Simplifying: Buying Less & Giving More

I cannot tell you how challenged I am by this post from Passionate Homemaking:

“Simplifying means having less, wanting less, being satisfied with what you have or less than what you have. It does not mean boredom. People with too many things are the most easily bored. St. Francis owned only his robe, yet was never melancholy or bored.” – J Matthew Sleeth, author of Serve God, Save the Planet

Simplifying Your Buying Techniques (as shared in the above quoted book):

1. If you think you want something, wait a month. One of three things will happen if you follow this sage advice. One: You will forget. Two: You will no longer need it. Or three: You will need it more. Most often, numbers one and two will happen.

2. Next, borrow and lend. How are we going to live together in heaven if we can’t even share a chain saw? One of my goals this year is to put all my books together in a loaning library database, in order that I might bless and encourage others in my church through loaning out my books or simply donating them to our local library. They are just collecting dust right now! I also have a ton of girl baby clothes. If we have a boy, my first goal will be to find someone who can benefit from the use of these clothes in the meantime.

I am growing to realize that the more I share, the less of a strong hold these possessions will have upon my heart. What things are lying around your house that someone else could use right now? There are so many ways to be generous by loaning and giving away your possessions even if you are lacking in the monetary capacity. This is an opportunity for the body of Christ to come together, especially in this slowing economy, and serve and share with one another. Remember Acts 2:44-45, which states that the believers had all their resources together and distributed them as each had a need. I think applying this principle is so applicable today.

It really comes down to changing our mindset! It starts with waiting a month, then if you still really need the item, looking into your borrowing options. If they are lacking, check out all your used options (craigslist, freecycle, consignment shop, etc). The very last alternative is buying an item new…but you most likely will not even get here if you check out the previous ideas!

Day 19 - A Talent of Yours

I believe most people would say that my talent is singing, and I guess in some way that's true.  I do love to sing, and I recognize the Lord has gifted me to be able to do so.  But if I had to choose my talent, it would be something different.  The talent I want is to be able to glorify God, whether it be with my voice, or with service, or with my writing, or especially with compassion and mercy.  This is the talent that I pray that I might have. 

Day 18 - Your Wedding

Our favorite picture



The mother of one of my school friends took this pic




The whole wedding party




Us with my mom and dad...despite the looks, my parents really did like Terry :-)





Terry with all his siblings. The last time they were together until this year.





Us with the entire Bartell clan





Me with my brother Bill, Karen my sis-in-law, and Bryan my nephew





Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Terry Bartell




One of my favorites - Terry dancing with my grandmother, Bobby




Electric slide anyone?




Here we are with my siblings (all but one) from my Dad's side, plus nieces and nephews. There were a bunch who weren't there.



Day 17 - An Art Piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc.)

Have I mentioned that my men are very talented?



All the pieces together




Spring Stroll by Terry




Indian Summer by Terry




Autumn Stream by Terry




Winter Snowscape by Terry




Flower River by Sammy (with direction from Dad)



Remember Beach by Terry- painted for our friend, Kris

 

Day 16 - A Song That Makes You Cry (or nearly)

This is my heart.  I long to adopt a child (or 2...or 3).  I'm still waiting, Lord. I would love to be able to live out the gift given to me by my Father by adopting a child into our family and helping them to see the incredible gift given by God: His love and the price He paid to make us His children.

Day 15 - Your Dream Home

My dream home is difficult to describe.  I recognize that a house does not make a home.  A place does not make a home.  The old adage says, "Home is where the heart is."  And in light of that I wish I could sound all spiritual and say that my home is just fine because I have my family around me, and that I have all I need.  And I guess that is true in some ways.  I am thankful to still have my husband with me.  I am thankful the Lord blessed us with a wonderful child.  I am thankful the Lord has provided all of our needs and then some.  And yet to say that I am completely content would be a lie.  I feel guilty that I am not completely content with all the Lord has given me.  And yet, I long for a house nestled in the midst of some mountains where I can see the mountains that I long for every day.  Reds, oranges, and golds all around me as the crisp air of fall descends into the valley.  Snow scattering the ground on cold mornings when my breath turns into mist that curls through the air.  Apples and pumpkins and hay rides in the chilly night air.  A stream that meanders across our property that I can lay next to during the heat of summer and listen to it gurgle, or that Sammy and I can sit dangling our feet in the cool water.  My heart longs for this with an ache I cannot explain.  Whenever we visit the mountains, I cry when we leave.  I know I need to learn to be content where God has me for now, and for the most part, I am, but the longing never goes away.  And all I can do is pray that one day, the Lord will grant me this desire of my heart.

Day 14 - A Non-Fictional Book

This is the book that I am in the middle of reading right now, and this book has touched me in more ways than I could even count.  Mary Beth has been incredibly honest about her struggles, not just with losing Maria, but also with the ways that she has struggled throughout her life in giving up her plans and her will to surrender to God's.  I see myself in so many pages in this book and have been asking the Lord to help me to choose to see the ways that He is working in my life that are for my good even if they aren't what I would choose and to stop fighting Him when He begins working in my heart.  I look back on my life, and I see so many times when the Lord has begun to do a work in my heart that I have come out swinging.  I don't want to do that anymore.  I want surrender to be my first reaction, not my last.  There is so much HOPE in these pages filled with confessions and tears that our God is not distant, that He is ever near, that His love is far surpassing anything and everything that we could ever imagine.  So I would recommend this book to be read by anyone who struggles with trusting God even when you can't SEE where He is leading.