Today’s TEA CUPP:
UNDERSTAND: Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from Him.
Truly He is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2 (NIV)
Today’s TEA CUPP:
Understand: For You have delivered me from death
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life. Psalm 56:13 (NIV)
New International Version (NIV)Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica
Your way was in the sea,
Your path in the great waters,
And Your footsteps were not known. Psalm 77:19 (NKJV)
I was unpacking a few more boxes the other day. This sea of moving boxes in our house is overwhelming, but if I take one box at at a time, I can do it.
I decided to tackle the bathroom. We have an ocean theme with a fish shower curtain, lighthouse wall-hanging, etc. On the counter I placed the decorations from our old home, a jar of shells from the ocean and the Footprints Poem given to me by my college roommate.
The poem tells the story of a person walking along the beach and looking back at the footprints. He notices that at the hardest times in his life, there is only one set of footprints and he asks the Lord, “Why?”
Often I just look at the poem and smile, not really reading it. But two years ago today, July 25, 2009, we lost a baby and almost lost me. After giving up too much blood and moving towards unconsciousness, the ambulance came and carried me away from our mountain camp. What followed was heartbreak and loss of strength for me.
Then one day when back home, I was in our ocean bathroom and read the Footprints Poem again. When I came to “It was then that I carried you” I finally understood. God carried me through that first miscarriage and two more miscarriages with the prayers and love of friends and family, and by His own grace and mercy.
Now, two years later, we are expecting again. This dear baby is six months along and by God’s grace he will make it to his due date! But the Lord in His great sense of humor, decided we needed a little more action in this https://zolpidemsleep.com pregnancy, calling us to a new job and home.
Once again, I feel overwhelmed by changes and a sea of boxes and baby hormones…but I read the Footprints Poem and God’s Word, and I am reminded — Jesus is carrying me!
Today’s TEA CUPP: Are waves of trouble pounding against the beach of your life? Or, do you have a friend whose sand castles are collapsing? Write out the Footprints Poem and claim God’s Promises. He will carry you all the way home!
The eternal God is your refuge,
And underneath are the everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:27 (NKJV)
Footprints
Also Known As “I Had a Dream”
One night I dreamed a dream.
I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord.
When the last scene of my life shot before me I looked back at the footprints in the sand. There was only one set of footprints. I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life. This always bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.
“Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way. But I’m aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints. I just don’t understand why, when I need You most, You leave me.”
He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you.”
Margaret Fishback Powers, 1964
New King James Version (NKJV)Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Today’s TEA CUPP:
Understand: God looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. Psalm 53:2 (NKJV)
Today’s TEA CUPP:
Understand: But I am like an olive tree
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
for ever and ever. Psalm 52:8 (NIV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV)
Grace. My middle name is Grace. Our daughter Kallie’s middle name is Grace. We were both born on Tuesday. There is an old poem that says, “Tuesday’s child is full of grace.” I often thought that was why my parents signed me up for ballet lessons as a child, so that I would learn to be full of grace. Instead of doing clumsy tricks, like jumping off the coffee table and breaking my ankle!
But then I grew up and found out what grace is all about. Grace is when God gives me something I don’t deserve, like forgiveness and eternal life with Him in heaven. Mercy is when God doesn’t give me what I do deserve, like punishment in hell and a life without Him. When explaining this to kids I say, grace is when your mom gives you a cookie even though you were bad. Mercy is when your dad doesn’t give you a spanking, even though you were naughty. I am so thankful for God’s grace and mercy.
Yesterday at church we sang the song “Grace Alone.” At that moment I was praying for our daughter Kallie Grace who was flying somewhere over the Pacific Ocean to Guam. I knew God’s Grace was just what I needed… His grace to hear and answer my prayers, His grace to comfort me if His plan didn’t fit my prayers, His grace to hold me close today and always.
These are the words we sang…
Every promise we can make
Every prayer and step of faith
Every difference we can make
Is only by His grace.
Every mountain we will climb
Every ray of hope we shine
Every blessing left behind
Is only by His grace
Grace alone Which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us, our cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone.
Every soul we long to reach
Every heart we hope to teach
Everywhere we share His peace
Is only by His grace.
Every loving word we say
Every tear we wipe away
Every sorrow turned to praise
Is only by His grace.
Grace alone Which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us, our cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone.
©1998 Maranatha! Music.
Words and Music by Scott Wesley Brown, Jeff Nelson
And Kallie made it safely to Guam. Thank you, Jesus.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6lhilgWXIE&feature=related
Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12 (NKJV)
We have three babies in heaven now. Gloria Anne was inside me almost three months before going to be with Jesus last July. When she left this earth, I almost went with her, losing so much blood that an ambulance was needed. Angelica May stayed just two months inside me before going to heaven. Her miscarriage was so long, from mid October to December of last year. Then just a few weeks ago we lost Gabriella Hope. She was barely a whisper of life at seven weeks, going straight to the arms of Jesus.
And so our hearts are heavy with sorrow again. Why do these things happen? My dear friend Lorinda sang this song at church yesterday: “If this is what God wants.” The chorus helps me through this part of my story…
If this is what God wants
If this is what God says
Then who I am to doubt
Or try to figure out this circumstance?
If this is what God chose for me
In all His majesty
Then surely I can trust and lean on what God says
And I search God’s Word for comfort…
My frame was not hidden from You
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
Your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in Your book
before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:15-16 (NIV)
“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)
Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. John 16:22 (NKJV)
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:17 (NKJV)
I cling to Jesus and His promises. His eyes saw our babies’ unformed bodies. I look forward to that day in heaven when there will be no more sorrow or tears. As I ponder all our babies in heaven, God reminds me of this verse…
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 16:19-20 (NKJV)
And I imagine our three treasures in heaven…three precious babies in the arms of Jesus…waiting for me and their Daddy and big sister and brothers, and all their relatives to come someday.
We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 2 Peter 1:16 (NIV)
Sometimes the great hymn-writers just capture our story so well in the lyrics of their songs. This song by the Newsboys, “In Christ Alone,” is one of those. As we read these words and sing along, we are UNDERSTANDING our story a little more. Thanks, Newsboys!
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost it’s grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Brought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
by the Newsboys 2005
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica
This week we’ve been exploring how we can journal our TEA CUPP prayers to keep us focused while we pray. Today we look at the “U” of My TEA CUPP Prayers for UNDERSTANDING, as we see our stories are written in God’s Word.
Each heart knows its own bitterness,
and no one else can share its joy. Proverbs 14:10 (NIV)
Jesus is the only One who knows our hearts as well as we do (probably better!), and He also shares our joys. When we look into God’s Word for our stories, we can be sure to find how He shares our bitterness and joy, like no one else can do. We’ll see how He’s been with us every step of our lives. Pray that You will UNDERSTAND your story day by day, as you read God’s Word and journal verses that speak to your story.
Psalm 71 tells our stories beautifully. Imagine you are having TEA with the King of kings. You are talking with Him about how things have been going in your life. And this is what you say to Jesus…
5 For You have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD,
my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on You;
You brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise You.
7 I have become like a portent to many,
but You are my strong refuge.
17 Since my youth, O God, You have taught me,
and to this day I declare Your marvelous deeds.
20 Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter,
You will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
You will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor
and comfort me once again. Psalm 71:5-7, 17, 20-21 (NIV)
Perhaps you’d like to write these verses in your TEA CUPP journal today. What other verses might you write in your TEA CUPP journal for UNDERSTANDING?
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.” Isaiah 43:1 (NIV)
Who am I that the great I AM would give His life for me? During your TEA CUPP time today, let God remind you how much He loves you, and that you are His. When you give your life to Jesus, your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and you belong to Jesus forever. During my TEA CUPP time, I ask God to help me UNDERSTAND His amazing love a little more each day. Casting Crowns shares our story beautifully in the words of this song…
Who Am I by Casting Crowns
Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart
Not because of who I am
But because of what You’ve done
Not because of what I’ve done
But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I’m calling
Lord, You catch me when I’m falling
And You’ve told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours
Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love, and watch me rise again
Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me
Not because of who I am
But because of what You’ve done
Not because of what I’ve done
But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I’m calling
Lord, You catch me when I’m falling
And You’ve told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours
Not because of who I am
But because of what You’ve done
Not because of what I’ve done
But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I’m calling
Lord, You catch me when I’m falling
And You’ve told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours
I am Yours
I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
‘Cause I am Yours
I am Yours
© 2005 Reunion