Awakening

Awakening
by Sara Groves

Dress down your pretty faith, give me something real
Leave out the Thee and Thou and speak to me now
Speak to my pain and confusion
Speak through my fears and my pride
Speak to the part of me that knows I'm something deep down inside

I know that I'm not perfect, but compare me to most
In a world of hurt in a world of anger I think I'm holding my own
And I know that you've said there is more to life
No I am not satisfied
But there are mornings I wake up and I'm just thankful to be alive

I've known for quite a while that I am not whole
I've remembered the body and the mind, but dissected the soul
Now something inside is awakening
Like a dream I once had and forgot
And it's something I'm scared of and something I don't want to stop

I woke up this morning and realized
Jesus is not a portrait
Or stained glass windows
Or hymns
Or all the tradition that surrounds us

I thought it would be hard to believe in
But it's not hard at all
To believe I've sinned
And fallen short
Of the glory of God

He's not asking me to change in my joy for martyrdom
He's asking to take my place
To stand in the gap that I have formed
With His real amazing grace
And it's not just a sign or a sacrament
It's not just a metaphor for love
The blood is real and it's not just a symbol of our faith

Purchasing Power

O God,
We've wasted
we've complained
we've grumbled.
We've misused our resources
We've confused
our needs
with our wants.
For these sins
Father, forgive us.
Help us
reset our priorities
according to Your will.
Amen

--Norma Johnson
Lobatse, Botswana


I have been really intrigued lately about how my personal shopping habits have a direct effect on our brothers and sisters around the world. When I support coffee, chocolate, and sugar that is Fair Trade Certified I am helping to give those South American families a better life and better communities. When I buy local goods, I am supporting my local economy, local families, and the health of my local environment. When I choose to stop buying "Made in China" products, I am supporting better, healthier products for my children, the economy of my country, and saying no to pollution, sweatshops and the evils of child labor. When I choose to eat less meat I am reducing my impact on the environment and eating a more balanced diet. Organics has become huge in America in the past five years because we started buying and supporting organic foods which has made the food industry supply more of it. Our buying choices influence things.

We are a global community and our choices affect our brothers and sisters around the world. It's about thinking about how to love others in a new way through how I spend, how I eat, and how I use my time. Living simply is a another avenue to love God and love others instead of ourselves.

I ventured into Ten Thousand Villages today and purchased the cookbook that I have wanted for about 10 years. It is the More-with-Less Cookbook by Doris Janzen Longacre...it is filled with recipes and suggestions by Mennonites on "how to eat better and consume less of the world's limited food resources". Here is an excerpt from the foreword:

The More-with-Less Cookbook will best reach its goal of helping Christians respond in a caring-sharing way in a world with limited food resources when placed in full view of family members rather than simply adding it to the collection on the kitchen shelf. It can constantly remind your family of its central theme, "There is a way which gives not less but more." More joy, more peace, less guilt; more physical stamina, less overweight and obesity; more to share and less to hoard for ourselves.

I look forward to the challenge of eating more simply and knowing that in some small way it makes a difference. It will make a difference in my thankfulness for what I have, more mindful of sharing with others, and sensitive to the environment and the families of the world.

Here's to learning how to be better stewards of our money, our purchases, and the daily choices that we make that influence our families, communities and the rest of the planet. Here's to learning how to love our global neighbor in do-able, tangible ways. Here's to loving the Lord and worshipping Him in a new way by how we view His creation, His people, and His heart.

Lord, give me the grace to love You and to love my neighbor as myself in my heart, in my mind, and in my daily choices.

Marvelous Microfiber

Microfiber cloths are my new best friends. Have you tried them yet?? They are a most wonderful way of chemical-free cleaning...which is better for your health, the environment and your checkbook! I bought a huge pack of them at Sam's Club for less than $15...you can now also find them in most every store for a reasonable price. Here are some of the wonderful benefits:

• No more chemical cleaners! Just get wet with hot water and wipe down all surfaces...no more Windex on the windows! Just wipe for a streak-free shine! No more Pledge! The tiny fibers pick up all kinds of dust, lint, and dirt while leaving you clean, sparkly surfaces.
• No paper towel waste, sponge waste, or swiffer cloth waste. When you are done using it, just throw it in your dirty clothes and wash it. I strap it around my swiffer to dust my hardwood floors quickly and easily. I also use the cloths to dust all surfaces from TV's to computers to furniture to ceiling fans to our automobiles. Totally gentle and non-scratching.
  
• Kids can help with chores! I started my journey into greener cleaning due to the fact that I wanted my older children to clean their bathrooms and I was nervous about allowing them to use toxic cleaners. These cloths makes wiping and cleaning easy and healthy for all young children and you get some much needed help :)
• Highly absorbent. They are GREAT for cleaning up spills and again saves you from wasting paper towels. You would be amazed at how much they can hold.
• Fast and efficient. Cleaning is now simpler, streamlined, and quick. A few cloths and some water is all that it takes for you to effectively clean most of your home.
• Fiscally friendly. I have saved SO much money by not buying lots of cleaning supplies, a huge reduction in paper towel usage, and no more disposable swiffer cloths (that I would FLY through).
  
• Helps with allergies. Again, the tiny fibers pick up dust mites and dirt thoroughly instead of smearing the dust all around or blowing the itty particles into the air.
  

Here's to a simpler cleaning lifestyle with some marvelous microfiber!

Suggestions for Simple Living

I have been reading the book The New Friars by Scott A. Bessenecker and in the appendix there is a wonderful compilation of ideas for simple living. As we make strides to live simpler, we are acknowledging that we are part of a global community...the decisions I make daily in the businesses I support, the food that I buy, the clothes that I wear, the car that I drive, the way I use my time, talents, and resources all affect the people around me. We can make a difference in the lives of the poor around the world by the simple everyday choices that we make.

Here is the excerpt from the book's appendix that will help us make one more small step in living mindfully:

Simplicity is voluntary, free, uncluttered, natural, creative, authentic, focused, margined, disciplined, diligent, healthful.

Simplicity is not easy, legalistic, proud, impoverished, ascetic, neurotic, ignorant, escapist.

RELATIONSHIP

Cultivate a closeness with God.
Practice regular hospitality.
Help each other, emphasize service.
Always speak the truth. Develop a habit of plain, honest speech. If you consent to do a task, do it. Avoid flattery and half-truths. Make honesty and integrity the distinguishing characteristics of your speech.
Don't judge.
Reject anything that breeds the oppression of others.
Consciously seek to identify with the poor and forgotten. Start by visiting hospitals, prisons, and nursing homes.
Schedule "simple" dates with your spouse.
Teach your children.

ACTIVITIES

Make your commitments simple.
Don't overwork.
Fast periodically from media, food, people.
Elevate reading, go to the library.
Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you. Cut down on the use of addictive, non-nutritional food and drinks such as alcohol, coffee, tea, soda, sugar, chocolate.
Simplify Christmas and other holidays. Develop the habit of homemake celebrations.

PACE AND ATMOSPHERE

Slow down.
Do not exhaust your emotional bank account.
Lie fallow.
Say no.
Restrict/eliminate television watching. Turn off or mute advertisements.
Learn to enjoy solitude.

POSSESSIONS AND FINANCES

Cultivate contentment, desire less.
Resist covetousness and consumerism.
Buy things for their usefulness, not their status.
Learn to enjoy things without owning them. Benefit from places of "common ownership" (parks, museums, libraries, rivers, public beaches).
De-accumulate. Develop the habit of giving things away.
Offer others the use of your possessions.
Develop a network of exchange.
Avoid impulse buying.
Don't buy now, pay later.
Avoid credit cards if they are a problem.
De-emphasize respectability.
Simplify your wardrobe--give away excess.
Learn how to make do with a lower income instead of needing a higher one.

APPRECIATION

Be grateful for things large and small.
Emphasize a joyful life.
Appreciate creation.
Send cards of encouragement and appreciation when others are not expecting it.

SPIRITUAL LIFE

Make the Word central.
Meditate and memorize Scripture.
Pray.
Encourage simple worship.
Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the Kingdom of God.


Aren't these great ideas?
Which one will you implement in your life this week?

Woman to Woman

I read a wonderful little book recently that I believe can really open our eyes to the value of hospitality and using it in our lives as a vehicle for community, service, and love. It caused me to think and dream and plan as to how to view my home as a welcoming place of ministry...that ministry is not "out there somewhere in the world" but right here and right now. We simply need to open our doors and let others in. Giving others space to connect, to rest, to be fed, to encourage, to listen, to share and to just be.

I really felt the need in my own life and really wanted to apply what I was learning. Sometimes I get so many ideas though that I tend to get bogged down and paralyzed and not do anything. Great intentions with no follow-through. I read this verse the other day in I John 3:18 that says:

"Little children, let us not love merely in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity)."

So on Monday I sent out an email to the women in my home group at church to come to my house this morning from 9-10:30 for a "mug and muffin". Just coffee, muffins, and being together. Oh yeah, and bring the children!

It was so fun to see four women come...some with children in tow and some not. But we were together as women. Not a playgroup. Not a time to watch the children play. But to focus on each other. What a difference in the vibe! So often when we get together for the "kids to play together" the whole time is children-focused...managing play, negotiating toy battles, talking about parenting, but overall being really scattered in our time together. Having our purpose be to get together as women meant that we came together to focus on each other and the children played merrily in the background. Sure there was some kid-intervention that had to happen but it happened quietly and in the context of getting back to talking and being together again. I believe now that we should focus more on having Women Playgroups instead of child playgroups!

We as women need that time to talk, to know we are not alone, to focus on adult things, and the children really do follow our lead and go with the flow. We can invite empty-nesters, singles, 1st time pregnant mamas, fellow mamas and all come together during the day to laugh, learn and listen.

Today is the first day of a new pursuit for me. The great pursuit of community, women, children, "the stranger", families. As Romans 12:13b says:

"pursue the practice of hospitality"

May we all be better stewards of the gift of our homes as places of warmth and welcoming. Places for compassion and kindness. Homes may be our greatest asset for ministering love to the Body and to the lost.

Let's begin swinging open the doors of our hearts and homes today!

From Plastic to Pleasure

I just have never liked plastic. It's completely unnatural. It is not aesthetically pleasing. It looks and feels cheap. It can only be recycled once. It isn't biodegradable. It smells bad. It leaches chemicals out of our water bottles, baby bottles, and storage containers and into our water, milk, and food. Plastic toys have phthalates that can cause our children long-term harm. There are so many other great alternatives that are friendlier to the environment, our health, our children, and even to our senses.

Think about replacing all those plastic cups in the cupboard with glass. I love drinking from glass goblets and they are only about $2 each. They are so pretty and elevate our dining to a more-pleasing place. Instead of giving young children plastic cups, buy little juice glasses from a thrift shop. I have bought a bunch for about 25 cents each. If they break, no big deal! Plus it teaches the children to be mindful and to take care of things. Replace your water bottles with a Kleen Kanteen or Sigg bottles. I use my Kleen Kanteen daily and it's wonderful.

Replace your plastic kitchen storage containers with glass. Use jars or Pyrex to safely store leftovers and reheat items. When heated, plastic releases chemicals so it is safer to never microwave your food in those containers. When buying food, try to buy your item packaged in glass if possible. Glass can be recycled endlessly yet plastics can only be recycled once. Replace plastic plates and bowls with inexpensive ceramic or glass ones. These can be easily done by going to a local thrift shop and choosing a fun, eclectic mix. Even at local retailers these pieces can be bought very inexpensively.

Use wicker, cloth, or wood baskets in closet, toy, craft and basic home organization. It is so much prettier and breathes life into your space. You can find so many baskets at thrift shops and I always pick them up because I know that I will find a great organizational use for them. I seek to buy drawer organizational dividers made out of wood or now the popular bamboo instead of plastic. Replacing these items in my home takes time, but when I do, I love the visual and emotional outcome...my home feels more natural, real, and interesting. My next goal is to get some wicker laundry baskets.

Replace plastic bibs for cloth and plastic toys with wood, cloth, and felt. It is hard to begin thinking this way with toys, but I have found that wooden toys are usually much higher quality, more interesting, and require more creativity on the part of the child. Our long-term favorites have always been our wooden toys. Melissa and Doug make wonderful, affordable, and stimulating toys for children and now can be found more easily in stores. Play silks have always intrigued me with their open-ended possibilites for creative play. Buy more quality art supplies for your children to express themselves in a new way. Play more with water, sand, and nature's bountiful supply of interesting toys. The alternatives to plastic toys are endless and offer the parent a great opportunity for resourcefulness, creativity, and imagination. Explore the options!

This year I replaced my plastic shower curtain liner with cloth and I love that I don't have that strong smell in my bathroom anymore. The cloth liner washes so nicely and I love how it looks and feels in our bathrooms. I am in the midst of replacing our plastic trashcans with natural wicker ones. I am amazed at how much nicer it feels and it is just as easy to keep clean.

In this day and age it would be difficult to remove plastics completely from our lives but we can make small intentional steps. We can begin to think more naturally when we shop and seek to look for real products made of cotton, linen, hemp, silk, wood, bamboo, woven grasses and glass.

Enjoy a prettier, healthier, and mindful home by switching to all things natural!

Reduce Drying Time

I am so excited that it is autumn again and I can get back to using my clothesline again. SC summers are so hot that I can't bear being out there in the thick humidity hanging clothes. Hanging clothes on a line is so therapeutic...it slows me down and causes me to reflect, pray, and listen. It causes me to be more mindful of each member of my family, their needs, and how I can love and serve each one uniquely.

When I have used my dryer this summer, I started using these nifty dryer balls. The ones I actually have are pink and I found them in the check-out line of Babies R Us for $15. They are chemical-free, environmentally safe, soften your clothes (no need now for fabric softener), and reduce drying time up to about 15 minutes or so. They just make their home in the bottom of my dryer otherwise they become fun toys thrown around the house by my children!

I have also read of others using tennis balls to the same effect. Or just using a dry towel in your dryer can reduce drying time...I did that when I dried cloth diapers and it really worked. Always make sure you clean your lint filter and your dryer vent tube because if it is filled with lint then you may find yourself running your dryer way longer than needed. This is a nifty tool we are considering purchasing in order to keep the vent clean and running more efficiently.

"The standard electric dryer consumes energy at a rate of 5000 watts, meaning that it takes five kilowatt-hours of energy to do one load of laundry. If your family dries one load of laundry a day using an electric dryer, you use 150 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month. Back at the power plant, one ton of poisonous gases is created each year to run your family's dryer."
--J. Matthew Sleeth's book "Serve God Save the Planet"

So here's a few ideas to help reduce your family's drying impact on the earth and to save a bit of money in the process!