Top

Renee Swope

Encouraging and equipping moms to parent with God's grace and confidence.

Getting & Staying Organized

I posted something short earlier, but God’s been nudging me to come back and invite you to be part of something He’s laid on my heart.

  • If you knew that having more order in your home would bring more order to your world – freeing up your time, emotions, thougths and spiritual gifts to do what God’s called you to do – would you make it a priority?

 

  • If you knew it was actually possible, would you take some small steps towards getting and staying organized?

 

After posting confessions of my cluttered counter tops, closets and cabinets, I worked for a few hours on the mess in my nest. And, I feel like I’ve lost 10 mental pounds! The feeling of freedom that followed my progress is amazing. I promise to post photos later this week of my “before and after.”

Today God reminded me of 1 Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” In the context of this verse, Paul is talking about order in the church. But in the context of our lives this truth also applies.

Order is part of God’s character and peace is the promised fruit of His spirit.

Our longing for order and peace is woven into our souls because we are created in God’s likeness. Our spirits long for a lack of confusion. The Holy Spirit has been showing me since last week that this is a big deal. We care about our homes and want to be good managers of our piles and files. As I read your challenges and honestly assessed how I’ve been feeling about mine, I sensed that our messes are not only piling up – they are weighing us down. Consider this:

  • When you see your organizationally challenged areas, do you feel a sense of peace or defeat? Do you get all irritated inside?

 

  • Does your life start to feel out of control when you think about what you need to do to get organized but feel like you have no time to do it?

 

Can I encourage you to give yourself the gift of bringing a little order to your world. A little peace to your heart and home. I want to gather some girlfriends to encourage and pray for each other this week, and commit together to tackle one of our organizational challenges. Will you join me?

And because we all need some incentive, I’m giving away another copy of Karen’s book “The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized”, and some organizational pretties!

If you want to join in this quest, click on the word “Comments” at the end of this post and tell me what one area will you give an hour or so to this week. Your commitment will qualify you for the give-away. And will you pray for the person who leaves a comment right before yours? I’ll leave the first one. Then for a second chance to win, click here and get the encouragement you need to finish what you start.

On Friday, I have another P31 friend and author who is writing a book called, “I Used to Be So Organized” who is going to stop by to encourage, pray for and help us with some very practical ideas! And I’m working on having my before & after photos up then, too.

Don’t want to miss any updates?
I have a few places in my sidebar where you can stay connected via Google connect or Facebook, and sign up for email updates. By the way, I love having you along!

Discover more from Renee Swope

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Comments

  1. I am going to start in my bedroom. That room seems to be the "catch all" and it is past out of control. I feel like my bedroom should be sacred but instead I get heavy when I walk through that door. I am overwhelmed and really don't know where to start but I am ready to get it under control!

  2. My craft area. It's exploded and I need to get it under control. Also want to make a chore list so the rest of the family can help out by taking care of their personal areas.

  3. Thank you for the motivation and encouragement of this challenge. In my hour, I will tackle the home office/desk I share with my husband. This is where I usually do my devotions/bible time. I just know that with the absence of all the piles of papers and other clutter I will be less distracted and more focused on spending time with my Lord. My husband will also be blessed by this task as he will have more space to actually use "his desk" he so graciously offered to share with me.

  4. I have several areas that need work but right now I'm going to focus on the desk and shelves around it. I have already cleaned my closet so I feel pretty good about that but it is so hard to remain motivated and "stuff" seems to multiply!! I want to be FREE of stuff!!

  5. My mess has taken me captive for way too long! I am ready to be free of the stress that has become a member of my home. I owe it to my husband, daughter, and myself to become a filer and not a piler. I actully have been working on it this week. Sad the number of hours that I have had to waste trying to get things in order, if I had only been more organized I could have used them to play with my daughter. The stress is creeping in my marriage. I am committing to spend at least one hour per day (or whatever it takes) until all of the things are filed, shredded, or trashed!

  6. I am praying for all those before me. Ladies, I would love to say that there is only one area of my nest, but it seems that since I have started raising my Grandchildren my whole nest is a mess. The more I look at the mess around me the more I see the mess on the inside. I am committing to one room at a time, one hour at a time, one day at a time. Beginning with my desk, and moving on from there. Thank You so much for the encouraging words.

  7. mmm … wow, I have struggled with clutter for quite a while and am certain that it would be so freeing for myself and my children to rid ourselves of 90% of all the 'stuff' we have. Papers are my nemesis. I know it clutters my mind, which of course takes our minds off of God … which is exactly opposite of what we desire. I can assure you that my cell group and all the people from our church family who have helped us to move all the 'stuff' twice now would happily agree that we would gladly welcome tips to help with getting anything essential filed … and dumping all the rest. I also want to help my children learn the value of sharing with others – and of giving away much of what we have – simplifying, living on less – and sacrificial giving. I know God wants this for us. Very, very, very interested in checking out your book!

  8. I am committing to the pile of papers that has been living on the end of my kitchen table WAY too long! And I will be praying for Sherry, too!

  9. Renee,
    I became disabled in 1993 and in searching for a 'drug' to fill the void of loneliness and grief, I turned to playing games on the internet. So, in short, my computer desk area is a collison course for snacks, pens, meds, phone, papers galore and junk. Somehow my desk looks just like the inside of my brain, crazy and confused, overwhelmed and depressed. I want to clear the clutter and dust the mounds of crumbs and crap, so I can breathe easier. Isn't funny how what surrounds us usually defines us?

  10. Getting rid of the stacks and piles around my house has been my goal for months now. I have made progress, but not enough. Thank you for your words of encouragement. Yes, I will continue to tackle these areas, and I will pray for the person who commented before me. God bless all of us!!

  12. I'm committing to organizing my kids clothes for the fall, with four kids it's almost a full time job to go through all of their clothes and figure out what fits and doesn't fit anymore, pack it up and bring out what clothes they are now ready to wear.
    I am really in need of help in the area of organizing. I try my best, we live in a three bedroom home and with six people there is only so much space, so it is key to be super organized in order for the house to run smoothly!
    Blessings to you, and thank you for the encouragement!

  13. I am committing to the paper clutter on my counter and (eek) desk. I'd like to commit to dealing with the basement but…I think the papers will take an hour if I do it "right". Praying for Team Tyndale, that you get your important papers all organized!
    -peace

  14. I am committing to cleaning up the piles in my room. We look like we sleep in a storage unit. Problem is there is no office in my home, no space, so a corner of my bedroom is the place I use, but it is a mess of boxes and papers and stuff! I teach and this is my storage unit! Not good! I wanted to do it today, planned to do it, then took my daughter to the doctor, got her medicine at the pharmacy and ran out of steam… But I will get at it! Mary B.

  15. I am committing to organizing all of our important documents. We have a two year old & four month old & I am embarrass to say I don't have all of our important paper work together, ie. Insurance, bills, will, etc.

  16. I am committing to the clothes pile in my room. It is a pile of all 7members of the family. I have sooo many hours and so many spaces. lol I would love to pitch it and start over but the money would be too much. LOL Praying for all that are undertaking this commitment and for the anonymous person who posted before me. 🙂

  17. My desk is my culprit!!! I have 2 and one has files AND piles all over it!!! This is just the incentive I needed, thanks Renee!

  18. thank you for your encouragement and prayers! i commit to clearing-out my kids outgrown clothes from their drawers~which will make room for the stuff that actually fits!
    in Him, diana