Post 7... Tea, Fire and Romans 12:11-13

               

     

Romans 12:11-13 New International Version (NIV)

11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.         


When my family and I first attended our church I became happily on fire for The LORD. The feeling of utter joy from learning the WORD filled my soul. I looked forward to church throughout the week and when service was over I would ponder and go over the sermon and share the new information I learned. I  studied the word every chance I got. Church members became my church family.

Later on I attended women's bible study and happily did "homework" every night.  My eyes and (more importantly) my heart was opened and ready to receive and share. On Feb 5th 2012 I was baptized for the second time in my life. The first was a decision lovingly made for me by my parents and the second was my own decision to follow Christ for the rest of my life.

I volunteered my time. I wanted to show my church how much they meant to me and how grateful I was to them for embracing my family and I. More importantly I felt the pull from God to do more and I gladly did so. I felt a hunger to do more, to learn more about God's word and God filled my thoughts and heart.

Throughout the years I have seen that happen to a few other members. Recently a new family joined and the mom has that fire. She is happy and joyful. She and her family jumped right in to church and she even volunteered at the christian camp the kids attend. She LOVED it!!!

Every week I see her joyful and excited. She sings at the top of her lungs and I can tell that she looks forward to being in church every week. That makes me so happy... and if I'm honest maybe a bit envious.

I was that woman not so long ago.Where did my fire go? In the Bible verse above it states to" keep your spiritual fervor". That means keep that fire burning for God. Was I losing that fire? I LOVE God, but has it become like a marriage of 25 years? Comfortable and predictable? 

It happens...to the best of them...the fire starts to die down a bit....not out. The golden embers are still bright but the heat is not as high. We question..."wait, what happened?"

What changed?

Sometimes we blame others...Pastors, church members. Maybe there has  been a big change in your life and feel that God is far away.

He's not.

It just might be you.

Think about it....

When you have a nice bonfire and it crackles and rises. It's bright red and orange. It warms you and makes you feel good. As long as you feed it it maintains its brightness and warmth. When you stop adding wood to the fire; it dims.

So how do we get that fire back? 

                                    We feed the flame. 

We continue to go to church. We join a bible study... and like it says in the Bible verse above "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality."

 Spend time with God and His word everyday even if its just a a verse. Join a bible study and learn about and understand His word more. Share this love with others.  Help those that need a hand...volunteer (and nothing is too small a task).  We have someone who makes sure the tiny pencils are placed in the seat backs for church members to use on Sundays...that's important and so beautiful  because she does it in The LORD's name. And don't forget to share your heart and concerns. Have others pray for you. There is great comfort in knowing that others are lifting you up in prayer...and don't forget to pray for others too. Strength is often the result. 

If you feel that God is far...remember He didn't walk away...maybe you did. Its OK though...No matter how far you feel...all you have to do is turn around and He is right there....turn around.

God loves you.

Stay warm in HIS love!

Blessings, Joanne

        

   

Post 6...Tea, Sand and Matthew 6:25-27

                                   

                              

Matthew 6:25-27 New International Version (NIV)

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]? 


                    I'm a worrier, I have always been....so when I first really read this bible passage it was difficult for me to swallow.  I guess the "worry" came with the territory.  I grew up in a rough kind of scary area of New York City. I worried when my brothers were out. I worried about my Dad and Mom. When my Dad was laid off I stayed awake worrying about being homeless (though my Dad never missed a bill or rent). Later on I worried about my boyfriend (later my Hubby) who was in the army and was deployed several times.
My worrying went into overdrive when we had our children. The first day we had our daughter home from the hospital I called the doctor...

            "Hi Doctor, on the pamphlet I received from the hospital it says to call if the baby has really explosive gas...she does...is there something wrong with my baby?" I was seriously asking a doctor about my child's farts!"

         He patiently asked "Are you breast feeding?"

            "Yes" I answered

            When He found out that I had eaten tomato sauce and a whole lot of gas producing foods he simply said "Well there ya go. Stop eating those foods and she should be ok, remember she is essentially ingesting what you eat." 

I felt like an idiot, and I'm sure I sounded like one too. When the baby slept I worried that she wouldn't wake up and when she was awake I worried that I would never get her to sleep...ever! 

I find that most of the things I worry about are unfounded. The night before my child went to kindergarten I dreamt that someone stole the bus just to kidnap all the children. I woke in a sweat and when it came time for my baby to get on the bus....I raced to my car and followed it to the school and waited in the parking lot with all the other scared parents to see that my child got off the bus and entered the school. I wondered if I would do that today? Now that I have been baptized and have learned so much about God's word...and it says NOT to worry! I wonder if I would still race to my car to see her walk into school?  Would I worry all day? maybe. 

Keith Krell (a senior Pastor working in Spokane, WA) writes in his post titled 

Lifestyles of the Content & Worry-Free (Matthew 6:25-34) 

"There’s a difference between concern and worry. Concern is when you can do something to help a situation, so you do what you can do. Worry is when you can’t do something, but you don’t want to leave it up to God. In other words, worry is concern gone haywire."

Alrighty then, I think I may be making some progress....because when I have done all that I can to avoid catastrophe or mistakes and I still feel that pang of worry I do pray. I do try to give it up to God. I'm getting better at this. The times that I don't...I find myself choking on worry and anxiety. This bible verse speaks to me and lets me know that I have to give that worry up, because as it says in verse 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?

The answer of course is NO. So if it is not useful as "concern" and the Bible says that we shouldn't worry...Why do we? Why do I? It's empty and bottomless. It makes you feel alone and lost. There is no reward to worrying. Do I think I am stronger than God? Do I have more answers than God? NO!

I look at a church in India that my church sponsors and I am humbled at their trust in God. They are poor and trust that God will provide what they need and HE DOES! They live in a place where they can get arrested for believing in Christ yet they worship and praise HIM. Some have families that have disowned them and yet they trust God. There in that worship and praise is where I need to be. I need to Trust HIM. Reading this bible verse helps to remind me and I hope it helps you today. 

Don't worry; He's got you!

Blessings, Joanne

Post 5...Tea, Sun and Psalm 23

                                                   

                                Photo taken by my son David which I guess is appropriate since
                                             todays's verse was written by King David.



Psalm 23
1 

A psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
    forever.

This is probably the most comforting psalm in the Bible. It was written by King David and Describes God as a shepherd. The job of the shepherd is to feed and keep safe his sheep. The Lord feeds us with his Word and comfort us with His promise....

I love the first line The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

HE is everything, there is nothing better. I have met people that had virtually nothing, but were still satisfied because they had GOD.

Ten years ago I received the diagnosis of breast cancer. Throughout the whole ordeal I leaned on the Lord. As I prayed and went through painful tests and results I pictured God as a Shepherd/farmer clearing the path in front  of me. At first I pictured myself little and hiding behind him as he cleared the way. Something amazing happened though as I read His word and grew closer to HIM.

                              I became strong. I was calm~ he refreshes my soul.

I gained a strength that was God given...there was no other explanation. Sometimes It was so overwhelming and I felt so blessed~You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

I was comforted by the assurance that God Loved me. He LOVES ME and He cares for me. Nothing in the world could ever separate that Love from me. HIS love is overflowing. 

There are times that we are brought to our knees with desperation. Heaven knows that I have cried out to God many times and there are times that I was not spared the anguish of a loved ones passing or a scary trial. We cry out and This psalm tells us of His unfailing love and gives us hope and strength through those times. 

He Loves and cares for you Dear one and that will never ever change.

I would love to know if this psalm is special to you or has helped you.

Have a beautiful day!

Post 4...Tea, Lemon Cake and Psalm 139:14

                                       


                                           

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:16 | NIV | 

            I was recently honored to be a part of my best friend's wedding. She had always been such a big part of every big moment of my life and I was over-the-moon to be a part of her big day. 

 Over the years I have gained a significant amount of weight. About 60 pounds since I was married 23 years ago. I have tried to lose some but it creeps back.  I have gone home in tears when I find nothing that looks even remotely pretty in the dressing rooms. 

I searched high and low for a maid of honor dress and the bride and I settled for one after days of searching. It was not my favorite. Though it was a beautiful dress, I felt it was made for a much younger thinner person. I wanted to wear something that covered my arms and was modest. but the dresses that came it the particular color of the wedding were few.

I recently looked at the pictures of the wedding and everyone ...everyone looked beautiful and elegant except me. My Gorgeous friend glowed in her exquisite dress and veil. The Groom was handsome and the best man was svelte and dapper in his tux. I was expecting to look a certain way and I didn't. I looked so old and flabby. I towered over people and I was like a piece from a Child's 10-piece puzzle (big and obvious)--trying to fit into a 1,000 piece puzzle made up of tiny intricate pieces. I stuck out and didn't fit in. I cried thinking that I somehow ruined the pictures.  With my imperfect body and flawed hair. I looked old and not elegant at all.

One time a co-worker who I adored mentioned her glasses. I did a double take and said " Hey I didn't know you wore glasses! When did you get those?" She laughed out loud and answered " I have always worn glasses." Then she got close to my face and said one of the sweetest things I have ever heard " You didn't see them because you look at at me from the inside not outside".

She was one of the most beautiful people I've ever known. 

Why then can I not see my beauty?

Why, did I look at the wedding photos and not see the person who ran around that day trying to make the day perfect for my friend? Why didn't I see the pride and love I felt for her and her groom who beat all the odds and found each other? Why didn't I see the person who made the pretty centerpieces  for her shower and tried to make them perfect because she deserved perfect in her life. Why couldn't I see INSIDE OF ME? I was so focused on the outside and what people who saw the pictures would think.

I felt down and stupid for making this so important....it was just a symptom of a bad week. Earlier I had gone to bible study and didn't understand any of the questions or comparisons. I struggled finding the "addresses" of the assigned verses and felt so out of place while others easily answered and compared and contrasted with more scriptures. 

Then this morning I opened my bible.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
Psalm 139:13-14 | NIV 

Psalm 139 is absolutely beautiful. It tells us He Knows all....He knows us... every bit of us, and he Loves us. It tells us we are wonderfully made!

What a beautiful description...We...that means you too are wonderfully made!

He knew us before we were born. And he loves us...flaws and all. All he wants is for us to love Him with all our hearts.

He doesn't care that I'm not an expert in the Bible. He cares that I have a hunger for it.

He doesn't look at my weight gain and fading beauty...he looks in my heart and sees ME, and HIS Word revives me day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 
I'm am His Child.

You are too.

Post 3...Tea with Matthew 17:14-20...Faith and a Donut Recipe

I love tea cups and I am always looking for new ones to purchase. Right beside this one is a homemade donut. OK, the easiest recipe EVER! I'll post it at the end....and it's super yummy.

Every Wednesday there is a bible study at our church called Faith and Family. Families start at the main church with a prayer and song. Then the topic is introduced or continued. At this time the small children and youth group go into their rooms to discuss with leaders the same verses. 

This week it was Matthew 17:14-20

       

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy

14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

The leader for the night asked “Now who do you think Jesus was talking to?” 

Some said he was talking to everyone, some said he was talking to his disciples. Then the conversation went in the way of faith and what faith can do. They talked and asked about faith so powerful that a mustard seed’s worth ( mustard seeds are insanely small) could move mountains. 

Now, dear reader I am always very quiet during bible studies. I’m surrounded by people who can quote scripture and it’s meaning all day long. I cannot. And I have the additional gift of stammering and forgetting words when nervous so.... there ya go. 

I did not see what everyone was talking about. From the verses I got that Jesus was a teacher who was trying tough love on his students. I thought he was saying something like “ oh come on, haven’t we done this a million times? You should know this already! Have some faith here! Just a little bit and you could do this!”

I mean imagine if you were the disciples and there is the Dad who brought his son for help and you couldn’t help at all. There’s Jesus saying “ seriously?! You couldn’t help him?” They might have felt a bit ashamed and at the same time felt a push to take that leap of faith and do better.

Jesus was trying to push them to realize that they should be ready to do what they had seen so many times before.

How many times have we spoken like this to our own children. We push them a bit to fly on their own. 

“Come on” we say "I know you can do this by now!"  After the study I spoke of my thoughts about the story to my husband. He said "That's a good point, why didn't you raise your hand to speak about it?"

The fact was that I felt scared to open my mouth. I didn't want to appear stupid or have someone counter my opinion with historical facts or cross-referencing with other verses. I didn't want to take the chance. I didn't feel ready.

But I was dear reader, I was. 

I just didn't have faith.

Not a mustard seed worth of faith.

But next time....I will. 


What is your take on the verse? Did anything jump out at you? 

I would love to know.

Have a beautiful day...and remember God Loves you sooooo much!





Recipe for the easiest home made donuts ever!

Buy a tube of biscuit dough. I don't use the flaky but I will try it next time. Even though I used the big tube this time I suggest using the smaller one.

butter

cinnamon 

sugar

oil


Fill a pan till about 1/2 inch-3/4 inch full of oil

if using big tube...cut out holes in the middle. if using the small tube you can leave it whole or even cut it in half for a cool shape.

fry both sides until golden brown

at the same time melt some butter in a pot.

pour sugar and cinnamon mixed onto a plate or bowl

when donut is done dip both sides in the butter then dip both sides in the sugar and cinnamon mixture....and voila!!! Done!!!
The one I made in the picture was a bit too well done but it was still yummy!

Post 2... Tea and Hagar Again

Hi there, so you are back. YAY!

 I'm really glad. Today I set up again at the bay window facing my back yard. 

I bought the cup and saucer in a thrift store. It's one of my favorites. And the cookies are lemon cookies that I bought from the girls scouts...they go great with tea. I hope you have your tea cup ready and have something yummy to nibble on. Ready to dive into the WORD? Lets go!


So back to Hagar, but this time its years and years later. By this time Abram's named was changed to Abraham and Sarai became Sarah.
                                             
        Sarah, finally became pregnant and gave birth to a son and they named him Isaac. After he was weaned they had a great party for him and Sarah saw that Ishmael was mocking. Sarah then insisted that he and his mother Hagar be sent away. Abraham was sad about it but it obliged and sent them away. He gave them food and water and sent them on their way. Hagar wandered in the dessert with her son and when they ran out of water she put her son under a bush and walked away because she did not want to witness him dying. There she began to sob. 

Genesis 21:17-21

17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. 21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.

Ok, so if your familiar with the story of Abraham and Sarah you may wonder why I'm concentrating on Hagar. I mean Abraham and his faith in God and his eventual obedience to God (Genesis 22) is what most people concentrate on when reading this whole story. So why then am I concentrating on the poor slave girl?

The answer is I find her story fascinating and familiar and sad and happy at the same time.  She didn't ask to be a mom, but she was made to be. She did what she was supposed to do but yet she was put out and abandoned. Twice she found herself at the end of her rope and desperate and twice God came to her and saved her and her son.

In my life there have been a few instances where I felt very very close to God. Once, when my husband was deployed with the military for a year, and second when I had cancer. 

Twice, I was at the end of my rope and twice just when I couldn't take the stress and sadness anymore...that is when I let go.

I remember fighting the feeling of absolute terror as every doctor's appointment brought more and more bad news. I tried to keep it together. I tried to keep control. It was to no avail. I felt tortured. It was only when one morning I was sitting at the edge of my bed I cried out to God..."Please take this burden from me! I cannot do this anymore, please carry this for me. I will give this to you because I can't bear it anymore."

Instantly I felt a weight lifted. I actually felt it.

He was there. He heard my cry. HE didn't miraculously take the cancer away that day, but HE comforted me and I knew HE was there. HE gave me a strength that I knew I didn't have before. It was only when I completely let go did I feel God...really feel HIS presence.

Every time I read Hagar's story I wonder if she knew how special it was to have that connection with God not once but twice. Did she feel closer to God?

How many times do we take it upon ourselves and not trust God completely? How many times do we hear that God loves us and cares for us, but when things happen that shake our very body and soul we doubt HE will. We take back the control and try to handle it ourselves. Do we not think we're worthy? Do we trust Him with some, but not all?

The answer is yes, we are human and fallible. We have short memories and are scared of the unknown....Ah but when we know HIM...When we know HIM.... something changes. HE gives us a comfort, and assurance nothing NO ONE else can give. I have witnesses people experience the worst, unimaginable tragedies and lean on God and Trust HIM. I have seen a strength and will in them that can  only be described as heaven sent.

I love that the Bible tells us "20 God was with the boy as he grew up." What a comfort that must have been to Hagar! I think that is so important to know! God is not here one day gone the next. HE is always there. 

What is your take on this story and verses? Do you see anything different? How does this story connect with you? or not? Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you cried out to God? Did you find strength in doing so?

I hope you feel God's love today, because HE DOES LOVE YOU!

Have a beautiful day
Blessings, Joanne

Post 1...Tea and Hagar

         Well, here I go again. Creating yet another blog.

                I have wanted to create one like this for a while now. A place where I was sure to go and read my bible then share it with you. 

Then last week the idea of combining it with a tea for two kind of blog...where you can come on over with your own tea cup and we both can read and discover the Word together.

Want to come over?  

     alrighty then

            Sit in a comfy chair while I bring the tea and snack and lets get started...
           Yes, here is some tea and some cinnamon toast with sugar on top. 

Today I decided to set up at the bay window

I like to make it pretty

even if it's just for me

but now you're here

and I'm glad.

I was thinking of one of my favorite verses

Genesis 16:13

She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her "You are the God who sees me, For she said, " I have now seen the One who sees me"

If you don't know the story...here is a bit of a summary

Hagar, ( the one who said the quote above) was a servant to Sarai (later to be named Sarah) Sarai and her husband Abram ( later to be named Abraham) could not conceive a child. GOD told them that they would, that their offspring would be like the number of stars in the sky. Sarai was impatient. She convinced Abram to have a child with her servant Hagar. When Hagar conceived she behaved differently toward Sarai, and Sarai was not happy. In turn Sarai started to treat Hagar badly...so badly that Hagar fled. When she was in the desert an angel of the LORD came to her and spoke to her, and He told her to go back. She then said to him the verse above.

I love it because she realized that GOD saw her. That HE knew all about her. In those days women were considered almost like property. and a servant was lower still, but yet God sought her out and saw her..really saw her. It spoke to me because he sees us all. Sometimes I feel lower than low. I think, I have sinned so much in my past...I feel unimportant. I feel invisible and unworthy. This story, and especially this verse speaks to me. It tells me that he saw her and she knew it. He sees me. and I know it. He sees you too Dear One, and He loves you. He loves us. 

Thank you for joining me on my very first Tea and Devotion post. Let me know your take on this verse. I would love to know.

Blessings, Joanne