Thursday Ladies' Bible Study & Luncheon ~

 I know I've shown this Royal Grafton teacup before, but I love it and it is a perfect teacup for Autumn table-settings with its' cheerful yellow & white color and orange red dots.

 I set the table for the Thursday Ladies' Bible study with my Charleston by Noritake china. The quilt in the center of the table was made by one of the ladies from the Ohop Ladies sewing group , a local group of ladies who meet every week at the grange to sew.

 This old buffet once upon a time belonged to my husband's grandmother. It holds many precious memories along with our china and table linens. Sometimes it holds dessert too !

 Lunch was baked chicken breasts, home-made coleslaw , home canned applesauce, spinach salad ( thanks Marlene ) and chicken salad ( thanks Karen ). Dessert was a chocolate cake and a butter pecan cake...thanks to Duncan Hines ! We had cranberry juice , coffee, & tea to drink . After we ate we shared our thoughts on our study of I Samuel using After God's Heart by Myrna Alexander.

Later that day I sipped tea from my cheery teacup as I pondered the study and how I long to be a woman after God's own heart but so often my selfish desires prevent this. God is gracious and merciful though and He will forgive me and continue to teach me His ways if I seek Him.

I am glad I had time to clean up, and even more time to ponder than I had thought because my dishwasher is not working. I washed all the dishes, pots & pans the old fashioned way, by hand.

"A heart that does not try to compromise God's command is a heart that is His. A heart that desires to follow the Lord and obey His command is a heart after His heart."  I Samuel 15:20  Myrna Alexander

I am linking with the ladies listed below for all things Tea , for my Tea-Time Tuesday.

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

Terri at Artful Affirmations *

Bernideen's Tea Time Blog *

Martha at Martha's Favorites *

• 

Tea Time Tuesday ~ With The Thursday Ladies

 

My favorite of 4 tea cups in this set I bought 2 years ago. It is a pale minty green chintz pattern, and comes in a beautiful box to store it in with the 3 other chintz teacups in this set. I used the chintz teacups for a ladies luncheon last Thursday.

I will call these lovely ladies the Thursday Ladies. We gather once a month on Thursday to share a meal together and study the Bible.

We are studying I Samuel using Myrna Alexander's book 'After God's Heart".

Mothers are welcome to bring their children, and the children have their own table. I have always appreciated homes open to children, and the opportunity for children to gather with us is also an opportunity for mothers & grandmothers to enjoy their company, and also teach them how to behave properly when they are in someone else's home.( these are pretty well behaved children , so it is no trouble to enjoy each other and them!)

If you look closely at the table, you can see the Chintz teacups.

Inside the box.

 

"Gracie China, Chintz Collection " made in China

 

 

 Having so many beautiful teacups and china I love, it is a pleasure & a privilege to share them with friends and family. Did you know hospitality, or being hospitable ~"receiving and entertaining guests generously & kindly" (Webster's Dictionary ) is commanded by God? Hospitality requires nothing more than a welcoming heart and willingness to share your hearth and home. Hospitality does not require fancy table settings and food, nor does it require a perfect home.I Peter 4:9,10 says, "Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." Sometimes simply sharing a cup of tea with someone and offering a listening heart and a prayer is all it takes to show true hospitality.

 

The Thursday Ladies have already been a blessing and the study of I Samuel promises to be one of personal challenge to me....learning to trust God as Hannah ,mother of the prophet Samuel did. "Turn first to God for comfort ( in times of pain & distress)not to something or someone else. And give Him your emotions." Myrna Alexander

 

I am linking with these ladies for Tea Time Tuesday ~

• Bernideen's Tea time Blog *
• Sandi At Rose Chintz Cottage *
• Terri at Artful Affirmations *
• Martha at Martha's Favorites *
• Antiques & Teacups *
•