February is the “love” month. With velvet red hearts, trappings of roses and cupid’s arrows, it’s so easy to get caught up in our world’s expression of love. Love speaks differently to many people. However, in the Kingdom of God, God IS love! Man’s pitiful portrayal of love, no matter how grand we wish it to be, is so far from the love of God; we will never experience it here in our third dimensional realm.
For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
– John 3:16
Pause for a moment at the words…love and gave. God first loved…and then he gave.
When I think back to my early days of romantic love, I remember my intense feelings. What better way to act on those wondrous feelings but to give. Not just the stuff that I knew my boyfriend would adore, but the giving of my time and attention. But that giving was not enough. I also gave my will away. I would not hesitate to do what he wanted, or go where he wanted to go. Of course, in a healthy relationship these are reciprocated. But the act remained; I gave up my own desires to please the one I loved. When we love, giving is a natural by-product. God so loved the world that He gave.
Jesus so loved the Father that he gave up His will on the cross to do His Father’s will. It’s easy to give, to be kind and to do good to others who are always being kind, doing well and blessing others. But Jesus said that even sinners (the world) do this. As Christians, we are supposed to do the opposite of the world’s way. That is why Jesus says to give to people who are not kind, and we will benefit from it.>
How?
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
– Luke 6:38 NIV
At this point, I’m sure you’re asking yourself what on earth does this have to do with organizing? Everything!!!
Prior to any organizing project, there is always going to be discarding of certain objects. Either the stuff that is taken to the trash can or those items still good enough but no longer current needs. That’s the giving part.
I have found that when my clients come to an impasse of keeping an item or discarding it, they are more likely to let go of an item if they know it is going to go somewhere where it will be cherished or needed.
Take a woman’s shelter, for example. When clients can visualize giving away their excess to a good charity or wherever, their ability to discard is greatly improved. However, more than giving to those with great need, true giving comes from a grateful heart, not just because it feels good.
God commands us to give away to everyone who has a need, and do not take back your goods from someone who has taken from you. God will respond with this attitude in a greater blessing in your life. Please do not mistake blessings as an increase in material goods. Blessings are being at the right place at the right moment, speaking to just the right person, and circumstances that line up in your favor months or even years from now. God’s time is not our own.
In order to give from a generous heart, new thought processes must begin to take hold. As I have expressed this concept to my organizing clients, there have been major breakthroughs. As the spiritual atmosphere of the heart changes, the atmosphere of the home follows. It may take a few sessions before they realize this spiritual application, but understanding and applying this grateful giving sprit, allows God to breaks strongholds of materialism that griped their hands so tightly>
Freeing up your space is essential before any true organizing process can begin. By loving first, a giving expression will follow…for God so LOVED the world that He GAVE.
