My Tea Time With Jesus

Proverbs‬ ‭25:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬ "Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow." WOW! If that is not direct, I don't know what is?!?! Just as the bible tells us that ALL sin is "sin" - none greater than an other, so to is "thinking" of hurting someone and or saying things to hurt them. Unfortunately, with our society so quick to spread "news" even if they don't have all of the facts - it almost always leads to false information. The truth is distorted, stretched, and bent almost to something unrecognizable! Sad. I'm not sure if you have ever been on the receiving end of someone telling lies about you, but I have. And these verses say it exactly! It feels as thought they have actually caused physical harm with an object. Sometimes, the 'hurt' goes away, but it usually leaves a deep, inner scar.      Or perhaps, you have been the one on the ...

Proverbs‬ ‭24:3-4‬ ‭NLT‬‬ "A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables." What a beautiful MEF (minds eye flash) I had reading these verses. Looking at a piece of land, where a house is going to be built. It is bare, nothing there. Then all of a sudden, there is a foundation. However, the foundation has 'words' all over it! Words and sayings with phrases that are good and wise: foresight, experience, caution, knowledge, balance, learning.... Then there is a person, bent over, smoothing out the last bit of cement, and His name is Wisdom. I can just tell. It exudes from Him without Him even saying a word. In the way He moves, and with each stroke - there is purpose, reason, and a point of "end" that this is being done for. Then as if watching slow-motion, the house starts to build. Each piece, strategic in its placement. First one piece joined with ano...

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭23:6-8 ‭NLT‬‬ Verses 6-8: Don’t eat with people who are stingy; don’t desire their delicacies. They are always thinking about how much it costs. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it. You will throw up what little you’ve eaten, and your compliments will be wasted. I didn't understand these verses for the longest time. Then one day, I was in the company of someone that actually spoke these words exactly! The Lord had me in a position, to actually hear and see them BEFORE their guests arrived, and then because I helped clean up, I heard and saw the AFTER everyone was gone. I guess, I'm a "safe person", because I really got an ear full! I remember trying to reason, and try to get them to see it from BOTH sides, but just like these verses say, my compliments were wasted! Too bad, that SO many people are concerned with what "others" will say or do - so they put on a false front. All to become someone that they really should not be. I...

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭22:19, 27-28‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Verse 19: O Lord, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid! Verses 27-28: The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to Him. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him. For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations. I'm not sure I ever noticed before, just how much this chapter in the Psalms, is like the end of days for Jesus! From the mocking, dividing of His garments, to the death. Pretty amazing. Verse 19, is a promise we too can claim, when we are in need. Knowing that God is our strength, and that Him and Him alone is the One who can and will save us - is a HUGE comfort to me! This verse is a prayer that we can pray back to God at any time! Verses 27 & 28 give me hope of our future. That here, in our times, people WILL realize that God is the ruler of everything. Everyone will return to Him, like the children we are. That everyone will bow before Him, at some point or a...

Proverbs‬ ‭20:4, 5, 6‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Verse 4: Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest. Verse 5: Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out. Verse 6: Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable? Oh goodness! This whole chapter is FULL of amazing instructions and advise!! However, these ones right here in the middle, struck me for different reasons. Verse 4 actually struck me about 'working out' and getting fit and in shape. How many of us plan to do so at the start of the new year?!?! Then, just a short time later, we have fallen back to old habits, and are no longer doing what we need to do in order to get or stay in shape. Well, This verse struck me about summer vacation. How, I 'know' we are going in a few months. If I would start now, slow and steady, by time vacation came, I would be ready to be active and have fun! In the past, what has happened,...

Proverbs ‭19:2-3, 8, 11, 16, 20‬ ‭NLT Verses 2-3 "Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes. People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord." Verse 8 "To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper." Verse 11 "Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs." Verse 16 "Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death." Verse 20 "Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life." You might ask, "How do I live longer?" Well in Chapter 19 alone, there are TONS of verses that explain just what to do - these ones jumped out to me today. The theme of this chapter, the whole book of Proverbs really, and the whole bible - is to gain wisdom. Listen to the Lord, and follow His ways. Then, you gain wisdom which has TONS of benefits!! Yes, we all will ...

Proverbs 18:10 - "The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to Him and are safe." Another amazing MEF (minds eye flash) on this verse. A sudden storm with wind, rain, and darkness is all about me, and then right ahead of me, almost with a spot light on it, is this HUGE castle type building, that has the name of God, in all sorts of situations, all over it! Yahweh, Prince of Peace, Immanuel, I Am, Elohim, Savior, Good Shepherd.... all over the fortress are these names! It's beautiful, and beckons me to run to it. As I run in, and enter the door, the feeling of safety, security, relief, rest, warmth all flood me and cover me like the best fuzzy blanket ever!       Then a 'flash' of a different 'storm' came to mind. One that goes on inside of a person. Emotional, mental, and no-one seeing it. The MEF was the same sort of: in the darkened chaos of tormenting words, pokes, and chill to my bone, all whirling around me like a tornado! Again th...

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17:9‬ ‭NLT "Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends." None of us are perfect! Most likely, all of us have 'offended' or have been at 'fault' towards someone else, at one time or another. Have you ever noticed, the times you have been hurt but have forgive the person, you actually seem to be closer in your relationship? Kind of like we are when we mess up, and then go to the Lord and ask for forgiveness! We draw closer to Him, and He to us! It's amazing how a bond can actually grow after a fault is forgiven.      However, not forgiving - well, that causes a whole different set of problems! Not only within ourselves, but with the relationship too. Yes, this happens with us and God too. When we mess up, and don't go to Him and ask for forgiveness, and don't try to "make it better", then we have a separation that starts to build. A wall of sorts. One brick at a time. THEN, if somethin...

Romans 7 and 8 are FILLED with help, guidance, tools, and promises from God, for us and how to deal with our daily sin desires and actions. Just like it says in Romans 7:19 " 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." Daily - let me say it again, DAILY, we ALL struggle with doing what we 'want to do' and 'what we should do'  - it is every persons battle for sure! However, we don't have to do it alone! We DO have the power and ability to "RESIST" the enemy and all of our sinful desires! We do! Not in and of ourselves, but in, by, because of, and through Jesus Christ via the Holy Spirit!  How? What does it look like? Well, first of all, we have to START our day with Jesus! If you don't have time to pray before rushing in to your day - your day WILL be crazy! If all you can do, is put on your full armor before leaving your bedroom - that's a GREAT start!!  God tells us in  Ephesians 6:...

Proverbs‬ ‭12:11, 14, 24, 27‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Verse 11: A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense. Verse 14: Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards. Verse 24: Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave. Verse 27: Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find. Wow!! There is SO much in this chapter!! Actions, choices, words.... but the verses that jumped out were on work. Verse 11 brought a flash-back of my life several years ago. Even tho I was working, and actually always could put food on the table, I chased fantasies! That chasing, caused me to spend money I didn't have on things that really weren't needed. Plus, spending on 'get-rich-quick' things! Wow! Was I ever bad in that department!! I chased SO many business opportunities, but never really actually put in the hard work it required. I wanted riches the easy way. News flash: there is NO e...

Proverbs 11 - is filled with opposites: good & bad, as well as right & wrong. Today, was a little bit of a reflection of sorts. Not only ways we are to live, but actions we are to do as well. How we treat others as well as ourselves, has a LOT to do with the outcome of our circumstances. God didn't design us to be alone, or separated from Him! When we follow His way of doing things, things just seem to work out.       Below is just a little food for thought as we go about our day. Proverbs is FULL of wisdom, but it also is pretty straight forward with what we should and should not do. We need to get certain words OUT of our vocabulary as well as OUT of our behaviors!! It takes hard work and dedication to be the OPPOSITE of what our 'natural selves' want to do and be!       Perhaps you are being guided or directed by the harsh words or actions from someone in your past. Or, you have someone in your life that has used words that have cut...

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭32:1-5, 8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Verses 1-5: Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night Your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And You forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Verse 8: The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” Do you keep messing up, and think that you are just a lost cause?!?! Would you like to have all of those 'mess-ups' put out of sight, away from you, cleared off your record? Well, you CAN! Right here, God tells us just what it is we need to do, in order for H...

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭9:9, 14‬ ‭NLT Verse 9: The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Verse 14: Save me so I can praise You publicly at Jerusalem’s gates, so I can rejoice that You have rescued me. We here in America, do not know what it is to be oppressed, not really. However, the MEF (minds eye flash) I got while reading this, just may be relate-able... Walking along, normal day, and the clouds roll in. Still nothing too much to worry about, but it does kick up a breeze. Now, searching for something to add a layer to keep warm... one layer added. Still going about my day, and not too concerned with things around me. Then, the clouds get darker, and the breeze colder, and now it is blowing stronger... The weather is causing trouble to walk and even see right, due to the force of everything (kind of like daily issues that fly our way). Now, as I add yet another layer, and even better shoes, thinking I can continue on this journey on my own - the clouds break op...

Romans 12:2, Proverbs 3:5 Did you know that exercise can be an act of worship? When you begin to look at exercise in that light, it will bless both your body and your soul like never before.  For some people, choosing regular exercise is not a problem, it comes naturally and they actually enjoy it. But for many, making exercise part of their ongoing, long-term lifestyle is a real challenge. More often than not, I hear from women that exercise is something they dread. I’d like to share some thoughts that may just change the way you look at your next workout.  I’m one of those that find enjoyment in exercise (I know, I know, don’t stop reading.) Regular exercise and group fitness instruction have been part of my life for the past decade. However, over the past two years, the Lord has really caused my heart and intentions toward exercise to change. Exercise used to be all about my body. It was totally motivated by physical results. I was guilty of “compartmentalizing” that...

Psalms‬ ‭5:1-3‬ ‭NLT "O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but You. Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to You and wait expectantly." The MEF (minds eye flash) I see, is a small child with their Daddy. Walking, talking. They stop, and the Daddy bends down. The child is talking & sharing all sorts of things. Then, the Daddy glances up at something in the distance, and the child takes the Daddy's face in both hands, turns his face back to be looking eye to eye, and then proceeds to share more with the Daddy. The child not only feels free to share everything, but feels safe & secure in the fact that their Daddy WILL take care of it all! The child's request of something to do, is met with tenderness & compassion from the Daddy. Now, as they walk again, the child has an excited expectation, that the Daddy WILL take care of their reques...

Psalms‬ ‭4:4, 8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Verse 4: "Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent." Verse 8: "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe." Boy, there would be so many hurts and pains saved if only we all could listen to this first verse!! When we are angry - we need to give ourselves a "time-out" and back off for 24 hours. If there is one thing I've learned, it is that, when we are angry, our adrenaline goes up. When our adrenaline goes up, it sometimes makes us 'brain-dead' - because we act, say, and do things we normally wouldn't do or say, when we are calm. I have some friends that learned a skill/tool that has actually saved them in their marriage MANY times. It's called "The 24 Hour Rule". Either party can invoke it, when there is something going on, being said, or happening, that seems to be causing 'intense fellowship' between the tw...

Proverbs‬ ‭3:9 Verse 9: "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce." What is wealth anyway? I mean really?! For many of us living pay check to pay check, wealth is only something we see in movies. However, the MEF (Minds Eye Flash) that came to me, was very different than what the world considers "wealth". To me, wealth is not just about the outside stuff, but the inside of a person. Character, integrity, honesty... The heart and mind of a person filled with wisdom and love, are more rich than someone sitting in a big mansion! When we are surrounded by people that love us unconditionally, share life with us, and give what they can to others in  times of need - THAT is wealth!      So, now the last part of this verse "the best part of everything you produce", what about someone that doesn't have a job? Well, to me, it can be both what you do and or make, as well as how you help others. If you do a job and you...

Proverbs 2: 12-15 "Wisdom will save you from evil people,  from those whose words are twisted. 13  These men turn from the right way  to walk down dark paths. 14  They take pleasure in doing wrong,   and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil. 15  Their actions are crooked,  and their ways are wrong. The 'mind pop' I got while reading these verses, is kind of strange... I saw a path, that started out straight, but then turned in to a very twisty, crooked path. Sharp bends, big swerving rounded bends... Trees lining the path. Some giving shade, and some causing the path to be blocked all together. Up ahead, there is light, bright and warm, inviting. Here walking in the trees, there is darkness, shadows, a feeling of "secrets" - the air is cold, but not refreshing. Walking along, there are people on the path - they seem to want to debate over which path to take. The majority of the people, want to stay on the 'adventurous, fun path' verses getting t...