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 Kelly McManus
Kelly McManus is a wife of 19+ years & mother to 6 children ranging from 2.5yrs.-17 years old. She is also a foster/adopt parent. She is a home schooling mother of 12+ years, a founder of a prayer support group for homeschool mothers, and the Indiana Assoc. of Home Ed. NW IN Rep with her husband. Kelly is passionate about encouraging people through writing and speaking. www.kellymcmanus.org
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"Packing It Up and Moving It Out!"
By: Kelly McManus
Over the last five years, I've found myself struggling daily with the weight of restlessness. After moving into our home, I felt peace and a growing contentment. How I longed to be settled in a home after ten moves! This feeling of peace didn't last long though, different urgency's arose within me.The needs of the home continued to increase, and our to-do lists grew daily. Often, I would find myself pleading to God for His mercy and asking Him to send us packing to a different house- sometimes- that very day! The beautiful feeling of peace and relief that I had once had when we originally moved in, was soon forgotten. In my anxiety and stress, I soon began to notice a pattern unfold. Rather than let it take hold of me, I would cry out to God for help, endurance, and perseverance. I soon found myself looking for things to be grateful for as soon as a stressful thought would come my way. After some time, by God's grace, He changed my husband's heart and we put our home up for sale. He didn't have to tell me twice- I began to pack up the house immediately! How thankful I was that God had lead Larry to this decision. God heard my cries to Him, plus faithfully provided hope.
We put the house up for sale and waited.. but there was silence. A few calls came in and h less in and we pulled off a few showings with a lot of team effort. When the "For Sale" sign was stolen out of our yard, we amazingly, found ourselves at peace with it. We were changing. Our lives changed so much in those seven months.. The house transformed into an exploration extravaganza for two - 23 month olds and an open gym for our three grade school gymnasts. A 10x20 storage unit quickly became filled with the countless household items that caused me great distraction. When the clutter was gone, I experienced a unexplainable visual and mental peace. There was one thing that hadn't disappeared though, my laundry filled bedroom! After losing my prayer journal in the mess, I picked up my Bible and read from Ezekiel 8. I considered those written words, remembering that we are like a house. We are a 'temple' where Jesus' Holy Spirit can live, when we ask Him to. I felt burdened with a flood of mental questions.
"What have I possibly allowed to 'clutter' my heart?"
Please, join me in reading Ezekiel 8-
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Were lies remaining embedded into my mind- keeping me from living in freedom?
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Was I causing grief or anger to the Lord, like those Ezekiel had seen in the temple?
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Have I turned my back on God and worshiped something or someone in His place?
Maybe now is a great time to ask God for a 'de-cluttering' of our lives and a refilling with His freedom and peace! Ask Him.. He is able to do much more than we could ever ask or imagine!
Going Deeper: **Matthew 21:12 & 13
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