My Tea Time With Jesus

Have you ever looked at a natural catastrophe and actually seen beauty? Or in the middle of a storm, looked out and listened to the sounds whirling all around? Psalm 29:3-9 (NLT) 3  The voice of the Lord  echoes above the sea.      The God of glory thunders.      The  Lord thunders over the mighty sea. 4  The voice of the Lord  is powerful;      the voice of the Lord  is majestic. 5  The voice of the Lord  splits the mighty cedars;      the  Lord  shatters the cedars of Lebanon. 6  He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf;      he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox. 7  The voice of the Lord  strikes      with bolts of lightning. 8  The voice of the Lord  makes the barren wilderness quake;      the  Lord  shakes the wilderness of ...

Lord, set me free from negative emotions. Psalm 34:17-18 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. I have this little book written by Stormie Omartain, she has a whole series of books on The Power of Praying - they are really good!! Well, this little book I got this out of is called A Book of Prayer - 365 Prayers for Victorious Living. Hubby and I are experiencing something, from someone near and dear to our hearts - that is just SO hard to accept, or explain. Sitting down with Jesus, He has touched our hearts, that this person is hurting and has lashed out due to the pain they are going through. Yet, here we are stuck with negative emotions that keep flooding into our mind and heart over and over. It is doubly hard to witness, because it affects one of our children. Our hearts are broken at this loss of friendship. Yes, I feel it is part the ...

Do you wish you were smarter at making decisions? Do you ever wish you had just the right answer for things? Do you ever try and "fix" things on your own and not ask for help? James 1:5-6a is the perfect answer ;-)  NLT - If you need wisdom, ask your generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. MSG – If you don’t know what you are doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get His help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. GNT – But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, whi will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all. But when you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all. If, when , we/I need wisdom (or anything!), we/I am just to simply ask God, our/my Father! He LOVES helping and giving us things! He will NEVER put us down, or get mad at us for wh...

  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...

Why are bad habits so hard to break up with?! Why are good habits so easy to let go of?! Proverbs 22:24-25 "Do not make friends with a hot tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared." I am sure you have heard the saying, "you become like those you hang around with", right? I learned an interesting fact not to long ago. We ALL dream, hope, and believe that WE can be the ones that remain strong, determined, assured in our position on things - right?! Well, it truly doesn't take much to knock off us our pedestal! It is WAY easier to get knocked off of a high place, then it is to stand firm up there. That is, if you are alone. Bad morals corrupt good standards - for sure!! The lesson I learned with an experiment with some friends, was on a rock. Not that high of one (just in case lol) - but a high enough place that it was a hard thing to climb up and or jump down. We learned that strength a...

Ever play the "see who can be the quietest the longest" game? I remember thinking that the person who held out the longest was SO smart! Like, how did they do it?!?! Proverbs 21:23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity. Wow! How many times has my "not speak before you think" filter failed me?!?! And yes, MANY times, by my quick talking and not hearing out the whole situation - my hasty words have been wrong! (shaking head in sad remorse) Prejudged thoughts seem to always lead to wrong outcomes on my part. I'm learning to "stop" my thinking, even my actions, and LISTEN to the full situation and THEN speak. It is not easy to back pedal, rewind, or delete our words! Much easier to "think before we speak" = guarding our mouth and tongue, and then have the choice/option to speak up or not. That is right, we have a choice to hold our tongue and guard the words that come out. Another verse says, when w...

What is the difference between "having intention" and "living with intent"? Proverbs 19:2 & 21 Verse 2 - Desire without knowledge is not good - how much more will hasty feet miss the way! Verse 21 - Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Like the difference between having intention and being or living with intent. One is a dream, wish or a want. The other is an action, plan, working with purpose. God wants us to live intentionally - with a purpose and a goal. The goal? His glory, His kingdom, His salvation - sharing the gospel/truth with others. Just "wanting" to behave like God's child, is not enough. We need the knowledge to step out in faith by or with His truth, so we don't jump quickly into a mess! Yes, we can and should make plans, but until we take action with God's purpose in mind, we may just end up running in circles! Don't just be intentional - with only "try, ...

What makes you feel safe? Is it a place? Perhaps a person? Where do you turn in times of needing safety? Proverbs 18:10 – The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to Him and are safe. Have you ever driven through a section of the city where you feel uneasy or unsafe? Have you ever encountered a person in a situation where you are uneasy or unsafe? No matter the place or the situation, we can always RUN to God, by just speaking His name!! When I drive in certain areas, I just start singing “Jesus Loves Me”, over and over. Or the one where we say, “Jesus, Jesus, there’s something about that name…” I don’t know the words, but just repeating His name over and over – and He IS my safety! I do the same in my head and heart with people who cause me to want to run. I pray, asking God for direction and or words. Sometimes I’m directed to “step away” – and other times to listen and hear deep. Other times, just speak up and move on. He always protects me and ...

Plan are good. Plan are necessary. Plans can move us forward. Plans can also go wonky on us. Proverbs 16:1, 3, 9 Verse 1 – We may make our own plans, but God has the last word. Verse 3 – Ask the Lord to bless your plans, and you will be successful in carrying them out. Verse 9 – You may make your plans, but God directs your actions. I’ve learned when God repeats the same thing in the same chapter, He wants us to know it is important. It is totally normal, good and right to make “plans”. We actually have permission (it says so right in these verses) to ask for His blessing on our plans. However, if and when we do NOT include Him in our plans – then they normally do not turn out the way we “planned”. Even in the things we DO include Him in on, sometimes His path, direction, or outcome is different than ours. That’s OK!! Why?! Because then we KNOW we are in His hands, doing His will, for our best interest!! Praise God, that He doesn’t always give us over to our des...

How we react or respond to discipline and or correction, reflects deeper than just that moment in time. Proverbs 15:5 NIV: A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. NLT: Only a fool despises a parents discipline, whoever learns from correction is wise. GNB: It is foolish to ignore what your father taught you; it is wise to accept his correction. If our “parents” are still alive, this fits – but for some of us, God is our only Parent now. Either by death or by desertion – we are children of God almighty! The Father of all fathers! So, a) we need to remember, He will not leave us nor ignore us! b) He teaches us something every day. c) His corrections/disciplines to us, are the RIGHT thing for us! d) we need to learn to ‘respond’ to situations and not judge today by yesterday’s mistakes. God doesn’t, so why should we?!?! Why do we need discipline or correction? Why do we discipline or correct our children?! Because we see around ...

Sometimes we just don’t realize the “new us” and what we have been truly given. 2 Peter 1:5-9 MSG 5-9  So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books. NLT 5  In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge,   6  and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and p...

What if our eyes “saw” the truth around us?! What if we were not blinded by the darkness of fear, sin and doubt?! Psalm 139:11-12   “I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to be night – but even in darkness I cannot hide from You. To You the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to You.” Wow! At first I was thinking of x-ray vision, but this is WAY better than that! This is like color-blindness. God isn’t ‘in the dark’ about us and our life. He cares SO much for us and loves us SO much, that He sees EVERYTHING! No matter the time of day – it is all “light” to Him. Jesus walked in the Light of the Holy Spirit while He was here. He gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit, so we too can do the same. Yeah, we are not always very good at it – but hey! – we are not ever gonna be perfect. However, we CAN always make progress towards living as Jesus did. The thing about darkness, it is the time and place when the enemy lies to us....

Who’s “driving” your attitude today? What is the “right” attitude when praying? Do this at all times, in all situations, pray without ceasing… 1 Timothy 2:8-10 (MSG) Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray – not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God. And I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the lasts fashions but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it. I know I know, “how can I pray at all times in all things?!” is a question we ALL ask. The thing is, when we start to trust Jesus in ALL things, it makes it pretty easy to turn to Him in ALL situations and circumstances. Kind of like, when you have someone with you, right at your side – in the middle of something. If you are like me, even if you don’t mean to say something out loud, because there is a “person” there next to you, you DO say something out loud LOL Well...

Is it possible to live in peace and harmony? Is it possible to live by goodness and with dignity? This is how you do it: 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NLT) 1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. Gosh! It seems so simple, right?!?! Think about it… the easiest thing we could ever do that benefits EVERYONE: pray for them! Yup, everyone. Those in your house, in your neighborhood, at school, at work. Those that run the city, state, country. Those in far-away places. The many people serving and defending our country… the list goes on and on.   Ok – I can imagine what you are thinking, “But Lisa Marie, that will take ALL day to do. And you want me to do it EVERY d...

What is the purpose of the bible? What is the purpose of laws? Do they tie us down or set us free? 1 Timothy 1:2b, 6, 8-11 (NLT & GNT) 2b NLT: May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace. 6 NLT: The purpose of my instruction (the bible) is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. 8-11 GNT: We know that the law is good if it is used as it should be used. It must be remembered, of course, that laws ae made, not for good people, but for lawbreakers and criminals, for the godless and sinful, for those who are not religious or spiritual, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the immoral, for sexual perverts, for kidnappers, for those who lie and give false testimony or who do anything else contrary to sound doctrine. That teaching is found in the gospel that was entrusted to me to announce, the Good News from the glorious and blessed Go...