Hungering for God’s Word

Posted on August 5, 2018 by Jennifer Grace

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 5:4 (NKJV)

Can you imagine truly hungering for God’s Word so much that you would fast (not eat) for weeks and months to get your very own Bible? If you are like me, you have a collection of Bibles on your bookshelf from different times in your life…the one I was given in church as a third grader, the ones my children received, my first One Year Bible, and more. There they sit because we have newer study Bibles we have come to love. So, it is hard to imagine begging God week after week to send a Bible. But that is how the amazing story of Brother Yun begins in The Heavenly Man.

My dear Bible study leader Terry has recommended this book on several occasions, so finally I made it my goal to read it this summer. Just a few pages into the book I’m already in awe of what God did in the life of The Heavenly Man. Brother Yun became a Christian as a teenager when Jesus miraculously healed his dad of cancer. This all came about while Bibles were banned in China. Christians buried their Bibles in tin cans to save them for when God’s Word would be allowed again. Brother Yun wanted a Bible so much, he prayed and fasted for months. Finally in the wee hours before dawn, a Bible was delivered to his door, just as he had dreamed. Brother Yun ate up the Word of God like a starving soul, memorizing entire books of the Bible. Wow!

How many people have Bibles sitting on the shelf as we do that are never opened? Is there someone in the world that is praying right now for a Bible to be delivered? Are we as hungry as Brother Yun for God’s Word, gobbling it up every day as our very life and nourishment?

Today’s TEA CUPP: God has given us a gift, the Bible, His Word. Do not neglect this precious present from the Lord. Sit down with Jesus every day for TEA and eat His Word, the bread of life. Underline your favorite verses. Memorize them. Use God’s Word as conversation starters as you pour out your heart to Jesus in prayer. Commit to reading your Bible every day. And if you are one without a Bible, please message me and I will send you one from my shelf!

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)

O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water. Psalm 63:1 (NKJV)

Turn and Live

Posted on March 7, 2018 by Jennifer Grace

…“Therefore turn and live!” Ezekiel 18:32 (NKJV)

One of the toughest parts of My TEA CUPP Prayers might be the letter “A” for Admitting our sins. It can be hard to admit when we’ve done something wrong, said the wrong words, done the wrong thing, broken one of God’s commandments, and fallen short of the glory of God. It can be especially hard to even admit we need forgiveness, but we do. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We’re all in need of the forgiveness that only Jesus can provide.

Yet there is Good News! Though admitting our sins is tough, we are cleansed, our burden is lifted, and we have joy and peace again. Jesus bore our sins for us on the cross at Calvary so long ago. When we believe in Him, He washes away all our sins and makes us His child. Isn’t that Good News?! So, today, if you’ve been skipping this part of your TEA time with Jesus, I urge you to turn and live!

Turn from your sins, admit them to Jesus, repent and live a new life, walking with Jesus. This sin stuff is not new, it’s as old as Adam and Eve and the serpent. God’s people, the Israelites, fell into it often. God’s Old Testament prophets warned the people, as did Ezekiel:

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!” Ezekiel 18:30-32 (NKJV)

Are you ready to turn and live? How can you do it? James tells us so well in his New Testament book. James says…

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:7-10 (NKJV)

Did you hear James’ points? 1) Submit to God. 2) Resist the devil. 3) Draw near to God (having TEA with Jesus each day is a great way to do this!). 4) Cleanse and purify your heart (by admitting your sins, weeping, and asking Jesus’ forgiveness). 5) Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord.

And did you see Jame’s promises? 1) The devil will flee from you. 2) God will draw near to you. 3) And God will lift you up!

Today’s TEA CUPP: Turn and Live! Dearest TEA CUPP Friend, whether you are a new believer, old believer, or a seeker, there is always something to admit to Jesus. Give Jesus that last sin you’ve been hanging onto, let Him wash it away and give you a new clean heart. Turn and Live!

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 I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!” Ezekiel 18:32 (NKJV)

Jesus loves Peter, Jesus loves me

Posted on June 28, 2017 by Jennifer Grace

What am I thinking about as I have my TEA today? I’m so thankful for Peter. Peter was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples who often messed up. Yet Jesus always loved and forgave him. Before Jesus went to the cross, Peter declared he would never desert Him:

Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”But he spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all said likewise. Mark 14:29-31 (NKJV)

If we continue reading Mark 14, we see how Peter denied Jesus three times before the crucifixion. How many times have I told Jesus I would shine for Him, yet then been too shy to be His witness?

But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” Mark 16:6-7 (NKJV)

After Jesus rose from the dead, He specifically said to tell Peter to meet Him in Galilee. Jesus keeps calling me each day, even though I mess up, too. He gives me second and third and hundredth chances to show I love Him.

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.” John 21:17 (NKJV)

When Peter saw Jesus on the shore after His resurrection he dove into the water and swam to Him. Jesus told Peter three times, feed my lambs, saying “I forgive you” for the three times Peter denied Him. Jesus says “I forgive you” each day to me, too.

Today’s TEA CUPP: Dear Jesus, thank you for Peter! Because of Peter, I know you love me, even when I mess up. Even when I lose faith and start to sink as Peter did. You love me. Help me always remember. Thank you, my Jesus.

Overturning Tables

Posted on April 10, 2017 by Jennifer Grace

So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves. Mark 11:15 (NKJV)

Our Pastor was focusing on Holy Week, the week between Palm Sunday and Easter. The lesson came from Mark 11. In this passage, Jesus was just welcomed into Jerusalem by cheering crowds crying out, “Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Jesus then went to the temple and, for the first time, appeared angry. Since we know Jesus is the spotless Lamb of God who never sinned, His anger surprises us. Why was He angry? Because people have turned His Father’s House from a house of prayer into a den of thieves! Instead of people coming with humble hearts to pray, money-changers were getting rich, selling offerings to the people.

And so Jesus turned over their tables! Can you imagine the chaos? Doves, coins, and random trinkets crashing to the floor, wings flapping and birds escaping into the sky. Venders hollering, “Hey, Man, what are you doing?!” Jesus boldly cleared them from the temple, proclaiming, “My house shall be a house of prayer for all the nations.”

Then our pastor asked the key question that would apply this to our own lives, “What tables in your life do you need Jesus to overturn?” Oh, no, this story was getting personal. It was much easier when we pointed fingers at the money-changers. Our smug looks are turned to sorrow like children whose siblings have just gotten into trouble, and now we realize it’s our turn.

We all have tables in our lives where we put idols of pride, jealousy, grumbling, gossiping, greed, anger…and the list goes on. Our pastor was asking us to turn these over to Jesus. Let Him cleanse the temple of our souls, so His Holy Spirit can live inside of us. And His house will be a house of prayer once again.

Today’s TEA CUPP: What tables in your life do you need Jesus to overturn? Give them to Jesus. Ask Him to forgive you and help you make a new start. Claim His promise of salvation today.

Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:48 (NKJV)

For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13 (NKJV)

…My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations… Mark 11:17 (NKJV)

Thank you to ChristArt.com for the beautiful clip art!

Thank you to Pastor Michael Stambaugh for his awesome sermon on February 14, 2016!

Filthy Rags

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Jennifer Grace

But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags… Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV)

I started a new job this summer, helping my husband with his property management business. We prepare guest houses and yards for visitors to this beautiful part of Montana. It is a family under-taking with our kids doing lawn care and household tasks. My job is to help when there is cleaning.

Each home has a cleaning closet with all the necessary supplies, including a box of clean rags. One by one I use the rags to wipe the kitchen, dust the living room, and scrub the bathrooms. I’m always grabbing a new rag to make the house shine. Sometimes my husband uses one of my damp rags to wipe down the blackened grill outside. By the end of my shift, I depart with a bucket of grungy rags to wash and return the next time.

The other day I came across this verse from Isaiah about filthy rags. Whereas I would like to be one of the clean rags in the closet, Isaiah says all my good deeds are like filthy rags to God! He’s not talking about my sins, he’s referring to the good things like baking cookies for a neighbor and sending a card to a sick person. My righteousness is like the grimy bucket of dirty fabric I bring home from these cleaning projects. Oh, what a sobering thought!

The Message Bible says it like this:

We’re all sin-infected, sin-contaminated.
Our best efforts are grease-stained rags. Isaiah 64:6 (MSG)

With God’s Word telling us we’re no good, what hope do we have? We have the hope of Jesus Christ! He promises to wash away all our sins and make us clean and new and righteous, so that one day we can stand before God, not as filthy rags, but as those who have been washed by the blood of the Lamb.

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

“Though your sins are like scarlet,
      They shall be as white as snow;
      Though they are red like crimson,
      They shall be as wool. “ Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV)

“These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:14 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: As you go about your cleaning tasks at home or work today, remember Isaiah’s words about filthy rags. Let’s confess our sins to God and let Jesus wash us white as snow.

“Foot-in-Mouth” TEA

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Jennifer Grace

Did you ever have a cup of “Foot-in-Mouth” tea? That bitter taste of shoe-leather just stays with you all day, even all week. It’s the kind of tea you drink again and again, wishing you had never had it the first time. Oh, this happens to me sometimes. The wrong words come tumbling out, and then over and over again I replay those words in my mind, trying to erase them from my memory. What can we do at a time like this? Come to Jesus.

It’s time to sit down with Jesus for TEA CUPP prayers and focus on the “A” today. Let’s ADMIT our sins to Jesus, who already knows them anyway. Give Him all the wrong words and let Him wash away the hurts with His special “Foot-in-Mouth” anecdote…God’s Word…

First, He convicts us with His Word…

The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18 (NIV)

But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. Matthew 12:36 (NIV)

But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. Matthew 15:18 (NIV)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. James 3:8-10 (NIV)

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9 (NKJV)

Then, I ask for His forgiveness…

Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know….
Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:3, 6 (NIV)

My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, LORD, how long?

Turn, LORD, and deliver me;
save me because of Your unfailing love. Psalm 6:3-4 (NIV)

Jesus promises me my sins are forgiven…

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:48 (NIV)

“I, even I, am He who blots out
your transgressions, for My own sake,
and remembers your sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25 (NIV)

As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12 (NIV)

Finally, I pray that I won’t drink “Foot-in-Mouth” TEA again…

I said, “I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin. Psalm 39:1 (NIV)

“Teach me, and I will hold my tongue;
Cause me to understand wherein I have erred. Job 6:24 (NKJV)

Set a guard over my mouth, LORD;
keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3 (NIV)

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in Your sight,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

No more shoe-leather…a fresh new day…God bless you, my friends!

The Third Son

Posted on May 12, 2010 by Jennifer Grace

Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son. Luke 15:21

Are you familiar with the story of the prodigal son, the son who took his inheritance from his father and squandered it on loose living? He had an older brother who was disgusted that his dad threw a party when the lost brother returned home. But are you aware of the third son?

Can you find the third son in the story? My pastor gave a sermon one Sunday where he pointed out the three sons. It had never occurred to me before. First let’s meet the sons you know again. The famous prodigal son is the younger son. He is the offender who is lost in his passions, a man in need of much forgiveness. His older brother is the offended because he never got a party for all his hard work. This older son is lost in his pride, also in need of much forgiveness.

My pastor explained the third son is the one who is telling the story, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, the Lamb, paid the sins of the other two sons, and my sins, and your sins, and the sins of the entire world. Jesus paid our sins by His death on the cross, preparing the way for us to be restored to our Father in heaven.

And our Father in heaven has a party for every lost sinner who returns to Him.

I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7

When I was in elementary school, my church choir performed a musical about the three “Lost” parables (the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son). I can still remember the tune and the words:

“There is more joy in heaven for one lost soul who has found his way,
than for all ninety-nine who have never gone astray.”

Today’s TEA CUPP: Let heaven have a party tonight! Read the entire story in Luke 15:11-32. During your TEA CUPP time today, come before Jesus, ADMITTING your sins, asking Him to forgive you and be your Savior and Lord forever, for all eternity. Just like the Father, He welcomes you with open arms.

It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found. Luke 15:32

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

My TEA CUPP Prayers

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

Tag Archives: confession