"TEA-ditions"

Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. (Proverbs 5:18, NLT)

Today is our wedding anniversary.....so hubby will have to think hard to visualize any "youth" in said wife. But God, our keeper, has kept us together for 45 years.

Anniversary traditions are always a part of our celebration---

Five years ago I searched far and wide for 40 ruby items....this year it's sapphire BUT 45 sapphire items were way out of this retiree's budget. So...I settled on the things he enjoys most---golf and a glass of wine. Lots of wines come in brilliant sapphire bottles. The problem was which one. Not being a connoisseur of wines, I had to have help. I think the clerk was dumbfounded that I cared more about the richness of the color of the bottle than the richness ("bouquet" in he wine term of a oenophile) of the wine within. Gift 2 is a round of golf at Sapphire Mountain Golf Club for an upcoming trip to western North Carolina when the trees will be brilliant against a rich blue sky.

Naturally, I love all the scriptures reminding husbands to love their wives. (Ephesians 5:22) but many describe what that love will entail.....
"....be exhilarated always with her love...."(Proverbs 5:19c) or as Ecclesiastes 9:9 states, "Live joyfully with the wife whom you love." According to hubby, when I"m happy, it's easier to  to live joyfully with me. So....I've scheduled dinner for us  at the Swag on our extended anniversary trip.
Hopefully, this year's anniversary gifts will provide the perfect cuppa TEA-dition for our celebration.**

**YEA! Hubby's gift follows the TEA-dition as well---Sapphire rules for me, aka Mrs. Rand McNally. An atlas, my favorite gift, had a deep "sapphire" blue cover---I now have Crater Lake blue stars in my eyes! What a thoughtful guy!

"Proximi-TEA" : a 3rd cuppa

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; (Psalm 73:28, NASB)

"Tea with Thee" is all about verse 28 in Psalm 73.

I am no where near Memphis at the moment---think, a rainy PGA championship in Louisville, Ky......but during my quiet time, my location doesn't matter. 
All that truly matters is my proximi-TEA to Him.
Proximini-TEA---an intimate cuppa.

"Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God to Thee, Nearer, my God to Thee, Nearer, to Thee." (Cokesbury Hymnal (1923), 83)

"Irresis-TEA-ble"

Thou hast put gladness in my heart...(Psalm 4:7, NIV)

Tea anytime of day is irresistible to a "hot tea" aficionado. 

Tea served right after "tubby time" by a grandaughter is the Best or as the New Living Translation states, "You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.

Separation from far-off grands has me re-living memories of those irresis-TEA-ble times through photographs.

Praises----as I was having my morning cuppa at brother Bobby's, a text arrived with a pic of Lucy, already at a Brooklyn playground. My plain cuppa became irresis-TEA-ble as it was sweetened with a "digital shot" just minutes old.

"TEA-raining"

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2, NIV)

When I teach, I can go to preaching so this verse seems appropriate for today as I go to share with the St. Luke's Methodist Day School Teachers.

What a privilege. What a responsibility! 

Kids count---a lot. Teaching counts---a lot. My words need to count---a lot.

Words to be useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16)

A cuppa "TEA-raining" served in my sheep mug and tempered with responsibili-TEA, as I go forth to feed His sheep, to those who will be tending His lambs. What a privilege. What a BIG responsibility!

LILES LEARNINGS FROM THE TRENCHES OF PRE-SCHOOL

(nothing earth-shattering, just observations)

• ·      Don’t rob a child of his childhood.
• ·      Allow children to think outside the box.
• ·      Allow children to color outside the lines or create their own lines.
• ·      First impressions have lasting significance.
• ·      Never do anything for a child that he can do or learn to do (with developmentally appropriate guidance) on his own.
• ·      Separate and simplify. (Break down into doable steps.)
• ·      Train the eye, at an early age, for the reading experience.
• ·      Without comprehension there is no reading.
• ·      The more one reads (or is read to) the more one knows when he reads.
• ·      Don’t stop reading aloud. Pass it on, even at home.
• ·      It does matter what one reads.

Dicot-TEA-my of me

15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. (Romans 17:15-21, NLT)

"The devil made me do it is," what Flip Wilson said, as his character, Geraldine Jones. According to these verses, Wilson got it right. This scripture rings true just as Wilson's quip. It is the sin within that can negatively influence the lives of believers, especially their good intentions.

These verses reflect a part of life that all of us experience but rarely talk about when we come to church on Sunday morning. They're also not easy to include on a blog. Even Pogo (Comic strip) “We have met the enemy and he is us.” 

The law certainly convicts of sin. It feels like a war within. Guilt occurs. I, like many Christians, wear guilt well. 

But God, in his mercy, has made His righteousness available for us, apart from the Law. No more "legalistic" law keeping,---just allowing Christ keeping us.

I needed to remember that today as I set aside my quiet time to pursue projects. The struggle has continued most of the day. The good news is.....the day is not over. I'm heading to my prayer chair to unwrap a new cuppa faith.

entrea-TEAs

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14, KJV)

The first Monday of the month is the day I meet with a small group of like-minded pray-ers in the prayer room at our church. Prayer for Revival is the official name of our cadre. Much of the prayer focus is for our church, our city and our nation. These prayers of people, called by His name, are more than just petitions. These earnest and humble prayers are for the healing of all the aforementioned communities.
Scripture passages are chosen for meditation. Psalm 9:1-10 was the morning's selection. Appropriately chosen because all of us wanted to "enter into His gates with praise," as "God inhabits the praises of His people." (Psalm 22:3) The first verse of Psalm 9 does just that.

Our heart felt prayers easily segue into prayers for each other and our families because this is a "safe place" to share the desires of our hearts.

What a privilege to continue in prayer throughout the day with entreaties for those with whom we have knelt (in our hearts) before His throne of grace.

A cuppa entrea-TEA that lasts throughout the day.

SABBATH SNAPSHOT : hones-TEA of commi-TEA-ment

Kyle Idleman, in his book, not a fan., asks the reader for an honest diagnosis of his or her commitment to following Jesus. Even the prologue is gripping in its frankness. Fans want what their "team," group or person to "do" for them. Win for them. Entertain them. Feed them. Christ wants more than that. He desires a deeper level of commitment.

Fans have a tendency to confuse their knowledge for intimacy. They don't recognize the difference between knowing about Jesus and truly knowing Jesus. (p. 44) Fans are more focused on the "outside" than the inside. (p.72) 'Everything they do is for show.' (Matthew 23:5, NLT) (p.73)

Throughout the book, the author includes stories of others who wear the label of "not a fan." Real people. Real stories of real commitment.

No Reserves. No retreats. No regrets. (p. 209)

If you want to know if you are a "self-empowered fan" or a spirit-filled follower, Idleman's book will help you answer that question.

Thanks to brother Buddy's gift of this easy to read, yet convicting book, written by the teaching pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY where he attended for several years.

A book that goes great with a cuppa hones-TEA of spiritual introspection.

"Commi-TEA-ment"

 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord,.....(Colossians 3:23, KJV)

Commitment is necessary for fruitful growth in both the physical and spiritual realms of life. No where is this seen more clearly than in the physical realm of a garden.

Anyone can plant a garden. I plant. My neighbor Lynda plants. Yet,.....what a difference in the "fruit" of our labors. We both plant---BUT she tends. Faithfully tends. Consistently. Think daily!

Planted, but not "tended."

Well tended.

Our spiritual growth needs tending as well. Too often, in our spiritual lives, we can become self-absorbed, even during time spent with the Lord. Focusing more on our pleas for self than seeking Him. "Self" needs weeding in order for truth to flourish.  Extraneous thoughts need weeding as well. Needless clutter can occur and choke out truth. Tending to our thought life is crucial for spiritual growth.

Commi-TEA-ment is a blend of hear-TEA-ly and consis-TEA-ntly.

Headed back to my prayer chair with my refilled cuppa commi-TEA-ment.

Dichot-TEA-my of Prayer

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:6, ESV)

Prayerfully mulling this..............Quite a conundrum for me at this point.

Continued mulling into the night.

How does one (a pray-er) reconcile this with other scripture?

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV) *

Isn't telling someone you have prayed for them a form of encouragement? But...doesn't sharing with others reveal the secrecy of the prayer?

Doesn't the apostle Paul, himself, write the people of Colosse that he gives thanks for them and will always pray for them?

...will not cease to pray for you, (Colossians 1:9)

Isn't intercessory prayer Paul's first exhortation to Timothy, as a leader of the church in Ephesus?

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men; (1 Timothy 2:1)

The epistle scriptures seem inconsistent with Jesus' instructions in Matthew's verse, on the how to's of prayer.....but maybe it's not an "either /or" determination. Maybe they aren't mutually exclusive or contradictory. 

A true dichotomy? Maybe not opposites....just different??

Still mulling over my questioning cuppa dichot-TEA-my.

* 8/2 received email from Wynellen that answered one aspect of my questioning.

For me, encouragement comes when I know others have prayed for me. Pasted below is just the beginning of the email that listed prayers lifted not only for me but for each of my children and their families as well. I'm encouraged!!

Just finished praying for you.  I always catch up on your blog bf I pray so I can know what might be on your heart. Not sure about the emotions and tears Sunday, but thanked God for being El Roi- the God Who sees you and knows our cries. And then for the heritage you are leaving your children and grandchildren.......

commonali-TEA

The Lord is your keeper; .....The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 121:5, 7-8, ESV)

A commonali-TEA often shared by parents and grandparents is desiring God's best for their offspring, which they hope includes their longevity as well. But, too often, fears of the "what if" can creep in and rob them of their peace. 

Last week's large powerful waves at the beach and the accompanying rip tide had me on a constant "fearful alert." Knowing I had prayed for safety did not provide the unwavering confidence that "all would be fine." 

My heart's desire was that the Lord, who is my Keeper and my Protector, would keep us all safe. I certainly prayed for safety and had other prayer warriors praying as well. But God...keeps us. Safety, as being vigilant, was in my hands, both prayerfully and physically. But security was in God's hands. 

Regardless of circumstances, (even those that appear life-threatening)...He is our keeper for eternity. The crux of keeping is in soul keeping. 

"If our soul is kept, all is kept." (C. H.Spurgeon)

A cuppa fearful commonali-TEA needs to be exchanged for a cuppa securi-TEA, which only the Lord can provide.