Tea Cup & Mug Exchange ERS7

Today is the link up party for Stephanie's Enchanting Rose Swap 7 !!!
For me this has been a while in the making because I mailed out my swap goodies so quickly & in turn received my box quickly as well.  I am very happy to finally get to share this all with you today!  So, let's get to it!

Here is my package arriving on my porch!  I created the above hashtag so others on Instagram could join in the fun if desired!

I received the MOST FANTASTICALLY personalized bucket of goodies!

I was blessed to have Erika from Alabama send to me.  She really did her homework browsing my blog to find out just what I would like!  I do not think I have ever had such a wonderfully customized gift!

She saw that I like mugs that speak to my spirit & chose this one featuring Ecclesiastes 3:1.  It features a tree for each season.  The handle is awesome because you can get all your fingers in it!  She also found one of my favorite seasonal teas; Harney & Sons Pumpkin Spice (herbal).  If you don't already know it, you can also find this tea in a bright orange tin at Trader Joe's.  It is EXACTLY the same tea (repackaged for TJs) & slightly more affordable if you are lucky enough to have a TJs near you!

This tea just evokes feelings of Autumn for me, and since we So Cal girls don't get much Autumn in true season, we make due "pretending".  BTW, 2 sachets make a whole pot, so it's very economical. 

Here is a closeup of three other items in the cute Autumn tin.  A selection of my favorite color writing sticks from Crayola.  I have never seen anything like this before, and I literally squealed with delight!  Next, some charming tea themed note cards - be still my heart.  And 3rd, some orchard peach artisan tea from a local dealer in her area.  I have yet to slow down long enough to brew this, but I CAN tell you it smells heavenly. The business card is so unique, as it is made out of wood.

Lovely Lady Stephanie instructed us to each send a thank you note to our shippers.  I had every intention of doing so, but then I spotted a gorgeous mug with feminine curves featuring an E & just had to send that along to Erika.  I included a couple of bags of the pumpkin spice tea in case she had not gotten any for herself, and some cranberry biscuit tea cookies.

Here is the box I shipped out.  Can you tell I had fun decorating it?  It was all I could do to not spoil the surprise and say, Hey, expect a box on your front porch!

Here is Erika's Instagram picture (printed with her permission), featuring her thank you mug!

We have become Instagram friends and I am enjoying getting to know her better thanks to this swap!!

The person I was assigned to ship to is Lynn over at Quaker Hill Farm blog.  Because I had THREE different swaps I was participating in, I mailed my boxes post-haste which was super fun to take to the post office!  Who doesn't love sending Happy Mail?

Here is what I put in Lynn's box.  I decided to decorate the inside flaps of the lid with printed pictures of happiness.  Thinking outside the box, I sent her a giant soup mug with lid, and I included some soup as well.

Here is a quick little craft I came up with to dress up the candle I sent to her (Febreze candle, seasonal duct tape, fabric circle, rubber band). Try it! ;)

Lynn didn't just send me a simple thank you... oh, no! She sent me a fun video!!  I hope it works so you can see it, but if not, here is a link to her blog post featuring her own post about all of this :)
Quaker Hill Farm Mug Exchange

This sure has been fun!  Be sure to follow Stephanie at The Enchanting Rose where I am linking up today.  Her next swap is slated for the spring.  She is such a treasure and an inspiration. 

Thanks for joining me today!

Blessings and a cup of tea,

Heather Elizabeth

GOOD MEAT IN THIS MESSAGE

Today's inspiration comes from the Word of God and commentary from my former pastor who retired some years ago, but still faithfully serves the body through his writing.

I truly hope this message will speak to you as it did me.

The great burden that Jesus carried with Him daily was His deep concern for people who have not come to trust in Him for the forgiveness of sin and eternal life.

^"Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.'”    Matthew 9:36-38 NASB

This problem is still huge today among Jesus' followers. Many attenders but few workers in the work of bringing others to Him for salvation. I read a great book many years ago titled, "What's Gone Wrong With The Harvest," by James Engel and H. Wilbert Norton.  In it they say that today's church, and it was written in 1975, has more information, more equipment, more facilities etc. than at any time in church history, yet we are the most inefficient church at the same time. The church today makes 1975 look like the stone age in comparison when it comes to the machinery available to us. Fewer people are won to Christ and discipled today than ever before. They said that this is best illustrated by a harvesting machine that has the very latest in technology yet the cutting blades are missing.

Far too many pastors today are more interested in just having a big crowd than in the spiritual condition of their souls. This is demonstrated by the so-called Feel Good preaching that is so prevalent today, by this I mean, sermons and teaching on topics that never offend the listeners. The Bible mentions this very thing.

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths."   (emphasis added)  2 Timothy 4:3-4 NASB

Did you note all the words that indicate self-absorption, ME? Today's catch phrase is, "I gotta do what's best for ME." The result of this kind of teaching is found in a Minor Prophet's words.

"Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "When I will send a famine on the land, not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of the LORD. People will stagger from sea to sea and from north even to the east; they will go to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, but they will not find it."  (emphasis added)       Amos 8:11-12 NASB

Why do so many pastors today avoid certain topics of the Word of God? Topics like eternal judgment in the Lake of Fire, accountability before a holy God, heaven, immorality, homosexuality, abortion, judgment, obedience, repentance and the plan of salvation? Some pastors in the so-called church growth movement have convinced them to avoid such subjects because these topics might offend the attenders. You see, this item of being offended is what the Bible teaches as CONVICTION. Without conviction, few sinners are brought to repentance. They have been told that many of these topics are POLITICAL issues and the church should avoid political issues altogether. There is a Greek word for this: BALONEY! It really boils down to possibly not having a big congregation if these things are mentioned. Do you remember what Jesus did when large crowds followed Him? He left the area because He knew that word had spread about His feeding and healing people and they come for this for themselves as well. "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10 His #1 priority!!!

Shouldn't the greatest burden of Jesus be our burden today? Shouldn't churches, pastors and teachers of the Word of God be equipping believers to do the work of an evangelist, leading lost people to the saving knowledge of Jesus, and then to train them in discipleship so that they can reach full maturity? Shouldn't this be the ultimate task of the church today, second only to the pure worship of our glorious God?

PS: For those who think that the early church in America was not political, you need to read the *ELECTION DAY SERMONS published by Liberty Fund. To them political issues were not dirty words but essential to their freedom to live and worship as they saw fit. These folks went to church on election day to hear their pastor speak on the candidates and issues on the ballot and then went to the ballot box to cast their vote based on a biblical world view. Also, look up Pastor Peter Muhlenberg and his role in the Revolutionary War.

*Political Sermons of the Founding Era  Liberty Fund (Two Volumes)

In case you were wondering what the results of feel good preaching were...

"If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discernment, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in Christianity, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it." ~ Rev. Charles Finney

Charles Finney was the prime instrument in God's hands during the 2nd Great Awakening in America ~ 1790-1840

Pastor Ike

Olive Leaf Publications

I am joining Stephanie over at The Enchanting Rose for her Roses of Inspiration Linkup Party #6. You can click the highlighted link or her button at the top right of my page.

Blessings & A Cup of Tea to Each of You Dear Ones,

Teacup Exchange, Garden Fun, God's Glory

Click Here for lovely music!

 

Happy February Dear Ones!

I found this teacup on Pinterest and thought it so lovely I would share it here!  This is a cup I would enjoy owning ;)

It is so very cheerful.

Here is a pic from my crazy garden.  I do not "actually" garden, but as I have said before, whatever the Lord blesses me with I enjoy and use for photography moments :)

Featured is a sign a client gave me with a lovely sentiment that suits me to a "tea".

 view from my front porch

This week, I caught the sky ablaze with God's glory.  It took my breath away!! No editing here folks!

 I spotted this unique felted craft on Pinterest.  I have never seen anything like it.  Have you?  This is not something I would attempt, but it's to darling not to share!

And finally, I found this lovely towel at Ross this week, just in time for Valentine's Day.  It came as a TWO PACK for only $5.  One for my bathroom (it's extra soft), and one for the lovely lady who will receive my teacup during the February Teacup Exchange being hosted by Stephanie at The Enchanting Rose (click here) beginning tomorrow! ...happy dance, happy dance!

I have already begun choosing little goodies to go with the teacup!  It will be my first time participating in this fun event!  Are you joining in?

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

John 14:27 NKJV