selectivi-TEA

....and the sheep listen to his voice...(John 10:3, NIV)

As I prepare to teach from 2 Timothy, I'm trying to come up with an intro which will grab the attention of my audience. Nowadays in our techy culture just getting anyone’s attention can be virtually (pun intended) impossible.  
Just as Paul was trying to get Timothy’s attention---or as a preacher teacher tries to get attention of his audience---iPhone vibrates---even if it is on mute and that little "tink" that indicates a text seems LOUD.
  
So many distractions it’s hard to tune in to God’s word. Hubby has lots of trouble hearing me--but has no trouble hearing that little “tinging” when he’s getting a text message on his cell phone ---now, at least he has it turned off between 10 and 7.

Do I tune out the Lord? Do I "listen" for Him only when it is convenient for me---not interrupting my schedules or distrubing my sleep?

One comes to know Him by tuning in at all times---by listening to Him through His word. Listening that penetrates the heart!

 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me," John 10:14

As John 10:27 states, we, who are His sheep, listen as to obey.
If we're choosing (selecting) NOT to listen, is that disobedience, in and of itself?

Is selectivity a euphemism for disobedience?

May I pour my self a cuppa selectivi-TEA today. A cuppa sweetened with obedience to His Word and accompanied by prayer, as Mother Teresa prayed.

Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts. ~ Mother Teresa

Sweet Divini-TEA

 Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (Titus 2:13)

The most heavenly candy for me is divinity! Put a few pecans in it and I like it even better. Now I know that divinity candy has absolutely nothing to do with the Christian faith---though it tastes divine. But....this morning as I saw it right next to my Jesus Calling "Daybrightner" which I can conveniently flip to each day's entry...as it's right by my kitchen table, I set my cuppa down to get out a piece and some how saw the entire tableau as spiritual.

A three-fold draw to a sweet time in the Presence of the Divine One.
Even my cuppa was a Fortnum&Mason  royal blend that reminded me that I was a child of the King!

Divinity of Christ is like the skeleton key that opens the door to this foundational doctrine of the Christian faith. This tenet of the faith is non-negotiable and is sweet truth to every believer.

All believers should continually sip from a BIG cup of divini-TEA, served by the Lord Jesus Himself.

Communi-TEA TEA-ableau TEA-reat!

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrews 13:16, NIV)

A tableau is defined as a striking or artistic grouping representing a period of time. Like a picture.

In our neighborhood, it's more than that. It's a charming way of extending blessings.

TEA-ableau TEA-reat for the entire communi-TEA

I was so "taken" by it that I had to set down my cuppa.....

   ......and take a picture of this community TEA-reat!

Thanks to these London Dr. neighbors for sharing their harvest tableau with us.

God's Word : His tes-TEA-monies

Preach the word. Be ready in season and out of season.
(2 Timothy 4:2, NASB)

How can one preach or teach God's Word if they don't know it?

Maybe a BIG cuppa of commitment (commi-TEA-ment) to unearth truth (tea-ruth) by beginning to study the Bible is the first step. A desire to seek the treasures (tea-reasures) within. God's Word is his tes-TEA-mony cuppa. A cuppa purity. (puri-TEA) (Psalm 119:140)

In Psalm 119 one can discover many aspects of God's word, whether it's called the commandments, law, precepts, statutes, truth, or testimony----foundational for understanding the importance of knowing and keeping God's word. Knowing His word can enable one to "teach" or share with others.

In season and out of season is the "readiness" aspect of one's sharing of truth---occurring in God's timing.
Readiness is an offensive maneuver. As Katherine A. reminded me that in the description of "the full armor of God" in Ephesians 6:13-17---all are defensive weapons,  EXCEPT for God's Word. It is the sword of the Spirit and it is our tactical (Tac-TEA-cal) gear for offense.

God's word is the whole counsel of God. It is needed in its entire-TEA---not taken out of context.

God's tes-TEA-mony, a cuppa shared fully with others in His timing.

propinqui-TEA

Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: (Ruth 4:14-15, KJV)

Prayer times yesterday with a prayer partner and today, on my own, had me continuing to pray thru Psalm 73:23-28. "Nearness of God is my good." So many who are dear to me need to embrace that truth. 

It is during those times of nearness to Him that He restores and nourishes. He becomes a refuge and a guide. He holds us (especially needed during dark times) with His right hand, providing peace in the midst of the trial.

How does one close the "spatial gap" between heaven and earth in order to be near the Lord? A close proximi-TEA is needed.....but how does one get closer?

That's why propinqui-TEA was my "tea" choice during my "Tea with Thee" time today, because propinquity is more than just close in distance----it is a close kinship. Such a kinship is established as one is in God's Word discovering who He is. Triune God. Father. King. Brother.

As hubby and I have been reading from the book of Ruth, we have seen the importance of that kinsman (Hebrew go el) who acts on behalf of a relative. For Ruth it was Boaz, who "closed the  gap" when she needed someone near to her to be designated to deliver and rescue her.

Jehovah is Israel’s Redeemer, the one who promises to defend and vindicate them as they draw near to Him in worship.

In the New Testament, Christ is often regarded as an example of a kinsman-redeemer because, as our brother, He is the true kinsman-redeemer of all who call on Him in faith. Today I have been calling on Him for others....that a close relationship might be established with Him as they pour out their heart, seek to know Him thru His word and trust His goodness.

Proximi-TEA. Propinqui-TEA. 

What ever cuppa I choose, I need to sip it with my Bible open that I might draw near and get better acquainted with my Kinsman Redeemer and continue to pray for others---that they too might realize that nearness to Him can also be their good.

Reliabili-TEA

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: 

(Luke 16:10, KJV)

Some people can be counted on---by family, by friends, by co-workers and by sisters in the faith. Lisa is such a gal. She must have stated sipping from a cuppa reliabili-TEA at an early age. A solid family member, watching out for parents, siblings.....everyone. 

She takes her responsibilites as a wife and mother very seriously as well.This weekend her dependability was so-o-o evident at her daughter's wedding. She had been faithful in attending to every little detail.

Congratulations to Danielle and Brad!

When Kevin had questions, Lisa had it covered. When Danielle r-e-a-l-l-y wanted lots of flowers----flowers, gorgeous flowers, were everywhere---in baskets, in small containers, in large urns, on table tops and hanging on gas-lit walkways, to mention a few. All details were seen to and taken care of "ahead of time."

But, more than that, she was there emotionally---for both, while having fun with them in the midst of the support. 

Like mother, like daughter---both can be counted on, even to have fun..........
after all the "i"s are dotted and the "t"s have been crossed.

She had a "bubbly" cuppa reliabili-TEA making the evening fun for everyone, especially in the barn at Heartwood Hall.

SABBATH SNAPSHOT : legali-TEA

Through all of his bestselling books, faithful fans of John Grisham's legal thrillers tend to esteem all of them. I am more of a reluctant Grisham reader and when his first books started becoming very predictable, I slowed down with his books. The Litigators in 2011 held my interest but

one of my favorites was far from a courtroom drama. I liked Playing for Pizza about football in Italy---maybe it was because of all the mouthwatering descriptions of Italian food.

This past week's read, Sycamore Row, was a result of an e-Audio book available from the public library for last weekend's road trip to my 50th class reunion in Kentucky,

Though I can languish with law research and lengthy litigation, much of this was helped by the reader, who was excellent. If I had been reading from the book, I might have done some scanning. Like most of Grisham's books which I have read, this one has some profanity.This one also had a lot of racial tension with references and a few of the characters from his previous story of retribution and justice, 1998's A Time to Kill, namely Clanton, MS attorney, Jake Brigance.

The plot: A wealthy white man hangs himself in a very deliberate and planned fashion. There is no question about his death, but there are a lot of questions about his estate. Days before his suicide, he changed his will, cut off his children and grandchildren and left the bulk of his estate to his black housekeeper/nurse. So begins a rather long story.

Maybe not Grisham at his finest but his die-hard fans will like it.

Autumn TEA-reats

And he changeth the times and the seasons: (Daniel 2:21, KJV)

....and aren't I glad for seasonal changes. Cold and heat. Seedtime and harvest.

Ah-h-h.....harvest means autumn and all its colors. One of the crowning glories of God's creation.

These fall days I am thankful for:

• Cool temps. Long sleeves coming out of storage.
• Tea with hints of cinnamon.
• Brilliant color for "leaf peepers."
• Fresh greens. Crisp apples. YUM! 
• Pumpkins on doorsteps.
• Fall sports. Football on TV. Soccer games for grands.
• Warm cuppas.

This morning I was grateful for holding my daughter's warm cuppa, needing a sweatshirt for my grandson's soccer game and the distraction from losing once again,.....

.....as a dragonfly took up residence on my purse strap. Owen loved it. Score forgotten.*

*Pop-Pop, a competitive sort, probably didn't forget.

Beau-TEA-ful Blossoms

and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD,....
(Exodus 16:7, NASB)

I know this verse goes on to talk about grumbling but these words jumped off the page after my Thursday morning walk with Ellen. Passing my next-door-neighbor's house, as we winded down from our walk, we were both in awe of the blossoms on the vine covering her mailbox!
Morning Glories---in more ways than one!

Each day, I have a "morning cuppa" and then because I live next door to Master Gardener Lynda, I also have my "morning blossom." There is always something blooming at her house. What a great neighbor to have. What a blessing!

Yesterday's "morning blossom" was a Flying Saucer variety, which really stood out to me in the midst of her Grandpa Ott's & those heavenly rich blues.

Such "morning blossom" views sweeten my "morning cuppa" All the sweeter yesterday because I got to share it with a dear friend. GLORY! 

In-TEA-macy of Marriage

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. (Psalm 31:9, ESV)

Sometimes there seems to be no cuppa to serve, no words to say....in the darkest times of grief. Losing a spouse is such a time. Prayers. Comfort foods. Words of comfort. Nothing assuages the grief like being there for them.

They feasted on love; every mode of it---solemn and merry, romantic and realistic, sometimes as dramatic as a thunderstorm, sometimes comfortable and unemphatic as putting on your soft slippers. (C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed)

Melody and Ronnie had such a marriage....filled with love!