#fmf
To Simplify your life doesn’t mean you have to be boring!
“Stop trying to impress people with your clothes and impress them with your life.”
― Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
start:
One of the best things I’ve done for me and my family is to simplify. The word simplify to most would mean to get rid of “stuff”, material things and busynesss. And that certainly is part of simplifying your life. But those things are worldly and I also wanted to simplify my spiritual. I learned the most about that by studying the “Celebration of Disciplines “. The book discusses internal, external and corporate disciplines, one of which is Simplicity.
My inward life must be focused on the things of God before my outward life will exhibit Him. Simplification of life has many facets and must be intentional. How I worship Him, how I walk through my day and how I engage in relationships all are affected by how much He is a part of my inside.
For me I had to work on my ” Boundaries ” . This helped me know where I start and where I stop.
To Simplify is to Free yourself from unneeded baggage. Whatever that baggage looks like.
stop:
“And so I urge you to still every motion that is not rooted in the Kingdom. Become quiet, hushed, motionless until you are finally centered. Strip away all excess baggage and nonessential trappings until you have come into the stark reality of the Kingdom of God. Let go of all distractions until you are driven into the Core. Allow God to reshuffle your priorities and eliminate unnecessary froth. Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, ‘Pray for me that I not loosen my grip on the hands of Jesus even under the guise of ministering to the poor.’ That is our first task: to grip the hands of Jesus with such tenacity that we are obliged to follow his lead, to seek first his Kingdom.”
― Richard J. Foster, Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World
“If you are too busy to read, you are too busy.”
― Richard J. Foster, Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World
Love the Lord with all your might and all your soul! Amen!
Resilience and Spiritual Formation Coaching 
Hey neighbor at FMF (#17) great post. I’m looking forward to reading all the “takes” on simplify!!!
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Thanks for the encouragement. It will definitely be worth the effort. Thanks!
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Love the quote from Mother Teresa! Yes, let us keep our focus on Jesus.
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Thanks for the encouragement
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beautifully written!
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Thank you so much for your comment. God’s affirmation that I need. Rhonda
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Thanks for your encouragement.
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When Jesus is central in our lives that is when we see what is most important around us. Yes! Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you for the encouragement. I’ll so thankful he is here with me.
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I love your contrast between what the world views as simplifying (which is definitely very valid) and how we can connect and simplify with our thoughts and focus on the Lord. Great quotes too. Thank you for much good food for thought.
Visiting from FMF #82
Have a wonderful week!
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Thanks so much for your encouragement. When He is with us the rest is done with joy.
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Thank you for your encouragement. Rest in HIM and the rest will be done in peace.
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I wrote about boundaries as well! Great thoughts.
Traci
http://www.tracimichele.com
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Rhonda, great post! I love that simplification is intentional and I really like this: My inward life must be focused on the things of God before my outward life will exhibit Him.
There is, indeed, more than one way to simplify. Thank you for showing us the spiritual side. Keep going!
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Awe………………. that is extremely touching coming from you. Love you and your heart. Can’t wait till spring and summer and we’ll have to do something fun with our families.
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