Serenditpi-TEA

...be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, (Ephesians 5:18b-19, NIV)

Today was Elnora's day---it's always the last Thursday of the month. A member of our family for over 35 years, Nora "raised" our babies. On her day, activities vary but always include food and often one of those crazy Madea movies, if one is showing. Today included a Whimsy Cookie Co stop. It was also going to include Bears, a nature movie because Elnora loves animal shows.

But....the time was different than we planned so we went "Heaven is for Real." The movie has gotten a lot of "rotten tomato" reviews so there were no high expectations. But then isn't that what serendipity is.....desirable discoveries, by accident. 

Any movie that starts out with a choir practicing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" has a favorable start----since that, as most readers know, is my favorite hymn. Having read the book,  the storyline was familiar, but the scenery was a surprise----Nebraska panoramic at its best. Plus, the youngster who plays 4 year old, Colton was boyish adorable, with eyes that "talked."  It's the kid who steals the show.

If you don't believe me, ..... 90,700,000 results came up when I googled---adorable Heaven is for Real boy.

Nora, who always talks during a movie, was silent throughout. I who can't sing, sang along as it ended with my favorite verse of that favorite hymn of mine.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let that grace now like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

An afternoon of serendipit-TEA, sweet tea at Soul Fish and a movie served with buttered popcorn, as an after thought. 

"Brevi-TEA" : a rebrew

Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool. (Ecclesiastes 5:3, NLT)

Terse verse. I'm an admirer. Always have been. It's fun. it became a car game for us on long trips. We called it stink pinks. (one-syllable) A rabbit seat.....a hare chair. Stinky pinkies (two-syllables)  A witty hare....funny bunny  Stinkity pinkity (three syllables) An earth day promise? Pollution Solution.

Just a two-word poem that rhymes. One phrase is given as an explanation. The answer is the rhyming synonym with appropriate number of syllables. The kids were great at this game, aka "hinky pinky."

Think of it as a texting type poem. Fun but not true writing.

Poets. These true writers can say the most with the fewest words. It's as if depth of thought resonates with each single word choice. A rare breed. An admired  breed by me. As I've blogged before, that "pithy with a punch" kind of writing is difficult for me. But.....for the sake of blog readers, and because of conviction from the above verse, I do keep trying to pare the words.

Dog Songs celebrates small everyday moments with canines in this book of "dog poetry" provided by friend Ann M.

My great and lordly satisfaction at her splash
of happiness as she barged
 through the pitch pines swiping my face with her
wild, slightly mossy tongue. (p. 25)

Wow---what a great relationship picture in 26 words. Brief but comprehensive.

My writing is neither concise nor lyrical. It's just words on paper which help me organize my thoughts. But God......seems to keep me writing to extend my "Tea With Thee" time with Him. So....though the blog entry words need to be condensed, my time with Him does not. Writing/blogging keeps me more focused. 

Brevi-TEA of words might come with time....BUT don't "count" on it.

"Twis-TEA" Turning Thoughts

My sheep listen* to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27, NIV)

How appropriate to have a cuppa tea with a wooly sheep on it and read the day's Jesus Calling entry (4/22) and realize that I can be as deaf and hard-headed as sheep. That's why they (& I) NEED a shepherd! Sheep need to continually listen to their shepherd. Uh-h-h, me too!

"Mind spinning," according to Sarah Young, comes from a multitude of thoughts that block out God's voice. "No mind spinning" was written beneath my tornado sketch. That's what my whirring mind looks like to me as I try to make all things (people, places, & events) fit "my"plans, even God.

Too often, my mind reflects Young's words, "pre-occupied with planning,"---even in the night watches.

But it gets worse. Compulsive planning, is not only a form of bondage, it's an "idol of control." 

I don't want any idols in my life---I didn't even consider that control (an extension of self) would be labled as such. To rid myself of this idolotry, I need to turn toward Him with a listening ear in order to "still" my "twist-TEA" turning thoughts and allow His voice to "control" my mind.

*NASB translated "hear" but I want to do more than hear-. I want to listen and recognize the voice as His and "respond" to it as the God's Word translates it.

Felici-TEA

Let every individual be obedient to those who rule over him; for no one is a ruler except by God's permission, and our present rulers have had their rank and power assigned to them by Him. (Romans 13:1, Weymouth)

Happy 88th Birthday to Queen Elizabeth II. Hoping this has been a day of felicity for her.

Those Brits love their royalty.......so much so, that a second birthday will be celebrated in June when the weather is more likely to cooperate for her BIG "official" birthday parade. 

I KNOW she started her day with a cuppa. It's the British way. According to the BBC, the rest of her day was marked with gun salutes. (41 gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21 gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62 gun salute at the Tower of London) 

Gunfire-----not exactly calming to me, but I had a British blend cuppa felici-TEA, just to commemorate her day and to praise the Lord for assigning her to this monarch because of her stated fundamental beliefs and commitment to the Lord. Such awareness certainly brought me real felicity.

For me, the teachings of Christ, and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ's words and example. (Queen Elizabeth II, 12/25/2000)

SABBATH SNAPSHOT : stories of "des-TEA-ny"

We all have a story. We all have a destiny.

The Presbyterian pastor at today's Memphis Botanic Garden's sunrise service told the story of two men who lived a lesser story. 

One man gave himself to a zealous story of athletic pursuit, naming his daughter Crimson Tide and poisoning the iconic oak trees at Auburn University, a rival university. The pursuit of his story ended in capture. His destiny was prison.

In 2008, another man gave himself to the pursuit of money only to lose it in the plummeting stock market. The pursuit of his story ended in death. Broken down emotionally and financially, he shot his wife, three sons and mother-in-law. His destiny was suicide.

Then there is the great story. HIS story. The Bible story. A life not jaded by sin. A life freely given on behalf of all sinful men. Jesus Christ died for all; that we who live, may not now live to self, but live for Him and should make Christ, the end of our living and actions----for He died and rose again on our behalf. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15) His destiny---an on-going heavenly destiny, eternity.
Resurrection. The Easter reminder that there is no end to His story.

The timely dogwood blossoms continue to remind us of HIS story.

Jesus's story fulfilled his earthly destiny for our sake.

That's the des-TEA-ny cuppa I want---an eterni-TEA filled with Him.

Frivoli-TEA & Gaie-TEA

Each of us will be a blessing to the other. (Romans 1:12, TLB)

Today's the day! Lauren and Spencer's wedding.

Many scriptures come to mind on this day when two godly young folks will stand before the Lord and others and declare their vows. "Equally yoked" in true communion. (2 Corinthians 6:14) 

The invitation verse offered hope of both a ceremony and a marriage that will glorify the Lord as the bride and groom continue to be a blessing to each other.

Truly a sacred time--a time of mutual encouragement. 

A time for merriment----for believers to raise a cuppa of frivoli-TEA and gaie-TEA in celebration!

"par-TEA"

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, (Ephesians 4:32, NKJV)

Many outlandish thoughts can can come to mind when someone says, "Let's party!" 

But, friend Mimi told me of a simple invitation she had last week from a dear friend and neighbor. 
"Can you stop by for a cup of tea around 2:00?" 
An invitation of kindness.

When Mimi arrived, she was served "party fare" in the sunroom, replete with candlelight, and yummy sweets and savories, accompanied by delightful tea. The perfect setting for a time of sharing both self and food over steaming cuppas.  

The pleasantry and conversation lasted for over two hours.

Friends......content to sit and chat----not outlandish or raucous but a par-TEA all the same. 

A party of the genteel variety.

"Identi-TEA" : a re-brew

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22, NIV)

"I" is for Identi-TEA was the 12/23/09 blog title. Info given is still  a part of my identity fabric. Alphabetical order is a part of who I am and how I organize---sometimes to a fault. The entry was a bit of a walk down memory lane for me.

These days a cuppa of my identi-TEA would be filled with these words---a book lovin’ tea drinker with a burnt toast nametag, 

This was not a staged burn---tho I did scrape it and "tried" to eat some of it---because I don't like to "waste."

----a gal who loves to write for the Lord but who lacks the gene given to poets who are able to say the MOST with the fewest words. Not so with me. Words string forth. A cuppa Verbosi-TEA---is that a word??

That entry from 4 1/2 years ago also dealt with "I" words in scripture. "I" words that identify the Lord.

For this entry, my word choices will identify who I am in the Lord......because that's the identity that counts.

My "in Christ" identity "SHIELD"---

Blessed. (Luke 11:28) Created. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Forgiven. (Ephesians 1:7) Healed. (Isaiah 53:5) Justified. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Loved. (Romans 8:38-39) Redeemed. (Titus 2:14) Sanctified. (1 Corinthians 1:2) Saved (Psalm 3:8)

These participles might not all start with the same letter but they are in alphabetical order and express the continuous action aspect of my life's identity.

Prayer "Directionali-TEA"

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request. (1 Chronicles 4:10, NIV)

The "Prayer of Jabez"  is a great example of the horizontal direction of one's petitions. It also shows a prayer-answering God. This "Chronicler" clearly shows his belief in the efficacy of prayer as he documents the positive answer Jabez received.

Lately I have sensed the direction of my prayer as tending toward the horizontal. So many (outward) petitions for family and others. But God.....in this verse shows that He can certainly answer the petitions of a pray-ers heart.

Yet, prayers also need to be vertical---(upward) in praise and thanksgiving to the glory of God. Focusing on who God is.

Prayers also need to be continual---moving onward in both directions---always God-honoring.

Horizontal. Vertical. On-ward. God-ward.

When any, or all, of these prayers are an application of one's heart to God, one is praying in the right direction. 

May I direct my prayers daily (Psalm 5:3) in all those "right" directions. Heartfelt prayers all end up in God's hands.

"Du-TEA" of the heart

....by love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13, KJV)

Uptick seems to be the "buzz word" of the investment world. A transaction's improvement indicates an uptick. Stock market ratings measure it carefully.

Even in the field of education, it's all about the test scores known as value added assessment. Teachers are rated by the upticks of their students. If the teacher has done his duty, one should notice an uptick in those scores. Growth is the evidence.

What about one's spiritual duty? Can one's spiritual duty be rated on a spiritual scale. Can matters of the heart be rated by an uptick? 

Certainly serving others is an investment in relationship and a pretty clear indicator of spiritual growth.

Those who love the Lord, serve others----it's just part of the continuum. Spiritual matters of the heart don't feel like a cuppa du-TEA or an uptick to be scored. Merely Spirit-fed and Spirit-led overflows of the heart. Duties of the heart are just blessings to be shared. Investing in others counts whether anyone is measuring or not.

In the end, it's the ultimate uptick. An eternal investment.