Links and Lists
Someone laughed at me when I said I was a blogger, interested in simple living.
Yes, I have a lot of technical stuff. And yes, I want to simplify my daily living. More than that, I want to learn new hobbies, and use my creative giftings.
I’m sure you can think of ways to make your family or personal non-working hours more simple and fun.
Here’s a few suggestions:
- Visit a library. When was the last time you ditched your Kindle for a real book? Do your children know what a library is?
- Color. Yes, color. Grab a coloring book and some pencils or crayons and go for it. At your next holiday gathering put out a white paper tablecloth and let the guests have at it with crayons, pencils, markers. Not for kids only.
- Sketch. My Dad had me hooked on sketch pads and pencils. Send your kids out, or yourself, to the yard or a park or somewhere interesting and try sketching what you see.
- Bake Bread. Does anything smell better than baked bread? You have no excuse for not finding a recipe, and some instructional videos if you are reading this online.
- Sew. Knit. Crochet. Weave. How much do you have hidden in that fabric or yarn stash that you meant to use one day? Go get it. Now!
- Play with paper crafts. Don’t get me started. As the owner of a new Cricut, and vast amounts of supplies, I am in love with the art of card making. See the blinkie on the side bar? The Stamps of Life has a wonderful stamp of the month/die of the month club. Visit your neighborhood craft store for free idea sheets. Warning:
Canwill be addictive. Instructional videos, paid and free online classes are readily available if you have Web access. - Board Games. If you don’t know what these are, you are too technical. Monopoly, Clue, Pictionary. Card games. Something you can do if the power goes out. Really…..
- Fill in the blank….how have you escaped the technical world for some family friendly, fun time?
Lucado’s New Book on Prayer and a New Online Study
Proverbs 31 Ministries is offering a short study of Max Lucado’s new book on prayer. The study details can be found at the OBS (Online Bible Study) site. All you need is a book. And this time they are throwing in their special study conference calls for free. If you’re like me, you are always looking for something new on the topic of prayer. This probably won’t disappoint.
One of my goals with this blog is to make information available regarding online studies and resources. I’m a huge believer in seeing the Internet used for good, and a huge believer in Bible study. God’s Word and the study of it, is crucial to walking by faith. Perhaps this is your time to jump in? The days before Christmas could benefit from taking time to slow down and spend a few moments with Him and with other believers online.
See you there? Visit their Facebook page for further info…
And…if you have participated, share your thoughts here!
Really? Are You Questioning God’s Direction?
Really?
Look around, and listen. The latest expression, which may be getting old already, is really.
Everyone is using the word, from celebrities, to newscasters, to friends and family. Really, is the new buzzword. Online definitions state that really means you are surprised by something someone has said. However, for our purposes, let’s go back to the slang term that everyone is tossing about. Essentially the word means, “are you kidding me?” “You have to be kidding!” “Are you serious?”
And such is the expression I myself used when I felt God telling me to start writing again. As a teenager, I had taken journalism courses and creative writing courses in school. My father’s uncle was the creator of a small publication based on gold mining in the Wild West. Though I was not thrilled with the subject matter, his work inspired me to pursue writing. He shared insight on tools and resources, and he gave me inspiration. The inspiration paid off. In high school, I won a state sponsored creative writing award. Really.
I don’t know why I ever continued to be attracted to writing. Ballet and crafts were the things I cared about. Perhaps I tucked this into my back pocket for a day when ballet was no longer physically possible for me. For such a time as this. The craft addiction is still there, but the writing interest has returned after being set aside.
As I start focusing on writing again, I have been reflecting on writing as a gift from God. It’s something He has been asking me to do, and this is just one part of a journey of obedience. It has taken me a year or better, just to get this blog off the ground. Really. I did not want to let Him down, but I did not want to be unauthentic either. As a small business owner, I spend far too much time on mindless paperwork, and too little on following after Him. I seek to use His gifts so much more than I currently do. I don’t want this to be a meaningless, mindless blog. I hope to move from my frustration with mindless living, to a purposeful place where a simple, faith based life of creativity thrives. I hope you join me in this journey.
I’m wondering what God has asked you to do, that makes you say “really?” He may be asking you to buy a meal for a disadvantaged family. Really. He may be asking you to speak to someone in the grocery store, someone who needs to hear what He has to offer. Really. Anytime we are asked to do something out of our comfort zone, really becomes the key word. It can be an excuse, or a jumping off point to get moving and start sharing, caring, and helping. Try changing your tone from the slang really (“you have to be kidding God!”). Change it to, “really?” Joyfully accept what He is asking you to do.
So next time you feel God asking you to do something, share something, follow a certain path, even if you find yourself saying “really?” know that He never asks us to do what He does not equip us to do. Jump in, with a preliminary prayer for wisdom. Keep seeking Him along the path as you journey into the actual doing of the thing. It may be a very short-lived task He is asking of you, or it may be a very long journey. After all, I pretty much shelved my writing after junior high and high school, and here I am forty years later. I’m feeling the slang really, but prayerfully, thoughtfully crossing to the other side of the word. If it truly is His direction for me, soon I will be saying “yes, really!” with a definite conclusion and confident determination.
Help me Lord, to seek the path You have for me. To glorify You through the use of the gifts You have given me, every day.
Prayer at Wits’ End
I ran across this in the August 28 reading from My Utmost for His Highest, Daily Devotionals by Oswald Chambers.
Ask and God will do. Give Jesus Christ the opportunity and the room to work. The problem is that no one will ever do this until he is at his wits’ end. When a person is at his wits’ end, it no longer seems to be a cowardly thing to pray; in fact, it is the only way he can get in touch with the truth and the reality of God Himself. Be yourself before God and present Him with your problems— the very things that have brought you to your wits’ end. But as long as you think you are self-sufficient, you do not need to ask God for anything. “August 29.” My Utmost for His Highest. pag. 28 Aug. 2014. Web. <http://utmost.org>.
This has long been one of my favorite devotional books because it really makes me think. I can’t just read this and walk away. I have to ponder it awhile. Sometimes the readings zero right in on the issues I’ve been dealing with in recent days. Funny how an old book speaks to contemporary living.
August 2014 was a wits’ end month. First our business equipment died, a rather speedy costly death. Then we got a lovely notice concerning taxes. You can guess what it was. My insurance agent said it’s worse than having a root canal. Research shows that less than 1% of businesses like ours even get them. Lovely. At the same time, I was diagnosed with something called Dupuytren’s Contracture. I had to go to an audio medical dictionary just to learn to pronounce it! I wish I didn’t have it. It isn’t something a writer wants to have since it can result in hand and finger deformities. Ouch.
Yes, it was a wits’ end month. I’m upset, I have no idea what to do and I’m very frustrated and extremely aggravated. That’s the best working definition I can find for my wits’ end situation. In my effort to live a simple life, trouble manages to find me. I would like to simply be left alone.
I’m a far cry from being self-sufficient, so I ask. And I ask a whole lot. I’ve taught myself to remember that God doesn’t cause the problems. He allows them. And I ask Him for help. The devotional goes on to compare our asking to the way a child would ask. A child can be pretty brave in his asking. I’m asking with dependency on Him, presenting my problems to the reality of God Himself. Walking in faith, looking for the truth of His Word. I won’t say it’s easy. I get stressed, and I question myself and Him. I know I’m not alone in this.
What has you at your wits’ end? Are you at the end of your self-sufficiency? Do these words strike a chord with regard to your prayer life? Do you have a go-to devotional that speaks to you during the rough, frustrating times?
Is there prayer at your wits’ end? Help us Lord, to look to you through prayer when we’re in the land of wits’ end living.
Simple Living?
1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NLT)
11 Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.
This verse has always captured what I am trying to do with my life and in my family. Unfortunately, it isn’t as easy as it looks. I’m hoping to use this blog to zero in on these qualities. Now, I am plugged in to social media, Facebook and Twitter with my various technological tools. I’ll probably even subject my writing to spell checks, and grammar programs. If I must. Maybe that’s all the polar opposite of what I’m trying to say. Maybe not.
I want to delve into crafts of all sorts. I want to read and study. Not just the Bible, but literature. I want to lead a quiet life with the husband God has blessed me with, my four adorable critter children and my praying, Godly Mom. I don’t want a bucket list. I want a God-centered Word driven daily to-do list.
I’ve just ordered a book that I think may help along those lines. Lysa TerKeurst’s The Best Yes. #TheBestYes. I’m trying quite hard to say no, not necessarily to people, but to demands that waste my life and time. I don’t necessarily see those things in people, I see them in time wasting endless mounds of paperwork. I see them in taking business calls after hours when it’s time to shut the office door. That’s the plight of the self-employed. I see distraction from the best path, coming in the form of anything that takes a focus off God and puts it on man. He is the ultimate goal of our adoration, time, money and resources. He is that perfect yes. He is the one the prowling lion seeks to keep us from.
1 Peter 5:8 (NLT) 8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
Is this simple living? Is it possible? Again, I don’t like the bucket list idea. I prefer that “live a quiet life, mind your business, and work with your hands” stuff. Put your home and family under His care. Love the ones He has surrounded you with. Even the furry children. Dance in His simple plan for your life and walk in faith.
If any of this resonates with you, feel free to share. Is it even possible to live a life like this? It does seem that my efforts are thwarted at every turn. How about you?
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