When did the Christian life become so complicated? Your greatest desire is to please God, but with each passing week, your spiritual to-do list grows longer. As you strive to fulfill a never-ending inventory of requirements for being a godly parent, spouse, voter, employee, and more, you feel increasingly disconnected from the God you’re trying to serve. It’s time to cut through the clutter and get to the heart of what it means to please God. In this liberating look at the core principles of faith, Dr. Robert Jeffress reveals the truth about what God really wants from you–and what He wants to do for you. Through solid biblical teaching and practical insights, Dr. Jeffress points you toward a revitalized faith centered on becoming more like Jesus in action, attitude, and affection. You’ll learn how to partner with God in the process of spiritual transformation as you choose to follow Christ in forgiveness, obedience, trust, contentment, service, and prayer. Through a renewed focus on experiencing the kingdom of God right now, you’ll find your to-do list shrinking and your spiritual life deepening. It all comes with embracing Clutter-Free Christianity. Includes a Bible study guide for personal growth and group discussion.
You can learn more about Clutter-Free Christianity or purchase the book at RandomHouse.com
I’ll give away one copy to someone who shares with me a stratgy they are using to make their life less crazy. If I think it is something I could or may be willing to try your chances go way up.
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March 30, 2009 at 6:27 pm
sdechantal
For me, it will always be a constant battle because i am wired to be a “do-er”. However – over the past 4 months I have really tried to put God first in my commitments and pray that it is His will, not mine.
The opportunity lies in the fact that I enjoy being a part of everything that i do… and if it is doing work for God – well all the better! This leaves me burnt out, over extended, and well… let’s face it, at times, crabby.
i am currently trying to stop my quick “yes” response, and to instead pray on the things that come my way or i am asked to be a part of. i find my commitments now are more pleasurable when i know i have put God first in them – and not me first, and asking God to come along.
So – while i do not have this down to a “T”… i am doing better and finding that i do not always have to be doing for God…. i can be being for God, and that suits both of us just fine.
March 30, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Mark Bjorlo
Sounds like you are treating your time like most of have to treat our $$$. It all comes down to budgeting or we quickly become overextended.
April 1, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Amy (Dandelion Seeds)
I have a calendar to keep track of our time… Mike is blue, family, me and kids are green, Mike and I are black and anything unusual or important is red (yes it’s a four way pen… and I have several). Keeping our schedule clutter free seems to be key in making sure that we’re able to keep our focus… making sure we have time to recharge is important as well, and so those things are scheduled in as well.
Unfortunately for me, if I’m not doing a study of some sort or have time “scheduled” to be with God… I overlook the quiet time and catch Him in the moments of the day, but nothing more. I’ve grown to understand that with a bunch of kids and busy college student for a husband, my life doesn’t offer a lot of free time, and so the only time I get while in the house is in the shower (I’m so serious… and even then there are days when I’m interrupted in there by Mike… tee hee).
So, like Sheila, I’m constantly evaluating the costs for myself as well as my husband and children. If we get done with life and we’ve “lost” our children… this will not have been worth it. I know God has put me in charge of them and so I find myself the “Manager of Chaos”… but I’m still learning exactly what that means. I’d be super interested to see what this author gives for a take on it… I like what you mentioned about how we have all the “expectations” of what we think we should be doing and how that can actually hinder our time and relationship with God… either way, it may have to make it to my “must reads”…
April 2, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Shannon Mills
Funny…I have been thinking about this lately…how to make our lives so less complicated so we can truly focus on things that matter to God. Maybe it is just my opinion, but I think it is so hard to live a uncomplicated life in America. Just the pile of papers that the girls bring home from school everyday is overwhelming!!!
A couple steps that Carl and I have taken to make our lives less complicated is the choice for me to stay home with the girls. It has made it tough financially at times, but one of the best decisions we have ever made. Another really small thing we do to uncomplicate our lives is to not answer the phone during dinner. We want our girls to know that our family time is so special. (This also sets the standards when we have 3 teenage girls in our house
)
April 7, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Mark Bjorlo
I’m giving this one to sdechantal – Congrats.
April 7, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Wendy Jones
Congrats Sheila! Glad we connected – now I can borrow from you!!!!
Now that the book has been given away. my strategy:
RSS FEEDS!! (no more having to visit several websites)
Electronic calendar (I put my “down time” in there first – free to do whatever I want)
BEST VALUE method – Is what I am doing getting results or just a waste of time (this is a tough one, because you have to have the ability to be completely honest, but I have cut so much of the unnecessary out.)
Each day, on the way to work (I have a bit of a drive) I ask today – what is one thing I am going to do for my family, one thing I am going to do for God, one thing I am going to do for my friends, and one thing I am going to do for work – these are the items I HAVE to do before anything else takes up my time (it’s measurable and easy – I need both)
The other thing that helps is that I turn off my phone and email during certain times of the day (my family knows these times and where they can reach me in an emergency). This includes my internet too. I get so much done during these breaks!
April 14, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Sheila DeChantal
Woo Hoo! I just read this and realized I won! Wow… that explains why the book was in the office yesterday!
Cant wait to get started. Thanks Mark! I am ready for this one!