Simplify

2015 is here. It’s brand new and clean. I love the New Year. To be perfectly honest, I feel a little funny about this new year. My family is preparing to move to Wales in the very near future. I feel like my life is on hold until then. Like, I shouldn’t set any goals for 2015 until we get there and get settled. So I’m changing things up a little bit this time around.

I have a word for 2015: Simplify.

This month we will decide exactly what we want to ship with us overseas and get rid of the rest. Going through a bunch of tubs that have been sitting in storage for 4 years has got me considering what is really needed in my life.

My thought process started with physical things, but I also want to see simplicity spilling over into every area of my life: my schedule, my eating, my communication, my kids lives.

Brian and I spent time on December 31^st talking this over and he suggested we make Hebrews 12:1 our verse for the year.

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

I love it. I love that we have a shared verse of the year. I love that we are on the same page in life right now. I love the imagery this verse has in it. This year I want to “strip off weights” that are only slowing me down.

I’m actually getting really excited thinking about it. But the more excited I get, the more ideas I have and the more complicated things become in my mind. So I know if I am really going to grasp this whole “simple” thing this year, I need to set my focus on the right thing. Which is why verse 2 is such a cool follow up:

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.

So that’s what it’s about this year. Keeping my eyes on Jesus. Living simple. But my heart is a list-making heart, so I just couldn’t stop there. I had to sit down and write out some actual goals.

Goal 1: Memorize Hebrews 12:1…like really memorize it. Get it in my heart, head, and throughout my being.

Goal 2: Memorize Hebrews chapter 12. EVERY. WORD. OF. IT.

Goal 3: Focus on EXPERIENCES more than material things. This is kind of abstract and I don’t know exactly how I will measure it- but we’ll see where it goes.

Goal 4: Simple Eating –

More water Less coffee (I type this while sitting in starbucks- this will be a challenge people!)

More fruit Less sugar

More real food Less processed food

More moving Less sitting

Goal 5: Simple Evenings – As much as possible I am going to try to go technology free from 3pm to 8pm. This idea is not original to me, but I love it.

So there it is, my goals I wasn’t going to set. I loved blogging what God taught be about loving people in 2014, and I am so excited to see where this year takes me. I’m excited for the second year of inviting you to experience it with me!

-Rebekah