DAY 22: "Give Me The Simple Life" by Julie Halbert

DAY TWENTY-TWO: "Give Me The Simple Life" by Julie Halbert

I don’t pay a lot of attention to detail. Once I was standing in front of one of my best friends and I commented to her how good her teeth looked and asked when did she get her braces taken off. She looked at me puzzled and said I got them taken off two years ago.

Perhaps as a result, I try to keep most things in my life simple without much detail. I only wear make-up enough to purchase maybe once a year, I have a coat size closet for my clothes, and best of all I don’t carry a purse. Yes, I said it right, I don’t carry a purse. I have a credit card size wallet for my drivers license, insurance card, and debit card.

Although I try to live a simple life, my spiritual life has not always been so simple. For the first ten years of my Christian life, I spent most of it in constant prayer begging God to forgive me of my sins. I thought if I did not say that prayer at the moment before I died I would be lost. The details of doing the things I needed to do to be saved and the details of how to stay saved seemed unattainable. I had no concept of grace.

It wasn’t until Mark and I started attending Chenal Valley Church in Little Rock that changed my relationship with God from a doomed one to a loving one. From an unattainable relationship with lots of details to an attainable one that was simple.

The decision to move to Tupelo was difficult because it meant leaving a church family who was so responsible for opening our eyes. But we wanted in Tupelo what we had in Little Rock. After years of dwelling on details once again, we discovered simplicity at Trace. A place open to "whosoever" and extending God's grace to all comers. Simple, yet full of depth.

Maybe that is why we have been so attracted to Kevin 's gifted preaching. He challenges and, like last Sunday, goes deep in scripture. Yet he honors simplicity such that my twelve year old son "gets it".

My prayer for Trace is to stay that simple church. Love God - Love People. Don’t get bogged down with details. Especially if that means I don’t have to carry a purse.

My Prayer for Trace Crossing:
Dear Lord and Father, thank you for the church at Trace Crossing. Thank you for the simplicity of your message that takes a child like heart to understand. Your word says unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. I pray we keep things simple. In Jesus name…..Amen.