Get Out of Your Pit!

31 Days of Order - Day 31

I missed yesterday. It was in the back of my mind all day, but there was nothing new. There wasn't time or money to finish the small projects I had started. Any thoughts lead to a dead end. I hit a wall; looked at the screen and thought, "I have nothing of importance to say."

Oh well, thirty out of thirty-one isn't so bad! Right? Besides, I have something to say tonight and I hope it encourages you like it encouraged me.

Yesterday evening I was broadsided with a load of negative attitude. No rhyme or reason, just blah and phooey to the world. I suppose I could blame it on a rush of hormones or disappointment over missing a day of writing, but honestly, there was no explanation. Consequently, I started in on one of those "woe is me" prayers. Ever talk to God like that? Yeah, that's where I was. I dug a little pit and made myself comfy in the dirt. What a way to fall asleep! As a result, I was still in that pit when I woke up. It was past time to brush the dirt off my soul, so I grabbed my coffee and the Word, heading for a quiet spot.

My Bible reading this morning had me in Exodus, chapter 3 - Moses, the burning bush, and God's call. I was stopped in my tracks by verses 6 - 8. God introduces Himself to Moses in the most remarkable way. Here's the outline:

1. God. I Am...
2. I have seen...
3. I have heard...
4. I am concerned...
5. I have come...
1. ...to rescue
2. ...and to bring you out of oppression...
1. ...and into a good land.

Oh.oh.oh. These words drenched me, washing away every bit of soil. All the bad thoughts and feelings ran off into the ditch and on down the street. I was clean.

Of all the things in the whole world I could share with you, this is absolutely the most important. God is. He sees and hears you. God is concerned. And He has come to rescue you and bring you out of your pit and into a good place. Jesus, the Son of God, is the Savior of the world. Healer. Shepherd. Deliverer. Friend. Believe it.

This is the beginning of order. The schedule may be whacked. The projects may be halfway done and there may be dirty dishes in the sink. However, as long as Jesus is first in your life the stuff of life finds it's place. 

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, 

and all these things will be added to you. 

Matthew 6:33 NASB

I appreciate you, Readers, more than I can say. Thank you for checking in during the 31 Days series. I hope you have enjoyed it and will continue to hang around, joining in the conversation. You are a blessing to me. Good night and see you again soon.

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

To find other bloggers also writing for 31 Days this month on a variety of topics, click here.

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Did You See the Moon?

31 Days of Order - Day 29

Tonight I took a walk in the dark.

Source

The moon was high. The sky clear and the air crisp. The scent of burning wood told me someone in the nearby neighborhood was warm and cozy in their home.

I'd like to say I took this walk on purpose, but I can't because I didn't. My car broke down and I left my cell phone at home. Sigh - I was only driving a mile to mail some letters!

Well, I'm glad I forgot my phone and I'm glad I had to walk. I'm not glad I was wearing my slippers, though. Truthfully, it was less than half a mile right down the street from my house. Yes, I did have to walk past the cemetery, but that doesn't bother me. (Not even two days before Halloween. :-)) 

The moon was amazing tonight. Did you see it? If not, that's too bad. Check again tomorrow night. You won't be sorry.

What does this have to do with order? It was a reminder to me to take a break. My day was busy. This forced breather gave me time to look at God's creation; to drink in the mellow autumn and only then realize how thirsty I had been. 

Thanks be to God for His love and for filling me again. Gently reminding me of His presence and how much I need to be in that place. My hiding place.

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

To find other bloggers also writing for 31 Days this month on a variety of topics, click here.

One Formula Doesn't Fit All

31 Days of Order - Day 28

Funny thing about order. There is rarely one formula-fits-all for any given situation. Although your situation may be similar to someone else's, it is different simply because the people involved are different.

Be brave in your personal quest for order and remember to respect you and your family's individual needs. What works in my house, might not work in yours.

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

To find other bloggers also writing for 31 Days this month on a variety of topics, click here.

Finishing

31 Days of Order - Day 27

Not quite sure where to start today. Our family activities were of rather a personal nature. Let me back up a little bit.

I am the oldest of three children and have two brothers. Mid-January this year, my brother just younger than me gave up in his struggle with alcoholism. We did all the things you do back in January and my mom kept his remains until we were ready for the next step.

She made arrangements at the cemetery where her folks are buried. Our state and the cemetery allows family to bury their loved one's remains with very little intervention. We were able to do this as a family - me, my brother, mom, dad, and step-mom. It was a precious gift.

The passing of time made this a relaxed event. The chitchat was mostly family memories.

After replacing the sod, we headed back to my house for lunch with the rest of the family.

I know our way of handling this wasn't typical, but it was good for us. Very good. It was time to finish. Time for closure.

In the natural order of things, there is always a finish, or there should be. A project half done. An unfulfilled promise. A deed thought yet not carried out. These little nags nip away leaving regret, guilt, condemnation.

The only way to fight back is to finish something! Pick one and get it done. Then, make a plan for the rest of the list. The energizing boost in confidence spurs you on to greater success.

Have a wonderfully blessed Lord's Day!

What will you finish this week? Share your list....

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

To find other bloggers also writing for 31 Days this month on a variety of topics, click here.

Painted Nightstand

31 Days of Order - Day 26

I am happy to show you the little nightstand I painted. Here is what it looked like before.

I picked up an oops quart at Lowe's in a lovely berry knowing at the time I could certainly use it for something! This is the first time I tried painting furniture, so I kept it simple. It seems that practically everyone is using chalk paint, which I had never heard of before I started blogging. Awhile back I wrote down a chalk paint recipe from somebody's blog. My apologies to whoever it belongs to; I honestly can't remember where I found it. The recipe is as follows:

1 part dry plaster of paris + 1 part water and mix together, then stir into 3 parts paint of your choice and mix well. It blended like a dream. My paint was a semi-gloss latex.

I removed the hardware. After cleaning all the surfaces, I lightly sanded the entire piece.

I used a good angle brush for the corners and curvy parts, and a foam roller for the flat areas. The first coat was very light, so I went over it again for full coverage. The paint went on excellently, covered well, and dried quickly. I let it sit over night, then the next day I used Johnson's paste wax for a nice sheen.

Now - I know that practically every chalk paint project I have seen gets a light sanding after all this for a distressed look. Well, please don't stone me, but I don't really like how that looks. So, I didn't distress.

Without further ado, here's my redone piece....

The little knobs I picked up at Pier One on clearance. $0.98 each! Oh yeah!!

So, there you have it! I have moved it into my room and will continue putting together 

the pieces for my own little study nook in my room.

Thanks for visiting today!

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

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Do the Next Thing

31 Days of Order - Day 25

Day 25! Only 6 more days left for this series. Only 6 more days of posting every day.

This has been a challenge for me. At the same time, it has been encouraging because I found I could accomplish more if I made myself accountable and set a few goals. It has been fun choosing projects and working on them.

In the weeks and months to come I don't see myself posting every day. It's a lot. However, this month's challenge has shown me I can and do have time for writing more often than I did before.

I have something else to show you, but it's been extremely cloudy in my neck of the woods. Not conducive to taking nice pictures. I'll give you a hint, though. I repainted the little cabinet for my own space, and it is berry pretty! This is my first attempt at painted furniture. It's not fancy, but I love the transformation.

The remaining days of this month I will finish up and report on the projects I started. I'm already compiling a list of projects to take me through the rest of the year.

This evening I will leave you with a couple thoughts that help keep me focused when I am tripped up by one of two of my main downfalls.

The first is my tendency towards procrastination, which can also be labeled as laziness. Yes, I know - ouch. But for myself, I have to call it what it is in all it's ugliness if I'm to have any victory over it. This quote comes from Proverbs 31. I know - some of you are rolling your eyes or running for cover. "Oh no, not the Proverbs 31 woman again!" I used to feel that way about her, but she and I have comes to terms.

Her shining example is something I can aspire to with the help of the Holy Spirit as long as I know I don't have accomplish everything she did all at once. Hers is a list of lifetime achievements, not necessarily every one every day. Okay - here's the verse:

My second regular downfall is not being able to decide what to do (another form of procrastination, really). The quote that keeps my brain going in the right direction also comes from the writings of the wise king, Solomon, but from Ecclesiastes; one of my favorite reads. This helps me remember it's okay to simply put one foot in front of the other. Some days are like that, you know. Like the treadmill. It just keeps turning and I just keep walking. (Well, if I actually walked on the treadmill it would be that way. You get the analogy, right?) This is for the day that seems to be running me. Forget about choices. The assignments of the day are dictated by the schedule, the situation, the urgent need before me at any given moment.

I love this because it lets me know that it's absolutely fine to do the thing that is before me whether it was on my original schedule or not. It frees me from having to make any choice beyond what is right in front of my face. Somehow that helps me with the part that says "do it with all your might." The whatever might be cleaning the toilets or it might be grabbing the camera to capture the last rays of tonight's brilliant sunset. We can lean into the whatever and know it's okay.

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

To find other bloggers also writing for 31 Days this month on a variety of topics, click here.

Old Cat, New Trick?

31 Days of Order - Day 24

The reactions to my declaration about training the indoor cats to use the toilet were varied.

My kids thought it was funny and cool. My husband wasn't too keen on the idea. Many of my cat-loving friends were cheering me on hoping they could do the same with their cats. My very dear friend who just so happens to be a counselor told me she worried about me having gone crazy. (Love you, too, Janet.) A handful of people said, "Ewww - gross!" Some simply stared at me.

Before I tell you our progress to date, allow me to introduce you to my indoor cats.

This is Hershey....

...and this is Snickers.

Hershey, the reigning queen, sits around like this most of the time. 

She is calm and in control. She can take you or leave you.

However, she is a fierce protector and great family cat.

Once she jumped on the back of a large dog that was barking threateningly at me and

she always joins us when we play in the yard.

 Snickers is high strung and generally freaked out.

She meows loudly and bolts whenever slightly startled.

As you can see, Snickers is not cuddly. Not in the least.

Okay. Enough chatter. Here is the progress report.

1. Put the new litter in the old box. Check. No problem. A week went by.
2. Put the new pan up on the toilet. Check. No problem.
1. At this point there were no accidents.
2. After a few days I began to suspect that Hershey was not using it, but going outside.
3. Removed the first disk in the pan of litter, leaving a small hole in the middle.
1. Hershey definitely not using it; going outside. (And this is the cat who will come in from playing outside to use the litter box inside.)
2. Snickers was NOT happy about the hole in the pan.
1. The first night there was nothing in the pan, but the next morning I found that the back door rug had been wet on.
2. The second night she paced and yowled. She ran into the bathroom and upstairs, then back down again, meowing wildly the entire time. I finally picked her up, talking calmly, set her in the litter pan on the toilet and closed her in the bathroom. It got quiet for a minute, then she meowed again so I checked on her. I could tell from the - uhhh - smell that she had done something, but there was nothing in the pan. She opted for the sheet that was on the floor. Sigh!
3. The third night, same routine. More pacing, yowling, and running up and downstairs. This time she made herself at home in the sink of one of the upstairs bathrooms and wet in it. Even after that she continued to roam the house hollering. 
4. I felt sorry for her and caved in. Bringing the litter box back into the house, I refilled it, showed it to her and she promptly made use of the familiar facilities. Peace and calm came over the household.

So, that's that. The grand experiment didn't work on my cats. Oh well, it was worth a try. Guess I'll be heading to the home improvement store for supplies to convert the cabinet under the sink to a litter box holder. I can live with that!

Have you ever tried to train your animal to do something unique? How did it go?

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

To find other bloggers also writing for 31 Days this month on a variety of topics, click here.

Just Say "No!"

31 Days of Order - Day 23

And some days the best way to maintain order in your life is to simply say, "No!" (Sometimes I like to start my posts like we are in the middle of a conversation. It makes me feel like we're friends.)

You don't have to be mean about it, or snarky. In fact, it helps to accompany your refusal with a smile. Oh, and it might be good to add a "thank you." Usually no explanation is necessary - just, "No, but thank you."

This useful phrase has kept me from a number of committees, events, projects, and other requests for my time. It can be a life-saver, people! Don't be afraid to use it if you need it. And don't talk to me about feeling guilty, either. When we are talking about the well-being of our family- and home-life, there are times when no is the very best response. 

I said all this to say that I am not going to write a post tonight, but look - it turned into a post. :-) Four whole paragraphs worth.

Enjoy your evening, Friends. I am going to enjoy mine. See you Wednesday.

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

To find other bloggers also writing for 31 Days this month on a variety of topics, click here.

Kitchen Corner Reveal

31 Days of Order - Day 22

I am happy to be able to show you some pictures of the greatly improved corner in my kitchen.

This is what it looked like before....

I already showed you how I covered the back of the hutch with wrapping paper....

This is what it looks like now!

The bins store things like batteries, flashlights, bills, papers, 

computer disks, music CDs, and cooking magazines that need further organization 

(that's a project for another week).

The drawers contain school & art supplies: 

paper, pencils, pens, markers, sticky notes, cards, and so on.

I made the skirt out of cafe curtains. 

Since I'm not using it as a desk, I figured if it was covered I could still use it for storage. 

Ah - ah - ah...no peeking. Actually, it's clean under there, too. 

Our printer is hiding behind the pretty curtain.

I sewed the two panels together, folded and sewed down the top, 

then gathered the seam.

Using stick on Velcro, I attached it to the desk to hide the legs.

This little heart bowl has been my key holder for a long time. 

However, it used to be a dusty blue. Anybody remember that color from the eighties?

The frame got an update as well. Hurray for spray paint!

The autumn print is page from a calendar.

I got to dig out some decorations from the shed loft. It was like seeing old friends.

Stay tuned for an update on my efforts to toilet train the cats!!

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

To find other bloggers also writing for 31 Days this month on a variety of topics, click here.

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Doing the Hard Thing

31 Days of Order - Day 21

This morning while singing during our worship at church I thought about you. The reader who is paralyzed by fear at the thought of bringing order to her life.

It struck me that while I have been chatting on about organizing a messy corner of my house or tightening the reins on my busy schedule, for some of you order means major change. Hard change.

I prayed for you today. Know that God's love never fails. He never gives up. You can rest in Him. He knows and He cares for you. His love remains after everything else is done.

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This afternoon I stopped in on a flea market and I found this little piece. I was so excited and stared at it for the longest time trying to decide. Isn't she lovely? Multi-colored marble top. The screens are little doors that open and there are two more on the other side. She is completely solid.

Please forgive the poor picture quality. I took these with my phone.

We'll see how I like it in the living room, but might try the sunroom or my bedroom. When we have found the best spot, then I'll repaint to freshen her up abit.

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

To find other bloggers also writing for 31 Days this month on a variety of topics, click here.

Planning and Trusting

31 Days of Order - Day 20

There is a funny thing about the quest for order. It can morph into an excessive need for control. The problem with trying to control our schedule, situation, or clutter is that life is bound to throw us a curve. Next thing we know we're reaching, chasing the ball and our carefully constructed plans are out.

I tend to be the frustrated perfectionist who would rather not even try knowing my plans won't go the way I intend. But, that's no excuse, I tell myself.

Without a plan I am assured nothing will be accomplished. With a plan the odds are definitely in favor of getting at least part of what needs doing done.

The other end of the spectrum is having a plan and - by-golly - we're going to see it through no matter how long it takes and you better not get in the way of my progress! Yikes! Take cover! Mama's on a mission!

Achieving and maintaining order requires a balance between prayerful planning, wisdom to know when it's okay to deviate from the plan, and diligence to pick it up again when things go awry.

How about you? Are you the frustrated perfectionist or the over-planner?

What have you done to find a nice balance between the two?

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

To find other bloggers also writing for 31 Days this month on a variety of topics, click here.

Think I'll Just Sit A Spell

31 Days of Order - Day 19

Let my soul be at rest again, 

for the LORD has been good to me.

Psalm 116:7 NLT

After getting up this morning and seeing off those who were leaving for the day, I sat down with my coffee and realized I was very tired. Thinking about it made me realize this was one of those weeks where I went from thing to thing during the day as well as having evening commitments. Today was the first day in several that I didn't have to be somewhere.

So I decided to sit. I read devotions. I read blogs. Spent more time on Facebook than usual and even played a couple games. There were a handful of chores I managed to take care of, but for the most part, I sat. It was lovely.


While sitting at the computer this afternoon, I remembered an email I had from Photobucket and decided to do some exploring. It was fun and not too difficult to find my way around.

Did you notice the new banner at the top of my blog? I made it myself using Photobucket! If you're reading in an email or reader, I hope you'll click over to see my handiwork.

I have wanted a pretty banner for awhile; the other one was dreadfully plain. Other blogs have beautiful banners, but it hadn't occurred to me before to make it myself. Creating is another thing that brings rest to my soul.


At times, part of keeping order is making sure we are rested. Of course, this can mean different things to people. For some it might be sleep, reading a book or magazine, taking a leisurely walk, watching TV or listening to music.

Maybe your need for rest is more than physical and it's time to cozy up to the God of the universe. Time spent in prayer and reading His Word is never wasted. God loves you and wants you to give Him your worries. He gives rest and peace in return.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and 

carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 

Matthew 11:28 NLT

Whatever it looks like for you, I encourage you to make some time to rest.

When you get the chance to rest, what do you like to do?

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

To find other bloggers also writing for 31 Days this month on a variety of topics, click here.

Friends Keep Me in Line

31 Days of Order - Day 18

If you have been following along and reading during my 31 Days series, thank you, thank you, thank you for hanging in here with me. Looking through my posts I can see where it would have been good for me to have had more of a plan, ordered my thoughts (what a concept), and presented you, dear readers, with a comprehensive system. But, hey, you can't give what you don't have, can you? I am figuring it out as I go along.

We are over half way through the month! So, like I said before, thank you for walking with me on this journey. It's an encouragement to me when you let me know, as many of you have, that you've been challenged and encouraged.

Today I am thinking about the importance of girlfriends, girl-time, and how that pertains to order.

God has provided for us everything we need for this life....

...His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness,

 through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 

2 Peter 1:3 NASB

spirit, soul, and body...

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, 

and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless 

until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.  God will make this happen, 

for he who calls you is faithful. 

I Thessalonians 5:23-24 NLT

How does this fit in with girlfriends and girl-time? I am glad you asked. Today my soul was ministered to by spending time with friends.

This afternoon I enjoyed an excellent lunch and conversation at a local Mexican restaurant with a long time friend and colleague. We caught up on each others lives, shared goals and plans, and laughed.

Then, tonight was my Bunko night. Third Thursday of the month for Bunko has been on my calendar for 25 years or so. Two other women and myself have played together for most of that time and the others have been added over the years, including a few of our daughters. This multi-generational bunch is definitely a Titus 2 kind of bunch. Again, excellent food, conversation, and laughs.

I am a much saner person because of my girlfriends. Or perhaps it's the value of knowing I'm not alone in my craziness. Either way, my girlfriends are a blessing from God and I am better for having spent time with them.  

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

To find other bloggers also writing for 31 Days this month on a variety of topics, click here.

Kitchen Corner Update

31 Days of Order - Day 17

Good evening!! 

Well - today I finally dug my way out of this corner.

It felt amazing to take everything off and give it a good cleaning. It felt even more amazing to throw away junk and put away the useful things.

Some pretty wrapping paper caught my eye the other day at Target, so picked it up along with some double-stick tape. After getting the desk clean, I measured, cut, and carefully applied the paper in sections. I had considered taking off the back of the hutch to avoid having to patch it together, but decided against it. If I ever do it again, I'll take off the back.

I was so excited about the paper on the hutch that I forgot to put on the new drawer pulls before I took pictures.

Oh, yes, you are seeing dots. Better still, some of those dots are gold glitter!! Bring on the glam!

It's drawers got a cute new face.

Here she is tucked back into place. I am so pleased.

Some of the bins and cookbooks have been replaced on the shelves, but I still have a couple more things to do. I'll give you a hint. It involves spray paint for some items and fabric for another. Any guesses? More updates to come.

It was super energizing to dig into this project and having this prominent corner tidied up makes me smile. Well, the gold glitter dots have alittle something to do with it, too.

Have you undertaken any little organizing projects lately? How's it going?

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

To find other bloggers also writing for 31 Days this month on a variety of topics, click here.

Made for Order

31 Days of Order - Day 16

I can't lie. I haven't the faintest idea what I'm going to talk about tonight. Free writing time.

Kitchen Corner
It's been a busy few days and I am in mid-project with some of things we've already discussed. The kitchen corner is progressing. Bins purchased. Trash trashed. Stuff sorted into appropriate piles to be stored elsewhere. I hope to finish Wednesday and take some pictures. Nothing camera-ready at this point. I think I've shown you enough pictures of my mess.

Litter Box Evacuation
Retraining the cats to use the toilet is going well. Basically, the first step was to move the litter box, a small pan that fits inside the toilet. Both cats are jumping up to use the new pan over the toilet with the new litter. There are removable disks in the pan starting from the middle, so the opening gets larger while the amount of litter get smaller until kitty is using the toilet without litter. It's been 8 days now, I've removed the center-most disk, and no accidents to date. Smart kitties!

More Thoughts on Order
I think our need for order must come from being made in the image of God. (Assuming you like order as much as I do.) In the beginning, the world and everything in it was created in an order so as to support the lives of all the things and beings to be created. We are told God made man in His own image.

We are also told...

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, 

summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Genesis 8:22 AMP

Order. Sowing and reaping. Seasons. Days and nights. All in order.

My reading took me to the familiar verses in Ecclesiastes, chapter 3.

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT

Order. Living and dying. Tearing down and building up. Crying and laughing. Grieving and Dancing.

Reading several more verses I found this...

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. 

He has planted eternity in the human heart...

Ecclesiastes 3:11a NLT

No wonder there is this longing for order and beauty. Made in the image of my Creative God, I long to create order and beauty in my surroundings.

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace...

1 Corinthians 14:33a NLT

There is also the need for order and peace in our lives. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. We are made in His image. He made us for order.

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

To find other bloggers also writing for 31 Days this month on a variety of topics, click here.

When Things Get Out of Order

31 Days of Order - Day 15

I had a plan to today. I really did. It was working out great, too, until something stepped out of order.

While loading pretty autumn pictures for this post my computer gives me the message that I need to free up disk space before I can go on. The ol' PC was out of room.

It's not like I was surprised about this. For days I have seen and ignored another message. You know, the message that told me I was going to run out of disk space if I didn't free up some space very soon. Very soon turned into right now.

As a result of this delay I will not get much (if any) work done on my kitchen corner which continues to be under suspension for disorderly conduct.

At any rate, I spent a large portion of the morning processing and removing files from my computer to make room for more pictures.

The moral of the story is whatever you see that needs doing, do it now before it messes up your plans for another day!

I am in love with the bright yellow tree in our backyard. It is most brilliant in the morning when the sun peeks through the trees across the street around eight o'clock in the morning....

...and blasts light over the house illuminating this big walnut behind the shed.

Amazing golden light. 

What enthralls me most is the difference between shadow and light at that time of day.

There is another little treat in the yard right now. Speaking of getting things out of order....hello, Sweetheart.

I think you are confused about your seasons. This little bush bloomed in the Spring, but quickly dried up in the drought and hasn't bloomed again for months.

You might be out of order, but I forgive you.

 It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,

your faithfulness in the evening.

Psalm 92:2 NLT

I suppose it wasn't such a bad thing for my day to take a different turn than I had originally intended.

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

To find other bloggers also writing for 31 Days this month on a variety of topics, click here.