We had a wonderful closing workday for the Shoes for Orphan Souls this week.  We are celebrating God’s provision of a record number of shoes sent out to help orphans around the world.  Our economy might be down, but not God’s economy.  May each recipient of those shoes respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ, good news that cleanses the soul!
     While breaking down empty boxes to be sent to the recycle center, I picked up a cardboard container that had been used for plants, as identified by the markings on the carton.  It had come to us full of shoes, and the box appeared to be clean on the inside.  However, I didn’t discover until too late that a layer of cardboard in the bottom was covering up a considerable amount of hidden dirt.  The stuff went everywhere.  It made quite a mess.  
     I started reflecting on God’s work in my life.    As a temple for His Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), my journey has at times been a bit unsettling because God was breaking down my boxes and cleaning house.   His invitation in 2 Corinthians 7:1 is to participate in the purification of our lives and the cleaning out of the muck.  That has been a big part of the Christian journey for me.  God is also doing that in His church, preparing us as the bride of Christ.   Ministry can be messy.
     I’m reminded of a chicken coup that Kristi and I once cleaned out.  The job seemed easy at first, but the deeper we dug the dirtier it got.  With each swipe of the pitchforks and shovels, we discovered more layers  of old “stuff” that needed to be scraped out.  The oldest deposits at the bottom  were the toughest, and the most putrid and foul.    God has cleansed my heart in that way over the years, layer by layer, deeper in His grace, purifying and cleaning, in his perfect timing.   We put on the righteousness of Christ and join Him as He works within and beneath the surface, the deeper recesses of the heart where the roots of bad fruit are sometimes concealed beneath the veils we put in place.
     I’m so thankful that God is amazing with shaping us and cleansing us.  He is good at helping us clean up messes.   Breaking down our boxes and compartmentalized tendencies by his amazing love.  His gentle, cleansing love---- no matter how bad the dirt or how well hidden.   It’s all what Jesus went to the cross for.