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| Cleanin' Out the Refrigerator |
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I haven’t cleaned out my refrigerator in a while. There were things growing on top of things…molds that I know could be used as great science projects if I were still in school or had kids who were. The food items that were once leftovers, long past the point of being edible, or even being recognizable. Things had gotten shoved towards the back of the fridge, never to be seen again…I don’t even remember making that for dinner!
So a lot of stuff got pitched. Condiments that were past their expiration date (we really don’t use catsup (ketchup) that often!); milk that had turned into cheese; things that I think used to be fruit, or maybe vegetables, now a big mushy lump…it sounds as though I haven’t cleaned out my refrigerator for a while, but honestly, I don’t mean to let it get that way. Am I the only one that is like this? Time just seems to fly by, and the last thing on my mind is what is in my refrigerator, unless I am looking for something to eat. I don’t notice the containers of food that get shoved towards the back. I never drink milk (my husband does on occasion), so if it curdles, I don’t notice it. The condiments just adorn the door of the fridge, I rarely use them too often. It isn’t until I run out of room to store things, that I figure it is time to clean it out.
My life can become like my refrigerator. Things that should be done get left undone. Mold starts to grow on unresolved anger or hurt. Things congeal into a lump of mush if I don’t throw them out soon enough. Stuff gets piled up until there is no more room and I have a meltdown. How easy it is to get lost in living life, and suddenly find yourself buried in “stuff”.
That “stuff” might include financial strain, emotional difficulties, relationship problems, grief, pain, anger, physical illness, whatever “thing” it might be that is bothering you today. Let God be the one to clean out your refrigerator, and help you get things back on track. “Come unto me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.” I cannot describe to you how refreshing it is to have God come in and clean things out! Fresh as a new spring day after a long, cold winter. Fresh as a sparkly clean refrigerator after a thorough cleaning!
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LorenDP |
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February 13, 2008 at 12:45pm |
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| I'm glad someone elses refrigerator gets like that. LOL. Great thoughts. |
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JayKTX |
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February 13, 2008 at 12:52pm |
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I'm semi-good at regularly cleaning out my refrigerator but that probably means it is rarely ever "sparkly clean." I hope my inner life's not like that! Ouch!
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| Deb, I'm with you on the refrigerator cleaning! I'm also with you on the "spiriterator (new word)." My spirit needs a cleaning out there frequently! Don't we all? |
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Ed |
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February 14, 2008 at 5:57am |
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Thanks Deb, you've sparked a similar thought...a few years ago I remember reaching for something in my Mother-in-Law's refrigerator and coming out with a small container of what I thought was grape jello. I got a spoon and dove in. Splatttt! It came out as quickly as it went in. "What is this?" I screamed at her. She slowly looked up and peered at me from over her reading glasses and said, "Oh, I forgot to warn you, don't take anything from the back of the refrigerator, you never know how long it's been in there!"
My wife is quite the opposite...she will take things out of the refrigerator that I had my eyes on for lunch the next day or a snack at the end of the day. Somewhere between my Mother-in-Law and wife's cleaning habits would be good.
Relating your story (is your refrigerator REALLY that bad?) to our spiritual lives is ingenious. It caused me to think about my own discipline. Needless to say, I'm not good at that either. Good thing I've got a Lord who forgives me, encourages me to learn from my mistakes and urges me to persevere. Isn't that what life is all about anyway?
P.S. The grape jello turned out to be left-over grape juice...from who knows when. |
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DeboraJ |
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February 14, 2008 at 12:16pm |
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| Good Blog! I really can relate. Thanks Deb. |
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lol My refrigerator gets this way both in the natural and the physical. lol I have a blog already written that I haven't posted yet that sounds like "your style." I really see the resemblance. Yeah, the "fridge" begins to stink after a while, eh? I mean both, if we don't clean 'em. |
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| BAW! I meant natural and spiritual in my first line...too lazy to repost. Lord bless! lol |
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Deb |
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February 14, 2008 at 12:22pm |
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Loren, you mean your refrigerator is like mine? Whew, what a relief, I thought maybe I was on my own here.
Jay, I certainly hope my inner life is not like my refrigerator! I am in trouble if it is!
Cheryl, great new word!
Ed, I howled with laughter while reading your comment :) My husband knows me well by now after almost 25 years of marriage. Whenever he takes something out of the refrigerator that he has a question about he says "how long has this been in there?" He knows me well, just like my Father does. Enjoyed your comments!
restore, when you go on vacation, you usually clean out the refrigerator...so that is a good time to do your spiritual cleaning too...just remember to come back :)
DeboraJ, thank you! |
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Deb |
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February 14, 2008 at 12:26pm |
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| Lara, yep, the refrigerator does begin to stink...it is good to do a cleaning on a regular basis. BTW, I can't wait to read your blog that you haven't posted yet :) |
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Gene |
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February 14, 2008 at 4:11pm |
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Deb, I'm reminded that like your refrigerator, brainwashing isn't a bad thing for messed up, cluttered up minds.
12:2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
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Deb |
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February 15, 2008 at 12:28pm |
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Gene, brainwashing with the Word is a good way to do it, if you want to call it that. Filling it with only good things, instead of the stuff of this world.
Blessings, you are welcome! |
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| God's definitely knows how to clean house & fridge! Great post! |
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Deb |
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February 15, 2008 at 12:53pm |
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| Carebear, thank you! I think we can take a lesson from God on how to clean! |
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Deb you are so right.
Isabella of Spain bragged that she had had only two baths in her life--one when she was born, and the other when she married Ferdinand. I am not sure that I would have wanted to be around her. lol We all need that spiritual cleaning every once in a while, and we need to do a little more often than Isabella did. We need continuous times of cleansing. Thanks Deb for reminding me to have the Holy Spirit search my heart and preform His cleansing work. |
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| Deb, you sure you were not looking in MY refrigerator! Ha!!!! Great comparisons you've made on "stuff" in refrigerator and "stuff" in life! Your blogs really point out thought provoking things, Deb! |
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Deb |
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February 17, 2008 at 11:41am |
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Pastor Tim, I am one that likes to be fresh and clean, so I take baths often...my dad took his once a week, whether he needed it or not, he used to say. Just like not taking a bath to clean our bodies keeps us smelling and dirty, so we will be if we do not do spiritual cleansing as well. Thanks for your comments!
Yahschild, I take it your refrigerator looks like mine! I am glad that I can provoke your thoughts! Thanks for your comments! |
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Deb |
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February 24, 2008 at 11:15am |
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| DC, thank you! Glad you liked it! |
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