Tea with Two Verses

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Jennifer Grace

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. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 (NKJV)

Have you ever read your Bible and got stuck on just a few verses? Those verses jump out at you as something God has for you today. You underline them, you ponder them, you ask, “God what’s this all about?” Jesus must really enjoy when He gets our attention as we dig into His Word.

I love it when the verses I underline have all the parts for My TEA CUPP Prayers. The verse above from 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 is like that. First I noticed the “thanks” and put a “T” next to it in my Bible. Then I realized God was calling me to smell good and put a “C” for calling next to “fragrance of Christ.” As I kept digging, soon all the parts of My TEA CUPP Prayers were there. And so I share with you today, TEA in TWO VERSES:

T for Thanks:

Now thanks be to God who…

(Dear Jesus, thank You for Your many blessings…)

E for Exalt:

…the fragrance of His knowledge in every place…

(Father, be glorified in every place I go today…)

A for Admit:

…and among those who are perishing…

(Jesus, forgive my sins and save all who are perishing…)

C for Call:

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ…

(Dear Lord, please help me smell good to You and to all I meet today…)

U is for Understanding our story:

…and through us diffuses…

(Jesus, this is my story, You are using me to spread Your fragrance to others. Thank you for letting me help You!)

P is for Promises:

…always leads us in triumph in Christ…

(Oh, Lord, I claim your promise for triumph and victory through Jesus Christ…)

P is for Petitions:

…among those who are being saved.

(Now Jesus I lift up to you all the saints, all my family, all on my prayer list…)

In Jesus’ precious Name I pray, Amen.

Today’s TEA CUPP: Won’t you join Jesus today for TEA with TWO VERSES? May the aroma of your TEA time stay with you all day.

God Loves You!

Posted on September 29, 2016 by Jennifer Grace

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

Long before there were Emoji with every face and feeling, there were simple yellow smiley faces with four words, “Smile, God loves you!”

Do you remember seeing these on bumper stickers and binders? They always brought a smile to my face and the thought, “That’s nice.”

But one day when I was reading the book of John, it hit me. John 16:27 proclaims that the Father Himself (God) loves me, because I believe in Jesus. All because I love Jesus and believe He came from God, God loves me! Even if I mess up today and all my friends send me frowny emojis, God loves me. He will never stop loving me. He loves me forever into eternal life in heaven, because I love Jesus and believe He came from God. What a wonderful promise.

The beauty of His promise is that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus died for all our sins before we were even born, or knew Him, or believed in Him. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends (John 15:13). That is an amazing love I hold dear in my heart forever.

Today’s TEA CUPP: My friend, God’s promises are for you. Believe in His Son Jesus and love Him with all your heart. Tell Him you love Him today! Smile, God loves you!

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)

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Jeremiah 31:3 (NKJV)

...I will call them My people, who were not My people,
And her beloved, who was not beloved. Romans 9:25 (NKJV)

My Dear Loved One

Posted on June 19, 2016 by Jennifer Grace

easter_cross_light_2012_c1 My Dear Loved One,

You are my Daddy, my brother, my cousin, my aunt, my niece, my landlord, my milkman, my son’s coach, my son’s college roommate, my student, my neighbor, my grocery store checker, my friend’s child, my high school chum, my employer, my friend.

You have a reservation in heaven. I made it for you every week in my prayers. Others have been calling in reservations for you, too. To confirm you are on the list in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27), please accept Jesus (read on).

It will be such a great time! The streets are paved with gold in this beautiful city. There is a river flowing from the throne of God and a tree that bears a different fruit every month (Revelation 22:1-2). And we will never have tears again, for there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4).

How did I hear about this ultimate destination? In the best travel brochure of all, the Bible. Jesus told me to not be troubled, to believe in Him and God. He said, “for in My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” (John 14:1-4)

My dear loved one, I asked Jesus to prepare a place for you, too. My prayer above all other prayers is for you to know Jesus. Why? Because I want you to be in heaven for eternity, not in hell where there really is fire (Revelation 20:15). I want you to enjoy Jesus’ love and forgiveness on earth, and have His forever joy and peace in heaven.

I want you to know the One who delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the Land of the living (Psalm 116:8-9). So many times I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13).

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)! Now my citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20).

The neat thing is when you come near to God He will come near to you (James 4:8). I want you to know that through Jesus Christ the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you (Acts 13:38). And when you receive Him and believe in His Name, He gives you the right to be children of God (John 1:12).

God promises that whoever calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21). My dear loved one, please ACCEPT JESUS and confirm your reservation today. If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).

And when that day comes when Jesus calls you home, I know you will go out with joy and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands (Isaiah 55:12). When you reach heaven, you will enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4) and I will be so thankful to God that you confirmed your reservation. I love you, my dear loved one! And Jesus loves you most of all!

Today’s Tea Cupp: But I pray to you, Lord,
in the time of your favor;
in your great love, O God,
answer me with your sure salvation (Psalm 69:13)

And since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. (Hebrews 12:28)

Scripture is taken from

Prince of Peace Tea

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Jennifer Grace

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27 (NKJV)

Last summer, in our family’s efforts to give up carbonated beverages with high-fructose corn syrup, we found this delicious beverage at our local store, Peace Tea. Though the artwork on the cans is expressive of the 60’s with peace symbols and “V” fingers, the name gave me an idea.

I quickly fetched two cans from our recycling bin and snapped a photo for my website. What could be a better flavor for My Tea Cupp Prayers than Peace Tea? Wasn’t Jesus the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)? What can we learn by drinking Peace Tea?

My lovely Wednesday morning Bible study ladies teach me so much! Our current study is on the book of Romans, and we just completed Chapter 5. We learned how we, like the first man Adam, would have inherited God’s wrath because of our sins. BUT, because of our faith in Jesus, instead we inherit PEACE and eternal life.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2 (NKJV)

As soon as we ask God for forgiveness, we have peace with Him. Even if we don’t feel at peace, we have peace because of Jesus. And nothing can snatch us from His hands! Nothing!

For I am persuaded that neither https://tramadolmain.com death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things http://ambienbuy.net 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 8:38-39 (NKJV)

So why might we still not feel peaceful, even though we have peace with God? It’s this fallen world we live in! As long as we live in this world of sin, we will have troubles, the Bible promises that:

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33 (NKJV)

Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. Matthew 10:34 (NKJV)

So, what are we to do? Keep praying! Keep having TEA with Jesus each day. Pour out our hearts to Him and let Him take our troubles, filling our cups to overflowing with the Prince of Peace Tea.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: Sip a Prince of Peace Tea CUPP today. Ask God for forgiveness and the gift of His peace. Let Jesus take your worries. May the Holy Spirit fill your cup to overflowing!

TEA CUPP Book Mark

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Jennifer Grace

Merry Christmas!

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)

Merry Christmas, dear friends! I have a gift for you! Just message me and I will send one of My TEA CUPP Prayers book marks to you.

Would you like some help getting your new year off to a good start with an organized prayer time? My TEA CUPP Prayers book mark has space for you to list your daily prayers, and other special prayer needs for each day of the week. It also reminds you of the parts of prayer with the TEA CUPP acronym.

T = Thanksgiving
E = Exalting His Name
A = Admitting my sins
C = Calling for my life
U = Understanding my story
P = Promises (claiming God’s)
P = Petitions (pouring out my heart)

Keep your prayer book mark in your Bible, or by your phone or email. Then as you learn of more prayer needs, just add them to your list. Each morning during your TEA time with Jesus, start by reading your Bible to give Him the first Word. Then pull out your book mark and pour out your heart to Jesus for all the dear people on your list. I make a new book mark for myself every few months as the prayer needs change. May this be a blessing to you.

Love and prayers,

Jennifer Grace

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Empty Plate

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Jennifer Grace

“But the days will come when the Bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.” Luke 5:35 (NKJV)

An empty plate. An empty tea cupp. What is happening here? It must be time for fasting, giving up food and beverages while praying.

Sometimes God calls us to fast. I’m reminded of this every year when I read the book of Esther. In this great history, we see how God allowed Esther to become queen to save her people, the Jews, from annihilation. When Esther realized this was her duty, she asked her maids and others to pray and fast with her (Esther 4:16). For three days and nights they had no food or water. The end result was God saved the Jews.

One might wonder what to do during a three day fast. Should we pour out our hearts to Jesus on day one? What about days two and three? While there is no right way to pray and fast, we can find a good plan in 2 Chronicles 20. In this this history, King Jehoshaphat learns of an impending battle with his enemies. He declares a fast for all Judah. During the fast, there are three parts to his prayers:

1) Exalt: “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? 2 Chronicles 20:6 (NKJV)

2) Claim God’s Promises: …You will hear and save….the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:9,15 (NKJV)

3) Petition: O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You. 2 Chronicles 20:12 (NKJV)

What if we use this formula for a three-day fast? The first day we exalt Jesus, praising Him for being our Savior. The second day, we claim God’s promises, underlining and repeating them from our Bibles. And the third day, we pour out our hearts to Jesus, asking for help with whatever trouble we are facing. Even Queen Esther went to see the king on the third day of fasting. She found favor in his sight as he asked, “What is your petition?” (Esther 5:1-7)

On the evening of the third day, we must open our ears and listen, for God will give us our call: ... Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord… 2 Chronicles 20:17 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: Is God calling you to fast for a time? Is there something big in your life that needs more than a little prayer? I encourage you to try this three day fast and let God do His amazing miracles. Then you can go forth singing.

So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayers. Ezra 8:23 (NKJV)

Crying Out to God

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Jennifer Grace

Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:1-2 (NKJV)

My favorite devotion book, Our Daily Bread, had a wonderful devotion a few weeks ago called “Crying Out to God.” Sometimes our hearts are so overwhelmed for our children, our families, our friends, and our country. All we can do is cry. Jesus hears us and comes to us. And so I share this devotion link with all those who need Him to hear today…

http://odb.org/2013/02/15/crying-out-to-god/

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

Tea Cupp Measuring Spoons

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Jennifer Grace

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38 (NKJV)

My dear friend Jodi gave me these measuring spoons a few years ago. Aren’t they neat decorated with tea cups? I use them often for measuring and baking.

The other day I was looking at these spoons again and recalled a devotion I heard at Awana a long time ago.

Awana is a children’s Bible program that meets weekly to bring boys and girls to Christ. It’s name comes from 2 Timothy 2:15 – Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed. The children play games, memorized Bible verses, and have a council time each week. (To find an Awana near you, check their website: http://www.awana.org/

Once when our older children were still in Awana, I came early to pick them up and heard the council time devotion. The pastor had several spoons and shovels and a bag of M&Ms. I can’t remember exactly how he worded it, but the point was, which size spoon or shovel would you like to be given M&Ms? THE BIGGEST ONE, of course!

Well, that is the size shovel we should be using to give to others, also. We shouldn’t give because we expect blessings in return. But we should give because we are so full of God’s love we want to share it with others. AND we should use the BIGGEST shovel we have!

Bakers know that when you measure flour, you scoop it gently and level it with a knife, never pressing it down. But when you measure brown sugar, you pack it into the measuring cup, pressing firmly to get as much sugar as possible. That is how this verse from Luke tells us to measure what we give others — pack it down and give as much as we can! AND God promises we will be blessed!

Today’s TEA CUPP: What size spoon are you using to share with others? Let’s all try to use a bigger spoon today!

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)

Petitions: With my whole heart

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Jennifer Grace

Today’s TEA CUPP: Praying God’s Word.

Here is a verse to pray today as we POUR out our hearts to Jesus, giving Him our PETITIONS.

I cry out with my whole heart;
Hear me, O LORD!
I will keep Your statutes. Psalm 119:145 (NKJV)

Promises: For our children

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Jennifer Grace