My Tony Carter “Tea Party” teapot and an Art Deco Limoges cup

Here is a little song that reminds me of profound spiritual truth:

I’m a little teapot, short and stout;
Here is my handle, here is my spout.
When I get all steamed up, hear me shout,
‘Tip me over and pour me out!”

What it reminds me of is this verse:

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

This is the text of Scripture that has formed my life more than any other and the reason I am writing this blog.

• So you will discover more about the Potter who made you.
• So you will find out what kind of teapot you are.
• So you will begin to do what the Potter designed you for, and pour out something good, something stimulating, something refreshing for all around you.

Who am I?  I am, with my husband, a church planter in Brussels, Belgium; a Bible teacher; and a cultural educator.  Oh, and also a collector of teapots.  As well as an enthusiastic drinker of tea.

Here is another thing teapots have taught me about theology:

The teapot is not the tea; it is a conveyor and purveyor of that beverage of which Gladstone said:

“If you are cold, tea will warm you;
if you are too heated, it will cool you;
If you are depressed, it will cheer you;
If you are excited, it will calm you.”

This fact reminds me of another verse:

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

We are privileged to participate with God in his great works in the world, like a teapot in the hand of the Host, serving up a rich blend.  But we can rest in the fact that it is not from us, but his Spirit that fills us, causing us to pour out on others the good works prepared in advance for us to do.

Practically speaking, the focus of this blog is spiritual formation.  You will find posts fall into four main topics: practical theology, creative worship, personal discovery, and cultural relevance.  (As well as some miscellaneous ones on tea, travel, and other topics…)