Past Issues



"Clutter"
 

I sit at my desk 
amidst all the clutter.
Stuff over here, 
stuff over there;
Stuff piled up on other stuff.
Could I ever find anything 
if I really needed it?

I sit in front of the TV 
amidst all the eye-candy clutter.
Thoughts over here, 
desires over there.
Visuals piled up on other visuals.
Could I ever benefit from any of it 
if I really needed to?

I stand in front of the mirror 
amidst all the false perceptions.
Selfishness over here, 
struggles over there.
Emotions piled up next to failures.
Could I ever stand up for any convictions 
if I really needed to?

I kneel with my guarded heart 
amidst all the clutter.
Doubts over here, 
denials over there.
Hesitations piled up on distractions.
Could I ever stand up for you 
when I really needed to?

Why do we fill ourselves 
with so much clutter?
Our houses are too full.
Our schedules are too full.
Our thoughts are too full.
But yet, our hearts seem too empty.
We fill them with everything 
that comes along.

It's time to clean out the clutter 
and rid the distractions.
I need to just listen and enjoy the silence.
I need you to fill my heart 
with your voice and wisdom.
Let it flow into all areas.  
It's time start over clean.

Could I have ever benefited 
from all that clutter?
It's hard to answer 
when trying to look through all of it.......

...um, let's see.......
I had a great ending written down here 
somewhere, but can't find it right now.  
I'll keep looking.    ........where could it be?  
I just saw it here a couple of days ago...

Hey, I found it!  Oh, that's something else.  
Never mind....  I'll keep looking.



Nope.  That's not it either.

Oops!  I haven't seen THIS for a while......

Note to self:  
Cancel book club order for "How to Clean Up Your Life".
Didn't find the order form in time. Also need to get more 
storage boxes.

by John Nordberg


Philippians 4:7-9
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your
minds in Jesus Christ.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about
such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it
into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:11-13
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the
circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have 
learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,
whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.


NOTE:  This is actually the first and only draft of this story (except the web
extras).  The home computer desk seems to be the family drop-off center 
for everything.  One day I had to push stuff out of the way just to have enough 
room to work without getting claustrophobic.  The words just came to me, 
and felt they shouldn't sound too polished and organized.
We all end up with too much clutter in our lives. Clutter that can push out 
our faith and God's voice. When we are too full, something has to be left out.  
Our culture saturates us with "stuff". Be careful what goes in, and what ends 
up pushed out.
Remember the GI-GO rule:  "Garbage In, Garbage Out".  We are only as 
good as our input.

                                       

DOVETALES ™   Permission is granted to distribute this issue providing it is used in proper
context and further spreads the gospel or Christian values.

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