CHOOSE: SLOWING

Choosing slowing is easier for me to type than for me to do. Obviously. Busyness and slowing have been topics in several Dotsy Details blog entries.

I will slow down; set limits on my commitments and work; And make certain that those whom I love remain first in my life. 

That sounded like such a good idea when I read it. So, I brewed a cuppa intentionali-TEA and wrote "slow down" post-it notes to place throughout the house.
Then "my  plan" fell apart.
I "lost" the book before I could get citation info for the blog. I know that's a big literary publishing no-no....so a lawsuit could be in my future. I certainly don't have time for that.

I should have put a slow down post-it in my car since his afternoon I hurried through a light that went from yellow to red. I don't have court time or money for that either--if those lights still operate.
DING! Calendar reminders popped up that reminded me of pre-scheduled events. Then, 2 of the post it notes lost adhesive and "bit the dust."

So....did I give up? No. Once again I just needed to change my focus.

Seek Him first.
...make His Kingdom and righteousness your chief aim and then these things shall all be given you in addition. (Weymouth New Testament)

I choose to allow Him to choose my best schedules or pare appointments as needed,and am joyfully expectant to see how He will work this out in my life.

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. 

Intentionali-TEA

'For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.' 

(Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)

Last night after H2H Bible Study, several of us discussed the importance of "intentionality" as a part of our spiritual growth. Intentional seeking of Him---which involves spending regular time with Him. For me, it's my "Tea with Thee" time. By whatever name it is labeled, such a quiet or devotional time helps one intentionally focus on knowing Him and His agenda for one's day. Offering "my" plans or schedule to Him for His direction or altering as needed. (Proverbs 16:9) He knows the plans He has for us, thus we can trust His interruptions.

Fast forward to this morning....I had a packed agenda. Meditation reminded me that if I was going to be accountable to my spiritual sisters, I needed to slow down and refocus. Intentional slowing coupled with prayer. Walking my talk.

Intentional about seeking Him first, not just spur of the moment. (Matthew 6:33) Intentional = God's way. Driven =  my way, too often. But....not today!

My timetable was altered several times. God's interruptions allowed me to laugh & "catch up" on the CANDY aisle, with dear friend Margie. Adding fun to my day and 1/2 price chocolate to my basket. 

Several schedule shifts, coupled with that delightful aside, altered my intended hair washing before meeting Katherine, another dear friend now living in Atlanta. But God....reminded me of Katherine's gift of dry shampoo she provided for all the ladies on our church's Mexico mission trip 6 years ago. I don't have that shampoo but I had something similar. 

So....I didn't have shiny clean tresses for our lunch---think the old "mini-poo" look---BUT I knew Katherine would not care. She cared about our time together---and so did her sister Kristi. River Oaks' "Chef's TV Dinner" was a sumptuous treat...unlike any TV dinner I've ever had. Probably one of the best meals I've ever had anywhere! 

A delightful time was had by all, especially me!

A cuppa intentionali-TEA blended with accountabili-TEA---a necessary priori-TEA for spiritual growth. Also...a whole lot more fun than my original schedule! Go God!

Puri-TEA

You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:3, NIV)

Am I practicing the presence of God in such a way that believers and non-believers alike are able to catch, at least, a glimpse of Him? Visibili-TEA of the risen Lord n my life.

Lately, as I have once again intentionally looked for His hand in circumstances, I'm seeing His love written on human hearts. Clearly the goodness of the Lord is in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13)

But.....I feel as if my own efforts are but ink smudges when I should be leaving the sweet, pure, aroma of the living God. Ah, but to be able to say as Paul did, "imitate me." (1 Corinthians 11:1) Follow my example. Read the letter of my life. To stand before Him and serve others with clean hands and a pure heart.

Sipping a cuppa puri-TEA today as I continue to bask in His love so pure, allowing Him to write His love letter on my heart. A letter I can share with others.

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!