Draw Me Nearer

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Jennifer Grace

But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works. Psalm 73:28 (NKJV)

At church on Sunday we were singing this beautiful hymn by Fanny Cosby, Draw Me Nearer Precious Lord. When we reached the third verse, I thought, “Yes, this is what My TEA CUPP Prayers are all about!” It’s about spending an hour before Jesus’ throne each morning, delighting in His word and His will. It’s about getting closer to the Friend we will spend eternity with in heaven.

O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend http://www.healthandrecoveryinstitute.com/soma-carisoprodol-muscle-relaxant/ with friend!

Draw me nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

by Fanny Cosby, 1875

You can hear the entire hymn at
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/a/iatolord.htm”/

Today’s TEA CUPP: Do you long for this kind of relationship with Jesus? Pray the song above as a prayer today, “Draw me nearer precious Lord,” then meet with Him each day for TEA and He will be there with you.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20 (NKJV)

Gluten-Free Banana Muffins

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Jennifer Grace

GF Facts:
People on a gluten-free diet must read labels for other ingredients related to wheat, barley, and rye.

Some of these other grain products to avoid include: Bulgur, Couscous, Durum, Einkorn, Emmer, Farina, Triticale, Kamut, Graham, Matzo, Spelt, Wheat germ, Wheat starch, Barley malt, Semolina, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP), Bran, Orzo, Panko, Seitan, Udon, Faro…that’s quite a list!

Here is a recipe for Banana Muffins that contain no unwanted grains. The applesauce replaces butter, making them low fat. You can enjoy the yummy banana flavor, knowing that you are eating a whole-some gluten-free muffin.

The Yummy Banana Muffin Recipe for you:
Set oven to 350 degrees.
Line a muffin pan with 12-4 muffin papers.

Mix together the dry ingredients:
1 ½ cups brown rice flour
½ cup tapioca flour
1 t. xanthan gum
2 t. baking powder
¼ t. baking soda
½ t. salt

In another bowl cream together:
1/3 cup applesauce
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs

Beat until smooth.

Add:
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
The flour mixture
½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Use an ice cream scoop to measure the batter into your lined muffin pan. Bake for 25 minutes.

This recipe was adapted from a quick bread recipe found in an old church cook book. Try adapting your favorite quick bread recipe to make gluten-free muffins. Please remember this recipe was tested at 6000 feet. You may need less flour if you are at a lower elevation. Enjoy!

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. Genesis 1:11 (NKJV)

New King James Version (NKJV)

God is Able

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Jennifer Grace

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NKJV)

The worship service had ended at camp Sunday evening when one of the guests turned to my husband. “I have a message for you,” he said. He read the verse above from 2 Corinthians, stressing “God is able” and “you.” This fellow is a brand new friend we just met over the weekend. Three things make this very cool to me:

1) Our new friend heard God telling him to share God’s Word and he obeyed.

2) Without even knowing my husband’s current trials and decisions, our new friend had just the right words to share.

3) GOD IS ABLE! Wow!

What are you facing today? I don’t know what troubles or decisions are going on in your life, but I want to share this promise with you. GOD IS ABLE. He will carry us through the deepest valley and across the widest river. He will comfort us in sorrow and celebrate with us in joy. He will provide for all our needs according to His riches in glory. GOD IS ABLE.

Now the question is, “Am I able?”

by Earl S. Marlatt, 1926 , Music by Harry S. Mason, 1924
http://users.stargate.net/~bmames/ht0326_.htm”>
“Are ye able,” said the Master,
“To be crucified with Me?”
“Yea,” the sturdy dreamers answered,
“To the death we follow Thee.”

Lord, we are able. Our spirits are Thine.
Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall http://xanaxonlinebuy.com be
A beacon to God, to love and loyalty.

Are ye able to remember,
When a thief lifts up his eyes,
That his pardoned soul is worthy
Of a place in paradise?

Lord, we are able. Our spirits are Thine.
Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be
A beacon to God, to love and loyalty.

Are ye able when the shadows
Close around you with the sod,
To believe that spirit triumphs,
To commend your soul to God?

Lord, we are able. Our spirits are Thine.
Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be
A beacon to God, to love and loyalty.

Are ye able? Still the Master
Whispers down eternity,
And heroic spirits answer,
Now as then in Galilee.

Lord, we are able. Our spirits are Thine.
Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be
A beacon to God, to love and loyalty.

Today’s TEA CUPP: So often troubles in life surprise me with a fierceness. I can boldly sing the song above, yet when my time comes for trials, I collapse into puddle of doubt. How do you handle life’s difficulties? Let’s together claim God’s promise, “GOD IS ABLE.”

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24 (NKJV)

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV)

Gluten-Free Choc-Oat-Chip Cookies

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Jennifer Grace

Welcome back to “Gluten-Free with your TEA!” People who need to eat gluten-free foods avoid wheat, barley, and rye products. The gluten in these grains may cause digestive troubles and other health issues. Because oats are often stored near wheat, they are also avoided by many gluten-free eaters. This delicious cookie recipe uses certified gluten-free oats to feed your cookie cravings. Enjoy!

Gluten-Free Choc-Oat-Chip Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
Mix the butter, sugars, eggs, milk and vanilla.
In a separate bowl, blend together the following dry ingredients:
1 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup arrowroot or tapioca flour
1 teaspoon xanthum gum
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Add flour mixture to butter mixture, then add:
4 1/2 cups gluten-free oats
2 cups chocolate chips
Drop by rounded teaspoons onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 9-10 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes about 5 dozen delicious cookies. Store in the freezer.

How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103 (NKJV)

Gluten-Free with Your TEA

Posted on May 21, 2011 by Jennifer Grace

Today begins a new featured section at My TEA CUPP Prayers…recipes for you! Many people, including myself, have found better health with a gluten-free diet. It can be a challenge to find good gluten-free recipes. I’m slowly trying and revising recipes to share with you. These all work at an elevation of 6000 feet, so you may adjust the liquid or flour for your elevation.

My road to being gluten-free was truly God’s answer to prayer. I’ve had digestive troubles for years and prayed for good health. Because I plan the menus for our church camp, I listened to a gluten-free webinar by Sysco last fall. I thought the webinar would be mostly about Sysco products, but instead it gave the symptoms of those who need to eat gluten-free. As I listened I thought, “Those are my symptoms!” And so I set off on my own healthy-eating plan to make me stronger for serving Jesus.

Today I share with you the first recipe in my collection:

Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins

The yogurt or sour cream in these tasty muffins adds moisture and helps bind the flours together.

1 1/2 cups brown rice flour
1/2 cup tapioca flour
1 t. xanthum gum
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 t. soda
Mix together all the dry ingredients above. Then add:
1 cup plain yogurt or sour cream
1 egg beaten
1/2 cup milk (depends on the humidity that day, I had to add 3/4 cup milk one day)
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 t. orange zest (just grate a bit of orange rind)

Use an ice cream scoop to spoon muffin mix into lined muffin pans. Makes about 14 muffins.
Bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good. Psalm 34:8 (NKJV)

Ephesians TEA CUPP Prayer

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Jennifer Grace

I just love it when I find a prayer in the Bible that has parts from My TEA CUPP Prayers. Here is a beautiful prayer by the Apostle Paul for his Christian friends in Ephesus.

Thanks

¹⁵ Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

Exalt

¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,

Petition

may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

Understanding

¹⁸ the eyes of your understandingbeing enlightened;

Calling

that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Exalt

¹⁹ and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power ²⁰ which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named,

Promise

not only in this age but also in that which is to come. Ephesians 1:15-21 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: Can you use Paul’s prayer as a model for your own prayers today? Pray along with Paul to Jesus, adding your own special prayer requests.

Just Ask!

Posted on April 21, 2011 by Jennifer Grace

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you askanything in My name, I will do it. John 14:13-14 (NKJV)

The other day we were talking with our good friends, Tom and Judy, after church. Tom mentioned one of his favorite verses from John, these verses above from chapter 14. Tom said, the verses don’t say, once you’ve got everything right, you will receive. They don’t say, once you’ve got your life in order, you will receive. They don’t say, when you say your prayers just so, you will receive. God’s Word says, ASK and you will receive. All we have to do is ASK. Just ASK! That’s what our petition time with Jesus is all about, asking Him. I’m now asking God with renewed hope today. My Jesus, be glorified in Your answers to my prayers.

Mealtime Pizzazz

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Jennifer Grace

T for Thanks: Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 1o7:1 (NKJV)

Today, for all moms who want to add some pizzazz to your mealtime prayers, I share with you my favorite graces to sing from summer camp. Enjoy these with your kids as you give thanks to Jesus for your food.

1. Be Present at our Table Lord
(Tunes: Traditional, Lone Ranger, Gilligan’s Island, Jeopardy, Flintstones, Popeye, Adam’s Family, etc.)
Be present at our table, Lord.
Be here and everywhere adored.
These mercies bless and grant that we
May feast in fellowship with Thee.
Amen

2. God Is Great and God is Good
(Tune: Flintstones)
God is great and God is good
And we thank Him for our food.
God is great and God is good
And we thank Him for our food.
Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Oh,
God is great and God is good
And we thank Him for our…
We thank Him for our…
We thank Him for our food. Ya-ba-da-ba-do!

3. God is Great, God is Good
(Tune: Rock Around the Clock)
God is great, God is good
And we thank Him for our food.
We’re gonna thank Him in the morning, noon, and night.
We’re gonna thank our God cause He’s outa sight.
Amen. Ch-Ch-Chh, Ch-Ch-Chh, Ch-Ch-Chh.
Amen. Ch-Ch-Chh, Ch-Ch-Chh, Ch-Ch-Chh.
Amen. Chhhhh.

4. Morning has Come
Morning (evening, etc) has come
The board is spread
Thanks be to God
Who gives us bread. Amen.

5. Johnny Appleseed
Oh, the Lord is good to me,
And so I thank the Lord,
For giving me the things I need,
The sun and the rain and the apple seed,
The Lord is good to me.
And every seed I sow,
Shall grow into a tree.
And someday there’ll
Be apples there
For everyone in the world to share.
The Lord is good to me.
Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

6. Praise Jesus, the Son of Man
(Tune: Popeye)
Praise Jesus, the Son of Man,
Praise Jesus, the Son of Man,
He died for us sinners,
He feeds us our dinners,
Praise Jesus, the Son of Man –Amen
Toot! Toot!

7.Thank You Lord, for Giving Us Food
Thank you Lord, for giving us food.
Thank you Lord, for giving us food.
Thank you Lord, for giving us food.
Right where we are.
Alleluia, praise the Lord.
Alleluia, praise the Lord.
Alleluia, praise the Lord.
Right where we are. Amen.

8. Come and Dine
Come and dine, the Master calleth,
Come and dine.
You may feast at Jesus’ table anytime.
He feeds the multitudes,
Turns the water into wine,
Come and dine the Master calleth,
Come and dine.

9. In Back of the Bread
In back of the bread is the flour, and
In back of the flour is the mill, and
In back of the mill is the wind and the rain,
And the Father’s will.

10. Jesus is the Real Thing
(Tune: Coke Theme Song)
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life.
Those who come to Me will never go hungry.
Those who come to Me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:35 – Jesus is the REAL THING!
Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-Amen!
Do-do-do-do-do-Jesus is the REAL THING.
Aahh!

The sun will always shine,
The birds will always sing,
As long as there is God
There’s always the REAL THING.
Jesus came down and died for our sins.
Now we thank you God as this meal begins.
Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-Amen!
Do-do-do-do-do-Jesus is the REAL THING.
Aahh!

11. Superman
Thank you, God, for giving us food.
Thank you, God, for giving us food.
For the friends that we meet.
For the food that we eat.
Thank you God for giving us food!
Swshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

12. Sesame Street
Son of Man, Guardian of the land.
Grant us strength to carry out your plan.
You do bless us as we say,
Thank you for this food today.
Thank you for this food today.

14. God has Created a New Day
God has created a new day
Silver and green and gold
Live that the sunset may find you
Worthy God’s gifts to hold.

15. Thanks be to God
(Tune: Windy)
Thanks be to God,
Creator Almighty.
Thanks be to God,
Who gives us this bread.
Thanks be to God,
The Spirit eternal.
Thanks be to God
Forever.

16. Bless Our Friends
(Tune: Edelweis)
Bless our friends
Bless our food
Come O Lord and sit with us
May our talk
Glow with praise
May your wisdom surround us
Friendship and love
May they bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Bless our friends
Bless our food
Come O Lord
And sit with us!

17. Eagles’ Wings
And God will raise you up
On Eagle’s wings
Bear you on the breath of God
Make you to shine like the Son
And hold you in the palm
Of God’s hand.

18. Rubber Ducky
Rub-a-dub, dub, dub
Thanks for the grub
Yeeeeaaah, God!!!

Today’s TEA CUPP: Each day or meal, let a different family member choose the singing grace. After singing, that person may also lead a spoken grace. You will be teaching thankfulness and also helping your children be prayer leaders in your home.

…O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalm 30:12 (NKJV)

More Talking With God

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Jennifer Grace

My TEA CUPP Prayers are all about sitting down for TEA and a good talk with God. Some may wonder if it is okay to ask God questions, especially when He tells us to do something. Yes, it is okay! It is more than okay. God longs for us to talk with Him about everything…if we don’t understand, if we need clarification, if we have doubts.

I found a few more examples of this in my Bible recently. The first is from the Old Testament, when God told Samuel to anoint David as king. Samuel feared that Saul would find out and kill him (Saul being the first and a jealous king of Israel). The conversation with God and Samuel went like this…

First God spoke…

¹ Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”

Then Samuel questioned…

² And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.”

The Lord replied…

But the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ ³ Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you.”

Samuels did what God called him to do…

⁴ So Samuel did what the LORD said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming…

God told him which son to anoint king…

And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!”

Samuel obeyed the Lord…

¹³ Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. 1 Samuel 16:1-13 (NKJV)

Another example of talking with God comes from the New Testament in the book of Acts. Saul went to Damascus to arrest the Christians. On the way he had a vision from Jesus and was blinded. God told Ananias to go to see Saul. But Ananias questioned God if this was a good idea, since Saul persecuted Christians. God re-assured Ananias that he should go.

Here’s how the conversation went..

God called Ananias…

¹⁰ Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”

Ananias answered…

And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

God explained the mission…

¹¹ So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. ¹² And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

Ananias questioned…

¹³ Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

God encouraged Ananias…

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. ¹⁶ For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Ananias did what God called him to do…

¹⁷ And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus,who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” Acts 9:10-19 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: Even Mary asked the angel when she was told she would give birth to Jesus…“How can this be so?” Is God calling you to do something? Ask Him questions today, and then, let us respond as Mary did, “Let it be to me according to Thy Word.” Luke 1:38 (NIV)

Beyond Jabez

Posted on March 12, 2011 by Jennifer Grace

Do you remember the popular book by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson entitled “The Prayer of Jabez?” Dr. Wilkinson encouraged us to pray Jabez’ simple prayer as found in the Old Testament.

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. 1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV)

Many churches and individuals posted this prayer where they would see and pray it often, hoping for the blessings and life free from pain that Jabez received from the Lord.

I still pray Jabez’ prayer every now and then, but I go beyond Jabez. I’m challenged to use all God’s Word in prayer. Throughout the scriptures are other prayers and petitions, just as powerful as that of Jabez. So, why stop at Chronicles?

Let’s also pray these petitions from…

Nehemiah in Nehemiah 1:6 (NIV) “Let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes be open to hear the prayer Your servant is praying before You day and night.”

David in Psalm 13:1 (NKJV) “How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me??

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

Daniel in Daniel 9:19 (NIV) “O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, O my God, do not delay…”

I encourage you to go beyond the prayer of Jabez, searching your whole Bible for prayer starters for pouring out your heart to God. Underline them, highlight them, write them on note cards for your bathroom mirror or the steering wheel of your car. Go beyond Jabez and use all God’s Word in prayer!

“…So is My Word that goes out from my mouth it will not return to Me empty, it will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)

“For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)