Jesus Saved Me

So I’ve taken this 500 word challenge for everyday through the entire following month, and though typically I am one to love words in plenty - tonight I am left with a quiet heart and an even less active mind. I am so simply content. I am content with where God has us. Thankful for how He is leading us and providing for us. I am blessed with my marriage and the intimate and deep friendship I share with my husband. I am listening with joy to the noisemaker in the room next to me drowning out the sounds from the house while my very own miracle sleeps. I have clothes and food and so much more than I actually ‘need’. More than anything else I have peace through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. If I had nothing else in this life the peace and grace of God would be enough to leave me as speechless as I am right now. 

I don’t know where I’ll end up in this life, but through the last several years I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter where I am, God is there. As long as I give my heart completely and I strive to walk as a living sacrifice for Christ, there is nothing in this world that can pull me away from where God wants me, or come in between His plans for my life.  I’m learning over and over again that God is so much greater than this world. He is greater than me, you and everything else under the heavens. I am learning that when I am not enough, He is ever more. I am learning that though I fail, fall and sin over and over, Jesus not only payed the price for it, but sent the Holy Spirit to continue teaching me, helping me and drawing me closer to God. 

I may not have everything all together. The truth is, most of the time I am a real mess. But I am a broken, messy creature, who is being made new every day. When I judge harshly, without mercy, or grace, God shows me and teaches me. When I struggle to find the words, or to love selflessly, He covers me and leads me by the hand. When I cry out for wisdom because my fallen mind cannot fathom, God gives it freely. When I pray- He hears me. He puts people in my life to hold me accountable, to encourage and admonish. He is for me. He gave for me.

There are no words to sum up the life, relationship, and passion I have with Christ Jesus. There is nothing that can compare to the pursuit of Christ. No- nothing in this world could fulfill the drive and endless craving to know God more to serve Him more. As long as I live - though I will fall- I will serve Him with all of my heart. It is that simple.  I don’t need five hundred to tell you where my heart is or what petty thing has next captured me in some romantic fantasy. My life and passion can be summed up in three words: Jesus Saved Me.

With an Earnest Love,

Leah

The Jaffrey Family Simplifying and Minimizing Project- Update

Since starting our journey through simplifying and minimizing back in June we have struggled, failed, and sometimes found our hearts feeling more frustrated and helpless than before. Let me tell you-it hasn't been easy. (In case you hadn't yet gotten the drift from previous posts.)  

It's been about five months since setting out on this adventure together, now we are looking back at where we were at the start compared to where God has us now and we see nothing less than a dramatic transformation of our sentiments, passions and affections. Our shelves hold less now, but our hearts are heavily laden with the riches we have found along the way.  

We have fought our desires at every turn, sometimes loosing a battle, but ultimately we are winning this war and the spoils thus far are oh-so-beautiful. 

Simple Joy

We have found simple joy.

In giving up little by little, more by more, we are discovering a freedom and contentment neither of us have ever known. The temptations and mindsets we fought and struggles so hard against are becoming less and less. Our goal in beginning this journey was to purge all of the "stuff" in our lives and hearts that were pulling our focus away from living for Christ. What we didn't expect to find along the way was the freedom and contentment we have with what little we have and need. 

It almost felt like overnight we realized that we don't care about having stuff. The approach of Christmas may have something to do with the sudden realization of our total lack of thought and desire for the pursuit of 'things'. We are no longer slaves to the materialism of this world. Through Christ we have found a greater joy; a meaningful, fulfilling pursuit. 

There are empty shelves now, and we continue to empty drawers and simplify our daily life, but it is no longer done with reluctance or drudgery. When we are able to put away one more thing or tackle one more area in our lives together, we are saying 'no' to empty pursuits and 'yes' to the things that really matter. 

We have come so much further than we realized, and yet we still have so far to go. Through the frustrations, struggles and battles, a deep simple joy waits that we have already tasted-so we will continue to seek God relentlessly in all we do. 

*********************************

OH, THE BEAUTY OF SIMPLE JOY - THE RICHES OF LESS

With An Earnest Love,

                        Leah

Update:

I forgot to share this link to an awesome website that have been a great encouragement through this process: http://www.becomingminimalist.com/  Also be sure to follow becoming a minimalist facebook page for great tips and encouragement through the week. It has been such a blessing to me.