EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE!

My morning "cuppa" is not on an African savanna but in my comfiest chair as I'm experiencing the words of author Robin Jones Gunn as she writes of travel to Africa. 

Her book, TEA WITH ELEPHANTS, reinforces lessons God wants to teach the "suitcase sisters" in this foreign land of tea fields, beautiful, graceful and gentle giraffes, along with rambunctious elephants.

Kind words are like honey--sweet for the would and healthy for the body, (Proverbs 16:24, NLT, Gunn, p. 132)

The eye never forgets what the heart has seen. (African proverb, Gunn, p. 225)

Don't let emotional baggage burden you.

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you. (Psalm 55:22)

Leave it at the foot of the cross.

MY SHEPHERD ---OFFERS A SECURE DWELLING PLACE!

"And I will dwell in the house of the Lord" (Psalm 23:6b)

That's SECURITY!

Dwelling in the house of the Lord is more than a secure place!

Abiding is the word that comes to my mind.....an all encompassing word that signifies the security that comes from dwelling with Him, my Shepherd, in a deep, ongoing relationship. That's not to diminish a physical presence at a church but to always include my/your mind and heart seeking His Presence and trusting Him in all of life! 

Result = True Security!

For me, that relationship is enhanced by starting each day (dwelling) with Him---and an open Bible on my lap with a cuppa securi-TEA alongside.

A security definition from the Psalms---

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

A SHEPHERD OF ABUNDANCE!

"My cup runneth over...."(Psalm 23:5c, KJV)

My cup over-floweth with blessings as I rest in Your love and trust in your grace. From hard times of suffering that you bring me to cause my trust in You to flourish to the other times when pain and sufferings diminish. You my Shepherd use both!

That's ABUNDANCE!

When one's own cup runneth over with blessings from his/her Shepherd, it's time to serve others! Pass it on!

Provision. Time. A relational variety.

• heart to heart talks
• listening and lingering
• lots of laughter 
• sharing secrets

Abundance at its best--decreed by the Shepherd!

CUSHION OF CALM!

A "Cushion of Calm" prevails before the predicted storm filled with gusts, ball-sized hail and tornadoes hits! 

How special to await it on our front porch with

a devotional book, a new book and a cuppa in my Lake Junaluska mug. The cushion in the chair, for the physical comfort I needed, even included the reminder. 

LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS. IT'S ABOUT LEARNING TO DANCE IN THE RAIN.

In times of storm His sovereignty gives us His strength and peace, aka a "cushion of calm".!

A time of God's peace to rule in our thankful hearts. So we dance.

PROSPERI-TEA!

Prosperi-TEA is NOT defined by the $$ in your bank account!

Whether you are sippin' your cuppa at The Empress in British Columbia, Canada or at My Cup of Tea in Orange Mound area in Memphis, TN.........

......remember it's not about who serves you but it's about whom you serve!

Choose this day whom you will serve as you sip your morning cuppa.

True prosperity-TEA comes to those who seek God first out of love and grad-TEA-tude for all he has given. 

The surest way to "prosper" in your endeavors is to diligently pursue the will of God. (Experiencing God, September 4)

1 CUP AT A TIME!

Day by day. Step by step. Moment by moment.One cup at a time.

That's what progress looks like!

Though PM cuppa's look like this...................

MONDAY IN PSALMS, MATTHEW & 1PETER!

Today my cloudy, anxious thoughts are multiplying (Psalm 94:19) with aging, death of a friend, medical problems = one more portal and a password I'll forget, whining, political madness and all else I can't control in this worried and weary world! Fatigue reigns and I am out of strength.

Help my hopes outnumber my fears! (Psalm 43:5)

Matthew 6:25

The answer is TRUST! (1 Peter 5:7)

May I TRUST Him more and fixate less on "fixing" life's problems as I pour my morning cuppa anxie-TEA down the drain!

OLYMPICS 24 OPENING CEREMONY!

Yesterday's Olympics opening ceremony in Paris, France, the "City of Lights" was awesome! It had me singing "My country tis of Thee, sweet land of liberty of thee I sing...." This sweet freedom's song touched my heart! So.....I had a cuppa "liber-TEA."

Increase our peace O Lord beyond the banks of the Seine and above the earth from the hot air balloon. (Philippians 4:7)

May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts! (Colossians 3:15)

THANKFUL THURSDAY!

 calm YOUR ANXIETY!

 How does one do that!

 Give all your worries and cares to God....for He cares about you.  (1Peter 5:7, NLT) 

 How many ways can one say it??

Robert Morgan shares in calm YOUR ANXIETY, God's Word offers a "divine inoculation against the paralyzing disease of worry." (Day 29, P.58)

Eugene Peterson's biblical  paraphrase, The Message, says, "Don't fret or worry. Instead of worry, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns."

Ending today with a cuppa gra-TEA-tude and evening prayers of thanksgiving. 

After all.....it's "Thankful Thursday."

CUPPA JOY!

A cuppa joy is a great way to start the day. The favors are different as chosen by the blend. Black Tea. Green Tea. Chai. Preferential favorite.

I prefer a rich black ASSAM. My daughter prefers a Lady Gray decaf.

My granddaughters love the experience regardless of the tea choice.

Believers all have different ways to start their days. The beverage is not the indicator of joy. Christ is. He's the Focus regardless of the circumstances!

Christ is the JOY bearer.

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!

positivi-TEA: A FRIDAY FOCUS

Positivity---I'm not talking conjuring up thoughts as you unfold your body from a yoga bend or depend on your own might. I'm talking about a lifestyle as a Jesus follower which allows others to be encouraged as they see Christ in you.

Is it a mindset? I think of it as a discipline. A choice made easier for me to make as I'm in the presence of those who already practice positivity and allow it to spill over to me. 

Or chat and pray with me over a cuppa.....of positivi-TEA.

Pic from my cuppa file

Ten years and one week ago today, August 25, 2013, a cuppa positive-TEA happened in my life in a special way.

Friend and prayer warrior, Sarah Young served me tea. But.....she served me much more than that. 

We lingered. 

She listened. Sarah is good at that. 

She comforted. She encouraged.

She exuded positivity, tailored for me. 

She was radiant. She shared how to take refuge in Him, never omitting pains and struggles but sharing coping strategies in a way that blessed me beyond measure. 

Sarah has prayed daily for years for those who read her books. Many us have been blessed by her writings as she, being still before the LORD and seeking the truth from his Word, has shared with us. 

I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. Oh, taste and see the LORD is good!  Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. (Psalm 34:4–5, 8)

This is a a positive, encouraging verse of peace, joy and hope for Sarah.

Won't you join me in praying it for herald her and her family? 

Positivi-TEA---a great cuppa shared.

**I received this message from Sarah's family.

Thank you for prayers. Sarah graduated to heaven yesterday at 5:31 and in the presence of Jesus. 

I sought the LORD

CHOOSE THIS DAY....FOOD FOR THOUGHT FRIDAY!

How great it would be if all decisions made today would be as easy as choosing my morning cuppa!

All my tea options are good ones to me. I don't even have to choose caffeine free if it's only 7am. 

Other choices throughout the day are more difficult because of the ramifications. Such choices can be important or complex, nothing like deciding on loose leaf or tea bag for my morning cuppa.

How would my choice affect someone else. Physically?  Emotionally? Monetarily? Spiritually? (Romans 12:10)

• To encourage. (Ephesians 4:29) 
• To build up. (Romans 15:2) 
• To motivate to love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24)
• An encouraging word cheers a person up. (Proverbs 12:25)

Each day our choices count! 

That's real food for thought this Friday and everyday.

GRACIOUS ME!

Gracious Me!

Goodness Gracious!! 

Gracious Sakes...or gracious sakes alive!

All phrases I heard while growing up in western Kentucky. 

Such phrases were indicative of surprise. "Where has the day gone."

These days I find myself saying those same phrases I heard, especially from my grandmother, Mama Davenport. Often I add "Oh my" to the list. It's surprise with a bit of negativity laced with disappointment. Think, guilt.

Oh my, I can't keep up with ANYTHING. OK, that's an exaggeration but.....iPhone, Laptop, books, white out, things I use often and need to keep up with around the house.

Oh my, notes, are all over the house except the one I need.

Oh my, these days it takes me longer to do less.

Oh my, guilt hangs in my closet far too easy for me to reach & put on. (I know this because a sweet friend in the faith admonished me, in love of this very act,) 

How grateful I am that God's word says, 

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)

Gracious me.....how grateful I am for that reminder! I'm pouring my cuppa guilt-TEA down the drain.

REFRESHMENT!

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25) I want to be such a  friend! Don't you?

Anne B. certainly qualifies in my life.

Yesterday she was praying for me as I traveled home! I know she was.

This morning I started my day with a "treat" from her.

A chocolate pillow cookie, though it probably has a more exquisite culinary name, and my cuppa Assam. Anne calls it browniest cookie.

A perfect lift for my travel weary bones! 

True refreshment from as friend as I open God's Word for more refreshment!

HUMILITY IN PRACTICE!!

Humility. Without pride, Lowly. Meek. Gentle.

Recently, I came across a NT analogy of humility. It seemed to truly represent the  characteristic of thinking of others more important than oneself and translating those thoughts into action. "Tie on the servant's apron."

The staff at First Evangelical Church does it well! Quite literally!

We can choose to do it too.

Begin each day with your apron at hand. 

Tie on your servant attitude as you sip your morning cuppa humili-TEA!

HEART OF WORSHIP!

A heart of worship must be filled daily!

Moment by Moment.

A heart of gratitude.

Grabbing my cuppa grace-TEA-tude, sweetened with grace, I'm working on a heart acrostic for the week.

Honoring

Exalting 

Adoring

Revering

Thanking

Focusing on the radiance of my redeemer, rock, refuge and restorer before I even begin repenting and requesting my need for refreshing from Him. (Acts 3:19-20

I'm going back to the "heart of worship." Won't you join me!

CLOTHED IN HUMILITY!

Clothed in humility. What does that look like in today's world?

Is it so rare, one is shocked when they see it?

How does one ...accept situations as humbling as a "pie in the face?"

Regardless of the approach??????

How does one ...tie on the servant's apron, as ταπεινότητα, the Greek word for humility indicates?

Humility is the "tea" of our souls which nourishes and enriches others!

Humility....a choice of all Christians who desire to serve others!

This group earned a big cuppa humility-TEA---make that 2 cuppas!

"SONSHINE"

A good beginning to my day starts with a "cuppa."

Today's tea was a much needed black tea with caffeine!

It came came with a message. Its own moniker. "A SIP OF SUNSHINE."

Just what I needed----or thought I needed.

As I picked up my Bible, I knew I needed more. More of Jesus. 

"More of Thee less of me" as a "notation" reminded me.

"I am not enough, but Jesus is." (Cole, 5/8/22)

I'll have a second cuppa and sweeten it with gra-TEA-tude!

SONSHINE! The true sunshine I need in my life comes from Him. 

May God's Son shine through  me today.( Micah 6:8)

RX FOR DESPAIR & STRUGGLES

RX---I could post a pic of LOTS of drug and other pain relieving accoutrements but....that would put the focus on me. I don't want my pain, physical and emotional, to be my ID/significance or leverage. 

Instead Psalm 118:5 reminds me, Out of my distress, I called on the Lord: the Lord answered me and set me free. Simply put but truly a 12+ hour struggle for me. But God...was faithful even when I was not.

Jesus Calling Daybrightener 7/5

As Sarah Young puts it, "I can never be in control of my life's circumstances" but I can trust in His control. Seek to know God better. Christ is central. Stop clinging to the old ways. Continue to be on the look out for God's hand and be thankful.

Regardless of which RX verse gives you the most comfort and relief, take it daily with a cuppa Gra-TEA-tude to the One who gives life in abundance! (John 10:10)