Note
The program ideas in this material could be shared over several weeks. Before beginning, ask the women what program areas they would like to cover.
Decorations
Use various organizational tools as centerpieces. These could also be used as door prizes.
Introduction
Every aspect of our lives needs some level of organization. Our thoughts and ideas can be organized in to–do–lists, daily journals and bullet journals. Our time can be organized by using calendars, day planners and journals.
Program Ideas
- Speaker—Invite someone to share organizing tips on how to make the most of small spaces.
- Show a segment of the program “Tidying Up” with Marie Kondo, which is available on Netflix. Or show the 10–minute presentation, “Ten Amazing Tips from Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,” which is on YouTube.
- Dealing with all the stuff—Ask the women if this is or has been a problem for them in the past. Invite them to share any solutions that have worked for them. Following the discussion, offer further suggestions. For example: Many professionals suggest making three piles—keep, donate and trash. Information on this subject is available on the Internet.
- Focus on just one area of clutter that the women may experience and share ways to deal with this problem. For example: Kitchens and bathrooms can be organized by using baskets and shelves (show examples). Clothes closets are another challenging area for many people. Share ideas for dealing with this problem.
Brain Dump or Bullet Journal
This type of journaling helps organize thoughts, ideas and activities so that they no longer distract us from the desired focus. For example: A writer may write down thoughts to flesh out at another time. A corps officer may write down a program idea to develop later or even capture statistics so they don’t forget to report them. Our minds were not created to store data for long periods. These journals free us to focus on what is before us.
For further information check the Internet. Following are a couple of sites:
https://littlecoffeefox.com/brain-dump/
https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/how-to-do-the-ultimate-brain-dump.html
For videos on YouTube:
Game
Place 20 items that might be found in a junk drawer on a tray. Give each woman several seconds to view the tray. Once everyone has had a chance, cover it with a towel. Ask the women to write down what they remember. Set a time limit of two to three minutes.
This is the Stuff
Play the song “This is the stuff” by Francesca Battistelli, which is available on YouTube. The first line says, “I’ve lost my keys in the great unknown, and call me please, ‘cause I can’t find my phone.” This song has been my life for many years. In my chaotic life, I drop one uncompleted project, just to pick up the next and rush off adding to my chaos.
Can you relate to the following: You are working diligently on a project and realize you are late picking the kids up from school. You can’t find your car keys and you just remembered that it’s your turn to bring refreshments to women’s ministries tonight. I am a 21st century working woman, a woman of chaos and confusion, trying to be all things to all people, while pretending to have my act together. But I’m discovering that it doesn’t have to be this way. We read in 1 Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace …”
The creation story further confirms this truth. We read that when the earth was created it was “formless and void.” (Read the creation story in Genesis 1.) Each day God ordered the chaos and created an amazing world for His people. He designed each day of creation to be the foundation and life source for another one of His creation. Birds cannot live without trees and foliage. Trees and foliage cannot exist without land and water. Land would not exist if the waters weren’t parted, and to do that, God had to separate the atmosphere. God had a plan in the creation process and He worked the plan to the benefit of His creation. He created human beings only after everything was ready for us, and we are the only creation made in His likeness.
When I am in the middle of a project, whether it is a craft or the Christmas toyshop, I tend to get sidetracked. I have been known to lay down my scissors, markers and files, only to find them hours or days later. In those times, I spend more time dealing with what I’ve neglected, and as a consequence, I lose time to work on a project that would benefit His Kingdom. God did not create us in chaos, but in order.
If we take the time to organize our minds, homes, workplaces and calendars, we will be more likely to find peace amidst the chaos. We will lower our anxiety level because we will know where we left our keys and purses. We will save money because we will not buy groceries and supplies that are already on our shelves. We will save time, because we will be able to prioritize our tasks. Also, we will know where the tools and supplies are to complete a project if we took the time to put them away.
We read in 1 Corinthians 14:10, “But all things should be done decently and in order.” Take the time next week to put to use some of the lessons that we learned today. Come next week and be ready to share your successes and also your failures, and what you could have done in a better way.
Close in prayer.
