"Def-TEA-nition"

A friend is always loyal, and a brother (sister) is born to help in time of need. (Psalm 17:17, NLT)

This pass week has had me experience many kinds of family. None were the family of blood relation, but family all the same!

My long time trekking T-Cup friends with whom I travel once a year. My former university office mate, (UM) who is so MUCH more than a professional friend. My HHS friends who are great for laughter and tears and sometimes both at once.

Like family, they have all been there for me in time of need. During my 2009 cancer journey, they clothed me, fed me, and nursed me. Friends going beyond measure of simple friendship. Becoming family.  

Proverbs 18:24 says, "..a real friend sticks closer than a brother." In my life, I'm not sure that's possible because my brothers are my cheerleaders and have always been there for me---but these real friends do the same!

"Flowers are like friends, you get to pick them."

Starla, the young protagonist in Whistling Past the Graveyard, defined family well. "The  people who look out for me. The people I look out for." (p. 308)
I'm grateful God provided me all these beauties ---I got to choose from the best of the bunch! Friends who are like family! A true def-TEA-nition of family, at its best!

"When we consider the blessings of God—the gifts that add beauty and joy to our lives, that enable us to keep going through stretches of boredom and even suffering-friendship is very near the top.

Donald W. McCullough, Mastering Personal Growth

"Maturi-TEA"

"Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity," (Hebrews 6:1, ESV)

Maturi-TEA is a cuppa that requires brewing. For some it takes longer than others. The longer the brew the stronger the tea---the deeper the flavor.

Yesterday's Jesus Calling entry reminds each of us that as God's children we begin our walk with Him by "teething on the truth." But....maturity continues, NOT with independence or self-reliance BUT with dependence on Him. "In the world, dependence is seen as immaturity." (Jesus Calling, 6/24) 

But God.....desires our dependence. In the margin of my JC journal, I had written D2D.
Dare 2 Dance!
A reminder to Depend on Him in order to (2) Dance with Him. In '09, I began to dance with the Lord. My depen-DANCE. (Play on word with apologies to my English teacher friends.) 

Brothers, do not be children in your thinking.........but in your thinking be mature. (1 Corinthians 4:20)

Mature thinking, like maturi-TEA, requires deep steeping in God's word.

"Hos-pi-tal-i-TEA"

......Practice hospitality. (Romans 12:13, NIV)

Within the realm of Christianity, believers are called to hospitality. 

• Show hospitality to strangers. (Hebrews 13:2) 
• Share with the Lord's people. (Romans 12:13)
• Include one's family. (1 Timothy 5:8)
• Don't forsake friends. (Proverbs 27:10)

Some folks seem to have an uncanny ability for making others feel welcome. My Atlanta friends have that knack. Their home becomes my home. I am lavished with hospitality.

How does one know that she has been served a cuppa hospitali-TEA? 
She feels loved and special. 

And in my case, many "teas" were ready and waiting for my arrival.

Here a cuppa, there a cuppa, everywhere a cuppa cuppa.

SABBATH SNAPSHOT : locali-TEA

A pleasant experience with an author, especially in a series, can have me looking for more of his/her titles. Recalling a place I have visited before, can also be a draw when its the setting of a book. Author Lisa Wingate, author of the Tending Roses series, which I liked,  and the Outer Banks setting were a draw to her book,  The Prayer Box.  (2013)

The  plot was somewhat predictable, but Wingate has a way with words and her books are always "clean." I admit to skimming and scanning at times and though I thought it was predictable, the last chapter offered a surprise. Maybe, during some of my scanning, I missed the foreshadowing...but I did appreciate the unexpected ending.

My "Book Stock"---most from the public or church library.
The Prayer Box can now be returned by this avid "public" patron. 

Another extra benefit was the Author End Notes in which Wingate explained the importance of a "prayer box" in a world of fractured thoughts, hurried moments and scattershot prayers--akin to my friend Margie's arrow prayers.  Such a box become a repository for those written down thoughts, both jumbled and clarified. Thoughts of gratitude, petitions, troubles, fears and hopes. 

A great reminder to me of such a purpose for "the box."

• Write them (your prayers) down.
• Put them (your prayers) in the box.
• LET. THEM. GO.

That reminder was worth the read. "Let. Them. Go."  Whatever your locale, Outer Banks or home.

"Finali-TEA"

They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. (Psalm 65:8, NASB)

There might be sadness when a cuppa finali-TEA is served at day's end knowing friends must depart. 

But God reminds us, even in a glorious sunset that even when leaving an area of such beauty, we can all smile because we’ve been there. Together.

"Pi-e-TEA"

"Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; (Matthew 6:1, RSV)

Sweet JoLynn is often on her knees for others. Upstairs out of sight at her prayer bench, the kneeling variety, she communes with the Lord.

Yesterday I watched her read from Bible at the altar in the Frost Chapel on the Berry College campus in Rome, GA. Even in the chapel, she quietly stole away from view and prayed.

Her fingers found and smoothed the tails of the red satin ribbon bookmark, her eyes found the Psalm 119:89-90 passage in the open Bible....."Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.

Your faithfulness endures to all generations;"....

....... and her heart found its way on to prayers for family members who had married at that very altar.

Pi-e-TEA poured out prayerfully.

"Immortali-TEA"

For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. (1 Corinthians 15:53-54)

"The only certainties in life are death and taxes," the old adage states. It is a given fact that the ability to live forever on planet earth is an impossibility---tho some folks live as if there will always be an earthly tomorrow.

Immortality. Written on the rafters of Howard's Chapel for all to see was a great reminder of the only path to eternal life.

Scripture teaches that man's existence is never autonomous but is always dependent on providential support from God for both the "here and now" and the "hereafter." 

• He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 25:8)
• And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. (1 John 5:11-12)
• ...Yet God does not take away life, but plans ways so that the banished one will not be cast out from Him. (2 Samuel 14:4)

But God, through his Son has provided immortality to all who believe.

A cuppa immortali-TEA poured out through His Son for all who will partake of His truth. How grateful I am for this cuppa.

"Felici-TEA"

 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:.....a time to laugh; (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 4, KJV)

Laughter lightens your load and lifts your heart.....(Jesus Calling 6/17)
Laughter is a powerful antidote for stress, anxiety, pain, and sadness.
Sometimes getting away with friends can provide that by-product of felicity known as laughter.

Laughter, an over flow of a close friendship, is good for the soul and blesses even the on-lookers, because laughter is contagious!

Pleasing and well chosen....cuppa of felici-TEA, poured out to friends.

"TEA-rip" with friends

I have called you friends, (John 15:15, NIV)

Our annual T-cup trip begins today. Destination unknown---until the BIG reveal later....after our sweet treat and joint tea---whatever joint tea is.

It doesn't really matter where we are going. We're just going as friends on a "girls' get-a-way." And of course we'll probably have tea somewhere along the way.

The BIG plus of this T-cup TEA-rip is that we are not only "girlfriends" at a similar season in life, but we are friends in the faith. 

That means Jesus goes along for the ride.

"vitali-TEA"

Righteous Father,......I know you, and..... I have made you known.... and will continue to make you known....(John 17:25-26, NIV)

John 17:25-26 are the words of Jesus but they also reflect the hearts of believers who want to thrive in their lives as God's children. Living a life of vitality in Him that others might get a glimpse of Him as we strive to "know Him and make Him known." A simple creed with a big message.

More than alive. Thriving. A life of vitality.

"Thrive," a Casting Crowns "big camp" praise song, was written "using the idea of Psalm One in showing them (students) what a believer looks like." 

"Like a tree panted by the water, we will never run dry."

He put you here to thrive, to dig in and to reach out and this record (song) is an effort to draw a picture of what a believer, a follower of Jesus, would look like if they dug into their roots and understood God and themselves more.”  (Mark Hall, lead vocalist/Casting Crowns)l

Fill our hearts and flood our souls with one desire,                            Just to know You and to make You known. 

Joy unspeakable... 

Faith unsinkable... 

Love unstoppable, ("Thrive")

A cuppa "vitali-TEA" is filled with; unspeakable joy, unsinkable faith, & unstoppable love.  Drink deeply if you desire to thrive in life.