DST-ST-??? DST-ST???

The entry is in my head, .....but I've "taken to my bed." (Mama Davenport, years gone by)............I'm back.

Daylight Saving Time.(DST) We all seem to appreciate the "fall back" time awarded us today. (2am each 1st Sunday in November) Who isn't grateful for an extra hour in his/her day when time reverts to Standard Time (ST) once again. IMPORTANT WORDSMITH NOTE-- Notice it's Daylight Saving Time---Saving is singular--NOT plural. There is also NO apostrophe! 

For sure there has been much debate about it---especially when Daylight Saving Time begins again. (2 am the 2nd Sunday of March) 

It's become such an issue that Senator Marco Rubio presented the S.623 Sunshine Protection Act of 2021-2022 passed the senate but is now on hole in the House.

I prefer the "rise and shine" philosophy of 4 year-old Jack............

   "The sun's awake so I'm awake."      (Psalm 118:24)

Simple truth.Simply put. Regardless of the time zone, DST or ST.

CHOOSE: TO LOOK UP

Morning scripture had me meditating on "looking up."

My voice shalt Thy hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee and will look up. (Psalm 5:3, KJV)

Then, that verse had me literally looking up all day!

At the kitchen table I looked up as two hummingbirds suddenly swooped in to the feeders. 

Outside I looked up to the top of the magnolia as an newly opened bloom caught  my eye. 

Others in my path were looking up as well---I noticed a toddler looking up to his mom for help in getting up after a fall. What a picture of us looking up for help getting upright when we "fall."

Leaving the Silver Caboose with Elnora, we both looked up at blue skies.  Look what we found!

A "great find" discovered----just by looking up!
A reminder that "looking up" is a good choice!

CHOOSE: PONDERING ON THE PATIO

Sanctuary---a sacred place of sorts. My patio is such a spot when neighbors aren't out, hubby's not home and extraneous noises are kept at bay. A place to think and ponder on "Meditation Monday."

This morning was such a time. (Psalm 5:3) A time when I pondered my saying, "I don't have time" as a sign I'm running on my own schedule and not God's. Think frantic, frustrated, and harried.
"There is always enough time to do the will of God." (E. Elliott, Discipline, p. 99)
Frustration is NOT the will of God, I know that. I just don't live like I know that.

Choosing to "ponder" on the patio has allowed me to put my time in His hands. How refreshing!

CHOOSE: TO LISTEN

Have you got your ears on?

In Disney World, LOTS of people of all ages "have their ears on." Some people even buy ears for "munching." With all that munching and the great clamor around them, they probably can only "listen to themselves."

Does the "clamor" of life keep you from truly listening to the Lord. 

How easy it is to call on Him to listen to us! Our cries for mercy and relief. (Psalm 4:1, 28:2, & 54:2)

But.....do we respond with a listening ear? More than--- "in one ear and out the other."

Listening with the intent to obey. 

May we be more like Samuel. "Speak Lord your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:10)

God speaks; man listens. (2 Samuel 7:25-28)
In Psalm 5:3, the psalmist waits expectantly to hear the from the Lord.

In the morning Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my request before you and wait expectantly.

That's what it's really like to have "your ears on" before the Lord. 

I'll take my pseudo ears with chocolate, please. Maybe each taste will sweeten the words I need to hear as I choose to listen to all, even the "hard truths," the Lord has for me.

CHOOSE: PRAYER

Prayer is always a perfect choice! Even when we feel as if we can't pray---"We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." (Romans 8:26)

Anytime Prayers. (Psalm 55:17)
Arrow Prayers. Those quick ones shot straight to the Lord. (Psalm 4:1, HELP!)

Breath prayers. (Exhale....Jesus)
Evening prayers. ( of confession, Ezra 9:5)
Familiar prayers. (Matthew 6:9-13, Lord's Prayer)

Singing prayers. (Many Psalms are songs.)

Intercessory prayer. (Isaiah 62: 6-7, my Saturday prayer since 11/1995). 

Long prayers. Short Prayers.

Mindful prayers. (1 Corinthians 14:15)
Morning prayers. (Psalm 5:3)

Prayer from Psalms (Psalm 17, a prayer of David)

Prayers from Scripture. (Ephesians 1:15-17 & Colossians 1:9-14)

Prayers of Petition. (James 1:5)

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Choosing to "pray from the heart" is always a good idea. Writing down those prayers isn't a bad idea either.

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.(1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Choose prayer with me or for me----I would certainly appreciate them.

CHOOSE: TEA WITH THEE

"Shall we have some tea and talk about it?"

Doesn't that sound as if it's from the mouth of Miss Marple or some other sleuth in an English cozy mystery? You know, the ones known for crimes "served" without sex and violence, which are so hard to find nowadays.

Tea is the British version of our  "chicken soup." 

For me, a black assam is my chosen morning cuppa and often it's served from a teapot kept warm by another type of cozy----those padded covers placed over the teapot to keep the tea hot. 

My morning cuppa is enjoyed with my Bible and journal open as I sip. Even a few devotional books are usually at hand. Some mornings are 2 cuppa mornings,  when I need extra tea and extra time to speak with the Lord about what's on my heart. It's also a time to search His word for answers and guidance, especially for others so dear to my heart. (Psalm 5:3)

It is a cozy time----there's no mystery to that. 

Tea with Thee aka a quiet time----a time to sit with the Lord and talk and pray about whatever is on my heart. 

It's the best choice of the morning.

Quotidian Quest

Alliteration strikes again. Of course, it's Wordsmith Wednesday.

Quotidian. A great word that keeps popping up lately in my reading.

Mr. Webster defines quotidian (kwōˈtidēən/) as an adjective---- occurring every day. Many think of it as the ordinary----the everyday---possibly occurring so routinely that we don't give it much thought. 
Mundane is probably a synonym of quotidian though I haven't confirmed. 

A quotidian schedule. A ritual. A routine.

A quotidian cuppa is certainly a part of my morning ritual.

As far as routines go, I learned those from a master---Daddy. You could set your clock by him. The sense of routine and order bode him well, especially as he aged. Routine offered security. Habits long practiced kept him focused. 

• ....LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you. (Psalm 88:13)
• My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; (Psalm 130:6)
• In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3)

Quiet time with an open Bible, more that a morning ritual-------scripture is more of a love letter from God to our quotidian lives which give hopes to our little corner of the world.
A Quotidian Quest of Quality.

"Tea-dium"

In the morning, O Lord, you will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. (Psalm 5:3, NASB)

In response to a recent question, "Are you always drinking tea?" (Possible underlying question, doesn't it get a little monotonous to "sip" something without much "kick" to it?) 

Do you change flavors with the seasons? (Possible underlying question, doesn't it lose it's appeal after awhile?) For answers, see below......

Most every day, I drink a morning cuppa or two, usually a good black tea. Assam loose leaf comes to mind. (Sameness and routine are okay with me.)

As the Mad Hatter says to Alice, in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, "It's always tea time." (chapter 7) 

For the March Hare and the Hatter it was always 6 o’clock and they were always drinking tea---certainly no TEA-dium at their tea party. 

Possibly, I enjoy my morning cuppa, even if it's not at 6:00, because I see it as my time with the Lord---"Tea with Thee."

My morning, or sometimes afternoon, “tea party” only has one invited guest.....who always shows up. It's the time when I can lay out all the pieces of my life before Him. The good. The bad. The ugly. Often, the same-o-same-o.

How grateful I am that He doesn't see this same-0, same-o time with me as "TEA-dium," regardless of the time of day.

Certainly for me, it's NOT a tedious time, but a glorious time.

Prayer "Directionali-TEA"

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request. (1 Chronicles 4:10, NIV)

The "Prayer of Jabez"  is a great example of the horizontal direction of one's petitions. It also shows a prayer-answering God. This "Chronicler" clearly shows his belief in the efficacy of prayer as he documents the positive answer Jabez received.

Lately I have sensed the direction of my prayer as tending toward the horizontal. So many (outward) petitions for family and others. But God.....in this verse shows that He can certainly answer the petitions of a pray-ers heart.

Yet, prayers also need to be vertical---(upward) in praise and thanksgiving to the glory of God. Focusing on who God is.

Prayers also need to be continual---moving onward in both directions---always God-honoring.

Horizontal. Vertical. On-ward. God-ward.

When any, or all, of these prayers are an application of one's heart to God, one is praying in the right direction. 

May I direct my prayers daily (Psalm 5:3) in all those "right" directions. Heartfelt prayers all end up in God's hands.

"proximi-TEA" : a Re-Brew

Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3, NLT)

Still pondering those times of proximity to the Lord, I realized that often I am drawn to Him during times of trial. Hard times. Heavy heart times. 

Suffering or sharing in someone else's suffering pulls me to my knees and lifts my head and heart to Him. It's not my favorite way to seek Him but it is one of the surest and swiftest----pain, especially of others, tugs at my heart and in turn I tug at the Lord's heart. 

Physical pain. Emotional pain. Chronic pain. Seemingly hopeless situations. Without God's grace, both they and I can grow weary, lose heart and sink into despair. 

I prefer to enter into His Presence through praise and singing---sadness and sorrow is just too wearying. But God....showed me thru Crickett's H2H lesson on Psalm 66, that the way into the Lord's Presence is the same...whether I come with a heavy heart or a light heart. It's through WORSHIP. Worship starts with praise and thanksgiving, regardless of how one feels. 

"A heavy heart lifts on the wings of praise. " (J. Roberson McQuilkin) 

Dr. McQuilkin speaks our of his own pain as he shared in his book, A Promise Kept, about leaving the presidency of Columbia International University to care for his wife, who was suffering from a physical and mentally debilitating illness----Alzheimer's. He concludes that "in acceptance there is peace."

I sense the darkness and hopelessness in situations of loved ones. I "feel" their pain, but only as a sideliner. How long before relief comes? Does acceptance come first? How do I help? What do I pray? 

Proximi-TEA---a big cuppa is needed---Tea for Two. Shared verses as reminders of the Lord's nearness. Shared prayers. Shared joy from being in His Presence with the same purpose.

Prayer: Oh, Lord may we start with praise for all the treasures you give-----treasures You can give that are hidden in this darkness, this hard dark place. Grant secret riches from your hand as "we" wait on You. Thank You for the life lessons of patience and trust which can be learned as we draw near to Thee.

Thank You, Father God, that You are close, You call us by name, and You keep us hidden in the shadow of Your hand until this great darkness is lifted. Praises for Your grace that can keep us from growing weary and losing heart as you strengthen us by the power of your might that we all might have patience and endurance during this hard time....'til we might joyfully give thanks. May our hearts be lifted on wings of praise as we pray in Jesus' name.

(Isa. 45:3, 49:2 and Colossians 1: 11)

A Priori-TEA? Absolu-TEA-ly!

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up. (Psalm 5:3, KJV)

Do I believe that priori-TEA times are important for one's relationship with the LORD?

YES,.....BUT.....today my early morning "quiet" schedule was just a "stab" at a true "Tea With Thee" time. Lots of "valid"---at least, valid to me, reasons. 

But God...in His grace granted a reprieve of sorts when a great time slot (between 1:30 and 2:30) opened up for a longer time of prayer and meditation. AND....isn't that what a quiet time is all about?

How special that my tea pot time was "spot on" for my afternoon cuppa raspberry decaf.

Time with the Lord. A priority? Absolutely! But.....keeping the intent of my commitment is more important than my "normal" checklist" & that mentality helped assuage my guilt.

Plus, the Lord filled me with Psalm 5 tea words:

• ..for med-Tea-tation (v. 1) from this "all those in communi-TEA" lament of David's. (v. 11 & 12)
• Priori-TEA of early prayer times in David's life. (v. 3)
• God hates iniqui-TEA. (v. 5)
• Recognition of the mul-TEA-tude of God's mercies. (v. 7)
• David's humili-TEA  in worship as he must have been prostrate before the holy temple. (v.7) Dr. Constables's comments on this verse gave me the idea of an at-TEA-tude of vulnerabili-TEA in worship. (Sonic Light, p. 25)
• Consequences of guil-TEA behavior of the wicked. (v. 9-10)
• Visibili-TEA of trust and joy in the lives of the righteous (v. 11-12) who walk in the straight way. (v. 8) 

"Tea with Thee." Priority accomplished? Absolutely! 

Tea with Thee: A Re-Brew

In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. (Psalm 5:3, NASB)

March 2, 2010, I blogged "Tea With Thee," not knowing that almost two years later, I would begin to concentrate my blogging on that theme. My first entry had me answering a reader's question by sharing my choices of tea for a good cuppa. Yet, I also included the importance of time with the Lord each day---especially, in the morning.

All of that is still true....but what I had omitted was the joy of the morning time in prayer with Him. Not only the joy of the  moment but also the joyful expectation of waiting and eagerly watching to see His hand in my life throughout the day. Daily "Tea With Thee" is foundational for that renewed focus.

Also, I neglected to list PG Tips as my "tea of choice," when I'm using a teabag or sachet. I don't know what PG stands for but I can give you a Pretty Good Tip---starting your day with the Lord, whenever possible, will give you eyes to see His hand in every area of your life and that's a cuppa worth a re-brew!

SATURDAY QUESTION?

9/21/13  After reading today's Jesus Calling, I had to ask self, "Is my schedule so packed that I am unable to hear the "holy whispers" of the Lord?"

After rationalizing t'was NOT trivial stuff that was filling my calendar, but important "spiritual" matters of "my" ministry, I still  had to ask self, "Is my schedule so packed that I am unable to hear the "holy whispers" of the Lord?"

If the answer is "YES", I need to change my schedule!