To poke a wood fire is more solid enjoyment than almost anything else in the world.  ~Charles Dudley Warner

Eliminate physical clutter.  More importantly, eliminate

spiritual clutter. 

~D.H. Mondfleur

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent.  It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of

courage - to move in the opposite direction. 

~E.F. Schumacker

Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just

baggage enough. 

~Author Unknown

Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving the right things undone.  The

wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials. 

~Lin Yutang

Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be

useful or believe to be beautiful. 

~William Morris

We don't need to increase our goods nearly as much as we

need to scale down our wants.  Not wanting

something is as good as possessing it. 

~Donald Horban

The sculptor produces the beautiful statue by chipping

away such parts of the marble block as are not needed - it is

a process of elimination. 

~Elbert Hubbard

Simplicity …

Matthew 6:25-34 - "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or

drink; or about your body, what you will wear.

Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or

store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds

them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the

lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor

was dressed like one of these.

30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is

thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you

of little faith?

31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall

we wear?'

32For the pagans run after all these things, and your

heavenly Father knows that you need them.

33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to

you as well.

34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each

day has enough trouble of its own.

Simplicity … creating space in your life

1) Buy things for their usefulness not their status

2) Develop a habit of giving things away

3) Don’t be propagandized

4) Learn to enjoy without owning

5) Learn to say no to things

6) Develop deeper appreciation for creation

Philippians 4:11-13 - I have learned to be content

whatever the circumstances.

12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned

the secret of being content in any and every situation,

whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in

want.

13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Psalm 46:10 - Be still, and know that I am God

1 Corinthians 14:33 - For God is not a God of disorder but of

peace.

Philippians 4:6-7 - The Lord is near. Do not be anxious

about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 62

 1 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes

from him.

 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I

will never be shaken.

 3 How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down—this leaning wall,

this tottering fence?

 5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from

him.

 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I

will not be shaken.

 7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

     

 9 Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance,

they are nothing; together they are only a breath.

 10 Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods;

though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

 11 One thing God has spoken, two things have I

heard: that you, O God, are strong,

 12 and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward

each person according to what he has done.

Psalm 62:1

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes

from him.