Go Simple

It's Fun List Friday! So I thought it would be fun to share with you what it is like living in my boots. It has changed so much over the past year. I went from a burned out, full time mother, wife, teacher, administrator, children's ministry teacher and coordinator bringing home an income in the city to a stay at home wife, mom, and servant of God in the country living by faith. 

God graciously delivered me into a life of simplicity. A life centered on Him not works. I've always known that God does not want us to sit and do nothing, but I am learning that He does not want me to do EVERYTHING either. God gives us gifts and talents for a purpose; to serve Him and others, but Satan uses these same strengths to tempt and distract us. Our pride wants us to do it all causing us to neglect our one true calling. An intimate relationship with Christ.

So what has changed the most this year? My relationship with Christ. I went too many years fast paced, rushing and half doing everything; even my devotional time. I was a busy Martha.  I thought I was okay because I was working so hard in so many ministries. If you have read the story of the two sisters Mary and Martha, who does God want us to be? 

"Now as they went on their way, 

Jesus entered the village. 

And a woman named Martha welcomed hime into her house. 

And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 

But Martha was distracted with much serving. 

And she went up to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? 

Tell her then to help me.' But the Lord answered her,

 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 

but the one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, 

which will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42

Yes, above all He wants us to be a Mary. He wants us to STOP being so busy. He wants us to sit at His feet and hear what He has to say. When we become a Mary, things are so much simpler. We rely more on Him and not self. I still struggle in this area, but with each day God takes my hand at #6 and speaks to my heart. He encourages me and strengthens me. He brings me comfort and peace. He covers me from head to toe in His redeeming love through His Word. He reminds me it is not what I am doing, but what He had done on the cross to restore our relationship.

No longer a Martha. This is what 'simple' Mary is up to these days...

1.) Wake up. {I snooze to the VERY last second}
2.) Get self and kids ready.
3.) Drop kids off at school. {This is our prayer time together}
4.) Feed sister breakfast.
5.) Morning chores. {AND Mondays grocery store and Wednesdays Bible Study}
6.) Morning Bible study and coffee. This is what I missed in the city
7.) Feed sister lunch.
8.) Playtime and learning with sister.
9.) Nap time for sister and my time to write, create, work on ministry things, PTO work, etc.
10.) Pick up boys from school.
11.) This varies from after school activities, church activities, working on the farm, or simple playtime.
12.) Dinner.
13.) Homework.
14.) Family time. This is what I missed in the city.
15.) Get ready for bed.
16.) Kid Devotional. This is what I missed in the city.
17.) Bedtime.
18.) Husband time. This is what I missed in the city.
19.) My Devotional.
20.) Lights out.

So distracted in works and ministries, as you can see in 'red', I was missing out on the ministries God actually called me to:

1.) My relationship with Him 
2.) My family
3.) Ministering to Children starting with MINE.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."

Deuteronomy 6:5

My prayer is that we will see our worth as women by taking back our relationship with God first and our home second. Amen!