31 Days to Clean - Day 1

31 Days to Clean - Having a Martha House, the Mary Way

When I saw the title of this e-book, I was SO intrigued. I am such a Martha. I love to clean and be busy. I love to serve others. However, sometimes in my efforts, I start to grumble because I have decided to do too much and my attitude needs adjusted. I need to be reminded why I clean. It is not to have a spotless home (by no means is my house every spotless) or to impress anyone.

It is to provide a clean, safe, loving, warming environment for my family and for others when they visit.

Reading this book and participating in the challenges will be a great way to align my priorities and focus with God's priorities and focus. He does not care about my works, but about my heart.

There are daily readings and challenges that I will be completing, but I will not be able to post these daily (fortunately, I have a loving family who needs my attention other places). But I will post a couple times a week, so please check back and see how I'm doing. Some of the challenges I have to look forward to are:

• Scrubbing the refrigerator and freezer
• Inviting a friend to come over and put her feet up
• Cleaning window treatments
• Washing walls

And since I have girls, this one really resonates:

• Write up a lesson plan for your children about the eternal value that taking care of your domain has. Find scripture, inspirational quotes, books, anything, that will reinforce the “why” behind getting ourselves in gear to clean. There is just something about teaching our children that will dig truth deeper into our own hearts.  

Today's Mary Challenge was to come up with a mission statement. I based mine from scripture (because who can argue with God?) which is listed below. I am to post this in my house to motivate my heart and attitude.

Work for the Lord with all your heart.

Generously without grumbling.

Look for ways to serve others.

Humbly.

Avoid becoming obsessed and stressed.

Seek first His Kingdom.

Lovingly. Whole heartedly.

Our home is a gift.

My job is to make it feel like a blessing from the Lord.

Remember Mary.

Deuteronomy 1:10

Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

 Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 

Philippians 2:3-4

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

 Philippians 2:14-15

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.

 Luke 10:38-42

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”