I just searched through my book shelf to find "Celebration of Discipline" by Richard J. Foster. I read it years ago one summer in college at a bible study and wanted to reread the chapter on Simplicity.

"The Christian Discipline of simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward life-style." He goes on to say that having the outward life-style without the inward discipline it leads to legalism. I can see how this could so easily happen. I don't just want to have a clean house or an orderly house. I want a simpler lifestyle. I want to be happy with what God has given me. I want to be a good steward of the gifts He has granted me.

Our culture worries more about what you have, how good of a job you have, what kind of vehicle you drive, how big, or what neighborhood you live in. As we gear up to move to a larger metropolitan area, this has been on my mind quite a bit. How can I help protect myself and my family from getting even more into the 'stuff' culture.

Foster also says "It is time we awaken to the fact that conformity to a sick society is to be sick." I don't want to be sick. I don't want to conform to that society.

As I work toward an outwardly simple life, I must work even harder on the spiritual discipline of contentment and simplicity.

Lisa