I like how God times things.

I’m going to jump into a beautiful, soul-edifying section in the book The 7 Experiment.

If you haven’t heard of 7 or this companion guide, I recommend.  My favorite part about it (well, one of my favorite parts) is the way she approaches it as “a sinner’s repentance, not a sage’s manifesto.”

She describes herself as smack in the middle of the American pack and needing to simplify many things in her personal life and family’s life.

It reminds me of something our pastor said Sunday.  “There are air categories and ice cream categories for a blessed life.  Ice cream categories are things we like that feel like blessings to us, but we don’t need.  Air categories are the fundamental basics of what makes a blessed life: relationship with God.”

And that doesn’t always look like a blessed life.  After all, our Master pointed to a group around Him and shared with His disciples that people are blessed if they mourn, are persecuted, are poor in spirit, and are meek.  That looks much different than what the world considers blessed.

For our family, 7 helped us experience the truth of that.  Taking away some of material blessings for a even a short time was a good discipline in what matters most.

The next section is entitled “Stress.”  She invited readers to observe the “7 Sacred Pauses” of prayer and really live out the Sabbath.  There are a million ways to live with less stress.  I’m going to chat with you about some.  And one reason is because when our small group went through this the first time, I totally bombed it.

So this is my re-do.

With accountability.

Won’t you join me?