Choosing to simplify life

In the last couple of weeks, I have been going through so many changes where I made the decision to eliminate things in my life in order to simplify. My bf is concerned that I've taken things too far but I know I needed to do them. Have you ever made some hard choices and had other people not quite understand them? If so, how did you handle them? Please explain.....

You are wise to eliminate the unnecessary clutter in your life. I learned a long time ago that it's best to travel light on my spiritual journey.

I'm thinking of not reading the news anymore. Its really been nothing but a crazy rollercoaster ride, mostly on the downside. And I spend way too much time on it too. Its good to be well-informed, but its adding stress now so I think I should shut it off. I need to focus a lot more on getting my life back on track..

Oh wait! Have to make sure. You do not think stuffed animals = clutter, right?

Hello.
I was searching for a thread and came to this, and in fact want to return to it: http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/160324-lay-aside-all-weights.html

You could say i/we also chose to travel light (physically/materially and spiritually). People normally find a job after studies, either build a home/marry or still build a home if not married, get a car or other transportation, lay treasures on earth. But it is so clear the Lord said not to lay down treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy... We eat, drink, and clothe ourselves simply, w/ occasional treats. Sure we do have material things i am sure we could share/pass on to others who may need them, and get rid of other stuff not seemingly helping in travelling light. Material things could pull us back or slow us down, like when we had some reads we did not have to read again, it is good to give to others so they may learn and grow too (while those that did not seem to have value we just threw away).

Some things may be dear to our heart, like a piano, bikes, old usable pc, stamp album, etc, but when we saw the need not to hold on to them, we could (almost) easily let go, knowing the Lord can and will give our needs when we need them. I loved my stamps kept many yrs, but when my children didnt quite notice them, i decided to give to a child who could better appreciate them. They liked to bike for a while, but when ppl got so busy, it was better to let others use these than let these rust. These may seem like little things, but i think that is what the Lord wants of us too, to be faithful in the little things as well as the big. We can travel too, but when there are requests for help, as for the sick, sister church ministry needs, we can forego plans and save again another time. Ah, and let me add, the kids sometimes just want to discard and put away w/ the 'garbage,' but i say if u want to give clothes to the collectors, to fold them and give as a gift, not with the thrash-). I'm actually still learning more on giving, but it is a vital part of simplifying life, i see.

Wes King's Simplify

Uh oh, here I go
Wading through a lot of stuff you know
Juggling it all while I'm balancing on a wire
Slow down, I have found
Seems that every time I turn around
I've got one foot in the muck and the other foot in the mire
But I'm scaling down
Pulling back
Got to try
To simplifyyyyyyy

[video=youtube;FbfEZ87ON4g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbfEZ87ON4g[/video]

first and foremost, only give a care, if you can discern this, if it is of The Lord,
don't give a ....what the 'world thinks, follow your Saviour, at any 'cost'...

When I was first born again, I pretty much got rid of all my technology that I adored, plasma TV, playstation, computer and really simplified... Many didn't understand, I was living with a guy from work at the time, who I tried to give my TV to but he insisted to pay something for it, like $100 but cost more than $1000 at the time.. Some said, you'll never get rid of your gaming PC but I sold it and got a simple laptop instead lol.

This was almost 10 years ago now, I have a Playstation now but it's different, I think I've learned to respect it rather than binge game and take it for granted.
Plus being a seller of games and consoles, it's a business thing too lol

I wouldn't worry about what others think, if you want to do it, just do it and try to explain that less is more lol

Wow, I couldn't do a lot of what you guys (and gals) did... When it comes to giving up conveniences I have no willpower.

There is nothing to "handle."

You just do what you need to do.

I fully agree...I guess his take on all of this, he is worried about me which he should always do that. I guess sometimes I doubt whether or not I'm doing the right thing my cutting down

"And it is man who piles stone upon stone, coin upon coin to aid him in his unceasing progress to the grave."

lhs

ACTS 19:19.
Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them
before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

MATT. 19:21.
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor,
and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

ECC. 3:5.
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace,
and a time to refrain from embracing;

there IS a time to gather and a time to cast away, the wisdom of this is knowing when
you are inspired of God to do either one, as well as how and when and what, and having
the Faith and Strength to do it - and as we keep-on learning, real life consists of so much more
than just 'stuff'...

May I also add...

And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
Acts 2:44*-‬45

a share that I think you would appreciate, Breno, as well as others:

my husband's parents, on both sides were Iowa farmers and at his Mother's farm,
they would set aside a planted acre for the poor and needy to gather from when they
were in need...also, they 'took-in' relatives who were on hard times, until they
could get back on their feet - and for the 'older-ones', they were kept between
the families, instead of being put away in a home with strangers...
they also fed hobos and allowed them to work to earn money enough to move-on
to where their hearts were leading them...

charity is Eternal, but often man fails to step into it, it is always here...

I love that!

Concurrence. It's not about the thing you get rid of, it's about why you get rid of it. If it is more important than anything else to you, it is too important and you need to get rid of it.

I ditched my PlayStation 2 for the same reason, because playing video games had become my whole life. After a few years I started getting back into video games, but it is not all-important to me any more. I actually have a life now, and video games just fill in a few cracks where I have some spare time. Or maybe not - maybe I'll see what's on the forum instead, or maybe read a book, or try a new recipe.