CHOOSE: SIMPLICITY

Preparing for this week's Bible Study teaching at Town Village, I have prayed for clarity of message from God's word and application of those truths to shine relationally in their own lives. "Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)

Basically it all boils down to the "simplicity and purity of knowing Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3) 

Loving God and sharing God's story in one's life with others. 

God's affirmation came yesterday as I was driving my grandson, O, to school---at the corner of Poplar and Shady Grove/Ridgeway, no less.

Simple truth----Simply put---Shared with others!

What a great reminder to me, as I sip my cuppa simplicity-TEA this morning, to continue to choose simplicity as I prepare to share my story. 

CHOOSE: A REREAD FOR REMINISCING

Folks who know me well, know that I rarely reread a book. I'm more of the "So many Books, So Little Time," philosophy. However, since college days I have read Anne Morrow Lindberg's book, Gift From the Sea multiple times.

This past week I dug it out for another reread, partly because July 6 was the birthday of my dear, dear, friend, college chum and sorority sister, Maureen Kinney. 7/6/1946-1/29/2005. She gave me the book in 1968, almost 50 years ago.

"The shape of one's life is determined by many things, but I want first of all to be at peace with myself.
I want...to "live in grace" as much ...as possible....an inner harmony, essentially spiritual." (p.23)
"I would like to achieve a state of inner spiritual grace from which I could function and give as I was meant to in the eye of God." (p. 24) 

Lindberg goes on to expound on the simplification of life, away from a whole caravan of complications." (p.25) As she wrote of daily demands and balancing acts, her words rang true for me. This is not the life of simplicity* but  rather it is the life of multiplicity which the wise men warn us of.....leading us to fragmentation, which does not bring grace but destroys the soul. (p.26-27) Since Lindberg avers that distraction is inherent in a woman's life, (p.28) this condition runs counter to a creative or contemplative life. She decries the dilemma of "remaining whole in the midst of the distractions of life but continues to seek a balance between solitude and communion and between retreat and return."

All of that wisdom in just the first chapter along with an endearing inscription which reads, One of my favorite books, for one of my "most" favorite people. Love, Maureen.   What a treasure!

BTW, personally, I found that 2 Corinthians 11:3, helps me sip from a cuppa simplici-TEA as I reread this book. The verse helps me not be beguiled by the subtleties of the world so that nothing will lead me astray from the simplicity and devotion to Christ.

CHOOSE JOY of SIMPLICITY

Real Simple! A Magazine---found in Dr. Nutcracker's offfice, no less.
Who are they kidding!

Just finding time to sit down and read this "deceitfully" titled periodical is a joke.

Not only that, the article I was seeking, "Sleep Better" was no where to be found.
Not in the Table of Contents. Not in subscripts. Not with a "thumb through"

That, like the title, is false advertising in my book."
Nothing in my life seems REAL SIMPLE.  I tend to make the simple difficult!

Real simple/Simple assembly required----weren't those deceiving phrases on the package directions of every late Christmas Eve project we (mainly hubby) tried to construct for Santa's delivery!
The KISS acronym has been around, (Keep it Simple Stupid) for years, yet complexity seems to be the word of the day in my life.

Simplify is the "mantra" of the social domain of our western world, but who can do it "easily" ?

These days everyone seems to espouse the philosophy of simplicity whether it's one's decorator, photographer or "Nutcracker" MD.

Word to self----

Theologically only one "simple" thing is needed---"...the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3) Such simplicity and purity will take care of everything else.
Don't be overwhelmed by complex ideas from every realm of our culture----just simply trust Him.

Complexity overwhelms--kills ideas. Simplicity gives birth to ideas---His ideas/truths which give birth to JOY! The simple joy of knowing Him!

"sinceri-TEA"

But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3, NIV)

Clothing oneself in the attributes of God is a worthy pursuit for all mankind. Too many leave these spiritual character traits on the shelf. Like an unwrapped gift, they wait to be opened and experienced in one's own life and then spill over to touch the lives of others.

May today be the day to "open" those spiritual fruits of love, graciousness, goodness, mercy, kindness and sincerity.

Sinceri-TEA. A great cuppa to start the day. 

Sincere and pure devotion to Him easily flows through us to others. 

A shared cuppa.

"7" Word Meditation

12/16/13  7 words from God's word. I have been mulling just seven words lately as I have struggled to pare down in every area of life. To simplify. To get out from under my "overwhelmed" condition.

Do all things decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:40)

Jen Hatmaker had a similar epiphany and in her witty and truthful book, 7-- an experimental mutiny against excess, she documented her "journey of less." Seven months, seven areas, reduced to seven simple choices. Some months she only ate 7 foods. Other months only 7 articles of clothing were worn. Her experiences and foibles provided an entertaining read.

Hatmaker's goal for her exercise in simplicity, was to create space for God's kingdom to break through. A noble goal. Certainly nobler than mine. I desire relief. 

Too much stuff, even events on my schedule were robbing me of my joy with family, friends and the Lord. I had even considered "drugs" but upon re-reading parts of Hatmaker's book, I decided to forgo the doc visit and with the Lord's help/direction, rid some excess in my life---it's indecent to not only have so much but also to do too much. It's indecent "to be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3)

My plan allows for God to teach me rather than just checking one more endeavor off of my "spiritual" list. In other words, I've given myself permission to allow God's grace to trump completing "my goal."

Goal: Throw away, give away or delete from my calendar........7 things a day for 7 weeks. Giving away includes boxing up for daughter's garage sale or delivering to charity by the last day of project. (2/1/13)

My favorite "creative culling" so far included combining vitamins and supplements (more air than pills) from 2 or 3 bottles in to 1 (purchased on sale, I'm sure)  so that there was room in my "basket." Then I could read the colored labels on top---thus helping diffuse my frustration when SEARCHING for right one for my daily  pill box. Frustration so robbed me of my joy, that when my vitamin D or my 81 mg aspirin fell on the floor, I treated the mishap as a life or death matter. If others had seen or heard my tizzy, they might have called 911.  Days like that had me reconsider doc's RX as an option. Such tizzies can happen when one is so-o-o concerned about order that indecency creeps in and negates the intent of the verse. 

Decency (God's way) and order (God's methods and timing must go hand in hand!) 

Think about that along with those 7 words from God's word.

"Pouring Out ......

6/28/13 What is a life of simplicity? To the Christian, it boils down to "simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3) How does one "share" that life with others?
For over a month, I scripturally explored such a life in order to "pour out" into the lives of others. Pouring out those truths which the Lord had shown me.  Though the group represented only 

1½ generation span, my desire for each was similar to Paul's for all God's holy people "......you will shine among them like stars in the sky."(Philippians 2:15)

My prayer for the group is "that their life is "played out" before the world-----fully lived and Spirit-filled." Then, others might see folks who love the Lord more, and love others better while blessing Him and benefitting others through God inspired service.

Pouring out a full-bodied pure assam leaf tea from the Brahmaputra Valley of India to promote the  rich,  refreshing  enjoyment of a cuppa and the practice of hospitali-TEA! 

 Service is the "pouring out" (practical application) of one's life to profit others. It flows from the heart.

Simplici-TEASession #4 practicali-TEA w/ generosi-TEA & hospitali-TEA Notes
Fosters's Outward Expressions of Simplicity Notes

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)

Saturday Snippets.....

5/4/13..............posted on Sunday. I know. It goes against my somewhat compulsive nature to post "late" but the alliterative aspect of the title won out.

Simplistic snippets, those pieces of info, often just bits or scraps have been whirring in my head ever since I volunteered to create & teach a "Summer Refreshment" course at church.

simplici-TEA---a guided study to unjumble our lives and clear out our stuffed and cluttered minds, hearts, and souls....practical and spiritual approach to living out 2 Corinthians 11:3, with "the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." 

It will be similar to joining a friend for a "cuppa" as we take our "simplici-TEA together, one "sip" at a time.

Time has come to put said snippets in some kind of order---to turn scraps into morsels, worthy of sharing with others. A daunting task. But  God.....reminded me that this is to be His work. So....I'm back to the THOTS department of organization--Trusting Him On This Subject!

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who gave me strength, because he trusted me and gave me this work of serving him. (1 Timothy 1:12, NCV)