Someone is Praying for You!

Posted on February 21, 2018 by Jennifer Grace

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25 (NKJV)

Someone is praying for you, my friend! Someone is praying for you! I promise you that right now, someone is really and truly praying for you.

I know what you are thinking, “Not me, why would anyone pray for me? You are mistaken.” But I promise you, it is true, someone is truly praying for you.

Now, I can’t tell you all the people who are praying for you, because that is a surprise. It could be an aunt, a grandpa, a grandchild, a neighbor, a person at the grocery store, or someone who goes by your house everyday. You could be totally oblivious to these prayers as Job’s first children were (Job 1:5), but the prayers are still happening. And I can tell you Two who are praying for you:

1) Jesus is praying for you! Can you believe it? It is true! Romans 8:34 promises us that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God, making intercession for us.

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)

Wow, isn’t that something?! Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior of the world, is praying for you! How does that make you feel? This question was asked at a Bible study I attend and the ladies had some wonderful answers: “Mind-boggling, blessed, He cares that much for me, nothing is impossible, He knows what I need before I ask, He hears us, we are just specks in eternity, specks in the universe, yet He hears us!” And how does it make me feel? I wrote that day, “O Jesus, thank You! To think I sit having TEA with You every morning and You take my requests to the Father! Thank You, dearest Jesus!”

2) Who else is praying for you? The Holy Spirit is praying for you! Even if we mess up our prayers and get it all wrong, the Holy Spirit is there, translating what our hearts really meant to the Father. Isn’t that good news?! You don’t have to pray just the “right” prayer. The Holy Spirit will take care of making it “just right” for God. The Spirit is praying for you!

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26 (NKJV)

A recent example of this for me was when my Daddy was dying. I definitely didn’t have it all together as my voice cracked in tears. I was trying to pray the Lord’s Prayer over the phone with Daddy, as my sister held the phone to his ear. Somewhere around “debtors” or “temptations” I messed up, not remembering which version I was on…yet I know the Holy Spirit interceded at that very moment and heard our prayers and took my dear Daddy to heaven. For as soon as we ended the call, my sister texted, “He’s gone.” And there I sat on the sofa between my two boys, crying tears of sadness and joy, that God let us all be together in my Daddy’s final moments.

Today’s TEA CUPP: Jesus and the Holy Spirit are both praying for you, taking your requests to the Father. Rest in this amazing promise today! Then pray with confidence, knowing God is on your side. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 (NKJV)

My Love TEA

Posted on February 14, 2018 by Jennifer Grace

Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:8 (NKJV)

It’s Valentine’s Day! What a perfect day for a CUPP of Love TEA! I know, sometimes we might not feel very lovable, when we are grumpy and everything is going wrong. But those times are when we need His love the most, to wash away our sins and restore us with His Holy Spirit. Then we are able to share His love with others. Please heat the kettle and put a heaping spoonful of Love in your CUPP today!

Here are some Love Bible verses to get you started in your prayer time with Jesus this Valentine’s Day and the whole month of February…

T for Thanksgiving

I love the Lord, because He has heard
My voice and my supplications. Psalm 116:1 (NKJV)

E for Exalting:

I will love You, O Lord, my strength. Psalm 18:1 (NKJV)

Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day. Psalm 119:97 (NKJV)

Therefore I love Your commandments
More than gold, yes, than fine gold! Psalm 119:27 (NKJV)

A for Admitting:

No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Luke 16:13 (NKJV)

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:19 (NKJV)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

C for Calling:

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 (NKJV)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34 (NKJV)

Let all that you do be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16:14 (NKJV)

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV)

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7 (NKJV)

U is for Understanding our story:

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10 (NKJV)

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13 (NKJV)

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. Ephesians 1:4 (NKJV)

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1 (NKJV)

P is for Promises:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. John 16:27 (NKJV)

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 (NKJV)

P is for Petitioning:

Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness. Psalm 119:159 (NKJV)

My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. 1 Corinthians 16:24 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: God loves you, my TEA CUPP friend! He loves you so much that He died for you and all the world. Soak yourself in His amazing Word and love today.

Praying God’s Word Again

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Jennifer Grace

Bible…God’s Word

The words of the Lord are pure words,
Like silver tried in a furnace of earth,
Purified seven times. Psalm 12:6 (NKJV)

Again and again I want to share with you how you can use Bible verses, God’s Word, to pray to Him. That’s what My TEA CUPP Prayers is all about, sitting down with Jesus for a CUPP of TEA every day, reading His Word to let Him speak first, underlining your favorite verses, then using those verses as conversation starters as you pour out your heart to the Lord. All you need is a Bible. You don’t need my book or this website or anything else, just God’s Word.

So, please sit down with Jesus right now and open your Bible. Here are some verses to get you excited about reading His Word:

1) The Bible, God’s Word, comes from God and is meant for us to study and learn:

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)

2) God’s Word is so powerful! It’s alive! It’s sharper than any knife or sword, digging into the deep parts of our hearts and souls:

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

3) God’s Word is forever and ever and never changes:

For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Matthew 5:18 (NKJV)

…The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
But the word of the Lord endures forever. 1 Peter 1:24-25 (NKJV)

4) God promises to put His Word in your mind and write it on your heart and you will be His!

…I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Hebrews 8:10 (NKJV)

5) We should learn and memorize as many verses as we can. Then we won’t wander off God’s path into bad situations.

Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 (NKJV)

6) If we keep God’s Word in our hearts, we will know God’s will, and can ask anything in His Name:

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7 (NKJV)

7) And when we have verses saved up in our hearts, we can start a conversation with Jesus from anywhere, pouring out our hearts, petitioning for our loved ones. We can even use a verse like Psalm 28:9 to give us creative ways to pray for family members, instead of just saying, “bless.”

Save Your people,
And bless Your inheritance;
Shepherd them also,
And bear them up forever. Psalm 28:9 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: Hide God’s Word in your heart today! Write a verse in your prayer journal to remember each week. Use these verses to pray. For example, using Psalm 28:9, I could pray, “Save my loved ones (list by name), bless our children (list by name), shepherd them also (in these specific situations), and bear with me (and all my faults) forever!” Give it a try with your own favorite verses and keep putting God’s Word in your heart!

...Your word is truth. John 17:17 (NKJV)

Be One of the Faithful

Posted on December 30, 2017 by Jennifer Grace

Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord God. Ezekiel 14:14 (NKJV)

Sometimes the books of the Old Testament prophets can be long and difficult to read, with much prophecy and destruction, because God’s people kept turning away from Him. But there are still good verses tucked in there to exhort and encourage us in our walk with God.

The verse above from Ezekiel 14:14 was one of these that caught my eye. When we read, “Noah, Daniel and Job,” we feel connected, since most of us have heard their stories: Noah’s Ark, Daniel and the Lions, The Patience of Job. The following verses remind us of each one.

…Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:9 (NKJV)

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. Daniel 6:10 (NKJV)

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. Job 1:1 (NKJV)

A just man who walked with God, a man of prayer, a blameless and upright man…These are all great Bible heroes, strong in their faith. So, what does Ezekiel 14:14 tell us? It says that even if those three faithful men were there, they would only save themselves and no one else from God’s impending destruction.

What does this mean for us? John McCarthur says in his notes on Ezekiel 14:14, “one man’s righteousness is no protection for another.” (MacArthur, 1997) We can’t take comfort that we live in a country founded under God, or that our neighbor attends church, or that our grandmother prayed for us. We must make the decision for ourselves, confess Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raise Him from the dead, and we will be saved (Romans 10:9).

Even if we hangout with our pastor’s family or Bible study leader, though these are very good things to do, we won’t be delivered. We must “hang out” with the King of kings, the Savior of our souls, God’s only Son who gave His life for our sins on the Cross, pouring out His blood to wash us clean. We must be friends with Jesus.

Today’s TEA CUPP: Be friends with Jesus. Have TEA with Him each day, reading His Word, the Bible, pouring out your heart to Him in prayer. As you begin this new year, ask God to help you walk with Him each day as did Noah, Daniel, Job, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Ruth, and so many others Bible heroes.

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. James 2:23-24 (NKJV)

MacArthur, J. (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc. (p. 1168)

Many thanks to my Discipleland Sunday school curriculum for the Bible hero pictures I enjoy each week in our classroom!

Moan Noisily

Posted on November 29, 2017 by Jennifer Grace

Attend to me, and hear me;
I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily. Psalm 55:2 (NKJV)

We’ve all heard the child moaning noisily, from the line at the grocery store to our own kitchen. Waaaaaaaaaah-wooooooooo-weeeeee-waaaaaah! Kids are experts at the art of moaning, whether it is warranted or not.

Did you know it’s okay for us to moan noisily, too? Sure thing! Doesn’t Jesus tell us to come to the Father as a child?

Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it. Luke 18:17 (NKJV)

So we come to Him as a child, crying and bawling and whining and moaning, ever so noisily. And He doesn’t turn us away. He opens His arms and holds us close and hears our complaint and assures us of His perfect plan.

The eternal God is your refuge,
And underneath are the everlasting arms… Deuteronomy 33:27 (NKJV)

Did you know Jesus Himself, when He walked this earth, moaned noisily? When His good friend Lazarus died, Jesus wept and groaned within Himself, before raising Lazarus from the dead…

Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. John 11:38 (NKJV)

Today when we don’t have the words to say, but all we can do is cry out in anguish, moaning noisily, God has sent His Holy Spirit to pray for us, with groanings that cannot be uttered. Even the Holy Spirit groans…

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26 (NKJV)

Not only do Jesus and the Holy Spirit moan, the whole earth has been moaning! Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God and were kicked out of the garden, all creation has been crying out to be delivered from its bondage of corruption…

For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Romans 8:22 (NKJV)

If Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and all creation are groaning, we can groan, too. Yes, my friend, it is okay to moan noisily and let God hear your complaint.

Today’s TEA CUPP: Moan noisily. I’m serious. If you’ve been holding back at your TEA time with Jesus, just sharing small talk and not really pouring out your heart, today is the day. Give Jesus all your hurts and sadness. Tell Him you don’t like what’s going on in your world. Unload your burdens on Jesus and let Him carry them today.

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)

Cast your burden on the Lord,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 (NKJV)

Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:23 (NKJV)

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 (NKJV)

My Thanks TEA

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Jennifer Grace

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)

The Apostle Paul tells us to give thanks in everything. God’s man who was ship-wrecked, beaten, stoned and imprisoned for Jesus, found ways to always be thankful. So this Thanksgiving, I’m challenged to give thanks in all parts of my TEA CUPP Prayers. Here is a blend of Thanksgiving verses put together especially for you, my TEA CUPP friend. May God bless your Thanksgiving prayers!

T for Thanksgiving:

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. Psalm 95:2 (NKJV)

We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks!
For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near. Psalm 75:1 (NKJV)

Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20 (NKJV)

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NKJV)

E for Exalting:

Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. Psalm 30:4 (NKJV)

I will praise the name of God with a song,
And will magnify Him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30 (NKJV)

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 92:1 (NKJV)

Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever.
Amen. Revelation 7:12 (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)

A for Admitting:

Save us, O God of our salvation;
Gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
To triumph in Your praise. 1 Chronicles 16:35 (NKJV)

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. Ephesians 5:3-4 (NKJV)

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 106:1 (NKJV)

C for Calling:

Offer to God thanksgiving,
And pay your vows to the Most High. Psalm 50:14 (NKJV)

I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And will call upon the name of the Lord. Psalm 116:17 (NKJV)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 (NKJV)

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17 (NKJV)

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2 (NKJV)

U is for Understanding our story:

To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalm 30:12 (NKJV)

So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture,
Will give You thanks forever;
We will show forth Your praise to all generations. Psalm 79:13 (NKJV)

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV)

P is for Promises:

Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name;
The upright shall dwell in Your presence. Psalm 140:13 (NKJV)

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

P is for Petitioning:

We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you. Colossians 1:3 (NKJV)

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers. 1 Thessalonians 1:2 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: We can find so many thanksgiving verses in our Bibles. Jesus must want to hear our thanks! Underline these verses and other favorites God shows you. Use these scriptures to pray and be thankful all year long.

Redeeming the Time

Posted on November 15, 2017 by Jennifer Grace

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16 (NKJV)

How do you spend your extra hour each year? As I write this devotion, it is the night before we set back our clocks to standard time in the United States. Most of you must follow this same ritual, springing clocks forward an hour each spring and falling back an hour again in the fall.

It’s a challenge to reset every clock in the house, car and even my Sunday school room. We amazingly have a VCR with a clock that still works. It was cleverly programmed at the factory to reset itself each fall and spring. However, that was before a new law was passed, extending daylight savings time a few weeks at both ends of the season. So, our VCR clock is always off for a few weeks this time of year.

What do you do with that extra hour you have every fall? Do you sleep in? Do you finally make it to church on time? Do you spend time with your kids or husband? Do you have an extra-long CUPP of TEA with Jesus? Do you treat yourself to time on a favorite hobby? There are certainly numerous ways we could spend that hour, as well as every hour of every day. My prayer is that we use ALL our time for His glory and in His will, whether it is an extra hour or a regular hour in a 24-hour day.

God’s Word helps us pray to number our days aright, that we may gain hearts of wisdom. I believe this also applies to every hour of the day. May they all be used in ways that honor Him!

So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NKJV)

Of course, we’ve all wasted time, whether it was a day, a week, a month, or even years. Wrong choices can fill us with regrets, wishing for a chance to redeem that lost time. My friend, I have Good News! God, the GREAT REDEEMER, can redeem the lost time for you. In the book of Joel He promised His people He would restore the years that the locusts had eaten.

So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
The crawling locust,
The consuming locust,
And the chewing locust,
My great army which I sent among you. Joel 2:25 (NKJV)

My friend, you are not alone. We all have years we want to trade in on new ones. Jesus can redeem the time. He will give you the years the locusts have eaten plus eternity in heaven. Jesus took on Himself, all our sins, all our regrets, all our hurts, and all our pains, when He died on the cross. When we confess our sins to Jesus, He forgives us, already having paid the price for those sins so long ago. After Jesus died, He rose again, conquering sin and death, and giving all who believe the promise of New Life. Isn’t that Good News?!! Believe our Great Redeemer!

Today’s TEA CUPP: 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)

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy. Psalm 107:2 (NKJV)

O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul;
You have redeemed my life. Lamentations 3:58 (NKJV)

Choosing Life

Posted on November 1, 2017 by Jennifer Grace

We have been with child, we have been in pain;
We have, as it were, brought forth wind… Isaiah 26:18 (NKJV)

A few weeks ago we had sad news from our daughter. She and her husband were losing a baby at just 8 1/2 weeks in the womb. I know miscarriages happen all the time, I know how awful it feels, because it’s happened to us three times. Yet, the pain is still there when it happens again to another loved one.

Just a week earlier I had shared about our babies at a local church. I realized as I was preparing for the talk, that I hadn’t cried in a long time. God had allowed us a time of peace. Then, boom (that’s how things always hit, isn’t it?), the heart-breaking news from our daughter. A little grandbaby is joining our babies in heaven. Our hearts were torn open once again. Our daughter put this beautiful post on her Facebook page:

How we pray for God to comfort them and bless them with another sweet baby to ease their hurting hearts! I pray this for all moms who have lost babies. May Jesus send a child for you to love and cherish. Just this month in my Samaritan Ministries prayer guide, where we pray for one person a day (and I only have a small portion of people whose last names begin with “W”), there were 11 babies and two were miscarriages. Many moms and dads are hurting out there.

For some people, though, there is pain through bad choices. Woman have been lied to in the United States for almost 50 years that they have a choice to make for babies. It is the serpent from Genesis whispering into Eve’s ear that he has something better for her. This is not new, for we read in the Bible https://www.ncmh.info/valium-diazepam/ verses that make me cry…

Also their bows will dash the young men to pieces,
And they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb;
Their eye will not spare children. Isaiah 13:18 (NKJV)

Satan brings death. Jesus gives life. I exhort you to choose life your baby, no matter what. And if it is too late and the decision is behind you, come to Jesus, my friend, and find the forgiveness and healing for which you are longing. His arms are wide open for you. Someday we will see all these babies in heaven! If only we could match all these babies with the empty arms and hearts that are longing for a child.

Today’s TEA CUPP: Oh, Jesus, our hearts break when babies die before they have a chance to be born due to miscarriage. It hurts that people are choosing to kill babies before they are born through abortion. It’s unbearable to hear of little ones being hurt and killed. We know we live in a fallen world where pain and sickness happen, but it still hurts. Please wash away our pain. Forgive us. Pour your oil of joy on our hurts. Comfort our hearts. Give us beauty for ashes. Help us to honor the lives you have given us. We look forward to seeing our precious little ones with You in heaven someday. Thank you, dearest Jesus.

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live. Deuteronomy 30:19 (NKJV)

…Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5 (NKJV)

TEA with 2 Thessalonians

Posted on October 25, 2017 by Jennifer Grace

Good morning, TEA CUPP Friends!

This CUPP of TEA you can sip in one hour, and then savor the rest of the day. First read the book of 2 Thessalonians from the New Testament in your Bible. 2 Thessalonians is only three chapters and won’t take long to read. The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Thessalonians, a group of early Christians. Use your pen to underline your favorite verses. Now with your verses begin a conversation with Jesus, praying and talking with Him. Below I have listed the verses that jumped out at me and how I might use them in prayer…

T for Thanksgiving:

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NKJV)

Dear Jesus, thank You for these special people in my life…

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV)

Dear Jesus, thank You for saving…

E for Exalting:

That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:12 (NKJV)

O Jesus, O Father, be glorified in my life and in the lives of…

A for Admitting:

For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 2 Thessalonians 3:11 (NKJV)

O Lord, forgive me for being a busybody…

C for Calling:

Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions https://onhealthy.net/product/valtrex/ which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 (NKJV)

But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NKJV)

Dear Jesus, please help me stand fast and not grow weary while doing good…

U is for Understanding our story:

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NKJV)

O Jesus, You have given me everlasting consulation and good hope by grace…

P is for Promises:

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NKJV)

Lord, I claim Your promise to guard me from the evil one…

P is for Petitioning:

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NKJV)

O Lord, give peace to all on my prayer list as I lift up each name to You…

Today’s TEA CUPP: Extra petitions for my missionary son and for you to pray for the missionaries on your prayer list…Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power… 2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NKJV)

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 (NKJV)

Leave No Doubt

Posted on October 18, 2017 by Jennifer Grace

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 (NKJV)

It seems that as we get older, we attend more funerals and memorial services for loved ones, friends and acquaintances in our town, some departing too soon. The pastors leading the services always do a beautiful job of sharing memories of the departed and comfort for those left behind. We are especially comforted if we know the person is in heaven with Jesus.

I remember when my college cross country team died in a plane crash, I knew my coach was in heaven because of his life. Whenever we came home from meets I was always the last one to be dropped off, giving Coach plenty of time to share his faith. Coach Ron would talk long and serious about things I did not understand, yet I knew they were important. When he wasn’t planning our next big workout, he served at his church. Coach Ron had a dream to start a Christian running camp in northern Wisconsin. Because of his faith and example, I know my coach is with Jesus and will be there when I get there, too.

Every once in awhile, though, there is someone who we aren’t sure where she stood in her faith journey. We wonder if he is with Jesus. We pray she is in heaven. We ask God to comfort us and assure us he is with Jesus. But we just aren’t sure.

So, I want to encourage you today to LEAVE NO DOUBT when it is your turn to go. Make sure that while you are living, people know you love Jesus. Tell them how you study your Bible and meet with Him each day for prayer. Let them see the fruit of your faith in good works. Share how you are looking forward to the day when He comes to take you home. Then, when it is your turn to leave this world, your friends and family will have NO DOUBT that you are now in heaven having TEA with the King of kings!!!

Today’s TEA CUPP: Confirm your eternal destination today by praying with Jesus. Invite Jesus into your heart to forgive you and guide your remaining earthly days. Then tell a friend about this heavenly TEA party so she can join you there, too!

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 (NKJV)

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (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)

My TEA CUPP Prayers

Praying God's Word … Inviting Ladies to TEA with the King of kings!

Category Archives: My Tea Cupp for Moms

Someone is Praying for You!

My Love TEA

E for Exalting:

A for Admitting:

Praying God’s Word Again

Be One of the Faithful

Moan Noisily

My Thanks TEA

Redeeming the Time

Choosing Life

TEA with 2 Thessalonians

Leave No Doubt