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)

NO Wi-Fi!

5/10/12 NO Wi-Fi----at least no wi-fi without paying at this classy golf resort. My frugal self would not let me pay for this "necessity" especially when the manager explained that wi-fi was available at no charge at all of their other lodgings just NOT their resorts! I could have stayed frustrated or even gotten angry, but God.....had a life lesson for me. I, who am trying to learn to apply simplicity to my life, just needed to put the computer aside and enjoy the time at hand. Live in the moment. Embrace contentment   regardless of the "inconvenience. (Philippians 4:11)

Enjoy life & when it gives you lemons, make lemonade or in this case use them in your sweet tea!

And......enjoy it..........I did!

MONDAY MORSEL

5/6/13 Gospel truth. Is that just an idiom that flies around small towns in Kentucky? I certainly heard it a lot during my growing-up years. Kids said it to parents to give credence to their denials or excuses. Students would even say it to their teachers if trying to give validation to their statement.

Gospel truth. Figuratively, it's an unquestionably true statement.

There's also the truth of the good news of the gospel. (Romans 4:25)

Alistair Begg quote in 5/5/13 First Evan Bulletin said it very succinctly:
   Here's the gospel in a phrase: Christ died in my place. That's the gospel.

Simple enough.
That, readers, is the gospel truth of the gospel message. Undeniable.

A morsel for your Monday meditation.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: MOSTLY WHITE

5/5/13 Mother loved white flowers---a look of peace and serenity to her. Her urns on the front steps had white geraniums and her viburnum down the side were filled with those large showy white snowballs from her mama's childhood home. Mother planted snowball bushes from "Mama" Davenport's original bushes for each of her three children. I have done the same for my three by simply burying a blooming snowball while still attached to the tree and allowing it to root. So...the heritage continues. Heirloom snowballs for inside and out.