Tag Archives: Simple

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Isaiah 33

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Simplicity. The answer's simple:
   Live right,
   speak the truth,
   despise exploitation,
   refuse bribes,
   reject violence,
   avoid evil amusements.
This is how you raise your standard of living! A safe and stable way to live. A nourishing, satisfying way to live. Isaiah 33:15-16 (MSG)

Today at work I'm preparing for a couple of upcoming training sessions. In my job one of my many tasks is to take very broad and deep data from research and assessments and translate them into a simple message. I've got to distill a veritable encyclopedia of charts and graphs into a short bullet list that people can grasp and which they can easily translate into behavioral changes in their conversations with customers.

Perhaps that's why these two verses stood out into today's chapter. Life begins to feel so complicated at times. After a couple of weeks in which I've mostly been away from home, I'm definitely feeling the pressure this morning in my office. I'm scattered. There's so much to do and I don't know where to begin. It's always good to sit back and try to distill the broad range of issues, relationships, questions, needs, desires, dreams, and to-do lists into a simple handful of priorities that I can hold onto. That gives me the simple direction I need to step out into the day with purpose.

Keep it simple.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and perfectfutures

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Kings 8

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Simple instructions. May he keep us centered and devoted to him, following the life path he has cleared, watching the signposts, walking at the pace and rhythms he laid down for our ancestors. 1 Kings 8:58 (MSG)

My wife and I recently bought some furniture from IKEA. Shopping there is an experience. You walk through the expansive showroom to find the furniture pieces you want and write down the numbers for each piece on a list. You wind your way down to the warehouse where you go through an find all of the pieces to the pieces you chose. We ended up with four things we bought which translated into about 12-15 boxes of pieces we had to fit in our car.

When we returned home to assemble the pieces, I was surprised to find that the instructions had  no words. There wasn't a section with written instructions in five different languages. Instead, there were numbered drawings that illustrated how to assemble the furniture. Simple. I like that.

Being a person not given to detailed instructions, I like when directions are given simply and clearly. Perhaps that's why I so appreciated the simple life directive in today's chapter. In one small verse I have a roadmap for the journey:

  • Be centered on God
  • Be devoted to God
  • Follow the life path God has cleared
  • Watch for signposts
  • Walk at the pace and rhythm God has laid down

I can handle that.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and jonk

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Daniel 7

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A child with a road map. "And there it ended. I, Daniel, was in shock. I was like a man who had seen a ghost. But I kept it all to myself." Daniel 7:28 (MSG)

Children see and perceive things through the limited lens of their knowledge and experience. There are certain things that they simply cannot grasp or understand. At the same time, children possess a simple, abundant faith that tends to fade with time in direct proportion to the increase of knowledge and experience.

"Get your coat on. Get in the car. I'm taking you somewhere special," I said to my daughters when they were small. They did not know the destination, how to drive the car, nor which streets to take. They simply trusted me to get them to that special place. When we arrived at the amusement park, toy store, or donut shop they finally understood where I was taking them.

I have studied the prophetic writings of scripture numerous times. I have read books, listened to lectures, engaged in debates and meditated on the passages in an effort to wrap my mind around the images and their metaphorical meanings.

In the end, I find myself standing before the prophetic writings like a two-year-old holding a road map. For the life of me I can't completely grasp or understand their message. I kind of get it, but a clear understanding constantly eludes me. Nevertheless, I do have simple faith in my Heavenly Father who has said to me, "Pick up your cross and follow me. I'm taking you someplace special."