"HOUSE RULES"

6/18/13 Rushing in the door after our simplici-TEA session, I heard "The Voice" blaring from the TV so I knew I had made it home in time to hear the winner announced. This is the first season I've ever watched the show but when 4 singers from Memphis were selected, I was hooked. 

As I dropped my bags on the couch, 4 of the former guys sang "Ain't Too Proud to Beg".....so-o-o-o hubby and I danced. We always do when "our" dancin' song plays. It's the rule---no matter when or where it plays, we dance. We hadn't  heard it in a good long while, but we got our groove back.

Tonight it was a house rule! What a fun rule!


The Voice Update: Danielle Bradbery, a 16 yr. old from Cypress, TX, won. She and the other top 2 contenders also won a car, whic is sort of ironic since she doesn't even have her driver's license. At least she's from another favorite state (5 of my grands live there) and Sarah and Kris, two Memphians were also featured in the finale.

Sarah Simmons was a student at the Visible Music College on Madison Ave., a school that not only trains vocal artists in music, but in discipleship, worship and ministry as well. Kris Thomas grew up singing in his church choir where is father was the preacher. Grateful for the exposure of these two and hope they remain true to their "roots."

DREGS

6/18/13 In previous blog entries I have given a variety of euphemisms to the word "dregs." Dissatisfactions. Disappointments. Leftovers. Remnants. Worthless parts.

Last weeks simplici-TEA assignment /discussion encouraged looking at a specific "dreg" in one's own life. Identifying and dealing with dregs in our lives is one part of the meditation process. This week the focus was to be on that component. Component #3.

Using the Tea with Thee form, to aid in the blending, brewing, steeping and serving of our scripture meditation we were to ask God to show us our hearts....to see if there be any hurtful/wicked/offensive way in us. (Psalm 139:24) Allowing God to investigate/ cross-examine/test us can be so revealing, and even painful. But God....can use it to bring one to the point of crying out to Him, to "create in me a clean heart, O Lord" (Psalm 51:10) which can lead to a renewed Spirit within, i.e. a change in attitude or behavior.

1. Sip---find a verse or passage of scripture and "steep" it in prayer
2. Savor--think on it with prayerful guidance of God's Spirit 
3. Discard the dregs--eliminate the distasteful parts shown in your life
4. Pour out--not only to yourself but share what God has shown you thus benefitting others as well

The dreg, which God brought to my mind, was EXCESSIVE PLANNING. Though difficult to savor (think on) something so "bitter" in one's own life, it is necessary in order for God to teach truth and for change to occur.

I had to ask myself these hard questions:

• What brings on this distasteful "driven" attribute? 
• Am I still desiring  perfection, even though I know that's unattainable? 
• Is it fear based? 
• Is there a root of unbelief?

In Jesus Calling entry 4/25, author Sarah Young states, "fear often manifests itself in excessive planning." Christians know that fear is not from God because He has said, "I will always be with you." (Hebrews 13:5) Do I truly believe that? If I do, then my actions are not showing trust. Certainly a lack of trust can thwart intimacy with Him.

This dreg my friends is nothing but sin. By any other name, it's still sin. 

It's taking God out of the equation of my life's activities and actions.

It's a lack of trust. Lack of trust is rooted in unbelief.

That's not just a bitter dreg. That's sin. 

mentali-TEA Meditation

6/17/13 Preparing to teach on the importance of spiritual mentali-TEA, I hope to encourage folks to seek God through His word, that they might know Him better. (Ephesians 1:17-18)

I want them to "desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:" (1 Peter 2:2) and be ready for the "meat" that comes from meditating on God's Word.

Thanks to neighbor, Jane who shared her beautiful hydrangeas with me.

"Pitcher" perfect for aiding my meditation on desiring God's Word/ 

May all discover the joy and delight of Jeremiah 15:16,

Your words were found and I ate them,
And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;
For I have been called by Your name,
O Lord God of hosts.

Think (mentali-TEA & beyond) on that verse until you can truly "taste and see" that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8)

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

6/16/13 As Owen asked Molly, "Why are there 3 excitements after Happy Father's Day!!! ?" Well Owen, those excitements (also known as exclamation points) do indicate excitement. Excitement for all of us who have sons and son-in-laws who are dads today, because that means we are grandparents.

So....today is exciting....except, not totally. 

Two years ago today, Daddy died. And that takes a good bit of the excitement out of the day. 

But God....reminds me of the 89 years I had with a father who loved me, never raised his voice and was known "about town" as a quiet and gentle man, noted for his integrity.

Both of us with a head full of dark hair.
 I don't remember the picture--but  I so-o-o remember Daddy!

Much like King David, Daddy "walked with integrity of heart and uprightness..." (1 Kings 9:4) 

Praises that the Lord was Daddy's shield in WWII and through many years of good health as he "worked" until he was 88. Proverbs 2:8 says, "He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints."

Fancing a Re-Brewing

6/15/13 Grappa is the leftovers of wine. Grounds are coffee leftovers---some folks have been known to put them in their pipes for smoking. In "my" tea world, the leftover remnants of the tea leaves are called dregs. Dregs are seen as the most worthless part. Negativi-TEA! The parts we don't want to brew or re-brew.

But God.....in His Word has shown me  the worthless parts or the negatives in my life that I had never even noticed before. Conviction occurs.   

Awareness brings me to my knees. Change happens. A turnaround ensues. The dregs served their purpose----rather, God used the dregs in my heart to turn me toward Him and His purpose. 

"O, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.  (Psalm 34:8)

Fresh brewing. A sweet savor. One I fancy!

Simply Sharing

6/13/13 Sharing, among friends in the faith, isn't complicated---it's encouraging. Tuesday night was encouraging for me as gals in our simplici-TEA group "simply share"d with each other. Some sharing was done during the group time but "real" sharing continued as we sipped tea (or coffee) with yummy cake and listened one on one or two or three.

A 2000 Honor Book publication  provided some fun, simplistic tidbits for us to share in the group

.

If I Really Wanted to Simplify My Life, I Would....

• Take the scenic route home. Don't worry. Don't hurry, and don't forget to take time to smell the flowers.--Charles "Tremendous" Jones. You can turn the wheel toward a more serene experience. (emphasis mine, p. 84-85)
• Keep addresses and telephone numbers in the one place. (Information you can't find is information you can't use., 108-109)
• Go for depth over breadth. The best portion of a goo man's life is in his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love. William Wordsworth. To simply live well, dig deep into what truly matters. (p.126-127)
• Turn off as much noise as possible. In quietness and trust is your strength. (Isaiah 30:15) Noise complicates; silence simplifies. (p. 131)
• ....stay focused on the truly important things in my life. If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles. (Don Larson, p.134)

How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity. (Psalm 131:1)

How pleasant it was to "simply share" with sisters in the faith.

Sereni-TEA notes access for group members.

Life of Simplicity: a "re-brew"

6/12/13 Trying to "brew" up a life of simplicity?  Life changes require infusions of new ingredients in much the same way a cup of tea needs to be infused with just the right blends.Often times a little serenity is needed for a lifestyle 0f satisfaction.  Last night's discussion on contentment led to that conclusion. But.....also as in a cup of tea, there are dregs/dissatisfactions that need to be discarded in order to diminish any bitterness.

In life, some of those are anxiety, comparison (which can lead to envy)   fear, (of an unknown future) and greed. All of these "poisons of discontent" can stymie ones life of simplicity and thwart spiritual growth, as well.

 

There are also those dregs from the past that hold us back & keep us prisoners to those "if only" thoughts........ ; diasppointments,  failures,  regret and unforgiveness. 

Rob Bugh, pastor at Wheaton Bible Church, says, "A lack of forgiveness keeps you walking through life backwards and you miss what is in front of you----the joy of the present,"

Trying to brew life afresh so that you con enjoy the moment............... discard those dregs!

"What brings you joy?"

6/10/13 "What brings you joy?" That's what the sign at Yates and Shady Grove asked.

Not happiness, but true joy. Happiness is too circumstantial. Dependent on what's happening in your life. An "under the circumstances" viewpoint/location. A location where Mary Ann Frazier says no Christian should reside. Christ's beloved should rise above their fleeting circumstances and experience deep joy based on their relationship with Him.

You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

The "lasting" answer is found in that verse. True joy, in all its fullness, regardless of one's circumstances,  is found in the Lord's Presence. A question and a verse worthy of meditation.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: " signature green apples"

6/9/13 Writers & lyricist often use the literary devices of irony or "opposite truths" to emphasize a point.  Figuratively, the lyrics in "Little Green Apples" let us KNOW the TRUTH that is opposite of the words penned as crooned by cowboy singer, Roger Miller, because.....God DID  make little green apples, and it does rain in Indianapolis in the summer time.  

Not sure if that song inspired the owners of the Alluvian, a boutique hotel in Greenwood, MS but.....they have little green apples everywhere.  Green apples are their signature.

"little green apples" at the Alluvian check-in desk

"little green apples" on the "lounge" coffee table

A bowl "little green apples"  welcome all to the Alluvian lobby. 

"little green apples"  at the 3rd floor elevator

Green apples: an Alluvian signature. Yet, no one knows why---at least no one I asked had an answer. A "true" signature is a "characteristic expression." Of what?" What might little green apples mean? I bet the produce supplier doesn't care, he's just thrilled that they chose one of his products.
For me---simple, crisp, clean eye candy!

Sweet TEAs of life

6/8/13 Tea words have been whirring in my head as I've tried to squeeze in a few simplici-TEA thoughts while on my "Great Escape" weekend. Some teas just aren't sweet. Anxiety being one of the first that comes to my mind. I certainly don't need to brew up any of that. If it does start brewing in my mind I become crotche-TEA---and the irritabili-TEA that flows forth is bitter and that's hard to swallow especially for those closest to me.

My morning quiet time, on the terrace of the Alluvian, with the hotel's Gideon Bible open to Psalm 16 had me meditating on verse 8---a great antidote for anxie-TEA.  Ringing of the nearby Episcopal church bells turned my thoughts away from negativi-TEAs to one of the sweet teas in my life.

Securi-TEA.

I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. (Psalm 16:8)

That's real security......and that's sweet!!!