“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 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 FosterBridgetown’s series on SimplicityThe More of Less by Joshua BeckerEnough by Adam HamiltonThe Minimalist Home by Joshua BeckerSoulful Simplicity by Courtney CarverPlease leave a  prayer or voicemail here, you can also email me: [email protected]