We’re remodeling outdoors!  The back door and steps have been torn out to make way for French doors leading onto a patio.  The ground has been dug out to prepare for a stone foundation that will be covered with concrete.

Hubby and his Dad have been doing all of the grunt work, with help from generous friends.  But one night I went out to help shovel the stones to spread them out from the pile where they were dumped.  It didn’t take long to feel the pull on my muscles.    “How do guys make work look so easy?!”

The ping of the shovel’s scrape against the rocks took on its’ own rhythm.  Dig.  Swing.  Pitch.  Swing.  Dig.  Swing.  Pitch.  Swing.  I didn’t think my mountain would ever shrink.  But I knew I couldn’t give up.

Jesus talked about a faith that was big enough to move mountains.  He said that any mountain could be conquered by a mustard seed.  What mountain do you need to tackle today?  He’ll give you the faith you need.  When you have to plug away at something that seems insurmountable, remember that He is there pulling for you too.  Rick Warren suggests posting little notes around you as visual reminders that say, “God is with me and for me right now!”  (p. 89, The Purpose Driven Life)

Keep depending on the Lord’s strength to get you through.

Well, the mudding is about done in the Dining Room.  I’ll be painting this weekend and getting ready for the new flooring.  But I’ll remember with each stroke of the paintbrush that it only takes a mustard seed to move a mountain!

Sally

Sally,
Don't ask me why I'm on here blogging when I have a thousand things needing my attention, but I had to tell you the chain of events that brought me here. I followed the link to your ezine website in the email you sent me this morning and read about how clutter steals your peace. I've been battling this for years. Not only have I been going to school and trying to keep up with everything going on in the lives of four generations, but we have had constant renovations to our house going on this whole time. This week Mike is working on soffit and there is a crew here putting on a new roof. It seems to never end!

The clutter article was posted on Nathan's birthday. It seemed so appropriate. When I saw the link to your blog, I decided to check that out. Your words about renovation made me smile and restored some of the peace lost living in the midst of clutter.

Thank you for reminding me that God will get me through every day, every "this old house" project, every piece of clutter if I will take the first small step of faith and depend on him to help me.

Thank you for your ezine and for your blog. You are one special lady!

Oh Sharon,
I know how frustrating it is to live with plaster dust and unfinished projects! Hang in there! The finished spaces will all be worth it one day, and we'll look back and realize the Lord used that to grow our character too!

The article Sharon mentioned, "Does Clutter Threaten Your Peace?" is at: http://www.sallyferguson.net/ezine%20archive.html