If you fully lived in Gods love you would be filled with joy, and you wouldn't need to try harder to pray. Joy is not just a feeling, it is a condition of the heart. The fruit of the Spirit we’re focusing on this month is the Joy, the Spiritual Discipline that will accompany it is Prayer. “Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].” Colossians 3:2 “But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts].” Galatians 5:16  “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.” Romans 15:13 How to experience more Joy:  Surrender the illusion of control Give thanks: practice gratitude Focus your attention on what is good Celebrate at the table together with family/brothers and sisters Prayer Reminders: Start and end your day with prayer, set a reminder for midday. Morning: Lords Prayer, then paraphrase in your own words Afternoon: Psalm 23, then paraphrase in your own words Evening: Examen (5 quick steps) Gratitude: count your blessings and give thanks Grace: Ask for God’s Grace to see your shortcomings Review: When were you living in God’s Love and aware of His Presence Repent: Ask God to forgive your sin, give you new desires and heal what you have broken Resolve: Ask God for strength to make tomorrow better in a specific way I hope this is helpful for you, if it is, please share it with a friend or family member, remember to subscribe, and if you have 30 seconds leave a review. Please leave a prayer or voicemail here, you can also email me: [email protected]

Change starts in the heart and then moves outward. So the spiritual disciplines that we're going to be focusing on start internal, then move towards external and then relational or corporate. The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart. If we want to change the world, we have to allow God to change our hearts, then move on to our home, then lastly the external world. What we're going to be talking about today is how we should love someone, but not focus on trying to love everyone. “Love is to be sincere and active [the real thing—without guile and hypocrisy]. Hate what is evil [detest all ungodliness, do not tolerate wickedness]; hold on tightly to what is good.” Romans 12:9 Love is active, tolerance is passive. We are told to love our neighbor and our friends, our enemies, to visit and look after the less fortunate. The alone, forgotten, fatherless, and the widows. Those are all singular people, not all of mankind. God loved the whole world, but I can't do that. I think we should love someone the way that we wish we could love everyone. We can’t love everyone, but everyone can love someone. The more we meditate on God’s word and align our heart with His, the more we will act in a manner of love. Love is not an action, it is a source of action. I hope this is helpful for you, if it is, please share it with a friend or family member, remember to subscribe, and if you have 30 seconds leave a review. Please leave a prayer or voicemail here, you can also email me: [email protected]

The internet is making us less human and harder for us to focus and think and meditate, and social media is making us mean and angry. So, what is the solution? When we meditate on Gods law, we produce fruit in our season. “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].” Psalms 1:2-3  The fruit of the Spirit is love. “But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23  What do we know about love? “Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8  I hope this is helpful for you, if it is, please share it with a friend or family member, remember to subscribe, and if you have 30 seconds leave a review. Please leave a prayer or voicemail here, you can also email me: [email protected]

Ecclesiastes 4:6, Galatians 1:10, Psalms 127 You are not divided, you are whole. There is no work/life balance. There is tension and sacrifice. The more we compartmentalize parts of our life the more separated we become, stringing parts of us along we become dislocated, distracted disjointed, displaced, divided, and depressed. Life was not meant to be lived like this, we are whole beings. When we view life holistically we mend what was torn, and bring unity to what has been divided. We fool ourselves by thinking we can be one person with a different set of responsibilities from 8-5 Monday - Friday and another person the rest of the time. We fool ourselves into thinking we can act and behave this way online and another way in real life. The easiest way to reverse the anxiety of it all is to limit the options. Here’s my homework for myself. Write out a list of all your current responsibilities and rank them in order of importance. Limit your time commitments by saying no more often. Care less about what’s not on the list, in order to care more about what is on the list. Lower your expectations for yourself, write out your goal for the week, stay disciplined in the short term. Audit your time and focus most on important but not urgent tasks. Eliminate situations where you feel the urge to act in a manner that is not in line with your values. Be the same person, wherever you are. For additional study and resources check out: Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster Bridgetown’s series on Simplicity The More of Less by Joshua Becker Enough by Adam Hamilton The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver Please leave a  prayer or voicemail here, you can also email me: [email protected]

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:” 1 Peter 4:8-10 When we began these 12 weeks of simplicity, we started with the heart and answered questions surrounding purpose. Well, now we're going to start with the heart of the home, so let's get clear on the purpose of that.  The kitchen and dining table are the heart of the home. And if you're like most Americans, we’re slowly losing our heart. So, let's simplify. What is the purpose of your dining room and kitchen? Is it aligned right now? What is your vision for meals? What is distracting you from that? What is in the way? I heard a winery owner on the news and he said ”$25 is a small price to pay to keep the one's you love at the table for another 30 minutes to an hour” I keep thinking about that. What would you do to keep the one's you love at the table? This looks different for all of us, but here's some general tips on how to simplify: No phones at the table Pick a question of the night Read a Bible passage at the table Invite friends for a potluck Have wine or a special drink Have rotating weekly meals (you literally cannot go wrong with Taco Tuesday) Purge your freezer, fridge and pantry. Keep kitchen items where they are most used and accessible. Eat more natural, make more from scratch, involve the fam. Basic meals are fine, don’t try to be fancy if you really don’t want to be, if you’re extra then be extra, but if you’re trying to impress others, stop. Frozen pizzas, carrots and grapes are still a good meal. Clean as you go, don’t let dishes pile up. The dinner table isn’t just for dinner, break out a card game. The purpose of simplifying our kitchen and dining room is to serve others, spend more time together and slow down. For additional study and resources check out: Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster Bridgetown’s series on Simplicity The More of Less by Joshua Becker Enough by Adam Hamilton The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver Please leave a  prayer or voicemail here, you can also email me: [email protected]

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6-8‬  Why should we simplify social media? I'll keep it short and simple; Social media is designed to be addictive. Social media steals your joy. Social media makes you mean. Two ways to simplify social media Limit Time limits Who you follow What groups you're a part of Access Eliminate Delete social media accounts Keep it off your phone For additional study and resources check out: Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster Bridgetown’s series on Simplicity The More of Less by Joshua Becker Enough by Adam Hamilton The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver Please leave a  prayer or voicemail here, you can also email me: [email protected] “Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6-8‬

Simply put: clutter prevents us from living free and full lives. Clutter inhibits us from living a peaceful and purpose-filled life because clutter promotes an anxious, frantic, hurried, and rushed experience of reaction. Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 1 John 2:6 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. Proverbs 13:4 Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness (the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more); for a man's life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance or that which is over and above his needs. Luke 12:15 AMPC Mental clutter has a symbiotic relationship with physical clutter. Clutter gets in the way, it’s distracting, and it doesn’t belong. Clutter is a pile of delayed decisions. Here’s how to kill the clutter. If it’s not being used, put it away or get rid of it. Focus on the task at hand, keep a notepad for drifting thoughts. Do it now, complete small tasks immediately. Most tasks can be completed in 2 minutes. Every night, find the things that don't belong, and bring them home. Don't walk past the same pile two days in a row. Delayed decisions collect compound interest. For additional study and resources check out: Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster Bridgetown’s series on Simplicity The More of Less by Joshua Becker Enough by Adam Hamilton The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver Please leave a  prayer or voicemail here, you can also email me: [email protected]

What’s the best way to start your day? Do you have a morning ritual or a morning routine? A routine is typically passive; you’re going through the motions. A lot of times, our routines aren’t that purposeful. A ritual, however, is thought out and active, it’s restorative and purposeful. A good morning ritual should set you up for the entire day and get your head screwed on straight. A simple life starts with a simple morning ritual. Once I read this book, and it was talking about all these different things to do in the morning before you start your day. Stuff all the big shots and personal development kids do. And I’ll be honest, I tried it, it’s sounded like good advice, but it wasn’t. Because there is no one size fits all approach. So I’m not going to plan your morning out, but I’ll give some quick tips to help start your day the simple way (hey that rhymed, cool beans). Start your day with silence and solitude. Set yourself up for success. Minimize decisions. Keep your wardrobe simple. Your homework this week is to write out your morning ritual, determine how you want to feel when you’re starting your day and work backwards from there? Do you want to start the day overwhelmed and anxious? Hit snooze, read the news and worry about what to wear then pick up a quick (unhealthy) breakfast from the drive through. Want to start refreshed, energized, at peace and focused? Start the day with silence and solitude, prayer and working out. Find out what works for you. And test it out, let me know what you come up with, I am always interested in this topic. And if you’re one of those people (like me) who gets anxious when surrounded by clutter, clean your bathroom counter or wherever it is that you get ready in the morning. Find a home for everything. Keep the items you use everyday close, but get them off the counter. Grab a diffuser and soap and commit to only keeping those on the counter. For extra credit, minimize your wardrobe. Keep the essentials. For additional study and resources check out: Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster Bridgetown’s series on Simplicity The More of Less by Joshua Becker Enough by Adam Hamilton The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver Please leave a  prayer or voicemail here, you can also email me: [email protected]

“And day after day they regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes, they broke bread [including the Lord's Supper]. They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts,”Acts 2:46 “Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], And by knowledge shall its chambers [of every area] be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3-4 This is just my humble opinion: regardless of introversion or extroversion, our life should always counterbalance between times of serving others and cultivating your hearts. For me, that means the purpose of my living room is two-fold. To serve others by fostering an open, warm, comfy, inviting, and conversational space. To cultivate a peaceful environment where I can rest For families and people living with others, it is essential to note that you have to work this out together. You will never be successful in forcing someone to live a simple life. Just do the best that you can, with what you have, where you are. “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18 Your homework this week is to plan the purpose of your living room or living space and then minimize items that don't fit that purpose. Every day this week, clean up, reset to zero, and find something out of place, ask does this serve its purpose? If not, let it go. Joshua Becker says, ”owning less is better than organizing more.” Spend at least one hour this week going through your living spaces. Donate, sell, recycle, or throw away what is in the way. Here's a step by step plan: Put stuff away that doesn't belong, a home for everything, and everything in its home. Clear off flat surfaces; these places are clutter magnets. Get rid of stuff you don't use, like that collection of weird books or VHS or empty DVD boxes. Make the unseen seen, do things tend to collect in a box or under the couch? Bring out everything. Lastly, do you need all that furniture? Are there statement or storage pieces you're keeping, does anyone actually ever sit in that chair? Write out the purpose, take some pictures before and after and share them. Remember, simple living isn't selfish living. As we simplify, we allow ourselves more time and space to serve others and become a nonanxious presence that's closely connected to your values and closer to God. Once we clear all the clutter, the lack of distractions helps us to focus on what really matters most. For additional study and resources check out: Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster Bridgetown’s series on Simplicity The More of Less by Joshua Becker Enough by Adam Hamilton The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver Please leave a  prayer or voicemail here, you can also email me: [email protected]

Slow down, unplug, and make time and space for silence. Welcome to the fourth week on practicing simplicity. Before shifting our focus from internal simplicity to external simplicity, we're going to clear some emotional clutter by slowing down, unplugging, and making time and space for silence. As we move into external simplicity, you will need mental and emotional clarity and some time in your schedule to declutter, minimize, and let go of external distractions. Remember, the discipline of simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward lifestyle. We're all busy, yet we have the same 24 hours in a day. Many of us have very similar responsibilities, sleep, work, eat, clean, pay bills, etc. Parents typically have less free time, which means they have to be extra careful with their time commitments. However, just because you don't have kids doesn't mean you're off the hook; you are also in danger of wasting your precious time. A lot of self-care is reactive; we don't have it built into our schedules. We almost rely on a breaking point before we "take a break" and tend to our emotional clutter. Our emotions are tied to our time commitments. When our external lifestyle doesn't line up with internal values, we experience dissonance and discontent. So how can we fix this? What practices can aid in our journey of simplicity? The answer is unplugging, and making time and space for silence, all three help a ton. Our homework and practice for this week has three parts. Part one: unplug from social media, news, and tv, use this time for silence Part two: schedule one hour sometime next week and 15 minutes a day for next week to simplify Part three: keep a record of your daily activities; at the end of the week, rank them. 1= Essential 2= Important but not essential 3= Helpful but not necessary 4= Trivial "Next, we must ruthlessly eliminate all of the last two categories and 20 percent of the first two. We are too busy only because we want to be too busy. We could cut out a great deal of our activity and not seriously affect our productivity." - Richard Foster For additional study and resources check out: Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster Bridgetown’s series on Simplicity The More of Less by Joshua Becker Enough by Adam Hamilton The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver Essentialism by Greg Mckeown Trail Life by Ray Jardine If you have a thought, prayer, or prayer request, please leave a voicemail here. Send an email: [email protected]