My Tea Time With Jesus

  When you lift up praises, what type of aroma does it bring? Strange thing to think, right?! Are you speaking and thinking things that lift up nice pleasing aromas to the Lord? Or are you lifting up smells like the garbage dump? 2 Kings 14:3-4 3  Amaziah did what was pleasing in the  Lord ’s sight, but not like his ancestor David. Instead, he followed the example of his father, Joash.   4  Amaziah did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there. Even tho King Amaziah was a godly man and did right in the eyes og God, he didn’t FULLY do what was right. He left all of the high places the people created with false gods and false religions – offerings and sacrifices still stunk up the air that rose up to God. I wonder what would happen, if our country would TRULY turn back to God?!?! Can you imagine ALL false religions and their churches (high places) being torn down? I mean, if God directs it, He...

What if we could have super-human hearing? What if we could actually hear like the Bionic Woman could back in the 70's? 1 Kings 19:9b, 11-12 (GNT) Verse 9b – Suddenly the Lord spoke to him, “Elijah, what are you doing here?” Verse 11 – “Go out and stand before Me on top of the mountain,” the Lord said to him. Then the Lord passed by and sent a furious wind that split the hills and shattered the rocks – but the Lord was not in the wind. The wind stopped blowing, and then there was an earthquake – but the Lord was not in the earthquake. Verse 12 – After the earthquake there was a fire – but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a soft whisper of a voice. After the Lord asked Elijah a question, knowing what and why he was there, knowing in advance what Elijah was going to say even – the Lord called him to do something so that he could show His great and mighty power. Not to destroy Elijah, but to show him living THROUGH it! The Lord “passed by” E...

Sometimes when things happen, we try and run – only to be running in circles. 1 Kings 19:4 Elijah walked a whole day into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down in the shade of a tree and wished he would die. “It’s too much, Lord,” he prayed. “Take away my life; I might as well be dead!” How many times do we “run” from something, and then BEG God to take us?!?! Only after we feel we’ve “had enough” – yet, it was (or is) in our own power that we ran and tried to do it our way. How many times have we done like Elijah (who JUST had the power of God and did miracles from God with the alters) – got up and “ran” in a direction of our own choice, THEN, when we finally call out to God, He has us GO BACK?!?! What?? Notice though, that the Lord provided shade, food, water and encouragement in the verses that follow. Even though we “step out of bounds” or go “off course”, Jesus comes right along-side and gets us going right again! Jesus always provides a way of escape for us, e...

Sometimes, lessons we learn, are not only for us – but for others as well. Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you turn back to Me, you must strengthen your brothers. Jesus, knowing what was about to happen (the trial and Peter denying Him) – didn’t pray for it NOT to happen, but that through it, Simon Peter’s faith would not fail! Peter “could” have gotten stuck in guilt, shame, depression – but he didn’t!! THEN, Jesus knowing he was going to serve Him, knew he was going to turn back – Jesus encouraged Peter to “strengthen your brothers” – what a blessing we have to see backwards at the other end! We have this too! When we make poor choices and fall away from Jesus, He KNOWS we will be back! And we are to encourage and strengthen those who are following after us when we “learn something” from what we experienced. This seems like “shared life lessons” to me. Jesus prays this for us too – guaranteed! Ahhh to not have t...

Proverbs 27:12 (MSG) Sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it, but an unthinking person will walk right into it and regret it later. When we surround ourselves with good-willed people “friends”, they usually contribute to us being ‘sensible’ – however, it’s the “wolf in sheep’s clothing” (our enemy) who makes us foolish and unthinking. When I go somewhere with a friend that I have no business going, this is NOT sensible, wise, mature or adult of me! Using the excise that it is “retail therapy” is a BIG FAT LIE! It is actually feeding into my being selfish, and helps me stay in denial. Example: A friend I ALWAYS get into trouble with, Suzie, calls me up on my day off. I only have this day to catch up on my chores and plan for the week ahead. She invites me to “do something fun – shopping” unlike the work I need to stay home and focus on. I’m tempted, but tell her, no – I don’t have the money to go shopping, and really need to stay home. She agrees and we hang...

Do you cringe when you do something by accident and someone curses at you or flips you off? Proverbs 26:2 NLT – Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim. GNB – Curses cannot hurt you unless you deserve them. They are like birds that fly by and never light. According to the Lord, His promise in His word says, that people can curse at us all they want – and if we are undeserving of it – they won’t stick! Well, now, that is VERY comforting to me! Even have someone cure at you. About you? Even in your direction? Hurts right?! Sometimes shocking, sometimes devastating – and yet other times it’s like water running off a ducks back. Do NOT let the enemy help in throwing darts at you! You are a child of God, a princess or prince! You HAVE the full armor to protect you! You do NOT deserve curses towards you – SO, they cannot hurt you. They won’t stick! “I’m rubber you’re glue…” well, this is where it actually fi...

Sometimes we don't really see ourselves in the mirror of life. Sometimes we envy what we see on the outside of others' life. However, it is the heart that determines the destination. Proverbs 23:17-19 Verse 17 Don't be envious of sinful people; let reverence for the Lord be the concern of your life. Verse 18 If it is, you have a bright future. Verse 19 Listen, My child, be wise and give serious thought to the way you live. This reminds me of a sermon, where the pastor addressed the issue of sinful people being successful. "Sinful people are under the control and power of the devil. When they die and stand before God, earth will have been the only heaven they will ever see or experience. For Believers, earth is the only hell they will ever see or experience." We all will experience living eternally in a kingdom: kingdom of darkness or kingdom of light. You see, if we focus on the Lord and our relationship with Him, and the Kingdom yet to come, (even here i...