"eterni-TEA"

And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:23-25, ESV) 

My NIV Bible division for Romans 8:18-30 is labeled "Expectant Living." A title that expresses today's living reflecting one's hope for eternity. A reminder to live well because of that eternal promise.

“Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs.” (Jonathan Edwards) Edwards quote sums it up. Such a focus transforms our perspective. Sufferings of today are not worthy of comparing to the glory that awaits us---eternal security with Christ. 

Edwards, with a little chutpzpah for a theologian in 1730s,  adds; 

"Resolved, never to do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.” (Jonathan Edwards)

I like Edwards "eternal" perspective---I'll drink to that---a cuppa "eterni-TEA."

"Diversi-TEA" : A Refreshing Cuppa

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9, NIV)

Overwhelmed with emotion. That's how many of us felt at yesterday's mission conference service. Praising and singing "How Great Thou Art" together, in many different languages, to the One True God.

Vietnamese voices, African voices, and for the first time the me'phaa translation from our Tlapanaco Indian friends from Mexico.

Oh Lord, my God
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works
Thy hands have made
I see the stars
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout
The universe displayed. 

Then sings my soul
My Saviour, God, to Thee
How great thou Art
How great thou Art

I am the Way (El Camino), the Truth (La Verdad), and the Life (La Vida) (John 14:6)

"The way will lead you home. The life will make you whole. The truth will set you free, will set you free." (Ron Man, 1993)

Uni-TEA of belief poured forth with tuneful diversi-TEA!

SABBATH SNAPSHOT: "productivi-TEA" not just "activi-TEA"

Mary Ewing pointed out the disparity between the vernacular of the Medicare grandmoms and the language of the young (both moms and singles) she heard at the recent Downline Women's Summit.
"I have been "crazy busy" all week. how about you? Me too---"crazy busy," the young mom answered. These girls have to get up "crazy early" to even have a semblance of a quiet time.
"Crazy Busy!" "Crazy Early!"
Mary thought , "I don't talk like that." 

Me either, Mary. "Busy, certainly. Overwhelmed, at times, but "crazy busy" isn't a phrase in my vocabulary. But God....knows it and even had a young pastor, Kevin DeYoung, write a book with that title, in the lingo of the Generation Y folks.

Crazy Busy, A (MERCIFULLY) short book about a (REALLY) Big Problem. It really is a great book for the "stressed out" of any age.

Beware the Barrenness of a busy life. Remember activity and productivity are not the same thing.(Rick Warren)

"Crazy busy" is defined as frenzied activity---trying to do all one can do in order to impress, please or control others. That type of busyness is diametrically opposed to the "busyness" of Christ, who went about discipling and building relationships.

DeYoung breaks the book down into a simple outline---3,7, and 1; 3 dangers to avoid (chapter 2), 7 diagnosis to consider (Chapters 3-9) and 1 thing you must do (chapter 10)

Questions this book will have readers asking themselves:

When people ask you how you are doing, is the word"busy" almost always included in your answer?

Do I want to keep up this same "busy" pace the rest of my life?

Am I over-programming my children these days?

Am I trying to do what God doesn't expect me to do?

Do I expect to never suffer?
Could I go an entire day without checking my Facebook?
Could I even go an afternoon without looking at my phone, especially when I hear that "text" alert?
Am I more engaged with my thumbs than with my heart?

The "Deep Calls to Deep" chapter had me "thinking" the most because "tech talk is tricky." (p. 78)

As DeYoung says, some things are better because we are wired but somethings are not better. It's the insatiable appetite for constantly being plugged in that has one hungry to be fed the way the Net feeds us----immediately. That seems to be the danger. Most folks now depend on the internet for information and activity. (p. 80-81)

We seem to "keep downloading information, but rarely get down into the depths of our hearts. (p. 82) That's "crazy busy."

"Diversi-TEA: : Re-Brew #2

And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. (Mark 16:15, NLT) 

"Go ye into all the world."....that verse kept coming to mind as I watched the depressing "world news" on NBC tonight. We are diverse and yet in many ways, we're just the same. We all need hope.

Diverse----maybe NOT so much. Many cultures seem to be searching God's word for hope and understanding. We're even drawn to the same verses regardless of the translation.
Most popular Bible verses in the top 10 most populous countries are shown to be very similar. (Bible Gateway'a missiographic link)

Check out what people from all nations are "searching for."
Love, hope, guidance, strength.

These 10 countries were tops in the missiographic global Bible searches.

These results gave me lots to think about as I pondered this World view snapshot. Diverse cultures? Yes? Same needs? Yes.

Psalm 23 was listed in every country but Indonesia. The Bible books of Psalms, Genesis, & John were also repeated.

Diversi-TEA. Sip it with a friend and share God's unconditional love with them.

"connectivi-TEA"

And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come. (Psalm 71:18, NASB)

iPads, iPhones, iPods, e-mail on my iMAC----so many devices to allow me to stay connected with my grands. (grandchildren) But....do they allow me the ability to connect spiritually? Maybe in the not so distant future, when I no longer have voice or possibly can't even find my brain, then hopefully this blog will continue to be a reminder of God's truth that was such a part of their grandmother's life. That's the legacy I want to leave them. A life well-lived. A life lived for God.

A cuppa connectivit-TEA sweetened with a God-filled legacy to keep my "grands" and me connected on the spiritual level in the years to come, regardless of the condition of my mind or body.

***Interestingly enough---this thought was on my mind 4 years ago today as I blogged about the "grands" visiting. Very similar activities---we even have a "tummy bug" once again. Plus, now there's another boy in the family. 

"tea-lightful" : a Re-Brew

Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;
For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16, NASB)

Many things in life bring delight to us. Time with loved ones. A vacation in the mountains or at the beach. A field of yellow daffodils on the first day of spring.

In our family, food often brings delight. Even many vacation stops are planned around unusual restaurants.
Delightful food. Yummy food---which often varies with our age. A waffle bowl of ice cream for the grands. A cuppa for me. Peanut butter and jelly for the grands. Benedictine for me.

One of the bench marks of Christian maturity, is a hunger for God's word. A thirst that only His words can satisfy. Scripture meditation delights my soul.....as does being called by His name--Christian.

What are you eating lately? (ea-TEA-ng, as Corey said)
For me, noshing on God's Word is "tea-lightful."

"vitali-TEA" : a Re-Brew

....I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life.....(Deuteronomy 30:19-20, NIV)

With so many "tea" and life choices available these days, I need to choose vitali-TEA. It is vital for both my children (with grands) and me to choose life with Him.

So many choices in our world today.

True vitality comes from listening to and holding fast to the One who is Life, the Lord our God. (John 14:6)

"impulsivi-TEA"

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13, NIV)

Impulses can rule, and sometimes ruin, my day. I can dart ahead----of God. I can act without asking His direction. I can choose to NOT act because of my own laziness or excuses, even when I sense God's quiet prodding. I rationalize that I can respond LATER.

Oh, the pull of impulses. Some should be resisted. Others should not. Some impulses are more of an acting on a sudden whim, without giving one's actions much "careful" thought. Those can have a negative effect on one's day. But God.....showed me that when I'm living in the Spirit, His impulses have already been thought through and planned ahead and I need to follow His guidance.

A Spirit driven life is one of controlled impulsivity toward God's ways----obedience is required. Even if one has mis-understood an "impulse," as God given, God can honor it.

Impulses to pray. The pull of my prayer chair.
I had better fill my cup of controlled impulsivi-TEA and move toward Him.

"Mo-TEA-vating" : a Re-Brew, of sorts

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV)

"Meditating Mondays" were a part of this blog for years. A verse was given. Observations and interpretations were shared. Application was usually left up to readers. Last week's blog entry about the mo-TEA-vators in one's life, emphasized the value of the application aspect of Scripture meditation.

Motivating Mondays. "Mo-TEA-vating." Sounds good if it means putting hands and feet to the life lessons God is teaching through meditating on His word. Encouraging and exhorting others with God's truths, as one interacts with those whom God puts in his/her path, is application, at it's most practical. Why is motivating others with encouragement and exhortation so important? God's word answers that.

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:13)

Mo-TEA-vating cuppa---filled to the brim with encouragement and exhortation and served to others. Lots of others.

God's love being poured out into our hearts (Romans 5:5) should be all the mo-TEA-vation that one needs........to pour His love out to others.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: novel-TEA

Sometimes a little "light" bedtime reading is what I put on my plate. Easy to digest---not too much suspense. As I age, the tension of suspense can be a little much, especially if sleep is next on my list. Gone are the days of James Patterson's too scary Alex Cross series and Patricia Cornwell's, too gory Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner. Likewise Sarah Paretsky's, V. I. Warshawski series.
Just give me a good cozy mystery. Think Agatha Christie. Scene of the crime (usually a murder) happens early on in the book and then the deduction takes over. Granted, many such books are not "well-written" and a series can become trite and too predictable after awhile. A lot of "hit and miss" to find a little light reading---a bit above mindless fluff. Recommendations from others help. But....all readers have personal preferences.
Whereas I chose the "Cat Who......" series by Lillian Jackson Braun, my friend's choice of Sneaky Pie, talking cat books, was NOT for me. I read cozy culinary mysteries as well---Laura Child's, Tea Shop Mysteries and Katherine Hall Page's caterer and pastor's wife Faith Fairchild's The Body in......series. Anyone who knows me would understand my draw to those two series. However, the 2 tries I had at Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swenson's series didn't pass muster for me. Many differ in that view. So.....that's what reviews are---just personal preferences, nothing more. Each reader must decide for herself.

Friend Beth and I share the same affinity for two British based series, a Maisie Dobbs series, an investigator in World War I London and a surprising find, Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce series. Bradley's first book won the "Agatha Award," which is the Cozy of Cozy mystery books award. That award has led me to many "good reads."
Having recently finished The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches, I realized I had missed a holiday one. Immediately I called Beth, who buys books, whereas I am an avid public library patron. She, as always, willingly loaned me the "missed" copy, but said that since I had already read the most recent one----well that would be a "spoiler" of great proportions. Some series can be read out of order....BUT, I always like to read in order, even when not necessary.

The Flavia de Luce series is unique and award winning; Agatha for Best First Novel, 6 other mystery awards as well as starred reviews from Library Journal, Booklist and Kirkus. Unique because the incorrigible, precocious, yet plausible, sleuth is an 11 yr old chemistry "buff," living in a cozy English village in the 50s. You might be gobsmacked by some of the British jargon but to me, that adds to the charm. Boston Globe calls her a combination of Eloise and Sherlock Holmes. The protagonist is a preteen but the reading audience is adult.
This adult enjoys the novel-TEA of  this "light" fare.