Simply less....
SHINE Reading Plan: Go here.
Subscribe to SHINE emails: Go here.
Memory Scripture: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." 1 Timothy 6:6-7
As most of you, I have had much time to sit and think about things.
This quarantine has allowed me time to process my days, my schedule, my life.
I realized a few things that I want to change moving forward.
The word that keeps coming to mind is simplify.
My life was anything but simple before the forced rest.
On the outside, maybe it seemed like life had gotten easier. With one child in college, and only one left at home, life was definitely different.
Life was not as quiet as I thought it would be in this stage of my life.
My calendar was full. Most of the things on there were good things, but a lot of things.
Several years ago I began a journey of saying yes less. It worked.
However, why did I still have this clutter in my mind?
My calendar was certainly beginning to look a little better, but my mind was constantly in a state of chaos.
The way that I did things was certainly not simple.
I had developed bad habits. Habits that just kept me scattered and distracted.
Have you ever been cleaning your bathroom and then suddenly realized your cookies were in the oven about to burn up the whole place?
Or, been folding laundry and remembered that drawer you need to clean out? So, you throw down the laundry basket and begin emptying that junk drawer?
This is how I constantly felt in my mind.
As my husband likes to put it, I always felt like I was "behind the 8 ball".
Good intentions all the live long day, but the follow through was the problem.
Clutter, distractions, consumption.....pulled at me.
Why do we do this?
How do we get in this place?
I was still getting up and having my time with Jesus every morning. I was still praying.
But, somehow during the day, my mind went back to the familiar clutter. The over-thinking, over-doing, over-contemplating, over-consumption.
My mind was not at rest.
I felt like everything was dependent on me.
Lem's grandmother had this uncanny ability. I always felt safe and at peace around her. She was never trying to "save" me, or rush me, or impress me.
She was just simple.
Simply grace.
And I felt that grace to "just be" every time I was around her.
Simple is not a fashion or decorative style.
Simple is the state of a heart at peace with Jesus. At peace with knowing that He is all we need.
We do not need busy schedules, countless social events, expansive ministries, too many friends to count and keep up with to make life better.
Less really is more.
We can learn so much from Jesus. He could have touched and healed millions of more people in his life span of 33 years.
However, he lived simply.
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15
He lived at the direction and will of His Father.
He certainly was not out to impress anyone.
He just offered that peace. That peace that can only be found in a life quieted by Him.
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
When we look to the world, social media influencers, politicians, high society people for answers....
We will stay in a state of clutter. Our minds will never be able to clear out the noise of their opinions, demands, and influences.
Let's just look to Jesus.
Guarding our minds, hearts, and eyes from things that pull us away from that rest.
He is all we need.
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:15-17
simplifying,
jill
Subscribe to SHINE emails: Go here.
Memory Scripture: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." 1 Timothy 6:6-7
As most of you, I have had much time to sit and think about things.
This quarantine has allowed me time to process my days, my schedule, my life.
I realized a few things that I want to change moving forward.
The word that keeps coming to mind is simplify.
My life was anything but simple before the forced rest.
On the outside, maybe it seemed like life had gotten easier. With one child in college, and only one left at home, life was definitely different.
Life was not as quiet as I thought it would be in this stage of my life.
My calendar was full. Most of the things on there were good things, but a lot of things.
Several years ago I began a journey of saying yes less. It worked.
However, why did I still have this clutter in my mind?
My calendar was certainly beginning to look a little better, but my mind was constantly in a state of chaos.
The way that I did things was certainly not simple.
I had developed bad habits. Habits that just kept me scattered and distracted.
Have you ever been cleaning your bathroom and then suddenly realized your cookies were in the oven about to burn up the whole place?
Or, been folding laundry and remembered that drawer you need to clean out? So, you throw down the laundry basket and begin emptying that junk drawer?
This is how I constantly felt in my mind.
As my husband likes to put it, I always felt like I was "behind the 8 ball".
Good intentions all the live long day, but the follow through was the problem.
Clutter, distractions, consumption.....pulled at me.
Why do we do this?
How do we get in this place?
I was still getting up and having my time with Jesus every morning. I was still praying.
But, somehow during the day, my mind went back to the familiar clutter. The over-thinking, over-doing, over-contemplating, over-consumption.
My mind was not at rest.
I felt like everything was dependent on me.
Lem's grandmother had this uncanny ability. I always felt safe and at peace around her. She was never trying to "save" me, or rush me, or impress me.
She was just simple.
Simply grace.
And I felt that grace to "just be" every time I was around her.
Simple is not a fashion or decorative style.
Simple is the state of a heart at peace with Jesus. At peace with knowing that He is all we need.
We do not need busy schedules, countless social events, expansive ministries, too many friends to count and keep up with to make life better.
Less really is more.
We can learn so much from Jesus. He could have touched and healed millions of more people in his life span of 33 years.
However, he lived simply.
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15
He lived at the direction and will of His Father.
He certainly was not out to impress anyone.
He just offered that peace. That peace that can only be found in a life quieted by Him.
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
When we look to the world, social media influencers, politicians, high society people for answers....
We will stay in a state of clutter. Our minds will never be able to clear out the noise of their opinions, demands, and influences.
Let's just look to Jesus.
Guarding our minds, hearts, and eyes from things that pull us away from that rest.
He is all we need.
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:15-17
simplifying,
jill
