"scru-TEA-ny"

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. (Psalm 139: 23-24, NASB)

Scrutiny requires that one looks within. A spiritual check-up.  A look at the heart. Vital signs. A motive check. 

The problem with scrutinizing one's spiritual life is the limitation of one's  own humanity. A great frailty in most folks is the inability to see one's own faults.
It's God who can penetrate the recesses of our hearts---those "desperately wicked areas." (Jeremiah 17:9) 

One must be willing to ask God to do the search. To probe and dig deep. "Down where our unspoken thoughts swell and unstated  motives hide." (Living the Psalms, p. 282)
Such searching by God of one's inner most being could be so-o-o painful. Why would one want to do that? Could truth revealed by the Great Physician change one's actions?
The result is an awareness of anything that brings pain to God or to others. Deep hurts. Knowing....and then changing, with God's help, allows one to walk in the everlasting way....a path of righteousness, and to bring others along with her.

Something to think about during my "Tea with Thee" time....as I sip a cuppa scru-TEA-ny from my most transparent teacup.

"tenaci-TEA"

Be still,  and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10, KJV)

Holding on can be hard, especially if it requires waiting. Tenacity is needed. Waiting to see what God will do. 

Disappointment occurred today when news was received that my "local" grandson did not get accepted to the campus school at the university. His assigned school has been taken over by the state and is in an unsafe area of town which adds great concern to the disappointment.
Though his mom had been diligent in doing all the "right" things, too many other variables seemed to over-ride her dream.
Too many others parents were employed at the university.
Too many others "grandfathered in" as siblings.
Too many others lived a "tad" closer to the school itself.

Regardless of the reasons for the outcome, it wasn't the news any of us wanted to hear.  

Oswald Chambers 2/22 entry in "My Utmost for His Highest" was a reminder that when hopes are disappointed, it isn't the end of a matter. Because thou has kept the word of my patience, I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation...(Revelation 3:10) reminds us to NOT fall into the temptation to worry or to rush to "fix-it" in our own strength.
Waiting is required. Waiting with absolute certainty that God is sovereign. Waiting with scripture verses in our minds rather than fretting and being unduly upset. We need to "take heart" and not let our anxious thoughts multiply within us. (Psalm 94:19)

Great hope is shown by the psalmist in Psalm 27---a hope rooted in God's goodness. A hope that is patient, waiting on Him. A hope that gives strength to our tenacity.

For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble. (Psalm 27:5)

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.  (Psalm 27:14)

Spiritual tenacity is needed. A big cuppa tenaci-TEA! 

SABBATH SNAPSHOT: securi-TEA

Part of security measures at church have all of us signing in during the weekdays. The downside of that is that we live in a volatile world that requires such.
The upside is Debbie P. She "mans" the desk with her smiling face and upbeat personality. She's also the friendly voice one usually encounters when calling our church.

For me, she's also a wealth of needed info and a font of "you have to read" recommendations. Last week, she went beyond the suggestion level and loaned me the recommended book, a book of meditations on God and trouble. Taken from verses of Psalm 27, pointing to many "nuggets of wisdom that could only have come from the mouth of the Divine." (Tripp, p.17)
What a gracious act of transparency to share one's book with all it's notes and underlines.

Allow me to share some of my own notes & questions from A SHELTER in the time OF STORM by Paul David Tripp:

• The trip to where God is taking us is not an event; it's a process. (p. 58)
• God has not coated us with situational Teflon, protecting us from the disappointments and hurts of a world gone bad. (P. 69)
• Spiritual muscles---When God asks you to wait, do you think he has forgotten you or do you consider it as a time to grow in your faith? (p. 88)
• Spiritual muscles---Does waiting allow doubt, anger, discouragement, and envy to destroy your motivation to grow in faith? (p. 89)
• Someday. Is "someday" a statement of hope or just fatalistic resignation? "Someday" is what I wish would happen, but....deep down don't really think it will. (p. 90)
• Don't confuse the goodness of the Lord with the assumption that He will give you what you set your heart on. 

So many of our questions and encounters are answered from Psalm 27, as Tripp shows us the psalmist's understanding of God's Presence throughout the psalm.

Now, I just need to find a way to share this book with my Cherkasy friends who are experiencing turbulent times in "their" Ukraine, where their "adversaries are breathing out violence." (Psalm 27:12) Fear surrounds them. Schools are closed for Katya's kids. Businesses are shuttered. There is no food in the markets but there is blood in the streets. Oksana asks for prayer for her nation. Lisa's own brother, along with his friends, was prayerfully protected during a recent uprising. Masha has been a part of the occupation of Maidan (Independence) Square in Kiev since November. All of these are beautiful women I know and introduced on my 7/8/12 Ukraine Beauty blog entry. I pray Psalm 27:7 for them and the "Mercy Prayer." (Tripp, p. 60-61) and continue to encourage them to "Hope in God in a world that is broken." (Tripp, p.7) This book is full of hope.

If you love Psalm 27 as much as I do, this is definitely a book for you.

"diversi-TEA": a Re-brew

And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God....(Mark 12:14, ESV)

Diversity among believers, who serve the one true God, is a good thing. Within one's own congregation, many God-given gifts are employed in a variety of ways, in order to celebrate the unique unity of the body. Diversity is uniqueness as I shared in a 9/10/11 blog entry.

Embracing the culture of my Sudanese friends in Bible Study has so enriched my understanding of trusting God. These gals have lived this truth right before my eyes. What a blessing. 

In appearance we are vastly different---from the color of our skin to the age of our bones. But God....in His love and mercy has had our paths cross and my life is richer because of this relationship. I count on their support when I'm teaching and they are always there. Front and center. Encouraging. Hopefully they value my friendship as well. 

So let’s stop condemning each other...as Roman 14:13, NLT says, and choose instead to share a cuppa diversi-TEA. Their's 's might be a Rooibos red tea and mine might be an Assam black tea....but, when shared, both cuppas warm our souls. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. (Colossians 3:11, NLT) That's God's way.

"finali-TEA" of current "directionali-TEA"

The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9, NASB)

Mrs. Rand McNally, here.....is ready to hang up her maps. No longer can I be the "directionally" sound one in mapping out our routes. This past weekend in Austin, TX proved that. I was even somewhat directionally dis-oriented in our hotel, no less. 

Recently I taught on "being confident" (Psalm 27:3) & blogged on "relying on God," (Isaiah 40: 10) but I've begun to realize that a new season of life is now beginning. A "direction" change, coupled with understanding of  God's wisdom in this season needs to be employed.
Things aren't quite what they once were. I can still make plans and God will still direct them (Psalm 37:23)....but the plans might be fewer. I can also allow younger ones to lead the way. Following son's BIG Suburban on those confusing multi-level cloverleafs, access roads and exits allowed me to enjoy the ride and not be stressed. Possibilites of getting lost, seem not so overwhelming when I don't feel responsible.

Change, especially from aging, is sometimes hard to swallow, but God...can offer new directionality and it will be okay!
Final proof of finali-TEA of current directionali-TEA---I just spilled my morning cuppa all over my map.

"locali-TEA"

Honor and majesty are [found] in His presence; strength and joy are [found] in His sanctuary. (1 Chronicles 16:27, Amplified)

Entering the psalms this year in a "fresh" way has added vitali-TEA to my times of prayer and scripture meditation.  Med-TEA-tation might be a bit of a stretch for a "tea" word, but it's what my "Tea with Thee" time has become. It's all about thinking through & pondering old favorite psalms in a new way with both a cuppa and my Bible close at hand. More of a heart connection. Tho, the prayer chair is still the location I'm drawn to for quiet times.  My locali-TEA of choice. My sanctuary, of sorts. I realize the true location is "in His Presence" (Psalm 16:11) and reading & praying thru the Psalms seems to propel me there more quickly. Scriptural focus helps me to be fully present.

The psalms have proven to be my sanctuary of prayer---a place where my heart is nourished. Where I can bring the realities of my life in to His throne room and cry out for help as the psalmist did. Fears. Doubts. Grief. Physical struggles.....knowing that He hears. (Psalm 34:17 & Psalm 116:1)

It's still a quiet time and yet in ways it's become a BIG adventure because God is there waiting to meet me right where I am---and I'm not always in a "pretty" place. But God....stirs my soul.

His word begins teaching me, once again, not to repress the emotions that are plaguing me. His word offers hope as well as comfort. Just read the psalms to see how often those words are used.
I just finished meeting God at my prayer chair with an open heart & a cuppa Harney and Sons Organic English Breakfast----a rich black tea brewed in a cup that evokes great memories of a favorite British locali-TEA---The Shop on the Corner in Royston, England.

Time with Him seems to carve out space in my soul, not only for more of Him but for prayer for others in my life as well.

His Presence---a locali-TEA we can always take with us.

"dain-TEA" love prints

...out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart  his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45, Amplified)

I would "amplify" that verse to include actions---because one's actions follow what one is thinking  (mind) and feeling (heart.) Proverbs 27:19 backs up my thought: "As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart."

In the Hebrew culture, the heart was the metaphor for the core of one's being. Center of one's personality. "It was a spiritual hub and life flowed from its orientation." (gods of war, p. 31)

If a heart is filled with love....it's love that flows forth. Love in words AND deeds.

Love can be shown in a variety of ways---but "hands on" love is the best. Being the hands and feet of God. Doing unto others. Serving with an overflow of the love of your heart....or if you are just two years old, making your dainty hands into a heart shape print for your grandarents' Valentine card, is the perfect expression.

Lucy's card was by me as I sipped my morning brew in a dain-TEA cup and opened my Bible to scriptures of love.

"hef-TEA cuppa"

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. (Colossians 3:12-13, NASB) 

"Born Loser" cartoon's character, Thornapple, shared his reliance on a cup of coffee to face his day, remarking, "I think I'm going to need a bigger cup." (Commercial Appeal, A8) Certainly there are days like that in everyone's life. 

However, we can easily fill our cups with harmful ingredients. This morning during my "Tea With Thee" time, I focused on the attributes of "blends" that I did NOT want in my cuppa. Greed, anger, malice, lying, abusive speech from my mouth. (Colossians 3:5-9) Those are dregs not needed. Yet, when one's body is tired, those characteristics can take center stage.

BUT GOD.....reminded me that love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

So.....fill me up Lord. More of Thee, less of me.

Sipping a hef-TEA cuppa of God's love. A great way to face each new day!

From Solemni-TEA to Gaie-TEA....

This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:23-24, NASB)

Solemn vows and joyous celebration are all part of a wedding celebration Gladness which is emphasized when two believers vow, "I do" and mean it. Congratulations to Abbie & Zac Diltz!

An A to Z (Abbie to Zac) wedding
which honored the one who is the Alpha and Omega. (Revelation 22:13)

Vows spoken in Driftwood, TX in the Texas Hill Country & "sealed with a kiss."

"The Bread and the Cup"
Celebrating the sacrament of communion for the first time as Mr. & Mrs.

The Happy Couple---even tho pic is clipped, the smiles say it all!!

Beginning the path to married life, paved with lots of prayer.... 

Happy parents of the groom. (Texas)

Equally happy parents of the bride. (N.H.)

The Texas Liles 

Beautiful pictorial way to save guests' comments

Barn dancing--groom with his mom.

Wedding dinner of delicious fajitas---just like on their first date. 

Smiling bride with her father-in-law

"Rejoicing and glad in this day which the Lord hath made"
77º and sunny for an outdoor wedding at Wildflower Barn---a perfect expression of God's goodness!

So many wonderful thoughts to ponder as I reviewed pictures and sipped my "Capital Tea" from the Tea Embassy, based in Austin, the capital of Texas.
Solemni-TEA, sweetened & blended with Gaie-TEA---a perfect cuppa for both a wedding and a marriage.

SABBATH SNAPSHOT: beau-TEA

2/16/14 Ah-h-h...the beauty of written dialogue. The language of ordinary people in the dialect of their own time and region.

I grew up with a touch of "Kentucky hick" as my "mother tongue." Maybe not pretty to some, but familiar to me. Comforting. It's where I learned, I "reck-in," not I suppose so. "Fixin' to" was another that still rolls off my tongue. Vowels were drawn out---pronounced for a slightly longer period of time than other folks required. The "widow woman" (redundant, I now know) down the way would "sit a spell" on her porch each day. You get the idea. 

Maybe that's why I was drawn to choose the book Song of the Cardinal (1903) to read. Or maybe because both hubby and I have an affinity for bird-watching, the cardinal being a fave of this Kentucky born gal.

Most likely it was chosen because the author, Gene Stratton-Porter wrote one of my all time favorite books, Keeper of the Bees, published in 1925, the year after her death. A real "keeper" for me on my bookshelf!
Song of the Cardinal has so much "good" written below the story line as it tells of how just a beautiful bird can make a difference in the life of someone who was aging and rheumatic and could hardly put his hand to the plough.

Check out Stratton-Porter's "good" as well as beau-TEAful dialect:

• "The Cardinal had opened the fountains of his soul; life took on a new colour and joy; while every work of God manifested a fresh and heretofore unappreciated loveliness. His very muscles seemed to relax, and new strength arouse to meet the demands of his uplifted spirit." (p. 103) 
• "An' if it hadn't a-compassed a matter o' breakin' your word, what 'ud want to kill the redbird for, anyhow? Who gives you the right to go 'round takin' such beauty an joy out of the world?" (p. 134) 
• "----all full o' life 'at you ain't got no mortal right to touch 'cos God made it, an' it's His!" (p. 135) "....but God knows 'at shootin' a redbird just to see the feathers fly isn't having dominion over anything; it's jest a-makin' a plumb beast o' yerself. (p. 136) 
• "I felt most too rheumaticky to tackle field work this spring until he come 'long, an' the fire o' his coat an' song got me warmed up as I ain't been in years. .....D'you ever stop to think how full this world is o' things to love, if your heart's jest big enough to let 'em in? We love to live for the beauty o' the things surroundin' us," (p. 138) 
• "To my mind, ain't no better way to love an' worship God, 'an to protect an' appreciate these fine gifts He's given for our joy an' use.....Worshippin'....."Getting the beauty from the sky, an' the trees, an' the grass, an' the water 'at God made, is nothin' but doin' HIm homage. Whole earths a sanctuary . You can worship from sky above to grass under foot."           Well said, Mrs. Geneva "Gene" Stratton-Porter! 

Taken through my kitchen window February 2014 

Not a book for everyone but the dialect was "sorta" familiar---comforting as in days of yore.