A Hot Cup of Tea

I like tea; dare I say, tea is my favorite beverage. I like all varieties of tea - from exotic to cheap. What I really love about imbibing a cup of tea is the length of time it takes to drink a cup; the heat as it flows from my mouth; the distinctive flavor; and knowing that it's good for me. Tea becomes more enjoyable when I share with a group of friends or when its complimented with the perfect snack.

Source

The enjoyment of my tea diminishes when I attempt to use the same teabag or filter repeatedly. The first cup is great, the second one is mediocre and by the third time it's just hot water - no good.

While running the other day, I realized that my spiritual life can become like that third cup of tea - trying to reap the benefits of a fresh cup of tea by using a stale teabag. We do that - we figure if we go to church on Sunday and heard a good word - that should last us for a while. Or we figure that we're so steeped in our relationship that missing one or two days of quiet time won't matter. But it matters, as you know something is missing. Without the teabag there is no tea.

That teabag is like the Word; we are the hot water. We need to steep ourselves in the Word frequently, often, daily, hourly.  We have to sit and meditate before we can taste the benefits. Sometimes we need to be re-heated. So don't cheat yourself out of the enjoyment of a good cup of tea. In the same way, with spiritual matters take time every day, dare I say often, to spend time in the Word and learn and grow from it - don't simply rely on knowledge as it will grow stale after a while.

Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! Proverbs 8:34 [NLT]

Give us today the food we need,...Matthew 6:11 [NLT]

And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. Acts 17:11 [NLT]

As someone once said, "Life is like a good cup of tea; it all depends on how you make it."

Are you cheating yourself out of a good cup of tea?

My Cup Runneth Over

Mother's Day and my first child - the Boy, graduating from College - my cup runneth over!
Having most of the family together and all of the antics that entails - my cup runneth over!
Missing one daughter who is still overseas, but using the wonders of technology so that she is able to see her brother walk across the stage - my cup runneth over!
Conversations with my husband and reflecting on how far we've come; talking to our children and hearing and seeing the maturity in them; enjoying the innocence of a 9 year old; visiting the east coast and hanging out with my brother and his family - my cup runneth over!


You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Psalm 23b (NIV)  
When the English began manufacturing tea cups they imitated the Chinese style of small bowls without handles. Around the mid 1700’s, handles were added so that women wouldn’t burn their fingers. Saucers, originally small plates to hold sauce, eventually became part of the cup and saucer set. At the end of the Victorian era and the beginning of Edwardian days, people often poured the tea from their cups into their saucers to cool the beverage before sipping it.  It was an acceptable practice then, but definitely gauche now.  Yes, I drink from my saucer when my family is all under one roof and it isn’t a faux pas.  Whether we are celebrating or struggling, David says in Psalm 16:11, “Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.”  My cup is filled with my Shepherd’s loving security and His love and faithfulness overflow.  The only way to respond is to drink from my saucer to catch all that He has for me. (Excerpted from Nutter, Marilyn (2012-03-16). Tea Lovers Devotions to Go (Kindle Locations 248-250). See Media, Inc.. Kindle Edition)

The tassel was worth the hassle - my cup runneth over!

I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day and celebrated with those you love.

I sincerely wish that your cup would run over also!