CONSIDER YOUR LEGACY

Billy Graham died today, February 21, 2018. Christians worldwide know that he just changed his address to a heavenly abode.

What a life! What a legacy! https://memorial.billygraham.org

The way we live, what we believe and care about are all a part of the legacy we leave. Billy Graham lived out his beliefs before his family and the world. 

Such a spiritual heritage that is rare these days.

"If we don't intentionally pass on a legacy consistent with our beliefs, our culture will pass along its own." (Focus on the Family)

One cannot leave what they do not possess. (B. Liles, ABC)

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, ......... And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. (2 Peter 1:12-15, ESV)

Like the apostle Peter, Billy Graham's life of belief in the love of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ is reminder to all generations to live a life that is worthy to be recalled by our world, after their passing.

May considering Graham's legacy reminded us to consider the importance of our own---a spiritual heritage worthy of recall.

CHOOSE: INTENTIONALITY

One must see clearly to see God. That's why I am choosing today to intentionally look for Him. To see God's hand in everything is a choice. Intentionally looking to see God at every turn. Open your eyes to Him---He's at every turn/circumstance. Nature is an easy way to not only glimpse Him but to clearly see Him.  (Romans 1:20) 

One just needs to be looking for Him. That's intentionality!

For more on being intentional, grab yourself a cuppa intentionali-TEA and just click blue link to read this archival blog. 

Aspects of Simplicity: Slowing

6/5/13 "Simplicity" has been an often recurring theme in my blog posts this year as far back as March 12. At least that's what a "Dotsy Details simplicity" google search indicated. For the next 3 weeks I hope to share more snippets of simplicity from the specifics of a "Summer Refreshment" study,  "simplici-TEA."

"Slowing" snippets from last nights study group:

• All true and lasting simplicity will be an overflow of one's central (heart) relationship with the Lord. 
• To simplify, Dallas Willard says one must, "Ruthlessly eliminate "hurry" from your life. 
• "Multi-tasking" is the newly coined word for "hurry sickness." Americans always seem to be in a hurry to accomplish more. 
• "Hurry sickness" is not about having a disordered schedule; rather it's about having a disordered heart. (John Ortberg) 
• Hurry is an inner condition that is fear-based. 
• Moving quickly while walking in-step with God is NOT "hurrying."
• Everything we do must come forth out of love NOT just from following rules or checking off a to-do list.
• My cuppa "simplici-TEA" could use a little brevi-TEA, and humili-TEA blended in as well a BIG scoop of "intentionali-TEA" as slowing doesn't come easy for me.

For info and assignments needed, simplici-TEA participants may click on these links and sign in with own email address and own email password when prompted. Protected because only you know your own email password.

Slowing

Simple verses

Tea With Thee
WARNINGS from yesterday, in case you missed it.

Today's "simple truth" (for me) came in this morning's Commercial Appeal.   "Labor intensive" value of a great caramel cake caught my eye. Well, that's my all-time favorite cake---I could just suck the icing right off of it. But, who has the time to make it & caramelize all that sugar. At my house, BURNING would come into play.

What I loved was the simple solution given----one with a punch. Just order one from Sugarees, in New Albany, MS makes them, which a previous blog stated but.....according to the CA article, you can request EXTRA icing. So-o-o grateful for that tasty tid-bit!!!

Oh my........ that's worth "slowing" for!  If I practiced "slowing" by taking 5 minutes to walk from my kitchen to the living room with a piece of caramel cake in hand, I'm sure just focusing on & savoring that icing would simplify the process.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: s...l...o...w...i...n...g

5/26/13

In  Living the Life You’ve Always Wanted, John Ortberg states, "One of the greatest illusions of our day is that "hurrying" will buy us more time.” (Ortberg, p.84) He proclaims “slowing” as a sensible approach to our harried, often overwhelming life. To me, "slowing" sounds like a component of simplicity.

Slowing for someone with a type A, multi-tasker, goal- oriented nature requires "big sips of intentionali-TEA." Slowing doesn't just happen. 

A semi-traditional Memorial Day weekend trek for hubby and me is a l-o-n-g drive out Hwy. 14 for the annual Herb Festival. (#24, this year) Not sure when we first started going but nothing much seems to have changed out on narrow two-laned Brighton Compton Road.

Our invite came via  "snail mail," of course!

As Peter “tarried in Joppa with a tanner," we tarried in Brighton w/ goat cheese makers, potters, canners & gardeners. 

Refurbished sign is a nice touch!

Where else can my "city" grand feed or milk a goat---tho he opted out of milking, we saw what held said milk.

Paper receipts were written out with a snub nosed pencil & "cash" was placed in a semblance of a money box by Mrs. Anthony herself.

Slow walk to the car caps the end of this lady's day.

All involved in the festival do “slowing” well. It’s a great experience. 
Just don’t be in a hurry. 

intentionali-TEA---інтенціональність

3/26/13 The stage is set. A steaming "cuppa" of a full-bodied assam, brewed from loose tea, in my Aubry/Susan teacup, "Positively Easter" CD playing (gift from thoughtful son-in-law, Corey) and an open Bible.

A "cuppa," Corey's CD & My special teacup & open Bible on my lap"set" with specific intention---hearing from God.

Why this setting? My time with the Lord today is purposeful so I have consciously (intentionally) "set" the stage to prepare my heart to hear His answer to my question. 

The question isn't really mine. The question comes from one of my lovely Ukrainian ladies. "How do I hear God's voice? How do I "hear" Him like you do?

That question can be difficult to answer in any setting. But.....when the answer will be translated in part to both Russian and Ukrainian. I need conciseness. I need clarity. I need God's answer.

I probably need a whole tea pot of intentionali-TEA to keep me focused.

I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)

intentionaliTEA (умисний чай)---I hope it works for me today! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012

1/1/12 The New Year's card that I received from my local Hallmark store was a painful reminder that I hadn't gotten my act together enough to create my New Year's cards, much less address them and mail them. It was another one of my good intentions gone awry.

Knowing our Colorado trip would be the pictorial focus of a "greeting" card, I knew Christmas was not an option. New Year's salutations it would be----or so I intended!

I have too often been a gal of good intentions only. Where is the resolve for action?? Preacher son, Buddy, often encourages his congregation to be intentional about ________and the blank is filled in by chosen, worthwhile pursuits. It seems as if their intentionality possibly has more of a sense of "completeness" about it. To hear him explain it, the chosen activity includes an understanding of why said activity is of value. (Implication--completion is important because of the value of the choice.)

Maybe my cards had a misplaced value. Maybe my resolve for accomplishing the creating and mailing of them was not as strong as my desire for rest and relaxation. Hm-m-m! Food for thought along with my black-eyed peas, which has me wondering how any child of mine doesn't continue the practice of eating them on New Year's Day.

Regardless, I extend greetings for a Happy New Year 2012 to all friends and family----with or without the card or the black-eyed peas!