Lenten Journey

What is our consumerism costing us? Reflecting on this question that Richard Dahlstrom raises in his book I can defiantly see where in my past this consuming did cost me time away from the kids, but even more anxiety, worry and stress on how we were going to have money to cover all that needed to be covered. It also cost me time away from being with friends and family. Consumerism also took joy out of my life because I was afraid not to pick up an extra day of work or refuse overtime. For my next 14 years I hope to bring a better balance to work, people, and fellowship. I know that I am headed in the right direction and that I definatly live a simpler life that what we did in the past and I am thankful for that.

Lenten Journey

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV)
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV)

Thus I spent yesterday reminding God that I will never get this Christian walk right, of how I am not worth it, how I will always fail, how I should jut give up and get out. He did not listen to me and as I watched the Vocal Band reunion DVD and heard Jon Mohr and Steve Green's testimonies grace overcame and the blood of Jesus again washed me clean and reminded me as a pot I really cannot tell the potter how much I am worth. He also gave me a dream last night that I was in this class and we were discussing something and the instructor turned to a page in a book that was written in Hebrew. I could see the Hebrew letters and the instructor said, "Remember this means ..." and he said something in Hebrew which i don't remember what it was but when I got up today the burden was lifted and I felt good. God's faithfulness prevailed and He continues His work in my life.

Bill Gaither said on the DVD, "Isn't good to live long enough that finally, the lyrics of songs and the message of the gospel catches up to where you are and where you're living? And if you live long enough and if you're honest enough, sooner or later, those things that we have sungg and heard and heard preached all our lives become a reality." It is real in my life.

Early AM

I have been told I minimize things it is becoming very clear to me that I do minimize things. The past week has been very stressful with a test and 3 days of clinical. The first few days are always difficult getting used to charting on a new system, a new routine, new times, a new unit, and all the other stuff. I now have 12 days left. I can do this but I need to call on my arm lifters, those that pray, talk to me instead of trying to handle it all on my own. It has been a tough week and I did not sleep well last night and some where along the way I thought about Mike, and others I have lost so I was emotionally empty and even though I thought I spent some time refueling with the Lord yesterday evidently not enough and that is when I should have asked for prayer or talked with some to encourage me or pour something into me. I need to quit trying to do it on my own and admit when I that I am wiped out. I have listen to God to find out when to reach out because I don't know and when I need help.

Lenten Journey

Another new thought from O2. Do I define my life by what I give instead of what I consume. Does this thought help really help to reorder priorities and will it help me decide what to buy or what to give. Will this form of thinking decrease the anxiety of worrying about what will I eat, wear, or drink? Will I begin to witness hope instead of anxiety? Is this the new Christian political agenda? Or is what Jesus intended all along?

Break to do dishes and think about what I have read.

So what Richard Dahlstrom is really talking about here is a life style change altogether. By scaling down my consumerism and buying food from local farmers at the farmers market I am taking care of creation. (Less transport, fewer is any chemicals, antibiotics, pesticides in the food.) If this food is healthier than I am taking care of God's sanctuary, i.e. my body. By taking care of my body I may have more energy to help clean up a neighborhood park, participate in a neighborhood VBS and play games with the kids, and I may have enough energy to invite friends over and cook out in the Gazebo and spend time fellowshiping and maybe play a game of backyard soccer or volleyball.

So, again the idea of no man is an island has been mapped out in even something as simple as how I buy food and how it effects a community. The Christian life is not just about me! It is a pebble in a pond that causes ripples or waves depending on how big of a slash you want to make and to stand a part or away from still creates ripples also thougth maybe not ones you really want to create.

This is more than just reading the Bible more or praying more or spending more alone time with God so I can be a better Christian and a more effective witness this is actually about being a Christ like person. WOW!

March

I am now in my last few weeks of nursing school. I will be done April 27. I can't believe it is almost done and I will be able to do boards for my RN. I am on a medical floor which is not what I prefer or what I feel comfortable doing but so far it has been ok and what I do now I don't have to do for a lifetime.

I have also been reading with school stuff a book by Richard Dahlstorm, titled O2. It has been very interesting in which it talks about inhaling and exhaling and bringing a balance to Christian disciplines. I find it interesting as part of this process he talks about the consumerism in America these days. I know for a long time it seemed that I was working to just keep things fixed, replace broken things or buy the latest electronic gadget but now that has stopped in the last three years and when I was working it was to live day to day and give some of it away. I am continuing to dething (not a word I know but appropiate) my life. I am a collector of books I want to read I book I buy one but I have changed partly due to decreased revenue but partly because I don't need to own the book. I use the library and interlibrary loan. Granted I have to keep track of due dates but it is still cheaper than owning it and I don't have to store it afterward. Paring down my clothes closet is another task I have done. I think next might be DVD's after all there are only certain ones I watch regularly and again if I don't have them I don't have to store them. Renting is cheaper in the long run. CD's are a problem because if they are just on the hard drive they should be backed up incase it crashes and I am a music junkie. So that may be my main colletion. After I graduate getting rid of the storage shed is the next money saving move I make.

I actually am enjoying a simpler life and am looking forward to spending days reading, having friends over, and seeing what other ways God might show on how live simply.