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.

s-TEA-rife tempered by captivi-TEA

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5, NIT)

Strife. What is it? What causes it? What can one do about it?

My life must have it as I often realize my teeth are clenched. Even my shoulders seem to stay "clenched" lately. Up around my ears----until I intentionally pull them down, willing myself to calm down and relax.

Then, yesterday my iPad notes from 2 years ago opened wide for me to see:

• Strife---an inside job---it springs from within
• Strife---the enemy of peace and calm
• Root of strife = SELF-Worldiness, aka pride (opposite of pride is humility)
• Strife is conflict between our thinking and God's word.
• Mood-induced thoughts can keep me in turmoil, aka strife.
• Real issue--Whom will I love? God or the world? James 4:4 asks, "don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?"

Good riddance for strife---submit to God, draw near to Him and as He reciprocates by drawing near as well, it becomes much easier to take every "rebellious self" thought captive.

(Continue reading).....God's word, that is.

God gracefully serves us cuppa after cuppa of humili--TEA, puri-TEA, and in-TEA-macy once we pour out the dregs of enmi-TEA and s-TEA-rife that have stained the insides of our former cuppa.

Puri-TEA

You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:3, NIV)

Am I practicing the presence of God in such a way that believers and non-believers alike are able to catch, at least, a glimpse of Him? Visibili-TEA of the risen Lord n my life.

Lately, as I have once again intentionally looked for His hand in circumstances, I'm seeing His love written on human hearts. Clearly the goodness of the Lord is in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13)

But.....I feel as if my own efforts are but ink smudges when I should be leaving the sweet, pure, aroma of the living God. Ah, but to be able to say as Paul did, "imitate me." (1 Corinthians 11:1) Follow my example. Read the letter of my life. To stand before Him and serve others with clean hands and a pure heart.

Sipping a cuppa puri-TEA today as I continue to bask in His love so pure, allowing Him to write His love letter on my heart. A letter I can share with others.

"Puri-TEA" of Faith

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27, KJV)

Many world faiths "do good." It's their version of "doing good," as well as their motive, that can bring the validity of such faith in to question, at least for me. Suicide bombers purport to be acting our their faith. But to what purpose? And to whose benefit?

Therefore, puri-TEA of pure faith is a cuppa poured out for the benefit of others.....the least of these. Orphans. Widows. 

Puri-TEA of faith is acceptable to God. For the glory of God---not for fame and glory for self. 

In the Christian faith, purity goes beyond this action of service to others, to keeping oneself pure, not soiled and dirty from the mores/morals of the culture.

Unstained. Unblemished. Spotless.

May I wait each day for God's purpose and motives in order to fill my empty cuppa with "puri-TEA of faith."

What’s your Christmas morn cup of tea??

12/25/10 This morning during my “Warriors on the Wall” prayer time, I noticed that Pastor Cole asks for prayer for sensitiviTEA, puriTEA and humiliTEA toward the Lord and in ministry and life! 
 Certainly excellent choices for one who shepherds God’s flock.

What’s your cup of tea this Christmas morning? I hope that we all sip from the cup of eterniTEA!

Merry Christmas and God Bless!! (Luke 2:1-20)