His Sovereign-TEA = my locali-TEA

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, (Acts 17:24-26, ESV)

Last Sunday's sermon (8/31/14) at Allen Bible Church, "Addressing Atpopia," gave me lots of food for thought. Atopia, a placelessness, somewhere between utopia (idyllic) and distopia (danger). It was another in the series of "Our Locality, His Sovereignty"---and a good one it was! God determines our times and our location. Wherever we are at this season of life, we're right where He wants us to be.
Location! Location! Location! He's put us in the dwelling place of His choice.
The crux of the message to me:

• There is a spiritual art to neighboring.
• Can ask, Why here, Lord?" but better to ask, "For whom?"
• When everyone is our neighbor to love, no one is your neighbor. (Too broad---ask God for focus.)
• Love locally. 
• Start by knowing your neighbors names so your neighborhood isn't a "strangerhood."

My notes spilled over from the pages offered. So much seemed so important. Then I lost my "important" notes. So typical---but God confirmed my remembrances as later hubby found those notes under his car seat.

My notes were numerous and yet the New Century version summed up my focus, "God decided exactly when and where they (Dotsy included) must live."
His sovereign-TEA sweetens my cuppa locali-TEA, as I seek to feel compassion for my neighbors and continue to move toward them as I get to know them and share God's grace---beyond the fences.

Puri-TEA

You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:3, NIV)

Am I practicing the presence of God in such a way that believers and non-believers alike are able to catch, at least, a glimpse of Him? Visibili-TEA of the risen Lord n my life.

Lately, as I have once again intentionally looked for His hand in circumstances, I'm seeing His love written on human hearts. Clearly the goodness of the Lord is in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13)

But.....I feel as if my own efforts are but ink smudges when I should be leaving the sweet, pure, aroma of the living God. Ah, but to be able to say as Paul did, "imitate me." (1 Corinthians 11:1) Follow my example. Read the letter of my life. To stand before Him and serve others with clean hands and a pure heart.

Sipping a cuppa puri-TEA today as I continue to bask in His love so pure, allowing Him to write His love letter on my heart. A letter I can share with others.

Heri-TEA-age : a memorable cuppa

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. (2 Timothy 1:5, ESV)

I spent way too much time on the computer this morning. I was beginning reading 2 Timothy in prep for my church's "Leaving a Legacy of Eternal Significance" study and............... 

Following the assignment to read through the entire book, I went back to chapter 1 to answer questions. Then, a "reflection" question led me to google. I have always known of the sincere faith of my grandmothers---though one had a more grace-filled approach than my (possibly a little more legalistic) other one. But, for years I had also heard of the faith of Uncle Mabry's sister, Anna (aka "Stockade Annie") and the googling began.....and 3 hrs later...... I am filled with awe of a woman who had no children but became surrogate mom/grandmom to many. 

At Fort Campbell, KY, formerly Camp Campbell built on the Mabry's family farm land, Annie began a ministry. A ministry based on the mission stated in the New Testament for all Christians---visit the sick and those in prison. And that's what she did from the opening of the base (101^st Airborne Division) in 1942 until her death at 93 in the post hospital in 1969.*                                  

I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. (Matthew 25:36)

That's the cuppa heri-TEA-age I want to leave for my children and grands. A living faith. A faith that serves others.

Maybe I will use "Stockade Annie's" teaspoons at my next tea party with my grands. The silver was a gift to her, Anna Mabry Barr of Clarksville, TN---given to her  by the New Orleans parish of Layfayette Presbyterian Church to welcome her, the bride of their pastor, Dr. John Barr. (February 5, 1901)

*So much brewing on this "spirited" and spiritual relative, that another entry will probably be served.

Synchronici-TEA

My soul rests quietly only when it looks to God; (Psalm 62:1, NIV)

"The Soul Needs Rest" is the title of chapter 11 in John Ortberg's book, Soul Keeping. 

My first thought was that my soul needs a nap.....or at least some spiritual whitespace. Some much is coming at me lately that a little quietude would be welcome.

Ortberg contends that if one is in need of time and space to let his soul catch up with his body, then that's a good indication that your soul needs rest. (p.130) 

Soul fatigue can set in.

Some things just seem to go together. Soul rest and solitude come to mind. Solitude is needed. Without the solitude, one struggles to live in harmony with God and man---especially family, in my case.

Synchronicity occurs when two meaningful events occur simultaneously. The world might call it a meaningful coincidence. I see it as a God-incidence. Me and Thee. No productivity required.

When your cuppa soul-rest is depleted......

....fill it with some chamomile and take a nap!

A cuppa synchronici-TEA of soul rest and solitude is necessary as one's soul will never find its rest unless it find's its home with God.

A quie-TEA-tude of soul goes well with a little tea and solitude---that space where we get healing and needed "catch up" rest for our soul. 

"Op-TEA-mistic" View of Growth

I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things. (Isaiah 45:7,)

I could easily blog on lessons learned, or needed to be learned, by one who gardens with a brown thumb. But this entry is looking for the bright side of darkness. This entry is about the darkness that provides growth. A bit of darkness is required by some plants in order to flourish. The same could be said of the similarities found in the spiritual world. Often are biggest life lessons are learned in seasons of darkness.

Due to 35 years of tree growth since we first moved into our home, we have limited sunshine in our yard. Thus, the need for flowers that can actually grow in the dark corners of my beds.

Even last night's reading in 2 Timothy reminded me of the lessons the apostle Paul learned and shared from the darkness of a dark and dingy Roman prison. Yet, thousands of years later, those lessons speak to my heart as I prepare to teach on "seasons." Seasons of life, even those which include times of darkness and solitude.

Darkness in both life and a flower bed are ordained by our creator. My Lenten rose plant was a gift from Mimi and has proven both drought resistant and shade tolerant. Plus, it's a perennial! Even my coral bells (heychera) need the darkness provided by shade due to heat of Memphis summers. Sometimes shade can offer relief from the "heat" of life's circumstances as well as the outside temperature, which can exacerbate problems, both physical and spiritual. 

I think I'll put an ice cube in my "op-TEA-mistic" cuppa while I ponder more of the positive lessons that I can learn about darkness.

Receptivi-TEA

The prophets tried to learn about what the Spirit was showing them, when those things would happen, and what the world would be like at that time. It was shown (to) them that their service was not for themselves but for you, (1 Peter 1:11-12, NCV)

As the prophets of old sought to learn from God, I, too "search intently" (NIV) or as the NASB states, "with careful searches and inquiries" as I pray.....that I (and my church) might be receptive to what God would have us do. 
How to serve. Where to serve. Whom to serve?

I sometimes feel like my old rabbit ears on our first portable TV or even our"newer" TV digital converter box. When I have problems and can't get the signal, I have to start moving and repositioning those new fangled "ears." Channel 5 even suggested I might need "help with antenna placement."

That comment says it all. I might need "help"---even help with my spiritual ears. A little fine tuning is needed for clearer receptivity. I need to put my self in a better place in order to "pick up" the offerings. 

Got it! Tweaking of "ears" to hear during prayer time will be enhanced with self situated in "prayer chair" placement and Bible open on knees to get BEST reception. Now, maybe signals from God's Spirit can come through "loud and clear."

Receptivi-TEA blended and brewed and served with sensitivi-TEA to others.

Sabbath Snapshot : sa-TEAs-faction

If John Ortberg has a new book out, son Buddy, is gonna buy it and then I'm gonna read it. Thus, his newest, Soul Keeping, was part of my weekend read.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; Psalm 62:5, NIV

I am an Ortberg fan thus the rating of 5 stars for this short book with LOTS of valuable soul keeping ideas. Plus, Ortberg had a way of weaving in visits to "Box Canyon" to visit his mentor, Dallas Willard. Throughout the book the author honored Willard's life with many of his stories and quotes---a festschrift of sorts, as Willard died in 2013.
Tidbits that "touched" me---some all the way down to my soul...some Dotsy paraphrases and some direct quotes.

• Most important thing in life is not what you do, but who you become....that's what you take into eternity, (Dallas Willard, p. 23)
• World replaced soul with self but not the same. The more we focus (obsess) on self, the more we neglect our soul. (p.46)
• Self is a stand-alone, a do-it-yourself unit, while the soul reminds us that we were not made for ourselves. (p. 47)
• There's lots of self-talk these days. The difference between talking to self and talking to your soul, is that the soul exists in the presence of God. (p. 92)
• Soul keeping is NOT about perfection---it's about holding on to God because the soul was made to be connected to Him. (p. 104)
• The soul is seen when it reaches out in love. The Bible's word for this is blessing (p. 153)

Ortberg is a master weaver and these gleanings are but a part of a well spun tale, full of stories as well as truth. His own admissions as well as those of Willard and others.

Two ideas I continue to mull are the equation, soul freedom = embracing God's overall design &  my place in it." Similar to "Red Sea Rule" of acceptance. The other idea is the "daily" commission of idolatry.......anytime one meets his/her needs with anything that distances the soul from God. that distancing is a sin of the soul.

Though this entry sounds a tad pedantic, even to me, the book does not read this way. It's a delightful book full of wit, quips and even some personal self-deprecating Ortberg stories.

Noc-TEA-urnal Happenings

He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl. The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. (Psalm 104:19-21, NIV)

I seem to be belaboring the point but....another "upside" of darkness is nocturnal bloomers. Some plants seem to thrive in darkness, blooming only at night and providing much pleasure, both visual and olfactory. 

Larry's grandmother, Anna Douglas Liles, aka Mom, had planted one such flower sometime in the 50s at the old Liles/Lanigan hunting cabin at Pickwick. Mom's moonflower has been on the property since the cove was first dubbed "Liles Cove" by the old-timers and before the property even had a Liles Lane road name. 

Moonflowers, nocturnal bloomers, seem to bloom and glow from sunset to sunrise with much fragrance. It's in the dark of night that they put on their best show. Mom told our kids that the moonflower bloomed once at night before dying at sunrise. Then, the next evening---voilà, the plant would resurrect itself and produce another bloom.....or so the story goes. I have no idea of the validity of this but it's Mom's story, so I'll stick with it. Another positive aspect of darkness to go with a cuppa noc-TEA-urnal recollections.

"Nigh-TEA-Night"

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, (Psalm 8:3, NIV)

Set in place. Ordained. The work of His hands.*

As the darkness began to descend, a heavenly creation was prepared for us. A shadowy night loomed over a fiery sunset as we turned off US 380 onto Texas State Hwy 5 near McKinney and ended at Stacy Rd. in Allen.
It was as if the sun had become liquid and provided an edge between night and day.

Night fall coming in to cover the full glory of sundown.

A cuppa Nigh-TEA-Night at its finest.

This was not the entry that started in my head in Memphis----but a visual entry that poured forth from the heavens. What a treat!

absurdi-TEA

And I set my mind to know wisdom and.....; I realized that this also is striving after wind. Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain. (Ecclesiastes 1:17-18, NASB)

Has pursuit of knowledge become somewhat of an all consuming past-time? Is the immediacy "to know" an addiction? Did such a pursuit change Google from a proper noun search engine company's name to a verb?

Google, as a verb, is known by every one from toddlers to seniors. Will "Just google it." be recorded in a baby book as a child's first sentence?

In Kipling's Jungle Book, "The motto of all the mongoose family is “Run and find out,” and Rikki-Tikki was a true mongoose." Curious to find out. 

Much like that mogoose mantra, we too seem like a member of said family. We all "run to find out!" We just call it googling.

Vexation and pain can be by-products of too much knowledge. Maybe, it's because amassing knowledge, just for the sake of more knowledge, isn't the answer to one's problems. The more we know isn't a cure-all---it's what we do with what we know that counts. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. (1 Corinthians 8:1)

Definitely there are many "new-fangled" tech-oriented potential absurdities in life---from googling and tweets to selfies and instagrams. In an age of BYOD (bring your own device) it's all about immediacy and it seems highly addictive. But let's forgo those cuppas absurdi-TEAs and serve something more relational.
A cuppa humili-TEA, anyone.