Can Simple, Simply Be All That Simple?

I've had a book on my self called "The Simple Church," that I have been intending on reading for a long time, maybe even over a year. But, you know . . . my life isn't simple and I'd never found the time. Yesterday my sister (Administrative Accountant at a large church in the Phoenix area), and I were talking about the lack of time away from the grind of life for refreshment. We agreed that life needs to be more simple. I shared that I had been led for some time to simplify expectations of church members, church staff, and certainly of myself. She reminded me of the book, and I was inclined to pick it back up, blow off the dust, and read.

Well, I can hardly put it down! My heart and head is buzzing with what I need to do, at my church . . . immediately . . . right now . . . fast, so that we may simplify. I began writing a long list of things I wanted to discuss at our staff meeting tonight when "whack" into my whirling mind, God speaks.

Yep, it sounded something like this "all this work you are creating in order to simplify?" "Gayle, get a grip!" Now, let me explain something to you. Many years ago, God spoke into my heart to "Get A Grip" which meant that I needed to be, G=grounded, R=radically, I=in, P=prayer. So, when God reminded me of this today, I knew that He meant I needed to go into prayer, deep prayer, change effecting prayer. In other words; in order to really find simplicity, a simplicity that is real, and lasting and authentic, I had to seek God's face. I had to have marching orders, if you will, from heaven. Not one more plan to put into place that is Gayle breathed, but a plan that is God breathed.

You see, the only thing we create for ourselves, by ourselves, in our own power . . . is a valley of dry bones! You know the ones of which I speak? The valley of dry bones from Ezekiel chapter 37. I feel like that at times. Nothing new, fresh, I'm tired, exhaused . . . in fact, dried up, and even sometimes I feel down-right dead! It took the breath of God to bring life into Adam at the time of his creation, and it took the breath of God blowing across the valley of dry bones for life to be restored to His people Israel, who the dry bones represented. And, it takes the breath of God to breath across my ministry, our church, and my life for true, lasting, refreshment to be given. That breath of God comes only when we spend time with our Creator God. I am refreshed when I get a "G.R.I.P." When I'm grounded radically in prayer, the breath of God begins blowing.

So, can simple . . . simply be all that simple? YES! It can, but only if we really get a GRIP!