Tea Talk -- Every Word

Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

To participate, click on Ruth's button above.

Lake Bonaparte wildflowers

I'm having...a cup of green pomegranate tea.  My friend and neighbor Lorraine brought some of this loose tea for me to try, and it's excellent and very flavorful.  I'm using my everyday Pfaltzgraff Ocean Breeze pattern tea cup.  Kudos to you if you can spot it in the below picture of the basement computer desk!  This is where I do my photography editing and blogging.  Danny and Thomas built the computer and it is the only one in the house that can handle my photo editing software.

I'm feeling...fine!  The Lord has been keeping me in His care this week.  Fernando had surgery on Monday to repair his left rotator cuff and bicep (an injury from last May), and he has already had two rehab therapy sessions, with another scheduled for tomorrow!  I think that's amazing.

On my mind...is my dear sweetheart, of course.  I'm playing nurse to him, but the boys are helping so much that I feel as if I'm hardly doing anything.  Friends have blessed us with meals, too.  There are obviously things waiting for me on my to-do list, but the Lord has His own focus for me this week, and it is to take care of my darling.  The funny thing is--when I was a little girl, I wanted to grow up to be either a nurse or a teacher.  Well, I am a homeschool mom.  However, I have realized that I would have made a terrible nurse!  :)

I leave you with...another funny thing is, I've been reading Scripture before going to bed each night.  (No, that's not the funny thing.)  This is the funny thing:  I've been reading about all the kings who followed or didn't follow the statutes of the Lord, and famines where women were boiling their children to eat.  It has not exactly been ideal bedtime reading!  (I can hardly believe that some of that stuff is in the Word!!)  I refuse to share those verses with you.  (You're welcome!)  Instead, I have chosen this one:

Every word of God is tested;

He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Proverbs 30:5 NASB

tested -- 6884.  To smelt, refine, test.  This Hebrew word carries connotations of having been "through the fire," as when a metal is smelted and refined to remove impurities.  In the side margin of my beloved Bible, I wrote pure next to tested.  This is every word of God!  Every single one.  How marvelous to take refuge in the One whose every word has been tested and proven pure in every way, without blemish, stain, or impurity.  He is my shield!  My heart sings praise to Him.

 This photo makes me think of Christmas.

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk -- Inscrutable

Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

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I'm having...a cup of my regular tea in Fernando's Stone Mountain Park coffee mug.  He came down into the kitchen, saw his mug with my tea in it, and exclaimed, "Hey....!!!"  We stuck our tongues out at each other, laughed, and that was that.  ;)

Fernando bought the mug during our weeklong visit with the T. family in Georgia several years ago.  He had wanted to visit Stone Mountain, so our two families went together.  It was the very end of December, so the park was almost empty.  The carving in the mountain was awe-inspiring, thus inspiring Fernando's gift shop purchase.  It's a large mug, and you know how I like to have a nice, big, hot, steaming mug of tea every morning!

I'm feeling...my achy back is much better (thank You, Lord!).  Why does it seem that as I age, this little section of "Tea Talk" becomes about my aches and pains?  I don't really want to start talking about backs and muscles and bunions...  So--I'm feeling FINE, rested, and hoping to find some energy for my day!

On my mind...oh, my to-do list, you know, is always there.  This week, I'm focusing our June 2012 state homeschool convention.  As ICHE's coordinator for special and struggling learners, for each year's convention I organize speakers to address the needs of families who are (or who are considering) home educating their special and/or struggling learners.

I leave you with...yep, a passage of Scripture.  I just love Ruth's Tea Talk time!  I usually pull out my Bible and look up a verse that I've recently read, or that our family has covered during devotions.  I love digging deep--remember the word study in my last Tea Talk post?--to find the meaning of words, subtle nuances, and further insight into the Lord's character.  So here is this week's passage, which begins a familiar section of Scripture:

Do you not know?  Have you not heard?

The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of

the ends of the earth

Does not become weary or tired.

His understanding is inscrutable.

He gives strength to the weary,

And to him who lacks might He increases power.

Isaiah 40:28-29 NASB

[Side note:  The rest of the passage--and the familiar part--continues, "...those who wait for the LORD will gain new (renew their) strength..."]

I discovered that the word inscrutable is used only once in Scripture--right in this passage.  It is a compound word, consisting of two Hebrew words: 

• from 369--a primary root:  nothing, nought
• and 2714--a searching, a thing searched out

The compound word then becomes "nothing searched out."  The idea is that we can't even begin to search out or examine His understanding.  We can't even put a dent in trying to gain His understanding!  We think we know so much; we think we're so wise!  But His understanding is so much more.  He just laughs at what we think is lofty knowledge.  Far from making me feel insignificant, this passage helps me to realize that the Lord, with His unsearchable knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, gives me strength (power, ability, might) when I am weary!

Autumn leaf (coral bells)

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk -- Rejoice and Rejoice!

Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

To participate, click on Ruth's button above.

I'm having...a cup of Trader Joe's Irish breakfast tea in what has become my regular morning mug.

Yep, it's a "Grad" mug!  Danny received it this past June as a high school graduation gift, and he doesn't drink coffee.  Or tea.  It's a pretty hefty sized mug--I guess they figure those college kids really chug down lots of coffee!  It's a great size for a big mug of hot tea in the morning.  So it's my new "regular."

I'm feeling...better, in a few different ways.  Last week I had laryngitis, which is finally gone.  This past week, I had dental work done on Monday morning, and suffered the lovely after-effect of an aching jaw for a few days.  Needless to say, I haven't eaten much lately!

 The front porch garden in autumn

On my mind...is new-found time!  A few photos will explain:

Danny got his driver's license!  I'm thrilled for him.  A few hours after he got it, he was driving away to biology class, and I was left behind.  I was slightly anxious but felt amazingly FREE.  :)

I leave you with...a passage of Scripture that my dear sister-in-Christ and I studied over the phone a few days ago.  What a treasured time of in-depth word study we had.

The LORD your God is in your midst,

A victorious warrior.

He will exult over you with joy,

He will be quiet in His love,

He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

Zephaniah 3:17 NASB

Because it's so amazing, I'll type it straight from the Hebrew (interlinear):

Jehovah your God in your midst (is) mighty.

He will save He will rejoice over you with joy.

He is silent in His love; He rejoices over you with a shout of joy.

The first rejoice (Strong's 7797):  to exult, rejoice.  Translated delight, exult, glad, rejoice, rejoice greatly.

The second rejoice (Strong's 1524):  a rejoicing.  Translated exultation, greatly, joy, rejoicing.  From #1524--to rejoice, translated cry, exult, glad, rejoice.

From the dictionary:

• exult:  to show or feel a lively or triumphant joy; rejoice exceedingly; be highly elated or jubilant.  To leap, especially for joy.
• delight:  to have great pleasure; take pleasure.
• rejoice:  to be glad, take delight.  To make joyful; gladden.

Sorry that's so long!  If you skipped over it, that's fine, too.  The Bible verse is complete in itself!  But the in-depth word study is amazing, since we're not the ones who are doing this action.  God is.

The Lord is exulting over me.  With joy.  He is showing a lively and triumphant joy over me.  He is rejoicing exceedingly over me.  He is highly elated and jubilant, even to the point of leaping, over me.  He is taking great pleasure, gladness, and delight, in me.  Me.  This lowly sinner, a teeny-tiny one of over four billion people, not accomplishing great things for Him, not one of astounding faith.  But the Lord acts this way over me, His child.  I am simply amazed.

Honeybee in my backyard

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk -- Till Your Land!

Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

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I'm having...a cup of Trader Joe's sipping chocolate in my Gibson white china cup.

I'm feeling...speechless.  (I know--huh?)  For those who have spoken to me in the last five days, you know that I have laryngitis.  I'm just starting to get my voice back again, so it's scratchy, low, and husky.  (My husband keeps asking me to say something in French.  *wink*)  I feel fine otherwise, except for a little scratch in my throat every now and then, and I get tired in the afternoons.  Not too bad for a cold, I guess!

On my mind...hmm.  I just finished editing images from a photo shoot several days ago.  I've gotten a lot of little things done lately, and today seems like a day to check off more items from my list.  Thursdays are my stay-home days, when I don't have to go anywhere, take anyone anywhere, or step out of the house.  And that's a very nice thing as the weather turns colder.  I do have to run out this afternoon--non-driving boys have dentist appointments--but I'm hoping to just plug away at my to-do list and get things done!

I leave you with...a Proverb I read yesterday that impacted me:

He who tills his land will have plenty of food,

But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.

Proverbs 28:19 NASB

After having canned much of my garden produce throughout autumn, this verse is especially meaningful to me.  No wonder I feel satisfied about having stocked my shelves for my family's benefit!  But more deeply than that, I think this verse is talking about being diligent about the work that the Lord has given me.  It's so easy to become distracted with computer games, reading (pleasure) books, Facebook, and even blogging (!), that I neglect the area over which the Lord has given me jurisdiction--my home.  Maybe this is a not-so-light post for Tea Talk today, but I hope that these words encourage you--as I am encouraged--to be about the Lord's work today!

Sunset on Lake Bonaparte

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk -- There Your Heart will Be

Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

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At the patio table, with the vegetable garden beyond

I'm having...iced tea in my blue goblet with ice and a slice of fresh lemon.  Today I'm enjoying my iced tea in my back yard, in my special spot.

 

I apologize in advance for all the pictures!  Part of my special spot is pretty, and the rest--an unfinished sun-but-it's-now-shade garden--is a curving hill of various weeds.  My pretty Smith & Hawken bench sits in the shade under a scrub maple tree.  One day, this garden will become the focus of a summer project, and it will become an even more special spot!  But for now it sits, waiting for me to sit as well, take a breath, and relax.

I'm feeling...good even throughout another busy week.  And I'm feeling good even after being in my hot kitchen yesterday for almost five hours canning tomatoes.  I now have 21 more pints (plus 8 last week) of diced tomatoes to put up for winter, and that makes me very happy.

On my mind...is getting ready for the guys' college life to start up next week, and our car schedule--who is driving the car when and where, and with whom!  It is a crazy hectic schedule when you divide one car by three people.  I'm glad Thomas isn't driving yet...

I leave you with...a passage of Scripture we talked about in our family devotions last night.  Very timely, I think, in light of all the chaos that is happening in our natural world, in the economy, and with the moral fiber of our country.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,

where moth and rust destroy,

and where thieves break in and steal.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust destroys,

and where thieves to not break in or steal;

for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21 NASB

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk -- Go to the Ant

Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

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I'm having...a cup of Irish breakfast tea this morning, and a goblet of nice, cold iced tea later on in the heat of the day.  I promise to take pictures for next week.  This photo below will have to do for today.

The last of my Hawaiian honey (a gift from my dear friend Tressey)

I'm feeling...exactly the same as last week.

On my mind...is my continuing project to clean our basement.  I've gotten so much done, and it feels so good to de-clutter and simplify.  I feel like I can breathe a little more easily now.  There is still much to do, but our hard work has paid off.  My basement "smiles" at me now when I go down there to work on the computer, or watch a movie for family movie night.  It says to me, "Welcome, Christine!  Come in!  Have a seat and relax..."  That's what I picture in my mind, anyway.

I leave you with...a verse about an amazing creature the Lord created.  I feel a little like this creature this summer, busy about the work of the Lord.

Go to the ant, O sluggard,

Observe her ways and be wise,

Which having no chief,

Officer or ruler,

Prepares her food in the summer

And gathers her provision in the harvest.

Proverbs 6:6-8 NASB

Ants on thistle

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk -- Those Who Love Your Law

Welcome to my home!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

To participate, click on Ruth's button above.

I'm having...a cup of iced tea.  I'm parched!  Yesterday the thermometer on our shaded front porch hit 100 degrees (38 degrees Celsius, Ruth!).  The funny thing is, I always start my day with hot tea.  And yesterday and today, after that, I hit the iced tea!!

Hot tea in my Pfaltzgraff tea cup

I'm feeling...good.  I saw my chiropractor a few days ago, and the adjustment seemed to help that little ache in my back.  Though it's imperceptible, I'm trying to be careful how I sit, etc.

On my mind...is the thought of continuing to compile my online photo gallery of things we're selling.  We have been deep-cleaning our basement, which has been a huge project--almost overwhelming, actually.  I also have four large boxes of items to give to Goodwill, and Fernando wants me to document them (photos and a list) so that we can donate them.  And one more item--all of the HO-scale train items in our basement have to go,  We have an interested buyer, but (it's a good "but") he wants to see pictures of every item before he makes the hour-long trip to our house to see everything in person.  I'm supposed to have that done by the weekend...  At least it's super-hot outside and inside work keeps me cool.

I leave you with...a well-known and beloved verse I read this morning in Psalms.  I love reading Psalms and Proverbs; there is always something there that brings comfort, peace, understanding, or whatever my heart needs in that moment.  Yesterday, Fernando's company laid off more employees--one Christian man in his department was affected, and Fernando is in a bit of shock.  Our future is uncertain--but then again, it is not!  We will wait to see what the Lord has us do, where He sends us, or how He keeps us here.  We have peace.

Those who love Your law have great peace,

And nothing causes them to stumble.

Psalm 119:165 NASB

Sunrise in Vero Beach, Florida

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk -- Many, But One

Welcome to my home!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

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I'm having...iced tea on this hot summer day.  Picture in your mind a navy blue glass goblet, cold to the touch, filled with cold refreshing tea and ice.  Aaahhh.  :)  (I'll have to take a picture to share with you all next week!)

My black tea and Hawaiian honey

I'm feeling...pretty good.

On my mind...four things--filing second-quarter sales taxes for my business, scheduling a photo shoot for a client's senior pictures, making more thank-you cards so Danny can finish writing the rest of his notes, and planning the food for this Sunday's get-together.  Most of our church is going camping next Sunday-Thursday, so we invited those who aren't camping over for an afternoon/evening of fellowship.  It's going to be fun!

I leave you with...several Scriptures as I ponder the subject of unity in the Spirit.  There have been many conversations floating around lately among our young men and their Christian friends, and many of those conversations have been passionate.  We are trying to teach our sons that there may be differences of opinion, and those differences need to be respected.  (We're not talking about basic tenets of our faith, but extraneous topics to the Word of God.)  These young men are all so intelligent, and they possess a lot of knowledge and many passionate opinions; however, they have experienced only a little of life, and are still in the early stages of gaining wisdom.  They, like all of us, must learn to keep peace between brothers, and to engage in interaction without causing arguments or division.  I am thankful that all of these young men are passionate about the Lord!

For the body is not one member, but many.

But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.

But now there are many members, but one body.

1 Corinthians 12:14, 18, 20 NASB

If I...know all mysteries and all knowledge...but do not have love, I am nothing.

Love...is not arrogant...does not seek its own...

1 Corinthians 13:2, 4, 5 NASB

...with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,

being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:2-3 NASB

Astilbe "bridal veil"

Back to life,
Christine

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Things Which Are Not Seen

Welcome to my home!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

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I'm having...my usual Irish breakfast tea in my Portmeirion teacup.

I'm feeling...tired but good!  I just came in from tending my vegetable garden.  I picked a nice handful of snap peas, plus some cayenne and jalapeño peppers.  I also chopped down all of my oregano--you should see my kitchen counter, overflowing with fragrant herbs!

My honey leading family devotions

On my mind...is the de-cluttering I've been doing the past few days!  It feels so good to end up with two paper bags full of junk recycling paper, one recycling bin full of cardboard, a box and a bag of items for Goodwill, a stack of games/puzzles/curriculum to sell, and a clean closet!  (This will be a near-future post...)

I'm also excited about a mini bluegrass "jam" tomorrow night with friends and family, the Independence Day weekend, our church Independence Day celebration on Monday.  Oh, and then there is my to-do list!  BUT--yep, and it's a big one--today is my beloved's BIRTHDAY!  He is 47 on this wonderful summer day.  I love him.  Simple.  :)

I leave you with...a section of Scripture from 2 Corinthians that caught my heart this morning as I contemplated the state of our country--its politics, its moral decline, its financial chaos, its hedonistic culture.  It's so easy to look at all these aspects and become discouraged.

What will become of America?  I don't know.  I don't know God's plans for our nation; but He does.  And I'm not supposed to be looking at all this "stuff" around me, anyway!  This is not my home; I am a citizen of another kingdom, glorious and pure.  That is where my eyes are supposed to be fixed.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.  For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NASB  [emphasis mine]

Yucca bloom from my back yard

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk -- And This I Pray

Welcome to my home!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

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I'm having...organic Rishi blueberry rooibos tea.  I found this tea at Whole Foods, and it is one of my favorites.  Every time I open my cabinet, I can smell its fruity fragrance, even though it's sealed with both an inner seal and a lid!  Mmm.

Rooibos in my Pfaltzgraff tea cup and saucer

I'm feeling...okay!  My back is a little sore; I think it's from bowling a few days ago.  We sure had fun with myself, three guys, and their Grandpa and Grandma.  We also ate ribs for dinner, with my homemade barbecue sauce (I'm still perfecting the recipe and should have a revised one to post soon).

On my mind...for this week, I'm thinking about a possible "internship" for Danny with an orthopedic surgeon.  We had been given the name of a surgeon a few months ago, and then that name popped up again in conversation at our homeschool convention.  We'll see where that goes.  I also have several items on my to-do list that NEED to get done.  Plus, I'm seriously itching to de-clutter and clean, but I have to do everything else first!

I leave you with...a prayer that Paul and Timothy prayed for the Christians in Philippi.  Today it is my prayer for you.  :)

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:9-11 NASB

Threadleaf coreopsis in my new front garden

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk -- Whom Have I in Heaven?

Welcome to my home!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

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I'm having...my usual morning drink, Trader Joe's Irish breakfast tea in my Vero Beach cup from Portmeirion.  What a fun website to browse and dream through!

I'm feeling...just fine and dandy!

On my mind..is a to-do list a mile long.  I wanted to be able to relax this week, but I've been GOING every day with no chance to cross things off my list, or even to do laundry!  My goal is to post this post, do laundry, then tackle that list.

I leave you with...Scripture that my husband read out loud the other morning.  We used to sing a chorus in our former church with these lyrics, and it has been lilting through my head the past few days.

Whom have I in heaven but You?

And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.

My flesh and my heart may fail,

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

For, behold, those who are far from You will perish;

You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;

I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,

That I may tell of all Your works.

Psalm 73:25-28 NASB

Daisies in my back yard

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Christine

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Remembering

Welcome to my home!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

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I'm having...black tea, wild berry, in my floral china mug from Florida.

I'm feeling...okay, here's a change from my usual "fine."  I've had a stomachache all morning.  Must have been something I ate for dinner last night, though everything tasted wonderful (chicken tacos!).  I was awake throughout the night, too, listening to the constant thunder and the pouring-down rain.  I'm trying to take it easy, doing things when I can.  There is a lot to do, but I think the Lord is telling me to rest, and to rest in Him.

On my mind...more preparations!  I'm still on a "high" from last week's state convention, but I'm also now focused on Danny's graduation celebration this Sunday.  I have been coordinating this celebration for 11 homeschool graduates (all families within our church), and I have several emails and phone calls yet to make.  However, Danny's graduation display is coming along, and we have had fun traveling down Memory Lane together all morning (when my tummy allowed me to!) as we browsed through baby pictures and images from throughout his life.

Putting Danny's display together

I leave you with...a short Scripture I read today as I take things easy and think about my Danny as he prepares for his graduation ceremony this Sunday.  I pray that he continues to seek after the Lord, acknowledge Him in all his ways, delight in His law, and remember His Word.

I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,

As much as in all riches.

I will meditate on Your precepts

And regard Your ways.

I shall delight in Your statutes;

I shall not forget Your word.

Psalm 119:14-16 NASB

My back yard garden bench on a hot June day

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk -- A God Who Sees

Welcome to my home!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

To participate, click on Ruth's button above.

I'm at our state homeschool convention right now!  It's close to home, but since I coordinate the portion of the convention dedicated to families homeschooling their special and struggling learners, Fernando and I are staying at the hotel with all the speakers.  So I've written this post early so I don't miss Tea Talk (one of my favorite blog times of the week!).

I'm having...Irish Breakfast tea in my new cup that Fernando let me purchase on our vacation in Vero Beach!  Lori took me to a little kitchen shop and we spent a happy time browsing, drooling, and ooh-ing and aah-ing over the (mostly) expensive items.  I don't normally "window shop," but this was a lot of fun!  The cup comes with a tea steeper that sits on top, and a lid that doubles as a coaster.  I have drunk my tea in this cup every morning since we got back home.

Detail of the flowers which are on each side

I'm feeling...Since I'm typing this up early, I'm going to guess that I'm tired but filled with adrenaline, running around making sure everything is in order.  Our first workshop starts at around 2:00pm this afternoon.

On my mind...you guessed it!  Are my speakers here?  Is everything set up properly?  Are my volunteers ready?  I could go on...

I leave you with...the devotion that I wrote for ICHE's "30 Days of Devotions and Prayer," which they emailed to their subscriber list each day in May to lead up to the convention.  Don't worry, it's not too long, and you don't have to read it if you don't want to!  My devotion was emailed on Day 17.

God who Sees

[Hagar] called the name of the LORD who spoke to her,

"You are a God who sees"

Genesis 16:13a NASB

The five-year-old schoolgirl peered into the shoebox diorama that she had painted blue to mirror the ocean. She fingered the little shells on her desk, then glanced around. No glue. She sat for a minute, then another, and another, frozen. Too timid to raise her hand, she desperately thought, “Someone please notice! Help me!” An eternity passed, then—a hand touched her shoulder, and the kind words floated down, “Oh, honey, you need glue! I have some right here for you.” She was saved.

Even today, I can recall both the terror of that childhood memory, and the sweet relief that washed over me when the teacher noticed my plight. I have remembered that seemingly minor incident throughout my life—when our son was diagnosed with autism (what do we do now?), when we began homeschooling (can I really do this?), through years of painful health issues (will I ever feel better?), and as our children have grown into adulthood (did we do a good job?). I have often wondered, “Does the Lord notice my troubles? Does He care?”

Hagar must have asked these same questions. Given to Abraham by Sarah, Hagar conceived. But Sarah treated her harshly, and she fled into the wilderness. She was pregnant, feeling abandoned, and alone. But the Lord saw her—not simply glancing and turning away. His seeing implies compassionate watching and caring. It is filled with mercy and love. He took heed of Hagar in her distress, and poured out His lovingkindness upon her. He also sees me, throughout each season of life, and graciously guides my steps with His hand. He truly is the God Who Sees.

Columbine in my front porch garden

God bless you on this wonderful Thursday!!


Back to life,
Christine

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