Uncategorized Archives - Page 11 of 361

November 11 2019

The Lie Of Accumulation – Living To Give Rather Than To Receive

Hello, my friend! How are you? We are a little behind schedule on new blogs simply because the last blog on Why We Need To Love One Another More Than Ever has been heavy on my heart. Because of that, I felt it needed to stay front and center a little longer. In the last few weeks, what have you learned about loving your neighbour? I would love to hear about your experiences. Drop a note in the comment section below – we are always open to sharing and conversation here. This week I want to chat about “The Lie of Accumulation – Living to Give Rather Than to Receive”.

Grab your hot drink and your favourite mug and I’ll wait for you at the kitchen table!

Jesus Said

In Acts 20:34-35 Paul says, “Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Paul was departing to Jerusalem. He was unsure of what would take place there and whether he would see this church family of his again. He was in the midst of giving them “final” instructions. It is significant, that at this time when there were so many things he could have been sharing with the believers, that he felt it important to talk about giving and receiving.

what will i ever do with all this stuff?

We live in a society of stuff, lots of stuff. Just look around. Stores have thousands of items, many of them just varieties of one item. No matter where you go shopping you can find gadgets that will make your life easier and better or will allow you to move more quickly or make you happier.

Our closets are full, we have extra areas for storage. Things languish in boxes for years without us even laying eyes on them. And yet, we hold tight to our possessions.

Decluttering

In the last number of years, we have made a conscious decision to declutter our home. We began to take a hard look at the belongings we had, whether we needed them and who else might benefit from them. Over time, we have let go of many items that were little more than nostalgic as well as items that hadn’t seen the light of day for years. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to find that thing you are looking for when you actually need it. It is easier to clean. And the benefits of giving away to others those things that you are not in need of is more than just a bonus.

The lie of accumulation and choices

We, in today’s society, have bought into a lie. The lie of accumulation. We have been led to believe that accumulation is a sign of success and will lead to contentment. That the more we have, the better we must be doing. The bigger our homes and the more filled with stuff they are is portrayed as some sort of status symbol. And it isn’t just about convincing those around us of how well we are doing, it is part of an effort to fill a void within ourselves; a proof that we are OK, even when we don’t really feel OK.

Not only have we believed the lie of accumulation, but we have also believed in the lie of choices. More choice is better. Just walk down the cereal aisle in your local grocery store – how many kinds of cereal do we really need to be able to choose from? How many “make your life better” gadgets do we really need to be bombarded with day in and day out?

The truth is that accumulation is an empty promise and choice just complicates the matter.

Happiness Is....

Mainstream marketing and advertising would have you believe that your happiness is completely tied up in how much you have, how many choices are set before you and how many gadgets you are in possession of. This, they tell us, is guaranteed to set us on the pathway to a smoother, faster, shinier life. We are told that happiness is whatever we want it to be, that we can make it ourselves and that at the end of the day, happiness is something we can buy our way into.

What they don’t tell us is that the pursuit of happiness is costly, requires us to put in more hours of work to make the money to buy it, requires more time and energy to clean and maintain, and in time, becomes our misguided focus. When the pursuit of happiness becomes the focus, we fail to recognize happiness when it alights upon us, because we are always striving to chase it down.

Happiness Vs. Joy

Apart from the lies of accumulation and choices, the question really becomes, is it happiness that we are really looking for? Happiness is subjective. It depends on the day, the time and the circumstances we find ourselves in. We can be feeling perfectly happy and then one little thing goes awry and our happiness, in that moment, is impacted. Joy, on the other hand, comes from somewhere deep within us. It is not impacted by what is happening at the moment and therefore is sustained even when the day, time and circumstances are not what we had hoped for.

Now What?

So, we have raised two issues – 1) the fact that we have been fed untruths about the benefits of accumulation and the need for so many choices, and 2) our pursuit of happiness rather than joy. Now what? Well, where there are issues, we generally look for answers.

Is Minimalism the Answer?

The minimalist movement has occurred in response to our realization that accumulation and choices haven’t made us happy. So, we have come up with all kinds of ways and systems to begin to downsize our stuff. We have begun to declutter, reducing the number of items in our home significantly. We have begun to ask, “does this make me happy, does this spark joy?” and if not, we toss it. Although this is a great start, I wonder if it has actually addressed the issue. While throwing away the belongings we worked so hard to accumulate because we thought they would make us happy, we are still basing our decisions on what we keep on what makes us happy or not. In this way, we are still engaging in the pursuit of happiness through the accumulation of things, just a lesser accumulation.

Not Having Vs Giving

The other issue that comes up for me, is the difference between getting rid of stuff to have less, versus, giving things away to others who may need it for the purpose of giving. There is a big difference. I can give away all my things and

have nothing and still not have a giving heart. Will that contribute to my happiness? And if it does, did I give it away in the correct spirit – for my happiness, rather than for the benefit of the one I gave it to?

I can give away a few of my things, in an intentional way, and have a very giving heart. And if I do it for the sake of the benefit of the other rather than in the pursuit of my own happiness, it comes from a very different place and spirit.

Joy is the Answer

When dealing with any issue, it is important to get to the root and dig it out. Otherwise, we are just continually battling the weeds. I believe that the real answer begins with our realization that happiness is an empty pursuit. Circumstantial happiness will never be attained consistently. Once we come to that understanding, we will begin to be able to stand up to the lie that accumulation of things and having many choices will lead to happiness, because at the end of the day, happiness won’t even be our goal. It is a mindset shift. If we are not after happiness, the marketing and advertising offers of happiness will no longer captivate us. That is the root.

Instead, let’s go after joy. As I mentioned earlier, joy comes from within. It is not dependent on the day, time or circumstances. Joy lives within you and flows out of you even in the midst. Do you know people that are full of joy? They are the ones you go to comfort in the midst of their circumstances and come away feeling that they comforted and encouraged you.

There Is Joy In Jesus

So where does this joy come from? Relationship with Jesus brings joy. When you are in relationship with Jesus, you know who you are, whose you are, that there is a plan and a purpose for your life and that the battle is already won on your behalf. You understand that the Lord knows your name and even the number of hairs on your head, that you are on His mind and on His heart. There is a freedom and liberty that bubbles up from within you. There is a light on the inside of you that wants nothing more than to shine in any darkness it encounters. Joy is not dependent on the accumulation of things, having many choices or on the circumstances that surround you. Joy lives inside of you and is like a fountain that overflows onto those around you. Relationship with Jesus = Joy!

It is More Blessed To Give Than Receive (Or Accumulate)

So, let’s go back to the beginning. In Acts 20:34-35 Paul says, “Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

I am a firm believer in the decluttering movement. I believe with all my heart that an over-accumulation of stuff leads to all kinds of concerns. The work required to purchase, the time required to clean and maintain, the stress that comes with not being able to find anything. But I think, as Christians, we need to be careful how we frame the decluttering. If we are just getting rid of stuff to get rid of stuff and hoping it will make us happier, we have missed the mark. We need to reframe it right from the beginning: I am not over accumulating because my happiness doesn’t come from stuff, my joy comes from Jesus. The second reframe we need to make is this: I share what I have with those around me because my joy comes from Jesus and in the overflow of that joy is the understanding that it is more blessed to give than to receive (or accumulate). When I give to those around me, it is from a heart of love and compassion for those who are in need, rather than from a selfish place of giving away my stuff to others to increase my own happiness.

What I Know

Mindset shifts take time. But the best way to begin to shift your mindset is to start! Are you happy or joyful? Where are you seeking that happiness? Do you know the joy that comes from relationship with Jesus? How much stuff have you accumulated? Can you begin to be intentional about sharing what you have with those around you who have a need? Yes, it may seem overwhelming right now, but again, one step at a time. Start setting things aside that you don’t need. Now, look at what you have set aside. Who may benefit from those items? A neighbour, a friend, a co-worker, a woman’s shelter, the local church who has a free clothing store, the local job search center that collects gently used dress clothes to help out those looking for work. There are so many in need all around us. And here we are, holding tightly to all that we have, whether we need it or use it or not. Today is a day for a mindset shift! Jesus said, “It is better to give than to receive.” If only we could become a people that would live to give rather than to receive (accumulate).

Until Next Time

Well, it is that time again. I’m so glad you were able to take a few minutes to join me at the kitchen table. The table is always available for a chat. Drop a line in the comment box below and let me know how you are doing with your mindset shift. We can build a community of encouragement for one another right here!

If you are interested in more Devotional reading, head over to my Facebook Page where you will find a Weekly Devotion early every Monday morning. Click here to go directly to Weekly Devotions with Laurie.

Until next time,

From my heart to yours!

Laurie

Category: Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT

October 23 2019

Why We Need To Love One Another More Than Ever

It has been a few weeks –time flies when you are having fun! How has your life been going; fast, slow or somewhere in-between? Grab yourself a hot drink in your favourite mug and I will wait for you at the kitchen table. My thoughts for today revolve around why we need to love one another more than ever.

Moving Quickly

We live in a world that is moving quickly. While we are moving quickly, our attention is pulled in numerous directions at one time. Not only that, we have easy and immediate access to so much more information. We hear/see everything that is going on around us in live time, often whether we want to or not. All this movement and information trains our minds and emotions to move quickly as well, in order to keep up. And we all know, that when our minds and emotions move quickly, some things get lost in translation.

We Are All Unique

In the past, many of us have lived in communities in which everyone was very similar. We grew comfortable being with those who were very much like us. We had little experience with those who looked different than us or thought differently than us. However, within those communities, there were different ways of being. Overall, we have been OK with that, chalking it up to the “uniqueness” of the individual.

We Are All Different

There has always been a level of uniqueness in our communities, however, because there have been so many similarities, our focus has been on being the same. Therefore we are comfortable. Now that the varying degrees of uniqueness among us are being highlighted, our focus has tended towards being different. And, unfortunately, feelings of being different often leads to feelings of discomfort.

Perception Is Everything

Perception is everything. When I perceive you to be different rather than unique it lends itself to feelings of dissimilarity which leads to discomfort. However, if I were to view you as unique, rather than different, I would better understand that we still have similarities, which maintains a level of comfort.

How does the speed our society is moving at, impact this conversation? When we are moving quickly, we are thinking quickly. When we are thinking quickly, our emotions kick in quickly. Quick emotions influence a quick perception of the people around us. Quick perceptions often get us into trouble. Although we have always been told that the “first impression” was the most important, I beg to differ. That “first impression” is often not a great indicator of that actual person, but rather a real reflection of our own biases and judgments. When we are moving and thinking quickly, we give our emotions permission to move to quick and often inaccurate perceptions.

So, What?

So, we find ourselves in a world that is moving quickly. Over time we have moved towards a focus that looks at differences rather than uniqueness, which has increased our levels of discomfort around the diversity in our communities. On top of those feelings of discomfort, because we are moving quickly, we often allow our emotions to take control of our perceptions of those around us; this only serves to reflect our biases and judgements rather than to give us accurate views of the people we are perceiving.

When we are running on discomfort and potentially inaccurate perceptions of others, generally, we are going to have a more negative view of those around us.

Jesus Said

As Christians, we are called to love those around us. All of those, not just the ones we have developed positive perceptions of. Second only to loving the Lord, is the command to love your neighbour as yourself.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the first and great commandment. “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22: 36-40

(“Matthew 22:1 (NKJV) – And Jesus answered and spoke.” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 23 Oct 2019. https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/mat/22/1/s_951001)

Loving Our Neighbour

In the midst of our discomfort with those around us who seem so different and our tendency towards quick perceptions of those around us, how do we follow the command of Jesus to love your neighbour as yourself?

Who Is Our Neighbour?

First of all, who is our neighbour? When the lawyer in Luke 10 questioned Jesus, asking “who is my neighbour?” Jesus responded with the story of the good Samaritan. The man on the road had been stripped and wounded and left half dead. The first two people to encounter him were people who were more similar to him, yet when they encountered him they went to the other side of the road and passed him by. The third man to come along was a Samaritan. He would have been considered to be very “different” from the man lying on the side of the road. And yet, this man stopped, had compassion on him, bandaged his wounds and took his somewhere where he paid for him to stay until he was recovered. From this, I understand that our neighbour, the one we are to have compassion on and to love, is even that one who is very “different” than us.

He Had Compassion

“And when he saw him, he had compassion.” Luke 10:33

(“Luke 10:1 (NKJV) – After these things the Lord.” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 23 Oct 2019. https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/luk/10/1/s_983001)

This phrase really struck me when I was reading this passage. The Samaritan, when he saw his “neighbour” who was very “different” from himself, lying on the road, stripped and wounded, had compassion. I believe it was from that place of compassion that the Samaritan was able to slow down his thinking and his emotions. In doing so, his perception was changed from a focus of “different” to one of “uniqueness”. From that flowed the ability of the Samaritan to truly love his neighbour as Jesus had taught.

Why We Need To Love One Another More Than Ever

We live in a world filled with individuals that are unique. We also live in a world where many are full of fear and judgement because they have been lured into the lie that because we are all so “different” from one another we can’t make connections with those around us. But Jesus said, love your neighbour, that neighbour that is actually very different from you. The love he talked about was very practical; it required the Samaritan to stop and to give of his own time and resources. And it was driven by compassion. When the Samaritan saw the man, stripped and wounded and left on the road, compassion rose up within him. That compassion allowed for the demonstration of the love that Jesus not only talks about but also commands us to have for one another.

What I Know

This world can be an uncertain place. As Christians, we must be willing to declare our certainty in the love and salvation we have through Jesus, by allowing Jesus to demonstrate his love for others through us. This will begin to happen as we become aware of how our perceptions are formed and how biased they tend to be. It will also happen when we allow compassion to rise up within us for those around us. Once that compassion begins to rise, there will be no question about our willingness to go out of our way and to give of our time and our resources to care for those around us, regardless of how “different” they may seem from us.

Until Next Time

Well, it is that time again. My cup is empty and I have a “to-do” list to get to. I’m so happy you were able to take the time to sit at the kitchen table with me for a visit. I always enjoy our time together! Until next time, start slowing down your perceptions and begin to look for the uniqueness in those around you, rather than the differences. Love on someone this week; someone you would not normally think to love on. Take a step or two out of your comfort zone into your discomfort zone – in time you will see your comfort zone expanding in a most wonderful way.

Until next time,

From my heart to yours!

Laurie

Category: Uncategorized | 1 Comment

October 7 2019

Moving From a Destination Focus to Valuing the Journey

Hello, my friend! The time has moved quickly from last week to this week. What endings did you encounter? Were you able to choose to unfurl your hands? Did you have some moments of “arms and hands open wide, twirling barefoot in the grass, head back, with abandoned laughter and don’t care who is looking, kind of living” this week? I hope so! Now that our hands and our minds are not as clenched, this week, I thought we could chat about moving from a destination focus to valuing the journey.

Mindsets

The Merriam Webster Online Dictionary describes the term mindset this way: 1) a mental attitude or inclination 2) a fixed state of mind (retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mind-set). So a mindset is a fixed way of looking at something. Mindsets are kind of like strong habits. They are deep-seated beliefs that we may or may not be aware of in our conscious minds, but that dictate our ways of behaving. We are, for the most part, comfortable with our mindsets. When someone tries messing with the way we think, we get uncomfortable.

But since we have committed to some “arms and hands open wide, twirling barefoot in the grass, head back, with abandoned laughter and don’t care who is looking, kind of living”, I thought it would be OK to disrupt some mindsets today!

A Destination Focus

Are you a traveller? Do you love to explore, see new places and experience new things? Do you travel physically or even vicariously through movies and books? As novice travellers we generally start out with a destination focus. The vacation/trip/adventure doesn’t really begin until you have arrived at your destination. At that point in time you can let down your hair, kick off your shoes and begin to relax and enjoy. The rest is just a necessary evil meant only to be endured until you get to the meat of your adventure.

What I’ve come to learn is that this part that is meant only to be endured actually takes up a large chunk of your vacation time. The trains, planes and automobiles that you need to take to get where you are going and back home can be as much as ¼ to ½ of your time away.

Experienced Travellers

What experienced travellers have learned, is that all parts of your vacation/adventure are to be enjoyed. The moment you begin dreaming about your trip, the fun begins. There is the dreaming stage, then the planning stage, then the preparation stage and the getting there stage and the arriving stage and the adventure itself followed by the preparations to return home, the trip home and then the reminiscing and sharing that takes place upon your return. When you are only focused on enjoying the actual destination, look at all the other opportunities for enjoyment you are missing! Yes, some of the bits and pieces of your adventure may not be fun and interesting in the same way, but surely, in all our wisdom, we can find ways to make it more enjoyable.

A Shift In Mindset

For instance, take the travel time to and from your adventure. We may not all enjoy the early morning trip to the airport or the waiting time, however, if we challenged our destination mindset, things may look differently. I can bring fun snacks and a great book I’ve been waiting to read. I can take fun selfies. I can have uninterrupted talk time with my spouse. I can chat with others who are also waiting. I can have some quiet, uninterrupted time to just rest. I can actually sip and enjoy that cup of coffee that I never seem to get time to finish at home. It is also a great time to catch up on knitting or crocheting. A shift in mindset can free up a lot of time!

Life and Destination Focus

We often ask ourselves and those around us, “Why do I feel so rushed?” It feels like there are not enough hours in the day and not enough time and energy to go around. I have an answer for you. Regardless of how much we actually “produce” in a day, when we subscribe, knowingly or unknowingly, to a destination focus in our life, we will be left tired and run ragged. There will be a distinct lack of satisfaction and joy in that which we have accomplished.

You can’t have a to-do list long enough, that when it is all checked off, produces satisfaction in and of itself. We are not built that way. We are built for joy and purpose, not doing for the sake of doing.

Valuing the Journey - Shortening Our Time

It is time to shift our mindset from a destination focus to valuing the journey. So, how do we value the journey? That will look a bit different for all of us. However, there are a few things we all need to know. The first thing we need to stop doing is always looking ahead to the next thing we have to do or get through. How often in a day do we say or think, “If I could just get xyz done”. What happens when you get it done? You quickly move on to another target to complete. We feel rushed because we are always watching something ahead of us; wishing out time away. And we wonder why our time seems so short.

Valuing the Journey -Measuring the Moments

The next thing we need to do is begin valuing the moments. Time is made up of moments. Bits and pieces of time in between those things we are aiming to get done. The moments are where the joy is found. That is where we see our purpose being fulfilled. This is where we find the “aha”. Without a focus on the moments we are like hamsters on a wheel – moving fast, expending a lot of energy, maybe producing, but feeling like we aren’t getting anywhere. How do we do find value in the moments? Engage. Stop thinking about the next thing and the next thing and focus on the thing you are doing right now. Give it your full attention. Treat it like it is the only thing on your to do list. And see what happens.

Valuing the Journey - Relationship and Surrender

The other important piece of enjoying the journey is in trusting that there is a solid plan – whether that plan is detailed or loosely designed for spontaneity in between. For every great journey there is at least one planner; one that gets out the maps and plans the route and the stops along the way. God has prepared this journey called life, for us. We are His “workmanship”; He has created us with a plan and a purpose. If we are walking in relationship with Him, we can trust that He will direct our steps. That takes a lot of the pressure off. When the journey is well designed there is freedom to move in the moment without worrying about “what’s next”. We may not always see the big picture at once, but when we are spending time with Him, He will at the very least, show you that one next step you need to take.

Valuing the Journey - Unique to You

The rest is up to you. How you choose to find joy and purpose and the “aha” in your moments may look different from how I do it. Some of it will be trial and error. But the most important piece is that you recognize that a destination focus is a mindset; a mindset that can and needs to be changed in your life. Valuing the journey as a whole will help take the rush out and put the joy into the moments that make up the journey.

What I Know

I know that recognizing and changing mindsets is not something that you do overnight. It is, in itself, a journey – a journey of self-discovery and growth that is also to be enjoyed. Don’t allow it to become a destination. Be aware of the moments and let the Holy Spirit guide and direct your steps as you aim to become more and more like Jesus.

Until Next Time

Well, it is that time again. My teacup is empty. I encourage you to continue to choose “arms and hands open wide, twirling barefoot in the grass, head back, with abandoned laughter and don’t care who is looking, kind of living” this week, which includes starting to shift from a destination focus to valuing the journey.

I Would Love to Hear from You!

Drop a note in the comments section below. I would love to hear from you! Be in touch and share your experience with destinations and journeys! Growth is much more effective and more fun when we do it together! Let’s take this space and make it a place to share and encourage one another.

Until next time,

From my heart to yours!

Laurie

Category: Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT