Starting your simple life by Rhonda at Down to Earth

DH and I have been living a simple life for many year. It's our life style. We did not want to get caught up in the hurry/scurry world as much as possible. We don't have cell phones or cable TV, I cook and bake from scratch, I line dry our laundry, no dishwasher, and we are not in debt. We have shopped thrift stores, flea markets and yard sales. We buy bulk. We 'curbside' shop, or as some call it we go 'junking'. It's not the norm, and we've been looked down on for living the way we do. But, the peace of mind is worth it. We're not struggling to keep up with everyone else. We're just living our life one day at a time and thankful for it.

I came across Rhonda's blog Down-to-Earth last year and her writings have truly been an inspiration to me. It's nice to read about other people who are living the same way.

Below is an excerpt from one of her posts. May others be inspired to live a simpler, more peaceful life by her writings. The whole post can be found here.

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I worked out that I had to make my own happiness. I realized I had to shape life so that both Hanno and I would be happy, without the constant spending that we once did. It suddenly dawned on me that instead of looking outward to other people, the stores, buying more crap and the outside world in general, that we could build what we wanted at home. We could fill our lives with meaningful work that would sustain not only our physical beings but our spirits as well. When I knew that our happiness was not reliant on anything "outside" I started to slow down and concentrate on doing my work well. This lead to several things. I was more relaxed as I wasn't rushing to complete tasks, I changed some of the things I was doing because I felt that I could do them better another way, I discovered that housework never ends, so I didn't try to finish it every day. I've accepted housework now as an ongoing stream of chores with no end. Knowing this took a lot of pressure off to complete everything within a certain amount of time. I hope you understand the general idea of what I've written here. I guess the message is to slow down, be mindful of what you're doing, stop multi-tasking and try to enjoy even the most simple tasks. If you look for it, there is beauty in the mundane and familiar.

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Have a lovely day today,

living in and enjoying each moment that you are given.

FlowerLady

Something we have believed for many years

Here's a web page DH found recently that I thought I would share here. This is something we have believed for many years now.

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Who is Jesus Christ ~ what about the trinity?

by Douglas Tong

If you have ever asked this or a similar question, you are not alone. You need not be concerned that you do not understand the concept of trinity as no one else in the world understands it either.

First of all let me say that neither the word 'trinity' nor its concept is ever taught in the Bible. Trinity is a 3rd century invention by so called 'church fathers' who were converted Greek philosophers steeped in Greek (pagan) philosophy and worldview prior to their conversion. Any trinitarian scholar attempting to explain the trinity will always resort to quoting from these men instead of from the Bible as the concept is unknown in the Bible. The best answer they can manage when hard pressed is 'We can never understand the trinity because it is a mystery' or some variation.

John 1:1 says "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." and John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." God and His Word are one just as a man and his word are one. We cannot separate a man from his word and say that they are separate persons. God's Word is God expressing Himself. In the Old Testament God spoke through the mouth of His prophets but when the fullness of time came God expressed Himself in flesh in order to make Himself known like never before. If we want to know how God is like we need only to look at Jesus through the things that He said and did. Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Col 1:15). Jesus was fully God and fully man. As man He hungered, thirsted, slept, prayed, bled and died. As God He healed, raised the dead, had control over the elements, forgave sin.

Trinity is not a mystery as some may have us believe. The only great mystery mentioned in the Bible is found in 1Ti 3:16 ~ And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

To end his piece Dr. Tong wrote these thoughts:

The Creator became the creature but never stopped being the Creator ! - The God of eternity became a man of time but never stopped being the God of eternity ! - The High Priest became the Lamb but never ceased being the High Priest ! - He was all powerful who had no power but yet always had all power ! - The virgin Mary's God who became her son yet was still her only God ! - The Good Shepherd became the sheep but never stopped being the Good Shepherd ! - The bright and morning star became the lily of the valley but never ceased being the bright and morning star ! - He was the root of David who became David's offspring but never stopped being the root of David ! - He is the Father of all creation who became the Son in redemption who never ceased being the Father of all creation ! - Our God became a Man and never stopped being our God !

For any of you interested, the whole article can be found here. It is really good reading.

FlowerLady

If you can find a better deal, take it!

Below is an excerpt from an outspoken writer. She's hard to take and hated by some, but others enjoy her wit and her writings. She speaks out on many topics speaking the truth as she believes it.

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If you can find a better deal, take it!

by Ann Coulter 6 Jan 2010

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Christianity is simultaneously the easiest religion in the world and the hardest religion in the world.

In the no-frills, economy-class version, you don't need a church, a teacher, candles, incense, special food or clothing; you don't need to pass a test or prove yourself in any way. All you'll need is a Bible (in order to grasp the amazing deal you're getting) and probably a water baptism, though even that's disputed.

You can be washing the dishes or walking your dog or just sitting there minding your business hating Susan Sarandon and accept that God sent his only son to die for your sins and rise from the dead ... and you're in!

"Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9.

If you do that, every rotten, sinful thing you've ever done is gone from you. You're every bit as much a Christian as the pope or Billy Graham.

No fine print, no "your mileage may vary," no blackout dates. God ought to do a TV spot: "I'm God Almighty, and if you can find a better deal than the one I'm offering, take it."

The Gospel makes this point approximately 1,000 times. (below is just one example)

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8.

Christianity is also the hardest religion in the world because, if you believe Christ died for your sins and rose from the dead, you have no choice but to give your life entirely over to Him. No more sexual promiscuity, no lying, no cheating, no stealing, no killing inconvenient old people or unborn babies -- no doing what all the other kids do.

And no more caring what the world thinks of you -- because, as Jesus warned in a prophecy constantly fulfilled by liberals: The world will hate you.

"With Christianity, your sins are forgiven, the slate is wiped clean and your eternal life is guaranteed through nothing you did yourself, even though you don't deserve it. It's the best deal in the universe."

If you wish to read more, go here

Simple prayer for each day of 2010

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning;

for in thee do I trust:

cause me to know the way wherein I should walk;

for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Psa 143:8

Come unto me ...

"Come unto me,

all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30)

A Girl Scout Was Here

To read this wonderful, little heart-warming story click on this link

The story is by Billy Coffey.

Something to ponder for all of us,

to be loving in deed, not just words.

Annie Got Her Gun

This is a wonderful story which I hope all of you will gain inspiration from.

To read the full article go to the link below.

Annie Got Her Gun

"Aim high at a high mark and you will hit it.

No, not the first time, nor the second, and maybe not the third.

But keep on aiming and keep on shooting.

For only practice will make you perfect.

Finally you'll hit the bull's-eye of success."
From the article