who spitefully use you? Now can you pick up the slack and really tighten it up this time.