Simplifying life

“I felt like I was some kind of primitive spring-loaded machine, placed under far more tension than it had ever been built to sustain, about to blast apart at great danger to anyone standing nearby. I imagined my body parts flying off my torso in order to escape the volcanic core of unhappiness that had become: me.”

simple

“sim”

one

Matthew 5:8

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

Matthew 5:8

“Blessed are the pure [katharos] in heart, for they will see God.”

Luke 10

38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.

Acts 22:3

‘I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel…

Luke 10

40But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’

Luke 10

40But Martha was distracted [perispao] by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’

Luke 10

41But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’

The Message

"Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it -- it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her."

Balanced vs.

Centered

Colossians 3:17

“Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:17

“Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:17

“Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:17

“Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

“What makes you think that God is absent from the maintenance shop but present in the chapel? Holiness does not depend on us changing our jobs, but in doing for God’s sake what we have been used to doing for our own.”

Colossians 3:17

“Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Matthew 11:28

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’