Feels like we’re spending tons of time at home these days, doesn’t it? Oh wait… THAT’S BECAUSE WE ARE. Yeah, and you know what that’s leading to in the Simpkins household?  Projects. Inside ones. Outside ones. Home Depot ones. Amazon order ones. It’s like we are SEEING every bit of what needs to be improved or changed all of a sudden. Things that never really bothered us before stick out like a sore thumb.

I find myself working on our place almost every day at some point. It’s weird. Like why did we find a need all of a sudden to do stuff so much? I think the answer is, like I said above, we’re HOME. A LOT.

So I’ve worked out clearing out a few closets - which was awesome. I was able to give away a lot of clothes and streamline some organization. We also started reworking our outside a bit more. We put in some retaining walls and even built a patio to hang out and grill out! Woot.  It’s been really fantastic to be able to enjoy better cooking. And on that note, we even started a bit of dieting as well and I’m losing weight!

See, we’re at home a lot, and by all indications, we will be at home for a while to come. Which means, well, there’s a likelihood of several more projects to come. So, here’s to all of you (raising my cold beverage to you all)!

AND YET, there’s something else going on here too. Right now, because we can’t process in person very well together, we’re at home with our feelings and emotions too. If you were anxious before this, it’s probably out of control now. If you were depressed before COVID, it’s gotta feel like a huge weight on you now. If your marriage was struggling, your job was driving you crazy, or you felt down on life and yourself, it’s likely feeling unbearable now.

Anxiety/depression is kicking in for many like a snowball coming down a hill behind them.  Lots who never experienced it are now feeling signs of anxiety and depression. And since they aren’t familiar with the patterns and remedies, it’s starting to feel pretty overwhelming and many didn’t see it coming. SISTERS AND BROTHERS, please REACH OUT if you’re feeling like this. It’s not abnormal right now, and we’re here for you.

So, thinking about all these home renovation projects we’re doing makes me think about renovations and projects for us, internally, too. As we spend more and more time by ourselves, we get a lot of time for introspection. We get a lot of time to process our feelings and emotions. And we may start to see some things that stick out like a sore thumb. Some things that perhaps we’d like to work on and fix. Some, personal renovations.

Isaiah 43:18-19 18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

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Here are some questions to ponder:

What might God be up to during this time... in YOU?

What walls need to come down for you to move forward?

What walls may need to be put up for your health and happiness?

What upgrades to yourself need to happen? How is God doing a new thing in you, today?

Perhaps it means letting go of some old habits, and taking on some new ones?

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Sisters and brothers, start to look for how God is doing some renovations in your life. Let God go to work on you today and see what an amazing new thing YOU can become! Be encouraged and uplifted!

Lord, God of renovations, complete a new work in me. Make me anew and hold me up where I might fall. Lead me into new ideas and life that I might glorify you. I believe you are doing a new thing in me, in my life and all around me. Help me to embrace it and live it out in the name of your Son, our Savior, Jesus!  Amen!