Sweet Simple Living

5x7 Folded Card

2011-11-07T12:51:00.001-05:00

Birthday Pictures Noir Birthday Card

Quick and easy: Christmas photo card creation at Shutterfly.

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WordPress

2011-10-21T13:39:00.004-04:00

View my blog at www.sweetsimpleliving.wordpress.com

Quick and Easy Curtain Tie Backs (Crocheted)

2011-10-18T18:47:00.005-04:00

So I decided that I'd hang some curtains in the 3 doorways leading into my living room since there was such a breeze blowing through. I bought the curtains cheap; I went to Dollar General and spent $12 each on 2 sets of brown 84" panels. I already had a pretty floral pair for the doorway leading into the dining room. I also bought 3 tension rods for $3.00 each because I didn't want to drill holes and ruin the trim. Not only do the curtains make the living room look good but now it feels so warm and cozy, especially when the fireplace is going.

During the day, though, I like to keep the curtains tied back but instead of buying a half dozen tie backs I thought I'd make my own. I love to crochet so I got some Peaches and Cream white cotton yarn and started my design!

First I chained 50, skipped the first 2 holes, then double crocheted (DC) 40, leaving 8 loose chains on the end. Then I chained 2 and turned. Then it was another row of 40 DC. At the end I chained 8 and joined with a slip stitch to make the loop. I did the same on the other end by joining the 8 loose chains to make another loop. I tied it tight and fastened and cut off the extra yarn and that was it for my tie back!

Of course, that was too plain for me so I bought some glass beads to hang in the middle of the tie back. It helps weigh it down some and it looks pretty. I took 2 pieces of yarn almost a foot long, folded in half and pulled a loop through the middle of the tie back. I then stuck the bottom of the yarn into the glass bead, pulled up to the top and then tied a knot at the bottom to hold the bead in place. I screwed in mug hooks on each side of the doorway, wrapped the tie back around the curtain and voila! It was so simple to make and it works!

Fall Pictures

2011-10-18T15:22:00.004-04:00

Click here to view these pictures larger

William Henry Channing Quote

2011-10-12T18:45:00.003-04:00

(My favorite quote)

“To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common – this is my symphony.”

William Henry Channing’s Symphony: some background, and its appearance in an Arthur Brisbane editorial – from the 1906 collection, “Editorials From The Hearst Newspapers”

(taken from www.thinkexist.com)

After a While by Veronica Shoffstall

2011-10-12T18:45:00.000-04:00

(My favorite poem)

After a while you learn the subtle difference

between holding a hand and sharing a life

and you learn that love doesn’t mean possession

and company doesn’t mean security

and loneliness is universal.

And you learn that kisses aren’t contracts

and presents aren’t promises

and you begin to accept your defeats

with your head up and your eyes open

with the grace of a woman

not the grief of a child.

And you learn to build your hope on today

as the future has a way of falling apart in mid-flight

because tomorrow’s ground can be too uncertain for plans

yet each step taken in a new direction creates a path

toward the promise of a brighter dawn.

And you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much

so you plant your own garden

and nourish your own soul

instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that love, true love,

always has joys and sorrows

seems ever present, yet is never quite the same

becoming more than love and less than love

so difficult to define.

And you learn that through it all

you really can endure

that you really are strong

that you do have value

and you learn and grow

with every good-bye

you learn.

Victim of life no more!

2011-10-12T18:37:00.004-04:00

I have learned over the years that my life is my responsibility and I cannot blame anyone for the circumstances I find myself in right now, whether good or bad…and that responsibility started when I became an adult. Sure, bad things happen when we’re growing up; I heard someone say that no one has had a pain-free childhood but as adults, everyone chooses how happy or miserable their life will be.

I have this thing now, this alarm that goes off in my head, that if something doesn’t feel right, if I am hurting emotionally, that means some thing needs to change. And more often than not, the “thing” that needs to change, is me! I ask myself, or more accurately, I ask God, “How can I look at this differently? What is my role in this issue or difficulty I’m having?” Even if the problem isn’t of my doing, I ask “What can I do to deal with this in a responsible way?”

(side note: I am speaking here more about our day-to-day trials, not major tragedies that some of us face, although these same principles could apply)

I am not a victim in life, being tossed around by the wind. That took me a long time to figure out. Now I know that I have a very big role to play in my life and how I want to live it. Taking responsibility for my life is the hardest and most freeing thing I ever have to do. Swallowing my pride and looking hard and honestly at myself and learning to “accept the things I cannot change and having the courage to change the things I can” is probably a very mature way to conduct my life as well.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 5-8

Voluntary Simplicity in the Bible

2011-09-28T22:27:00.002-04:00

By W. David Holden

In the 20th and 21st centuries the practice of voluntary simplicity has rightly become a central virtue for Christians and others for whom social justice and environmental stewardship are vital concerns. The concept and practice of voluntary simplicity, however, are much older. Voluntary poverty has been a central tenet of monasticism since the days of the Desert Fathers and Mothers of the fourth century. Voluntary poverty received renewed emphasis in the poverty movements of the Western Church in the late Middle Ages, most notably the asceticism of St. Francis of Assisi and his order of “lesser brothers.” The Mennonites, among whom are the Amish, and the Society of Friends (better known as Quakers) also made it a central practice of their traditions.
While the phrase “voluntary simplicity” is modern, the concept is to be found in the Scriptures of Judaism and Christianity.
The writers of the Bible taught that human beings are to treat the earth as a garden, and in the past century it has become obvious that the earth will not be a garden for long if we continue to practice unbridled consumerism.
The Bible’s authors taught that wealthy people have obligations toward the poor. They also taught that gluttony, greed, and vainglory are obstacles in the relationship of human beings with God. These vices contradict Biblical teaching about wealth, which is always a gift to human beings from the boundless riches of God. They also refute the trust that the Lord will provide for human beings.
When researching biblical concepts, students customarily explore key words, in this case the terms “simple” and “simplicity” and the like, to see whether they refer to voluntary simplicity in a way similar to the way that phrase is used today.
The words “simple” and “simplicity” do in fact occur in English translations of the Bible, but they do not refer to voluntary simplicity in the sense that we have come to understand it in the past century. In the New Revised Standard Version, for example, the English word “simple” translates forms of the Hebrew word peti (). This word comes from a verb that means “open.” It refers to a person who is open to outside influences, whether for good or for bad. As an illustration of this meaning, Proverbs 14:15 reads, “The simple believe everything, but the clever consider their steps.” The same translation also has the adverb “simply” in three passages and the noun phrase “simple-minded” in one, but never in reference to the virtue of voluntary simplicity.
If the concept of voluntary simplicity is to be found in the Bible, it is more elusive than finding a word or word-family. If it is to be found, it must be embedded in other teachings. It seems to the present writer that it is found in three contexts: in the those passages that might be called the simplicity proverbs, in teachings about modesty, and teachings about quietness.

The Simplicity Proverbs:

The writers of the Bible taught the concept of voluntary simplicity in sayings in the wisdom literature that I call the simplicity proverbs. These are found in the books of Proverbs, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Sirach. All of these proverbs declare that it is better to live a simple life than to perpetuate some kind of evil. Here are four such proverbs.
Proverbs 15:16: “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.” The fear of the Lord is, as Scripture says several times, the beginning of wisdom. The “trouble” referred to here is of a very particular kind. The Hebrew word is mehumah (), which refers to a tumult or uproar. The meaning here is perhaps indicated by Amos 3:9-10,10 which reads:

Proclaim to the strongholds of Ashdod, and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt, and say, “Assemble yourselves on Mount Samaria, and see what great tumults are within it, and what great oppressions are in its midst.” They do not know how to do right, says the Lord, Those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.

The point of the proverb is that obeying the divine commands to do justice to others may require one to lead a simple life.
Proverbs 17:1: “Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.” The second half of this proverb has been paraphrased in the New Revised Standard Version. The Hebrew literally says, “than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.” The ancient Israelites ate little meat. Livestock were more important for wool, milk, and work than for meat. To kill one’s livestock was unthrifty; one would do so only for good reasons. One reason to kill an animal was as an act of worship. When an animal was offered in sacrifice, the person who offered it usually ate it. Therefore, a house full of sacrifices would be a house full of feasting on choice food. But strife ruins any feast. The proverb means that a very simple meal, the merest mouthful of dry bread, when accompanied by some prosperity and peace and quiet, is to be preferred over delicacies with conflicts and legal disputes.
Psalm 37:16: “Better is a little that the righteous person has than the abundance of many wicked.” (Septuagint: 36:16) The word for “wicked” (reshaim, ) can also be translated “cruel.” The proverb means that if a person obedient to God owns only a little bit, it is to be preferred to the wealth of many people who oppress others.
Ecclesiastes 4:6: “Better is a handful with quiet than two handfuls with toil, and a chasing after wind.” The writer of Ecclesiastes seems to have regarded all work as no more meaningful than a child’s game of catching shadows. He said, “I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person’s envy of another.” While he may overstate his case, to the extent that envy motivates someone to work, his next observation is certainly on the mark: “This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.” The toil to which he refers is meaningless, pointless work. In this proverb the Septuagint is somewhat more literal in its understanding of the Hebrew than is the English. The Septuagint reads, “Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit.” The meaning is that it would be better to have a single handful of anything than twice that much gained from a meaningless task.

Modesty:

The terms “modest” and “modesty” are rare in Scripture. They are not used in the New Revised Standard Version in its translation of the Hebrew Bible. The terms are used, however, to translate Greek terms in the books that Protestants call the Apocrypha and in the New Testament. Four Greek terms lie behind the English word, all of which may be translated with other English terms. Aidos in I Timothy 2:9 is a sense of shame; the cognate verb aideomai in II Maccabees 15:12 and IV Maccabees 8:3 means “to be ashamed to do something” or “to stand in awe, fear, or respect of someone.” These terms are used of both men and women: Paul in his letter to Timothy refers to the modesty of women, while the writers of the Books of Maccabees refer to the modesty of men. Another Greek term is aischynteros. which in Sirach 26:15 and 32:10 is an adjective meaning “bashful.” Also in Sirach (in 26:24) is the term euschemon, which means “elegant in figure,” “graceful,” or “becoming.” St. Paul uses the term for the virtue of temperance, sophrosyne, with the meaning of modesty in I Timothy 2:15.13
Clearly, the concept of voluntary simplicity can be derived from other teachings in the Scriptures. In the case of the teaching on modesty, however, St. Paul realized these implications himself. St. Paul wrote to Timothy, “Women should dress themselves modestly and decently in suitable clothing, not with their hair braided, or with gold, pearls, or expensive clothes” (I Timothy 2:9). The logic here is: If you are going to practice the virtue of modesty, then you must to some degree practice the virtue of voluntary simplicity. St. Peter gave a very similar instruction, but without referring directly to modesty. St. Peter, addressing the women in his churches, wrote, “Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing; rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight” (I Peter 3:3-4). In other words, if you wish to have a quiet and gentle spirit, then you must to some degree embrace voluntary simplicity.
Clearly, the concept of voluntary simplicity can be derived from other teachings in the Scriptures. In the case of the teaching on modesty, however, St. Paul realized these implications himself. St. Paul wrote to Timothy, “Women should dress themselves modestly and decently in suitable clothing, not with their hair braided, or with gold, pearls, or expensive clothes” (I Timothy 2:9). The logic here is: If you are going to practice the virtue of modesty, then you must to some degree practice the virtue of voluntary simplicity. St. Peter gave a very similar instruction, but without referring directly to modesty. St. Peter, addressing the women in his churches, wrote, “Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing; rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight” (I Peter 3:3-4). In other words, if you wish to have a quiet and gentle spirit, then you must to some degree embrace voluntary simplicity.
These verses, especially when combined with St. Paul’s teaching about the length of hair that is appropriate to the two sexes and to the propriety of a head covering for women, have fueled controversies about how men and women should dress, in church and elsewhere. Some Christian traditions have been very strict, insisting that women should never cut their hair, never do anything with it other than wash and comb it, and never wear any kind of jewelry or make-up. Other traditions have been less strict, but have still taught that male-female differences should be mirrored in dress and grooming. The questions raised are not merely relics of the ancient world. Modesty for both men and women is connected with the practice of voluntary simplicity. However cultures may differ on the details of modesty, the practice of voluntary simplicity as it is understood by the Apostles will be expressed in clothing as well as other aspects of ordinary life.

Quietness:

The simplicity and modesty texts already noted connect the virtue of living simply with the virtue of living quietly.
Proverbs 15:16: “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.”
Proverbs 17:1: “Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.” The word translated “quiet” is not common in the Hebrew Bible. The word is shalvah and it refers to being in a state of quiet, abundance, prosperity, or peace. The Septuagint reads, “Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace [meth’ hedones en eirene].”The term in the Septuagint (and the concept in the Hebrew text) connects voluntary simplicity with peace and peacemaking, one of the central concepts of the theology and ethics of the entire Bible.
Psalm 37:16: “Better is a little that the righteous person has than the abundance of many wicked.” Hamon is the Hebrew word translated “abundance.” The word also means “sound,” “murmur,” “rush,” or “roar.” It suggests loud and ostentatious wealth.
Ecclesiastes 4:6 contrasts quietness with trouble and futility: “Better is a handful with quiet than two handfuls with toil.” The author uses the Hebrew term nachat – more often translated “rest” than “quiet.” This noun is related to the verb nuach, which the Fourth Commandment uses in reference to the rest of the Lord after creating the world. The Septuagint translates that Hebrew word in Ecclesiastes with the Greek word anapausis, ordinarily translated “rest” in English. In the Fourth Commandment, the Septuagint uses a similar Greek term, katapauo. The Greek term in Ecclesiastes is also used in the great invitation of the Lord Jesus: “Come to Me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Ecclesiastes connects voluntary simplicity with the Sabbath, itself a foretaste of the Kingdom yet to come.
St. Peter, in his teaching on the dress appropriate to women, says that women should seek “the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” (I Peter 3:4). The word translated “quiet” is the adjective hesychios. St. Paul used the verb related to this adjective when he said, “Aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your own hands” (I Thessalonians 4:11). In other passages of the New Testament the English versions translate it and its cognates not only with the term “quiet,” but also with the terms “cease,” “hold one’s peace,” “rest,” “silence,” and “peaceable.” This term is especially beloved to Orthodox Christians, who have developed a profound system of prayer and ascetic practice around the cultivation of inner quietness.
Living quietly and simply are not, strictly and logically speaking, the same thing. It is possible for a person to live simply, but also very much in the public eye. But the passages under consideration teach that this is not ordinarily the case. Ordinarily people who seek to live simply will also seek to live quietly, out of the view of the public and the powerful. Voluntary simplicity is therefore not only about avoiding sin and wrongdoing and expressing solidarity with the poor. It is a way to embody peace and peacemaking, to anticipate the Sabbath rest of the coming Reign of God over the world, and a way to practice the deep silence of attentive listening to God.

Conclusion:

No single word or phrase in the Bible teaches the concept of voluntary simplicity. Concepts are not always designated, however, by single words or phrases. Sometimes people hold to a concept without using these linguistic conveniences.
Voluntary simplicity is such a concept. Voluntary simplicity is taught in some of the proverbs and in connection with the concept of modesty. Furthermore, when the concept of voluntary simplicity is presented in the Bible, it is often connected with the concept of quietness, which itself has connections with the great Biblical themes of peace, Sabbath, and silence before God. In this light, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that while voluntary poverty may be a special calling, a way of life that only a few people are to follow, voluntary simplicity is a universal obligation for those who already live prosperously.
The slogan “Live simply, that others may simply live” and similar modern sayings are more than worthy sentiments. Living simply, from a biblical viewpoint, is an ethical obligation of a high order.

W. David Holden studied biblical languages at Duke University and received a Master of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. His spiritual journey brought him to Orthodoxy in August 1999. He is a professional counselor and clinical addictions specialist. He and his family live in the country outside Boone, North Carolina.

(taken from: www.incommunion.org)

God and nature; my daily dose

2011-09-27T14:19:00.001-04:00

My daily routine consists of waking up (hopefully!) fixing the coffee, grabbing my NLT Bible and plopping down on the old, comfy chair in my little office/laundry room/foyer. I bought this particular Bible called The One Year Bible For New Believers because it breaks down the entire Old and New Testaments into 365 daily readings. I choose to read only the New Testament and Proverbs section (almost) every day. If I skip a day or two I just take a little bit longer and catch up another day. I did some research on the different Bible versions and decided on the NLT (New Living Translation). To me it's just so easy to understand and I feel like I was sitting right there with the Apostle Paul as he's writing his letters. Sometimes I compare passages and grab my New King James Version or New American Standard Bibles. But for my daily reading I love my NLT.

I haven't always been a Bible reader. :) Actually I'm pretty new to the Bible even though I grew up in a Methodist church and went to Sunday school as a child. I really started getting serious about Christianity and wanting to know Jesus about 3 or 4 years ago. However, from as far back as I can remember I've always felt a very deep, inner sense of the spiritual especially at age 18 when I had a vision, but I'll leave that for another post.

I've also had a very strong connection with nature since I was a child. The peace and sense of a renewed spirit I feel when I'm walking in the woods or watching the sunset at the beach is awesome. I've always been a huge animal lover as well and I'm very sensitive to the cruelties a lot of them face. At one point I was a strict vegetarian because it bothers me to eat another living being. I eat meat now, sparingly, only because my body needs those foods I grew up on. (I became anemic at one point and my doctor told me my body needed animal products). So now before a meal I say a prayer for the animal that was killed for my nourishment. I was also a member of a few animal rights groups and I still support some groups today when I can. I just have this inner sense that all living things have a soul and that we are all connected; what you do to one you do to all.

So to nourish my soul and keep that spiritual connection alive, I try to spend time outside every day. If I can't, I still spend a few minutes in prayer and meditation, usually in the morning after reading my Bible passages. My relationship with God/nature is not just about asking for help and memorizing scripture; it's also learning to listen to that small, still voice within (the Holy Spirit). It's like any other successful relationship where both parties participate in communicating, both speaking and listening. And just like physical exercise, my daily "walk" with God has a cumulative effect. The results may not be all that noticeable at first glance but there definitely is an overall positive effect and a continual change for the better.

Gardening is GREAT exercise

2011-09-26T18:41:00.000-04:00

And good for the soul! I spent about an hour outside today, shoveling mulch into the back of the John Deere and spreading it out in my garden beds and I got to thinking (after wiping the sweat from my brow) gardening is really good exercise! And not only that, there are many other benefits to it is as well. So here are my simple and unscientific reasons why I think gardening is so good for us physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually:

Physically, the body probably uses every muscle by digging and shoveling (arms, back and stomach), squatting and walking and bending (legs and butt). The heart rate increases, pumping more oxygen to the cells and breathing gets heavier clearing out the lungs. The sweet fragrances of flowers, the fresh air, nice breeze and sun shining down is pleasing to the senses which makes a person feel good emotionally (also, the sun is a natural way of receiving vitamin D into the body). The mental benefits come when one’s mind is focused on this project of beautifying their surroundings. This constant focus becomes like a meditation, keeping one’s mind off of the worries and concerns of the day.

For me, I feel closest to God when I am in nature, admiring His creation and letting the quietness and serenity fill my soul. This is also why hiking in the woods is another favorite past-time of mine. I am filled with a sense of wonder at all of the different plants, trees, flowers and fruits He created and I appreciate the goodness of it all. He created these things for us because our Father in heaven loves us. Thank you, God.

So that’s why I think gardening, or any kind of yard work for that matter, is just plain old good for you! Plus, it’s free! No membership fees or spending gas money or bus fare to get to the gym. Are you listening, babe?! Hubby loves working out at the gym. He was born and raised in the city so that’s how he used to get his exercise but now he’s here with me…and now he can start helping me with the yard work! :)

I remember when I was a kid...

2011-09-25T19:37:00.000-04:00

…how much I loved the country side. My parents would take us on day trips (I LOVE long drives) and we’d end up in Lancaster, Pa or in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. It’s coming back to me now how much I loved the beautiful landscapes and felt the serenity just being in nature and that has stayed with me all of these years. I remember being so fascinated with the Amish folks in the Dutch country of Pennsylvania or the Dunkards of Delaware (we usually visited “Aunt Sister” in Smyrna a couple of times a year). I am a country girl at heart!

I also remember loving my mother’s family, even though I only saw them a handful of times as a kid, who all lived in and around Charlotte, North Carolina. I even named a cat “Charlotte” which made me feel like I was close to them somehow. It’s really funny how things turn out in life. It makes me think just how awesome God is, that he really does have a plan for our lives, and even though our lives (my life) has had so many twists and turns and hasn’t fit the mold of a “normal” path, I feel like I am right where I am supposed to be. Awesome!

Like starting this blog, I think following your heart and doing what you feel is right means we are going in the direction God wants us to go in. Reminds me of the commercial for Ancestry.com when they say, “You don’t have to know what you’re looking for. You just have to start looking.” If it feels right, do it! And all the little details fall into place and over time things become more and more clear.

God IS awesome!