Evening Prayer "veloci-TEA"

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe. (Psalm 4:8, NLT)

Speedy conviction. That was the "veloci-TEA" of the realization that my evening prayers probably set the stage for my morning prayers and I ought to give that time more attention. A new prayer direction. Certainly the compiler of the Psalms, this "hymnal of the Jewish people" knew that. Interestingly enough, the evening prayers are mentioned in both Psalm 3 and Psalm 4 prior to the mentioning of the morning prayers in Psalm 5.

Scripture before sleeping may prompt prayers. God's word, in and of itself can be a prayer. "To the Lord I cry....I lie down and sleep....and will not fear" (Psalm 3:4-6) and David concludes  in 4:8, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. 

"It's David's confidence in God that enables him to lay himself down calmly and tranquilly to sleep, whatever dangers threaten him. He seeks his couch, and at once (יחדּו) slumber visits him. No anxious thoughts keep him tossing on his bed for hours." (http://biblehub.com/psalms/4-8.htm) Confidence in God comes from knowing Him through His word.

Anne Graham Lotz's, endorsed Daily Light for Every Day, includes morning and evening prayers. Equal scripture content for both. The "Graham/Lotz families read this "little" collection each day. It keeps them all on the same page. 

Last night I read the 5/16 entry from Daily Light and prayed those "very" appropriate verses for a decision a dear friend would be making on that "very" day. Grateful for the "velodi-TEA of conviction that had me speedily changing my direction of evening prayers. 

Morning Prayer "veloci-TEA"

 O God, you are my God; early will I seek you: my soul thirsts for you, my flesh longs for you.....(Psalm 63:1, KJV)

Velocity can be both good and bad....especially in one's prayer life. Speed and direction in a moment of crisis is just the motion needed. Quickly praying upward. Immediately turning (directionally) to the One who hears. 

Yet, apart from times of urgency, one's prayer times can be so much richer than that, as reading through the Psalms clearly shows. The poetry of the Psalms seems to take on a slower rhythm......a rhythm of the life of the poet or author, from David and Solomon to unknown others. Laments. Praises. Testimony. Confessions. 

Morning prayer times often have me praying slowly.....prayers for others expressed thorough passages from the Psalms. The rhythm of my own life expressed in language from the Psalter. Inhaling the scripture, exhaling the prayers. A breath of God breathed out---His Words, my breath.

Panic prayers, arrow prayers and night-night prayers, are more rapid than those morning ones. Reading through a psalm or other scripture slows me down. No speed reading. In cadence with God's word. Reading and praying. The silences and the sounds.

Holy Spirit, living Breath of God, Breathe new life into my willing soul. Bring the presence of the risen Lord To renew my heart and make me whole. Cause Your Word to come alive in me; ("Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God," lyrics)

A "hurried" velocity in praying doesn't leave room for empty space. 

"A note in music gets its significance from the silences on either side." (Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift From the Sea, p. 115) As in music, empty space is essential in correlating the scripture to the prayer.

A slowing of my morning cuppa mirrors the velocity of my reading and praying, as it takes time to sip and savor both----my English Breakfast Tea and prayers re-directed to Him as I am stimulated from His word. 

"haugh-TEA--pomposi-TEA---superiori-TEA--vani-TEA"

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18, NIV)

How many ways can one "negatively" spell pride? A.r.r.o.g.a.n.t./ B.o.a.s.t.f.u.l. / C.o.n.c.e.i.t. / H.u.b.r.i.s. / S.n.o.o.t.y.

How many destructive results can pride bring into one's life?

• Pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God. (2 Chronicles 26:16)
• Pride is as a chain about their neck (bondage) (Psalm 73:6)
• When pride cometh, then cometh shame (Proverbs 11:12)
• Only by pride cometh contention (quarreling) (Proverbs 13:10)
• A man's pride shall bring him low: (Proverbs 29:23)

The results are destructive; the root is pride. What's the root of pride? Self!!!!!!!!!

prIde---I (self) is in the middle of it all. 

Memo to prideful person: "Get over yourself." 
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)

Drain those dregs of haugh-TEA-ness, pomposi-TEA, superiori-TEA and vani-TEA from your life's cuppa and allow the Lord to serve you a cuppa humili-TEA from His wounded hands!

Tea and Symphony

Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! (Psalm 150, ESV)

The Memphis Symphony was playing in God's sanctuary at the Dixon Gallery and Garden's Saturday night. (5/10) "Symphony in the Gardens," a bi-annual favorite of mine.
Trumpets and strings and brass and cymbals. Even couples spontaneously dancing, when the MSO Big Band took to the stage playing historic musical scores originally performed and broadcast live by CBS radio from the Peabody Hotel's Skyway ballroom.

.It was all there---even tea. Hot tea at the fancy table set-up, Long Island Iced "Tea-type" drinks at other tables. And hones-TEA at mine, thanks to friend Carolyn F.

Tea and Symphony made for a beautiful evening with friends, under God's sky.

A shout out of thanks to sponsors, Dominion Partners and Brian Kinney!

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: longevi-TEA

Hubby's mom (our Mommar) didn't live to be 103, as George Dawson the focus of today's book review did. However, she did grow up during impoverished times and yet kept that same positive "life is good" focus as Dawson projects.

Dawson's book, Life is So Good, written with Richard Glaubman, is not the best book I've ever read---but I liked it. There are so many lessons to be learned from someone who didn't learn to read until age 98. Even his kids didn't know he couldn't read, until he revealed that "secret" to them during their teen years. Yet, all 7 of his children graduated not only from high school but also from college.

His "learning" began at the knee of his father. "Life is good." And with a grin he added. I do believe it's getting better." (Dawson, p. 4)

In his youth, witnessing a murder of an innocent black man, had Dawson asking himself, "Why am I still here?" and realizing the answer. "I am a witness to the truth. That's why I'm still here. I can't let the truth die with me." (Ibid, p. 45) That was Dawson's impetus to get the true story written down before it was his time to die.

Tho his continuing story didn't focus much on that incident, you understand it's impact on his life and his reticence around others, not of his race. From building levees on the Mississippi and driving railroad spikes to breaking horses in his hometown of Marshall, Texas, Mr. George Dawson continued to work hard, show respect for all people and champion learning for the youth in his GED classes. He was their inspiration.

Dawson had a deep knowledge that came from watching and listening. Even with a limited understanding of Watergate, he still showed a depth of understanding when he commented, "...maybe Richard Nixon just wanted something too much. He worked hard to get what he wanted and forgot the important things along the way." (Ibid, p. 217)

Summing up his philosophy, he answered a 5th grader's question who wanted to know what life was like. "Life ain't all good or all bad. It's full of everything." (p. 233)

I, however, appreciated his answer to an adult who asked if he was a "cup half-empty or half-full" kind of guy. "I see it as being enough, so it's just fine." (p. 238) So biblical! (Philippians 4:11-12)

If you liked Same Kind of Different as Me, you'll like this book.

"Morning Quie-TEA-ude"

and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business...(1 Thessalonians 4:11, NASB)

No humming of air conditioners. No barking dogs. No lawn mowers or blowers. No chattering of people, just squirrels.

Quietness, broken only by the occasional honking of geese overhead and enriched by by a streaming fountain and chirping of birds at the feeders. Such serenity coupled with cool morning breezes and my quiet time accoutrements defines my Tea With Thee time on the patio. Bible. Prayer list. Journal.

Such a quiet life is enhanced by time alone with the Lord in the morning time.

A quiet life, begins anew every morning as the sun breaks once again. 

Tending to my own business begins with my attending to the Lord in the quietude of each new day. 

Qui-TEA-ude---that state of stillness, calmness, and quiet in both my person and my place--began this morning on the patio. May it continue throughout my day!

"migh-TEA to Almigh-TEA" : a transfer

Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6, NIV)

“Have you ever had one of those days boys, have you ever had one of those days?  When nothing goes right from morning 'til night, have you ever had one of those days?" Those old Elvis (?) song lyrics whirred in my head recently. Did you ever......?

Have you ever felt crummy from the "get-go?" You awake feeling "down" and that feeling continues throughout the day. Edges of His Ways (April 26 entry)

No matter how hard I try---my (mental) strength gets me no where. I cannot change this mindset.

Carmichael's entry helped me understand why this is so.
It (trying in one's own psyche) is useless. Trying to feel different does not "touch" feelings. One can't even argue with self because feelings elude arguments.  In psychology 101, I learned that feelings follow action.
Prayer is an action.

But now, I pray let the power of the Lord be great..... (Numbers 14:17)

Turning to the Lord is an action.
Even waiting on Him is an action. Especially if patience is involved.

One chooses to turn and to wait on the Almighty.

Not my might but His.

The Almighty serves up a cuppa migh-TEA to everyone who turns to Him.
Almighty might!

"Traves-TEAs vs. Nicie-TEAs"

demonstrating all expressions of humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2, ISV)

My maternal grandmother cornered the market on nicieties. Not in finery or elegance, but in politeness. Politeness in every "manner of her life." 
That's it---manners. Good old fashioned manners. Rudeness not allowed.

My introduction to "proper" behavior came from watching Mama Davenport's lifestyle, along with my Emily Post Book of Etiquette, a high school graduation gift. She didn't have a book of etiquette, Mama just had the "Good Book." 

All those godly attributes from the "good book" are the nicieties she practiced every single day. Thinking of others. Putting others first.

Mama's nicieties left everyone in her path feeling, not only acknowledged, but fully appreciated. She didn't share her life in words or "posts." She embraced others in relationship. 

She would have had trouble with "tweeting" her every move and meal on Twitter. She would want to take the time to "ask after" others. 

Maybe that's the traves-TEA of our rampant epidemic of sharing----we don't "ask after" others.

This week's college graduation for a family member had me privy to an interesting comment. Mom, he's so nice. When he takes me to a restaurant, he leaves his iPhone in the car. Isn't that nice?

Nice indeed. A BIG cuppa nicie-TEA! Ah-h-h, it's nice to be nice!

"sui-TEA-ble"

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3, ESV)

In desperate need of something to write info on, I picked up a copy of "The Memphis Flyer" (4/24/14)  stacked on the counter at Lost Pizza. Normally, the "Flyer" is rarely on my reading radar. But....the need for paper was great.

With said paper in my carseat (after garnering my info) and me with some waiting time, I started thumbing 'til a verse of poetry caught my eye. I began to read......

Like the author, Bruce VanWyngarden, I agreed that Walt Whitman's poem, "Song of Myself" (1855) gave "an uncanny descriptive definition of Facebook" and other social media sites.

No need for end of year family review letters,* we now have daily "reviews at our fingertips" thru a barrage of tech blitz. We're bombarded with INFO. 

This personal marketing blitz allows each to present self as he/she wants others to see him/her and Twitter and Instagram allow photographic proof of  good times, proud mommy moments and photo-shopped pix of our almost "true self."

"I celebrate myself and sing myself" penned Whitman. VanWyngarden suggested that if Whitman had posted his work on-line today he could call it, "Song of My Selfie."

But God.......showed me that I cannot smugly stop here just because I don't FB or "tweet" and instagram, .......'cause I do blog. 

I blog what I think, feel, and believe. I post pix of lots of teacups that don't show the rest of my messy countertop. Isn't that like a partial truth?

All that to say, I want a mea-TEA blog---meaty with God's truth. NOT a ME-tea blog that's all about me.

A blog that serves the reader a "sui-TEA-ble "cuppa of God's word. A cuppa that meets him at his point of need. Suitable and significant for giving God's grace, unique to each reader!

*BTW, If I'm on your Christmas letter list, please keep me there. Remember, I'm "old school."

"Afternoon Tea"

Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with shouts of joy. (Psalm 126:2, RSV)

"Afternoon Tea" is, by tradition, a time for reflecting on one's day while recouping a little energy and possibly chatting with a friend----or, as in this instance, a daughter.
Conversation steeping over a hot pot of tea, A ceylon black tea for me and Buckingham Palace tea for her.  Sugar for both of us---nothing artificial here.

No cream to mask the flavor, just a hint of milk. No lemon either---we save that tartness for sweet tea, the iced variety, that has NO place at a British inspired teatime. No verbal raspberries, sour grapes or tartness, even in our conversation, just lots of sharing and laughter.

Tiers of savories and sweets, from tea sandwiches and cheese straws to scones with clotted cream and jam (Even spiced almonds and a little meat shaped ball on that tier) along with tea cookies and chocolate covered strawberries.  

A genteel time. A time of being, not doing. No electronic devices needed, except to show a few pictures. No interruptions.

So similar to my quiet times of conversations with the Lord. An uninterrupted time. A time of true sweetness, nothing artificial----the milk and meat of the word at my fingertips. A time to "be" in His Presence.
A time to taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8)

Tea With Thee---a TEA-rrific way to spend a morning.

High Tea*---a tea-lightful way to spend an afternoon with "my" daughter. Both are refreshing!

*Memphis version of a more formal afternoon tea---a yearly Mother's Day event at  the Woman's Exchange