A Clean Conscience

I hate cleaning. Hate is a strong word, but it just seems to pour from my mouth easily when it comes to things I don't want to do. God knows this. I can only imagine that he hates cleaning, too, because he sees all of the dirt that no one else can ever see. I read this verse from 1 Peter 3 this morning and it brought to mind this poem. Forget the clean house— give me a clean heart, O God. (Psalm 51)

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. So he went and preached to the spirits in prison— those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 3:18-21  New Living Translation

This Crowded Little House

I have no room to complain,
no room to judge.
In the crowded corners of this heart,
I have little room to budge.

Some days I want to free this little house,
mess it up with a deep flood,
overwhelm and dislodge,
every little thing with God's love.