I want to take you on a journey with me. A journey that led me down a path that I really didn?t expect, but am so grateful that it happened; a journey that took me to uncluttering, tithing, and living more simply. I honestly think the journey started when I lived in West Virginia and I loved a show on TLC called ?Clean Sweep.? Peter Walsh was the profession organizer on the show and he always told people to make a keep pile, donate pile, and get rid of pile. And he was able to teach people how to let the past go and move forward into the future. He then wrote a book called ?Does this clutter make my butt look big?? and talked more about how stuff is weighing us down. So I slowly started getting rid of stuff that I felt was keeping me in the past. Then when I knew I was moving from West Virginia to Florida, it caused me to get rid of more things that our family held onto. The biggest things to go were the sofa and dining room table; both had been eaten by the dog, so that went to the dump. Those were easy to get rid of. But there were also a lot of things that had some sentimental value. Those were a little harder. So three trips to the dump and 10 trips to Goodwill with carful of stuff each time, made it so there was a lot less stuff. Then when I started my job at Grace United Methodist Church in Venice, I ended up living in the parsonage at the church and I really began to clear out even more things that I had held onto. I didn?t know that ?uncluttering? and simplifying life would become such a thing, but I believe I started that journey of clearing out the clutter in my life by removing the things that didn?t bring me joy. And I have slowly continued on this journey for the past 5 years. I thought it would be hard to do with a child-but she has caught on, but when you begin dating someone and realizing that the relationship will lead to marriage, you start looking at everyone?s stuff a little differently-and wonder, how in the world are we going to do this!

I remember when Lamont and I began the conversation about whose house we would live in when we got married.?? We decided to sell his house, keep my house so we could be close to Emma?s school, and begin the process of merging our households together. Now Lamont is not a clutter person. He keeps things in life and his house very streamlined. So this ?merging? process was more about me getting rid of more stuff and figuring out where all his stuff would go into ?our? home. In addition, we needed to create an office space his computer business. Let me tell you, I was very grateful that I began this uncluttering journey before we had to make all these decisions about our combined stuff! But the great thing about this process during this phase was realizing that stuff is just STUFF! It doesn?t define who we are or who we can be-it is just the things we possess. This was a great thing for both of us to learn. Now around the same time that I really started to dig deeper into my uncluttering journey, I realized two things: 1. I like living with less and it allows for things to be a little more simple in our lives. 2. I also realized how important it was to give out of a place of gratitude for the many blessings in my life.

Before Lamont and I started dating and we began our journey together, I had purchased my new home around the same time I started at Wintergarden as the part-time pastor. In beginning a position that is part-time and where other income comes from consulting work, I realized that I fully needed to put my trust and faith in God with my finances as well. Because for years, I had put my trust in me for my finances, and I kept going into deeper debt. The other thing I realized on this journey was that in order to faithfully lead a congregation in church transformation, I would need to lead by example-especially when it came to tithing and financial giving to the mission and ministry God was calling the church to.

So the journey to unclutter and get rid of the things that didn?t bring me joy was strongly connected with living and giving out of a place of gratitude. This led me to truly tithe from my gross income, to trust God with my finances, and lead out of a place of generosity. And this has not always been easy, but it has been faithful and our family has continued to be blessed through these decisions and call upon our lives.

As I have explored different scriptural passages that call for acts of generous giving and tithing, I remember the importance of hearing these words from Malachi 3:10, ?10Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.? I heard these words every week at Church of the Master in Atlanta. I remember how these words were a huge challenge to me then?and those words still are today. But I also loved hearing it was okay to put God to the test?I always love a good challenge. But it wasn?t until May of 2014 when these words truly stuck and became real. Since making the decision to tithe and live out of a place of generosity, I have been tested, our congregation has been tested, and we have continued to ask God for guidance and blessings as we continue to attempt to heal our congregation and fill our storehouse for the mission and ministry in which we have been called to live out in our neighborhood. It isn?t an easy thing to do.

But when I began to tithe, I also became very grateful I had already begun my journey to unclutter, because it led to leading a life that was much more simple. Just like tithing did. When I didn?t have the desire for more stuff, I learned to enjoy what we already had and began to practice ways of creating more avenues that brought us joy without the need to purchase things and collect stuff.

Then I came across this from 1 Timothy 6:17-19, ?17As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, 19thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life? and started to put more pieces together.

As I read through verse 17, I was reminded about the goals I have set to have a certain amount of money, almost as if I completely put my hope in my own wealth, or the stock market, or something or someone else?in addition, I would be envious of others who had a type of wealth that I thought I should have. There have been many times in my life where my hope has been misplaced in my possessions, my wealth, my family, my car, my house, my friends, expectations of what I thought or presumed should be; instead of putting my hope in God. According to verse 17, when we put our hope in God, God richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. What a gift! Our joy is a generous gift from God?when our hope is in God. This brought a sense of peace to me that I had been searching for.

The chapter continues in verse 18 with this command-it?s an imperative-do good, be rich in good deeds, be generous and willing to share. That is quite the command. It is almost hard to picture what our community would be like if in our love for God and neighbor, we embodied giving in this manner. How would our lives, our faith community, our neighborhood be different if we lived into this way of living? I can tell you, I know that I would probably be a different person if I lived out of this command on a more regular basis. Goo deeds?like meeting the new neighbors, taking them a ?welcome to the neighborhood? gift, or helping a neighbor with yard work or a project they have. Sharing a meal with someone or inviting them over, volunteering to walk their dogs when they aren?t able; or sharing in conversation and company when you know they are lonely. These are all activities that will strengthen our relationships with those we live and worship near; it will enhance our lives together in community.

19thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

Then verse 19 is the reminder that our foundations might be different when we put our hope in God. In modifying the foundations that we have built or are building, we become stronger for what is to come in the future. When a solid foundation is in place-one that is in God, prayer, scripture, and God?s mission, then the life that we have dreamt about will be the life that is lived. I loved the words in this passage ?the life that really is life.? I mean, isn?t that what many of us want. To be living a life that really is life?

Doug Meeks shares these words: ?The writer of 1 Timothy uses the language of economic life to speak of Christian living. He contrasts what we usually expect in everyday economic life with ?the life that really is life.? What we normally see in economic life is the pursuit of wealth by ?storing up treasure.? The search for profit and the passion for accumulating wealth governs our time, attention, and devotion. In this era when money is essentially credit, money as credit is the value by which we evaluate all things and relationships. The bottom line of one’s bank account and the gross domestic product of a nation are the fixed standards. This way of measuring life, however does not free us for a simple life. For Jesus the simple life is centered on his command: Seek you first the kingdom of God. Stewardship is for serving the kingdom of God, that is, the reign of God’s righteousness, God’s power of life over death in all its forms. For Jesus the secret of the simple life is loving God and the neighbors Jesus gives us. The simplicity of the Christian life depends completely on the love of God that makes possible the love of the neighbor and the love of the neighbor that embodies the love of God. The freedom of the simple life is for the love of God and neighbor. To be sure, the simple life means freedom from possessions, from over consumption, from dehumanizing work, and from debt, but this freedom is for what God loves–all human beings and all creatures God has called into being (Giving: Live Simply pg. 3-4).?

In reflecting on these words from 1 Timothy, I am inspired to continue on the journey to live more simply. I am also inspired to continue to look for ways that I can be more generous. Whether or not that is with my finances, time, or energy; or if generosity will come in another format for our family. I have also come to realize that sometimes I need to be more generous with myself and my family- with my finances, time, and energy.

As I wrap up, I want to encourage you examine what a simple life would mean for you and your family. For some, that begins with examining your life, for others, it means talking with your partner about what that means together, and for others it is both. The other piece that is helpful to examine is what can living more simply enable you to do: will you be able to give more, travel more, be with family more, be more generous, or is it something else? I know for me it is a constant journey-one that I am grateful to be on. It has been a journey that has allowed me to become more generous and faithful to the call God has placed on my life. Each day I have to decide if this is how I want to live my life. Some days it is easier than others. But every day involves learning more about what it means to only have what brings me joy, to give as God calls me to give, and live a life that is much more simple than I ever intended life to be.? I am enjoying learning about the ?life that really is life? and how a simpler life calls me into being in relationship with God and neighbor. It is my prayer that we can all find ways to lead lives that lead to being more generous with the gifts God has given us-whether that is our time, our money, our presence, or our gifts. And I invite you to join me on this journey to test God in ways to ?see if God will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.? Amen.