A Simple Life - Part Two

I'm making some suggestions for how to manage our cluttered, busy lives.  If you feel overwhelmed by your stuff and life in general, maybe it's time you simplified. How?  Here are some suggestions:

1 - Be content with what you have.

2 - Give generously.

3 - Work hard and finish what you start.  

You might say, "How will that simplify my life?"  Well, laziness doesn't help anybody.  If you make a habit of working well at whatever you get your hands on, chances are you will finish tasks, clean out clutter, earn some money, and maybe even help others.  All of that is good.

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 6 to "Go to the ant, O sluggard, consider her ways and be wise...she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest."  Are you like the humble ant?  Do you work hard at your job and put others ahead of yourself?

Paul wrote in Colossians "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  That changes my attitude about my work!  If I'm supposed to teach my students in a God-pleasing way, then I will do my very best to serve them, be patient, and keep trying to find new ways to help them overcome learning obstacles.  How could this principle change your work attitude?

I've helped many friends clean out rooms of their houses. Often we come upon piles of unfinished projects that they were once excited about, but never followed through with. I've taken home piles of mending, sewing, and other projects to help these friends de-clutter a room.  I thought that if I jump-started the process, maybe they would keep it going.

If you start something, big or small, make yourself finish it before you move on to another project!  And if you realize it's a lost cause, don't pile the stuff in your attic.  Give it to someone else who can use it!  That's the equivalent of finishing.

4 - Thin out your stuff.

This one is really hard for some people to do.  We Americans have too much stuff!  I can't believe all the storage units that exist now in our little town alone.  How much stuff do we really need?  Probably a lot less than we have.

Try this exercise - empty the contents of one drawer or cupboard, then wipe the shelves clean.  Look at your pile and see what you can give to others, donate, sell, or trash.  Only put back into the space what you really need and actually use. Start with a small area and then work up to bigger spaces.  If you tackle one area at a time, slowly and steadily, you'll be amazed at how quickly your home can be clutter free.

Here's a kitchen drawer that I've de-cluttered:

I use the bottom of an antique cupboard for storing all kinds of small stuff using baskets, wire shelves and boxes.

The hardest part about this is all the decision making that goes with it.  Some people have a hard time parting with stuff.  If you haven't used the item in over a year, you probably aren't ever going to and you should get rid of it.

What if it's sentimental?  "This was my grandmother's??" I've heard over and over again.  Honoring the memory of a loved one does not need to fill your house with clutter.  Your grandmother would be pleased if you cherish a few important items and really use them more than if you fill your attic and garage with boxes that collect dust.

Clothing!

I talked with 2 friends recently who thinned out their clothes by giving away a large portion to other friends who needed them.  I was truly impressed.

If you don't have room to store all your clothes when they are clean...then you have too many clothes!!  It's that simple.  If your closets and dressers are so packed full of clothes that you can't even see what you have, start thinning it out.  Make a pile of 10 items that don't fit, are out of style, or you know you're never going to wear again.  Do that again and again until the piles are manageable.  Donate to charity, give to friends, have a yard sale...you'll be glad you did.

Having too much stuff complicates your life, so pare down, thin out, give away, do what you need to do to simplify your life!

Part 3 next week:)

A Simple Life - Part One

We are bombarded each day with thousands of advertisements for products we probably don't need.  Our culture is characterized by consumerism on the grandest of scales.  I personally know many people who are overwhelmed by the clutter and busyness of their lives.  Our closets, basements and storage units are packed.  And there's no end in sight.  Ads, stuff, pressures, expectations, junk mail ...they just keep coming at us.

What can we do??  I'm going to make some simple suggestions for the next few weeks.  I hope these help you as they have helped me to navigate our busy, consumer-driven, cluttered lives.

1 - Be content with what you have.
I often think about the millions and millions of people on this earth who don't have the simple conveniences I count on every day.  Clean water coming out of a faucet, a safe and clean home, food easily available...you get the idea.  When I start being thankful for those things, it's hard to be discontent about anything trivial.

When was the last time you truly gave thanks for a good meal, a hot bath, or a good friend?  I try to make a habit of it. Blessings are all around us if we will just take notice!

A.A. Milne wrote that Piglet noticed Winnie the Poo's heart could hold "a rather large amount of gratitude." Doesn't that inspire you?  Is your heart like Winnie's?

Hebrews 13:5  says, Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'  Money isn't evil, but the love of money will lead to all kinds of evil.

Ann Voskamp made a journal of a thousand gifts that she could be thankful for.  I was so inspired by her example that I tried to do the same thing.  I'm up to number 247 in My Gratitude Journal.  I need to keep going!

So instead of piling more stuff into your already full life, be content with what you have, give thanks, and...

2 - Give generously.
I firmly believe that with prosperity comes great responsibility.  I started out my married life with a few nickels and a bunch of dreams. For many years we were never really sure we could make ends meet and were overwhelmed by the generosity of those who gave to us, sometimes out of their need.  It's humbling to receive, but it's good for our hearts.

We've always tried to give what we could to good causes, to those in need, and to our church.  Putting treasure in heaven is by far the best and safest investment we will ever make.

I am so thankful that now I actually have some money to be generous with.  I support a young boy in Haiti through Compassion International. They do wonderful work in many countries working with children and families trapped in poverty.

Here's a photo of my boy, Jovadson.  Please pray for him.  I can't wait to meet him someday, for sure in heaven, maybe here on Earth.  I try to write to him at least 2 times per month.  I send him photos of flowers, trees and pretty skies. I encourage him to work hard at school and obey his parents.  I remind him that he is very, very special to God and to me. One of the most damaging by-products of poverty is that children feel forgotten, completely meaningless.  This young man is made in the image of God and was made for a purpose.

There are so many reputable organizations to donate to that do good for those in need.  World Vision, Samaritan's Purse, Wounded Warriors...just to name a few.  If you've never considered anything like this, I strongly recommend it.  You probably won't even notice the money spent, and the benefits of becoming involved with supporting someone in a daily battle against wicked reality are amazing.

Robert Murray M'Cheyne once told his congregation "I fear there are many hearing me who may know well that they are not Christians, because they do not love to give.  To give largely and liberally, not grudgingly at all, requires a new heart; an old heart would rather part with its life-blood than its money."

You can be generous with more than just your money. There's your time, your talents, your attention, your help...If you don't think you have much to give, you're wrong.  Every person has some gift from God that can be used for good.  

Part 2 next week:)

Cauliflower Rice

When I visited my son and daughter-in-law in Tucson, Abba made a lovely dinner one night of cauliflower rice and pan-seared salmon  Here's how she did the "rice."

It's quite ingenious!  This is a paleo recipe for those of you who like to eat low carb.

Start with a head of cauliflower, an onion and a couple cloves of garlic.

Chop up the onion and garlic.

Rinse the cauliflower and break into pieces.

Saute the onions and garlic in some oil in a large saucepan.

While the onions and garlic are cooking slowly, place the cauliflower in a food processor and pulse until it resembles coarse grains of rice.  Don't over-process it!

Once the onion and garlic is softened and cooked down, add the cauliflower.  Stir well, cover and cook on low for 5 minutes

Add 1/2 cup or more of coconut milk to the pan.

Cover and cook for 5-10 more minutes until the cauliflower is cooked through but not mushy.

Add chopped cilantro, salt and pepper before serving.  You could also add some jalapeno or crushed red pepper at the beginning to add heat.