Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
Dear Kids:
I just pulled a treasure out of a plastic Rubbermaid tub in the basement. Wrapped in old towels I found a blue and white china teacup that belonged to your Great Grandma Thomson. It is worn, a little yellow, and chipped in a couple of places, but I washed it out anyway and made myself a cup of tea. Why would I do this when I have so many other pretty and perfect teacups in the china cabinet? It’s because this teacup holds a special place in my heart!
Having a Cup of Tea With Great Grandma
Great Grandma had a whole set of these Blue Onion dishes. I don’t know when she got them but they are part of my childhood memories. I spent many hours sitting in Grandma’s kitchen sharing a cup of tea with her, Grandpa, and other family members. She taught me to heat water in a large kettle until it reached a rolling boil, prepare the tea pot by swishing hot water around to warm the porcelain, and let the tea leaves steep until the water was the right color. Then I learned to carefully hold the lid of the teapot while pouring the steaming comfort into the china cups. But I learned so much more than all of this.
For me a cup of tea represented a place of safety and connection with those who loved me. It taught me to have a listening ear for others. Cupped in my hands it opened up a world of friendship, affection, and comfort. And over the years I have associated a warm cup of tea with the safe coziness of understanding and love that a deep relationship can give.
Having a Cup of Tea With Jesus
That is why I usually make myself a cup of tea when I sit down to have time with the Lord. Of all my special relationships this one is the most satisfying. Jesus calls all who will listen to open up the door of their hearts and let Him in. He longs to sit down with us and build into us through a deep relationship – one in which we can revel in His listening ear, bottomless compassion, loving correction, and deep affection. Who wouldn’t want all that?
Great Grandma’s chipped blue and white teacup isn’t just a memory from the past. It is a reminder of the deep joy that friendship and love bring. We can have this with each other, but most importantly with Jesus. He is knocking at your heart. So put the water on to boil, open up the door, and invite Him in. It will be the best cup of tea you ever have!
Love,
Mama
Everyone has a different store of choice depending on what they are looking for. Around here I shop Kroger or Aldis for groceries, Kohl’s for clothing, Xenia Shoe & Leather for shoes, and Amazon for just about everything else. But it recently occurred to me that some of you like to shop in an unconventional way.
miss something really important?
I don’t usually think of myself as a Grinch. Christmas is such a fun and special time of the year, but the other day some Grinch-like characteristics found their way into my attitude.
A dark foreboding feeling crept over me as I pulled the metal door open and entered our neighboring county jail. I was there on business with nothing to fear, but still the clanging doors and dark dismal interior sent shivers up my spine. I waited on a cold bench until an officer unlocked the security doors and beckoned me into the hallway outside the office area. There, while waiting to be helped, I watched the movements of a few inmates and their wardens on the numerous security cameras behind the thick glass. Finally my business was completed. The door clicked open, and I hurried through the lobby and out into the sunshine.
Halloween is just around the corner. This is the time of year when many dress up in costumes. Recently, Luke and Brianna hosted an autumn dress up party. Their little family masqueraded as the cutest beekeeper, flower, and honeybee I’ve ever seen. After the party they took the costumes off and returned to their normal selves. But sadly there are many people who spend their whole lives pretending to be something they are really not.
John Wooden, one time head coach at UCLA, said, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are . . . the true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.”