TEA WITH THEE Finali-TEA: a farewell cuppa

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, (1 Timothy 1:12, NASB)

This year, "Tea with Thee" has been my way of sharing my quiet times with blog readers. Thine and Mine. He and me. I know a blog isn't typically seen as service or ministry but for me it was just that. 

From His hand to mine. His strength---because it was wearisome at times. He was faithful to keep me going.

Today, 12/31/14, is the end of that endeavor. 

It doesn't mean that I will quit having quiet times. It just means that folks will no longer be privy each day to all my foibles.

A year ago when I sensed God's prompts to blog daily, I began with a "way out" proposition, of sorts. "Lord, I will blog as long as I sense your leading." 

But God.....continued to provide THOTS (Trusting Him On This Subject), ideas, words, "tea words," verses, and WiFi, (many times "iffy, especially on trips") so......

....here I am 365 days later---sipping a cuppa finali-TEA. Farewell to daily "tea" blogs----hello to sporadic blogs of varying topics. 

It's been a year of stretching for me and I hope someday to edit the entries for a tea type book for my Lucy----so that she might know this--- her grandmother loved the Lord, loved her and loved tea!

Sharing Thee and tea with Lucy is this Shug's delight!

Commi-TEA-ment to Finishing Well

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 

(2 TIMOTHY 4:7, ESV)

Finishing well. Faithfulness in the long haul. 

in previous verses of chapter 4, Paul had exhorted Timothy to preach the word, to endure all for the sake of the sake of the gospel. Paul, himself, had put his life's effort into completing the "course" which God had set before him and now his time for departure had come. (death) Paul left nothing undone. He remained committed to the faith.

Faithfulness: a long obedience in the same direction. (Cole Huffman)

No cuppa mediocri-TEA served by Paul. He chose a cuppa full commi-TEA-ment until the end. He had poured his life into Timothy---for the sake of the gospel.

What "tea" is in your cuppa faith? Mediocri-TEA or full commi-TEA-ment? Something to ponder in the New Year.

"Digni-TEA"

On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. (Psalm 22:11-12, ESV)

The importance of dignity was emphasized throughout the book, Unbroken, (Hillenbrand) as humiliation and shame continued to wear down the prisoners in the Japanese War camps. Dignity, with any semblance of respect as a human being, was what they needed. It came, albeit rarely, in a variety of unique ways, even thievery. Stolen food, namely sugar.

"And in a place predicated on degradation, stealing from the enemy won back the men's dignity." (p. 244)

Anytime a country espouses their sacred duty, as a leading superior race, to eradicate or enslave members of inferior ones, the first tactic is to take away the dignity, thus robbing them of emotional strength. (Ibid, p.43)

It has happened throughout history and is happening, as I type, to my friends in Ukraine, and families of my South Sudan church buddies. 

Thankfully, I finally "found" an uplifting book about WWII. Once Upon a Town. A work of non-fiction, it is a WORTHY read about the kindness of the towns folk in the small town of North Platte, Nebraska (12,000) and it began on Christmas Day 1941. Some folks called it a miracle! Troop trains stopped for only a 10 minute break, but all aboard were welcomed!

The numbers alone are staggering---enough to make one cry. 
Every day of the war--3,000 to 5,000 military personnel came through North Platte and were served food, drink and magazines by the towns people, from 5 am until the last train passed through after midnight. Not with government money but $$ from their own pockets---ration tickets and gardens.Toward the end of the war, that number grew to 8,000 a day, on as many as 23 separate troop trains. Six million soldiers passed through North Platte and all were greeted at the depot. (p.7)
This is their true story---a love story between a country and its sons. (p.8)
A story worth sharing.
Pic not loading--will try later.

Digni-TEA---a cuppa needed by all mankind.....and served with gratitude to GIs by North Platte residents as a way of honoring the brave and dedicated sons, wearing our nation's uniform.

SABBATH SNAPSHOT : author affini-TEA

This book review is a result of kinship.  Not quite consanguinity, but close. Consanguinity is the state of being from the same kinship through bloodline.
Garraway Refrow, a pseudonym for my great Aunt Anna Barr, is the author of Vivid Night. (1943) She was my great Aunt Ada Adams Mabry's sister-in-law,  to be confused with my Aunt Ada Mabry Adams, aka "Crazy Ada."
Thus affinity is the correct term for the connection---relationship by marriage or by ties other than those of blood relationality. Affinity is the reason for the book review---I want my "kids" to know this connection. I plan to share it with them with a cuppa affinity-TEA.

Actually, I had long forgotten about this book, which I received in my school-age years from my grandmother Gena Adams. She had a way of sending me books for every birthday. They arrived "wrapped" and sitting in the backseat of a cab----her chosen method of delivery. A little weird but unique and I still remember her method. The taxi driver would open the door, remove the gift and deposit the wrapped book on our front porch---as if the package had "life." In a way, books are like that---having a life that is different for each reader.

The book is behind glass, to keep pristine, now that I know my "relation" to the author. I like the idea of a "published" author being a part of my family tree, albeit by marriage.
However, I assume from the plot that my pious grandmother never read it. This very southern story revolves around a young woman and her child born "out of wed-lock."

"Vivian Knight, exquisite, cultured, American to the core, through the fighting blood of the Great Commander in Washington's army, and all the other armies American." (p. 54)
That sentence teems with a deep patriotism that Aunt Anna, aka "Stockade Annie" kept at the forefront of her own life as she ministered, until her dying days, to the soldiers of  Fort (Camp) Campbell, KY, which was built on the Mabry family land (1941). It is home to the only Air Assault division in the world. (101st airborne)

The story certainly reflects the "shame" of the time and the "home for unwed mothers" which would use the committee of "disposition of babies" to help the foundlings find homes. But it shines light on the love and devotion of this mother who strives to keep her baby at all costs.

A mother's cry can shake the throne of God, for the Son of a woman sits thereon. (p. 121)

When she loses her child, the pursuit of the privilege of motherhood begins and.......I don't want to spoil the story.....but I do like happy endings, and this one took a turn, which I found pleasing.

A Cuppa Almigh-TEA Providence

For unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6-7, NASB)

Not coincidences---but God-incidences. Providence. Son Buddy's recent sermon from Ruth chapter 2 reminded me to watch for "God's Providence" in my life. For me, seeing His hand often occurs in hindsight, so....I need to continually be alert as the "zeal of the Lord accomplishes His purpose" in my life and throughout His kingdom. What a trust builder that can become.

Sipping a cuppa almigh-TEA remembrance each day builds trust from the inside out.

Relational sereni-TEA

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, ....(Ephesians 4:32, KJV)

I'm all about "kiddie lit;" I always have been----especially if the book promotes quality character traits. Kindness, love and acceptance--among my favorites. a tenderhearted soul seems to encompass all three.
Such a book about kindness et al, Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea, is an all time favorite which I share, along with a cuppa, with every grandchild, even the 6 boys! Mr. Putter is the personification of "tenderhearted."

Can't wait to read this new one to my grands---because it combines the affinities of both of their grandparents. Birds for PopPop and tea for me---with concern for the environment factored in for good measure----make that God's creative measure.

Guess How Much I Love You is a great book for reassuring the little ones in your life, albeit kids or grands, that they are loved  right up "to the moon and back!" 

Sereni-TEA spills over from this cuppa as it is shared in a read-aloud setting with your "young" loved ones!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us") 

(Matthew 1:23, NIV)

All of our grandkids will have Santa this morning....but my continual prayer is that eventually they will all come to know Emmanuel/Immanuel---who is "God with us." A cuppa eventual-TEA which will bring them to accepting Christ as Savior.

"God with us" is the cuppa life and He is enough!

Nativi-TEA : a Christmas Cuppa

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-10, NIV)

For Christians, there is no greater story than the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We share the story of the birth of baby Jesus with the world this time of year. 

This year I also plan to share with my younger "grands" a Nativity Poem, Who Built the Stable?, written and illustrated by my dear friend, Ashley Bryan. Ashley first got the idea as he was in Kenya with his dear friend Kemie Nix of CLC as they traveled to one of the schools which Ashley sponsors. 
Several years ago, Ashley gave each of my grands' households an autographed copy of the book. But....some were too young at the time to remember it.....so while we're together this Christmas season, I plan to read it to them.

It will be such a sweet way to share both conversation and a cuppa, sweetened with the nativity story and my friend Ashley's bold illustrations. 

Du-TEA-ful Prayers

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. 

(Ephesians 6:18, NIV)

My prayer life seems anything but "normal." It seems as if I can run "hot and cold."

Prayer is personal. So....how can I sometimes feel that I fail at it.

On days when I see my cuppa as half empty instead of half full, I concern myself with distinguishing between intercession and petition if I'm praying for others.  If I'm thanking the Lord for his creation of colorful foliage and shrubs with berries on my "praise walk" which is it? Praise or thanksgiving ? Can it count for both? Does it matter?

It seems as if I blog a lot about needing help with my prayer life. But God....in His love and mercy continues to meet me right where I am accepting all my "heartfelt attempts" regardless of the method---or even lack thereof.

Du-TEA-ful and deligh-TEAful cuppas reminding me that any conversation with the Lord which comes from the heart is A--OK!

Cuppa rou-TEA-ine

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs: 3:6, NASB)

Some routines are good....to keep me focused and "in the pink" emotionally. Change can mess with my psyche. Change, though often necessary, especially during the holidays, can rev up this ADD (Always Distracted) Dotsy (love the Ditsy typo that comes up) into frenetic frantic anxieties. I, like Daddy, seem to function better with routine.

However, these next few days are going to be anything but routine---for everyone celebrating Christmas, not just me.
My "new" routine will be minus the "normal" routine of a retiree. Gone is the familiarity of home. The time frame. The morning crossword.The straight paths from A to B. 
But God.....has given me time with the entire family (all 15) and that's a great gift. The path in the mountains might be a little curvy, and according to this morning's "Winter Weather ALERT!" a lot SNOWY......but I am trusting the Lord to lead the way. Stay in Taos, NM or "mush" on to Colorado?

Regardless of today's decision, my  cuppa "new" rou-TEA-ine will be served with extra measures of, not only snow,  but trust...as I spend time this Christmas with the Lord and family. A great combo.