A Heavenly Tea
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The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 God shows Himself in innumerable ways. Just as He displays His Glory in the heavens, He also displays and receives glory in simple things like sweet fellowship with other believers over a cup of tea. To have tea, all you need is fresh water, a tea kettle, a cup, and saucer, and of course, tea. A Heavenly Tea acknowledges the presence of the Lord and considers the objects of a tea as symbolic of our relationship to our Heavenly Father. Teacups represent people. Like a teacup, every person is unique and made in God’s image. Some of us have chips and cracks and stains because we are all sinful and imperfect. But God, in His love and grace, sees us as His beautiful and redeemed children perfected by His Son’s sacrifice on the cross. For you created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful; I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14 The Tea Pot represents God. God wants to fill us with His Holy Spirit just as a tea pot pours into a teacup. Praise God every morning and ask Him to replenish you with His love. In this life, there are many choices to make regarding how you spend your time, money, and energy. Make sure to fill your life with God first. Satan, our enemy, will try to distract you by keeping you so busy that you have little time left to spend with the Lord. Experience the freedom in making the Lord your sole pursuit, and the other things in life will flow from your wellspring of love that comes from Him. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it with good things. Psalm 81:10b But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23a Sugar Cubes represent the sweetness of growing in Jesus. Reading and studying the Bible, prayer and journaling, fellowship with other believers, and being involved in a church body will be the light on the path where God leads you. Fill your life with “sweet” things that bring pleasure to God and to your soul. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him. Psalm 34:8 Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. Isaiah 64:5 Cream represents the choices we make. Each day, you decide what to fill your cup with—who you spend time with, what you eat and drink, where you go and what you do, what you watch and read, and where you spend your time and money. God will bless your life and those around you when you consider Him in the choices you make each day. Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. Joshua 24:15 Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking- around life—and place it before God as an offering. Romans 12:1-2 (The Message) A Lemon represents the sour choices we make or the misfortunes that happen during our lives because we live in a fallen world. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 Remember the old saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade?” Sometimes, we allow anger then bitterness to seep into our hearts over the things that have gone wrong in our lives because we are only human. But as Christ followers, we are given a divine understanding to choose right from wrong and in the way we respond. God’s Word promises to fill us with a peace that passes all understanding when we cast our burdens on the Lord. He also promises to never leave us or forsake us.\n In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33b A Rose (or any flower) in a vase on the tea table represents our spiritual growth as Christians when we abide with Him and remain rooted in His love. A rose receives its beauty, sweet aroma, and vitality from its source—water. We also draw nourishment from the Living Water, our Lord Jesus Christ, as we read His word, pray, and worship Him daily. If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:9-10 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 A White Tablecloth (or white tea napkin) represents purity. Jesus was perfect and lived a sinless life, but He willingly took our place and gave up His life for us on the cross. When we repent and turn from our sins, His blood cleanses us from all sin and removes the stain of guilt and shame. When we believe that Jesus died for us, He covers our sin and imperfections with His own righteousness. We can never be right with God on our own, but His covering washes and redeems us, and we can now stand holy and unblemished before God and have a personal relationship with Him. I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7 A Tea Tray represents our firm foundation in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Believe that Jesus is your personal Savior and commit to following Him all the days of your life. He is the only sure foundation for this life, and He is our full assurance of eternal life in heaven. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
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About the Book
Learn the deeper meaning of having tea with fun themes and recipes.
About the Author
Charlotte B. Waller was born in Corinth, Mississippi. She grew up in Biggersville, a small community seven miles south of Corinth. The eldest of three and only daughter, Charlotte grew up watching her mother, grandmothers and several aunts cook, clean, and entertain with the generous hospitality and charm inherent of strong, gracious Southern women. It is no wonder then that entertaining and hospitality came naturally to the petite brunette. As a little girl, Charlotte was whisked out of the kitchen by the older women cooking and handed a feather duster to clean with. She still admits that she is foremost a housekeeper before a cook, but she found a perfect match of light baking and preparation in tea party hosting. With a love for hospitality and other people, Charlotte fell in love with tea parties. Charlotte uses her education degree to encourage tea drinkers-ages four to 104—and her enthusiasm for life (college cheerleading and 40+ years teaching exercise at church) to host fun and meaningful tea parties in her home, church, and other venues. For Charlotte, this small ministry is foremost an outlet to serve the Lord. She uses tea parties to share God’s love and goodness. The Lord equips His people with different gifts, talents, and abilities to build His kingdom, reach the lost and give glory to His name. Charlotte trusts the Lord to lead her and views her tea ministry as a call to service. Whether in word or deed—through music, dance, crafts, sports, and yes, even tea parties—all can give praise to God. To God be the Glory for the great things He has done!