20 Ways To Simplify

Most of us think we are pretty busy. Most of us are right. While busy can mean productivity, busy can also mean a life that is “out-of-whack” in terms of priority.

Yes, work begets more work, hobbies beget more hobbies, stuff begets more stuff until the point where we step back in the one free moment we might have during a week and realize…. “It’s time to simplify!!"

Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24). The more “stuff” we have crowding our lives, the more danger we put ourselves in of dividing our loyalty that rightly belongs to the Lord.

Here is an excellent list of 20 ways to simplify, compiled by Dr. Steve Stephens:

1. Eliminate ten things from your life.
2. Cut back on T.V.
3. Escape to a quiet spot.
4. Set your own pace.
5. Get rid of clutter.
6. When you bring in something new, throw out something old.
7. Do only one thing at a time.
8. Say “no” at least once a day.
9. Enjoy the little things.
10. Take at least four breaks per day.
11. Determine what really matters.

12. Make peace with all people.
13. Tell the truth.
14. Appreciate beauty.
15. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it.
16. If you don’t have time, don’t do it.
17. Have a plan for everything and put everything in its place.
18. Share your thoughts, feelings, and opinions with a friend every day.
19. Allow time to pray.
20. Thank God for what you have.

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Look Up!

"Give ear to my words, O LORD,

Consider my meditation.

Give heed to the voice of my cry,

My King and my God,

For to You I will pray.

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD;

In the morning I will direct it to You,

And I will look up."

Psalms 5:1-3

If you want to be distressed, LOOK WITHIN.

If you want to be defeated, LOOK BACK.

If you want to be distracted, LOOK AROUND.

If you want to be dismayed, LOOK AHEAD.

If you want to be disappointed, LOOK TO MAN.

If you want to be delivered, LOOK TO CHRIST.

If you want to be delighted, LOOK UP.

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A Cure For Worry

This one's for me.

Well, truthfully, every one of these articles apply to me just as much as anyone; it's just that this one is especially needed on my part.

Kelly and I are sitting at almost ten months since we placed our house in Tennessee on the market. We were surprised when we hit the three month mark and no offers had come in. Well, seven months after that three month mark, nothing has changed. There sits a great house with not a single offer to date.

Would I be lying if I told you Kelly and I have not worried about this situation very much? Yep. No doubt about it -- that would be a "whopper." We have talked and fretted about it ad nauseum.

Why do we worry, you and I? Is it not because situations and circumstances sometimes fail to go according to plans -- OUR plans? Sure enough. That really is what it comes down to -- that and the fear of what may be.

God's word tells us how to combat that ever so natural urge to worry in Philippians 4:6-7...

• Unloading -- by prayer (v. 6a)
• Committing -- by supplication (v. 6b)
• Praising -- with thanksgiving (v. 6c)
• Leaving -- the burden with God (v. 6d)
• Getting -- God's peace in return (v. 7)

Now, to put that into practice!

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