Where was the Prodigal’s Mom?

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Jennifer Grace

Pray without ceasing.
I Thessalonians 5:17

In Luke 15:11-31 we read the story of the Prodigal Son. I know this parable is an illustration of our Heavenly Father welcoming home His lost children. However, if I consider it as just an earthly family, I often wonder, “Where was the Prodigal’s Mom?”

Where was the Prodigal Son’s Mom? Was she mending clothes when she first noticed this son’s rebelliousness as a youth? Did she sit by his bedside every night and pray for him as he grew up? Did she often go without meals as she fasted for her son, pleading with God for him to give up his rebelliousness?

Where was the Prodigal’s Mom when he asked his father for his share of the inheritance? Was she heartbroken, crying in the bedroom? Was she pleading with him not to go? Was she praying constantly for him to stay?

Where was the Prodigal’s Mom when he was squandering the money on wild living? Was she distressed by his friends who had led him astray? Was she begging God to watch over him? Was she longing to go and find her son?

Did people tell the Prodigal’s Mom not to worry, that her morals were too high, that all kids need to spread their wings? Did they make her feel like a failed mom for raising a rebellious son? Or, did they come to her and pray with her and claim God’s promises for her lost son?

Where was the Prodigal’s Mom when the son was feeding the pigs? As she fed her chickens, was she wondering what her son was doing? Was she praying and fasting again for her son to come home, day after day after day?

Where was the Prodigal’s Mom when his father saw him coming at a distance? Was she right beside Dad, running to hug her long lost son? Was she in her room, praising God for His answers to prayer? Was she in the kitchen helping to fix the fatted calf for the celebration?

Where was the Prodigal’s Mom during the party? Did she sit beside her son with joy? Did she comfort her other son who had stayed to work? Did she thank God over and over again for the safe return of her son? Did she ask God to forgive her son and wash away the scars from his journey?

Where was the Prodigal’s Mom?

Today’s TEA CUPP: My dear TEA Mom, as you complete your TEA CUPP journey, praying all the parts of prayer, meeting with Jesus each day for TEA, you may expect everything will go just right. But our children will still make their own choices. Our job is to keep praying for them. Please don’t give up. Be the Prodigal’s Mom. Keep praying, even if it takes decades until that child comes home to you and Jesus.

Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Luke 15:10 (NKJV)

LORD, be gracious to us;
we long for You.
Be our strength every morning,
our salvation in time of distress.
Isaiah 33:2 (NIV)

In Memory of Angelica May

Posted on November 6, 2010 by Jennifer Grace

Thus says the LORD:
“ A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation and bitter weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted for her children,
Because they are no more.” Jeremiah 31:15 (NKJV)

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

What do you do when you come to such sad verses in your Bible? For those of us who have lost babies, these words can bring us to tears. Yet we know the God of the Universe understands our sorrow, for it’s right here in His Word. I underline the verses and write a “U” for “Understanding my story” next to them. This is my story right in God’s Word. Perhaps it is your story, too.

But I don’t need to stop there, for God also has words of comfort for me…

I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
And joy in My people;
The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her,
Nor the voice of crying.
“ No more shall an infant from there live but a few days… Isaiah 65:19-20 (NKJV)

He will swallow up death forever,
And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces… Isaiah 25:8 (NKJV)

I underline these verses and write a “P” for “Promises” next to them. I claim God’s promises that He will wipe away every tear, and that babies will always live in heaven. Jesus comforts me with His Word and promises, as we share our TEA CUPP time together. And that is how it is today, as I remember our dear Angelica May.

In Loving Memory of Our Babies…

Angelica May

November 6, 2009

Gabriella Hope

June 10, 2010

Gloria Anne

July 25, 2009

Dear Jesus, please hold our babies for me until you call me home.

My Jesus Always Comes to Tea

Posted on September 9, 2010 by Jennifer Grace

Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice. Psalm 55:17 (NKJV)

Have you ever invited someone over for tea and they didn’t show up? Have you ever made a date for coffee, only to wait at the coffee shop for a missing friend? Have you ever prepared a special meal, only to have the guests call the next day to excuse their absence? Isn’t that such a disappointing experience?

A long time ago when our children were little, some friends called to say they would be passing through town. They were to arrive at dinner time, so I planned a special meal for them. With my husband at work and two toddlers at home, it was a challenge, but I pulled off a fancy meal. I even unpacked some dishes from our wedding, including the goblets these friends had given us.

As my husband returned from work and the cashew loaf cooled on the counter, I wondered if the friends had been delayed. The children became hungry and fussy, so we fed them their supper, glancing out the window each moment to see if our friends were there. To end a sad story, we ate our cold supper and went to bed wondering if our friends were okay. The next day they called to say they had a change of plans.

But God never has a change of plans. He’s always there for us, morning, noon, night, inside, outside, in the good, in the bad, whenever we need Him. His line is never busy, He always comes when we call. In fact He is there before we even cry out. Jesus always comes to TEA.

My favorite daily devotion book, Our Daily Bread, had a devotion called “Always There,” just the other day. You’ll want to read it for an extra blessing…

http://odb.org/2010/09/05/always-there/

You may also enjoy this worship song by Aaron Shust, “My Savior My God.” The chorus of this song says,

“My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior’s always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be”

I’d like to add, “My Jesus loves, my Jesus lives, my Jesus always comes to TEA!”

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:7-10 (NKJV)

In Loving Memory

Posted on July 24, 2010 by Jennifer Grace

The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD. Job 1:21 (NKJV)

In Loving Memory of Our Babies…

Gloria Anne

July 25, 2009

Angelica May

November 6, 2009

Gabriella Hope

June 10, 2010

Children of the heavenly Father
Safely in His bosom gather
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge ne’er was given.

God His own doth tend and nourish;
In His holy courts they flourish
From all evil things He spares them;
In His mighty arms He bears them.

Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.

Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.

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 (NKJV)

Dear Jesus, please hold our babies for me until you call me home.

“Children of the Heavenly Father” hymn by Carolina Sandell Burg
Traditional Swedish Melody, translated by Ernst W. Olson

“Good boy, Mommy.”

Posted on July 17, 2010 by Jennifer Grace

‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21 (NIV)

Moms should definitely keep a journal of all the cute things their kids say. I happened to be writing a lot when our son Kevin was little, recording some of his funny “Kevin-isms.” One time when he was 2 1/2 Kevin asked me to pick up a crayon he had dropped on the floor. After I had returned the crayon to him, Kevin thanked me by saying, “Good boy, Mommy!”

“Good boy, Mommy!” – that is what I hope you hear every day, from your children and from your heavenly Father. I know that sometimes Satan tries to discourage us and tell us we aren’t good at this job called motherhood. He tells us we messed up and should do more, say more, say less, help more, help less…we just can’t win with Satan bringing us down. As we pray for our children each day, we must close our ears to those false words and open our hearts to the life-giving words of Jesus Christ.

Have TEA with Jesus each morning and hear Him say these encouraging words to you, dear daughter of the King:

“Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” Luke 1:28 (NKJV)

Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished! Luke 1:45 (NIV)

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine. Isaiah 43:1 (NKJV)

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.” Matthew 5:11 (NIV)

Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Matthew 15:28 (NIV)

The LORD your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV)

Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” Luke 8:48 (NIV)

‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21 (NIV)

“Good boy, Mommy!”

New International Version (NIV)

My Call to Homeschool

Posted on July 16, 2010 by Jennifer Grace

All your children shall be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13 (NKJV)

Our kitchen cupboards are decorated with handwriting verses. The wall by the stove displays a world map. The shelf by my kitchen table overflows with school books and supplies. And I get to see my children all day, every day! I must be a homeschool mom!

One of the things God called me to do 15 years ago was to homeschool our children. I know He doesn’t call everyone to homeschool, but this is God’s call for me. How I came to know His call was quite a prayer process, as I’m sure it is for many moms who wonder if they are supposed to homeschool their children.

My first awareness of homeschool came when I was a child. My aunt was homeschooling two of my cousins. My cousins are really quite brilliant and didn’t fit into the public school setting. I didn’t hear much about homeschooling again until I was grown-up and a teacher, teaching at a Christian school right after we were married. There I met a mom who was considering homeschool for her active son. I couldn’t believe that she would want to take him out of the “perfect” Christian school!

But then we had children! When our daughter was three and our son was an infant we moved to Ohio. Within the first year we were there several random people asked me if we were going to homeschool our children – one from my husband’s work, one from church, one from ballet lessons. Why were all these people asking me about homeschool??? My daughter was only three! Was God trying to send me a message?

Well, it is interesting how time flies quickly when the kids are little. Soon our daughter was almost five and it was time for kindergarten round-up. We hadn’t made a decision yet, so we took her to registration. All that summer we prayed for God to give us a sign of what we were supposed to do. A friend who was praying about a house was encouraged by a rainbow right over the property where they were to build. I kept looking for a rainbow or something to point out what we were supposed to do. Then late in summer, the pastor at our church announced that the new principal at our daughter’s school was a member of our congregation. We took that as the sign that Kallie was supposed to go to school. Just a week after her fifth birthday, I put my daughter on a big yellow school bus and sent her off to kindergarten. Oh, how that broke my heart!

To keep in touch with our daughter’s school, I volunteered every other week. While I was there I discovered she wasn’t doing more than we already were doing at home. For special activities they would bake cookies or watch a movie, activities she already knew well. And for a special guest they invited Kallie’s dad who worked at the Nature Center. With 30 kids in a kindergarten class, we just didn’t see how Kallie was learning more than she already did at home. So, at the end of kindergarten, we decided to homeschool Kallie for first grade. I always wondered why God let us send Kallie to kindergarten, since we had prayed for direction before that. The reason I’ve been able to see over the years is that one year convinced me never to send our kids to public school, whereas I might have been tempted if we hadn’t experienced that year.

I remember my dad asking, “So how long are you planning to do this?’ I didn’t know. We were just going to take it one year at a time. Some of those years were good years and some were struggles. Some days I just wanted to give up. But we persevered, and were constantly encouraged by how much we could positively influence our kids for Jesus Christ. When our daughter graduated high school as a homeschooler in 2008, I thought how fast the time had flown and how thankful I was that we had homeschooled her and had all that time together. I never regret it for a moment. Today I continue to homeschool Kallie’s two younger brothers.

Some of our favorite activities in homeschool over the years have included field trips and family trips, reading stories together, writing stories together, art projects, science with Daddy, playing post office, making scrapbooks, baking, planting gardens, etc. We have also played piano at the nursing home, served at soup kitchens, and been on mission trips as a family.

When Kallie was in second grade, we used the Moore Foundation who encouraged us to write down why we homeschool, so that on days we feel like quitting , we can look back at our reasons. Here is what I wrote then and still believe today:

We homeschool because God called us to homeschool our children.

We homeschool because we love our children.

We homeschool because our children grow up so quickly, we want to be with them as much as possible.

We homeschool because we want our children to have Christian family values.

We homeschool because our children are each unique and learn at their own pace.

We homeschool because we can learn at home or when we travel any time of year.

We homeschool because God called us to homeschool our children.

Over the years there have been many Bible verses God has used to encourage me to keep teaching our children. These verses could also be posted on the walls of your homeschool classroom, as an encouragement to both parents and students…

Teach me, O LORD, to follow Your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Psalm 119:33 (NIV)

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. Psalm 24:4-5 (NKJV)

Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Proverbs 4:13 (NIV)

Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Psalm 27:11 (NKJV)

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6: 6-9 (NKJV)

If any of you are praying about homeschooling, some of my favorite resources include…

Pathway Readers for grades 1-8:
http://www.pathwayreaders.com/

A Reason for Handwriting:
https://homeschool.areasonfor.com/collections/handwriting

Saxon Math for grades 4 and up:

https://setonbooks.com/publishers/1-saxon-publishers-inc?page=2

Apologia Science for junior/senior high:
http://www.apologia.com/

The Moore Foundation:
http://www.moorefoundation.com/

The Sycamore Tree Academy:
http://www.sycamoretree.com/

Mary Pride’s Reviews:
http://www.home-school.com/

Home School Legal Defense Association:
http://www.hslda.org/Default.asp?bhcp=1/

May God bless and guide your efforts to obey His call and bring up your children in the love of Jesus our Lord!

Mom’s Favorite Prayer Verses

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Jennifer Grace

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:4 (NKJV)

Each morning I pray for our kids during My TEA CUPP time with Jesus. Here are some of my favorite verses I pray over my children…

Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Luke 18:16 (NKJV)

Keep (Kallie) as the apple of Your eye;
hide (Kallie) in the shadow of Your wings. Psalm 17:8 (NIV)

Do not withhold Your mercy from (Jacob), O LORD;
may Your love and Your truth always protect (Jacob). Psalm 40:11 (NIV)

Send forth Your light and Your truth,
let them guide (Kevin);
let them bring (Kevin) to Your holy mountain,
to the place where You dwell. Psalm 43:3 (NIV)

My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart. Proverbs 3:1 (NIV)

Teach me Your way, O LORD;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name. Psalm 86:11 (NKJV)

My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
And find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5 (NKJV)

My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.
Hang on to them, for they https://xanaxcost.com will refresh your soul.
They are like jewels on a necklace.
They keep you safe on your way,
and your feet will not stumble.
You can go to bed without fear;
you will lie down and sleep soundly.
You need not be afraid of sudden disaster
or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,
for the Lord is your security.
He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. Proverbs 3:21-26 (NLT)

Lay hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands and you will live.

Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them. Proverbs 4:4-5 (NIV)

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to Your word. Psalm 119:9 (NIV)

You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you. Deuteronomy 8:5 (NKJV)

And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. Luke 2:40 (NIV)

I underline these verses in my Bible and write my children’s names next to the verses and pray God’s Word for my children. What verses do you pray for your children?

Kevin’s Story

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Jennifer Grace

“Dear Mom and Dad, I want to be a Christgun,” the crumpled paper proclaimed.

I’m sure many of you praying moms have stories like this one I’m going to share today. I don’t have stories for our older two children, because they became Christians on their own or at youth group. But our youngest child invited us to be part of his journey. I’m so thankful he did, so I can share his story with you…

O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is Your name in all the earth!
You have set Your glory
above the heavens.

From the lips of children and infants
You have ordained praise. Psalm 8:1-2 (NIV)

February 25, 2008 was a very special day because on that day Kevin Jon became a Christian!

We had quiche for dinner, one of Kevin’s favorite meals. He served himself a big slice, but then didn’t eat anything. He complained of a tummy ache. We suggested he take a nice hot bath and put on his pajamas.

After his bath, our seven-year-old Kevin sat on the sofa and read Garfield comics while sucking on a popcicle. Soon I saw him with note paper and pencil, writing a message. I asked who he was writing, and Kevin just smiled.

A little while later, Kevin tossed the note to me. I opened it to find the best message ever:
“Dear Mom and Dad, I want to be a Christgun.”

I told Kevin I was so happy and what a happy day this was.
After reading a story, I tucked Kevin into bed. Daddy came, too, and we both listened as Kevin asked Jesus into his heart so he could be a Christian.

While we were waiting for Daddy to join us, I had asked Kevin if there was a verse that made him want to be a Christian (I was thinking of John 3:16 or another verse he had learned at Awana). Kevin surprised me by reciting a verse he wrote for handwriting that week from Matthew: “Come to terms quickly before it is too late.”

Thank you, dear Jesus, for calling Kevin to be Your child. Please help us be good parents for him and continue to teach and guide him. Please fill Kevin with Your Holy Spirit and keep him following You all his days. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way traveling with him, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Matthew 5:25 (AMP)

My TEA CUPP for Moms

Posted on July 11, 2010 by Jennifer Grace

“Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Mark 10:14 (NIV)

Every night I tuck our kids into bed and say a prayer with them. Back when our son Kevin was three years old, I was tucking him in on a Sunday evening. We were singing “Jesus Loves Me,” and Kevin was pondering our Sunday school story about Jesus.

Kevin paused while we were singing and asked, “Mommy, where is heaven?”

“It’s up in the sky in the clouds.”

“I think I’d like to go to heaven, “ Kevin mused.

“You would?” I asked, delighted.

“Yea, I want to see Jesus,” Kevin replied from his pillow.

Oh, my heart just melted, having my 3-year old want to see Jesus. And Jesus told us to come to Him like little children. This must be what He meant!

“I want to go to heaven and see Jesus with you.” I answered, while holding back my tears of joy.

Isn’t this what every Christian mother longs for – to hear her children love Jesus? And it all begins with prayer.

This kicks off our week of My TEA CUPP Prayers for Moms. Please join me each day as we pray for our children and share stories of God’s miracles in their lives.

At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Matthew 11:25 (NKJV)

Three Babies in Heaven

Posted on June 21, 2010 by Jennifer Grace

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.

My TEA CUPP Prayers

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

Category Archives: My Tea Cupp for Moms

Where was the Prodigal’s Mom?

In Memory of Angelica May

My Jesus Always Comes to Tea

In Loving Memory

“Good boy, Mommy.”

My Call to Homeschool

Mom’s Favorite Prayer Verses

Kevin’s Story

My TEA CUPP for Moms

Three Babies in Heaven