"tea-lightful"

May you see your children's children! (Psalm 128:6, ESV)

Not only living to see my grandchildren but spending uninterrupted time with them, especially one at a time, is a blessing. A treat beyond measure. A "grand" time to read stories, play a game and create. 

"Serving the birds" idea had us creating a pinecone wreath bird feeder. Slathering peanut butter on the cones and rolling them in seed and thistle to attract the birds was great fun. BUT....a pesky squirrel made short work of disassembling and devouring our creation......as the birds only looked on. In his defense, he does lay clam to all pinecones in our yard, so I should have known better.

Time with a grandson is as "tea-lightful" as a warm cuppa on a cold January day, even when activities take an unexpected turn.

gra-TEA-tude

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer (I Timothy 4:4-5, NASB)

During a season of discontent, many offers for relief are offered. Even this week, news articles have been written in the morning paper on remedies, for this pattern of sadness and heaviness, that seems to occur this particular time of year.

Some things that come our way in life, regardless of the time of year, can seem anything but good. Yet, scripture reminds us, "in everything gives thanks." (1 Thessalonians 5:18) 

That "prescription" from God's word is more that just a platitude. It's a directive. So, how does one give thanks when he/she doesn't feel thankful. 

Year's ago I read that changing one's focus was a beginning for the cultivation of a thankful heart.  Look for the positive. My "tangible" response to that suggestion was a listing of things I was thankful for---a Blessing Book. A small start with a big result.

Needing a repast of thankfulness, I reread from that book as I spent time with the Lord and sipped my cuppa of gra-TEA-tude. A cuppa that I hope will overflow with a big result.

authentici-TEA

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8, NASB) 

"Tea is a balm for the soul, don't you agree?" Mrs. P. L. Travers (Emma Thompson) asked Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) on the Malco big screen where "Saving Mr. Banks" was showing.

Mr. Disney accepted the tea and the sentiment BUT he understood beyond that. He saw Mrs.Travers, whom he insisted on calling by her given name, for who she was. He also sought to help her not only see her true self, but to accept it as well. 

Accepting one another, warts and all, is authentici-TEA in relationships.

The Lord models that. He genuinely loves us and accepts us. He provides forgiveness as the balm we need. 

The old African-American spiritual,"There is a Balm in Gilead," says it well.

There is a balm in Gilead

To make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead 

To heal the sin sick soul.

 Accepting each other and sharing our own cuppa of authentici-TEA, is a good basis for a genuine relationship. It might even provide a balm for one who is hurting.

Tea Choice: uncertain-TEA? certain-TEA?

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me: Your steadfast love, O Lord endures forever; Do not forsake the work of Your hands. (Psalm 138:8, ESV)

Uncertainty! Isn't that what life is full of? These days uncertainty seems to be the status quo. Many folks "sip" it daily. Sips might be the norm, but continuous gulping of uncertain-TEA can result in fear. One needs to remember the Lord and His faithfulness. One needs to be careful.......not sinking into a fear-induced despair.
Recently I have tried to "manage" the blows of life with a "bootstrap" mentality.
Pulling self up......Getting a grip.......Rather than fully relying on the Lord and His Word.

As the psalmist called upon the Lord, I should also cry out to Him and await His answer, allowing Him to increase the strength of my soul. (138:3) Then, I, too, can wait in an expectation of certainty as the Lord fulfills His purpose for me.

Certain-TEA, a tea sweetened by His love, to be savored with HIm.

weigh-TEA

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2, KJV)

Bogged down for several weeks with some disturbing feelings, thoughts, and possible decisions that seemed to weighty for me, I finally asked for help. Help in the form of prayers from the household of faith. God's people. Some things need to be shared.

There are some "teas" that need to be brewed with the Lord's help---- "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28) and then poured out to others.

"Come along inside and we'll see if tea and buns can make the world a better place." (Wind in the Willows)

Weigh-TEA-----should be a "tea for two." 

Vitali-TEA

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10B, NASB)

Words from Ally, a waitress, jumped off the pages of The Walk as I read it in the early morning hours.
"I meet dead people every day." Her lunch counter philosophy gave me pause as she equated dead people with those breathing people who have just given up on life. "That's all death requires of us, to give up living." (Evans, p.127) How does one get back the zip and zest for living that vitality brings into  his/her life?

Abundant life of vitality comes from union with Him.

Time with the Lord in His Word and in prayer gives needed vitality to life.

Sippin' vitali-TEA with Bible open on my lap and heart open in prayerful communion.
Perfect combo for "Tea with Thee."

SABBATH SNAPSHOT: Liberali-TEA

1/5/14 Allowing for a little poetic license, I am expressing thanks to "trusted" friends who practice liberality in giving freely to my reading life. "Word of mouth"book reviews from such friends are the best gifts for me.

It's the way I discovered Beth's recommended author, Charles Martin. The Mountain Between Us was my first "audio" read and probably my favorite. However his most recent, Unwritten, is one of his "best yet" as well. Of course, that could be because it's the one I've most recently read. "Best yet" term has been coined by my friend, Lo, as relating to the most recent event or experience in one's life. A term easily used with books.

These  friends of "liberality"give recommendations for books and sometimes loans from their own collection, i.e. The Last Jihad, series which I'm still reading. How I love for someone to share an"old to them, new to me," series. Well told stories, in a sequence, that allow one to get to know the characters and the locale. Even if not deemed necessary, I like to start with the first one.

That's what I plan to do on these next few days of possible hibernation. The Walk series, a WH rec, will be opened and savored as I sip my tea & read throughout these next snowy (?) cold days.

I've only read the prologue but I gave myself permission to leisurely continue when I read, " To me it's one man's journey to find hope." (Evans, p.3)

"Liberali-TEA!" A great cuppa to share with book lovin' friends!

at-TEA-tude

See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the WILDERNESS and streams in the wasteland.  (Isaiah 43:19, NIV)

Do you not see it? One can "altitude their attitude" by looking up. Seeing the Lord afresh by refocusing on Him. Reclaiming one's faith, by taking God at His word is an action of an upward attitude.

A fresh brew left the dregs of yesterday's anxi-TEA behind as I opened, Streams in the Desert (1/4) and read a quote from George Mueller. 

"The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety."


Regret looks back.
Worry looks here, there and yon.
Faith looks up.

A new at-TEA-tude as I savored time with Thee.

anxie-TEA

 "Fret not.........Fret not.......Fret not.." (Psalm 37: 1, 7, & 8, ESV)

Anxie-TEA. Not a tea to recommend. Certainly not a tea to sip and savor. Bitterness is left with every swallow. Dregs of regret, self-pity, frustration and fear are left sticking to one's insides. Why does one keep swallowing it?

What happens when one pours herself an anxious cuppa? 

Tea with Thee indicates the need to turn to the one on the throne of one's life. Is it Me? Or Thee? Decide. Then, turn inward to self and more fretting or upward to the One who offers peace.

Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. (Psalm 37: 4-5)

Time for a re-brew. Choose a new cup. Fresh water and new tea leaves. Discard the dregs and bitter "over-brewed" remnants. 

Sip afresh and "fret not."

Possibili-TEA: a 2nd cup

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (Philippians 2:13, NLT)

Mulling the possibility of change of any kind, can have one second guessing every decision. When one is pondering a change concerning spiritual matters, second guessing seems to intensify. 
Desire to do God's work, God's way? Desire to edify believers and glorify the Lord? Desire to change?

The change must be His work. "...apart from me you can do nothing."(John 15:5) Apart from God, there is no good thing. (Psalm 16:2) "not adequate in ourselves but our adequacy is from God. He is at work in us." (2 Corinthians 3:5)

Those were my ponderings this morning over a cuppa of possibili-TEA, sipped and savored during my "Time with Thee."
The desire is there. Now the power will come.....if it pleases Him. 

What a thought!

What a possibili-TEA!