Message received yesterday from Sarah Young's family. 

It's like sadness to gladness and back again.

Here's part of my response---because when I don't know how to express deep emotions, I turn to God's Word.

John 7:38, my paraphrase

I am sure all the family would appreciate prayers for strength and comfort during this time....her husband, daughter and son and their spouses, and her 6 grandchildren.

Sarah Young, whose life was served a cuppa fragili-TEA and frail-TEA, sweetened it with a heaping spoonful of faith and trust in Jesus and poured it out to others as a cuppa mo-TEA-vation to re-vi-TEA-lize their faith in Jesus.

To God be the glory!

A CUPPA Tranquili-TEA Needed

More info when I calm the qualm with a cuppa.....

....a cuppa tranquili-TEA!

Con-TEA-emporary : a NEW Brew

Newfangled---just like iBooks and audio ebooks---I try them......then I go back to my old school ways.

It's why I like to hold my Bible in my hand. Don't get me wrong, I also have a Holy Bible App, but... it's my "hard copy" Ryrie Study Bible that I most often use for careful examination of God's Word. (Acts 17:11)
I want to be like Ezra and set my heart to study God's Book (law) so that I might teach those statutes to others. (Ezra 7:10)

This year I chose to try the NLT version for reading through the Bible, though not for study. I was rewarded with new insight and am celebrating finishing the entire Bible in two more days as I'll try a new brew of tea as well.
I'll broaden my tastes----and then probably go back to my PG TIPPS loose tea and NASB next year!

CHOOSE: SIMPLICITY

Preparing for this week's Bible Study teaching at Town Village, I have prayed for clarity of message from God's word and application of those truths to shine relationally in their own lives. "Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)

Basically it all boils down to the "simplicity and purity of knowing Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3) 

Loving God and sharing God's story in one's life with others. 

God's affirmation came yesterday as I was driving my grandson, O, to school---at the corner of Poplar and Shady Grove/Ridgeway, no less.

Simple truth----Simply put---Shared with others!

What a great reminder to me, as I sip my cuppa simplicity-TEA this morning, to continue to choose simplicity as I prepare to share my story. 

CHOOSE: A CUPPA speciali-TEA

Many of us need a good morning cuppa to start the day. For me it can also take on a TEA-rrific element of fun as I love word play!

A "Tea with Thee" quiet time of sorts as God helps me plan my day with my Bible open and my cuppa in hand.

Often the day's agenda helps choose the most needed brew. But.....no matter my plans, I need to ask the Lord to direct my steps. (Proverbs 16:9, NASB) Sometimes I have such a full schedule, that I cannot see a way to check everything off my list. But God.....

Today's choice for me was a cuppa sensitive-TEA. The Lord directed my FULL schedule so that I was able to spend extra time with a widow friend who needed a listening ear.

I left her sipping a cuppa sereni-TEA!!! PTL!

Reliabili-TEA of God's Word

God's Word---the only "real" truth one has these days! At this point in time it's hard to differentiate true news from fake news or just celebrity opinions. (John 17:17)

Grandaddy's Open Bible 11/6/1981--property of Robert Thomas Liles

There is nothing better to rely on these days than an "open" Open Bible.

His Word is the cuppa truth I'm relying on---filled with the reliabili-TEA of His Truth!

CHOOSE: REFLECTING ON GOD'S WORD

I just love it when I am praying scripture for others and God show's me hidden jewels.

Such was the case with this week's prayers for Uganda folks from Psalm 19 as I chose to "refresh" my recollections as I began reflecting on God's word. 

For me, refreshing during my times of meditation can come when reading God's word from a translation other than the translation I had been using at that moment. Thus ESV was starting point but NIV held the new treasures. 

NIV Marginalia. 

There in my ragged NIV (think much loved and much used) were NOTES!

Perfect notes for wordsmiths!

God reveals Himself through nature (v.1-6) and scripture. In verses 7-9 there are:

6 synonyms, 6 adjectives & 6 results for scripture revelation.

Synonyms: 

Law. Statutes. Precepts. Commands. Fear of the Lord. Ordinances.

Adjectives:

perfect. trustworthy. right. radiant. pure. sure.

Results:

reviving the soul,making wise the simple,giving joy to the heart,giving light to the eye,  enduring forever, 

altogether righteous (as theses decrees come together in making decisions for human situations.

The law of the Lord is perfect,

     reviving (refreshing, NIV 2011) the soul.

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,

    making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right,

    giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant,

    giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure,

    enduring forever.

The ordinances (decrees NIV, 2011) of the Lord are sure, (firm, NIV, 2011)

 and altogether righteous.

10) God's words....They are more precious than gold,  than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb......in keeping them is great reward! (Psalm 19:10-11, NIV, 1996---emphasis is the blogger's)

God's word in and of itself is "refreshing" in any translation. (NIV, 2011)

Knowing God for me comes when reflecting on His word. It's my best daily choice.

Marginalia---The more we (I) know God, the more (my) life should reflect Him. (Tim Lundy)

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.

PANIC PRAYERS

Anxiety can be a real "panic prayer" inducer,

Earlier blog entries show that I have been sipping from this cuppa of anxiety far too often through the years.

11/22/10 and 6/16/13. Yet, I omitted a cuppa anxie-TEA in 2014 when I wrote 366 "tea" entries. Maybe it's because that year was a "call" to blog daily and I had to trust the One who called me! He was my "focus" and the blog entries were an overflow of that relationship. Even if anxiety was mentioned in an entry, the cuppa chosen for "focus" was NOT anxie-TEA!

So why am I seemingly back to square one---my humanity, filled too often with worry and fear.

Sadly, once again, I am one of those "fretful folks" Pastor Cole alluded to a few weeks ago, as he described living in a catastrophe culture. Daily we "panicky people" tend to live in a state of emergency. Even our news describes emergency alerts as though each viewer can do something about each event. As if there was an element of control for which we are responsible.

Globally, I am disturbed but realize my limitations. On the other hand, personally, anxious thoughts can still consume me---holding me captive, over people and health and events which I cannot control.

So what's one to do with these consuming fears and apprehensions?

REFOCUS!
PRAY---Don't panic!!

Shrink that cuppa! Lay it all at His feet.

Claim victory. (Romans 8:37)

Profundi-TEA

Profundi-TEA--I'm steeping a big cuppa to share the deep (for me) insight which the Lord has shown me to aid my knowledge of John !5:1-17.

Irish Breakfast is a good strong black tea---perfect to jog "profound" thoughts!

THOTS as I have dubbed it---Trusting Him On This Subject!

This past week in response to a valid question asked by BSF friend, Jackie, I shared with her how John 15 had changed my "spiritual" life. Then, she asked me how many verses were in the book of John.  I realized that I had not a clue.

So, last Wednesday, I opened my Bible to the book of John (27 verses, by the way) and realized it was not the entire chapter that had so impacted my "first" journey into Bible study. It was the "abiding" passage in the first 17 verses which the Lord used to draw me unto Himself.

As I returned to the passage, I began to use the "precept" method of inductive Bible Study re-introduced to me by Marilyn LeBlanc in our "Summer Refreshment " study of the book of Esther.
I began to look for key words.

As I meditated (and counted # of times certain words were used) I found abide (11) love (9) & bear fruit (7) Arranging  them in descending numerical order put them in alphabetical order----which spells alb.

Alb---a white linen robe worn by a priest at mass.

For the first time in 40 years, when I was first introduced to this passage by Bible teacher Kay Arthur, I saw those words becoming my personal "alb" as the white robe (Psalm 51:7) of His righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) of "my high priest" (Hebrews 4:14) covered me as I worshipped!

I'm not sure the "steeping" is complete in my cuppa profundi-TEA as there still seems to be a few thoughts "brewing" in my head. But....I decided to pour out what I've learned so far. (before I forget it) 

SaveSave
SaveSave

Cer-TEA-tude

Certitude (aka cer-TEA-tude in my "Tea with Thee" times) is a condition of certainty that provides complete assurance. Think "Blessed Assurance."
So...this morning a BIG, strong cuppa certain-TEA is steeping.

Blaise Paschal wrote, "Certitude. Certitude. Feeling Joy. Peace......Forgetfulness of the world and of everything, except God." (Love Aflame, p.3)

I know, that I know, that I know....nothing is more important than knowing God.
God is sovereign!
Thus, there is nothing more important than knowing Him, being His and accepting His sovereignty!

Tea With Thee aka PB&J

Thanks to Kristen T. for a *new perspective, encouraging me in searching Scripture (Acts:17:11) praying for me, praying with me and on Thursday serving me tea.

Times with the Lord for me are usually accompanied by a cup of tea. Location rarely varies. Times can vary. Accoutrements vary. (different tea blends, different Bible translations, different journal, different devotional books, different colored pens)

But.....Kristen *cuts to the chase with her simple PB & J. Sarah Young espouses the same simplicity, which she used when writing Jesus Calling.

P (pen) B (Bible) & J (journal) So simple. So palatable.

A daily P B & J----it's good for the soul. I'll take mine with a cup of tea, please. 

TEA WITH THEE Finali-TEA: a farewell cuppa

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, (1 Timothy 1:12, NASB)

This year, "Tea with Thee" has been my way of sharing my quiet times with blog readers. Thine and Mine. He and me. I know a blog isn't typically seen as service or ministry but for me it was just that. 

From His hand to mine. His strength---because it was wearisome at times. He was faithful to keep me going.

Today, 12/31/14, is the end of that endeavor. 

It doesn't mean that I will quit having quiet times. It just means that folks will no longer be privy each day to all my foibles.

A year ago when I sensed God's prompts to blog daily, I began with a "way out" proposition, of sorts. "Lord, I will blog as long as I sense your leading." 

But God.....continued to provide THOTS (Trusting Him On This Subject), ideas, words, "tea words," verses, and WiFi, (many times "iffy, especially on trips") so......

....here I am 365 days later---sipping a cuppa finali-TEA. Farewell to daily "tea" blogs----hello to sporadic blogs of varying topics. 

It's been a year of stretching for me and I hope someday to edit the entries for a tea type book for my Lucy----so that she might know this--- her grandmother loved the Lord, loved her and loved tea!

Sharing Thee and tea with Lucy is this Shug's delight!

Commi-TEA-ment to Finishing Well

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 

(2 TIMOTHY 4:7, ESV)

Finishing well. Faithfulness in the long haul. 

in previous verses of chapter 4, Paul had exhorted Timothy to preach the word, to endure all for the sake of the sake of the gospel. Paul, himself, had put his life's effort into completing the "course" which God had set before him and now his time for departure had come. (death) Paul left nothing undone. He remained committed to the faith.

Faithfulness: a long obedience in the same direction. (Cole Huffman)

No cuppa mediocri-TEA served by Paul. He chose a cuppa full commi-TEA-ment until the end. He had poured his life into Timothy---for the sake of the gospel.

What "tea" is in your cuppa faith? Mediocri-TEA or full commi-TEA-ment? Something to ponder in the New Year.

"Digni-TEA"

On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. (Psalm 22:11-12, ESV)

The importance of dignity was emphasized throughout the book, Unbroken, (Hillenbrand) as humiliation and shame continued to wear down the prisoners in the Japanese War camps. Dignity, with any semblance of respect as a human being, was what they needed. It came, albeit rarely, in a variety of unique ways, even thievery. Stolen food, namely sugar.

"And in a place predicated on degradation, stealing from the enemy won back the men's dignity." (p. 244)

Anytime a country espouses their sacred duty, as a leading superior race, to eradicate or enslave members of inferior ones, the first tactic is to take away the dignity, thus robbing them of emotional strength. (Ibid, p.43)

It has happened throughout history and is happening, as I type, to my friends in Ukraine, and families of my South Sudan church buddies. 

Thankfully, I finally "found" an uplifting book about WWII. Once Upon a Town. A work of non-fiction, it is a WORTHY read about the kindness of the towns folk in the small town of North Platte, Nebraska (12,000) and it began on Christmas Day 1941. Some folks called it a miracle! Troop trains stopped for only a 10 minute break, but all aboard were welcomed!

The numbers alone are staggering---enough to make one cry. 
Every day of the war--3,000 to 5,000 military personnel came through North Platte and were served food, drink and magazines by the towns people, from 5 am until the last train passed through after midnight. Not with government money but $$ from their own pockets---ration tickets and gardens.Toward the end of the war, that number grew to 8,000 a day, on as many as 23 separate troop trains. Six million soldiers passed through North Platte and all were greeted at the depot. (p.7)
This is their true story---a love story between a country and its sons. (p.8)
A story worth sharing.
Pic not loading--will try later.

Digni-TEA---a cuppa needed by all mankind.....and served with gratitude to GIs by North Platte residents as a way of honoring the brave and dedicated sons, wearing our nation's uniform.

SABBATH SNAPSHOT : author affini-TEA

This book review is a result of kinship.  Not quite consanguinity, but close. Consanguinity is the state of being from the same kinship through bloodline.
Garraway Refrow, a pseudonym for my great Aunt Anna Barr, is the author of Vivid Night. (1943) She was my great Aunt Ada Adams Mabry's sister-in-law,  to be confused with my Aunt Ada Mabry Adams, aka "Crazy Ada."
Thus affinity is the correct term for the connection---relationship by marriage or by ties other than those of blood relationality. Affinity is the reason for the book review---I want my "kids" to know this connection. I plan to share it with them with a cuppa affinity-TEA.

Actually, I had long forgotten about this book, which I received in my school-age years from my grandmother Gena Adams. She had a way of sending me books for every birthday. They arrived "wrapped" and sitting in the backseat of a cab----her chosen method of delivery. A little weird but unique and I still remember her method. The taxi driver would open the door, remove the gift and deposit the wrapped book on our front porch---as if the package had "life." In a way, books are like that---having a life that is different for each reader.

The book is behind glass, to keep pristine, now that I know my "relation" to the author. I like the idea of a "published" author being a part of my family tree, albeit by marriage.
However, I assume from the plot that my pious grandmother never read it. This very southern story revolves around a young woman and her child born "out of wed-lock."

"Vivian Knight, exquisite, cultured, American to the core, through the fighting blood of the Great Commander in Washington's army, and all the other armies American." (p. 54)
That sentence teems with a deep patriotism that Aunt Anna, aka "Stockade Annie" kept at the forefront of her own life as she ministered, until her dying days, to the soldiers of  Fort (Camp) Campbell, KY, which was built on the Mabry family land (1941). It is home to the only Air Assault division in the world. (101st airborne)

The story certainly reflects the "shame" of the time and the "home for unwed mothers" which would use the committee of "disposition of babies" to help the foundlings find homes. But it shines light on the love and devotion of this mother who strives to keep her baby at all costs.

A mother's cry can shake the throne of God, for the Son of a woman sits thereon. (p. 121)

When she loses her child, the pursuit of the privilege of motherhood begins and.......I don't want to spoil the story.....but I do like happy endings, and this one took a turn, which I found pleasing.

A Cuppa Almigh-TEA Providence

For unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6-7, NASB)

Not coincidences---but God-incidences. Providence. Son Buddy's recent sermon from Ruth chapter 2 reminded me to watch for "God's Providence" in my life. For me, seeing His hand often occurs in hindsight, so....I need to continually be alert as the "zeal of the Lord accomplishes His purpose" in my life and throughout His kingdom. What a trust builder that can become.

Sipping a cuppa almigh-TEA remembrance each day builds trust from the inside out.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us") 

(Matthew 1:23, NIV)

All of our grandkids will have Santa this morning....but my continual prayer is that eventually they will all come to know Emmanuel/Immanuel---who is "God with us." A cuppa eventual-TEA which will bring them to accepting Christ as Savior.

"God with us" is the cuppa life and He is enough!

Nativi-TEA : a Christmas Cuppa

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-10, NIV)

For Christians, there is no greater story than the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We share the story of the birth of baby Jesus with the world this time of year. 

This year I also plan to share with my younger "grands" a Nativity Poem, Who Built the Stable?, written and illustrated by my dear friend, Ashley Bryan. Ashley first got the idea as he was in Kenya with his dear friend Kemie Nix of CLC as they traveled to one of the schools which Ashley sponsors. 
Several years ago, Ashley gave each of my grands' households an autographed copy of the book. But....some were too young at the time to remember it.....so while we're together this Christmas season, I plan to read it to them.

It will be such a sweet way to share both conversation and a cuppa, sweetened with the nativity story and my friend Ashley's bold illustrations. 

Du-TEA-ful Prayers

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. 

(Ephesians 6:18, NIV)

My prayer life seems anything but "normal." It seems as if I can run "hot and cold."

Prayer is personal. So....how can I sometimes feel that I fail at it.

On days when I see my cuppa as half empty instead of half full, I concern myself with distinguishing between intercession and petition if I'm praying for others.  If I'm thanking the Lord for his creation of colorful foliage and shrubs with berries on my "praise walk" which is it? Praise or thanksgiving ? Can it count for both? Does it matter?

It seems as if I blog a lot about needing help with my prayer life. But God....in His love and mercy continues to meet me right where I am accepting all my "heartfelt attempts" regardless of the method---or even lack thereof.

Du-TEA-ful and deligh-TEAful cuppas reminding me that any conversation with the Lord which comes from the heart is A--OK!