My Tea Time With Jesus

Have you ever smelled a bad perfume? Have you ever smelled someone trying to cover up their smell with perfume? Have you ever been drawn to someone or somewhere by the slight scent of smell? 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 MSG – Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. NLT – 15  Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.   16  To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. I had an experience of perfume smelling differently on different people several years ago. It was one of the few perfumes I could actually wear, and ...

Does it ever seem like the easiest thing on earth takes the most courage to do?! Truly, having faith and believing in Jesus and His love for us, is SO easy – yet the hardest thing to do and accept for so many of us! 1 John 2:28 (NLT) And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when He returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from Him in shame. Well, this is something I am sure ALL of us can relate to! There was a bit of a MEF (mind’s eye flash) with this verse. Seeing people coming to Jesus. Some are running towards Him with excitement and joy, peaceful faces, bright shining eyes, love exploding from every part of them. Other people are hanging back, heads tilted down, eyes looking away from His welcoming. Shame, regret, remorse… many feelings flooding over and through them as they shrink back even though the want to inch their way towards Him. Then, the most amazing thing happens – He moves TOWARDS them! One by one, He opens up His ar...

Have you ever just wanted to NOT mess up in things, or with people, or anything to do with daily living? Do you want to be “perfect” in living life? Well, while we are here walking and talking on this earth, it ain’t gonna happen! Nope – we are human, it cannot. 1 John 1:8-10 (NLT) 8  If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.   9  But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.   10  If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that His word has no place in our hearts. No matter how “good” we try to be, we ALL mess up and do things that, according to God, are wicked and sinful. Matching our daily life to the 10 commandments, we all fall short. None of us is perfect. To be perfect, is to be dead. So, to say “we have not sinned” is actually breaking Gods commands just in saying THAT. Sure, as we get older, follo...

1 John 1:6-7 (TPT) 6  If we claim that we share life with Him, but keep walking in the realm of darkness, we’re fooling ourselves and not living the truth.  7  But if we keep living in the pure light that surrounds Him, we share  unbroken  fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, continually cleanses us from all sin. Boy isn’t it easy for us to lie and fool ourselves?!?! How many people are walking around wearing a Christian T-shirt for everyone to see on the outside, but on the inside, they are a big black, dark, empty hole?! When we seem to “claim” things to others, but do differently in private, we are lying to ourselves about being a follower of Jesus Christ. When we keep living in a way that fills us and surrounds us in darkness, that too is a lie! Oh sure, we may have said the sinner’s prayer and invited Jesus into our lives, but we are NOT living in that truth of being saved from eternal separation from God! The...

Have you ever wondered “why” things happen the way the do? Why someone that is seeking selfish glory can prosper, while someone more humble seems to suffer? In the end, it doesn’t matter. God uses ALL things for His good purposes and for His glory. Reading Paul’s words in Philippians is very encouraging. Philippians 1 Vs. 11: May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ —for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Vs. 15: It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. Vs. 18: But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. Vs. 28-29: 28  Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God him...

Have you ever put on certain clothes, and it totally changed the way you were feeling? Have you ever felt utterly and unbelievably good in something you put on? How about the opposite – have you ever put something on, and it brought your mood down? Romans 13:14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. Oh my goodness!! Can you imagine if we “put on Christ” EVERYDAY how much better we would feel?!?! Sure, things would still “happen” to and or around us, but the way we would deal with the circumstances would be totally different! Like in Ephesians 6, where we are instructed to “put on” the full armor of God – DAILY – if we added this main piece of armor, well, we can and would be able to handle anything that comes our way! I’m learning that following the Holy Spirits guidance, is a really good spot to be in. However, I do still keep thinking of things that are, well, self-indulg...

Do you ever feel like you are a character in a play, and you are wearing a "mask" all the time around others? Or do you feel like you are in the audience, and everyone around you is wearing a "mask"? Well, here is what "we" are told to do about that... Romans 12:9-10 NLT – 9   Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.   10   Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. MSG – 9-10   Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. TPT – 9   Let the inner movement of your heart always be to love one another, and never play the role of an actor wearing a mask. Despise evil and embrace everything that is good and virtuous. 10   Be devoted to tenderly loving your fellow believers  as members of one family . Try to ...

What happens to our body when we don’t stay active? When we don’t eat or sleep right? When we make unwise choices? It starts to break down and become un-useful. The same is true of our faith and spiritual gifts. When we stay close to God and build up our relationship with Him, our spiritual “muscles” get stronger and grow too! Romans 12:1-8 (NLT) 1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.   2  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 3  Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of ...

Have you ever wondered if you have “messed up” too much to ever regain control of yourself again? Have you ever wondered if God really sees what we are doing to ourselves? The verses He walked with me through today, are pretty darn promising and hopeful! Isaiah 57:14-15 & 18-19 (NLT) 14  God says, “Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so My people can return from captivity.” 15  The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts. ” 18  “I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn, 19  bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the  Lord , who heals them. Wow! It is so awesome how the Lord leads me to thing...

Have you ever seen one of those quilts that you KNOW has taken MANY, MANY hours to do? One that shows pure artistry and skill at how each and every part was intentional by the creator? 2 Timothy 1:13-14 (NLT) Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you. Wow, the Lord blessed me with a MEF (minds eye flash) on this verse of a BIG elaborate quilt. I saw a pattern being drawn on what seemed like a very large piece of paper, but it had a texture like fine linen. As I saw the words “teaching” there appeared all sorts of things that I have learned in life, in school and at home. The as I read “from me” I saw gold pictures with words in the colors of all the most precious jewels I’ve ever seen. It started to shine and glow with a light that spread all around me in eve...

How do I know which way to go in life? A question I have asked myself MANY times! Isaiah 48:17 (NLT) Scripture – This is what the  Lord  says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the  Lord  your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow. Thought – Not just "the Lord" but my Redeemer! He has taken MY place and suffered a death I do not have to suffer when I die. He is THE actual Holy One of Israel – for me!! He is also WILLING to teach and guide me along the path of life teaching me what is good for me and showing me the paths I should follow. He suffered things I will never have to suffer now. He teaches and shows me things that are good for me. When I follow His guidance and direction, I will NOT get lost, turned around, or off track. It is when I try and do things “my own way” that things go wonky. Application – Remember, right now – that the Lord is MY Redeemer! He is the one that i...

Prayers from A Book of Prayers by Stormie Omartian                                                                                 Wed. 8/15/19 Sometimes, someone else writes out a prayer that just fits so perfectly, that your heart wants to pray it too. This is what happened to me today, and I looked through different devotional books to find God speaking to me. I found Him alive and breathing His kindness down on me in such a way - that these fit my hearts desire and prayers to Him just right!  In our Journey study, we are on the Holy Spirit. This is perfect! Page 95 Because He Has...