Thursday, Tea, and Tidbits

This morning I woke up to my online newsfeed to hear of three deaths this week that effect three families from my church. Not knowing the deceased or those who experience loss very well, it still has a way of making one consider the brevity of life, and yet have hope that Heaven and our loved ones await us.

As I drove over to a violin student's home later this morning, I turned on the local radio station and the following song was playing. It sounded like an old gospel song sung from the 50s or 60s, but it was the words that stuck out to me:

The timeless theme, Earth and Heaven will pass away.
It’s not a dream, God will make all things new that day.
Gone is the curse from which I stumbled and fell.
Evil is banished to eternal hell.

No more night. No more pain.
No more tears. Never crying again.
And praises to the great "I AM."
We will live in the light of the risen Lamb.

See all around, now the nations bow down to sing.
The only sound is the praises to Christ, our King.
Slowly the names from the book are read.
I know the King, so there’s no need to dread.

No more night. No more pain.
No more tears. Never crying again.
And praises to the great "I AM."
We will live in the light of the risen Lamb.

See over there, there’s a mansion, oh, that’s prepared just for me,
Where I will live with my savior eternally.

No more night. No more pain.
No more tears. Never crying again.
And praises to the great "I AM."
We will live in the light of the risen Lamb.

All praises to the great "I AM."
We’re gonna live in the light of the risen Lamb.

Words & music by Walt Harrah

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." John 14:18

Thursday, Tea, and Tidbits

Elisabeth Elliot writes in her book, Let Me Be a Woman:

"The way you keep house, the way you organize your time, the care you take in your personal appearance, the things you spend your money on all speak loudly about what you believe. 'The beauty of Thy peace' shines forth in an ordered life. A disordered life speaks loudly of disorder in the soul." emphasis mine

I ask myself: What do I believe about God? about myself? about my circumstances? about my future? It shows in my daily life, whether I want it to or not.

My sister shared the following a couple weeks ago and I found it to be most helpful to be reminded of Truth:

Kids don't have to turn out like their parents... and I'm glad.
Our past doesn't have to be our future... and I'm glad.
God's mercies are new every single morning... and I'm glad about that.
The evil one will NOT get the last say.. And I'm glad about that.
Our enemy will fall into the trap that he set for us... and I'm glad about that.
For all those who love God and are called according to His purpose, everything has to work out for our good... and I'm glad about that.
We have not out-sinned Christ's ability to forgive us... and I am glad about that.
Christ will come back and He will claim His kingdom... and I am glad about that.
There is a world coming that will have no more bad news, no more crying, no more sickness, no more death... and I am glad about that.
The last enemy Christ will slay is death... and I am glad.
Psalm 126:3, "The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad."
 

(Beth Moore, Passion 2013)

 

 

 

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you

free." John 8:32

 

Thursday, Tea, & Tidbits

There is great hope that energy will return, and sitting down at a sewing machine won't sound so overwhelming. Until then, I've decided to make use of my Thursday's during the summer months by making a weekly blog series of encouraging thoughts and tidbits that have come my way over the course of the week.

 

Go ahead and fix yourself a cup of tea or coffee if you like. I was going to brew some chamomile tea and then realized I was out, so I used up my last tea bag of Aveda's Comforting tea.

 



 

The following comes from a vintage copy of "Springs in the Valley" by Mrs. C. E. Cowman. Yes, it's the same woman who compiled "Streams in the Desert." I never new she had another book until I was roaming the shelves of our local thrift store last year and quickly picked up the blue hardbound copy for a couple of dollars. It has dog-eared pages; something I was taught to n.e.v.e.r do. But somehow I don't find it detestable, but rather convenient to find pages that were once helpful and encouraging to "Mr and Mrs. Orvin Himelick from Ira and Bertha, Christmas 1946" according to the handwriting on the inside.

 

"When ye pray, say . . . Father." (Luke 11:2)



It is strange how little use we have of the spiritual blessings when God gives us, but it is stranger still how little we make use of God Himself. Though He is "our own God," we apply ourselves but little to Him. How seldom do we ask counsel at the hands of the Lord! How often do we  go about our business without seeking His guidance! In our troubles how constantly do we strive to bear our burdens  ourselves, instead of casting them upon the Lord that He may sustain us! This is not because we may not, for the Lord seems to say, "I am thine soul, come and make use of Me as thou wilt; thou mayest come freely to my store, and the oftener the more welcome" It is our own fault if we do not make free with the riches of our own God.

Then, learn thou hast such a Friend, and He invites thee, draw from Him daily. Never want whilst thou hast God to help thee; go thy treasure and take whatever thou needest--there is all that thou canst want.

Learn the divine skill of making God all things to thee. He can supply thee with all; or, better still, He can be to thee instead of all. Let me urge thee, then, to make use of Thy God. Make use of Him in prayer; go to Him often, because He is thy God. Oh, wilt thou fail to use so great a privilege? Fly to Him; tell Him all thy wants. Use Him constantly by faith at all times. If some dark providence  has beclouded thee, use thy God as a "sun"; if some strong enemy has beset thee, find in Jehovah as a "shield."; for He is a sun and shield to His people. If thou hast lost thy way in the mazes of life, use Him as a "guide"; for He will direct thee. Whatever thou art, and wherever thou art, remember God is just what thou wantest, and just where thou wantest and that He can do all thou wantest!

-C. H. Spurgeon

 

"O little heart of mine! Shall pain

Or sorrow make thee moan,

When all this God is all for thee--

A Father all thine own?"