Showing posts with label Sa-TEAs-fy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sa-TEAs-fy. Show all posts

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Pa-TEA-o Ponderings

Unseasonably cool temps. A hot cuppa. A quiet patio. 
Contemplation......more like a mishmash of thoughts. Meshed with scripture. 
So begins a time of meditation.
Sa-TEAs-fy---How did I miss the verse from Psalm 145:16 last week? Maybe because I needed it this morning to pray for D.W. in NY, knowing God can lift the bowed down and "satisfy desires" of those who are near to Him and call on Him.

Proverbs 3:7-8, another miss---nourishment. It's that fear of God....reverential love and respect that nourishes (fer-TEA-lizes) our growth, all the way to our bones....bringing great refreshment. 

Drought conditions in the west---wildfires so dense that darkness prevails even in the middle of the day. Physical darkness akin to spiritual darkness. A captivi-TEA of sorts, when one can't see beyond the darkness.
How about in a "dark" room of depression? Is it just physical when one can't see hope for a better tomorrow? How does light penetrate a heart darkened by despair? Does she know that the Lord is with the lowly and crushed in spirit? (Isaiah 57:15)
How do I pray about the invasion of darkness in Ukraine? Against the darkness of a Russian leader's heart? How do I encourage "my" Ukraine girls to know that God is there even in the darkness? God is there....for even the "darkness is not dark to Him." (Psalm 139:12) 
My prayer---
May His light dawn in the darkness and (Isaiah 58:10) and penetrate thru the darkness of wildfires, depression, wars and hearts of evil men.
A cuppa "tea" ponderings, served on a pa-TEA-o, that prompted prayers for others. 

Thursday, August 14, 2014

sa-TEAs-faction

I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. (Psalm 63:4-5, NLT)
Sometimes the obvious alludes us. I've walked by this "display" on entry hall bookcase for weeks  and enjoyed Timothy Botts' art in his The Book of Psalms. But... only recently did I see the "tea" word in the text. Sa-TEAs-fy. Since then, I've been meditating on the downfalls of seeking sa-TEAs-faction apart from God. Apart from Him, there is no complete and lasting satisfaction.
"In Christ Alone." "No scheme of man" brings satisfaction.
"All my springs of joy are in you." (Psalm 87:7)
 His cuppa leads beyond mere sa-TEAs-faction to consummate joy!! Why hadn't I seen it earlier!