My Tea Time With Jesus

What do we do when we feel "grabbed" from all directions?!?! How should we act, think, react? Even Jesus had pressure. Here is what He did when it all seemed to come at Him and try and pressure Him... S: John 6:15 NLT: When Jesus saw that they were ready to force Him to be their king, He slipped away into the hills by Himself. MSG: Jesus saw that in their enthusiasm, they were about to grab Him and make Him king, so He slipped off and went back up the mountain to be by Himself. NASB: So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force  to make Him king,  withdrew again to  the mountain by Himself alone. TPT: So Jesus, knowing that they were about to take Him and make Him their king by force, quickly left and went up the mountainside alone. T: In the moment of what I would consider stressful or anxiety – when people are crowding in and pressing in or “egging on” to do something, I would have caved to the pressure. Been the ‘p...

We all seem to "follow" something or someone. It is not always a bad thing. We can follow successful people to become successful. We can follow honest people to become more aware. When we follow Jesus, we can be and do anything, because He is the ultimate example to follow! S: John 6:2 NLT “ A huge crowd kept following Him wherever He went, because they saw His miraculous signs as He healed the sick. ” NASB “A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. ” TPT “And a massive crowd of people followed him everywhere. They were attracted by his miracles and the healings they watched him perform. ” T: People follow success. People follow dreams. People follow “the crowd” LOL This verse doesn’t say they followed Jesus because of their faith , it says because they saw Him do miracles! WOW! Not even because the “heard” what Jesus said or did, but because they “saw” it. Were they like the people of today, ev...

Sometimes, we can fall for things that are not of God, by simply living life and "doing our own thing". Yet, self-seeking is not the way to Truth. S: John 5:43-44 (TPT) 43  I have come to represent My Father, yet you refuse to embrace Me in faith. But when someone comes in their own name and with their own agenda,   you readily accept him.   44  Of course you’re unable to believe in Me. For you live for the praises of others and not for the praise that comes from the only true God.  T: The love of God and seeking the One True God – is not in the people that are called critics against Jesus. The Pharisees and Sadducee's and I am sure a few of their followers. Jesus represented God and was told about even by Moses – yet these people didn’t believe in Him. However, they DID believe in others that came with their own agenda. They even did some “trying to rise up” of themselves. Believing in their own ways and the ways of others and not God’s.  ...

Following the STAR method of reading the bible, really helps Truth to jump out. This is what I read this morning, and what I got out of it. S = Scripture read. Just write out the verse or verses that jump out at you. T = Thoughts. Write out what pops in your thoughts about this verse or verses. A = Application. What does it mean, or how can you apply this verse to your life and the lives around you? Write it out. R = Response. What is your response to the verse(s) that jumped out at you? It can be a thought, an action, or even a prayer to our heavenly Father. However you feel you are to respond to Him, that is what you write here. S: John 5:39-40 (MSG) “You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about  Me !   And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren’t willing to receive from Me the life you say you want. ” T: I believe this is an ...

Following the STAR method today as I read the book of John.  S - Scripture read T - Thoughts on what was read A - Application - how can I apply what I read to me and my life today R - Response - what is my response or prayer from what I read S: John 1:17 NLT: For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ . MSG: We got the basics from Moses, and then this exuberant giving and receiving, this endless knowing and understanding— all this came through Jesus, the Messiah . NASB: For  the Law was given through Moses;  grace and  truth  were realized through Jesus Christ. TPT: Moses gave us the Law, but Jesus, the Anointed One, unveils truth wrapped in tender mercy. T: Our basic instinct is “the law” and all that follows that. What to do, how to do it, when, where… Like being healthy. We seem to fall into the trap of different “rules/laws” with food, water, fitness… THEN when we mess up...

Have you ever had some news that you were told to “keep secret”? Did you just feel like you were going to burst if you didn’t tell someone?!?! I believe this is exactly what these verses are talking about… 1 Timothy 2:4-6 NLT – (God our Savior)   4  who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.   5  For, t here is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.   6  He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. MSG – He wants not only us but  everyone  saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth  we’ve  learned: that there’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered Himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. Have you ever had someone say to you that God doesn’t care about them? O...

Ever wonder what to do with some of your “free time” or “down time”? Well, wonder no more! The bible tells us exactly what to do… 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT – 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. MSG – The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. TPT – Most of all, I’m writing to encourage you to pray with gratitude to God. Pray for all men with all forms of prayers and requests as you intercede with intense passion.  2  And pray for every political leader and representative, so that we would be able to live tranquil, undisturbed lives, as we...

Have you ever been around a hungry baby? Have you ever held one that normally nurses? What do they do? The “root” for their nourishment – the momma’s milk. We are to “crave” God’s Word the same way. 1 Peter 2:2-3 (TPT) 2  In the same way that nursing infants cry for milk, you must intensely crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word. For this “milk” will cause you to grow into maturity, fully nourished and strong for life—   3  especially now that you have had a taste of the goodness of the Lord Jehovah and have experienced His kindness. I am pretty sure you have “tasted” God’s goodness at one time or another, am I right?!? I can almost bet it came out of a time where the circumstance was not going as you would have liked. I’m pretty sure, you and or others you know, prayed about the situation for you – right?! So you can relate when verse 3 says ‘especially not that you have had a taste of the goodness of the Lord’. Let me ask you this: aft...

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...