"authori-TEA"

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (Romans 13:1, NIV)

Leaving church Tuesday, loud claps of thunder, the wall-shaking, window-rattling kind, had everyone's attention. It reminded me of the Lord speaking with Moses on Mt. Sinai. the lightning, thunder and powerfully loud trumpet blast certainly got the attention of the Israelites. They trembled. (Exodus 19) God's word had power for their lives and gave authority to Moses to lead them.

Sometimes God's word seems to speak LOUDLY to me. When it continues to thunder in my head, I know that I am suppose to pay attention. "For the word of God is living and powerful,..."(Hebrews 4:12, NJV) It is the authority Christians choose to follow.

Power, literally translated, is “authority.” You have been delivered from the power, or authority, of darkness and placed into God’s kingdom. (Colossian's 1:13)

Authority, the right to rule and the right to be obeyed, belongs to the Lord, the Creator of all things. All authority belongs to Him.

A worthy cuppa for all---God's authori-TEA!

difficul-TEA

I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel. (Isaiah 45:3, NKJV)            

Have you ever felt like a lone sheep?  As if wolves in the distance were waiting to devour you? Especially in the dark of night. Isn't that when fear is greatest? During the night watch.

You're not alone---even though you might feel alone. 

Pain is unavoidable in life. Yet, we try everything to keep it at bay. Pain avoidance is common in our culture. We run from it. Both ease and convenience are promoted. There's even a credit card that will "pay" for it. Difficul-TEA is a fact of life, regardless of what the ad-men say. Even money can't always "buy" your way out of it.

So what does one do with the unwanted, sometimes unwarranted, pain of struggle?

The Psalmist David tells us in Psalm 23, that our Shepherd is with us in the shadow of death. Not just death, but any dark ravine of pain through which life leads us. Those detours of darkness. 

We need to seek the face of the One whose face gives light during those days---and nights. According to the words of Isaiah the prophet, God can use those dark times and actually give them to us as treasures. Life lessons of struggle learned with the One who calls us by our name---just like the psalmist's shepherd.

Some of life's best lessons are taught in the most difficult times. 

A cuppa difficul-TEA might not be our choice....But God.....can use it for our good. Just knowing that, soothes my heart.

"shor-TEA-ning"

The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. (Ecclesiastes 12:10, NIV)

Shor-TEA-ning was the only "tea" word I could create to get across this idea of finding just the right words---and the right number of words. Less is more. Simplicity over verbosi-TEA.

I needed to pare down the words of my lesson on fear from Psalms 23, 27 & 46, before teaching it to the night class, which has a shorter timeframe. Thus, shor-TEA-ning is needed. What do I cut out? What MUST be left in?

Somewhat like my morning cuppa---if I want a more robust tea due to my time constraints, I brew a half a cup----but my tea is stronger. I use loose tea because it gives the strongest flavor in half the time BUT I only allow myself half a cup because I don't need extra energy from the caffeine. I just need the right amount for the time allotted---without skimping on the flavor. 

 Pithy with a punch. Just like my cuppa "shor-TEA-ning."

"capaci-TEA"

My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. (Psalm 45:1, NKJV)

 My schedule is full, Lord. I don't have time to write, but I do love you, Lord. Those were my earliest thoughts.

"I'm teaching today, Lord." (As if He didn't already know that!) As time compulsive as I am, I calculate down to the minute on teaching days. Since I'm teaching today and tomorrow I'm thinking the blog might need to be set aside. (Even tho I've sensed God's prompts to write daily with my "tea" theme, until led otherwise.) But now.....was I trying to do the leading and make it sound spiritual.
Cut myself some slack. Embrace God's grace. (Sounds pretty spiritual, doesn't it?)

But God.....says, "Feed my sheep." (John 21:17)
As Charles Haddon Spurgeon says, "There is no writing like the writing dictated by the heart."

It seems that the Lord has been dictating to my heart, especially these last two days.
Capaci-TEA---not mine but His. Fill me up Lord with all of You!

Man's capacity varies, shown left---God's capacity, shown right....
Of course, God's capacity is infinite BUT you get the idea!

"TEA-chable"

The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. (Ecclesiastes 12:11, NKJV)

If one is going to "tea"ch God's word, especially if she is not a biblical scholar, much preparation is needed---tho the lessons for the teacher are usually greater than the lesson to be taught. Paring is necessary if there is to be clarity in the presentation. One thing is needful---God's word in God's way----God is El Shaddai, the "All Sufficient One"---everything else is superfluous.

"Keep the main thing the main thing" as Kay Arthur often says when she's teaching. C. H. Spurgeon puts it this way, "The man of one book is eminent, the man of one pursuit is successful."

As the "Preacher" says in Ecclesiastes, there is "no end to books and much study is wearisome," or simply put, man's all is to "Fear God and keep His commandments." 

There is nothing quite like a divine education---but it comes first to the teacher and then to the student. 

Grateful for a morning of "Tea With Thee" time, prior to teaching, this "TEA-cher" is still sipping from God's word and praying for a "tea-chable" spirit for both herself and her students.

SABBATH SNAPSHOT: ap-TEA-tude

2/2/14 Aptitude is a defining word for gift. Anne Morrow Lindbergh

certainly showed her ap-TEA-tude for writing in Gift From the Sea. (1955) So much so, that after receiving the book as a gift from dear friend, college chum & Pi Phi sister, Maureen Kinney, I read it every January for over 30 years. After she died, not so much. Reading it nowadays is like a memorial to her and our friendship.

Though not necessarily spiritual, her words offer wisdom that I can view from a godly platform.
Here are some treasured words:

I want to be at peace with myself....I want....to live "in grace"....(p.23)

Art of being alone is a difficult lesson...but once done....incredibly precious. (p. 42)

to be the still axis within the revolving wheel of relationships, obligations, and activities. (p. 51)

World's false values: 

• weighed in quantity, not quality; 
• in speed, not stillness; 
• in words, not in thoughts; 
• in acquisitive, not beauty (p.119)

Gifts Pre-cepts or Signposts toward another way of living: 

• Simplicity....to retain a true awareness of life; 
• Balance of physical, intellectual and spiritual;  
• Work without pressure; 
• Space for significance and beauty; 
• Time for solitude and sharing; ....a life of human relationships. (p.120)

128 pages of Morrow's ap-TEA-tude. 

"ingenui-TEA" : a re-brew

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:14, ESV) 

Sometimes the truth of that verse is hard to believe. Why? Comparison. One of the most destructive things a person can do is to compare himself to others. Each one of us is uniquely made by God, so "to compare" is not reality-based or fair to self.

How easy it is for me to see my creative weaknesses. Inventive, clever, innovative are certainly not descriptors of staid ole me.

In order to fill myself with ingenui-TEA, I would need to sip lots of cuppas. But God....has reminded me that one strength of my personality is ability to appreciate gifts in others, knowing God certainly varies His gifts among His children for His purposes. 

The Lord has filled my life with ingenious folks from family to friends.....and even unknowns. Hubby and children continue to rank as high on my creative folks list and a December 15, 2010 blog entry introduced one such friend and her ingenuous gift. 

Last night at Pyro's Pizza, I appreciated the ingenuousness of an unknown. It was a WOW---so glad someone thought of that. A toe pull! It keeps germy hands at bay when leaving a public bathroom. 

How refreshing to sip a cuppa appreciative, "ingenui-TEA."

"tes-TEA-mony"

Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:10, NASB)

Walking worthy? Does your walk match your talk? Many people can easily and eloquently articulate their testimony, quoting scripture at every comma.  But....is it real or...just empty God talk?
Could others discredit your words by seeing the discrepancies in your life.
A tes-TEA-mony of a God-filled life speaks volumes. A changed life. Without self-exalting words.
Changed lives reach out in relationship. Lives that find their significance in the Lord are willing to pour into the lives of others. The fruit which they have cultivated in their own lives, (love joy, peace, patience, kindness....Galatians 5:22) is cultivated in loving ministry of service to others. All of this pleases God.
A cuppa sincere tes-TEA-mony can affirm, challenge, encourage and change lives. Celebrities, with media-hype, gather crowds and promote their views.....but, what people really want is to hear from someone whose words and life speak to the core of their being and touch their heart with truth.

Pour out to others. Let them see the Lord in your life

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ. (Philippians 1:27, ESV)
A lifestyle which promotes God, not self, is such a "manner of life." A worthy tes-TEA-mony.

"Generosi-TEA"

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. (1 John 1:9, NASB)

God is certainly a bestower of gifts to His children. A loving and generous God. 

Over the past 5 months I have been a recipient of a full measure of that generosity. For a season I was served cup upon cup of generosi-TEA through a God-given friendship. Claudia and Terry's neighbor, Julie.

Julie who brought light and hope and fun into the lives of both Claudia and me, especially during Claudia's last few months. She added "sparkle" in  the dark spots of the struggle. She was part of my tag team in Claudia's care. We laughed. Talked. Shared. Cried. She understood.
Just as the Lord generously blessed both Claudia and me through Julie, Julie also generously gave of herself. In time, relationship and care, Julie gave a much needed energy to those difficult days.

The three of us realized that the placement of each of us in one another's lives added real understanding of rule #1 in Robert Morgan's, Red Sea Rules. "Realize that God means for you to be where you are." Right where you are. Right at this time.

Now that season of relational proximity is over. The moving van arrived today.

Julie's job has her relocating to a new time zone, almost 900 miles away. The friendship and sisterhood will last, but the ease of personal connection will be more difficult. 

My heart is sad. Yet, how grateful I am for the Lord's generosi-TEA in having our paths cross "for such a time as this."

"TEA-ology"

The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. (2 Timothy 3:16,CEV)

My play on "tea" words is just a technique to give this old lady something to hang her "memory hat" on, as recall seems to be getting harder each year. But, in no way is it to diminish the truth and authority of God's word. My tea-ology is all about the One who is the authority in my life.

Authori-TEA is the first cuppa one needs to be served when seeking truth. The Bible is the authoritative word of God. Solid understanding of spiritual authority is vital to building one's faith.

These days we live in a culture of "nothority." No one wants to be told how to live. There is no right and wrong in our culture----only shades of gray. Why would one listen to a "do what's right" lecture when, in his view, he's not doing anything wrong.

"A time of half-truths and hidden agendas. (Michele Phoenix.com, 12/30/13) Not my cup of tea.

As I savor His word during my "Tea With Thee" time, may I strengthen my brew by continually adding more of His truth to my cuppa tea-ology.