Blog 6 Sec 3a: Choosing What Influences You

Section 3a
Influences on our home

The world has greatly influenced us in our homes. Why else do we have big homes with too much stuff in them? And why do we still want more stuff and bigger homes?

We have believed the lie that we need bigger homes, bigger and more TVs, bigger cars (but the world is changing their view on that one), more clothes, more shoes, more toys, more and more and more. We have chosen to get all that stuff and most of the time we are miserable. We are miserable because we have more house to clean, more things to pick up, more laundry to wash, need more space for all our stuff, don’t get anything accomplished because of our TV and computers and trying to figure out how to pay our big house payment. Or we are miserable because we do not have the bigger house and all the stuff to go in it. We have chosen not to be content. We have been influenced by the grass is always greener.

"For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." 1 Timothy 6:7-8

As we previously discussed, our homes should be a place of refuge, a place of teaching and worship and a place to serve. We can no longer be influenced by what the world says we need. We need to be influenced by what our family/friends need in the home, not want.

Refuge
Is your home such a mess you avoid being home? Do you keep all the doors closed so you don’t have to look at the mess? Do you “sigh” or “ugh” when you walk in your home?

If you continue to choose not to pick up, your house will over take your life. You have to choose to make your home a place of refuge. There are a few choices you can make that will make a difference.

1. Choose to have easy access to everything you need in the morning.

Examples: We all have a bathroom tote like the ones you would carry to the dorm bathroom. Each person has all their morning supplies like toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, hairbrush, hair accessories, make up, etc. You pull out your tote, use your stuff and throw it back into the tote. The bathroom cabinet is left clean and free of junk.

Lay out everything the night before or lay out a whole week of clothes out at a time. Have a place to layout yours and others in your home outfits and shoes and bag. It takes a few minutes to lay it out.

2. Choose a quick and easy pick up.

Our weeks may have a very busy schedule. We have to choose to not let our homes show it. If you know yourself or family member can make a mess in a few minutes then have a plan.

Example 1: You may not have time to pick up everything and put it back in its place today. So have a room basket. Instead of letting everything pile on the floor and furniture, take a few minutes to throw it in the room basket. Then, after others go to bed or Saturday morning you can take the basket and put things up. It's much more relaxing to walk into a room that is picked up.

Example 2: You can also try the Family Fifteen before dinner or bedtime. Set a timer and pick up the house at the end of the day. You can compete by splitting up rooms or go room by room together. Whoever picks up the fastest, gets the biggest piece of dessert or gets to pick the family movie or game that weekend.

Choosing to pick up will help your home be a more relaxing place. You will have time to sit and breathe in a picked up house. You will leave your home in a much better condition. And when things are picked up, your home can be a refuge for you or for any last minute friend that needs a place. Your will not worry about opening up your home.

3.Choose to get rid of the junk.

If you have not used it in the past year, if it is broken or missing pieces, if you don’t even know what it is and where it came from…then toss it.

This process can overwhelm quickly. You have to choose to do it in baby steps.
a. Start with a cabinet and clean it out. Have a donate bag, throw away bag, I want to keep it bag and an I need to keep it bag.
b. After sorting, look at your I want to keep it bag. Why? Will you use it in the next couple of months? Is it sentimental? If you will definitely use it then keep it. If it is just special but will have no use, then start a tote that can be stored in an attic or top of a closet.
c.Then put your items that you are keeping back up.

Do a cabinet or closet a weekend or give yourself an hour every week to work on a space.

4. Choose to not buy any more wants for the home until you have de-cluttered.

Do not even go in Ross, TJ Max, or Bed, Bath and Beyond. We have plenty. We live in a country where we are blessed. Be thankful and content with everything you have.

"No more stuff that cause a mess."

Choosing to de-clutter your home will help you enjoy your home and take it one step closer to being a place of refuge.

Homework:
1. Choose to layout things the night before.
2. Choose the Family fifteen or room basket and use it for the week.
3. Choose to de-clutter at least one cabinet or closet this week.

4. Choose to say no to buying any other wants for your home.
5. Choose to make your home a place of refuge not chaos.