The denial of sin is not grace: it is a lie.

I came across a beautiful commentary on obedience the other morning and just wanted to share. Click HERE to check it out for yourself.

Understandably you might be thinking, "Obedience? Blech." Trust me... I'VE BEEN THERE. In fact, lived there most of my life. What mattered most to me was being in control. Doing what I wanted with MY LIFE; I didn't want anyone telling me what to do or how to do it. Rules? Merely "guidelines" for those who wanted them. As far as I was concerned, rules were clearly meant to be manipulated - bent just enough to get your way without getting you into trouble. (I spoke a little of this before; click HERE to view the post.)

That meant a lot of dodging and weaving. When I did get into trouble, I downplayed it. Rationalized. Blamed. Denied. Anything and everything but own up to it. My life was a mess.

It took YEARS for me to finally understand that without rules, life held nothing but chaos and confusion. Picture a bunch of kids trying to play a game of hockey without one rule... how long do you think it would take before someone was hurt? Now picture the frustration and disorder - sounds like fun, doesn't it?

NOT.

Needless to say, I changed. Or rather, God changed me. In surrendering, I now recognize my tendency to veer into the ditch (i.e. sin). Instead of making excuses, I seek to own it. Take responsibility for my part. Lay it before God. Ask for forgiveness. Get back on track.

And life in this place? SO MUCH MORE FUN!

ever felt like the odd man out?

You're at a "group function" - women's retreat, lunchroom, Bible study, scrapbooking event, classroom, football game, neighborhood party, church service - whatever it may be, just little ole' you stepping into the group. They are all talking... but not to you ("the outsider"). You leave feeling rejected, unworthy, and alone.

Having been the outsider/outcast more times than I care to remember, I make it my mission to see that others are welcomed into the group, be it scrapbooking or Bible study. When facing rejection nowadays, God gently reminds me to look around and be observant of others. This gets the focus off of me (stopping the pity party) and on to others where it belongs.

I hear a lot of people (on television and in real life) talking about tolerance, inclusion, and accepting others for who they are as they are. Though I hear a lot of talk, this is what I see:

• biting sarcasm delivered under the guise of humor
• slander
• rejection, ostracism, and avoidance
• criticism

To makes matters worse, I sometimes see myself behaving this way as well. Bottom line is we can talk until we're blue in the face about accepting others but what are we actually DOING about it? How are we doing with those who may be different from us physically, spiritually, or emotionally? How are we doing with that difficult friend or neighbor? In our everyday contacts and relationships, how are we doing???

Some questions to ponder:

• Am I being more mindful of others or myself in social settings?
• Am I treating everyone with the same level of respect in my daily interactions?
• Am I trying to understand where others are coming from even when I disagree with where they are at?
• Am I giving others the freedom and respect to come as they are or am I shutting others out?
• Am I spending more time talking or listening?

If we expect to see change in the world, we need to make changes in the way that we live.

It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out — in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then? Galations 5:13-15 (MSG)

Alpha - it's worth checking out

My boys love Man vs. Wild so when they shared this video at yesterday's service, it immediately captured their attention:

You'll find more information about the course HERE. There is a course locator on that site as well but if you're local, you could check into it HERE. (Hosanna! offers both a daytime and evening course.)

It's a great way to explore the Christian faith and a safe place to ask all of those questions perhaps you've been afraid to ask.

is the Bible reliable?

The New Testament is constantly under attack, its accuracy and reliability contested by critics. But if the New Testament is to be dismissed, so must other ancient writings by Plato, Aristotle, and Homer. Why? Because New Testament documents are better preserved and more numerous than any other ancient writing. With copies being so numerous, they can be cross-checked for accuracy. By this process, biblical documents have been determined to be extremely consistent and accurate.

There are 5,686 Greek manuscripts in existence today for the New Testament. In comparing the number of New Testament manuscripts to other ancient writings, we find that the New Testament manuscripts far outweigh others in quantity:

Author: Lucretius

Written: Died 55 or 53 B.C.

Earliest Copy: --

Time Between Original & Copy: 1100 yrs

Number of Copies: 2

Author: Plato

Written: 427-347 B.C.

Earliest Copy: 900 A.D.

Time Between Original & Copy: 1200 yrs

Number of Copies: 7

Author: Thucydides
Written: 460-400 B.C.

Earliest Copy: 900 A.D.
Time Between Original & Copy: 1300 yrs
Number of Copies: 8

Author: Aristotle

Written: 384-322 B.C.
Earliest Copy: 1100 A.D.

Time Between Original & Copy: 1400 yrs

Number of Copies: 49

Author: Homer (Iliad)
Written: 900 B.C.

Earliest Copy: 400 B.C.

Time Between Original & Copy: 500 yrs

Number of Copies: 643

Author: New Testament

Written: 1st Cent. A.D. (50-100 A.D.)
Earliest Copy: 2nd Cent. A.D. (130 A.D.)

Time Between Original & Copy: less than 100 years
Number of Copies: 5600

The science of studying ancient literature and its accuracy of transmission to is called historicity. The Bible is so exceedingly accurate in its transmission from the originals to the present copies, that if you compare it to any other ancient writing, the Bible is light years ahead in terms of number of manuscripts and accuracy.

contrary to popular belief...

The Bible offers intelligent answers to life's questions.

Did you know there are some, considered "well-educated" by today's standards (lawyers, doctors, professors, scientists, psychologists, engineers, architects and others) who believe in the authenticity and inerrancy of the Bible? Faith for many is strengthened by critical thinking and deepened as they search for answers.

Not the stuff of fairy tales.

I've been on both sides of the fence. Before ever really spending time in the Bible, I'd made a lot of assumptions:

"It's outdated."

"Some of it works for me."

"Surely God couldn't have meant it that way."

"These are just guidelines."

In all honesty, I didn't like a lot of what it said because it didn't jive with where I was at in my life. To believe it to be true would be costly. It would require me to make changes and I liked things the way they were.

It wasn't until life became uncomfortable that I decided to look into things further. I began researching different faith groups online and kept coming back to the Bible. I had a lot of questions that needed answers so I kept digging. (All the while, great difficulties surrounded me.) As I began to apply what I was learning from the Bible to my life, amazing things happened:

1. I found a sense of direction and purpose during a very dark time in my life.

2. I discovered what it meant to have peace and joy no matter what the circumstances.

3. For the first time in my life, I was truly content.

That was five years ago and the Bible continues to amaze me. There are many who would consider me foolish for believing it to be completely true and free of error. But I've never been so sure of anything in my life. It's not fairy tale stuff, but reading His Word and seeing it come to life in the everyday. It's looking for answers and seeing things come together like a giant puzzle. It is recognizing Him in the stories that surround me, in each woman I encounter. His Word simply put, lines up.

Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action). So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

One of my favorite Joyce Meyerisms

“Sitting in a church does not make one a Christian any more than sitting in a garage makes one a car.” ~Joyce Meyer requoting

So what does it mean to be a Christian? I remember asking myself this question several years after a fellow Creative Memories Consultant made mention of her faith and its influence on her life. She and several other consultant friends referred to themselves as Christians which struck me as odd. After all, when speaking about matters of faith people usually referred to themselves by denomination; I had no clue what it meant to be a Christian. Curious, I began to explore different denominations and religions seeking to understand the differences and common themes. Time and again, I was led back to the Bible.

It was around the same time that I discovered Joyce Meyer. My mom had begun talking about God a lot and kept referring to a Bible teacher she'd seen on television. I decided to secretly watch the program just in case she'd gotten sucked into something shady. Surprisingly, the lady made sense and I found myself looking forward to her program each day. Never had I known the Bible to be relevant for today yet it seemed to speak directly into my life. Things have never been the same.

In this day and age the term is broadly used; there seem to be an awful lot of people calling themselves Christians. Have you ever thought about what it means to be a Christian or wondered what it means to be "saved"? If you call yourself a Christian, are you authentically living out that faith? Below is a FANTASTIC sermon addressing these issues and more:

5/11/2008 – Taking Out the Trash, Greg Boyd (48:20 minutes)
What does it mean to "get saved?" Many people (especially people in the United States) see salvation as a one time event and the result of "believing" certain things about God. While belief is important, salvation encompasses much more than that. The salvation that God offers is a continual personal transformation where the trash of our old lives is replaced by the beauty of God's Kingdom. [Focus Scripture: Luke 12:1-5]

Audio - 5.6 mb
High-Quality Audio - 22.2 mb
QuickTime Video (mp4) - 138.9 mb
Windows Media Video (wmv) - 191.1 mb

For I am zealous for you with a godly eagerness and a divine jealousy, for I have betrothed you to one Husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2 (AMP)

put on those thinking caps!

So between working out the details of our family band and contemplating the CM Convention menu, I've also been working on an entry concerning postmodernism. Go figure.

Postmodernism is a worldview. Dictionary.com defines worldview as:

• The overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world.
• A collection of beliefs about life and the universe held by an individual or a group.

Everyone has a worldview. A worldview is often used synonymously with philosophy or belief system, it is what reality is perceived to be. Because the prevailing worldview forms the basis of the way life is ordered and conducted in a society, an individual frequently accepts that worldview without examination. And, one worldview in vogue in the western world today is postmodernism.

If all of this is just a little TMI this early in the morning, perhaps this will help:

While looking into things a little further, I stumbled upon this blurb on a popular "Po-Mo" website:

It is important to discuss how definitions is [sic] approached from a postmodern perspective. First, as should be evident, there are no universal definitions of any particular word. Meanings are socially constructed...

Whaaat? I wonder how Dictionary.com feels about that. Or Merriam-Webster.

Anyway, one of the presuppositions inherent in the postmodern worldview is that the quest for truth is a lost cause. Postmodernists argue that objective, universal, knowable truth is mythical. Therefore, if we make the mistake of claiming to know the truth, we are "deluded" at best and "dangerous" at worst.

Ouch. Though this does shed some light on perhaps why Christianity is under attack these days. The Bible has an awful lot to say about truth:

Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate for Yourself, [make holy] by Truth; Your Word is Truth. John 17:17

Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him]. Ephesians 4:21

And now, O Lord God, you are God, and Your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 2 Samuel 7:28

You are near, O Lord [nearer to me than my foes], and all Your commandments are truth. Psalm 119:151

The sum of Your word is truth [the total and full meaning of all Your individual precepts]; and every one of Your righteous decrees endures forever. Psalm 119:160

And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. John 8:32

Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. John 14:6

For we can do nothing against the Truth [not serve any party or personal interest], but only for the Truth [which is the Gospel]. 2 Corinthians 13:8

If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. 1 John 1:8

And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth. John 1:14

Pilate said to Him, Then You are a king? Jesus answered, You say it! [You speak correctly!] For I am a King. [Certainly I am King!] This is why I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the Truth. Everyone who is of the Truth [who is a friend of the Truth, who belongs to the Truth] hears and listens to My voice. Pilate said to Him, What is Truth? John 18:37-38a

For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold. And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

All of the verses above are from the Amplified Bible (you can learn more about the different Bible versions HERE).

I guess it's time to grab another cup of coffee.

first things first

A group of us have been working through an INCREDIBLE new study called Discerning the Voice of God - How to Recognize When God Speaks by Priscilla Shirer. Each week, I have been blown away by her teaching and each week, I fully intend on sharing bits with you. Obviously, good intention is not good enough because here were are at Week 4 and this is my first mention of it. (Summer does that sort of thing.)

Let me begin by saying, it's INCREDIBLE. As hard as I tried, I couldn't locate a segment of video from the study. I did manage to locate a worthwhile piece on finding balance in motherhood.

It has reminded me of the importance of His Word, for it is key to knowing God and recognizing His voice in my life. Just as I am able to recognize and distinguish my own mother's voice, Scripture paves the way for that same intimacy with God. Not only does His word give direction, it reveals God's character. Priscilla shared these powerful lyrics in our last session:

In Genesis, He's the breath of life
In Exodus, He is the Passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He's our high priest
In Numbers, the fire by night
Deuteronomy, He's Israel’s Guide
Joshua, He’s salvation's choice
Judges, He’s Israel’s Guard
In Ruth, the kinsmen's redeemer
1st and 2nd Samuel, our trusted prophet
In Kings and Chronicles He is Sovereign
In Ezra, He’s the true and faithful scribe
In Nehemiah, the re-builder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He’s Mordecai's courage
In Job, the timeless redeemer
In Psalms He is our morning song
In Proverbs, He is our wisdom
Ecclesiastes, He's the time and season
In Song of Solomon, He is the lover's dream
In Isaiah He is Prince of Peace
In Jeremiah, the weeping prophet
Lamentations, the cry for Israel
Ezekiel, the call from sin
Daniel, the stranger in the fire
Hosea, the forever faithful
Joel, the spirit’s power
Amos, the strong-arms that carry
Obadiah, the Lord our Savior
Jonah, the great missionary
Micah, the promise of peace
Nahum, our strength and shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He's brings revival
In Haggai He restores that which was lost
IN Zachariah, He’s our fountain
And in Malachi, He's the son of righteousness rising with healing in His wings

AND THAT’S JUST THE OLD TESTAMENT

In Matthew Mark Luke and John, He is God and Messiah
In the spirit filled book of Acts, He is the reigning fire from Heaven
In Romans, He is the grace of God
Corinthians, the power of love
Galatians, freedom from the curse of sin
Ephesians, our glorious treasure
Philippians, the servant's heart
Colossians, He’s God and the trinity Thessalonians, our calling King
In Timothy, Titus and Philemon, He's our mediator and our faithful pastor
In Hebrews, the everlasting courage
In James, the one who heals the sick
In 1st and 2nd Peter, our faithful shepherd
In John and Jude, He's the lover coming for His bride
AND in the Revelation, in the very end, when it’s all over, said and done, when time is NO MORE. He is and will always be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, son of Man, Lamb of God, The Great I am, Alpha and Omega, God and Savior
He is Jesus Christ the Lord

HE IS EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED!

It is an INCREDIBLE study. (Or did I mention that already?)

my kids ask a lot of questions

May I be excused?

Could I have my video game time?

What are we having for dinner?

May I go outside?

And then there are the reflective questions involving faith, Jesus, and the world in which we live. Deep stuff.

It happened again last night. Though I won't get into the nitty gritties of our conversation, I would like to share something I was reminded of in my evening reading sprint.

Did you know...

The Old Testament, written over a one-thousand-year period, contains nearly 300 references to the coming Messiah. All of these were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Many of the prophecies were totally beyond the human control of Jesus, for example:

1. Place of birth (Micah 5:2)

2. Time of birth (Daniel 9:25; Genesis 49:10)

3. Manner of birth (Isaiah 7:14)

4. Betrayal

5. Manner of death (Psalm 22:16)

6. People's reactions (mocking, spitting, etc.)

7. Piercing

8. Burial

The following probabilities are taken from Peter Stoner in Science Speaks to show that coincidence is ruled out by the science of probability.

We find that the chance that any many might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in 10 to the 17th power. That would be 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000. In order to help us comprehend this staggering probability, Stoner illustrates it by supposing we take the same number of silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man, from their day to the present time, providing they wrote them according to their own wisdom.

Now these prophecies were either given by inspiration of God or the prophets just wrote them as they thought they should be. In such a case the prophets had just one chance in 100,000,000,000,000,000 of having them come true in any man, but they all came true in Christ. This means that the fulfillment of these eight prophecies alone proves that God inspired the writing of those prophecies to a definiteness which lacks only one chance in 100,000,000,000,000,000 of being absolute.

This is just one of many fascinating perspectives shared by Josh McDowell in this book. Josh was a pre-law student who'd been challenged by his college friends to examine intellectually the claim of Jesus Christ as God's Son. Josh became so irritated at their insistence, he accepted the challenge. He decided to write a book that would make an intellectual joke of Christianity.

Quite the opposite happened and he surrendered his life to the Lord.

on the heels of the neighborhood vole infestation

I'm proud to announce a new Discovery Channel television series: Verminators. And, if you haven't already been completely grossed out by my recent posts concerning the critters, you just might have to check it out. It's so good, it will make you itch.

In addition sharing great television, I thought I'd post a few of recent questions, along with the answers. A Q&A of sorts. If you have a question to add, please feel free to drop me an email or post it here as a comment.

Could you give me the names of some good Christian artists?

I know that Christian music is a new thing for many of you. Music is (and always has been) important to me - unfortunately, much of what I used to listen to would bring me down. (Being a melancholy-sort, it doesn't take a whole lot to make that happen.) I was first introduced to contemporary Christian music at my church and then realized there was even a local Christian radio station. Much of what I share with you, I hear on KTIS first. I have found the radio station (just like the music) to be extremely uplifting. If you're looking for some specifics, just click on the "music" link to the right.

What's with the different Bible versions?

First of all, I'd like to address the historical accuracy of the Bible by directing you HERE. Secondly, I'd like to direct you to this helpful resource featuring over 50 versions of the Bible. Though they may differ slightly in wording, the intent remains the same. Take John 3:16 for example:

• For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. ~Amplified Bible (AMP)
• For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ~New Living Translation (NLT)
• This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. ~The Message (MSG)
• For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~New International Version (NIV)
• For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ~New King James Version (NKJV)
• For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. ~New American Study Bible (NASB)

As you can see, the versions are very similar but when you put them alongside one another, it adds depth to the verse. Despite popular belief, the different versions do not contradict each another.

Is there really room for another blogger?

Yes! Each one of us has our own unique voice and purpose. If you have the desire, what have you got to lose by trying? It is free and very easy to begin. Click HERE for more information.

looking for answers

I haven't felt like this in a while... on fire and inspired to really dig in. Seeking guidance and direction.

Looking for answers.

Someone close to me is struggling with very big things and I am struggling with how to best offer support. The problem is, we don't see eye-to-eye (in fact, we seem to be approaching each other from two different worlds).

When facing difficulties like this, I use the concordance in the back of my Bible to look up every related verse and commentary I can find. This often leads to other verses and topics, revealing much along the way. (My favorites, by the way, are the Amplified Bible and NIV Study Bible.)

Another indispensable resource is BibleGateway.com - comparing the same text in different translations of the Bible can be extremely insightful. Word on the street in the church is that Bible.Crosswalk.com is also a great navigational tool.

Over the past several years, God - through His Word - has proven Himself trustworthy, consistent, reliable, and relevant. The Bible continues to amaze, challenge, and inspire me; it is truly a book like no other.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

rainy days and mondays...

You know the feeling. The subtle, nagging feeling of ICK that creeps in. What do you do when you are feeling down?

Here's what I used to do:

• Complain. Talk about the problem or rotten feeling over and over and over again until my problem seemed REALLY HUGE.
• Ignore. Do everything possible to avoid even thinking about it. This usually resulted in "spillover" with problems popping out other areas of my life.
• Freak. Have a major PMS moment (or multiple moments).

My way never took care of the problem. In fact, it usually made things worse!

The Bible has a lot to say about how we handle stress, depression, and anxiety - in fact, it has a lot to say about life in general. Now when that icky feeling creeps in, I follow God's advice:

• Pray. Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray... James 5:13 (NIV)
• Praise and magnify Him. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, My Help and My God. Psalm 43:5 (NRSV)
• Wait expectantly. But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Micah 7:7 (NASB)

Even my years of counseling cannot compare to His wisdom! When I don't know what to do, I go to the One who does.

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (AMP)

Life is messy sometimes.

mess·y /ˈmɛsi/ –adjective, mess·i·er, mess·i·est.

1. characterized by a dirty, untidy, or disordered condition.
2. causing a mess.
3. embarrassing, difficult, or unpleasant.
4. characterized by moral or psychological confusion.

Not only can my house look messy but I begin to FEEL like it with too much time away from a schedule. My biggest problem is not the mess, but learning to deal with it. Instead of focusing on the things scattered around me (circumstances, emotions, LEGOS), I need to pull back and take a look at what is really important; it's time to simplify. This is where I have found God's word (the Bible) to be very helpful; it's my "how-to" manual for the way I live and order my thoughts.

Joyce Meyer just came out with a new book "100 Ways to Simply Your Life" - here's a sampling of the chapters:

• Keep God First
• Learn How to Say No
• Get Your Mind Off Yourself
• Be Satisfied with What You Have
• Don't Worry about Tomorrow
• Avoid Excess
• Choose Quality over Quantity
• Don't Be Easily Offended
• Be Realistic in Your Expectations
• Don't Be Judgmental
• Live with Margin
• Cultivate Solitude

Each chapter is written around a particular Bible verse - simple and to the point. It's a great book.

My goals for today: (1) to focus less on the tasks and more on the relationships around me; (2) to live in and enjoy the moment; (3) to watch my thinking and words.

Journaling Ideas:Reflect on the definition of "messy" above. What kind of mess do you have in your life right now? What do you do when life becomes disordered? What is your personality like in the face of physical or mental clutter - do you just "go with the flow" or are you more of a "list maker"? Look at your priorities - what is really important to you right now? What could you do to simplify things?