ISAIAH 40:8 !

A picture that includes the verse that says it all.

May I always remember this OT truth!

GOD'S WORD STANDS FOREVER!

The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever. (Isaiah 40:8)

Our first months in North Carolina, from hurricane floods to gusting winds and wildfires from drought conditions were unlike any weather induced conditions we had ever experienced. But God in His love and mercy showed truth to be shared off a beaten path.....

......Hope remained even on a toppled sign in the boonies!

Thank you, Lord.

Pastor Pace begins His sermons repeating Isaiah 40:8.....

"The grass withers,

........the flower fades"....

and the congregation in the pews (or on-line) finishes with....

"but the word of our God stands forever."

More than an opinion from a pundit but God's holy word to start my day with this morning as I look out my breakfast bar window at those examples of creation.

God has my attention; I hope He has yours.

'He who has an ear, let him hear, what the Spirit says to the church. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone the one no one knows except the one who received it.' (Revelation 2:17)

Do I hear an AMEN!?

GOD'S WORD!

Be on the lookout!

Keep your eyes open. 

God's Word can show up where you might least expect it. 

A T-shirt in St. Francis surgery waiting room.

Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13)

 A garden near ljj.

"The grass withers and the flowers fade 

but the word of our God stands forever."

(Isaiah 40:8)

God's Word stands out.........inside and outside! 

Find it and meditate on it as a way to start your week.

SATURDAY SHORT!

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.

(isaiah 40:8)

The Scripture cannot be broken. (John 10:35)

Nothing can annul God's eternal truth. (Knowing God, p.79)

Ponder this truth the rest of the weekend.

PETAL PEEPERS to LEAF SEEKERS!

Early last week TEMPS were sweltering in all caps. Folks made travel plans to go to the north east to be leaf peepers....as colors were at their peak. Now it's CHILLY in all caps. Yet, there are still a few garden gatherings to recall the lingering flowers of summer and to see all the new mums, pumpkins and fall foliage. 

Enjoy now because we know how quickly fall comes and goes. Soon first snows will be just around the corner followed quickly by spring. May we all be joyfully expectant for each season.

The beauty of each season is created by God. Those that realize this seem to enjoy each season all the more. (1 Corinthians 3:7)

SUNFLOWERS!

Sunflowers are a national symbol of Ukraine.

This picture of a field of sunflowers in Ukraine was today's bright bloom for this their 31st anniversary of Independence. My friend shared that 4 hrs & 44 minutes of air raid sirens had blared before 2:30 pm, EET. Still their President Zelenskyy hailed a reborn Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth sent encouraging words encouraging them to celebrate their culture, history and identity; US President Biden sent a gift, nearly $3 billion of military aid.

It has not been a day without tragedy ----but the people of Ukraine remain as hopeful as their fields of sunflowers.....their symbol of resistance, unity and hope!

FLOURISHING AND FADING

Flowers have many meanings in scripture. They show us God's care and comfort.

"Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”  Luke 12:27-28)

Phlox blooms are worth waiting for in the heat of summer.

God's creatures (zebra swallowtail) are nourished by the floral gooseneck.

Evening primrose blossoms as we watch. Ah the joy of that moment each night. Then it fades away & we see it anew the next night.

Phantom hydrangeas in white purity.

Lamb's Ear in side bed reminds us to, "Behold the Lamb of God." (John !:36)

Solomon's Seal and Lenten Roses faded after the spring season. Tthe praying hands hostas died during the Feb. ice storm, the Curly Fries are awaiting transplanting as the summer heat" is roasting them....but the Cross still stands! 

"It (Rose of Sharon) shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon."(Song of Songs 2:1)

We grow inside and out and bloom with God's care. "God is like dew to His people helping them blossom like flowers, keeping them firmly rooted and fragrant..." (Hosea 14:5-6)

Flowers are given as gifts of love---from the Father above and earthly friends.

Flowers  emphasize the fragility of life.

The grass withers, the flowers fades but the word of our God stands forever. (Isaiah 40:8)

Enjoy every God given moment filled with His creations. (Jeremiah 15:16)

FOREVER!

Forever---always, continually, everlasting, interminable, perpetual, on-going...for all time.

Those synonyms for forever are not relatable this side of heaven. Even death and taxes go away after we pass on.....except for believers. We may leave the taxes behind but we enter everlasting life. 

I thought of this when I went out this morning to cut magnolias for my "master gardener" neighbor and one to bring in to grace our kitchen table. They had been beautiful yesterday. 

Today....not so much! they were already beginning to fade and that's putting it mildly.

The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God shall stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)

God's Word---forever, Forever, FOREVER, FOREVER!!!

migh-TEA cuppa re-brew

So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11, NIV)

Why do you start each of this year's "Tea with Thee" blogs with a scripture?
A mighty backbone for a Christian's blog is God's Word. For His word does not return unto Him void. Though I will pass away, His words will never pass away. (Matthew 24:35) His words will be there for my grands & great grands. Thus, I start each blog entry with a scripture---as His word not only saves us, it instructs us. (Titus 2:11-12)

What's with the "tea" wordplay?
Part of who I am is a hot tea aficionado.....so that makes it fun for me. It's what all my grandkids know about me. But also it gives me something to hang my hat on and jog my memory. Any memory jogging is useful at this age. I know some of them are a real stretch but emails and comments form folks have let me know that they too have amused themselves by coming up with tea words and sharing them with me. A connectivi-TEA in more ways than one.

Will you continue the "tea" theme next year?
Possibly, but only on occasion.  Frankly, I'm  hoping for a respite from the compulsion to post daily entries.  I do have a few "dance" ideas still floating in my head and friend Beth recommended that approach. But God....usually has His own ideas. I rarely know which way an entry will go as my fingers start typing.

God's word is the only "constant" so I keep blogging, and each entrywill be based on His truth that never fades. As Peter wrote, "people are as transient as the withering grass". (1 Peter 1:24)

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. (Isaiah 40:8)

Another cuppa of His word, which is migh-TEA to save and is from everlasting to everlasting.

Wil-TEA : a tuneful cuppa

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.(Isaiah 40:8, ESV)

Lately, for a variety of reasons, I have been very much aware of being in the withering, wil-TEA season of life. Scripture presents many rich "comparative" figures of speech to describe this season of brevity, especially when compared to eternity. 

• Swifter than a weaver's shuttle (Job 7:6) 
• Days on earth are like a shadow & wither away like grass. (1 Chronicles 29:13 and Psalm 102:11) 
• A vapor...for awhile...then vanishes. (James 4:14)

But, for aging believers, that knowledge is not without hope. 

These thoughts were whirring. K-Love was playing. Owen piped up---I like that song, Shug.

I like that song as well----especially the verse that reminds me of how fleeting my life is. Such a verse reminds me to make the most of my moments----especially relational moments. It reminds me that God is still with me during this season, watching out for  me, and telling me that I am His. 
Not because of anything this "wilty gal has done, but because of who He is and what He has done on my behalf. Therein lies eternal hope.

I am a flower quickly fading,  Here today and gone tomorrow. A wave tossed in the ocean. A vapor in the wind.Still you hear me calling.Lord, You catch me when I'm falling. And you've told me who I am. 

I am yours. 

Not because of who I am But because of what You've done. Not because of what I've done. But because of who You are. (Casting Crowns)

Listen to this tune, especially if you're feeling wil-TEA, and renew your hope.