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I have had to take some deep breaths and several long cups of coffee (Tea Time Tuesday includes coffee!) to center myself, to get perspective and to ready my heart to face what is here now and what stress surely lies ahead.
Tea Time Tuesdays and tea time in general is a recognition that it takes time to center oneself, to gather courage to face life with faith, to find the love deep in our hearts to be able to keep loving the unlovable one who is taxing us during each season. To keep our thoughts and feelings in perspective by centering ourselves and having time to put them in the file drawer of heaven takes intentionality and time. Tea times will get us through the years of constant storms. Take time so that you may take courage for your life this week.
Have you noticed? All people are a little quirky and you are, too.
All families are crazy and challenging in their own ways. Don’t think it is just you or your family that is hard, or your child who feels impossible and gives pushback from time to time. Or your husband is uniquely difficult. You are in good company. All of us in a fallen world deal with these things from time to time—and there is no magical formula you could have followed to keep your children from ever arguing or questioning you. It is all a normal part of life.
In. your lifetime, no matter how hard you try, what goodness you have invested in others in your lifetime, you will be criticized, challenged, hurt—by the very ones you have served.
After almost 60 years of subduing the life God has given me, I have walked through my fair share of adventures, joys, relationship heartbreak and disasters of all sorts. One of the worst things the enemy can do is to truly convince us that our situation is unique, that we are completely alone, and that we will never be able to make it out to see the silver lining. While it's easy to believe that we are unique in these times of darkness and difficulty, scripture is filled with stories of disaster and destruction.e
Today, I review the disastrous storm in which Paul found himself and other passengers who were scared. He teaches us about how to rally others to courage and faith.
Food includes: Chile Con Queso, Sticky Toffee Pudding
Singer-songwriters I love.
A Book to inspire
My life the past weeks and more. Join me and tell your friends.
We read about Paul’s storm in Acts 27:10:
"Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also."
Paul was in the midst of a disastrous situation, and he made sure to warn his crew about the storm that he believed would cause absolute destruction. This would be a very different story if Paul left things off right there with warnings, worry, and hopelessness. However, an angel spoke to Paul and he went on to tell his crew in verse 25:
"Keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me."
Paul's words of hope and faith restored the crew and gave them courage.
Jesus himself encountered many disastrous situations. However, even in the midst of raging seas, He spoke peace and calm over the chaos. How would you react if a crazy, angry, hateful crowd came up to you and attempted to throw you off a cliff? When that happened to Jesus, He simply passed through those people and went to the next town. Even when the devil plotted hate and harm against Him, Jesus never allowed anything to stand in the way of His purpose.
Because of the coming of Jesus, He took away any power the enemy could have to hurt us. However, we still have to choose faith, choose courage, and choose to keep walking through the disasters until we find joy. Perhaps you are in the midst of a battle right now, a war that is raging in your heart and soul. I challenge you to walk with courage and faith through this season, no matter how disastrous the voyage may appear to be. Just like the apostle Paul, your words of hope and faith will give you the strength and courage to keep going.F