Fideli-TEA : a Cuppa hope

All honor to God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; for it is his boundless mercy that has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God’s own family. Now we live in the hope of eternal life because Christ rose again from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3, TLB)

Faith! Faith!! Faith!!! Hope! Hope!! Hope!!!
Faith from the latin fidere – to trust. Confidence or trust---for me it is a necessary facet of hope. 
The "what ifs" of a faithless life, breed worry and negate hope. Worry is the antithesis of hope---without faith there is no hope for a better tomorrow. 

People who have faith, have hope.  People who have hope, have faith.  Seemingly, a person cannot have one without the other. "One has to be faithful to be hopeful." (Cole Huffman, 11/9/14)

FAITH is defined as a belief which expresses confidence in the truth or veracity of someone. Even Wikipedia got it right this time. The One who is Truth is the bedrock of faith. In Him alone one can have confidence. The Lord Jesus Christ is that someone. In Him we have hope.

In Christ Alone my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song; this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,....

"Hope is only found in faith. Living hope is only available with belief in a risen God. (1Peter 1:13) Hope is like the "gold standard" of faith. Deep joy which transcends circumstances results from a "living hope reality."(notes from CH sermon, 11/914)

Fideli-TEA served in a cuppa hope is only available through a risen Lord.

Fideli-TEA : a re-brew

I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. (Luke 22:32, NASB)

Faithful in faith. One needs to remain true to  the calling of his faith. A faith secured at the cross.

Such faithfulness keeps the lines of communication open----think prayer---between earth and heaven. Without faith there is a BIG block in the communication between my soul and God's heart.

Faith is active. A cuppa gramma-TEA-ically correct "active" verbs overflows from loyalty to one's faith.

• Faith leans.....on God.
• Faith links....the Lord.
• Faith clothes......with the righteousness of Christ.
• Faith defends.....with the sword of the Spirit.
• Faith gives......victory to His own through His love.
• Faith honors.....God.

So.....fideli-TEA needs to be a regular cuppa for all believers.

"Fideli-TEA" in Worship

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3, KJV)

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me" is the first of the 10 commandments---with good reason. All the other commandments are predicated on this one's call to fideli-TEA. Without this one, there's no "standard" for the others. It is the starting point because relationship with the LORD God is where true faith starts.

These commandments from Mount Sinai, accompanied by smoke, earthquakes and the blast of a trumpet emphasized the importance of the words of the law from God which Moses recorded in Exodus 20. Important enough to remember.

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make idols.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.

Though under the law of grace, one still needs to heed God's Word and be faithful to Him. 

Brewing a cuppa fideli-TEA today to sip as I savor words from my faithful Heavenly Father, who commands that I have no other gods before me. For good reason---

"Fideli-TEA"

and the two will become one flesh.(Ephesians 5: 31, NIV)

Finali-TEA of singleness.  So....they are no longer two...

...as today these two, Emme and Tyler, become one. A joyous time.

Vows will be taken before God and man. 

Lots of family and friends. A serious time.

The bride has been on my Saturday prayer list, by name since April 2001, where I had noted specifically a godly spouse as a request for this young lady, Mary Elizabeth Andrews. 

Prior to that she had been one of many of Maureen & Rad's kids as I had been praying for Maureen on Friday's since 1986---still do. 

Wedding day prayers have become a big part of "kids" from the Saturday list---which now includes "grands."

Prayers for each "to find one whom their soul loveth" (Song of Solomon 3:3) and that both the wedding and the marriage would glorify the Lord. Wedding day prayers are for fideli-TEA. Prayers of faithfulness for their marriage---to the Lord Jesus Christ and to each other, for the rest of their lives.

This morning was no different as those prayers were lifted before the throne of grace for Emme and Tyler. 
May all gathered toast a cuppa "fideli-TEA" to the young couple tonight.

CONGRATS TO MR. & MRS. TYLER PATTERSON

"uni-TEA"

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24, NASB)

UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN THE HILL COUNTRY OF TEXAS!
A cuppa fideli-TEA for two.