Spiritual For-TEA-tude

My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. (Proverbs 4:20-22, ESV)

I have prayed the Proverb that coincides with each of my kids' (and now their spouses and grands) birthdays for as long as I can remember.

Attentiveness comes from being in God's word. How else does one know what God is saying. "Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge," (Proverbs 22:17) is prayed often for those born on the 22nd.

Love the marks on the inside.

"A well worn Bible is sign of a well fed soul," as the saying goes. And when it's a son's Bible, it warms the mother's heart more than any cuppa.

SABBATH SNAPSHOT : Genteeli-TEA

A southern lady is often seen as genteel, albeit sometimes with a little added pretense. However, to me, true gracious goodness is something to aspire to for this southern Kentucky gal. So my Southern Lady magazine, a gift from a sweet friend, is a bi-monthly +1 treat---any more issues than that and I lag behind. Plus, it has fewer ads than Southern Living, fewer pages than Good Housekeeping & no racy topics like Redbook started publishing a few years ago. Just  more beautiful pictures---perfect for an old lady on the go.

The most recent issue had an intro to a Christian author from Nashville and a cookbook review. Favorite sections include "Recipe Box," which included a pecan pie, which I'm made to share tonight at "pie on the patio" with neighbors, great southern cities' escape ideas, "Seasonal Settings," a verse of scripture on the editor's "Sincerely" page and as always, a great "Afterthought" section which has an inspirational quote.

 "By all these lovely tokens 

September days are here. 

     With summer's best of weather

And autumn’s best of cheer." 

Helen Hunt Jackson, "September"

Not a book review, but a Sunday "review," nonetheless.

migh-TEA cuppa re-brew

So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11, NIV)

Why do you start each of this year's "Tea with Thee" blogs with a scripture?
A mighty backbone for a Christian's blog is God's Word. For His word does not return unto Him void. Though I will pass away, His words will never pass away. (Matthew 24:35) His words will be there for my grands & great grands. Thus, I start each blog entry with a scripture---as His word not only saves us, it instructs us. (Titus 2:11-12)

What's with the "tea" wordplay?
Part of who I am is a hot tea aficionado.....so that makes it fun for me. It's what all my grandkids know about me. But also it gives me something to hang my hat on and jog my memory. Any memory jogging is useful at this age. I know some of them are a real stretch but emails and comments form folks have let me know that they too have amused themselves by coming up with tea words and sharing them with me. A connectivi-TEA in more ways than one.

Will you continue the "tea" theme next year?
Possibly, but only on occasion.  Frankly, I'm  hoping for a respite from the compulsion to post daily entries.  I do have a few "dance" ideas still floating in my head and friend Beth recommended that approach. But God....usually has His own ideas. I rarely know which way an entry will go as my fingers start typing.

God's word is the only "constant" so I keep blogging, and each entrywill be based on His truth that never fades. As Peter wrote, "people are as transient as the withering grass". (1 Peter 1:24)

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. (Isaiah 40:8)

Another cuppa of His word, which is migh-TEA to save and is from everlasting to everlasting.

migh-TEA BIG cuppa

Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6, NIV)

Why blog? 

Maybe because it will have lasting value for my grandchildren. Tweets, Instagram and even FB seem more ephemeral. Tweets evaporate almost instantly and Instagram and FB too follow into an almost black hole within a month. I want my "grands" and great grands to know of my faith---after I'm long gone. A faith that anchors my soul.

Why blog daily? 

Certainly not to add more cobwebs to the "blogosphere." But God seemed to "compel me" to daily blogging this year.

Is blogging hard work? 

Yes......Though it's not as hard as building a temple would have been for Zerubbabel in the above verse, it's beyond my own strength. If my blogging is not Spirit led, it is rubbish with no lasting value. Often, I wonder if the time to quit is drawing nigh, especially when I don't "feel" His power and and the writing seems "toilsome." (Ecclesiastes 2:26) 

How does one know if her blogging pleases God?

The other day I asked myself the same question. And tho the "drop and plop" method is not spiritual, recently I did just that---finding 1 Corinthians 10:13 and a Harriet Beecher Stowe quote that I hope explains my purpose.

I did not write it. God wrote it. I merely did His dictation.

Stowe's writing coupled with God's word would be a "migh-TEA BIG cuppa to digest....but hopefully even my small blog is sincerely written in wholehearted service to the Lord in order to glorify Him.

at-TEA-boy! At-TEA girl!

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. (Ephesians 4:29, NLT)

As all teachers know, it takes at least 10 "attaboys" or "attagirls" to temper one "now-now" negative. 

Kids need encouragement.....but then, so do adults. Heart to Heart Bible study teacher, Crickett reiterated that last night as she shared a great model for a "Ministry of Encouragement" from 2 Timothy 1:1-7.

5 Ways to Encourage Others

(as Paul encouraged Timothy)

1. Love them- (v. 2 & 4) & show that love.
2. Pray for them- (v. 3) & keep on praying.
3. Affirm them- (v. 5) in their faith walk.
4. Exhort them- (v. 6) to be all that God has called them to be.
5. Remind them- (v. 7) of all the Lord's resources that are available to them.

What a great reminder that spiritual at-TEA-boys are good for spiritual health as well as emotional health. 

Each at-TEA-girl fills someone's cuppa with much needed positivi-TEA. Thanks to Crickett for filling our cuppa week after week!

Conviviali-TEA

So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 8:15, NLT)

I followed the advice of the "Preacher" of Ecclesiastes and this morning joined a couple of our local preachers and other members of the household of faith for pickleball. What patience those "pros" showed us---the female beginners. Just "getting" that 0-4-2 was a score was the first stretching I had to do.

A great time for physical exercise--semi-physical for this less competitive one--fellowship and plain ole fun. I thought there was going to be food as well---a real draw for me. But, the "kitchen" that was mentioned was actually just a section of the court. Oh well, it's a little hard to swallow anyway---if your gasping for breath. 

But, I was served a mug full of conviviali-TEA---a cuppa would be too dainty for this crew......yet one I would want to serve others.

Fini-TEA-ude : a fuzzy cuppa

Even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; And I will bear you and I will deliver you. (Isaiah 46:4, NASB)

In all seasons of life, many of us go through many growth-type cycles. As children we want to be taller in order to qualify for a Disney ride. As aging adults we shrink but it’s okay because those rides would throw our back out anyway. As pre-teens, we want to be old enough to drive while as "senior" folks we like to be driven, at least this gal does.

My Freedom of Simplicity e-audio book stated that finitude is a cycle……a growth cycle known as aging. Of growing old---at least I think that’s what I heard as I was dozing off last night. I do understand finitude as being finite and having limits. I see that every time I’m asked, to check an age category when filling out forms or applications. 65 and above is always the "last" one.

So grateful that retirement has been a part of my aging cycle---just as it was for Bob M. when he retired from RCA.

Maybe aging is seen as cyclical when the very “old” revert to their childish ways. Interestingly enough, for years young people have wanted to look older to gain admittance to movies or bars while many of the aged try desperately to stall the effects of aging in order to “look” younger. Each age trying to interrupt the God-given life cycles.

Yet, finitude really seems linear to me---as a way of seeing the length of one's days. Certainly one's season of aging can be thought of as the “finite season.” When you reach the end.....you fall in. A 6-foot drop!

But God…is there for eterni-TEA, so..... I can continue to sip my cuppa fini-TEA-ude, whether it’s cyclical or linear, because God has determined the length of my days. (Job 14:5)

Sereni-TEA : one cuppa at a time

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:24, NIV)

A recent email from DOC in LA, a self-proclaimed "king of naps" reminded me of the value of a good old fashion nap.  I even blogged 5 years ago about being the "queen" of said naps.
Plus, this time last year I had given myself a re-gift in the form of a nap.
Everyone has their own nap strategies. In college, LA Doc could put his head down on the desk for a 7 minute nap. Even as a working adult, he would prop his feet on his desk after lunch for a little snooze. Hubby stretches out in his big brown leather recliner and and lets the Jeopardy™ theme song lull him to sleep. I learned the value of a short nap from Millie D of Tennessee who crawled into bed for hers.

Research shows that a little nap will do you ---and is good for you. It seems good for me because I seem to sleep peacefully. When I awaken and it's still daylight, all those dragons of the dark have no power. With a nap there's no tension about trying to fall asleep. It's as easy as falling off a log. But....at night, I want to sleep like one, not fall off of it.

A quick sleep in the daytime never seems to come with the night-time baggage. Often in the dark of night, sweet sleep is interrupted with worries. Thoughts that race as I try desperately to return to sleep---so fearful of being tired the next day. Most concerns can not even be remedied in the night. Did I pay that Visa bill? Did I return DT's call? Why would Dr. Smith want me to schedule a visit? Wonder if grands will remember to.....?

I love what Hemingway said about sleep.
"I love sleep because life has a tendency to fall apart when I'm awake." For me that would read...when I'm "awake in the night."

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety, is how the psalmist states it in 4:8. Safe-TEA from those dreaded thoughts in the dark.
That's it in a nutshell---the pursuit of peace even as one sleeps. There's just something so peaceful and serene about a nap! As DOC says, "Long live the nap!"

I'll drink to that----with a cuppa warm herbal sereni-TEA to carry me peacefully into  sleep, regardless of the time of day.

SABBATH SNAPSHOT : s-TEA-ress & s-TEA-rain of marriage

Following a weekend wedding, a book on marital bliss seemed appropriate to review----tho some of the portrayals showed some not so blissful nuptial moments. Certainly all marriages have  both. The stress and strain of any marriage can be daunting, but when one factors in the role of a very public ministry, that relationship can face tough obstacles.
C.S. Lewis Had a Wife by William Peterson is a look at marriages of some stalwarts of the Christian faith. Even these 5 couples, as Peterson's research revealed, had to face everyday sorts of problems, typical in all marriages. 

None of the book is written in "southern English" and those chapters written in "olde English" leave room for deciphering for this southern miss. Founder of the Presbyterian denomination in Scotland, John Knox, who settled into marriage, his first of two, at the age of 42, wrote in a letter describing self as "now burdenit with dowbill caris." (p. 33) Of course, as one who took his mother-in-law along on his homeymoon, Knox might have lamented thrice caris. But even years after death of wife Marjory (at age 25) he described her as "darrest spouse of blessit memorie." (p. 44)

The Hudson Taylor entry, told of early rejections from two different fiancés and his ensuing marriage to Maria, an orphan who would be such a backbone to his China Inland Mission that Taylor "learned to value her judgment and prayerfulness that he never took a step without consulting her." (p. 71) They buried two of their children together and then tho he felt "utterly crushed" when she died in childbirth, he drew closer to the Lord and was able to "thank Him for ordering it for her, that she might be with Him." (p.82) 
Taylor, along with his second wife Jennie and through China Inland Mission, put 825 missionaries on the field by 1905---all 'for Jesus sake.' (p. 86)

My favorite entry was "Meet Jack (C.S.) and Joy Lewis."
C. S. Lewis did not marry until age 60 and his spouse, a divorcée, was considered by many as a most unusual woman---a marriage of the minds. "For Jack the attractions was a t first intellectual...in width of interest, in analytical grasp, and above all in humor and sense of fun." (from brother Warren's diary entry, p.165) An ecclesiastical ceremony was performed at what seemed was Joy's death bed. But God gave Jack and Joy a 2 year reprieve. Though eventually she succumbed as the cancer returned, this entry focused on the meaningful time they had together. 
Lewis recalled a belated honeymoon in Ireland, writin, "I'm such a confirmed old bachelor that couldn't help feeling I was being rather naughty staying with a woman at a hotel. Just like people in the newspapers." (p. 170)
Following her death, "in A Grief Observed, Lewis tells how Joy and he 'feasted on love: everymode of it---solemn and merry, romantic and realistic, sometimes as dramatic as a thunderstorm, sometimes as comfortable and unemphatic as putting on your soft slippers.'" (p. 174) 

All in all the book is a good nighttime read---like short stories. Each chapter is a complete entry. Revealingly interesting, concise, mostly calm and inspirational.

Propitious Ma-TEA-ri-mony

Marriage should be honored by all, (Hebrews 13:4, NLT)

Some marriages seem to be made in heaven---though none of that is likely to be totally determined on the wedding day. Yet, tonight's wedding of Emily and Nate certainly came close. A God-honoring ceremony. A great beginning. Propitious---heaven-sent and indicating a good chance of success.

Both graduates of Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Both in professions of service as physician assistants in the medical field. Bride at UTMG and Groom at St. Jude. But more importantly, both are believers. Equally yoked.

The bride, whom I and others had prayed for even before her birth, the groom a young man taking his vows, as unto the Lord, turned facing the world as Pastor Taylor introduced the "you and you who tonight became y'all."

Then..... drove away in a hidden surprise....a 1932 Ford Victoria, restored by the groom's dad....a young couple beginning a life lived as "unto the Lord" in a fun vintage car, no less!