Purge the Closets

I remember reading once about the contents of Abraham Lincoln's pockets found the day he was assassinated. Along with spectacles, a pocket handkerchief and whatnot were nine newspaper clippings favorable to his presidency and his policies. I find it fascinating that a man who has gone down in our history books as being one of the most courageous and greatest American presidents of all time cared about newspaper clippings. It makes sense, though, he was human after all and words of encouragement can do wonders for those battling their way upstream.
After being prompted by the words "Purge the closets" written on the bathroom mirror at my oldest brother's house, I have been inspired to intensively clean out my closets, and have been trying to coax myself to part with what I don't need, or what I predict will not be of much value to me in ten years. Books, letters, CDs and clothes are all at risk of getting their Closet Status changed. As I have been weeding through the random ensemble of articles I wonder what an alien observer would think about the contents of my closets. Would they find it weird that I keep 2 hockey sticks, or would they raise their eyebrows at well intended half started projects? I know you shouldn't get overly zealous with what others think of your closet space, and nobody is on the verge of writing articles about my pocket lint, but it is a reminder to me that if there is anything in there that I'm ashamed of it's time to bag it up and give it to Goodwill. Quality newspaper articles are far better than skeletons.

Thoughts for Chewing and Swallowing

Excerpt from Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman, Oct. 17th

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Gal. 6:14

"They were people who were living to themselves. Their hopes, promises, and dreams still controlled them, but the Lord began to fulfill their prayers. They had asked for a repentant heart and had surrendered themselves with a willingness to pay any price for it, and He sent them sorrow. They had asked for purity, and He sent them sudden anguish. They had asked for meekness, and He had broken their hearts. They had asked to be dead to the world, and He killed all their living hopes. They had asked to be made like Him, so He placed them in the fire "as a refiner and purifier of silver" (Mal. 3:3), until they could reflect His image. They had asked to help carry His cross, yet when He held it out to them, it cut an tore their hands.
...Yet God strengthened them and protected them, even from themselves. Often, in His mercy He held them up when they otherwise would have slipped and fallen. And even in this life, they knew that all He did was done well. They knew it was good to suffer in this life so they would reign in the one to come; to bear the cross below, to wear a crown above; and to know that not their will but His was done in them and through them."