Coffee Accessorizing

Remember the days when you could order a cup of coffee in four syllables? A cup of coffee was a “cup of coffee.” That’s it. These days, coffee has been accessorized to triple its original syllablage. Or even more.

Being the accessory overachiever that I am (if only you could see these ear rings), I’m pretty excited about coffees that can be accessorized and enhanced until they’re hardly coffee anymore. I love a shot of this flavor and a dollop of that topping. Sprinkles? Sure. I just have to remember when I get up to the cash register that every syllable is about another quarter to 50 cents. A six-dollar cup of coffee? I tell you, I can do it.

Adding this, adding that—it may be expensive in a cup of coffee, but it can be a great life-thing. 2 Peter 1:5-8 says “Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful” (CEV).

Now there’s a list of worthwhile syllables we can add! We’re called to keep adding more and more character syllables to our lives. And what happens when we add goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others and love? We show that Christ makes a difference in our lives. We give a testimony with our lives that life in Jesus makes us useful and gives life meaning. Let’s stay alert when it comes to adding those wonderfully worthwhile things to our lives.

Hey, I think I might just stay alert with a Grande Espresso Mocha Carmel Macchiato with extra foam and chocolate sprinkles!

Season's Meetings

About this time every year I seem to start meeting myself to death. Does it happen to you, too? Here we are, ringing in the season with this Christmas committee meeting and that planning event, then the other get-together—I really am MEETING myself coming and going!

I’ve got so much scribbling on my calendar; it already looks like it’s been through the blender. I’ve got some kind of Day-Timer smoothie here! Visions of sugar plums? I don’t think so. Not unless they’re one of the ingredients in the smoothie.

Before Christmas starts to lose some of its glorious wonder and meaning, I really have to get a hold of my calendar and keep it in check—or maybe just check it at the door.

Don’t you love the awesome message of Christmas the angels brought at that very first Christmas meeting: “Glory to God…and on earth, PEACE.” Peace through Jesus! We don’t have to form a committee—no meetings on this one. It’s the truth. I think I’ll just sit here and enjoy that thought for a few minutes today. Don’t you think it’s so much sweeter than any old sugar plum smoothie?

Pushing Our Thanks Button

I hope this isn’t too personal, but I have this one pair of jeans I call the “breathing optional” jeans. I was going somewhere the other day wearing the death jeans, and I told my daughter something like, “Now if Mommy passes out, nevermind the CPR. Unbutton the jeans.”

And as a motherly disclaimer, I had to add, “Don’t look directly at that top button. One bad thread and it could put an eye out.” I really would hate it if I had to explain in the ER how my daughter got a concussion or something from a blue jeans button turned bazooka.

Anyway, I was very thankful that we made it home from our little outing without either of us having lost consciousness.

Speaking of being very thankful, isn’t it fun that we’re heading into the season that forces us to think about thanks? The Bible tells us to always be thankful. Always. That’s often.

So I’m making it a goal to be thankful always—for every breath. Especially for every breath that doesn’t rocket a button.

Going to Court?

How tickled I am that my two college boys are taking the Rhea family "to court" in such a good way. Andrew (left) and Jordan (right) are parked on either side of the cute Katie Porter representing their respective junior and freshman classes at the 2006 Homecoming Gala and Coronation at Hannibal-LaGrange College in Hannibal, Missouri. Katie is the junior girl homecoming rep. I loved getting to snap some pictures of their "court appearance." The entire evening was a royal blast!

Two on the homecoming court from the same family? That has to be some sort of historic event for the college. I know it's an historical event for the Rhea family. As the mother of those two fine boys, I think it's more of a HYSTERICAL event--since I'm so proud I could just cry!

And as the mother of two of the homecoming court guys, I'm wondering if that somehow makes me QUEEN. Not that it's all about me, mind you. But really. Could I get a crown out of this?

I guess I'm a little spoiled, since on the eternal side, Jesus has already made me royal. Again, not because it's all about me. But because he is full of mercy. It's all about him. It's all about what he's done.

And if I do happen across a tiara or two, I know just where to lay them. I love the Revelation 4:10-11 picture of falling down in worship, laying our crowns before the One and Only Worthy One. “And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, ‘You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power.’” (NLT)

As proud as I am of my boys, I'm even more thrilled to serve in the court of the One True King. All glory to him!