A Time to Clean: Day 4

Yesterday we talked about How to Deal with Clutter. Next week we’ll be talking more about heart issues {and tomorrow we’ll be talking about sentimental stuff}, but I didn’t want to leave you hanging, wondering what to do with all that stuff you’re getting rid of.

If you’re like me, you hate wasting anything. My husband and I really try to be good stewards of things and even though our clutter issue has grown over the last few years… I still want to be a good steward and not just toss things in the trash that might benefit another family.

We live in a very poverty stricken area – one of the poorest counties in the nation. {#17 based on Median Household Income} Since moving to the area in 2001, I’ve come to view life and things in a much different way. So many people here have next to nothing and I have been blessed with so much. My husband and I moved here specifically to minister in the community. My heart has been broken so many times when I go into homes where there seems to be no hope.

Today, I’m sharing my favorite ways to clear the clutter in my home. If you have any other ideas, please share them in the comments so we can all learn!

What to Do with All That Clutter

As you sort your clutter into boxes or bags – trash, donate, sell, or relocate – you’ll need to decide where each item’s new home will be. Here are some great ideas:

1. Good Will or Salvation Army. Most communities have a Good Will Thrift Store or something similar that you can donate to.

2. Local Women’s Shelter. Call and see what types of items they may be in need of.

3. Animal Shelter or Animal Rescue. Animal shelters are often in need of old bedding for the animals – sheets, blankets, etc.

4. Appalachian Community Center. My husband and I run a Community Center where we give away food, clothing, and household items twice a week – no proof of income required – we just give stuff away.

• If you’d like to donate, you can send packages to: {USPS} Appalachian Community Center, c/o Melissa Ringstaff, PO Box 1020, Harlan, KY 40831 or {UPS} Appalachian Community Center, c/o Melissa Ringstaff, 594 Ivy Hill, Harlan, KY 40831. If you have questions, feel free to ask!

5. Homeless Shelter. Call and see what they can use. My husband and I take boxes of purses and totes to a homeless shelter each month because the homeless need bags to carry things in. {These bags come from donations to our Appalachian Community Center.}

6. Used Book Store. My favorite used bookstore is McKay’s in Knoxville, TN. It’s amazing. Huge! We love shopping there. I buy a lot of my homeschool curriculum there, as well as books to read, games, music, and more. So, anytime I can bring in some books/ CD’s/ DVD’s/Games for trade and get in-store credit, I’m happy!

7. Homeschool Classifieds. If you homeschool, you can either take your used books to a bookstore like the one above, or you can post them for sale on HomeschoolClassifieds.com. I’ve used it before many times to buy and sell. It’s easy to use!

8. Gift a friend or family member. The books I went through yesterday were divided up – one box to take to the used bookstore and two stacks of books for my step-daughter and daughter-in-law. I pass down my youngest daughter’s old clothes that are in good condition to my grandkids!

9. Freecycle Network. Freecycyle is a program where you can post things you have that you want to give away {or see if you can find something you need}. You can see if your community or surrounding area has a Freecycle Network in your area on their website.

10. Craigslist or Ebay. I’ve sold quite a bit of stuff on Craigslist and Ebay over the years. Plus, you can list FREE stuff that you just want to give away on Craigslist, too!

11. Half.com. The first year that Half.com existed my husband and I made $5000.00 selling books. We don’t list as many books anymore, but it’s a great way to make some extra cash!

12. Yard Sale. I remember the year we moved back east, we had a yard sale before we moved and made SO much money. It was so exciting we kept going into the house looking for more stuff we could part with. Whether you get that excited about having a yard sale or not… it’s a great way to make a little extra cash for your family. If you feel you can spare the cash and want to donate it, a yard sale is a great way to help raise money for a worthy cause.

13. Consignment Shops. If you have a consignment shop in your area, they can really be a great way to make a little money on gently used clothing and baby items.

14. Used Eyeglasses can be donated, too. We take our used glasses to a local eye doctor who collects them.

15. Dress for Success. This organization provides low-income women with business attire to help them get a job.

So, there you have it. 15 places to get rid of your stuff.

Today’s Goal

• If you feel like you have too much stuff, write down places you might like to donate to or otherwise get rid of {sell} your stuff.
• Pick up a journal and write down your thoughts about what He has shown you or print my free prayer journal.
• Choose an area in your home you want to tackle.
• Fill at least one bag or box full of stuff to give away.
• Take a picture of your bag. Share it on Facebook or Instagram – use hashtag #atimetoclean {optional}
• Leave a comment below about what you chose to get rid of and anything else God has laid on your heart.
• Do your best to wake up early tomorrow and spend time in prayer. Use your prayer journal. I’ll be waking up around 6:00 am.

Let me know what you plan to do with your stuff in the comments below!

The post What to Do with All That Clutter appeared first on A Virtuous Woman: A Proverbs 31 Ministry.

How to Deal with Clutter

Today I want to talk about how to deal with the clutter and get it out of your house. Sometimes it can be really hard to part with things that seem like “treasures.”

• Maybe it’s because we paid “good money” for the item.
• Maybe it has sentimental value.
• Maybe it’s because we think we might need it “one day.”
• Maybe we worry that we won’t be able to afford things in the future.
• Maybe we just have a hard time making decisions about what to do with the stuff.
• Maybe it’s broken and you think you can fix it, but you never get around to it.

There may be more reasons for hanging on to stuff, and if you have one, let me know in the comments below!

I love pretty things but I hate spending money. My husband hates parting with money even more than I do! So, if I shelled out money to buy something, well, it seems wasteful to throw it out.

The cure for that is not to buy so much stuff. One of the biggest problems I have had in year’s past is that since I hate spending money I’m always looking for a good {great} deal.

Sometimes a good deal isn’t as great a deal as you think. Especially if you buy it because you like it but you don’t love it – just because it seems like a bargain. Or buy more than you need just because it’s on sale.

About a year ago I realized that the reason I never felt “great” when I got dressed in the morning was because most of my clothes were things I didn’t really love – but I’m a sucker for a clearance rack! Not only that, sometimes we can end up spending MORE money because we think we’re getting a good deal.

These days, I spend a little more money {I still look for sales} on quality items I love and just have less clothes. Unfortunately, I still have a good number of clothes in my closet that are in great condition that I never wear. So, I’ll be going through them all this week. Things I never wear are going to our Appalachian Community Center so someone else can use them.

 Decision Time & How to Declutter

Clutter is really just another word for “unmade decisions.” So, it’s time to make some hard decisions. Grab a trash can {or bag} and two or three boxes {or bags} Mark them as follows:

• Donate – for items to give away
• Relocate – for items that belong in another room
• Yard Sale – for items you want to sell {optional}

[Tweet “Learn How to Deal with Clutter with these 3 Simple Tips: “]

1. Decide what area you want to work on. This can be any area you feel is cluttered. However, instead of saying, “I’m going to declutter the living room.” say, “I’m going to declutter this pile of books on the living room floor.” or “I’m going to declutter this pile of papers on the dining room table.”

You want to set goals for yourself that you can actually accomplish in a short amount of time without feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. Your overall goal may well be to “declutter the living room” but that’s too broad of a statement. Small goals are more easily attained and at the end of the day I want you to feel good about what you’ve accomplished – however small. One drawer at a time. One pile at a time. One closet at a time. That’s how it gets done.

Change doesn’t happen over night. This process may be painful at times. It may be hard. It may bring you to your knees. That’s okay! Making hard changes is – hard! But in the end, not only will we find respite from the world in our homes, we will also find respite for our weary hearts!

2. Ask yourself some questions. As you go through your piles, closets, drawers, and other spaces as yourself these questions. Be honest with yourself!

• Is this item still useful?
• Do I really need this item?
• Is this item adding to the quality of my life?
• Do I love this item?
• Is this item of sentimental value? Why?
• Could someone use this item more?
• Could I use something else in it’s place?
• Do I have more of this item than I really need?
• Is it broken?

3. Make a decision. If the answer to any of these questions is NO, you need to make a decision about what to do with the item – trash, donate, or yard sale. If the answer is YES, you need to make a decision about where that item’s home will be or is.

If the item is really useful – something you use on a regular basis find a permanent home for it in an area of your home that makes sense. If your closets are full and you have no idea where to stick it, you’re going to need to make room – and that may mean getting rid of other things so that the things you love and use have a place to live.

Sometimes it’s tempting to hold on to things that we really don’t need. Maybe you have an emotional attachment to the thing for one reason or another.

For instance, if you grew up really poor, it can be hard to let things go if you have a deep fear of not being able to afford things in the future. Our deep seated emotional hangups aren’t necessarily things we think about or process in our minds. But they are reflected in our behaviors.

Maybe you’re hanging on to clothing that no longer fits because you keeping hoping one day they’ll fit again. Reward yourself with new clothes when you lose the weight! Go ahead and donate those clothes to a place where someone less fortunate than you can use and enjoy them.

Maybe the item is broken, but you think you can fix it… for years I would hang on to broken things thinking, “One of these days I’ll get around to fixing that.” The truth is, it’s probably not going to get fixed. Or maybe you save broken things just because… Unless you have a better track record than mine… go ahead and throw it away.

Sometimes shopping and buying new things is a way that women {and men} make themselves feel better when they feel empty inside. Past hurts, emotional pains, failed relationships, unhappy marriages, discontentment can all cause us to look for ways to mask the pain. But the truth is, no amount of material possessions – however shiny and pretty – can fill that empty place in our hearts. There is only one Person who can fill that hole and Jesus wants you to bring all of your baggage to Him and set it at His feet.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

He wants you to be free from the burdens of this world. Clutter never adds to your peace of mind and it doesn’t give you peace in your heart.

Some clutter in our lives – like the pile of “important” papers perpetually found on our kitchen counters or on our desks, simply need to find a new home because they are important. You need to know the schedule of your son’s soccer games! That’s where having a household notebook can come in real handy. Or you could create a file system that works for you. The important thing is to not be like the ostrich and stick your head in the sand.

Make a decision – one at a time – and you’ll see the piles of clutter reduce before you know it!

Today’s Goal

• If you feel like you have too much stuff, write down your thoughts on WHY you have too much stuff. Do you overbuy? Do you shop to heal the pain? Do you just have a hard time letting things go?
• Pick up a journal and write down your thoughts about what He has shown you or print my free prayer journal.
• Choose an area in your home you want to tackle. I’ll be working in my living room today.
• Take a picture of your bag. Share it on Facebook or Instagram – use hashtag #atimetoclean {optional}
• Leave a comment below about what you chose to get rid of and anything else God has laid on your heart.
• Do your best to wake up early tomorrow and spend time in prayer. Use your prayer journal.

The post How to Deal with Clutter appeared first on A Virtuous Woman: A Proverbs 31 Ministry.

A Time to Clean: Day 2

Even when we say it no longer matters… Even when we say it’s okay… Even when we do our best to move on with our lives… the past hurts. Sometimes, despite our best intentions, we just carry that baggage around with us like a badge of honor.

Really, though, all of that baggage from our past is just keeping us from running free.

The Past Hurts

The past can weigh us down – even when we don’t realize it – and keep up from really finding the peace in our hearts and peace in our homes that we long to experience.

The past is full of hurts, disappointments, failures, regrets, and people who have damaged our souls. Who really wants to carry all of those reminders around day after day, year after year? No one. And yet we do it anyway.

Maybe not intentionally.

Sometimes a hurt from the past creeps up on us when we least expect it. Other times it’s just there in the back of our minds, taunting us, reminding us that really, deep down inside, we’re no good. Not worthy of exceptional love. Not worthy of true happiness. Not worth dying for.

But Satan is the Father of Deception. He wants you to believe that you aren’t really worthy of anything at all. The voice that tells you you’re worthless is a liar.

Back in 2006, I made the decision to share my testimony. The story of how I was a teenage mother at the young age of fifteen. I remember telling my husband that I planned to share my story and he asked me if I was sure – because there’s a risk in being vulnerable.

But I knew. I knew it was time to tell my story. Because my story was no longer a story of shame. It’s a story of redemption. It’s a story of victory in Jesus. It’s a story of grace and mercy and freedom in Christ.

But it took me a really long time to come to that conclusion. For years – fifteen years – I would lay in bed at night and beg God to forgive me. I didn’t believe He could.

Now, in my mind, I knew what the Bible said. I knew the Bible said He would forgive my sins. But see, I couldn’t forgive myself. So for years – year after year – I believed in my heart that I was unforgivable.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

He IS faithful and just and WILL forgive us if we confess our sins! So what was the problem? Why did I feel like He couldn’t forgive me?

I couldn’t forgive myself. I felt so ashamed, so unworthy of pure love. God forgave me the first time I asked!

I had to give myself grace – I had to accept the fact that my past was scarred, but that the scars on Jesus’ hands had paid the price for my sin to set me free.

Past hurts can be reflected in our homes and can affect our relationships. It’s time to set our souls free so we can freely move. Past hurts can overwhelm our souls to the point of freezing us from making a decision to move on. It’s time to let things go.

Today’s Goal

• Ask God to show you what past hurts are shackling you to the ground. Learn to forgive yourself.
• Pick up a journal and write down your thoughts about what He has shown you or print my free prayer journal.
• Choose an area in your home you want to tackle. I’ll be working in my living room over the next couple of days.
• Fill at least one bag or box full of stuff to give away.
• Take a picture of your bag. Share it on Facebook or Instagram – use hashtag #atimetoclean {optional}
• Leave a comment below about what you chose to get rid of and I’d like to invite you to share YOUR story.
• Do your best to wake up early tomorrow and spend time in prayer. Use your prayer journal.

 What are you tackling today? Have past hurts overwhelmed your present?

The post The Past Hurts appeared first on A Virtuous Woman: A Proverbs 31 Ministry.

A Time to Clean: Day 1

What are you holding on to?

Look around you. 

What do you see? No, really, what do you see?

When I see clutter in my house I see Failure. Regret. Discouragement. Shame. 

I see wishes that have not come true and fears I have not let go. I see my life in it’s often overwhelmed state and wish that I wasn’t frozen, unable to make things really change.

I see bad habits and unmade decisions and wrong choices and mistakes I wish I hadn’t made.

This is my life. 

I’m a pretty happy-go-lucky sort of gal. I see the glass half full. Like almost all the time. And yet, there are so many days when I wake up to clutter and a busy schedule and I just wish I could escape reality. The last few years added up to a lot of chaos. And even though my burnout has healed, I’m still left with the aftermath.

Okay, so for instance, I can have the main part of my house pretty much neat – and all it takes is a few busy days to ruin everything. Like, the house is a disaster within 24 hours. I was gone from home nearly everyday for the last two weeks…. 14 times 24 hours… Ugh.

Can anyone else relate? Tell me I’m not alone in this!

The problem is, the house may appear to be clean or neat when someone drops by or comes for dinner… but the truth is, I’m probably hoping no one looks in my closets, goes into the laundry room, or opens my bedroom door or pays attention to the stacks and stacks of books lying around… everywhere.

The truth is – I just have too much stuff. Stuff I don’t really even want. 

So, why have I been holding onto all this stuff that doesn’t add one bit of joy to my life? 

As I hold onto shame, I also hold onto stuff – stuff that tells me I’m not worthy of more than a cluttered, messy life.

As I hold onto regrets, I also hold onto stuff – stuff that tells me I routinely make bad choices – like that pair of jeans that just doesn’t fit right.

As I hold onto bitterness, I also hold onto stuff – stuff that keeps my bedroom from being a sanctuary for my marriage.

As I hold onto bad habits, I also hold onto stuff – stuff that tells me I’ll never be more than my present reality.

Repeat after me.

Today, I choose to let go of past regrets.

Today, I choose to let go of those things in my life that are trapping me under their weight.

Today, I choose to find joy and let go of clutter.

Today, I choose to let go of this world and hang onto God.

I am convinced that having less stuff will mean more joy. I am convinced that simplifying my life will mean less stress. I am convinced that getting rid of the clutter in my heart will lead to less clutter in my house.

Change isn’t easy, but it is possible. And with God ALL things are possible.

Today’s Goal

• Ask God to show you what things you are holding onto that are holding you back from your best life.
• Pick up a journal and write down your thoughts about what He has shown you or print my free prayer journal.
• Choose an area in your home you want to tackle. I suggest beginning with one of the main living areas of your home.
• Fill at least one bag or box full of stuff to give away.
• Take a picture of your bag. Share it on Facebook or Instagram – use hashtag #atimetoclean {optional}
• Leave a comment below about what you chose to get rid of.
• Do your best to wake up early tomorrow and spend time in prayer. Use your prayer journal.

The post What are you holding on to? appeared first on A Virtuous Woman: A Proverbs 31 Ministry.

A Time to Clean: 30 Day Homemaking Challenge

I’m guilty. I’ll admit it. I often have a neat home…. 15 minutes before guests arrive.

The thing is, even when the living room and dining room are {mostly} neat, but there is still clutter that is distracting. And more times than I like admitting, I’m gathering up clutter from around the house and stuffing it in a closet or in my bedroom – anywhere to keep it hidden until I can find time to deal with it.

Do I feel the need to do that because I don’t want people to see the truth? More than that, why do I have clutter to begin with? Does material clutter find it’s beginnings in the recesses of my heart? A messy house just might be symptomatic of a much deeper sickness.

These are the things we’ll be looking at during A Time to Clean: 30 Day Challenge.

How it Will Work

So, when I do a series like this, I tend to prefer a Monday – Friday schedule. I personally need weekends off. So, this 30 Day Challenge will take us into the mid November – six weeks total.

Hopefully, over the next six weeks we will see the main parts of our homes clean and ready to receive friends and family. By the end of the challenge, we should see our homes well on their way to being clutter free and organized – hopefully for good – because we’ll be looking deep into the heart of the matter.

Here’s the Commitment:

• Purge at least 1 bag of clutter from your life per day for a total of at least 30 bags.
• We will daily look at heart issues and discuss tips and tricks to get our spaces organized
• You will be tested, your heart will be torn open, your life will be changed.
• Upload your pictures to Instagram. I’d love to have you follow me! Be sure to tag me in your posts and use the hashtag #atimetoclean {optional}

Ecclesiastes 3:6,7

Ecclesiastes 3: 6, 7 “A time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak…” 

A time to search… our hearts.

A time to give up… our pride.

A time to keep… what really matters.

A time to throw away… the clutter.

A time to tear… apart our ideas.

A time to mend… what has been broken.

A time to be silent… and listen to HIM.

A time to speak… truth.

Because God is a God of Mercy…. and His love is never ending. He will hold our hand through the darkness and lead us into light.

Join the Challenge

Sign up using the form below if you’d like to receive this email challenge right to your inbox each morning. This challenge will end just before the holidays so you can focus on the fun stuff!

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The post A Time to Clean: 30 Day Homemaking Challenge appeared first on A Virtuous Woman: A Proverbs 31 Ministry.

Purpose 31 Holiday Planner

I know it’s only October, but soon the holidays will be fast approaching! I can hardly believe the year is winding down and it’s just a few weeks until Christmas!

If you want to simplify your holidays and organize your days so you can enjoy your family time more, this planner will help you do just that.

The Purpose 31 Holiday Planner is packed with 120 pages to help you plan and organize your holidays over an eight-week period.

With eight weekly to-do lists for cleaning, holiday preparation, and holiday shopping, you won’t find yourself scrambling at the last minute to get it all done.

There are calendars, bucket lists, shopping lists, recipe pages, gift lists, and more to help you keep track of everything you need to remember, plus you’ll find space to record all of your special holiday memories, past and present.

This planner is for just what you need to get organized, enjoy your days, and plan your holidays with simplicity.

Take a Peek Inside the Planner

How to Use the Holiday Planner

1. After you download the Holiday Planner, you can print the planner double sided or print pages as you need them.
2. Add the planner to a 3 ring binder. Alternatively, you can take the planner to your local office supply store and have them spiral bind the planner for you for about $5.00.
3. You can purchase my favorite planner paper here. It’s such wonderful paper – a lovely weight, pens don’t bleed through, and it’s a bright white color. You’ll love it!

Free Printable Holiday Planner

How to Download

1. Just fill out the form below and you’ll receive your own copy of The 2021 Purpose 31 Holiday Planner right to your email box!
2. If you’d prefer not to subscribe, you can purchase the 2021 Holiday Planner for $7.00 here.
3. Or, purchase the Undated Holiday Planner for $12.00 here.
4. If you are already a subscriber, filling out the form will not affect your subscription. You’ll simply receive the your copy of the planner in your inbox.

Why should I subscribe?

• access to my subscriber exclusive resource library
• exclusive coupons and sales to my shop
• updates, challenges, freebies, and exclusive offers
• instant access to subscriber exclusive printables

The post 2021 Free Printable Holiday Planner | Christmas Planner appeared first on A Virtuous Woman: A Proverbs 31 Ministry.