Back to Basics

As I look back over the journey of the past couple of years, I see that my walk to a more simple life and one that reflects God better in my life has meandered slowly but efficiently.

I see where I am now, and where I came from and I find the walk an interesting one.

I am so thankful to myself for keeping track of it on this blog, because I am sure I suffer from short term memory loss at times :)

For my own benefit, and perhaps my reader friends as well, I want to put down where I feel like I am in this journey. I want to clarify for myself where I am right now, and see where God has brought me at this moment in time. It is sure to change, I am sure it will as I learn and grow in Him every day.

Today, I am here ...

I believe that God has given me everything I need to be all the things he desires me to be ...

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3

I believe the Spirit in my life is that "everything" ...

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” John 14:25-26 - NTSB

I believe that the Spirit uses the resources God has given us each personally to accomplish what God has planned for us ...

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. Ephesians 4:10-11

I believe too, that we has Christian woman carry a burden that is greater than God intended us to. I believe that our harried schedules, unrealistic expectations of ourselves, constant comparisons, overworked bodies, distracted relationships, and overall STRESSED OUT existence prevents us from fully experiencing God and His Spirit in our lives.

I believe that God has given me very personal resources that He wants to use to fulfill His will in my life and that if I am aware of them, I can use them more efficiently.

I believe that my resources are anything that is in my control to be used for God. Its time, energy, finances, home, my background, my relationships, my thinking, my passions ...my resources are abundant.

I believe that if we dont feel like we have all that we need to be what we need to be for God, it is because we misuse what we have been given for His purpose.

I believe, that when we use the resources God have us the way that God intended, the Spirit can move more effectively through my life and thus my life can resonate with His peace more powerfully.

I desire to have a life that is more reflective of God in my life, and I believe peace reflects that better than stress does. 

And, so the journey to all that continues.  My journey entails constantly learning what my resources are, how I am misusing them, and in what ways I can better use my "everything I need." I would be most honored if you would continue the journey with me! I have learned so much about me and what God has planned for me ..and it is good! :)

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:!1

Perfect ..I am not

Part of living a life of less stress, is letting go of the things that are not in our control. These days I have to practice this on a very regular basis ..because this is where I am right now:

Having just had a baby 5 weeks ago, my third boy. I have two other very busy boys (3 and 5).  I am a married woman.. all of those people wear clothes and eat.

I have a home with three bedrooms, a playroom, a living room, a kitchen and three bathrooms ..all those rooms have floors, all those bathrooms have toilets that are used regularly, and all of them collect dust.

I homeschool my kids ...which means I have to teach them all something

We have busy lives..so I have to go places with all those aforementioned people.

We love our church family..so we have classes, events, potlucks, picnics and church services

I am a sister and daughter ..so my mind and heart is often full with family who is far away

I have wonderful friends ...and so we have playdates, phone calls and the occasional moms night out

I love to write..and so get to give time to doing so

I am a christian mom, wife, daughter, sister and friend ...so I must take time to ponder, pray, read and study


So, I dont have the time or the energy to be perfect.


So, yes ... there are half-eaten english muffins on my dryer ...

and fingerprints on my walls ...

and there are ice cream cones on the shelf ...

and my mini-van is a mess ...

and paint brushes that were attempted to be cleaned sitting on the sink in the guest bathroom ...

...my bathrooms are less than stellar

...I dont iron

...and I couldnt tell you the last time I made my bed


Somedays, my resources do not allow for attention to those areas. Hopefully soon they will, but for today I have to be okay with my imperfectness.

Its not easy, because I am constantly comparing myself, my home, my time, my talents and my resources with the me I wish I was.  But for today, O Lord, let me be okay with being everything you need me to be and less focused on the things that are just part of the wonderful life of chaos I have right now.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."  

2 Corinthians 12:9

Naturally

 
I have considered quite a bit as of late, how we are so inclined toward what is "natural" to us.

Of course we are.

Not just in the human sense, where we desire love and have to struggle against the carnal desires we have to suppress on a daily basis. I am talking about the things we struggle against that are as easy to us as breathing. Like, our emotional inclinations at any given time, the desire to dish to someone when we get upset, our desire to be silent when we are angry, how we say what we think, or dont tell anyone anything.

Thinking about this in terms of God's resources and how we use them, in what ways do we use the resources God has given us without even thinking about it? ..and how do we misuse them?

Thing is, that God made us how he made us on purpose, no argument there. He also had plans for how he wanted us to use those resources. Satan has a great plan as to how we can misuse them as well. And that is as true for those things that come "naturally" to us as not.

Sometimes the ways that using our resources feels the most "natural" is not the way God would want us to use them at all. 

Here are some examples ...

If you are one who speaks her mind ...you can naturally disregard how your words affect others, because you are just "saying it like it is"

If you are one who are shy by nature ...you may resist building Christian relationships and seeking out godly friends

If you are an emotional gal ...you may react in ways that hurt others, and use your feelings to justify it

If you are the brainy type...you could have less than loving degrees of compassion towards others

If you are by nature a leader ..you may use your influence to gain attention for yourself, rather than God

If counseling or teachings others is as easy as breathing ...you may put too much pride in your words, and talk when you should listen

If you are naturally inclined to plans ..you may struggle with letting God lead, and letting others guide
 
If you are are giddy over order ...then you may give undo worry to areas where God is the only order, and that is as it should be


All of these things are ways that God has blessed us gals, each to different degrees. He has given us "everything we need" in these areas so that we can do the tasks to which he has called us, but how many of our own struggles are because we follow our nature? We do what comes naturally to us, and so it seems right at the time...but if it is not Christlike, then it is not the way God intended us to use those resources that he gave us "naturally".

To refer to a recent post (here), we have to find balance between knowing and accepting what God gave us, and not being so comfortable with our "nature" that we ignore how Satan has used it against us. We have to be aware of both extremes - being too comfortable, and too uncomfortable.

No longer can we use what comes "naturally" to us as a justification for doing things that God would not claim - yes, God made us how He made us, but if we arent using what He gave us how he intended then we falling short of what we could be doing for Him.


For me, this thinking brings this verse to light a bit more ...

"Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."

Romans 8:5

Just because it is natural to me, is not warrant to misuse my resources ..God specifically states that the Spirit cannot work under those conditions.


Blast ..I got more work to do than I realized ;)

Peace on Purpose

I know alot of us have been thinking in terms of living "purposefully".

I have been doing the same, especially as it relates to my use of God-given resources and the peace that comes from using them well. I am realizing that living simply, peacefully and a life of balance and awareness of God's purpose for us ..takes purpose!

To consider my very personal set of resources, hand picked by God for me ..takes purpose.

Choosing to use those resources in worthy ways ..takes purpose.

Being content with the resources God has given me ..takes purpose.

Basically, a life that is simple and free (or at least freeER) of unnecessary and unworthy stresses ..takes purpose.

Just like when we budget our finances on a monthly basis so that we are able to manage it the best, we need to be aware of how we are using our "everything we need" (2 Peter 1:3) on a daily basis.

It takes purpose to build a schedule that allows for resting our bodies, minds and spirits.

It takes purpose to make time for our husbands and children.

It takes purpose to be less judgemental of ourselves, so that we arent wasting mental and emotional energy on comparing us to others.

It takes purpose to let go of things that are not beneficial to us.

It takes purpose to consider what God wants of us more than what we want of ourselves, or what others make us feel we need to be for them.


To keep the theme going, you cannot expect your stress-less life to simply fall into place by itself.

Without effort you cannot expect your schedule to be open to nurture relationships in your life..

..or your home to suddenly become more ordered for the peace of mind of your family

...or your time with God to passively become a priority

...or find yourself with an abundance of relaxation and rest time for the sake of your body and mind


People who have created lives of simplicity and who balance their godly-assignments with their human resources, do so on purpose. I am working on living more purposefully all the way around ...these resources are too precious to be wasted on who knows what! :)

Resources ...more please!

While I have been working to both identify and properly use the resources that I feel like God has given me, I feel discontent at times seeing what I have, even in its abundance!

What I mean is, that while I appreciate the things and the internal resources I have ...I often find myself asking for more of something that I either have little of or see myself being better with a whole different resource all together!

I have struggled at times, as I have often confessed, with a desire to want what others have and comparing myself to their productivity, their strengths or their abilities. I want what they have, and often to the detriment of realizing where I misuse my own resources in the wanting!

For example, at a time when I personally am lacking in physical energy, I yearn after those around me who have endless supplies of it! When I look around and see so many projects and great plans I desire to be proficient at, I desire the level of internal motivation I see in some close to me.

I may also desire other things in regards to physical blessings ...for example, a bigger house, a better income, more clothes, a newer car, a better job ...the list is eternal.

I have been challenged though, to consider that so much of our peace comes with both recognizing our blessings/resources AND being content with what we have. Paul seemed to hit the nail on the head in Philippians when he challenges his fellow Christian brothers and sisters to follow suit and "...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Phil 4:11-13

In the context this verse is given us, he instructs them only sentences before to ..."with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 4:6-7

The challenge for me, is to both recognize what God has given and be THANKFUL for it! How closely the two are connected. Being thankful requires that we see what blessings we are surrounded with. In the context of our thoughts on resources, we should be willing to see in what ways God has willingly given us, "everything you need..." 2 Peter:3

One way this concept has really struck me, is when I sing with my church family. I have always loved the sound of an artful and talented alto voice. I love to sit next to my sisters in Christ who are blessed in this area! Their voices are so harmonious and their sounds bring so much to the overall musical quality of our vocal worship to God when we sing as a congregation. I have loved it to the point of wanting to be an alto myself, often attempting to sing the part that seems so effortless for them.

What happens, though is that I ..a lowly soprano, who usually sings the melody part ..actually take away from the overall sound in my attempt to sound like something I am not! I have attempted to learn, and tried to stay close by when we sing and learn new songs and parts so that I can hopefully sing that beautiful part. But, alas. God gave me a soprano voice! He gave me the ability to carry a tune, and lift my voice that way! Recently I had a realization, sitting in service once Sunday morning. I realized that my insistence to sing this part that was not really my talent, I was taking away from both my and others worship experience. I was so focused on singing this part that I was designed for that I would be distracted from my needed focus!

Amazingly, I realized that when I embraced the part for which I was created, my voice blended much better with those beautiful alto voices. When I willingly and wholeheartedly fulfilled my part, my sisters in Christ were able to do theirs even better and we worked better as a vocal group in our worship to God.

Hm. Could I be doing this in other areas of my life? Do I resist what God has given me, reject the ways he has blessed me, purposefully disregard areas of abundance in resource ..because it is not what I want, verses what God says I need?

I may not have all that I want in any given area. I may desire to have more talents in organization, a bigger home, a better job, more passion towards teaching ..or any number of things. I think that God has the desire to give us those good things, but I believe also he wants us to recognize what he has already given us and for us to use what we have to the best of its potential.

I believe recognition precedes thankfulness, which precedes contentment, which precedes a sense of peace in all that God has given us. I hope today you will seek that, as I work to do that same :)