"impulsivi-TEA"

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13, NIV)

Impulses can rule, and sometimes ruin, my day. I can dart ahead----of God. I can act without asking His direction. I can choose to NOT act because of my own laziness or excuses, even when I sense God's quiet prodding. I rationalize that I can respond LATER.

Oh, the pull of impulses. Some should be resisted. Others should not. Some impulses are more of an acting on a sudden whim, without giving one's actions much "careful" thought. Those can have a negative effect on one's day. But God.....showed me that when I'm living in the Spirit, His impulses have already been thought through and planned ahead and I need to follow His guidance.

A Spirit driven life is one of controlled impulsivity toward God's ways----obedience is required. Even if one has mis-understood an "impulse," as God given, God can honor it.

Impulses to pray. The pull of my prayer chair.
I had better fill my cup of controlled impulsivi-TEA and move toward Him.

"Mo-TEA-vating" : a Re-Brew, of sorts

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV)

"Meditating Mondays" were a part of this blog for years. A verse was given. Observations and interpretations were shared. Application was usually left up to readers. Last week's blog entry about the mo-TEA-vators in one's life, emphasized the value of the application aspect of Scripture meditation.

Motivating Mondays. "Mo-TEA-vating." Sounds good if it means putting hands and feet to the life lessons God is teaching through meditating on His word. Encouraging and exhorting others with God's truths, as one interacts with those whom God puts in his/her path, is application, at it's most practical. Why is motivating others with encouragement and exhortation so important? God's word answers that.

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:13)

Mo-TEA-vating cuppa---filled to the brim with encouragement and exhortation and served to others. Lots of others.

God's love being poured out into our hearts (Romans 5:5) should be all the mo-TEA-vation that one needs........to pour His love out to others.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: novel-TEA

Sometimes a little "light" bedtime reading is what I put on my plate. Easy to digest---not too much suspense. As I age, the tension of suspense can be a little much, especially if sleep is next on my list. Gone are the days of James Patterson's too scary Alex Cross series and Patricia Cornwell's, too gory Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner. Likewise Sarah Paretsky's, V. I. Warshawski series.
Just give me a good cozy mystery. Think Agatha Christie. Scene of the crime (usually a murder) happens early on in the book and then the deduction takes over. Granted, many such books are not "well-written" and a series can become trite and too predictable after awhile. A lot of "hit and miss" to find a little light reading---a bit above mindless fluff. Recommendations from others help. But....all readers have personal preferences.
Whereas I chose the "Cat Who......" series by Lillian Jackson Braun, my friend's choice of Sneaky Pie, talking cat books, was NOT for me. I read cozy culinary mysteries as well---Laura Child's, Tea Shop Mysteries and Katherine Hall Page's caterer and pastor's wife Faith Fairchild's The Body in......series. Anyone who knows me would understand my draw to those two series. However, the 2 tries I had at Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swenson's series didn't pass muster for me. Many differ in that view. So.....that's what reviews are---just personal preferences, nothing more. Each reader must decide for herself.

Friend Beth and I share the same affinity for two British based series, a Maisie Dobbs series, an investigator in World War I London and a surprising find, Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce series. Bradley's first book won the "Agatha Award," which is the Cozy of Cozy mystery books award. That award has led me to many "good reads."
Having recently finished The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches, I realized I had missed a holiday one. Immediately I called Beth, who buys books, whereas I am an avid public library patron. She, as always, willingly loaned me the "missed" copy, but said that since I had already read the most recent one----well that would be a "spoiler" of great proportions. Some series can be read out of order....BUT, I always like to read in order, even when not necessary.

The Flavia de Luce series is unique and award winning; Agatha for Best First Novel, 6 other mystery awards as well as starred reviews from Library Journal, Booklist and Kirkus. Unique because the incorrigible, precocious, yet plausible, sleuth is an 11 yr old chemistry "buff," living in a cozy English village in the 50s. You might be gobsmacked by some of the British jargon but to me, that adds to the charm. Boston Globe calls her a combination of Eloise and Sherlock Holmes. The protagonist is a preteen but the reading audience is adult.
This adult enjoys the novel-TEA of  this "light" fare.

"Tea for Two"

Do to others as you would like them to do to you. (Luke 6:31, NLT)

Lucy and Alice have been "friends" since birth. Now at age two they are beginning to "explore" the ends and outs of friendship, namely sharing. What an adventure to watch these two exert independence while learning to practice the "Golden Rule" from the Bible. Sharing is a difficult concept. For a toddler it usually means, she has it and I want it---"she won't share."

These two have already gotten a handle on it---beyond their age, I think. They even watch out for one another and sometimes their conversations are similar to listening in on a conversation between "little old ladies."

"Lucy could you hold my hand, while I rock and then it will be your turn."

Okay Alice, now it's my turn. You hold my hand now."

Even while serving each other tea, they were polite (for awhile) and poured each others cuppa---even putting their napkin in their lap.

Ah-h-h the joy of sharing tea with a friend at such a young age. "Tea for Two" who are not quite 2 ½.

"reciproci-TEA" : a Re-Brew

but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another,...(1 John 1:7)

"At every turn in life, we are reminded of the importance of friendship," Donna T. included in the Taylors' monthly newsletter.

Donna said it well. "Friendship holds out 2 hands---one is the giving hand and the other is the receiving hand--both of which are important. One stands in the gap and offers help to another, while the other is filled with love and support from another."

Reciprocal Friendship---shared, felt, or shown by both sides. For me the best example of a faith relationship begins and ends with reciproci-TEA. It's a 2-sided friendship.

Friends are part of the glue that holds life and faith together. Not sure who said that, but I get the idea. For me, friends in the faith have the added dimension of fellowship. Reciproci-TEA at its finest. It's a lot like sharing a cuppa---intimacy over a cup of tea.

Friendship with fellowship is the real superglue of the Christian faith.

I'll sip that cuppa reciproci-TEA anytime.

"securi-TEA": a Re-brew

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9, NIV)

Having a cuppa T2 provided by our New York guest house "host" gave me a warm, secure start to what was to become a fun day with our Lucy. "All's right with the world".....at least our little corner of it.

But, both a phone call from our daughter and an early morning email from sister-in-law, Susan, questioned our security. It seems that yesterday while we were treating Lucy to strawberry pancakes at Tom's Restaurant in Brooklyn, there were 2 "explosions" in Harlem. Folks 1100 miles away heard of the shock waves before we did.

How fleeting security is. How fleeting life is. (Psalm 39:4)

Security in our culture often refers to at least a "semblance" of protection for us and our assets. I say, "semblance," because reality can be so different from the outward appearance.---it's still only perceived security. Our only real security doesn't come with wires, alarms or even fat bank accounts. Our security rests only in Him.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)

That's the "focus" needed to walk the pathway of real securi-TEA!

"mo-TEA-vators"

As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.                                           (1 Thessalonians 4:1, NIV)

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, (1 Thessalonians 4:1, NIV)

Who or what motivates people these days? Who or what motivates me is the better question?
A recent Sunday sermon by Jason Seville, coupled with the reading of gods at war by Kyle Idleman, kept that question whirring in my head. Maybe a rephrasing of the question would give more insight into one's character or theology. Who or what mo-TEA-vates me to living right?
Christians, like all people, need encouragement and exhortation for "right living." A tandem. A duo that seems to go together. Seville calls them "A pat on the back and a shot in the arm." Encouragement. Attaboy! Attagirl! Dr. Scott Morris, Director of Church Health Center said his father taught him, "Everybody wants a pat on the back---I want it, you want it, a dog wants it." (Commercial Appeal, 3/3, M1)
In the letter from Paul to the church in Thessalonica, we see his encouragement. He encourages them as he relates what he is seeing in their lives. A life style that pleases God. A love for all of God's family. But Paul doesn't stop there. We read Paul's exhortations of these good and godly acts which are already a part of there lives, as he urges them to do more and more. Finally, Paul commends them to "encourage one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:18) A shot in the arm.

"Grands" mo-TEA-vate grandparents to "live right."

We also need to dispense encouragement and exhortation to others.

"Mo-TEA-vation" is a cuppa we need to share.
"Mo-TEA." More and more!

Battlefield "tea-ology" : a Re-Brew

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law
(Joshua 1:7, NIV)

Marching orders were  given to Joshua. (3x in v. 6-9)

Be courageous.

Be careful.

But God.....doesn't leave Joshua and his people there alone. He reiterates time and time again----"I will be with you; I will never leave your nor forsake you. (Joshua 1:5, 9)

Recent sermon by son, Buddy, on the leader, Joshua, pointed out that God's most repeated command in scripture is, "Do not fear, or don't be afraid or to be courageous, the inverse of fear." Obviously the Lord realized how much fear would factor in to the lives of all humanity. Knowing how vulnerable mankind, even His own people, would be to fear,  His "don't fear-type" commands number 366, more than any other command in the Bible. That's one for each day of the year, even if there's a Leap Year. Thus, promises of His Presence and the reassurances that He would never forsake His own, seem to go hand in hand with those commands. Promises that do more than assuage their fear, are available for all who trust the Lord.

"To fear is to be human---but God says, trust me." (B. Liles, 3/2/14)

Courageous faith with careful obedience. That requires a constant cuppa trust.

"Priori-TEA Time" : a Re-Brew

O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! (Psalm 34:8, NASB)

Though a "re-brew" of sorts, this morning's brew was a picture of the intimacy of my "priori-TEA time" with the Lord. 

One cup tea pot. 

A one cuppa brew. 

Personal. Private. Necessary. 

His word fills me up with more of Him. He pours Himself into the cuppa of my life. 

I can sip and savor throughout the rest of my day. 

Because first thing this morning, I chose to "taste and see that God is good."

SABBATH SNAPSHOT: battlefield "tea"-ology

3/9/14 Brother Buddy gave me Kyle Idleman's book , gods at war, and the title confused me.....until I saw the sub title, which was in all CAPS----"DEFEATING THE IDOLS THAT BATTLE FOR YOUR HEART."

CONVICTION! I had never looked at idolatry in that way! BUT GOD.....does.

Idolatry is the #1 issue in the Bible.....coming into every book. More than 50 of the laws in the first 5 books are aimed at this issue.... and in all of Judaism, it's one of only four sins with the death penalty attached. (Idleman, p. 11)

Many somewhat innocuous sounding idols are listed (food, achievement, family)----and don't seem like a problem in "my" life----until I read the Idol ID section at the end of each of the chapters and realized that I, too, kneel at said temples of worship. Choices reveal the "gods/idols" who sit on the throne of one's heart.

But, like God's word, after "hitting us right between the eyes," Idleman gives hope. Hope imbedded in scripture. Hope that is available when we "choose Jesus."

I battle so many things in my mind which are really heart issues. When I see idolatry as a "heart issue" I know I'm in a BIG battle. I need to RUN right back to the heart of God.

Guide, rear guard, tower of strength, deliverer---all positions needed in war----all provided by the one true God.