Less is More

I've recently been reading through a "Body by God" book that's helping me learn a lot about the best nutrition and exercising plans... but on top of that there are some great reminders that less is more (I'll soon post an entry about less "stuff" on my other blog, so you can check that out too if you want...) So here's ten encouraging thoughts for you:

1) Be Appearance-less
See yourself exactly as you already are, and be content in God... don't be obsessed with who you're not: "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am" (Phil 4:11)

2) Be Want-less
When you start to decide "how you are doing" by how much you have of what you want or how close you are to getting it, you have become a slave to your wants. "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want..." (Ps 23:1) Make sure to find the healthy balance of ambition and contentment. Check out my favorite - Phil 3:12-15, too. :)

3) Be Acceptance-less
Acceptance of others is biased, fleeting, and often holds no real reason or value. Stop doing what other people believe you should do, and begin doing what you believe you should do. Prove the will of God for yourself (Rom 12:1,2) Do what is right, not what is acceptable. Others may not always like you, but you will like you.

4) Be Result-less
Peace cannot be created while focusing only on the results of your efforts. The reality of the game of life is you are going to strike out once in awhile. (In fact, at bat in softball, if you fail twice as often as you succeed, you're still considered an excellent hitter!) To begin enjoying all of life more, you have to detach yourself from results. In order to do this, you have to pay more attention to enjoying just playing the game and less attention to how it turns out.

5) Be Pride-less
GOD is BIG. There is no leader more farsighted, no boss more empowering, no book more motivating, no friend less judging, no family member more supporting, and no one who understands you more or knows your needs as well as God. We, on the other hand, are quite small. We are extremely shortsighted in our thinking for our own lives and the lives of others. We are almost totally unaware of how our thoughts, actions, and interactions will impact the world and our future. If we depend only on what we see and understand, it will be impossible for us not to make error after error and confront failure after failure. Until you change your viewpoint to "GOD/me" (BIG GOD, little me), you will often make it impossible for God's will to be done.

6) Be Time-less
Our time on earth is temporary, yet it is also complete. In order to begin creating some peace in your life, you must begin understanding that God knows what you need and when you need it. By hurrying everything up, you interfere with God's timing to try and meet your own schedule. As a result, you get "nowhere fast." So slow down, take it easy, and try and enjoy the ride!

7) Be Hate-less
When you start forgiving and begin removing judgment from others, you are learning one of the most important aspects of loving. Loving is challenging, but remember, it's not just a suggestion, it's a commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is equally important, 'Love your neighbor as yourself' All other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments" (Matt 22:37-40)

8) Be Fear-less
Step One: Take your problems to God
Step Two: Turn to God for answers to your problems
Step Three: It's God's battle, not yours
Step Four: With God be fearless (strong and courageous)
Step Five: Let God be glorified in victoray and let the blessings flow

9) Be Faith-FULL
When you have Ph. D faith, you are Past Having Doubt. When you know God is as real as the chair you are sitting in, the bed you are lying in, or the floor you are standing on, and you see concrete evidence of Him in all things, then you have strong faith. To work more on this "Ph. D," think about the "out-of-this-world" majesty and spendor of nature, consider the tremendous organization of our bodies and the universe we live in, and talk to God like you would talk to someone who is really there...because God IS there! :)

10) Be Hope-FULL
With hope...
...you are daring
...you are a dreamer
...you are courageous
...you are different
...it's okay to fail. While seeking the FULLness of God's will for your life, you will get knocked down... but...
...you know that God will be there to pick you up again and again and again and again...
...YOU WIN!

Be encouraged, friend! :)