When My World is Shaking...Heaven Stands

I have written and rewritten this post 3 times......WHY....not because it is particularly deep or thought provoking but because I just talk to much sometimes and explain things to death. So I just kept deleting and asking God to speak clearly and to shut me up!

So here it goes........

I AM A MESSY PERSON BY NATURE .....sanguine personality that grew up not the least bit bothered by my messy room. My parents did not give up on me and continued to require that I be better at it or else hahahaha. It didn't really work that much or make sense to me till I was out of college and had a place of my own.

"By nature" means I was born with that particular character trait/flaw. This is why I am so in love with God.........just because I was born with that trait doesn't make it right or permanent.

I was your typical youngest child. Use to others doing for me that when I was out on my own I really struggled with all things domestic. Call me a slow learner or just immature....doesn't really matter because God can change anyone and make them better. Though I sometimes loathe my singleness, I spend way more time thankful for it. In the 6 1/2 years I have been out of college God has used every single year to mature me in all areas of my life. Spiritually, financially, and domestically. Not one year wasted. He has pruned me and cleaned me out in so many areas so that I am an open and honest vessel to be used for His glory.

With that said, I am in week one of my Breaking Free bible study. I knew almost instantly that some of my breaking free moments would be centered around the "unseen" in my life. I am so honest and transparent with my personal and spiritual life that I needed to let that overflow into other areas of my life as well. House looks great but don't you dare open a closest or you will see an explosion of stuff. Can anyone relate??????? Nothing like Monica's closet on Friends but along those lines...hahahha. So all this week God kept repeating that it was time that I started.........

He is so right! I need to break free of holding on to crap that I don't need. I needed to get rid of things I no longer use and I needed to make space in my home. Now listen to me, I am talking about becoming better not throwing myself into another stronghold. God wants us to have balance in our lives, not be the extremes. God is about teaching us His way. He sets up safe boundaries for us that honor Him most....not becoming so OCD about it or just not doing anything and become a hoarder. BALANCE. That is what He is showing me and that is what He is requiring!

So I took Friday off to break free from clutter. I started my morning off in serious pray because I know myself so very well. I mean, I seriously still had skirts that I loved in High School and had not worn in 10 years....wow.....so I just asked God to take over the entire cleaning process. AND HE DID!!!!!!!!!! Oh He is so good. He turned off my emotions and opened my eyes WIDE to what need to hit the road. He also shut out distractions for me and I promise it felt like time slowed down so that I could get it all done!

And I just feel so free!

So, below are my "before" pics. Real and Honest! I am not ashamed in any way because God is good and He can break us free from ANYTHING!!!!!

Here is my dresser.....before dusting hahahha...as you can see, I tend to take off and dump here.

Yes, that is the floor of my bedroom and yes that is a very large Ziploc bag that I like to carry ALL my jewelry around from place to place. Thurs morning I was late and just dumped the entire thing on the ground. Classy, I know! ps......my friends and family make fun of me and my Ziploc bag but I am breaking free ha! NO MORE ZIPLOC BAGS!

This is the "husband side" of my closet. When I moved in I had grand plans of using this area as a jewelry bar.....almost two years later it looks like this....clutter with crap and a total waste of space!



another side of this area....

other side of closet.......man did I get a hold of these clothes. What in the world am I doing with stuff from HIGH SCHOOL...hello that was 10 big fat years ago Caroline Hughes! I tackled those clothes with ZERO EMOTION and just started bagging it up!

no sheets...they were in the washer.......I started pulling and untangling (shame) all my gaudy things and put them out on the bed.

I went to Wal-Mart and bought cheap cork board panels (4 in a pack for about $4) and then headed to the sale fabric and found 4 different colors of material that I liked. I also picked up painters nails because they are white and would be cute!

All I did was hot glue the material on each panel and BAM.....i was finished. Nailed those babies up and then ..............

AFTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I divided up my jewelry with casual on one side and dressy on another. I just kept adding nails until everything was out in the open!!!!!!!

Dressy side!!!!!! You can see that I hung up all my headbands too.






Put all my rings, clip earrings, brooches here...

The casual side.....

Put my flower pins and hair clips in this little yellow bowl...that I love. Put all stud earrings in this Spode dish.

And I instantly feel like I lost 20 pounds. My house is cleaned, laundry done, and one organization project finished............and He was right, I feel free! Praise Him!!!!!

And if that was not a big enough gift.....the Lord brought this singer into my life yesterday.

JJ Heller..... I was in and out of my closet when I heard her song "Your Hands" come on the tv music channel thing. I had not ever heard of her or her songs. I also had not heard such clarity in a voice like hers in a long time! I just stopped what I was doing, sat on a stuffed trash bag, and listened. The words of this song just ministered a fresh outlook not only about God but about His control. I hope you will listen below..even if you never click on the songs people put up on blogs.......










When my world is shaking, heaven stands................is that not a powerful sentence or what. I have been all over the map this week with emotions. "Break Free from what Lord?" I have asked. I have felt the need to move, the need to change churches, change jobs, change blog, change hair color.......you name it I have thought about it this week.

I have also been really struggling with the lack of friendships in my town. I moved here not knowing anyone and sadly do not have any girl friends my age here. Even at church...everyone is older or younger. I was really asking God why He had moved me here. I am not a girl that likes or needs a huge group of friends. A few that really know me is all I need. I need someone that can walk with me now, you know. That lives here too.

I just don't know what is going on right now or what my future looks like. But I have walked to close with the Lord to doubt. I have also walked to close with the Lord to try and take over....to make my own plans. I don't what a boring life and I don't want to have it my way. I want HIS WAY! So this song just touches the deep areas of my heart.............no matter what I feel or miss or long for or grieve over or laugh at or find joy in....HEAVEN STANDS.

I am in His hands. He has not left me.....He is here NOW breaking me FREE and preparing me for my future! She sings "I know you hate to see me cry. One day you will set all things right." Can I get an AMEN??????

Breaking free.......to live free.......to be captivating for Him not captive!

Father, even in the night you are near me. I have those crazy moments where I want to grab onto to something false because I feel out of control. But the truth is that I am in your hands. You are in control and I am safe with you. I thank you for opening my eyes to the "unseen" areas of my home that just need to be dealt with already. Areas that I did not even know were acting as bondage. I praise you that I can call out to you and you teach me how to be free. I thank you for this song. It felt as though you wrote is just for me. Thank you for letting me be crazy sometimes. You let me just speak it out and then you speak truth to me. Thank you that my emotions do not have to be hidden from you....you know them and you love me still. I thank you for all my different kinds of friendships. I continue to ask that you would bring me a friend here in my town. I wait expectantly!!!!! Continue to clean me out in every area. I choose freedom even if it means less of this or more of that. I choose it in Jesus Name. amen.