Hi! No, I didn’t type about simple things yesterday. But I lived them!
– Electricity went out (the boys were disappointed that a blown transformer wasn’t a car that turns into a man) and did things like put the diapers on a line outside instead of the dryer.
– Played with little one while big one and Dan headed to 4-H.
– Loved on some seniors who are already starting to trust and warm to me after 2 classes together. There’s 30 of them! I’m not used to teaching that many at once, but there’s some fun energy to it.
– Did some errands while my little date ate a PB sandwich.
– Read, read, read!
– Hung with my man after 4-H until he headed out to study before class. We used his exit as an opportunity to head to a friend’s house whose hubs is out of town. Together our littles splashed in a kiddie pool, ran through a sprinkler, and played with sand while we chatted and enjoyed a glass of wine as the sun lowered beyond the trees.
Yes, it was a satisfying day.
I was thinking about a quote from Foster’s book that has helped me a lot since we took the leap and bought a house:
“There is an intrinsic relationship between simplicity and prayer, especially that central aspect of prayer which is trust.
My children love pancakes. When they were young, once in a while I would get up early to fix them a batch. It was interesting to watch those boys. They would wolf down pancakes as if there were an endless supply. They were not worried one whit about the price of eggs or my ability to provide them with pancakes. Not once did I see them slipping some into a pocket, thinking, “I don’t know about Dad; I’d better put away a little stash so that I can be sure of pancakes tomorrow.”
As far as they were concerned, the reservoir of pancakes was infinite. They knew that all they needed to do was ask and, if it was in their best interest, they would receive. They lived in trust.
Without this spirit of trust we would find it exceedingly difficult (should I say impossible?) to live on the basis of prayer for daily bread. No, we would need an adequate stash somewhere, just in case – and be assured that what we now have is never adequate.
Paul counseled Christians to live free from anxiety. That, of course, is more easily said than done. Everything in our training and in our culture combats a carefree spirit of unconcern. How can we be free from anxiety? What resource is available to us? Paul perceived the resource to be prayer:
‘Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God’ (Phil 4:6).
Prayer frees us from anxiety because it teaches us trust. The result is peace:
‘And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.’ (Phil 4:7).
Prayer and simplicity are intertwined.
(Foster, pgs. 13-14)
I don’t know how I would have gotten past some generational money anxiety the past year or so without others’ prayers on my behalf. I still struggle with fear once in a while in this category, but my people have been so good to ask God on my behalf for trust.
Do you struggle with it, too?
I know the following verse isn’t in the context of contentment or provision, but God used it to speak to my heart in this area.
“Then He said to them,
‘Why are you fearful?
Do you still have no faith?’
(Mark 4:40 HCSB)
When I revert, He carefully reminds me of all the ways He’s been faithful in providing up til now and challenges me to not fear the future.
Okay, for the less calm and kind quote. I mentioned God had me read a few more books since last time. One of them was Money, Possessions, and Eternity by Randy Alcorn. (Yes, 2 Alcorn books…becoming a fan of his.)
Here’s a foretaste of the kind of stuff he has to say:
“Are we truly obeying the command to love our neighbor as ourselves if we’re storing up money for potential future needs when our neighbor is laboring today under actual present needs?”
(pg. 334)
Don’t worry. He makes sure to talk about saving and retirement and the wisdom in those disciplines. But he also points out that Jesus seems to think there’s a limit to that saving (see Luke 12:16-21).
Or as Jen Hatmaker says:
“Don’t imagine I’m advocating for no savings. The Bible has several instructive nuggets on maintaining a cushion, saving for seasons of drought and hardship. Wisdom plans ahead (that is, if she has the luxury of expendable income; this is a First World extravagance).
But the numbers are so tipped in our favor, I wonder if God doesn’t expect more from the top 20 percent (and most of us are in the top 5 percent…[make $35,000 a year? Top 4 percent. $50,000? Top 1 percent]) than simply buying 86 percent of the stuff and harboring savings accounts with the rest. I wonder if there is a graded option somewhere below our means.”
(The 7 Experiment, pages 134 and 13)
As you can see, we have some murky waters to tread together. I know. It’s frustrating/scary/hard…exciting? Did I hear you think that? Did a little part of you leap at these ideas? At what we can do together for His glory and others’ good?
I hope so. That part was His spirit in you and your soul that He is refining. I’m right there with you – about to pee my pants and yet so excited. I don’t know why He is giving me the pleasure of being the one to pen what I’ve learned on this silly blog, but it’s my joy. I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m grateful you’re along for the ride!
More next time 🙂