Bible Verse of the Day


2 Peter 1:5-8


For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Thankful for All Things


I enjoy a cup or two of hot tea in the afternoons. My tea time is 2pm. It happens to be the time of day for me that I have an energy slump and the tea ritual is a pleasant pick-me-up. When the grandkids lived here, it was also the last of my quiet time before the school buses started rolling down the roads, so I enthusiastically enjoyed my adult time alone. I use a lovely China teacup and saucer, you know, the ones the kids are not allowed to touch, much less use. I always feel refreshed and renewed after tea time. I love the ritual of the making the tea almost as much as drinking it. It is s small thing I do for myself. I had hoped to pass along the love of tea time to my girls and granddaughters. They do it with me but have not picked up the love of the ritual. I bought each one a special antique teacup and saucer anyway for inspiration…hope springs eternal.

An old Chinese legend tells of a group of elderly, cultured gentlemen who met often to exchange wisdom and drink tea. Each host tried to find the finest and most costly varieties, to create exotic blends that would arouse the admiration of his guests. When the most venerable and respected of the group entertained, he served his tea with unprecedented ceremony, measuring the leaves from a golden box. The assembled epicures praised this exquisite tea. The host smiled and said, “The tea you have found so delightful is the same tea our peasants drink. I hope it will be a reminder to all that the good things in life are not necessarily the rarest or the most costly.

No, the good things in life are right in front of our faces and we so often neglect to see them for how very precious they are – our redemption in Jesus, our spouses, our children, our parents and extended family, our brothers and sisters in the Lord, our wonderful five senses, the talents and abilities He’s given us – and soooo much more!

Let’s thank God for all the precious things he’s given us and let’s cherish them as so! We have so much! And there’s so much work to be done!!

Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

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