Daily Dealing with the monster.

Did you start the dishwasher?

Whose turn is it to unload the dishwasher?

Why do you stack dishes in the dishwasher like that?

Dirty dishes are the bane to our society (Must be why disposable plates, cups, and plastic utensils are so popular).

Maybe some of you don't have the luxury of owning a dishwasher. You might have other issues to deal with aside from loading, unloading, or stacking dishes in the machine. Your issue might be the growing pile of dishes on the counter. If you live alone, then your nemesis is not who will wash the dishes but when will you finally break down and do them...

Funny thing about dirty dishes that sit for days, the longer one waits to wash them, the more crusted the food becomes. Day after day, the pile of dirty dishes grows until the beast sitting on your kitchen counter looks like Everest. See how the crusty forks seem to be baring their nasty teeth? They almost smirk at you and challenge you to leave them go another day....except that means more of their friends and family will join them over night.

If you have a mind and can reason, think about this. Take 5-8 minutes every day to wash your daily dishes and let them stand in the drying rack. Several benefits rise out of your decision.

1. No dirty dishes on the counter.

2. Food encrusted dishes won't get more difficult to clean.

3. A mountain of dishes never materializes.

4. Early in the morning, you have already accomplished a task and jump-started your productivity.

If you have a mind and can reason, think about this. Take 5-8 minutes every day to address the following growing 'Everests' in your life.

Sin, anger, laziness, and a host of other ills are a lot like dirty dishes. If you ignore them, they don't go away. They do seem to accumulate and get more difficult to deal with as time passes.

Daily offering and confessing our sin to God prevents a stockpiling of guilt to occur. God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ cares for our sins, but only if we'll admit them.

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have

not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." (1 John 1:8-10, NIV)

Anger festering toward another person needs to be resolved. Forgiveness needs to be offered and your life needs to be unfettered from the beast of internal rage.

“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil

a foothold." (Ephesians 4:26-27, NIV)

Choosing to not do a task based upon the notion that the TV show you're watching is more important will lead to a growing beast to deal with later.

"The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth!" (Proverbs 19:24, NIV)

Live in God's grace and provision today. Then, tomorrow, do it again....