New Year House-Cleaning

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Set your house in order. . .2 Kings 20:1, Isaiah 38:1 (NKJV)

Many people make a new year’s resolution to clean their houses. Every January, my friend Lisa gives her home a good spring-cleaning. That way, when spring really comes, she can work outside in her garden. She does this every year and her home always looks beautiful, yet comfortable and welcoming with house plants and seasonal decorations. She takes what she doesn’t need to the thrift shop and often comes home with something new. Lisa was one of my first friends who invited me for tea as she offered me a cup every time I visited her cozy home.

It’s ironic that even though my family is still “homeless” after two years since evacuating our home due to mold, we don’t get to escape spring-cleaning. My doctor insisted we deep-clean the guest cabin where we are currently blessed to reside. There are many tips for deep cleaning for mold-sensitive people, but her instructions were to vacuum with a HEPA filter vacuum, dust with Ever-clear, and wash all fabric with a Cascade dishwasher pod. It has a special enzyme to kill toxins. We also have two AirOasis filters going in the cabin to constantly clean the air. That spring-cleaning was a job we didn’t enjoy, but now we’re glad to know the cabin passes my doctor’s test.

My friend Carol also has been cleaning her house as she recovers from mold toxins. She had an interesting experience one day when the Holy Spirit told her there was something in her bedroom that He wanted her to clean. Carol went into her bedroom where He led her to a tall file cabinet. Then the Holy Spirit pointed out the right drawer and file. In it she found an un-opened wedding invitation from long ago. She hadn’t opened it because she already knew the date and was planning to go. So that day she opened it and found it had a Harry Potter theme. Carol knew the Holy Spirit doesn’t like the witchcraft in those books, so she burned the invitation along with other items. I like the way Carol lets the Holy Spirit help her clean!

God likes house-cleaning, too!  As I read my Bible, I notice several times when God’s people were told to “clean house!” Remember the tent-cleaning in Joshua 7?  After the victory at Jericho, a man named Achan stole some of the accursed treasures and hid them in his tent.  His sin caused the Lord not to go with Israel’s army, leading to Israel’s defeat in their first battle against Ai.  Joshua made certain that everyone had a “clean tent” after that!    

If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up;
You will remove iniquity far from your tents. Job 22:23 (NKJV)

More than once, God’s children were told to clean His house. Hezekiah became king when he was 25 years old. In the very first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. Then he called the priests and Levites to carry out all the rubbish that had collected over the years of neglect.  It took 16 days, and when the temple was clean again, King Hezekiah restored temple worship and celebrated the Passover (Read 2 Chronicles 29–30).

…“Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. 2 Chronicles 29:5 (NKJV)

And they gathered their brethren, sanctified themselves, and went according to the commandment of the king, at the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. 2Chronicles 29:15 (NKJV)

When Josiah became king, a few generations later, God’s house needed cleaning again. Josiah was only eight years old at the start of his reign.  At the age of 16, he began to seek the Lord and tear down idols in the land of Judah. When he was 26, Josiah directed the work of cleaning the temple; there, they found the Book of the Law of the Lord given by Moses.  Imagine, not being able to find God’s Word because it was buried under rubbish, idols, and abominations!  Josiah tore his clothes when he heard God’s Law and realized how they had fallen short.  Like his great-grandfather, King Josiah restored true worship and kept the Passover at the temple (Read 2 Chronicles 34).

If you would prepare your heart,
And stretch out your hands toward Him;
 If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away,
And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
Then surely you could lift up your face without spot;
Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear. Job 11:13-15 (NKJV)

What can we learn from all this house-cleaning? Cleaning fits so well with the “A” part of the TEA CUPP where we ADMIT our sins and ask for God’s forgiveness. The Lord wants both our houses where we live and our hearts to be clean.  Can we seek the Lord in His Word like King Josiah? Can we carry out the rubbish like King Hezekiah and my friend Lisa? Can we let the Holy Spirit guide us like my friend Carol?  Can we admit our sins and let Jesus give us clean homes and hearts? 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1John 1:9 (NKJV)

The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: And so, we clean our hearts, the temple of His Holy Spirit, by coming to the Lord with all our anxieties. And Jesus makes us new. We clean out all the rubbish, the idols, and abominations. We follow His Book, worshiping Him in our clean house!

Jesus told the parable of a woman who lost a coin and swept her whole house to find it (Read Luke 15). Dear sister, Jesus loves you so much He would sweep the whole world to find you. Let’s have our hearts and houses clean when He comes!

Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? Luke 15:8 (NKJV)

If I wash myself with snow water,
And cleanse my hands with soap. Job 9:30 (NKJV)

But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire
And like launderers’ soap.
He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer to the Lord
An offering in righteousness. Malachi 3:2-3 (NKJV)

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Exalting with the Christmas Story

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For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)

The Christmas Story is a blessed place to find verses to exalt and praise our Lord Jesus.  (The E part of the TEA CUPP is for Exalting, where we lift up the name of our Father in heaven and praise Him for sending His Son to be our Savior).  From the Old Testament prophecies, to the words of the angels, to the shepherds and wise men, we have plenty of examples for exalting and honoring our Lord.  Let’s look at a a few of these:

Do  you remember how Jesus taught His disciples to pray, saying: “Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name”?  That is what exalting is all about. Like a halo above an angel’s head, we lift up Abba Father’s name above all. (Matthew 6:9)

Isaiah the prophet hallowed Him in the verse above, proclaiming Him as “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

The wisemen in Matthew 2 exalted Him with their actions: And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. (Matthew 2:11)

When the Virgin Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, she glorified the Lord with her song: “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46-47)

When Zacharias’ son John the Baptist was born, he praised God with his first spoken words in nine months: Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David, (Luke 1:68-69)

When the angel came to announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, suddenly a multitude of angels appeared glorifying God, saying:  “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14)

And after the shepherds went to Bethlehem to see if this new Baby was really there, they returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (Luke 2:20)

According to the Law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took their Baby to the temple to be dedicated, where a man named Simeon took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”” (Luke 2:28-32) Anna also was there and joined Simeon’s praise as she gave thanks to the Lord.  (Luke 2:38)

From Genesis to Revelations, especially the Psalms, the Prophets, and the New Testament writings,  God gives us words to hallow and exalt our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the precious Baby who came humbly to a stable to save the whole world.

Today’s TEA CUPP:  Join the prophets and wise men, join Mary and Zacharias, join the angels and shepherds, join Simeon and Anna, join all creation this Christmas in exalting and hallowing the precious name of our Lord Jesus.  As you sing your favorite Christian Carols, truly sing them to glorify the King of kings: “With the angelic hosts proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem,” Hark the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.” 

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for leaving heaven and coming to earth to die for me.  May you be glorified in my heart and family this Christmas and always.

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”  Revelation 5:13 (NKJV)

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  1 John 4:9 (NKJV)

Thank you for stopping by My TEA CUPP Prayers! If you are blessed by today’s post, you might also enjoy some of my other Christmas devotions.  I pray a wonderful celebration of our Savior Yeshua to you and all your loved ones!

As you move into the year 2025, consider using my Bible Reading Bookmarks or check out this cool website I just found where you can design your own. 

Also, consider joining this Daniel Fast as we pray for our country the first 21 days of the new year.

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Taste and See this Thanksgiving

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Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:8 (NKJV)

If ever there was a good time to “taste and see” that the Lord is good, it must be Thanksgiving. Taste buds are tempted with a tantalizing table of treats this time of the year. And for these gifts, we give the Lord thanks! For every good and perfect gift (especially our food) comes from above!

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17 (NKJV)

What are you having for Thanksgiving this year? I pray that you are surrounded by loved ones and yummy things to eat! I know some may be struggling financially this year, with job lay-offs and high grocery bills. I pray someone delivers a casserole and pumpkin pie to your door! Our family is still homeless, but we do have a place to stay and food for the table and children coming “home,” so for that we are very thankful! And while we might want to be sad about this or that, Jesus tells me, “You give them something to eat!”

But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.” Luke 9:13 (NKJV)

And so I set my moldy brain to work on a little plan and divide up the menu and who is helping with what, and soon we have a scrumptious dinner, feasting like children of the King of kings in our borrowed cabin. Yes, the Lord is gracious!

 If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 1 Peter 2:3 (NKJV)

I love how Jesus always promises to feed us. Isaiah promises that He feeds us like a shepherd, for He is our Good Shepherd. And if this is a sad Thanksgiving for you, He is also carrying you in His arms. For the Lord has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted (Isaiah 49:13). And for the young families with little ones, He is gently leading us, too!

He will feed His flock like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs with His arm,
And carry them in His bosom,
And gently lead those who are with young. Isaiah 40:11 (NKJV)

I was reminded of a few sad Thanksgivings lately. November 25, 2024 marked the 39th anniversary of the plane crash that took my college cross country team. Thanksgiving that year was a time of grieving. The other night we were driving home late after spending the day in the emergency room with my husband who thankfully only had vertigo, not a stroke. In the last few miles before our cabin, I hit ice on a bridge and spun our truck around and around before landing at the edge. Just two years after that plane crash, I had a similar accident with my parents’ car on my way home from a Thanksgiving gathering. May Jesus’ angels keep charge over all your loved ones this holiday season!

There have been happy Thanksgivings, too. I remember 1998 when my family all gathered at our church camp in Iowa. After the meal we had a talent show with my parents performing their famous skit of “Mabel and the Chewing Gum.” I remember 2006 when we were on a mission to Mississippi to help with rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina. We served a Thanksgiving dinner at a soup kitchen that day. I remember 2017 was the last Thanksgiving with my Daddy before he went to heaven. He was so thankful to have the family together. And in 2000, during the covid year, we spent Thanksgiving with Kennedy when she had cancer. And now she is a healthy third grader! Yes, there is always something for which to be thankful.

The first part of My TEA CUPP is T for Thanksgiving where we enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4). How about if we all do that this Thanksgiving: Cut maples leaves from orange construction paper. Invite everyone to write and share blessings on the leaves. Then make a Thanksgiving wreath and pray 1 Chronicles 16 or a Psalm of thanks.

Today’s TEA CUPP: Let’s count our blessings instead of our bad days. Let’s count His praises instead of our pains. Let’s count our loved ones instead of our lack. And whatever you have on the table, taste and see that the Lord is good!

Here are a few of our Thanksgiving favorites:

Party Beans, Rice Con Queso, and Sweet Potatoes

Pumpkin and Pecan Pies

Give us day by day our daily bread. Luke 11:3 (NKJV)

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. 

Digging Ditches Across the USA

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. . . Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches”. . .2 Kings 3:16 (NKJV)

Get your “shovels” ready, ladies! It’s time to start digging!

In 2 Kings 3 we read the story of three kings going to battle against the king of Moab. This trio included the king of Judah, the king of Israel, and the King of Edom who joined forces to commence the battle. Only there was a problem. The armies had marched for seven days and found no water. They called for the prophet Elisha who told them to dig ditches for “You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water” (2 Kings 3:17). Miraculously, the armies obeyed, God filled the ditches with water, and the armies quenched their thirst and that of their animals. In addition, the enemy saw the water as blood and came forth unprepared to battle the three armies. And Yehovah Nissi, our conquering King, won a great victory for Israel that day!

And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ 2 Kings 3:16-17 (NKJV)

When Elisha told the kings to dig ditches, it is possible he was remembering the time his predecessor Elijah dug ditches. Do you remember that Mt. Carmel victory? The prophets of Baal could not get their sacrifice to light, even with all their hooting and cutting. Then it was Elijah’s turn to pray for the Lord God to light his sacrifice. But first, Elijah had a huge trench dug around the altar. Then those trenches were filled with twelve water pots of water. When the Lord sent His fire, it consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the dust, and all the water in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” (1 Kings 18:20-40). Amen! Come, Lord Jesus, our Rock, the Christ, the Living Water, do it again! Turn hearts of stone to Living Water. Pour out Your Holy Spirit and Living Water across this land!

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the God of Jacob,
Who turned the rock into a pool of water,
The flint into a fountain of waters. Psalm 114:7-8 (NJKV)

As we prepare our offering, our sacrifice of prayers, let’s dig ditches around them and ask the Lord Himself to fill our land with His Living Water.  While you pray for Living Water to cover this nation, your thoughts may turn to the woman at the well in John 4. How did Jesus say to get His Living Water? Just by asking! James 4:2 reminds us, “you do not have because you do not ask.” 
Can we dig ditches with our prayers and then ask the Lord Jesus to fill them with His Living Water?

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” John 4:10 (NKJV)

Where have I been digging ditches? I’ve been digging them everywhere the soul of my foot has touched. I’ve been digging ditches in Wisconsin where the Lord healed our granddaughter from cancer. I’ve been digging ditches in my state as I have tea with Jesus each morning. I’ve been digging ditches in Washington DC as I pray for the upcoming election. Yes, I’m digging ditches with my prayers!

Today’s TEA CUPP: Now it is your turn! Get your “shovel” and start digging ditches in your hometown for the Lord to fill with His Living Water. Help us, O Lord, to dig ditches with our prayers. And may You fill these ditches with Living Water to flood this nation! Come, Living Water, Come!


He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. John 7:38 (NKJV)

And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:4 (NKJV)

And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. Ezekiel 47:9 (NKJV)

p.s. A great resource for prayers for the USA: https://amillionwomen.org/

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.



Dear Israel

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He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Psalm 98:3 (NKJV)

Dear Israel,
I am praying for you. You are the tree and I am a branch. We need you to be well, to be safe, to be protected, to have the victory, to be saved, to have peace. And so, almost every day since October 7, 2023, the Lord God has given me a Bible verse to pray for you. I want to share a few of these verses and prayers to encourage you, and to help my other TEA CUPP ladies to keep lifting you in prayer.

From Psalm 83 Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! For behold, Your enemies make a tumult . . . let them be confounded and dismayed forever, yes, let them be put to shame and perish that they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth. Let it be so! Yehovah Nissi, continue to go out with Israel’s army and every missile. Be their Shield and Sun. And may all Israel and all their enemies know the Lord is God!  

From 1 Kings 8:44-52 When Your people go out to battle against their enemy. . . listen to them whenever they call to You. . . forgive Your people who have sinned against You. . . maintain their cause. 

I Kings 4:24-25 For he had dominion over all the region on this side of the River from Tiphsah even to Gaza, namely over all the kings on this side of the River; and he had peace on every side all around him. And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, each man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan as far as Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. 1 Kings 5:9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; I will float them in rafts by sea. . . I pray first for our brothers and sisters in Israel. Lord Jesus, Yehovah Nissi, fight for them and do not stop until victory is won. Fight as David did in the name of the Lord God of Israel. And establish the land as it was in the time of Solomon, far-reaching and at peace; even peace with Lebanon from where Hiram gave Solomon wood for the temple. Renew that old friendship between David and Hiram. Send peace and victory to Israel today. Protect our brothers and sisters there. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, may they prosper who love you. My heart and prayer is for all Israel to be saved, to know You, Yeshua, as their Messiah. Give the leaders of Israel the wisdom of Solomon. Give the army of Israel the skill and heart of David. Give every lady and child angels of protection, and pour out Your Holy Spirit across the land!

I pray the blessing of Ezekiel 36, especially Ezekiel 36:7-10, 36:15 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “I have raised My hand in an oath that surely the nations that are around you shall bear their own shame. But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are about to come. For indeed I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown.  I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. . . “Nor will I let you hear the taunts of the nations anymore, nor bear the reproach of the peoples anymore, nor shall you cause your nation to stumble anymore,” says the Lord God.’ ” Abba Father, I pray this blessing is NOW for Israel! Give them victory today and continue to be their Shield and Salvation! Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Ezekiel 39:29 And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,’ says the Lord God.” Lord Jesus, have compassion on Israel this day. Do not hid Your face anymore. Pour out Your Holy Spirit upon them all. Let them know You as Messiah and glorify You for being their Shield and Rock in the battle. Continue to bring peace to Jerusalem and save Your children. Bless all the children of Israel and all Your children around the world today.

From Psalm 108:7-13 God has spoken in His holiness:
“I will rejoice; I will divide Shechem
And measure out the Valley of Succoth.
Gilead is Mine; Manasseh is Mine;
Ephraim also is the helmet for My head;
Judah is My lawgiver. Moab is My washpot;
Over Edom I will cast My shoe; Over Philistia I will triumph.” . . . Give us help from trouble,
For the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly,
For it is He who shall tread down our enemies. . . . Deliver Israel TODAY, O Lord! I claim this Psalm, the Land belongs to Yehovah God. He has declared it! He shall squash the enemy with His shoe. The Lord is sending His angel armies to fight, help and protect. Praise God who helps Israel do valiantly! Praise Jesus for casting down the enemies!

Today’s TEA CUPP: Please join me in continuing to pray for victory and peace in Jerusalem and for all Israel to know the salvation found in Yeshua Messiah, Jesus the Christ, Son of the Most High God.

My favorite Podcast for keeping up on the news of Israel, along with a Messianic Jewish message of encouragement can be found at BouldozerFaith.com with Pastor Kenny Russell. Please keep Pastor Kenny and all the children of Israel in your prayers.

Lord, You have been favorable to Your land;
You have brought back the captivity of Jacob. Psalm 85:1 (NKJV)

For our shield belongs to the Lord,
And our king to the Holy One of Israel. Psalm 89:18 (NKJV)

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:17 (NKJV)

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for deflecting missiles and being favorable to Your land!

O Israel, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.  Psalm 115:9-11 (NKJV)

 

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Thank you to Freepik for the Israeli Flag clip art! Designed by rawpixel.com / Freepik

Hope in the Hurricane

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The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
The floods have lifted up their voice;
The floods lift up their waves.
The Lord on high is mightier
Than the noise of many waters,
Than the mighty waves of the sea. Psalm 93:3-4 (NKJV)
Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you. 1 Samuel 12:23 (NKJV)

Today I want to send a message of hope to those who are in the hurricane season. Someone in Montana is praying for you! The West is on fire and I’m surrounded by smokey skies, but I am praying for you! And not only me, many others are praying for you.

Dutch Sheets on Give Him 15 is lifting up prayers for you with all of his prayer warriors. Over in Israel, while they are being hit by missile attacks, Kenny Russell with Bulldozer Faith and his listeners are praying for you. The Million Esthers descending upon Washington DC this weekend are also praying for you! And, Jesus is praying for you!  Romans 8:34 promises us that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God, making intercession for you. Romans 8:36 goes on to promise the Holy Spirit is praying for you! And long ago, before Jesus went to the cross, He poured out His heart for you in John 17:20, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.” Though I know the last thing you want to see right now is a cloud, you can rejoice there is a cloud of witnesses praying for you!

It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Romans 8:34 (NKJV)

. . . Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26 (NKJV)

Why do I want to tell you this? Because I want you to be comforted with the comfort I have received from the Lord (2 Corinthians 1:4). I have evacuated at least seven times because of forest fires, wondering if I would see my home again. My in-laws’ home went up in smoke in 2008. My parents’ home was flooded in 2016. And most recently, in 2022 we lost our home and belongings to an outbreak of mold. We know the sadness, the tears, the discouragement, the anxiety. . . yet we also know the joy, comfort, encouragement and peace found through the hope of Jesus Christ. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20).

. . . We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment. Psalm 66:12 (NKJV)

Unless the Lord had been my help,
My soul would soon have settled in silence. Psalm 94:17 (NKJV)

We still don’t have a place to call home, yet we press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, thanking Him for providing for all our needs according to His riches in glory, trusting Him for each day’s needs (Philippians 3:14, 4:19). I pray for you, dear one, that our Lord Jesus will also comfort and sustain you during this trial. And if you have lost loved ones, my heart goes out to you yet again, for I also lost my college cross country team in a plane crash. The unexpected and sudden death of a loved one can cause tears of anger and grief and unbelief. Only Jesus can make the pain go away. I know this because He took my pain and bore all our pain on the cross. Remember the Father knows how much it hurts, because He watched His only begotten Son die. Please run to Abba Father’s loving arms and let Him comfort you today and put the pieces back together. I’m running to Him in Montana, too, He has room for us all. Jesus loves you, dear one!

. . .He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you. Isaiah 30:19 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: Psalm 85:4-7 Restore us, O God of our salvation. . . Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, Lord, And grant us Your salvation.. . Abba Father, Yeshua Messiah, I pray this for my family and nation. Restore! Revive! Rejoice! Because of Your mercy and salvation, restore what the locusts have eaten in all the hurricane areas. Revive this land by pouring out Your Holy Spirit. Rejoice us with Your joy and gladness again. Have compassion on all Your children left in the wake of Helene and Milton. Bless the rescue workers and keep them safe. Good Shepherd, find all Your lost sheep. Send more laborers into the harvest. Let all who survive turn to You. We ask for Your grace and mercy. In the name of Jesus, we rebuke the prince of the power of the air and command every hurricane to turn back to sea. No weapon formed against us shall prosper. Our God shall work even this for good. Our Heavenly Father is pouring His love on His hurting children. He is healing our hurts and hearts. He is providing for all our needs. He is changing every flood into Living Water, every fire into Spiritual fire, and every wind into the Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit, come! In mighty name of Jesus who calms the storm we pray, Amen.

You who still the noise of the seas,
The noise of their waves,
And the tumult of the peoples. Psalm 65:7 (NKJV)

He calms the storm,
So that its waves are still. Psalm 107:29 (NKJV)

Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Psalm 103:4 (NKJV)

Claim the promises of Zephaniah 3:15-17!

Scripture from the New King James Version (NKJV) and Common English Bible (CEB).

My Glorified Rice Salad

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Glorify the Lord with me;
    Let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:3 (NIV)

Contemplating a way to celebrate the 4th of July from our pop-up camper while serving something yummy our special diets could handle, I remembered this old favorite from church potlucks. I couldn’t quite find the perfect recipe, so I made modifications and came up with My Glorified Rice Salad. It is gluten-free, dairy-free, no added sugar and seems to agree with our mold-affected tummies. I hope you will enjoy this healthier version at your next summer picnic. God bless you and God bless America and may His name be glorified in all the earth!

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups uncooked organic jasmine rice
  • 1 – 20 oz. can crushed pineapple with juice, organic if you can find it, chilled
  • 1 – 13.5 oz. can organic coconut cream, chilled
  • 1-10 oz. bag frozen organic sweet cherries
  • 1 cup frozen organic blueberries
  • 1 cup organic walnuts, chopped
  • 10 droppers liquid stevia.  
  • 2-4 bananas, sliced

Directions:

Put rice in a pot on the cook-stove with 3 cups water and a dash of salt.  Cover loosely and bring to a boil.  Turn down heat and simmer for approximately 15-20 minutes until all the water is absorbed. Remove rice pot from heat, fluff with fork, and allow to cool.  Add the crushed pineapple, coconut cream, sweet cherries, blueberries, walnuts and stevia.  Mix gently, cover and refrigerate. Just before serving, add the sliced bananas and stir again.  Decorate with extra cherries or blueberries. You may substitute other fruits you have on hand.  Happy celebrating!

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
    The people He chose for His inheritance.  Psalm 33:12 (NIV)

Thank you for visiting My TEA CUPP Prayers.  You may also enjoy reading devotions in My TEA CUPP Prayers for Our Nation. 

Scripture from Holy Bible New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.

4:7 Petitions . . . For Whatever Reason

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. . . for whatever reason we may call upon Him . . . Deuteronomy 4:7 (NKJV)

I love the New King James Version of Deuteronomy 4:7. It says that for whatever reason we may call upon the Lord. For whatever reason! You lost your car keys? Call upon the Lord; He knows where they are. You received a concerning report from the doctor? Call upon the Lord; He is Yehovah Rapha, our Healing God. Your children aren’t following Him? Call upon the Lord; He is their Creator who knit them together in your womb, the Author of their faith who wrote their stories. You are homeless? Call upon the Lord; He is Yehovah Jireh our Provider, the Lord Jesus who is going to prepare a place for us. Trouble with a friend? Call upon the Lord Jesus who knows what it’s like to be rejected. You lost a loved one? Call upon the Lord, our great Comforter. You don’t know where to turn? Call upon the Lord and He will make straight your path.

“For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him?” Deuteronomy 4:7 (NKJV)

Those who have been following My TEA CUPP Prayers for awhile now know how much I love to use God’s Word in my prayers. To avoid vain repetitions, I will often take a verse from my daily Bible reading to use in prayer. The last P of the TEA CUPP is for Petitions where we pour our hearts out to Jesus. As you call upon the Lord for whatever reason, today I’d like to show you the many ways you might present those petitions to the Father using His Word. Though “please bless” and “I pray for” are wonderful ways to share your heart with the Lord, here are a sampling of other ways you might begin your prayers:

  • Arise for . . . (Psalm 10:12, 68:1)

  • Awake to . . . (Psalm 59:4; Isaiah 51:9)
  • Carry . . . (Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:11)
  • Come to . . . (Psalm 101:2, 119:77)
  • Deal with . . . (Psalm 109:21, 119:124)
  • Defend . . . (Psalm 20:1, 59:1)

  • Deliver . . . (Psalm 59:1, 60:5; 2 Peter 2:9)

  • Do not forsake . . . (Psalm 38:21, 71:9)

  • Do not pass on by . . . (Genesis 18:3)
  • Forgive . . . (Matthew 6:12-15; Luke 23:34)
  • Give . . . (Numbers 27:4; Psalm 2:8)

  • Give ear . . . (Psalm 5:1, 80:1)
  • Grace be with . . . (Acts 4:33; Revelation 22:21)
  • Guide . . . (Psalm 32:8, 48:14)
  • Have mercy on . . .  (Matthew 15:22, 20:31)
  • Hear and see . . . (Isaiah 37:17; Luke 10:24)
  • Help . . . (Psalm 60:11, 109:26)
  • Hold . . . 
(Psalm 73:23, 94:18, 119:117, 139:10)
  • How long . . . (Psalm 80:4, 89:46)
  • I ask . . . (Matthew 7:7; 1 John 3:22; 1 John 5:14-15)
  • I beg You earnestly for . . . (Mark 5:23; Luke 7:4)
  • I call for . . . (Genesis 4:26; Psalm 91:15)
  • I cast . . . (Psalm 55:22; 1 Peter 5:7)

  • I come to You for . . . (Matthew 11:28, 24:3)
  • I cry for . . . (Psalm 61:1, 77:1, 88:1-2, 88:13, 107:28) 

  • I implore You to . . . (Psalm 116:4; Luke 9:38)
  • I petition for . . . (Esther 7:3; Psalm 20:5)
  • I pour . . . (Psalm 62:8; Isaiah 26:16)
  • I pray for . . . (Exodus 33:13; James 5:13)

  • I request for . . . (Romans 1:10; Philippians 4:6)
  • I want You to . . . (Psalm 23:1; Matthew 20:32)
  • I will not let You go unless you bless . . . (Genesis 32:26; Psalm 67:1)
  • It is time for . . . (Psalm 119:126, Revelation 1:3)
  • Look upon . . . (2 Samuel 16:12, Psalm 119:132)
  • Make haste to . . . (Psalm 38:22, 40:13, 70:1)

  • Preserve . . . (Psalm 16:1, 64:1)

  • Remember . . . (Nehemiah 13:14; Psalm 106:4; Luke 23:42)
  • Restore . . . (Psalm 60:1, 80:3, 85:4)

  • Return to . . . (Psalm 6:4, 90:13)
  • Save . . . (Psalm 106:47, 108:6; Matthew 8:25)
  • Shelter . . . (Psalm 61:3-4, 143:9) 

  • Shine on . . . (Psalm 67:1, 80:1, 94:1, 119:135)

  • Strengthen . . . (Psalm 27:14, 68:28)

  • Take this cup from . . . (Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42)
  • Turn to . . . (Psalm 25:16, 86:16)
  • Whistle for . . . (Isaiah 5:26; Zechariah 10:8)

Today’s TEA CUPP: I know you will find many more ways to share your heart with the Lord Jesus in prayer.  Try one of these petition-starters in your prayer journal today. We can conclude this list of petition prayer starters with another 4:7 verse:

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 1Peter 4:7 (NKJV)

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. 

My Resurrection TEA

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That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.  Philippians 3:10 (NKJV)

Many of the churches are celebrating Resurrection Sunday this weekend.  It is an interesting year because Passover isn’t until April 23rd.  So, those of us celebrating Passover and Yeshua (Jesus) as our Passover Lamb, won’t be celebrating His resurrection until Sunday, April 28th.  But truly, we should remember Jesus’ death and resurrection every day of our lives, because it is His life and death and rising that give us life and forgiveness and hope of eternal life with Him in heaven.  A dear friend of mine even takes communion every morning, thanking Yeshua for what He did on the cross.  A few times she’s invited me to join her over the phone. That was special!  As you celebrate Jesus’ resurrection this spring, I give you a Resurrection Tea based on Luke 24 to sip and pray.  God bless you, dear sister in Christ.  Jesus truly is risen indeed!  

T is for Thanksgiving

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  1Corinthians 15:57 (NKJV)

We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.  Revelation 11:17 (NKJV)

E is for Exalting

…Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people… Luke 24:19 (NKJV)

And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.  Luke 24:52-53 (NKJV)

A is for Admitting

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!  Luke 24:25 (NKJV)

And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?  Luke 24:38 (NKJV)

C is for Calling

He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee. Luke 24:6 (NKJV)

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Luke 24:47-48 (NKJV)

U is for Understanding our Stories

Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.  Luke 24:31 (NKJV)

And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”  Luke 24:32 (NKJV)

P is for Promises

Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”  Luke 24:36 (NKJV)

Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.  John 5:28-29 (NKJV)

This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.  John 6:39-40 (NKJV)

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”  John 11:23 (NKJV)

P is for Petitioning

But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.  Luke 24:29 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: I love that Abba Father commanded Jesus to rise and He did! (John 10:18, 14:31). Read Luke 24 and 1Corinthians15:12-26 for an even greater picture of the resurrection.  Use all these verses this week as you have TEA with Jesus: Thanking Him for salvation; exalting Him for His glory; admitting your sins and asking to be washed clean by the blood He shed for you on the cross; listening for your part in His calling; understanding your story a little more; taking comfort in claiming His promises; and finally, inviting Jesus to abide with you and your family always.  Blessed Resurrection Day, dear sister in Christ!

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. 1Corinthians 15:3-4 (NKJV)

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1Corinthians 15:20 (NKJV)

For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,
Whom I shall see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!  Job 19:25-27 (NKJV)

 

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson

Expecting the Suddenly

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Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly.  2 Chronicles 29:36 (NKJV)

A favorite pastor of mine, Pastor Tim Sheet of Oasis Church in Middletown, Ohio, says to “expect the suddenly.”  I’ve been wanting some suddenly. I’ve been hoping for some suddenly. I’ve been needing some suddenly.  I’ve been praying for some suddenly.  And one of these days, I know the suddenly will come.  As I was reading God’s Word in Luke the other day, this story jumped out at me as a suddenly: 

A man went to synagogue one Sabbath day just as he had faithfully done for years.  His steps were slow and his head was bent low as he trudged along the roadside, dragging his right foot in the loose gravel.  His silver hair waved in the breeze as his swollen body approached the busy house of worship.  He lifted his head to nod greetings to others, but no one took notice of him.  The poor man went inside and sat in his usual spot in the far back on the righthand side, thankful for a place to rest his painful body and weary soul.  He wondered if the message today would give him any hope?  Then, by surprise, a Light entered the synagogue.  It wasn’t that the door had been left open, but that the doorway and the Person standing in its midst both radiated light.  Of all the people in the room upon whom this Person might fix His gaze, He chose the tired man in the back-right corner.  With strength and light He glided straight to the drooping man; reaching out He held his hand, pulling him to his feet.  And with Words sweet as honey and pure as gold, He said, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” The man looked with wonder, hoping beyond hope that it was lawful. He kept silent, the lawyers kept silent, the pharisees kept silent.  So, the Person spoke again, taking the swollen man in both hands, He hugged him and healed him and let him go, saying, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”  The man stood straight and lifted his once swollen arms in praise!  “HalleluYAH!  Adonai heals!”  And he hugged his Savior and wept and thanked Him again and again.  (Luke 5:20, 14:1-6, author’s interpretation).

Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands.  Daniel 10:10 (NKJV)

How is that for a suddenly?  That is what I’m awaiting: I’m expecting the suddenly. . .suddenly healed, suddenly home, suddenly salvation for loved ones, suddenly revival. . . and in the twinkling of an eye, suddenly our Savior comes!  HalleluYAH!

Today’s TEA CUPP:  Expect the suddenly! This week when you attend church, expect the suddenly. This week when you say your prayers,  expect the suddenly.  This week when you have TEA with Jesus, expect the suddenly!

. . . And He took him and healed him, and let him go.  Luke 14:4 (NKJV)

O Jesus, You healed this dear man with dropsy without expensive doctor visits, without changing his diet, without asking him to list all his sins, without making him repeat Scripture promises for months.  It was immediate, it was a suddenly, it was for Your glory!  O Jesus, look down on all who need Your healing:________________.  In the mighty name of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the King of the Universe, we unbind these dear ones. O Jesus, Yeshua Messiah, Yehovah Rapha, Our Healing God, I claim Your promise of healing NOW! Do the suddenly NOW! Amen.  

Pray for sudden revival across America!!! 

Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.Isaiah 58:8 (NKJV)

Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.”  1 Kings 19:5 (NKJV)

But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.  Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)

Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases. Psalm 103:3 (NKJV)

So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?  Luke 13:16 (NKJV)

Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Matthew 18:18 (NKJV)

Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled;
Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly. Psalm 6:10 (NKJV)

But God shall shoot at them with an arrow;
Suddenly they shall be wounded.  Psalm 64:7 (NKJV)

Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly. 2 Chronicles 29:36 (NKJV)

Keep your eyes out for all the Bible verses that say “suddenly,” or “immediately,” or “speedily,” or “quickly.”  All these come from patience and persistent prayers.  

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson