Welcome to Part 1 of the ‘Spring Clean Your Life Series.’  In part 1,we talk all about how to get your priorities straight.

Picture this scene with me.  Another day is done.  As you face the evening and evaluate your day… you know that you missed the mark.  You were impatient with your husband, didn’t read your Bible, the only prayer you said was asking forgiveness after losing your cool at the kids for running late…  and you just know that you need to get your priorities straight.  But… how?

Choose this day whom you will serve…

January 1st really is just a day, like any other day. But there’s something beautiful about a fresh start. Whether it’s the start of a new year, a new month, a new job, a day… or even a moment. The opportunity to start fresh is so appealing. But when we’re looking at our lives… how do we determine where to start? We start with what we value.

Let’s talk about the church in Laodicea. But first, let me explain something about my life.

I homeschool my kids. We have a rhythm to our days, and our mornings start with worship, Word and prayer. Worshipping and studying the Bible with kids is many things. I would describe it as beautiful, fulfilling, hopeful, necessary, frustrating, maddening, confusing, perplexing…

There’s a battle waging for our minds and for the minds of the coming generation.  It’s a battle of truth vs. lies.  But the good news is that there is a way to choose and believe truth.

“Why don’t the stickers stay on her?”

The maker spoke softly.  “Because she has decided that what I think of her is more important than what they think.  The stickers only stick if you let them. – You Are Special, Max Lucado

Understanding who God is has the potential to completely shift your life, your beliefs, and the way you view yourself and the world.  There’s a lot to say about who God is… and it’s all such good news.  But for today, as we dig into understanding who God is, we’re going to focus on these 5 truths about who God is:

1. Creator
2. Father
3. Redeemer
4. Sanctifier
5. King

What does God say about me?  What does God think of me?  Surely I’ve failed too often.  I don’t even want to know how God sees me.  A failure, a sinner, a liar, a hider.  That must be how God sees me.

Actually… no.  What I wrote above is what we often think of ourselves.  But for the Christian child of God, God sees a beautiful picture when he looks at you.

How to stop being a perfectionist.  Well, if you’re going to talk about dealing with perfectionism… you may as well talk to someone who has experience with it.  There are countless examples in my life that point to perfectionism controlling me.  So, if you’re wondering how to stop being a perfectionist, you’re welcome here, and you’re understood here.  Let’s dig in, and start trading perfectionism for purpose.

Galatians 5 talks about the fruits of the spirit.  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self control.  Today, we’re talking about how to have self control.

We live in a time where we have SO much available to us.  There are endless things to occupy our time and our attention.  Also, endless things to distract us from the things in life that are better.  The things that are CALLED to.

First, we’ll define ‘what is self control.’  We’ll talk about the importance of self control, and how to have self control and grow in it.