How to Minimize Your Kitchen

 "But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."  I Timothy 6:6  (KJV)

Are you starting to feel the slightest nip of autumn in the air where you live? Oh, I do love the fall of the year! As I type this, I am looking out our kitchen window at the plethora of trees on the mountainside directly behind our townhouse. The leaves are rustling, and even though they have not yet begun to change colors or fall, and even though I am inside with the air conditioning running, I still sense a slight "change in the air." Our days are still very warm, but at night ~ well, I sometimes go out on our balcony, and the air is just a slight bit cooler. I am SO looking forward to the ushering in of my favorite season of all. The other day, my sweet husband said to me, "We're getting ready to go into your favorite time of the year." He was referring to that wonderful span of time that begins with my birthday (yesterday!) to his birthday on February 3rd, with Zach's birthday (the day after Christmas) and Thanksgiving and Christmas tucked right there in between!

This is my very favorite time of the year, and this is one of my all-time favorite songs. 

Hope you enjoy it!

"A Change in the Air" by Clint Black

I don't know about you, but I get highly motivated and inspired to declutter, minimize, and downsize at this time of year.  I've always heard about "spring cleaning," but I declare, "fall cleaning" comes more naturally to me.  I just get a hankering to "shed" as the world around me "sheds" and breaks forth into such vibrant, beautiful colors.  I sense a fresh, new zest for life and want to clear out to make way for the new!  

It's a lot easier to accomplish these tasks than it was a few years ago.  The less you have, the less you have to worry about, and I love our new way of living with few possessions!  As you probably know, if you've read this blog or Homespun Devotions for very long, my little family and I have been on a minimizing mission since 2015 - even before that.  By God's grace, we have made tremendous progress, and our lives today hardly resemble our pre-minimized lives at all.  We are so much happier, lighter, and less stressed.  By God's grace, we have maintained our minimized state and have never allowed stuff to creep back into our home and lives, and we remain 100% debt-free.  I say all of this NOT to boast - believe me, this was ALL God - we never thought it could happen.  I say this to encourage you today that there is an abundant life Jesus wills for each of us to live, and He came so we could find and live out that level of life.  "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  John 10:10

Jesus came to make a way for us to live that abundant life, but He leaves the choice in the hands of our free will.  We have to take the necessary steps to reach that abundant life - He is a Gentleman and will not force it on any of us.

If you would like to read more about our story, please consider ordering our new book by clicking HERE, and if you are feeling "a change in the air" and wanting to get started on or resume a past minimizing journey, here are some tips to help motivate you as we prepare for the refreshing coolness of autumn.  A great place to start is in your kitchen.

1.  Get your transport containers ready first.  Whether it be cardboard boxes, crates, or something else, set them up in a convenient spot and label them, "Donate," "Sell," and "Put Away."  As a fourth container, have a garbage can handy to immediately dispose of trash items.  The "Put Away" box is for any misplaced items you find that you still want to keep but need to be moved to another area of your home.  The "Donate" box is to be given away, and we have found it helpful to put our "Sell" box in a location out of sight until we can figure out where to sell the items in the box.  The methods we have used most often are eBay and Letgo, but there are many other options including having a fall yard sale, utilizing facebook marketplace, or setting up a table at a local flea market.

2.  Start with a kitchen drawer.  Yes, just one.  Take everything out and assess every, single item.  Do you have more than one?  Do you need more than one?  Do you even use, want, or need the one?  Try to put less back in the drawer than you took out.  Move on to the next kitchen drawer, and the next, until all drawers are completely decluttered.  Breaking it down into one drawer at a time makes the job doable, gives you a quick sense of accomplishment, and inspires you to move on to bigger areas.

3.  Next, tackle one kitchen cabinet.  Perhaps, you will want to do just one per day, or if you have time, you can do more.  Ask the same questions - do I really use this anymore?  Do I even like this?  Am I only keeping it because it was gifted to me?  Here is the cardinal rule:  If you find that the answers are no, then you'll see it is time to let go.

4.  Assess your countertops.  Do they looked cluttered?  Do you frequently use everything that is taking up countertop space?  Could something be moved inside an empty, out-of-sight cupboard to create a more clean, organized look?  Is there anything that needs to be dealt with, i.e., bills, papers, etc.?  Deal with what needs dealt with, and clear away any unnecessary clutter.  For example, we leave our stand mixer on our countertop at all times because it is too heavy for me to lift in and out, and I use it several times a week.  However, we store our toaster in a lower cupboard because it is light and easy for me to take in and out, and we don't use it nearly as often.  Arrange your kitchen in a way that is most convenient, user-friendly, and streamlined to your needs and wants.  There is no hard and fast rule about what a minimized kitchen should look like, but a universal thread in every minimalist's kitchen is that the unused, unwanted, and unnecessary have been removed, and what remains is neatly arranged, well-placed, and organized.

5.  Keep eating area clear at all times.  This way, when meal time comes, all you have to do is set the table.  If there is anything cluttering your table that discourages you from sitting down to eat a peaceful meal, remove it and find another suitable place for it.  Keep on the table only what will not create extra work for you before meals and only what is necessary.  For example, we do not have a formal dining room; our eating area consists of a small eat-in kitchen table with four chairs.  There are only three of us, so we keep our daily medications and vitamins inside a primitive wooden box situated on a pretty doily on the 4th side of the table where no one sits, and we keep the other three places cleared off, clean, and ready to place our plates at mealtimes.  Again, do what works for you, but keep it minimal and uncluttered.

6.  Analyze your pantry.  Check each item's expiration date.  If anything is past using, throw it away.  Are there things left that you know you and your family will never eat?  Donate unopened, unwanted items to a local family, food pantry, or homeless shelter.  Make meal plans based on what you have on hand, and make a list of frequently used items that need to be replenished.

7.  Clean out your freezer and refrigerator following the same suggestions as you used for your pantry.  While items are removed, take this opportunity to clean shelves, doors, sides, and drawers with a warm, soapy rag.  You will feel so much better after you do!

8.  Wipe down any accummulated cobwebs, the top of your refrigerator and stove hood, inside your microwave, and any other areas that may not get more regular attention.

And, there you have it!  Your kitchen will be completely decluttered, cleaned, and refreshed for fall in just a few, doable steps.  One step at a time breaks it all down into bite-size pieces and makes it less overwhelming.  

I wanted to also give you an update on my intermittent fasting weight loss endeavors.  I am thankful to say, that by God's grace and help, I am still going strong!  Since July 25th, I have made it a point to fast from food for 16 hours each day.  This daily discipline has evolved into a habit and a part of my lifestyle.  I have not weighed, nor will I, until I see and feel a marked difference.  I am feeling just a tiny bit lighter, and I am noticing the smallest change in the way my clothes fit, so hopefully, this is working.  While I wish I could find a wonder pill that would melt the pounds overnight, I realize this excess weight has built up over a period of several years, so I am settled in for the long haul and am not going to focus on how long this is taking.  

In younger years, had I made the drastic sacrifices I am now making to lose weight, I would have seen a big difference by now, but we all know what happens as we get older.  Everything slows down, and the climb gets harder all the time.  So, I will give myself grace, continue to draw close to Jesus during this time of daily fasting, and I will stay the course, by His grace.  Feeling a heightened sense of His presence each day during those fasting hours is worth it all to me.

I would love to hear your minimizing, decluttering, cleaning, and weight loss suggestions and stories in the comments.  Please share with all of us, and may God bless each one of you on your journey!

How Minimalism has Prepared Us for Such A Time as This

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

Ephesians 5:16

Starting with an identity theft nightmare that also served as a wake-up call in 2015, my family and I have been on an intense mission to simplify our lives.  We sold our home and two acres of land, let go of about 90% of our physical possessions, paid off all our debt, and removed everything on our schedules that was enslaving and overwhelming us.  Three years into our minimizing journey, my husband’s job was unexpectedly outsourced, and what followed was a long stretch of multiple medical issues and 21 months unemployment.  These life-altering changes have come together to produce a surprising, yet beautiful shift in paradigm— we now spend most of our time at home.

It is interesting to look back and see that our journey has been preparing us for such a time as this.  Except for “essential” and thought-out, purposeful reasons for being out and about, we are already used to being home.  Home is the core of all our activity and the place we most long to be.  I find an enormous sense of peace in knowing my little family and I are all together, safe, inside the walls of our home, and to tell you the truth, I don’t miss one bit of the fast lane hustle and bustle.  For years, I craved this sense of calm.  It has already become our norm, so I can honestly say that little has changed for us during this time of lockdown.

I am not in any way diminishing the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic.  My heart goes out to every person who is ill, has lost a loved one or their job, or been otherwise adversely affected by all that is happening.  Standing on the other side of all my family and I have walked through, I just want to point out that positive change and good things are happening, too.  Ecclesiastes 7:14 says, "in the day of adversity consider."  Here are some things to consider during these times:

1. Social distancing from others is revealing how socially distant we have become from God and the people we love most. Being forced to stay inside is presenting an amazing opportunity to spend more time in Bible reading and prayer.  Staying indoors with our families is giving space for reconciliation and restoration of fractured relationships.  Families are staying inside their homes—together.  For the life of me, I cannot find one negative in that.  We have been handed a precious gift in the form of time and limited options on how to spend it.  It warms my heart to drive down our street and see a family in their yard playing together, couples walking hand in hand on the trail behind our home, and children standing in line (at a safe distance, of course) outside the ice cream truck that comes through our neighborhood each evening.  It reminds me of my childhood when life was a whole lot simpler and easier to navigate.  Home is our personal haven.  No matter what is going on in the outside world, we can close the door at home and realize that we are right where we are supposed to be.  Though we are “sheltering at home” mandatorily, maybe we should consider making “home-sheltering” a voluntary way of living and spending more time there when this is all over.  There truly is no place like home.

2. When my husband’s 35-year career in banking was brought to a screeching halt, he came to realize he never enjoyed that kind of work, and he began to open his mind to new possibilities.  He was eventually offered an amazing opportunity to do something he can physically handle, and he is now settled into a meaningful job he really loves.  If you have lost your job, I feel your pain.  I know how the threat of homelessness feels.  I am keenly aware of the panic of looking into an empty freezer.  But a beautiful new life is hiding behind the loss of your job.  Something better is coming to you.  Be aware and watchful.  One day you will find purpose in today’s pain.  There is a reason for this and sometimes the only way out of a rut is to be pushed.  Embrace the possibilities ahead of you.  You were not meant to keep doing what you were doing, and brighter days are coming.

3. Maybe “normal” shouldn’t be normal anymore.  Maybe we shouldn’t be so eager to get back to it.  Maybe you are not meant to stay so busy.  Perhaps tucked into this whole worldwide shutdown is this lesson screaming to be taught – you are not designed to run through life.  You are intended to slowly and methodically walk out your days in a state of peace.  Take a deep breath and instead of fighting against this time of stillness, embrace what it may be trying to reveal to you.  Spend this time reassessing your priorities.  What is most important to you now?  Perhaps it is time to start saying no to commitments and obligations that are no longer serving you and your family’s best interests.  Maybe you need to shed relationships that have become toxic.  Make two lists — things you are involved in and people in your life.  As you write the lists, pay attention to how each entry on the list makes you feel as your hand jots it down.  What brings instant anxiety to you?  What brings a sense of calm?  There is no better time than the present to do this.  Stillness and quiet bring incredible clarity of vision.  Don’t waste this time complaining and wishing for the old “normal.”  Normal has been given a clean slate.  May it emerge from this crisis new and improved and what it should have been all along.

4. Make productive use of time indoors by minimizing, decluttering, and organizing.  Tackle those projects you’ve been putting off because you never had time for them.  Now you do!  Make a to-do list and try to cross off one task each day.

Continually search for the good.  It is happening – we just need to look for it.

Update & An Exciting Writing Opportunity!

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony."

Revelation 12:11

(KJV)

First of all, I just want to say Happy New Year to all of you!  I truly appreciate your faithfulness and support of this blog and am so grateful you are here following along.  I also want to apologize for my lack of posting lately (thank you for not giving up on me!) and wanted to give you an update on our minimizing journey.

My family and I continue to get settled into our new surroundings after having to make an unexpected move in 2019.  Our new place has a much better, more open storage space, so it is easier for us to have a visual of the number of our belongings.  This is incredibly helpful, as it is a frequent reminder to keep looking for ways to reduce unnecessary possessions.  Making another move also enabled us to more closely consider what we really needed to keep before loading it on to the moving truck.  Both of these dynamics have helped us to keep on track in continuing our downsizing efforts.

It is hard to believe that this month marks five years since the onset of the identity theft crisis we encountered in 2015.  Looking back, that has become something we praise God for allowing to happen because it served as the catalyst of change we needed to confront and tackle our indebtedness and the excess in our lives and home.  Thinking of our lives then and comparing it with our lives now really accentuates the stark differences and positive change that minimizing has brought about.  We could not be more grateful for every lesson God has taught us along the way, and it is our profound desire to continue to share those lessons here and through every avenue God opens and provides.  Which brings me to something exciting that is going on!

As you probably know, I finished writing a book called, "Biblical Minimalism —Following Jesus from a Life of Abundance to a More Abundant Life," and it has been my dream to have it published for quite a while.  One thing that definitely needed to happen before I publish the book is the book needed to be edited.  That can be quite an expensive undertaking, and it truly looked impossible.  But, GOD!  Through my dear friend, Marilyn, I was recently introduced to the book editor God chose to edit my book!  So, the process has begun, and after it is completed, I will pursue the process of self-publishing.  It will be a huge dream come true when it is finished, and I will let you know when the book is available, Lord willing!

In closing, I want to tell you some more exciting news!  Are you a minimalist who is navigating the process of minimizing from a Biblical perspective?  Have you consistently wished for more Biblical reading material to spur you on in your quest to live a life more closely aligned with the way Jesus lived His?  Do you have a burning desire to encourage aspiring minimalists by sharing the lessons God has taught and is teaching you on your downsizing journey?  If you answered yes to any and/or all of the above, would you like a platform to publish your thoughts?

We, too, longed for more Biblically-aligned content when we first started our minimalism journey, and we have a hunch there are many others who feel the same!  Thus, we would love for you to share your Biblical minimalism stories and lessons learned with us here and are offering you that opportunity!  Every story is important, and your story may be just the inspiration someone else is searching for.

We would love to make this blog a more interactive community where it is not only us talking, but YOU are contributing to the conversation, too!

SO, here are the guidelines —they are very simple:

1.  All content should be framed from a Christian, Biblical perspective and worldview.

2.  Suggested ideas for subject matter -

• How minimalism has enriched your Christian walk
• Downsizing
• Minimizing
• Debt-reduction
• De-cluttering
• Creative ideas for ways to dispose of unwanted/unneeded physical possessions
• Frugality
• Simple living
• How you have learned to be happy with less (less income, less stuff, less conforming to "status quo")
• Ways to avoid consumerism
• How you have swam upstream to forge a stress-free life
• Testimonies of social media elimination and reduction & how it has enhanced your life

3.  No monetary compensation will be provided, but we will be happy to promote you, your blog, website, business, and/or social media sites in the post.

4.  Email all submissions via email attachment to homespundevotions@gmail.com.

5.  Please include a bio and a headshot photo to introduce yourself to our readers. 

May God bless each one of you on your minimizing journeys, and we hope to hear from you soon!

How to Stop Over Complicating Simplicity

"So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content."

I Timothy 6:8 (NLT)

It is no secret that I long for the old days.  I crave simplicity and yearn for the way life was before electronics burst on the scene and so intrusively invaded our lives.  I miss pay phones, quiet rooms with no TVs or background noise, and watching children use their imaginations while playing with real toys.  As crazy as it sounds, I love to sit in a dark room and listen intently to the sounds of silence.  There is nothing I enjoy more than the things that do not cost anything at all.  Take a walk with me, share your heart, and listen patiently and with genuine interest while I pour out mine, and I’m blissfully content.  I often feel that I was born over a century too late, and I am forever searching for a bridge to propel me back in time to that place where I feel I most belong.

Unfortunately, I have yet to discover a time machine, and sadly, there aren’t many things I can change about this chaotic, fast-moving age of “enlightenment,” but I have discovered that I don’t have to alter the world around me, I just need to change my world.  No one can force me to live in a way that makes me uncomfortable in my own skin, nor can anyone else put forth the effort required for me to swim upstream against the current to live in a way that is counter-cultural.  If I am going to live a simple, minimal life, I am the only person who can make it happen.  Society will not conform to my ideals, and since I will never find contentment trying to squeeze myself into its mold, we will have to part ways and agree to disagree. 

Perhaps you find yourself yearning for the old days and would like to join me on my journey?

 

Here’s how:

1.     Identify how you want to live.  What is it that you long for most?  What about your ancestors’ way of life calls to you the loudest?  Is it the silence?  The close bonds and family values?  Their deeply rooted faith in God?  The joy they found in doing a hard day’s work?  The way they had time to help others?  The lack of clutter in their homes?  The fact that they only owned what was meaningful and what they needed and/or used?  Their small houses?  The way they grew their own food? 

2.     Figure out what is distracting you.  What in your atmosphere prevents you from living that kind of life?  For years, my husband worked in the banking industry in very high-stress positions that robbed him of time with our family.  Our indebtedness forced him to earn a certain salary and kept him bound to a job he detested.  We view the outsourcing of his job last year as a merciful blessing that freed him to be a more hands-on father and to participate in finishing our 13-year  homeschool journey with our son.  Now that he has accomplished that long-term dream, he is looking forward to getting back into the work force, but this time, it will be on far different terms.  All glory to God, He has enabled us to make the drastic changes required to eliminate all debt, and by my husband's choice, he is planning to find a job that will be less brain-taxing, more physically active, and with little to zero stress.  What society deems “menial” has become something very attractive and desirable to him.  The pay will be far less, but it’s okay.  Thankfully, we don’t need what we used to need to survive, peace is more important to us than money, and prestige is not something we seek to attain.

3.     Do what you have to do to make it happen.  If you long to be more present and engaged, break up with social media.  Start pouring your heart, time, and energy into the ones who mean most to you and socialize with those with whom you can talk face-to-face.  Leave your phone out of sight and only use it when absolutely necessary.  Refuse to be drawn in to keeping up with everyone else’s online life and be more intentional about your own.  Sell what you have to pay what you owe, so you can work less.  Change jobs to reduce stress.  Gracefully bow out of toxic, unhealthy relationships.  Reduce overwhelm by learning to say no.  Weigh what you long for against what is preventing you from having it.  If simply is the way you want to live, you will find a way to muster the courage to make every necessary change.  It is just plain worth it.           

4.     Prepare yourself for criticism.  Not everyone is on board with wanting to live a life of simplicity, and you may or may not garner applause and support along the way.  This is where you have to decide whether or not you will be true to your self and the values that are important to you, or if you will live bound to the opinions, expectations, and approval of others.  A few years ago, my family and I made decisions that seemed far-fetched and radical.  We sold our home, released most of our physical possessions, moved into a small rental that includes yard maintenance, and resigned from ministerial obligations that were more than we could handle.  It took steely determination and a strong resolve to stay the course, but as we look back on our journey from a place of deep contentment, we realize it was the right thing to do and worth every mile.  Like Christian in John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress,” sometimes you just have to put your fingers in your ears and run for your life.

Far too often, we overcomplicate simplicity and completely defeat our own purpose and desire to slow down and live a minimal life.  Minimalism is the polar opposite of complexity.  The very basic, but remedial truth is that the power to change lies within the wellspring of our own choices.  Through His help and strength, we can follow Jesus from a life of abundance to that more abundant life He came to enable us to live.  "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  John 10:10

How To Eliminate Debt ~ The Biblical Way

We move on now to the financial slice of the Whole-Person Pie©.

It is amazing to me how relevant the Word of God remains.  It is every bit as powerful and on target as it was the day it was written.  The world around us can make finances seem complicated, and the thought of bringing them under submission to God's will can seem daunting.  The truth is when we view them through the lens of God's Word, they are quite simple.

The more we strive to live our lives as Jesus lived His, the more we realize that it is completely against His will and what He stood for to live life weighted down. Debt is a heavy burden to bear that creates untold stress and unnecessary worry.  It wreaks havoc and causes strain in marital relationships and is a constant drain on one’s nerves and emotional state.  Living indebted feels like being shackled to a ball and chain.  Debt is a cruel, relentless taskmaster, and God never intended that His children live enslaved to such.  His Word is very clear and has much to say about debt.

“Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8  (KJV)

 “For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as He promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow, and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.” Deuteronomy 15:6  (KJV)

“The LORD shall open unto thee His good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.” Deuteronomy 28:12  (KJV)

"The rich ruleth over the poor and the borrower is servant to the lender."  Proverbs 22:7  (KJV)

We have all made bad choices, bought more than we should have or intended to, and fell into the credit trap.  Wherever you find yourself, debt-wise, there is hope, my friend, and there is help to be found in God's Word.  Jesus came to give us deliverance from all forms of bondage, and that includes the area of indebtedness.

Here are Biblical steps to reach freedom from debt.

1.  Face the truth.
Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  John 8:32  (CSB)
The path to any type of freedom begins with the single courageous step of acknowledging what is true.  The first step to recovering from indebtedness is to figure out how much you owe. Until you do that, you will more than likely never make any changes to your spending habits and the way you handle your finances. In order to accurately assess your situation, you will need to be completely honest—with yourself, with your spouse and family, and with God. As cringe-worthy as your plight may be, face it head-on.  Own what is real, and embrace it.  It is extremely liberating to overcome the hurdle of finding and facing the truth.

2.  Forgive yourself.
"He will not always chide: neither will He keep his anger forever.  He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities."  Psalm 103:9-10  (KJV)
Stop beating yourself up.  What's done is done.  You cannot do one single thing about changing the outcome of where you are right now.  Learn from what you regret, and move forward.  Punishing yourself and living in a state of remorse won't undo a thing.  God forgives, shouldn't you?

3.  Stop borrowing.
"Don't be one of those who enter agreements, who put up security for loans.  If you have nothing with which to pay, even your bed will be taken from under you."  Proverbs 22:26-27  (CSB)
The third step to debt recovery is to stop incurring more debt. God does not need a credit card to supply your needs, nor would He ever require you to do something that would cause disobedience to His Word.  It is not His will that you incur more debt even in this “give it to me now,” “buy now, pay later” age of time.
Jesus even mentioned debts when He taught His disciples how to pray. “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Matthew 6:12  (KJV)
He would never instruct us to ask our Father in Heaven to forgive us for something, then ask us to turn around and repeat the same offense.
This can seem like a hard truth to swallow, when it comes to making larger purchases, such as a home or an automobile.  In today’s world, to even imagine or suggest that someone not go into a mortgage or car loan debt seems preposterous. But, what if we all only purchased what we could actually afford to pay for with cash?
There is no shame in renting someone else’s property instead of owning our own if it means avoiding the pitfall and bondage of long-term debt. Laden with debt, we do not really “own” something anyway.  What if we lowered our standard of living down to the size of home we actually need, instead of trying to conform to the world’s standards and dictations of what is necessary?  The truth is that we need very little in order to not only survive but to thrive.
A big part of refusing to buy things on credit and not incurring more debt has to do with contentment. Contentment is something that has to be learned. It is not a trait with which we are inherently born. The Apostle Paul said, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:11-13
If buying something requires going into debt, the bondage that ensues is just plain not worth it and is counter-productive to the calm of minimal living.
Things that are worth having are worth waiting for until they can be purchased with cash. Waiting on God’s timing for provision produces the sweet fruit of patience, and there is so much rest that comes from thanking God for what we have and trusting Him for what we need.
"But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." I Timothy 6:6-8  (KJV)

4.  Sell What You Have to Pay What You Owe.
In 2 Kings 4:1-7, we find a remarkable story. A widow came to Elisha and told him that her husband had died.  Upon his death, she was left with unpaid debt, and, as a result, the creditor was threatening to take her two sons as slaves. Elisha responded, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?" "Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a small jar of olive oil."  Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few.  Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side."  She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring.  When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one." But he replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing.  She went and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."

Selling what we have to pay what we owe is such a simple solution to indebtedness.  Though it is radical and 100% counter-cultural, it makes perfect sense.  Where can we look with confidence to find such obvious clarity?  To God's Word, of course.

Living in a house we cannot afford, driving cars that require us to keep our noses to the grindstone, having to use credit cards to finance a lifestyle far beyond our means just so we can impress others and fit into someone else's "mold"—these are the things that do not make sense.  It all boils down to one question—what do you want most?  To be debt-free or to hold on to what you "own?"

The woman could have clung to her olive oil and it would have prevented God from working a Divine-intervention miracle of such magnitude that it is still inspiring faith to this day.

God is able to take what we have and multiply it into what we need if we will take Him at His word and walk in obedience to Him, regardless of how absurd or radical it seems.  He takes the insignificant and insufficient and turns it into overflow and abundance.

Where do you find yourself, my friend?  Does your situation seem impossible?  Perhaps you owe more than your assets are worth and liquidating them would not produce enough to cover the entirety of your indebtedness.  Any elimination of debt is a good thing, even if you aren't able to wipe the slate completely clean with one swipe.  Don't lose hope.  Focus on what God can do, not on your circumstances.

He took a small jar of olive oil and kept multiplying it until it produced enough oil to not only pay off every, single one of the widow's debts, but there was enough surplus to provide a livelihood for her and her sons.  (2 Kings 4:1-7)

He took a little boy's lunch of five loaves of bread and two fish and not only fed over 5,000 people, but there was enough left over to fill a basket for each of the twelve disciples.  (John 6:4-13)

He took one smooth stone in the hand of little David and killed a giant over nine feet tall.  (I Samuel 17:20-51)

He took a handful of flour and a little oil and stretched it to feed and sustain Elijah, a widow, and her son throughout the duration of a drought.  (I Kings 17:8-16)

He took a jawbone of a donkey in the hand of Samson and killed 1,000 of his enemies.  (Judges 15:11-15)

He took a cloud the size of a man's hand and produced not just a small downpour but an abundance of rain.  (I Kings 18:41-45)

He took a tiny newborn baby boy born in the lowliest of settings and made Him the Savior of the whole world.  (Luke 2:1-20 & John 19:1-34)

Let Him lead the way, and be pliable and willing to take His path to freedom, even if it is not your preferred way out of debt.

It is absolutely God's will that we repay our indebtedness.  He wants us to walk free and unencumbered.  Yes, it is a lofty goal but if we follow our Example and are willing to take the humble road He trod, we will find the complete liberation that living a life of self-denial affords.  Nothing in this world could ever bring such peace.