This Christmas season finds me at a new phase of my life....a more relaxed phase. I'm discovering that the more I let go of earthly things, the less stress I have in my life. As I write this, I am at the end of a wonderful day I spent with my husband having a garage sale....letting go of some "stuff"! We truly enjoyed each others' company and loosened the bindings of some of our "earthly treasures" along the way!

Recently, I was at a local thrift shop and discovered a beautiful hand made clay pot. I have a serious appreciation for beautifully crafted pottery, so I asked the price. The response was $2.00! It had found a new home! I discovered some markings on the pot and proceeded to look up the artist. The piece was made by a woman in Elk Falls, Kansas who owns a small pottery shop with her husband. She and her husband have chosen by faith to live a quiet peaceful life filled with pottery making, gardening, and service to the Lord. They state that their lifestyle is a choice....one that not many people would choose. They have very few material possessions but are rich in the blessings of family time. The more I read about this wonderful Christian family, the more I longed for simpler days! A verse of Scripture on the home page of their website penetrated my heart! I believe I now have a new life verse....1 Thessalonians 4:11-12...."to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."

I began considering this verse as I was invited this year to speak at the Ladies Christmas Tea at my church. The theme of the tea was "A Country Christmas." As I thought about the theme, I found myself reminiscing about my childhood. You see, the place where I grew up was about as country as it could get. The things I remember most are an abundance of trees to climb and the ability for my brother and me to stay gone from home all day without my mom worrying about where we were! After all, we had 300 acres to roam about on without ever leaving "home".  

My travels since that time have led me mostly to urban areas where simple country life has been long forgotten....that is, until now! From the noise and bustle of the sub burbs of Atlanta, GA, God has planted my family in Pumpkin Center, LA...a place where church members regularly leave fresh vegetables and yard eggs at my back door! I am daily being reminded by God what a blessing it is to live a quiet life relying on Him for my daily needs. I have settled in, started a compost garden for next spring, and am finding contentment in a simpler lifestyle.

As I thought more about 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, I began to pray about how Christian women could apply this to our lives today. What would this kind of life look like in today's society? I began to break the verses down and consider each part.

"To lead a quiet life"....How can we get rid of some of the noise in our lives? First, turn off the TV! How many hours do we spend soaking in useless and often harmful garbage streaming into our homes? So much of what is on TV today is directly harmful to our spiritual walk with God. Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things." How much of what is filtering into our homes meets these qualifications? Hmm....

Secondly, stop yelling....at our children, our husbands, the dog! Even yelling that is not in anger....like yelling for everyone to come for dinner. I decided that it couldn't hurt me to get a bit of exercise walking down the hallway to quietly announce dinner to my family!

"Mind your own business"....Get off of the social networks! Stop being so concerned about everybody else's life dramas! Stop gossiping about things that don't concern you or the person you are talking to! So.... if everybody else's business is NOT my business, what IS my business? Proverbs 31:27 says: "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." Take care of your home and your family. Give them your full attention. God has blessed you with them, and they are your business!

What else is "my business?" When the young boy Jesus was discovered missing from the caravan heading home after the Passover celebration, he was found in the temple taking care of his "Father's business." His business is our business today....teaching others about Christ and His love for them.

"Work with your hands"....Instead of playing a game on the computer or your phone, find something productive to do for your family, a friend or even a stranger. Serve others as Jesus served others.

Look at the results...."Your daily life will win the respect of outsiders."

Who is an "outsider"? The lost in your community. When you earn their respect, you will be a better witness to them for the Lord. The lost won't care about Jesus until you show them Jesus in action!

"So that you will not be dependent on anybody."  When God is supplying all your needs, you will find a sense of freedom like never before! This is a lifestyle that is in direct contrast to what the world teaches. Relying on God for our daily needs is just that....trusting Him to supply what we NEED each moment of each day. This is practically a foreign concept in a world that teaches "Have it your way" and have it now.

We are to take on a different slogan for our lives...."Have it God's way" and have it....WOW!!!!

I am learning each day that everyday spent serving God and relying on Him is a blessed day! A day to praise His name!

Meet me in the Devotional area or Forum and discuss the need to celebrate the great gift of all time!