Tuesday Tea ~ A Reflection on Living Well and a Bloggy Vacation

 

Hi friends!  As I may have mentioned, my grandchildren and DIL are here visiting so we are certainly having a lot of fun. And it’s pretty busy all day. :o) (This is an understatement of course.)

The children have grown so much in just two months since they moved! August is crawling and loves to play in the wading pool out on the back deck. And he’s acquiring a taste for solid food..which means he really loves ‘playing’ with food. 

Lena and I have been cutting out pretend cookies with playdough, ‘reading’ lots of books…really..she is just into make believe. Her little pigtails just are too darling..and I can’t get over how articulate she is. She’s 2.

Ebeth and I are just enjoying hanging out. She is making some visits to friends during the day but mornings and evenings we just have some fun together. 

For this week, I’m pretty committed to just spending time with them, so I’m taking a ‘bloggy vacation’. I’ll be back up and running by next Tuesday. Monday is the day we take her and the kids to the airport and then we are attending a Memorial Day picnic. 

The only post I’ll be doing..is just a quick announcement on Thursday of our winner for the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway which ends on midnight of Wednesday. Click here to leave a comment and enter.  :o)

Before I go, I will tell you that I’ve been spending a lot of time with the Lord this last week. It has really changed my focus from just ‘getting through the day’ so I can do some ‘fun’ things or what I want….to trying to do what I know pleases the Lord..doing things that mean more…  

The book that really inspired me the most this last month, is The Imitation of Christ. Yes, it’s quite old..but the advice is strangely practical to people today. It has really gotten my attention! Here’s an excerpt…

“If you do not overcome small, trifling things, how will you overcome the more difficult? Resist temptations in the beginning, and unlearn the evil habit lest perhaps, little by little, it lead to a more evil one.

If you but consider what peace a good life will bring to yourself and what joy it will give to others, I think you will be more concerned about your spiritual progress.”

Imitation of Christ by Thomas A’Kempis…Text Online

 

I know it probably sounds strange, but I’ve been focused on obedience this month. Or in other words, doing what I ‘ought’ rather than what I want. Romans chapter 7 talks a lot about how hard that is.

18And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^d I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

21I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22I love God’s law with all my heart. 23But there is another power^e within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord!. a Romans 7:18-25a

I’ve been ‘taking stock’ of my character…and wow—I need a lot of work! Lol!  But it isn’t discouraging..just rather exciting!

Every moment of the day, I ask myself…what ought I be doing?

And then, if I don’t want to do it..I pray and ask the Lord to help me ‘want’ to. You’d be amazed how quickly the Lord will answer that prayer!

It’s had huge implications for how I clean, how I deal with the ‘backlog’ of to do items on my ‘list’…how I respond to the kids or hubby…

 

This morning I marveled at the fact that when you live in a way that you hope pleases the Lord in everything, you just naturally find yourself being a better wife, mother, friend, daughter, sibling..etc.

Living for myself, I’ve discovered, is not very fulfilling or rewarding. In fact, it mostly makes me cranky. LoL! :o)

Since Tuesday is usually our little chat and tea time, I thought I’d share what the Lord has been working on in my life this last couple of weeks. My husband said, “Honey, That’s called ‘revival’.”   

Hmmm… such a wise hubby. :o)

I’m having tea…but it was AFTER the babies were fed, dressed, and put down for naps. Life’s a little different with little ones for sure. But I did finally get to my devotional book.  It’s not WHEN we take time to relax and reflect…but that we DO it! 

If you would like to link up, here’s the linky party. I’ll certainly be visiting blogs this week, though I won’t be posting. 

If you like hearing about our daily adventures, you are welcome to visit me at my Comin’ Home facebook page. I often post a photo or update there.

Have a lovely week…and a lovely tea.

Thanks for joining me! I'm linking with these great tea parties. Check out their amazing tea sets, china, recipes, and even Victorian decor. 

Raising Homemakers
Tracie's Cottage Flora Thursday

Thanks so much for joining me!

Lady Katherine's Tea Time Tuesday

The Plumed Pen's  Tea for Two

Rose Chintz Tea Time Tuesday

Martha's Favorite Teacup Tuesday
Wanda Lee's Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday
Pam's Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Kathy’s A Delightsome Life: A Return to Loveliness