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Warning, this is a blathery one. It’s a look inside my head and heart that may not even make sense.
Mentioned in this podcast:
How to read the blog from the beginning.
Giving God the Worst of Me (Free e-book)
Dana, I really appreciate this podcast (and your blog and books). I likewise thing eternal things are what matter but struggle with the basics of housekeeping. I definitely have slobvision unlike my mother and so even though I trust her gospel guidance she has never been able to give me the base level techniques I need to keep on top of the cleaning. So your books and blogs have been a real answer to prayer for me. I have a pastor, and Christian books to help me learn more about my Lord and my relationship with him but now I also have your help in getting on with the basics of my life serving him. I don’t want to be an excuse for people to criticise my Saviour and I don’t want to be a hindrance to my husband or my child (or myself) serving Him so having someone come along and tell me that getting my dishes done is the first step is so good. I think your fulfilling the Titus 2 pattern of women teaching women good things and to be keepers-at-home. Thank you.
Sorry for the typos! 🙂
Thank you so much for this perspective, Eppie.
I totally agree with what Eppie said. Your bravery to be vulnerable is such an encouragement to me.
Thank you for your obedience for what He would have you do. Your message spoke to me. I have been going thru a personal wilderness (more like hell) for the past 18 months after responding to what I felt God wanted me to do. I have been slowly realizing that this wilderness was caused by my “wrestling”/trying to control the situation. At any rate, we just need to be still and let God steer. (Famous last words!) By the way, don’t ever apologize. You’re real and you’re great. You’ve been a big help to me. Thanks!!
Thank you so much for this comment, Kathy.
I’m not religious and this podcast was exactly what I needed to hear today. I am not writing about what my heart wants to write about either and I have been struggling with that a lot this year. This morning I started writing a post (quietly) admitting that to myself, because telling the world makes it real. I stopped to absorb it all and did the dishes listening to this podcast. Now I think I can go and finish it.
Thank you so much, Stella. Write your heart.
Dear Dana,
As far as I am concerned you *are* indeed writing about spiritual matters! Conveyed through the medium of cleaning, decluttering and organizing, the spiritual lessons come through loud and clear.
Yours is a wonderful ministry.
Eugenia
Thank you for this encouragment, Eugenia.
I have read some of your blog posts and found them really helpful! My mom is one of those naturally organized people, and I have struggled to try to do things the way my mom did growing up. Your perspective helps encourage me in doing it a different way.
I just recently subscribed to your podcasts, and I really enjoyed this one. I, too, am a believer, and God has been teaching me lately that a lot of my worries and struggles stem from me trying to control everything. Thanks for your honesty and sharing how God is working in you!
Yes you are meeting my needs! I am a Christian in MS who listens to you and I always say …she is just like me! I have 4 kids, love theater, am naturally a slob and leave cabinet doors open…I am doing so much better running the dishwasher and getting small things done. God is using you!!!! Hope you realize that!
I’m one of those people who grew up in a church, but then became disillusioned by the rules and the words many churches use that create an us vs them approach to living in this world. I see your humanity in your blog, therefore I connect to you and see the gifts you provide to your readers. I find much more joy in that than what you might say to me using spiritual words. So while you may not be writing the words you thought you were to be writing originally, I think your mission comes through because you are being your authentic self.
Dana, I just wanted to let you that this podcast was so much more than just a ramble of your thoughts. I identify with your story and your struggle in so many ways, and I’m very grateful for your encouragement to trust the Lord more fully. He’s been speaking to me about the trust issue, but listening to you made me feel much less alone and much more determined to let go and trust. Even though our personalities / tendencies are very different (I’m a naturally ‘tidy’ person, not so creative….etc.), I find your approach to cleaning and organising infinitely more digestible and enjoyable than any other person’s. Please keep up the great work you’re doing….you’re a great friend to listen to while I work around my house doing anything! Thank you!
This is by far my favorite podcast. You are always honest but this is so real and applicable on so many levels. Thank you for listening to God and being obedient to His calling on your life.
Dana,
Thank you so much for this podcast! Thank you for your courage to do what God wanted you to do no matter what the cost. We all know that they can be very difficult. I love all of them but this one in particular I really enjoyed. It has been a great encouragement as a Christian women and a bit of a control freak! You also make me feel better about myself. To know there are other people out there like me, because 99% of my family ALWAYS have their house in good shape if someone drops in. I am NOT that person and they can’t comprehend that I am the way I am. To them I am lazy.
~Crystal
Thank you for this comment, Crystal.
Hi Dana!!
It’s 2019, and your podcast today is just as relevant as it was three years ago, and just as encouraging. Withing the contents of this episode (and I did start with Episode 1 a while back – a year ago maybe?) I was reminded that I, too, need to “let go and let God” regarding my home situation and the situation surrounding my seriously ill father. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for both the spiritual guidance – as well as your cleaning and organizing advice!!
Dana, it’s January of 2022. I’m sitting in the church parking lot, waiting for BSF to start. This post has hit me hard. I totally understand the disappointment you feel in not having your ministry be more “noble” & spiritual plain (plane?) rather than on a physical level.
A few years ago, I was invited “out” of BSF leadership because I had been vulnerable & honest about my house being out of control. The class administrator had no empathy or encouragement for me. She just wanted me off her team. I was totally devastated. I fell into a deeper depression and felt more shame and my house got worse.
I found myself binge watching YouTube. I found one individual who helped guide me in losing 60 pounds. I found a lot of puppy and kitten videos. I found Cas at Clutterbug … who I love. After a few months, she led me to Dawn, and then Dawn led me to her sister. Cas & Dawn together led me to you.
You resonate with me in a way no one else ever has. God, through you, your personality and your methods have given me hope that I’ve NEVER felt before. Yes, the hope on a spiritual level is anchored deep in Jesus Christ. But I’m talking about hope for a physical peace and contentment in my house, which does have an impact on my whole being.
God is using you in amazing ways in my life!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
This episode was so encouraging to me! And I thank God that he led you to write about cleaning because it has been such a blessing to my family. It gives me the mental space to focus on the important things in live instead of being constantly anxious because of the clutter. <3
Dana,
I felt compelled to pause this and tell you, what you are doing is SO important. It may not feel like it, but you ARE making a huge difference in people’s lives. Since I found you on YouTube, you have made a HUGE impact in my life, and I am so beyond grateful for you. I thank God he brought you to me. I felt like I was drowning in clutter. There were so many times I would just cry and cry because I didn’t know how to get out of the literal mess of having too much stuff. Stuff just kept coming in, but nothing was going out. I never wanted to do the dishes because no, it’s not fun, and it’s only overwhelming, I waited until every dish was dirty and there was no counter space to do anything. It affected my marriage and my day-to-day attitude. It affected function in my home. It made me an irritable wife to my husband and a grumpy mama to our five year old daughter. Currently, my house is not anywhere near where I want it to be yet, but oh my have I made a HUGE difference in getting things OUT of my house. It has made me a happier person, and in turn, my husband, who cooks for us, actually has counter space and pots and pans clean when he’s in the kitchen, so we are not bickering about the mess anymore. At least in the kitchen! Woo-Hoo! Victory! Step One! Thank You Dana! I appreciate you so so so much! More than you will ever know. You have made an outstanding difference in my life and I am so grateful for what you do for us. Much love for you and your family.
I recently listened to this podcast- I’m a little late to the decluttering game. I wanted to encourage you and to affirm that God is using you more than you may know this side of heaven. I can personally say that by implementing a lot of your decluttering methods in my home, this has spilled over into other areas of my life – causing me to be more intentional in many other areas including how I am living out my faith and has also been instrumental in strengthening other relationships. So while you may not feel like your podcasts are ministering to people on a spiritual level, you might just be surprised. 😉
That podcast was exactly what I needed to hear today. I have been listening to you (or watching you on YouTube) while I work on my house for the last 6 months. I’m in New Zealand so am unlikely to ever meet you in real life, but I love the fact that I can look forward to meeting you in heaven one day. God Bless You! You have been a blessing to me and many others!