Less Really Is More

It was in the nineties when my husband and I caught the “keeping up with the Jones' syndrome.” We got married in 1985, shortly before I turned twenty. About a year later we bought a new, three bedroom house. We had very little stuff and it almost felt empty after moving in.

Three and a half years later, we had our first child. Our house was plenty big enough, but with all our new purchases and baby paraphernalia, the closets were  beginning to overflow. We thought the answer was a bigger house. Driving through neighborhoods to look at big houses became our focus. We were excited at the thought of having a four bedroom house with a full basement. As our dream grew bigger in our minds the reality of our budget revealed to us that we couldn’t really afford a big mortgage. Did we really need a bigger house? Or could it be that we just needed to have less stuff?


To finish reading - visit one of my favorite blogs, Loving Simple Living

Contentment

No matter how much we may try not to be spoiled, I believe it is inevitable while living in America. We have been such a blessed nation. We are so used to having luxuries that people in other developing countries couldn't even fathom.

When my husband lost his great paying job in 1989 and after I chose to work less and eventually quit working in the corporate world to focus on parenting, our income dropped close to the poverty level. God began restructuring our thinking. Those years of having very little income were truly a gift to us.

I learned that contentment comes deep from within the soul. 

Paul said it best... But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing we will be content with that (1 Timothy 6:6-8).
 
Today, I am content and I pray I always will be. I am content not because my husband has a great job now—and not because we have plenty of money coming in each month. I am content because every morning when I wake up I feel the love of Christ embracing my soul. I feel His Spirit consuming my being as I begin a new day of life. It's a contentment that can never come from any amount of money or stuff. It is eternal.

In a world where worth is defined by what we own and what we do for a living, we have been able to learn to put our faith and values in spiritual things.  

When I am gone from this earth I want to be remembered by my loving and generous heart. 

One of my all time favorite quotes sums up what's important in this life: "One hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of house I lived in, how much money was in my bank account, nor what my clothes looked like. But the world may be a better place because I was important in the life of a child."

I want to make a difference in the world.

I want people to say, "Amy lived a simple life, she poured herself out sacrificially to others. She didn't have too much materially but she was rich in love and spiritual wisdom."

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

Live Abundantly!
Amy

Simple Living: The New Normal

Living simply wasn't popular when I started my simplicity journey. In fact, I've felt like an oddball for most of the years since I chose to let go of a great job and live my life with less stuff. I live in a neighborhood of relatively small homes. The realtor called our house a starter home when we bought it in 1986. Our modest neighborhood (with scattered run down homes) is tucked in a very high income area in the northern suburbs of Atlanta, yet I am abundantly contented. 

In my past, there was a fierce battle inside me as I've resisted getting sucked into materialism. During my twenties, I really battled with wanting to have more. I can see now that the desire to have more was actually my way of trying to fill the yearnings in my soul that can only be filled by God.

Since then I found contentment through a deep and personal relationship with Jesus.

I learned the hard way that contentment doesn't come from material things. After a long season of financial hardship, my husband started a new career in the medical diagnostics (Biomedical Engineering) field in 2010. We have been on a mountaintop ever since. Being in the valley sure caused us to deeply appreciate the blessings. Going through the hard times taught me that we are given more to help others. God blesses us so we can bless those in need.

I want to spend the rest of my life serving others and living a life of purpose. Those things go hand in hand with simplicity.

In recent months, I discovered some great blogs about simply living. I was amazed at how simple living appears to be popular and maybe even the new normal. I don't feel like an oddball anymore. 

A new book, "Simple Living—thirty days to less stuff and more life" by Lorilee Lippincott was released this week. I truly believe this book could help bring radical change. We need change in America for sure. With high levels of stress from jobs and a hectic pace of life in our society, this book is a great tool for attaining a calm and peaceful lifestyle. The reader is taken step by step through the process of simplifying all aspects of life including not only clutter control, but time management, money management, relationships, social media and more. The book is packed with practical tips, websites, and suggestions for gaining more simplicity. Yet, it is a simple book that is enjoyable to read. Anyone who wants to improve their quality of life, give more to others and make a difference in the world will love this book.

Grab your copy here (PDF or Kindle format) for .99 cents this week. I can promise you'll be glad you did.

Live Abundantly!
Amy  

Disclaimer:  I am honored to be a part of the launch team for, "Simple Living - thirty days to less stuff and more life." I received  a complimentary copy of the book and the opportunity to interact with the other team members. I am not receiving any payment for my participation. And I'm not getting paid for my written reviews. I'm delighted to help Lorilee Lippincott get the message out about living free from clutter.

Finding Abundance in Simple Living

But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose. ~ Luke 21:34 (Amplified Bible)                                                                                      

Read Matthew 6:19-21

It seems that every time I find a sweet spot in my life, something is thrown my way to sabotage the simple life I've been seeking for many years. Over 15 years ago, I read an article in the faith section of my local paper about how simplicity and following Jesus go hand in hand. Shortly after reading the article, I began getting rid of unneeded stuff and making changes in my life.

Last fall, I had progressed in my journey of simple living to the point that I had no unnecessary stress in my life. And out of nowhere, a ministry opportunity got thrown in front of me. I was drawn to it and was thinking about diving in with my whole heart.  But the Lord intervened on my behalf. He showed me that I had finally found a peaceful, slow pace in my life and that I shouldn't be tempted to spoil it by spending time on a ministry that wasn't in His ordained plan for me. He wanted for me to be content in the place He had me. After spending time sitting in silence, I heard Jesus speaking to me about simplicity in my life. I wrote the words in my journal.

I have called you to intercession. See it as an honor to be at home. Be content in your hidden place. You have found the gift of being hidden in My love and in My presence. Stay focused on Me. Do not be tempted to do what you see others doing. I have a perfect plan designed especially for you. Don't jump ahead of Me. Simply wait and enjoy the quiet times. Enjoy your husband. Enjoy your daughter. Enjoy your son. Enjoy a simple life with Me. Aim for simplicity and you will have abundance in your life. An abundance of spiritual fruit is what you should seek daily to grow and cultivate. Maintain a simple life and you will continually live in abundance. Savor this season of rest and don't step off the path with Me.

After hearing the sweet words of Jesus, I immediately canceled all plans to move forward with the ministry opportunity. What freedom for my soul!

There is no greater place than being where Christ has planted us. There is an abundance of joy, goodness, and peace found in simple living. May we—the followers of Christ—always enjoy the splendor and beauty found in living a simple life with Him.

Live Abundantly!

Amy