Sane, Simple, Sacred: Impromptu

Impromptu

A dictionary will tell you that impromptu means "not prepared in advance" or

something "suddenly or hastily prepared".

But impromptu is actually a French word that comes from the Latin

in and promptus which literally means "in readiness".

This I learned at Cabin & Cottage this morning. (You'll enjoy the rest of her post about hospitality, I believe...) The "impromptu" theme struck me; particularly since we are vacationing in a rather impromptu manner. We have a destination in mind--but few details except the the name of the town and a general description of the possible garden walks we hope to experience. Fortunately, both my husband and I are OK with this kind of travel. We drive until we're hungry; stop when we're ready to turn in for the night. Reservation-less, we can enjoy unexpected sights along the way and discover some off-the-beaten-path beauty. In one sense, we are "not prepared in advance." On the other hand, we are "in readiness". Imprumptu in both senses of the word!

Fireplace at our convention site.

In the second sense, I think our journey heavenward is impromptu--in readiness, we have a general description of our destination. But in reality, there are many "unexpected sites" to stumble on. Cabin and Cottage says, "You have to be prepared to be spontaneous."

A prepared life spiritually offers excitement and spontaneous joys along the way to Heaven. I'm enjoying our vacation so far....and I'm excited about the rest of my Heavenward journey, too!

Jesus said to his disciples, "Don't be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house. I wouldn't tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. You know the way to where I am going." John 14:1-3

5 comments:

DianaJuly 10, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Hi Rebecca! I've been catching up on your past posts. How's the poison ivy? Is it all gone I hope? It sounds like you're having a good time.
There is good news over at my blog.
Enjoy your time away with your husband.
Love Di ♥
ReplyDelete
Replies
Janettessage.blogspot.comJuly 10, 2011 at 11:54 AM
Oh love this...I posted on this last summer, well on being spontaneous and how energizing it can be...summer seems to bring that out in me, but I agree with your spirit part also.
Have a great vacation....sounds like one my husband and I would enjoy, we enjoy travel like that.
ReplyDelete
Replies
AnonymousJuly 10, 2011 at 1:01 PM
it seems like "impromptu" or spontaneous was a theme this morning. I like your kind of travel as well; I don't think Lynn would like it as well, but even he had a spontaneous moment last night. (see my blog). Enjoy the rest of your vacation. When will you be back? Donna
ReplyDelete
Replies
myletterstoemilyJuly 10, 2011 at 2:22 PM
i visited your friend and loved her post, but you took
it to another level. thank you@!
ReplyDelete
Replies
Heather's Blog-o-ramaJuly 10, 2011 at 6:52 PM
Oh Rebecca,
what a sweet post today. I'm going to check out that blog you mentioned, too :) :) Enjoy your vacation :) :) Love and hugs from Oregon, Heather :)
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

"We simplify, not just to be less busy, even though we may be right to pursue that. Rather, we simplify to remove distractions from our pursuit of Christ. We prune activities from our lives, not only to get organized, but also that our devotion to Christ and service for His kingdom will be more fruitful. We simplify, not merely to save time, but to eliminate hindrances to the time we devote to knowing Christ. All the reasons we simplify should eventually lead us to Jesus Christ!" (Donald S. Whitney)

Dedicated to my sister-in-law, Beth--a TRUE home manager....

"I work for a King. He has put me in charge of his home. When He comes to see how I have managed His possessions and His children, I do not want to be found wanting. I want to do my best. Everything I have is on loan from Him. I have room and board and a job to do, but it is all for Him. Therefore I want to dress my best and do my best in all my work. I also want to be creative, for this is a sincere attempt to glorify Him and His beautiful creation. How I manage my home is a form of worship to Him." --Lydia Sherman

"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry,
and see a fine picture every day of his life,
in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Contentment makes poor men rich.

-Benjamin Franklin

"What I am gradually discovering is that in the writing I come in touch with the Spirit of God." ~ Nouwen

~~"Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting."~~Edmund Burke

C.S. Lewis: "To trust Him means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in trusting a person if you wouldn't take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him."

"To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common--this is my symphony." William Henry Channing

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Apostle Paul: "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)

"It's a good thing to have all the props pulled out from under us occasionally. It gives us some sense of what is rock under our feet, and what is sand. It stops us from taking anything for granted. It has also taught me alot about living in the immediate moment. I am somehow managing to live one day, one hour at a time." Madeleine L'Engle

FIVE CERTAINTIES
WITH WHICH TO
START YOUR DAY

God holds you. Each day he carries us in his arms. Psalm 68:19 NLT
God sustains you. THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. Psalm 23:1 AMP
God covers you. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust. Psalm 91:4 AMP
God pours His love upon you. Through each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me. Psalm 42:8 NLT
God will not fail you. The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! Lamentations 3:22 NLT

THE BLOGGER'S PRAYER Lord, help me to learn to spell without spellcheck, manage to visit all that visit me, and post regularly - all in 5 minutes a day, so that I can clean house and take care of my family. Help me to not look at every occurrence in my life as a blog post, and to quit taking pictures of weird things to share as well. Please Lord, help me to stop talking about my blog friends as though they are next door neighbors or someone I have known all of my life. And help me, dear Lord, to think of something witty and wise to post tomorrow.
Love, The Dust Bunny Hostage

Sane, Simple, Sacred

Mercy

Impromptu

5 comments:

Writing a Song a Week #3