reali-TEA

5/23/13 Pursuing info for my simpici-TEA sessions, I have realized that there are some things that people need to let go of in seeking a simple life. Perfection would be at the top of the list. Such a list could be entitled "Unrealistic Expectations." If one is truly seeking a life of spiritual simplici-TEA, adjustments in expectations are one of the beginning steps in order to waylay frustration.

For me, finding a perfect cup of tea is  an unrealistic expectation.
Close, but NOT perfect, so fruitless searching continues.
Not even sure what perfect would look like.
Just too many variables!
Adjustment needed---let go of this "silly" pursuit.
I need to let go and just enjoy the "cuppa" at hand!
What are yours?

Reali-TEA of unrealistic expectations is pretty much the same for all of us and the result is frustration!

Frustration: the difference between expectation and reality. 

Adjust your unrealistic expectations! 

Neccessi-TEAs

5/20/13 Remember the "Bare Necessities" song from the 60s? 

The tune randomly came into my head as I drove home from Mary Flo's today where we had been discussing "simplici-TEA and humili-TEA." In my head Louis Armstrong was singing but I don't know if he was the one who sang it in "The Jungle Book." Regardless, those lyrics had me thinking about choosing today's verse for meditation  from ones that are "neccessities" in my pursuit of simplici-TEA study.

Look for the bare necessities The simple bare necessities Forget about your worries and your strife I mean the bare necessities Old Mother Nature's (Our Lord's own) recipes That brings the bare necessities of life

My "simply necessary" choice for today:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

The Lord's recipe for simplicity is located right between the cover of the Bible, His recipe book for life. It's simply a necessity.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: ROYAL HUES

5/19/13 Purple has always been associated with royalty or nobility because of the expensive dyes used to produce the color. I just know that I like it for it's velvety richness.

From my house..... 

...to Dixon Gallery and Gardens....

and a grandson who was "king for a day" as he carried his dollar tightly in his hand & walked alone to church entry after declaring, "You don't need to hold my hand, Shug! I'm 5!" Indeed he is---today's his birthday.

Saturday Snippets (#3) of Simplicity

5/18/13 Simplicity, is hard to describe as it will vary for each individual. There are countless ways of expressing a "simple life." The manifestation will be an overflow of one's relationship with the Lord----not a series of "DOs and DON'Ts."

Therefore set your mind on things above...(Colossians 3:2) and this "kingdom thinking" (Matthew 6:33)   will add all the rest unto you----including spiritual guidance to what your simplicity should look like!

WHERE'S ANDREW????

5/17/13 It might be hard to keep up with a two year old.....but his answer is priceless!!

HERE "MY" ARE!!!

...or as he says to his mom. "Hold you, me!"

Simplicity Angst: Comments

5/17/13 Yes, I know that the pix of books on previous blog entry looked simply ordered and somewhat "neat"....BUT regardless of my  semblance of order, the old adage of "organized clutter is still clutter" kept coming to mind. Plus, my prideful self did not focus on all the piles (papers, open Bible, scattered pens & highlighters, etc.) I kept all those out of range of my camera lens.

ljj says this is just "my" way as I always seem to "spread out" as I begin a study/prep for teaching. Is this just my "beginning" for separating and simplifying?

So what's the life lesson in this? 

• Acceptance, maybe---is this just the way I study?
• Unrealistic expectations---needing to be let go of the pursuit of perfection?
• Quit "wearing guilt" of inadequacy---for the task to which God has called?

I don't know the answers----I just know the One who is the Answer. 

So I need to return to Him---

.....with "the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3)

SIMPLICITY ANGST

5/15/13 Ackkk..........simplicity is such a complex issue. Anything but simple---at least to me! How do I  teach it and keep from making it one more item on someone's to-do list??  The DOs and DON'Ts are so-o-o legalistic!

Look at all those bookmarks and post-it notes.  14 books--- Simply overwhelming!

The problem might not be in the lesson preparation but in my heart prep. 

Sarah Young's Jesus Calling entry (5/3) came to mind. Am I trying to please God or man? Any teacher likes to be affirmed BUT GOD says we cannot serve 2 Masters. 

He has called me to this task so I need to trust Him for the results.

But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. (I Thess 2:4 ESV)

Speak, Lord...

5/13/13 Can you say as Samuel did, "Speak, Lord for your servant hears?" (1 Samuel 3:10)

Lately, many of my e-mails have continued to ask about "hearing God's voice." One in particular stated, "I know I should 'run to the throne, not to the phone' but I need an audible voice with godly wisdom." Being such an audible voice for a friend in the faith is a big responsibility. It becomes even harder when "google translator" is needed to translate from English to Russian.

Haven't we all longed for that audible voice, a light going off in our head or "feeling" God's hand on ours as He leads us to HIS answers to our questions? 

In my life, rarely has the Lord granted me that kind of answer BUT that doesn't mean I should stop asking or stop listening for His answer. Our "hearing" improves every time we "obey" that which we have heard through His word. That repetitive aspect of discipline seems to have us ready to wholeheartedly say "yes" to the Lord because our hearts are more attuned to hear. Then, His nudges in our spirit seem to speak loud and clear.

Simply center on Him as you ask the Lord to speak. You are asking from your center, that inner part where His presence dwells. Then, in His timing, you will hear from Him---whether audible, through His word, through circumstances, or through  godly counsel from others.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)

Within the context of the verse, the "all" refers to the necessities of life. To me, a necessity in the Christian life is hearing the voice of the Lord. Seeking Him first enables one to confidently approach His throne of grace with a listening heart. Approaching to "hear" from Him----a hearing that goes beyond listening. As with Samuel, it's "hearing" with the intent to obey.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: WARMTH OF FRIENDSHIP

5/12/13 Guys golf---at least my guy. So..."RTJ golf trips" have been on the May calendar for probably 10+ years. This year, with only 3 men golfing, the wives were invited. NICE! 

Robert Trent Jones Golf courses are beauties to behold, even if you're not a golfer. 

Warming "tootsies" by the fire after a day at the course or....at Chez Lulu in the English Village.  Guess where I was!

More Hezleps = more fun! 

Great golf courses have spas for warming the wives.

Same Time Next Year, maybe!

SATURDAY SNIPPET #2

5/11/13 SIMPLICITY, as a spiritual discipline is....

......a path to finding our way home to the heart of God, where we belong. 

(Foster, R. Life With God, p. 167)