Whatsoever Things Are Lovely: A Guide to Christian Simple Living

By Connie Keenan

As Christians, are we meant to spend our lives chasing after earthly dreams and treasures? To seek after earthly treasures, focus on the temporary things that this world has to offer, pay bills and then die? Or did God have more in mind for us, as His Son, Jesus, stated in Matthew 6:19-21, when He urged us to seek treasures not on this earth but in Heaven?

"Whatsoever Things Are Lovely--A Guide to Christian Simple Living" explores these questions and touches upon minimalism, simple living, and seeking after those heavenly treasures, including true purpose and priorities as outlined by God's Word. Equal parts guide and devotional, this book seeks to encourage and challenge the reader to go beyond the pursuit of material things to the treasures that are eternal. A nonfiction work from the author of "Crystal Waves," "One Sweet Day," and "The Larkspur Valley Series."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Connie Keenan
• Release date: Nov 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463178102

Connie Keenan

Connie Keenan, who has also written under the pseudonym Consuelo Vazquez, is the author of more than twenty-five novels and novellas and over one hundred short stories. With many more works to come, she's mostly written Christian fiction and sweet contemporary romance. She loves hiking, discovering fun little shops, trying out new recipes, and spending time with her family. Connie and her husband Bill live in North Carolina with a spoiled German Shepherd and two sassy Chihuahuas.

Book preview

WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE LOVELY

A Guide to Christian Simple Living

CONNIE KEENAN

Copyright 2018 By Connie Keenan

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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About the Author

Connie Keenan, who has also written under the pseudonym Consuelo Vazquez, is the author of more than twenty-five novels and novellas and over one hundred short stories. Whatsoever Things Are Lovely—A Guide to Christian Simple Living is her first nonfiction book. With many more works to come, she’s mostly written Christian fiction and sweet contemporary romance. She loves hiking, jogging, trying out new recipes, and spending time with her family. Connie and her husband Bill live in North Carolina with a spoiled German Shepherd and a mellow Chorkie.

Please note that all scripture references in this book are from the King James Version.

MORE BOOKS BY CONNIE KEENAN

Glimmers of Heaven

’Twas the Spy Before Christmas

Once Upon a Painted Horse

Distant Fire

One Sweet Day

Crystal Waves

Dimension

Champagne Taste

Goodnight, My Love

Unconditional

If I May But Touch

Greetings From My Sandy Dreams

SERIES

THE LARKSPUR VALLEY SERIES:

More Than Sparrows

The Christmas Waltz

Forever in My Heart

ONE

Earthly Treasures

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. – 1 Timothy 6:7-8

It’s ironic that I’m starting this book while on vacation here in Miramar Beach in the Sunshine State, though in reality, the concept has been some years in the making.

My husband and I are calling this condo we’ve rented our home for the week. From the front terrace where I sit, there’s the pleasant view of beach homes across the street, early morning walkers, joggers and dog walkers of all ages, and the emerald waters of the Gulf.

Well, that view, of the water, is off to the side, but it’ll work. As our real home is in a North Carolina suburb, we’re grateful for every morning that we wake up with a glimpse of the ocean, only one of God’s creative masterpieces.

We are grateful, too, for the Florida getaway that we saved up for, tossing part of our weekly allowance and loose change, plus whatever other money we could scrounge up during the year, into an empty, large Folgers coffee container. Months and months of saving, all for a week spent together. Ten dollars each per pay period, sometimes more, that gets added to our Vacation Fund. It’s a relatively new tradition that we’ve embraced, and we literally start saving those pennies, nickles, dimes, quarters and dollars the week of our vacation in preparation for the next one.

If you do the math (and your math is probably better than mine), that doesn’t cover expensive breakfasts, lunches, and dinners every single day. Our first stop once we get settled in our home for the week is a supermarket for what I call breakfast stuff and lunch makings. Some snacks that travel well—granola bars, crackers, fruit, chips—get packed and brought along for the ride. We may want to try some little place that sells New York deli-style sandwiches one day, but mostly we save our eating-out money for dinner. Even then, we pick one place for our big dinner, and the rest of the time we choose a place that’s got some ambiance (preferably as close to the ocean as possible) but is moderately priced.

Not only is that meal plan easier on your pocketbook, but it’s healthier, too. If you’re at a restaurant, you’re more likely to have something you don’t have at home all the time, and this way, you can control the portions, besides controlling your vacation budget.

It drew an ahhhh! From me to see the condo had some complimentary dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent, and even a roll of paper towels, even though I’d packed a few of each from home. Over the years, I’ve learned not to wait until you get to where you’re going to buy items like toiletries or sunscreen, when you can catch a sale shortly, or even a couple of months, before your trip. That leaves more money for other things, like a treat from an ice cream parlor or an excursion on a glass bottom boat. In other words, something that can create memories.

We didn’t always travel this way. For one thing, we didn’t usually save for vacation. Why save, when you can just charge the whole thing to your credit card? Enjoy now, pay later.

The problem with that attitude is that it doesn’t just apply to once-a-year vacations. During the earlier years of our marriage, especially when Bill and I were young parents, credit cards were used.

A lot.

Life happens. Kids need school supplies. Cars break down and they sure don’t run on love. Unfortunately, in our case—Bill worked on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as a phone clerk and I was a secretary, then later a magazine editor—we experienced (what felt like at the time) more than our share of layoffs. At times like that, credit cards come in handy for groceries, clothing, and other essentials.

Yet some of that wasn’t always for essentials. Some of that was quick gratification. Living above our means, to some extent.

In short, some of that was bad stewardship of what financial resources God had given us. As anyone who has ever been in debt can tell you, there are few things more daunting and stressful than having to pay down, and being weighed down by, a huge mountain of bills. Money that has to be repaid for stuff bought sometimes years ago, to the point that you even forget what it was that plastic was used to purchase.

Stuff. Clothes. Jewelry. Houseware. Television sets. Computers. Games for said computers. Dinners at restaurants, both expensive and modest, for the sake of convenience.

There’s nothing wrong with owning any of those things. There’s nothing wrong with wanting them, either.

But there comes a point where we have to ask...when is enough, enough?

And how easy is it to lose sight of what is truly important during these brief years that we call our lifetime here on earth?

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Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. – Matthew 6:19-21

Let’s put this into perspective: The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Second Person of the Godhead, didn’t have to leave heaven to come to earth and die for us.

Jesus left His throne, and as scripture tells us, His place is at the right hand of the God the Father, with a heavenly purpose. Rather