This past summer we had some friends that were leaving to become missionaries somewhere around the world where no one has even heard the name of Jesus. We were so proud of them and supportive of them that when it came time to move we thought we would help them by taking their big screen tv off their hands. I mean how else should you support your missionaries these days, but by taking their stuff so they can go be Jesus to the world! So, we bought their tv for just about nothing and moved our 22 inch tv into our bedroom and squeezed our new 52 inch tv into our living room.
I remember when they first brought it over and it looked gigantic in our living room. It sat on the same table where just minutes before a 22 inch tv at sat, that was practically a computer monitor, and now we have 52 inches of high-definition there. I gasped and thought to myself that this was ridiculous and we can never keep this. I felt people would think we were rich. I felt people would think we were prestigious. I felt people would think we were entitled. (Can anyone say, approval idol?!?) I had never had a tv that big in my entire life and I am a 33-year-old woman. I was embarrassed to show friends for what they might think of me.
Then the feelings left. The tv became our norm and the tv in our bedroom seems abnormally small, even though we had never felt that the past 2 years. Recently I had a moment while watching Chopped (which might be Aaron and I's favorite thing to do at night) where I thought how the tv wasn't a big deal anymore. It didn't make me feel entitled. It was just normal. It didn't make me feel different, it just felt normal. I would no longer be embarrassed showing my friends. It was just normal.
My normal had shifted. 8 months earlier I felt dirty for bringing such a huge tv into our home. We don't like to fill our lives with stuff, and yet this was displaying the opposite. We don't like to spend our money on excess, but yet this looked as if we did. Now I don't even give our tv a second thought. I don't cringe anymore when new people come over for fear of their judgement for us having such a huge tv in our living room. I don't even think about it.
Jen Hatmaker recently wrote a book called, 7, that is an experimental mutiny against excess. For seven months her and her family go through a self-made experiment that changed their lives and if you allow it, can change your life as well. While reading this book I found myself evaluating my life and my excess. Just recently Aaron and I have had a lot of unexpected expenses come up, so we've just been re-doing our budget and trying to cut back in certain areas. Sure enough right when we find out yet another kid needs some form of medical treatment I'm reminded of Jen's fast from spending, where she spent a whole month only spending her money in seven places. Can you even imagine? I think I might have whipped out my check card in seven different places yesterday.
She listed these statistics in her book
Annual US spending on cosmetics: $8 billion
Basic education for all global children: $6 billion
Annual US and European spending on perfume: $12 billion
Clean water for all global citizens: $9 billion
Annual US & European spending on pet food: $17 billion
Reproductive health for all women: $12 billion
Y'all I read those and my heart just broke. For my flippant spending is so against what God requires of me. I have been challenged by her book in so many ways, and my spending is just one of them. She does this fast of stripping away in excess in her life seven different ways; clothes, shopping, waste, food, possessions, media & stress. I thought the stress chapter was gonna be silly and just talk about ways to decrease your stress and such, but let me tell you it was a slap straight from the scripture about praying and resting in God every single day.
I want you to read this book so badly. I have read 3 of Jen's other books and they are all wonderful, but this one hits a spot in your heart and soul that needs so badly to be hit. God will use the Hatmaker's experiment to move your heart and soul to live a life more focused on Jesus and his mission than on our own selfish desires and goals. Read it and you will see!
I'm gonna give away one of these books to a very lucky reader of mine! To enter this contest you can do any of the items listed below! If you do more than one, be sure and leave a separate comment for each thing you do, so that you'll get more entries.
#1 – Find Jen on facebook and wish her a Happy Valentine's day. Y'all I know we're about a 2 weeks away, but seriously who wouldn't want a little extra love for 3 days in February! — Leave me a comment telling me that you did this oh so very important task!
#2 – Find DreamingBigDreams on facebook and become a fan! — Leave me a comment telling me that you did this task!
#3 – Tell me what chapter you will look forward to the most if you win this book:
clothes – shopping – waste – food – possessions – media – stress
#4 – share this contest on fb or twitter! If you can't think of anything to say, try this … “I want to win @jenhatmaker new book #7 that @jamie_ivey is giving away!” Then just add the link to this page and you are good to go!
Ready … Set … Go – GOOD LUCK! Contest ends at noon on Sunday (CST).
CONGRATS to LINDSEY J.
Here are your random numbers:
82
Timestamp: 2012-02-07 16:25:34 UTC
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**If you think I'm saying my big tv is wrong, you're missing my point here. I do love watching Sister Wives on such a big screen. 😉 My point is that we live in excess and we don't even know it. We can so easily replace our tv that works perfectly fine with one that is 20 inches bigger and after a few days we don't feel weird about it anymore. Life goes on. We spend more. We stress more. We create more waste.
I wished Jen a Happy Valentines. Also. “Ivey” autocorrected to Obey. Pretty cool.
I am now your fan. I get to stalk… Um follow you in multiple places now.
Looking forward to the stress chapter. Holy moly do I need it.
friended Jen
Liked your page
possessions
Shared the giveaway on FB
I wished Jen Happy Valentine’s Day on facebook.
I’m a fan of DBD on facebook.
I most look forward to the chapter on clothes…that is where I probably waste the most money.
I tweeted about it!
Been wanting this book! friended Ms. Hatmaker on FB.
Retweeted you! 🙂
liked your fb page!
Sent valentine’s love to Jen on FB!
Became a fan of your FB page!!!
Probably stress… need to learn how to CUT stress out!!!
FB’d about the giveaway!
https://www.facebook.com/cassieraney
Honestly, I am frugal for the most part. So I want to be hit with the reality of where our family’s excess lies!
I am “looking forward” to the chapter on media, because I have a sneaky feeling that I’m more addicted that I would like to admit!
You’ve been retweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/jamie_ivey/status/165420919030939648
Tiold Jen Happy Valentines Day!
Retweeted your tweet!
Liked ur FB page and cant wait to get to know you!
i am excited to read this book in full…but especially on media.
If I won the book, I would look so forward to the chapter on stress. The last year has been very trying. I lost a baby in February and almost died myself and in October my 13 year old son started having health problems. He is in constant pain and still don’t know what is going on. It’s very hard to watch your child be in pain and there’s nothing you can do.
Posted on her official facebook page (since I wasn’t her “friend” for her personal page)…
And then I liked you on facebook…
And tweeted about it…
And I think I need the kick in the pants from the “Stress” chapter. Thanks for doing the giveaway, Jamie!
I liked you on Facebook.
I can’t choose a chapter because I read the book and loved them all. However, I gave my copy away to a friend because you just can’t keep something so powerful to yourself. I would love to have a copy of my own again as I want to read it a second time.
Sent Jen a message wishing her Happy Valentines Day!
I liked Dreaming Big Dreams on Fbook!
I will look forward to reading the ENTIRE book, but mostly the stress chapter… it seems to creep into so many of the other 6 areas.
and then if you look at how much the church gives to the unreached it’s unbelievable (they give about 1 cent of their budget).. so heartbreaking! not all churches but most.
Just became a fan on facebook! Hope to win, this looks amazing!
I’m probably most looking forward to the shopping and possessions chapters.
i actually just read this book and LOVED every. single. sentence. i was going to loan it out to about 10 people who i think want it/need it/would love it just as much as me but I want to HOARD mine for myself. its one of those books that you want to keep referring back to and re-reading… for me the chapter the resonated the most was spending…just thinking about things i have spent gluttonous amounts on when there are children with no food makes me cringe. anyway, longest comment ever. i would give the book (if i win) to my mom. 🙂
ps – facebook love & likes done. 🙂
I’ve ALWAYS been a fan, but now official on fb. grin. makes me happy. love you. great post, by the way. love,
n.
Really hoping to read this book! It looks amazing and I know I need to read it.
Sent Jen a Happy Valentine’s message!
I wished Jen a happy vday on FB!
Became your fan on facebook. I love, love your blog!
I know I could learn from all of the chapters, but would look most forward to the stress one. Feel like I have a lot going on lately and hate being anxious.
I’m a FB Fan of yours!
I think I’m looking most forward (with trepidation!) to the possessions chapter.
I shared on my FB page!
I shared on Twitter!
Just wished Jen “Happy V-day”:)
Became a fan on FB.
Just tweeted about the giveaway@celesteFR
I’m looking most forward to reading the section on possessions, to hear a fresh perspective that isn’t motivated by legalism or selfish pursuits of gain, but rooted in caring for others and exalting the gospel.
Also, just shared on FB. I hope all my friends start to follow you, I know I am hooked after learning of your blog through a friend today on FB 🙂
Does it count if I have already like Dreaming Big Dreams on Facebook?
I am really interested in reading about waste. I think it’s because I don’t know what it is about. I’m intrigued!
I told Jen happy Valentine’s Day! (I had to send a PM to do it, since we’re not FB friends)
I am already a fan of DBD on FB! 🙂
Look forward to the chapter on stress…
I friended Jen on facebook!
I liked your facebook page!
I’m looking forward to reading the chapters on food and waste…and heck, all of them.
I tweeted about the giveaway!
I became a fan on FB of Dreaming Big Dreams.
I look most forward to reading the chapter on shopping.
I tweeted.
I tweeted about the contest.
Stress – definitely!!
Great giveaway! Just “liked” your facebook page! ~CC
Wished Jen a happy valentines on her “official” facebook page! ~CC
Oh man, I think all these chapters would kick my butt…but I’ll have to say possesions would be the one I’d “look forward” to. ~CC
Posted about your awesome giveaway on facebook! Fingers crossed! ~CC
i wrote that wrong- it’s 1 cent for every dollar we spend.. 🙂
I wished Jen a Happy Valentine’s Day
I became a FB fan of Dreaming Big Dreams!
I’m really interested in reading the chapter on media…and waste because I don’t think I’ve thought a lot about that in the past. I’ve heard such great things about Jen’s book! Even as a college student, I think it would be a great and challenging read.
I tweeted and posted on FB about your giveaway!
I friend requested Jen, ‘Liked’ her new Facebook page and posted Happy Valentines Day, and I can’t pick just one chapter…I NEED to read ‘clothing’ and ‘stress.’ I had not heard of this book…thanks for sharing.
p.s. and yes I became your fan.
Just found your site tonight after searching for adoption story videos. My husband and I feel the need to share our family’s story, and are trying to find the right way to express God’s incredible grace on our home while honoring our children’s stories and their biological families. We adopted three brothers through the foster system and it has been an incredibly beautiful and sacred mess. 🙂 Thank you for sharing your story; I loved it. I’ll be back for more. 🙂
I liked Jen’s page of FB.
I liked Dreaming Big Dreams on FB.
I pinned it on Pinterest….just throwing that in there.
I tweeted about it.
Looking forward to the entire book, but probably really need the one about stress right now.
I’ve liked dreamingbigdreams on facebook!
I’m most looking forward to the chapter on stress!
All chapters sound great, but I’d love to see what she says about media.
Liked it on facebook!
Tweeted it!