The Tear Song

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? John 20:15 (NKJV)

Dear one, in my last devotion I shared about how God’s Tears are Greater than our tears.  I know our trials and pains feel great to each one of us, sometimes almost unbearable.  But because God has experienced even more tears, He is able to comfort us.  He knows how much things hurt and He is there with His loving arms to hold us and love us. I hope this Tear Song will bless you as it blessed me.

He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, Like showers that water the earth. Psalm 72:6 (NKJV)

The Tear Song

  • If I could have tea with my very Best Friend
  • I’d sit on the grass by that tree
  • He’d tell me how He created this world
  • And how He came to die for me.

  • He’d tell me how He made each star in the sky
  • Each plant and creature and flittering butterfly
  • He’d tell me how He longed for friends and family
  • And so He created you and me.
  • Now, the earth has rules like any good school
  • And laws God wrote we must obey.
  • But the deviled deceived, His friends had to leave,
  • And His family all went their own way.
  • And His tears poured down like the rain before the mowing.
  • And His tears washed all our sins away.
  • And His tears flowed out like a river of living water,
  • Flowing from the throne of God.

  • He chose Abraham’s children as the apple of His eye
  • And bore them up on eagle’s wings.
  • He brought them out of slavery,
  • He walked them through the sea,
  • And He gave Moses a song to sing.

  • But when Moses was on the mountain
  • Receiving God’s commands,
  • God’s children were down below
  • Building an idol in the sand.
  • “Get down and stop your people!”
  • The Lord cried out in pain,
  • And Moses ran as
  • God’s tears began to rain.
  • And His tears poured down like the rain before the mowing.
  • And His tears washed all our sins away.
  • And His tears flowed out like a river of living water,
  • Flowing from the throne of God.
  • He gave them manna, He gave them quail,
  • Water from the rock to no avail,
  • For still they went their own way.
  • He gave them judges, He gave them kings,
  • Milk and honey and everything,
  • Yet still they went their own way.
  • He gave them prophets one by one,
  • They beat, stoned, killed them ‘til they were done,
  • And still they went their own way.
  • BUT, when the time was right for Him to come,
  • God the Father sent His only begotten Son
  • To teach us and show us the Way!

  • And His grace poured down like the rain before the mowing.
  • And His grace washed all our sins away.
  • And His grace flowed out like a river of living water,
  • Flowing from the throne of God.
  • Jesus came to heal our broken hearts
  • And set the captives free
  • He came to open our deaf ears
  • And cause the blind to see.
  • Jesus came to love us
  • And show us His Father’s plan
  • And He came to die a sinner’s death
  • Though He was a sinless man.

  • And His love poured down like the rain before the mowing.
  • And His love washed all our sins away.
  • And His love flowed out like a river of living water,
  • Flowing from the throne of God.
  • Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to stay and watch and pray
  • On that night when Judas came with a kiss to betray.
  • But the devil deceived, His friends fell asleep,
  • And His disciples all ran far away.

  • And as Jesus hung there on that tree,
  • The Father pretended not to see,
  • He turned His face to hide His pain,
  • As once again His tears poured down like rain.

  • And His tears poured down like the rain before the mowing.
  • And His tears washed all our sins away.
  • And His tears flowed out like a river of living water,
  • Flowing from the throne of God.
  • And His blood poured down on the fields white for harvest.
  • And His blood washed all our sins away.
  • And His blood flowed out like a river of living water,
  • Flowing from the heart of God.
  • When Jesus cried out, “It is done,” (snap fingers)
  • The devil thought that he had won.
  • A rich man’s grave, a heavy rock,
  • A Roman seal, guards ‘round the clock,
  • Yes, the devil thought that he had won.
  • When Jesus cried out, “It is done,” (louder this time)
  • The devil thought that he had won.
  • A rich man’s grave, a heavy rock,
  • A Roman seal, guards ‘round the clock,
  • Yes, the devil thought that he had won.

  • BUT (drum roll), the grave could not hold
  • The Creator of the earth!
  • Death could not win over
  • The Author of New Birth!
  • After three days in the tomb,
  • Jesus rose on high
  • And He gave all who believe
  • Eternal life.
  • And His Spirit pours down like the rain before the mowing.
  • And His Spirit washes all our sins away.
  • And His Spirit flows out like a river of living water,
  • Flowing from the throne of God.
  • Now Jesus choses all believers as His Church and His Bride
  • And bears us up on eagle’s wings.
  • He brings us out of slavery,
  • He walks us through the sea,
  • And He gives us a new song to sing.

  • And when He’s standing on Zion’s mountain
  • And we’re lifting our hands in praise,
  • We’ll cry out, “Hallelujah!”
  • Let us stand before You unashamed.
  • Help us to obey Your Word
  • And love our neighbors true,
  • And we will join the great Wedding Feast with You.
  • And we will join the great Tea Party with You.
  • And we will spend Eternity with You.

  • And His joy pours down like the rain before the mowing.
  • And His joy washes all our sins away.
  • And His joy flows out like a river of living water,
  • Flowing from the throne of God.

  • He gives us bread, He gives us wine,
  • His body and blood for Yours and mine,
  • And says, “Do this in remembrance of Me.”
  • He gives us water and a towel,
  • And His cleansing to make us whole,
  • And says, “Forgive and serve just like Me.”
  • He gives His promises and His power,
  • And His authority for the hour,
  • And says, “Go tell the world all about Me!”
  • AND, when the time is right for Him to come,
  • God the Father will send His risen Son
  • To reign in glory for now and always!

  • And the Son shines down on the fields white for harvest.
  • And the Son wipes all our tears away.
  • And the Son shines bright as the golden streets of heaven,
  • Leading to the throne of God.
  • When I have tea with my very Best Friend
  • We sit on the grass by that tree
  • He tells me how He created this world
  • And how He came to die for me.

By. Jennifer Grace with the help of Jesus, my Very Best Friend

The Story Behind the Song: I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:1-3 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP:  Jesus loves you, dear one.  He weeps with you.  He rejoices with you. Our story is part of His story.  Let’s ask Him to wash away our sins and wipe away our tears today. Pray for a Living-Water-Holy-Spirit-Pour-Down-Revival across this land!

Jesus wept. John 11:35 (NKJV)

I will open rivers in desolate heights, And fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, And the dry land springs of water. Isaiah 41:18 (NKJV)

For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring. Isaiah 44:3 (NKJV)

They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. Psalm 36:8-9 (NKJV)

There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. Psalm 46:4 (NKJV)

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Revelation 22:1 (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. 

Tea and Tears

Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,  Luke 19:41 (NKJV)

God’s tears are greater than our tears.  That thought has been on my mind a lot lately, especially today with the current turmoil surrounding Israel. In early 2020, just before our granddaughter was diagnosed with cancer and the world came down with covid, I shared an exalting devotion entitled “Greater Than.” We looked at how the Lord God is greater than all, not knowing the trials and tribulations that lay before us. Many of you went through sorrows in these recent years, too. Today I want to assure you that the Lord is still greater than all!

For I know that the Lord is great,
And our Lord is above all gods.
Psalm 135:5 (NKJV)

Yes, He is still greater than all, specifically, His tears are greater than our tears. I wanted to weep about cancer and covid, about loved ones dying, about losing our home and belongings, about continuing to feel sick from mold, about wars and harm to children… Jesus cares about each one of these heartaches and has a plan to make each one right (Romans 8:28). But as He holds me in His everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27), He shows me His tears are much greater than my tears.

 Oh, that my grief were fully weighed,
And my calamity laid with it on the scales!  Job 6:2 (NKJV) (God’s grief would weigh more!)

 I searched His word to find out if this is true. And sure enough, it is! Consider how the Lord God made this beautiful world in Genesis 1 and 2 of our Bibles.  In the very next chapter, Genesis 3, the people made in His image listened to the serpent and fell into sin. They were kicked out of the Garden of Eden and it was all downhill from there. Adam and Eve’s son Cain killed their other son Abel. The world became so evil that the Lord God told righteous Noah to build an ark to save his family. Finally, when the ark was completed, God sent the animals and closed the door, and His tears gushed and gushed from God’s eyes, as He watched His world, His beautiful world, be washed away; with only Noah and his family and animals safe in the ark.

And His tears poured down like the rain before the mowing.

And His tears washed all our sins away.

And His tears flowed out like a river of living water,

Flowing from the throne of God.

The Lord thought He would try again with Noah’s family.  But still, they devised to do evil.  Noah’s son Ham had a descendant named Nimrod who led people to build a tower to reach the heavens.  The Lord stopped the construction by scrambling all the languages.  Finally, the Lord found one person who was faithful to be His friend, a man named Abraham.  So, the Lord chose Abraham’s family to be His children.  But even this turned into heartbreak for our dear Lord.

You remember the amazing story of how the Lord rescued His children from Pharoah in Egypt, with ten plagues, a mighty hand and an outstretched arm?  The Lord was what our grandson would call a super hero, swooping in to rescue over two million people.  He continued to display His strength by parting the Red Sea and bringing water from the rock. But Abraham’s children had very short memories, grumbling, complaining and turning from God.

He chose Abraham’s children as the apple of His eye

And bore them up on eagle’s wings.

He brought them out of slavery.

He walked them through the sea.

And He gave Moses a song to sing.

Imagine, after going to such miraculous lengths to claim your bride, and she stands you up at the altar! Bible teacher Kenny Russell calls this “God’s first wedding.” When I thought about how the Lord must have felt, it brought tears to my eyes, too, and sorrow for all the times I’ve made Him sad.  (But that’s why He sent Jesus to forgive us and give the whole world the invitation to be His bride).

Let’s look at that first wedding.  As old-fashioned marriages often were, the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were promised to Father God in Genesis 12 and 15, long before they were born. Exodus 1–11 may be considered the courtship as the Lord God showed His strength to His people. Exodus 12–14 tells how He swept them off their feet, adorning them with fine jewelry. Exodus 15 was their love song, while Exodus 16–17 describes the “flowers and chocolates.” Finally, in Exodus 19–20, 23–24, we read the wedding vows, as God affirmed His covenant and Israel said, “I do” to the marriage proposal. Exodus 24:7 depicts the Bachelor party on the mountain. Then Moses went to the Courthouse at the top of the mountain to get the marriage certificate. In Exodus 26, the Groom prepared His house, giving instructions to Moses for the intricate design of the Tabernacle. Its courtyard would be for the continual remembrance of the Covenant. In Exodus 31, God gave Moses the official Wedding Covenant (10 Commandments). But in Exodus 32, the new bride couldn’t wait for her Husband, and played the harlot, building a golden calf.

But when Moses was on the mountain

Receiving God’s commands,

God’s children were down below

Building an idol in the sand.

“Get down and stop your people!”

the Lord cried out in pain,

And Moses ran as God’s tears began to rain.

“I was crushed by their adulterous heart,” the Lord described His pain years later in Ezekiel 6:9. See how the Lord is heartbroken when we go after idols instead of Him. It hurts Him so much. No wonder His tears flow down like rivers! Ezekiel 8 tells how grieved the Lord was over the abominations of the priests and elders. What they did in the dark was brought to light. We are all guilty of causing the Lord pain and tears. We must repent and turn to Jesus for forgiveness, remembering that judgment begins at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17). Dear one, Jesus willingly went to the cross for our sins, He shed tears and blood as He prayed for us in the Garden of Gethsemane, and He bore the pain of the stripes and the cross just to redeem us. Now that is love.

Jesus came to heal our broken hearts

And set the captives free.

He came to open our deaf ears

And cause the blind to see.

Jesus came to love us

And show us His Father’s plan.

And He came to die a sinner’s death

Though He was a sinless man.

One day I was driving home from one of my many doctor appointments.  (I’m like the lady from the gospels who has spent all her livelihood on physicians and been healed by none.)  I was so sad, feeling sick and unloved. There were some tall trees by a creek in a distant field. So, I began to sing,

If I could have tea with my very Best Friend,

I’d sit on the grass by that tree.

He’d tell me how He created this world,

And how He came to die for me.

As I approached our temporary home, drops of rain started to splatter my windshield and I continued to sing, “And His tears poured down like the rain before the mowing, and His tears washed all our sins away…”  And “My Tear Song” was born.  For weeks, months, and even a couple years, whenever driving alone or taking a shower, the Lord gave me another verse to this song. It is a love song. It is God’s story in the Bible. And it is a prayer and prophecy for a Living–Water–Holy–Spirit–Pour–Down–Revival across this land!  Next time I will share My Tear Song”with you.  Because His tears are truly greater than all our tears.  Until then, God bless you, dear sister in Christ.

With His love,

Jennifer Grace

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.  Psalm 34:18 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: Joseph wept, too! As I read the story of Joseph in Genesis 37–40 again this year, it struck me how often Joseph wept. So, I prayed this prayer to the Lord:  “O Lord Jesus, I see You in Joseph’s story. You are the Good Shepherd of Your Father’s sheep. Your Father loves You. Your brothers hated You. Someday every knee will bow on heaven and earth to You. You reign and have dominion over all creation. Your Father sent You to help us. You came willingly. Your people conspired to kill You. They took Your robe. You were put in a tomb, but God raised You up. Blood was on Your coat. Your Father wept. And His tears poured down like the rain before the mowing. Abba Father/Dearest Lord Jesus, be glorified in Joseph’s story, in every rain storm, and in every tear cried today. Wash this world anew with your Living Water. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

They waited for me as for the rain,
And they opened their mouth wide as for the spring rain. Job 29:23 (NKJV)

You visit the earth and water it,
You greatly enrich it;
The river of God is full of water;
You provide their grain,
For so You have prepared it. Psalm 65:9 (NKJV)

 Oh, that my head were waters,
And my eyes a fountain of tears,
That I might weep day and night
For the slain of the daughter of my people! Jeremiah 9:1 (NKJV)

I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.  Ezekiel 34:26 (NKJV)

 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” John 20:15 (NKJV)

For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:17 (NKJV)

 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Revelation 22:1 (NKJV)

  (See also Numbers 14:1; 1Samuel 12:16–18; 2Samuel 23:4; 1Kings 8:36, 18:1, 18:41, 18:45; Job 5:10, 11:16, 28:26, 36:24–33; Psalm 1:3, 6:6, 8:1–5, 22:14, 27:4, 33:6, 65:9, 66:5–6, 68:8–9, 69:30, 77:16–20, 78:4, 98:1, 102:25, 119:136, 147:8; Proverbs 3:19–20, 14:27, 16:15; Ezekiel 20:6–8, 47; Hosea 10:12; Joel 2:23, 3:18; Zechariah 13:1; 14:8-9; Luke 7:38; John 4:10, 16:20, 16:22, 20:11; Ephesians 2:13; Titus 3:4-7; James 5:18; Revelation 14:7, 21:6)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. 

For in the Wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to hallow Me at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah, at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.) Numbers 27:14 (NKJV) Let’s remember to hallow the Lord Jesus as He pours down His Living Water!

 

 

How Long, O Lord?

I’ve been wanting to write this devotion for a LONG time. One of my favorite petitions is, “How long, O Lord, how long?” I’ve been so slow to put pen to paper and fingers to the keypad that I felt the Lord asking me, “How long until you write this?!” 

December was a sad and busy month for us. My father-in-law passed away. He was an old Methodist farmer. A few days before he died, while lying in his nursing home bed, he said to my husband that he needed help getting through a few gates.  Kent told him to go through the Jesus Gate. And a few days later he died (and he did!). My husband’s cousin officiated the memorial service and gave a beautiful message on gates. He talked about how Grandpa first went through the gate of death and then went through heaven’s gate. Everyone who believes in Jesus can go through His gate. How we long for that day! 

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:9 (NKJV)

Advent (the weeks leading up to Christmas) would have been a good time to share a “How long?” devotion. As we think of the children of Israel awaiting the first coming of their Messiah before He came as a baby. Four hundred years there was silence, with only the Law and the Prophets testifying of His coming. And so they waited, and asked, “How long?”

The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined. Isaiah 9:2 (NKJV)

Today believers also ask, “How long until you come again, O Lord?” As we look at the evil in this world, we cry out to Jesus to come and make things right. Someday He will come to claim His own and we shall all praise Him! Yet even now we praise Him as we wait. 

Psalm 39:7 And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You…  Lord Jesus, I long for You! I wait for You! My hope is in You! How long, O Lord, how long until You come on the clouds in glory and every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father? HalleluYAH! I love You! Come in glory, Lord Jesus, my Hope, and the Hope of all humankind!  Amen.

What else am I praying for? I’m crying “How long” for healing and a home. It’s been three long years since we lost our home and most of our belongings to mold. The mold is still in my body, causing much pain, and we are still looking for a healthy place to call home. We know God has a plan and we trust Him and thank Him for providing temporary places, yet still we ask, “How long?” I also cry “How long” until He saves loved ones and sends a Living-Water-River-of-Life-Holy-Spirit-Pour-Down-Revival across this land! 

Last year I was asking the Lord, “How long until my third book is published?  I am so grateful how He helped me overcome obstacles, for the gracious friends who helped, for the prayer warriors who prayed, and for Jesus’ strength. And I praise the Lord that it is finished! I hope you will read More TEA CUPP Prayers and be blessed!

Did you know God also asks, “How long?” He wonders how long until people turn to Him:

Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?  Numbers 14:11 (NKJV)

How long, O you sons of men,
Will you turn my glory to shame?
How long will you love worthlessness
And seek falsehood?
 Selah Psalm 4:2

 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” Matthew 17:17 (NKJV)

 (See also Exodus 10:3, 10:7, 16:28; Numbers 14:27; Joshua 18:3; 1 Kings 18:21; Jeremiah 31:22, Mark 9:19, Luke 9:41)

 Here are some of my favorite How long prayers:

My soul also is greatly troubled;
But You, O Lord—how long Psalm 6:3 (NKJV)

How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Psalm 13:1–2 (NKJV)

Lord, how long will You look on?
Rescue me from their destructions,
My precious life from the lions.
 Psalm 35:17 (NKJV)

O God, how long will the adversary reproach?
Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?
 Psalm 74:10 (NKJV)

How long, Lord?
Will You hide Yourself forever?
Will Your wrath burn like fire? 
Psalm 89:46 (NKJV)

Return, O Lord!
How long?
And have compassion on Your servants. 
Psalm 90:13 (NKJV)

Lord, how long will the wicked,
How long will the wicked triumph?
 Psalm 94:3 (NKJV)

(See and pray also: Job 7:19, 19:2; Psalm 40:1, 40:13, 40:17, 62:3, 79:5, 80:4, 82:2; Isaiah 6:11; Jeremiah 12:4; Daniel 12:6; Zechariah 1:12; Habakkuk 1:2)

Today’s TEA CUPP:  Pray the Lord’s Prayer: “The Kingdom come, Thy will be done.” Read  2Peter 3.  Claim all His promises as you cry out, “How long?” today.

 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Revelation 6:10 (NKJV)

Enjoy this Song by the Skit Guys: Come Thou Long expected Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLcTLCCpI5A&list=RDVLcTLCCpI5A&start_radio=1

Fall Harvest

Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Matthew 9:38 (NKJV)

As expected, the cold and snow came to Montana a few weekends ago, bringing an end to our beloved flower garden. With tears I cleaned up the wilted plants. But then I thought of Jonah who wept for a tree, when there were over 120,000 lost souls in Nineveh (Jonah 4:10–11)! I cannot weep for the plants that will grow again next year, when there are souls who have only one life to accept the Lord Jesus as their Savior and harvest time is coming soon!

Just as the pumpkins are gathered after the vines wilt; just as the corn sits in the fields awaiting the combine; so a harvest is coming upon the people of this earth. Jesus proclaimed, “Look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” (John 4:35) Jesus also instructed us to pray for laborers to go forth into the harvest with Him (Luke 10:2). Let’s say those prayers and be those laborers, taking the gospel to our friends and family!

Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Luke 10:2 (NKJV)

Jesus painted many pictures of this harvest. He compared it to separating sheep on His right and goats on His left (Matthew 25:31–33). He said it’s like sifting wheat kernels from the chaff (Psalm 1:4, Luke 3:17) or wheat from the tares (Matthew 13:30). Jesus compared the wicked to grapes being trampled in the winepress of His wrath (Revelation 14:19).  Where do we want to be on that day?  We want to be His sheep on the right, safe under the shadow of His wings with all our loved ones, far away from the chaff, tares and trampled winepress.

His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire. Luke 3:17 (NKJV)

How can we make sure we are the good wheat and not the chaff?  How can we be certain we are saved?  As Paul said to the jailer who asked him that very question, “Believe on Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved both you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. John 6:47 (NKJV)

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)

And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:40 (NKJV)

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 (NKJV)

And when this harvest comes someday, we will be both in the saved sheaves of wheat, and helping Jesus gather sheaves of grain!  Think about it! The person who led us to Christ will be gathering her sheaves and we will be in them.  And we will be gathering sheaves of those we led to Christ. And all of us in all our sheaves will gather around the throne of our Lord Jesus. And just as the sheaves bowed to Joseph so long ago (Genesis 37:7), we will bow and worship the Lord!  HalleluYAH!

…He will gather them like sheaves to the threshing floor. Micah 4:12 (NKJV)

So now instead of weeping that the summer flowers have ended, I can join the trees in their beautiful praise of colors.  As the wind blows the leaves, I can clap my hands for the Creator.  And when those leaves fall to the ground, and I crunch them underfoot, I smell the scent of autumn that takes me back to my cross-country running days, a time in my life when I lost everything so I could gain heaven.

He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:6 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: Read Matthew 13. How can you prepare for the upcoming fall harvest? Ask Jesus to be your Savior and then go tell a friend. Consider a short-term mission or helping at your local food bank.  Ask your pastor how you can help.  And someday, we shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves! 

Lyrics for two beautiful harvest hymns: Bringing in the Sheaves, and Harvest Time

Sow for yourselves righteousness;
Reap in mercy;
Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord,
Till He comes and rains righteousness on you. 
Hosea 10:12 (NKJV)

he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 1 Corinthians 9:10 (NKJV)

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. James 5:7 (NKJV)

(Take some time to read a few of these harvest verses and parables this week: Genesis 1:11–13, 8:22; Ruth 2; Psalm 1:4, 65:9–13, 107:37, 129:5–7; Isaiah 28:23–29; Jeremiah 15:7; Joel 3:13; Matthew 3:10–12, 10:22, 13, 15:13; Mark 4:3–9, 4:26–29; Luke 3:9, 8:4–15, 13:6–19; John 4:34–38, 11:25–26, 12:24, 15:6; 1Corinthians 9:8–12; 2Corinthians 9:6, 9:10; Galatians 6:8–9; 2 Timothy 2:6; Revelation 14:14­–20, 19:15)

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

The Flowers Fade

The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8 (NKJV)

As we enter October and the weatherman predicts snow this weekend, I know my time caring for flowers this year is drawing to a close. One of the highlights of my summer was tending a friend’s flower garden.  In May, we carefully planted each seed and seedling. In June, we covered the little plants when threats of frost continued. In July, we poured on extra water as the temperatures rose higher. And in August, we began cutting bouquets. 

The “big as the moon” golden dahlias grew from starfish-shaped tubers shipped all the way from Holland. The ever-bearing cosmos shined forth with purples and pinks. The colorful zinnias towered beyond our expectations as they came from a tiny packet of Ace Hardware seeds.  And the sunny greenhouse marigolds, cheerfully lined the edges, unconcerned that they were shorter than the others. 

Throughout the days and weeks, I trimmed off the old blooms with a handy pair of Fisckers nippers. Even when I didn’t feel well, a trip to the garden to trim flowers always brightened my day. And as September rolled in with golden leaves on the trees, the flowers still bravely bloomed and I kept trimming. I have to say that this year, the flower garden was my second favorite time of the day, the first being my tea time with Jesus.  In the garden you can forget your troubles and the troubles of this world, or you can lift each one in prayer to the Father up above.  A poet wrote these lines long ago: One is nearer God’s heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth (Dorothy Frances Gurney).

Every time I trimmed the fading blooms, the verse my husband reads every week for home church went through my mind: The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.  Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in the heaven!  Even as these flowers fade this fall, your Word is forever in the heaven.  And I need not be sad with the killing frost comes, for Your Word promises there will always be winter and summer, seedtime and harvest for as long as the earth remains. (see Isaiah 40:8, Psalm 119:89, Genesis 8:22)

Today’s TEA CUPP: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your forever Word! Thank You, for Your forever promises.  Thank You, Father, for creating this world with beautiful flowers. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to be our Savior, to shed Your blood for our sins, to die on the cross, and to rise again to eternal life that we may live in heaven with You someday!  Your Word and promises are more beautiful than these flowers You created!  I love You, Lord Jesus!

He has made everything beautiful in its time… Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV)

Forever, O Lord,
Your word is settled in heaven.  Psalm 119:89 (NKJV)

While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
Cold and heat,
Winter and summer,
And day and night
Shall not cease.  Genesis 8:22 (NKJV)

All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
But the word of the Lord endures forever.… 1 Peter:24–25 (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

 

New Year House Cleaning

Set your house in order. . .2 Kings 20:1, Isaiah 38:1 (NKJV)

Many people make a new year’s resolution to clean their houses. Every January, my friend Lisa gives her home a good spring-cleaning. That way, when spring really comes, she can work outside in her garden. She does this every year and her home always looks beautiful, yet comfortable and welcoming with house plants and seasonal decorations. She takes what she doesn’t need to the thrift shop and often comes home with something new. Lisa was one of my first friends who invited me for tea as she offered me a cup every time I visited her cozy home.

It’s ironic that even though my family is still “homeless” after two years since evacuating our home due to mold, we don’t get to escape spring-cleaning. My doctor insisted we deep-clean the guest cabin where we are currently blessed to reside. There are many tips for deep cleaning for mold-sensitive people, but her instructions were to vacuum with a HEPA filter vacuum, dust with Ever-clear, and wash all fabric with a Cascade dishwasher pod. It has a special enzyme to kill toxins. We also have two AirOasis filters going in the cabin to constantly clean the air. That spring-cleaning was a job we didn’t enjoy, but now we’re glad to know the cabin passes my doctor’s test.

My friend Carol also has been cleaning her house as she recovers from mold toxins. She had an interesting experience one day when the Holy Spirit told her there was something in her bedroom that He wanted her to clean. Carol went into her bedroom where He led her to a tall file cabinet. Then the Holy Spirit pointed out the right drawer and file. In it she found an un-opened wedding invitation from long ago. She hadn’t opened it because she already knew the date and was planning to go. So that day she opened it and found it had a Harry Potter theme. Carol knew the Holy Spirit doesn’t like the witchcraft in those books (Deut. 7:26, 18:10), so she burned the invitation along with other items. I like the way Carol lets the Holy Spirit help her clean!

God likes house-cleaning, too!  As I read my Bible, I notice several times when God’s people were told to “clean house!” Remember the tent-cleaning in Joshua 7?  After the victory at Jericho, a man named Achan stole some of the accursed treasures and hid them in his tent.  His sin caused the Lord not to go with Israel’s army, leading to Israel’s defeat in their first battle against Ai.  Joshua made certain that everyone had a “clean tent” after that!    

If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up;
You will remove iniquity far from your tents.
Job 22:23 (NKJV)

More than once, God’s children were told to clean His house. Hezekiah became king when he was 25 years old. In the very first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. Then he called the priests and Levites to carry out all the rubbish that had collected over the years of neglect.  It took 16 days, and when the temple was clean again, King Hezekiah restored temple worship and celebrated the Passover (Read 2 Chronicles 29–30).

…“Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. 2 Chronicles 29:5 (NKJV)

And they gathered their brethren, sanctified themselves, and went according to the commandment of the king, at the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. 2Chronicles 29:15 (NKJV)

When Josiah became king, a few generations later, God’s house needed cleaning again. Josiah was only eight years old at the start of his reign.  At the age of 16, he began to seek the Lord and tear down idols in the land of Judah. When he was 26, Josiah directed the work of cleaning the temple; there, they found the Book of the Law of the Lord given by Moses.  Imagine, not being able to find God’s Word because it was buried under rubbish, idols, and abominations!  Josiah tore his clothes when he heard God’s Law and realized how they had fallen short.  Like his great-grandfather, King Josiah restored true worship and kept the Passover at the temple (Read 2 Chronicles 34).

If you would prepare your heart,
And stretch out your hands toward Him;
 If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away,
And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
Then surely you could lift up your face without spot;
Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear.
Job 11:13-15 (NKJV)

What can we learn from all this house-cleaning? Cleaning fits so well with the “A” part of the TEA CUPP where we ADMIT our sins and ask for God’s forgiveness. The Lord wants both our houses where we live and our hearts to be clean.  Can we seek the Lord in His Word like King Josiah? Can we carry out the rubbish like King Hezekiah and my friend Lisa? Can we let the Holy Spirit guide us like my friend Carol?  Can we admit our sins and let Jesus give us clean homes and hearts? 

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

The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: And so, we clean our hearts, the temple of His Holy Spirit, by coming to the Lord with all our anxieties. And Jesus makes us new. We clean out all the rubbish, the idols, and abominations. We follow His Book, worshiping Him in our clean house!

Jesus told the parable of a woman who lost a coin and swept her whole house to find it (Read Luke 15). Dear sister, Jesus loves you so much He would sweep the whole world to find you. Let’s have our hearts and houses clean when He comes!

Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? Luke 15:8 (NKJV)

If I wash myself with snow water,
And cleanse my hands with soap
. Job 9:30 (NKJV)

But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire
And like launderers’ soap.
He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer to the Lord
An offering in righteousness.
Malachi 3:2-3 (NKJV)

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Exalting with the Christmas Story

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)

The Christmas Story is a blessed place to find verses to exalt and praise our Lord Jesus.  (The E part of the TEA CUPP is for Exalting, where we lift up the name of our Father in heaven and praise Him for sending His Son to be our Savior).  From the Old Testament prophecies, to the words of the angels, to the shepherds and wise men, we have plenty of examples for exalting and honoring our Lord.  Let’s look at a a few of these:

Do  you remember how Jesus taught His disciples to pray, saying: “Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name”?  That is what exalting is all about. Like a halo above an angel’s head, we lift up Abba Father’s name above all. (Matthew 6:9)

Isaiah the prophet hallowed Him in the verse above, proclaiming Him as “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

The wisemen in Matthew 2 exalted Him with their actions: And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. (Matthew 2:11)

When the Virgin Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, she glorified the Lord with her song: “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46-47)

When Zacharias’ son John the Baptist was born, he praised God with his first spoken words in nine months: Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David, (Luke 1:68-69)

When the angel came to announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, suddenly a multitude of angels appeared glorifying God, saying:  “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14)

And after the shepherds went to Bethlehem to see if this new Baby was really there, they returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (Luke 2:20)

According to the Law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took their Baby to the temple to be dedicated, where a man named Simeon took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”(Luke 2:28-32) Anna also was there and joined Simeon’s praise as she gave thanks to the Lord.  (Luke 2:38)

From Genesis to Revelations, especially the Psalms, the Prophets, and the New Testament writings,  God gives us words to hallow and exalt our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the precious Baby who came humbly to a stable to save the whole world.

Today’s TEA CUPP:  Join the prophets and wise men, join Mary and Zacharias, join the angels and shepherds, join Simeon and Anna, join all creation this Christmas in exalting and hallowing the precious name of our Lord Jesus.  As you sing your favorite Christian Carols, truly sing them to glorify the King of kings: “With the angelic hosts proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem,” Hark the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.” 

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for leaving heaven and coming to earth to die for me.  May you be glorified in my heart and family this Christmas and always.

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”  Revelation 5:13 (NKJV)

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  1 John 4:9 (NKJV)

Thank you for stopping by My TEA CUPP Prayers! If you are blessed by today’s post, you might also enjoy some of my other Christmas devotions.  I pray a wonderful celebration of our Savior Yeshua to you and all your loved ones!

As you move into the year 2025, consider using my Bible Reading Bookmarks or check out this cool website I just found where you can design your own. 

Also, consider joining this Daniel Fast as we pray for our country the first 21 days of the new year.

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Dear Israel

He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Psalm 98:3 (NKJV)

Dear Israel,
I am praying for you. You are the tree and I am a branch. We need you to be well, to be safe, to be protected, to have the victory, to be saved, to have peace. And so, almost every day since October 7, 2023, the Lord God has given me a Bible verse to pray for you. I want to share a few of these verses and prayers to encourage you, and to help my other TEA CUPP ladies to keep lifting you in prayer.

From Psalm 83 Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! For behold, Your enemies make a tumult . . . let them be confounded and dismayed forever, yes, let them be put to shame and perish that they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth. Let it be so! Yehovah Nissi, continue to go out with Israel’s army and every missile. Be their Shield and Sun. And may all Israel and all their enemies know the Lord is God!  

From 1 Kings 8:44-52 When Your people go out to battle against their enemy. . . listen to them whenever they call to You. . . forgive Your people who have sinned against You. . . maintain their cause. 

I Kings 4:24-25 For he had dominion over all the region on this side of the River from Tiphsah even to Gaza, namely over all the kings on this side of the River; and he had peace on every side all around him. And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, each man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan as far as Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. 1 Kings 5:9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; I will float them in rafts by sea. . . I pray first for our brothers and sisters in Israel. Lord Jesus, Yehovah Nissi, fight for them and do not stop until victory is won. Fight as David did in the name of the Lord God of Israel. And establish the land as it was in the time of Solomon, far-reaching and at peace; even peace with Lebanon from where Hiram gave Solomon wood for the temple. Renew that old friendship between David and Hiram. Send peace and victory to Israel today. Protect our brothers and sisters there. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, may they prosper who love you. My heart and prayer is for all Israel to be saved, to know You, Yeshua, as their Messiah. Give the leaders of Israel the wisdom of Solomon. Give the army of Israel the skill and heart of David. Give every lady and child angels of protection, and pour out Your Holy Spirit across the land!

I pray the blessing of Ezekiel 36, especially Ezekiel 36:7-10, 36:15 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “I have raised My hand in an oath that surely the nations that are around you shall bear their own shame. But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are about to come. For indeed I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown.  I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. . . “Nor will I let you hear the taunts of the nations anymore, nor bear the reproach of the peoples anymore, nor shall you cause your nation to stumble anymore,” says the Lord God.’ ” Abba Father, I pray this blessing is NOW for Israel! Give them victory today and continue to be their Shield and Salvation! Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Ezekiel 39:29 And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,’ says the Lord God.” Lord Jesus, have compassion on Israel this day. Do not hid Your face anymore. Pour out Your Holy Spirit upon them all. Let them know You as Messiah and glorify You for being their Shield and Rock in the battle. Continue to bring peace to Jerusalem and save Your children. Bless all the children of Israel and all Your children around the world today.

From Psalm 108:7-13 God has spoken in His holiness:
“I will rejoice; I will divide Shechem
And measure out the Valley of Succoth.
Gilead is Mine; Manasseh is Mine;
Ephraim also is the helmet for My head;
Judah is My lawgiver. Moab is My washpot;
Over Edom I will cast My shoe; Over Philistia I will triumph.” . . . Give us help from trouble,
For the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly,
For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.
. . . Deliver Israel TODAY, O Lord! I claim this Psalm, the Land belongs to Yehovah God. He has declared it! He shall squash the enemy with His shoe. The Lord is sending His angel armies to fight, help and protect. Praise God who helps Israel do valiantly! Praise Jesus for casting down the enemies!

Today’s TEA CUPP: Please join me in continuing to pray for victory and peace in Jerusalem and for all Israel to know the salvation found in Yeshua Messiah, Jesus the Christ, Son of the Most High God.

My favorite Podcast for keeping up on the news of Israel, along with a Messianic Jewish message of encouragement can be found at BouldozerFaith.com with Pastor Kenny Russell. Please keep Pastor Kenny and all the children of Israel in your prayers.

Lord, You have been favorable to Your land;
You have brought back the captivity of Jacob.
Psalm 85:1 (NKJV)

For our shield belongs to the Lord,
And our king to the Holy One of Israel.
Psalm 89:18 (NKJV)

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:17 (NKJV)

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for deflecting missiles and being favorable to Your land!

O Israel, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.  Psalm 115:9-11 (NKJV)

 

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Thank you to Freepik for the Israeli Flag clip art! Designed by rawpixel.com / Freepik

Hope in the Hurricane

The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
The floods have lifted up their voice;
The floods lift up their waves.
The Lord on high is mightier
Than the noise of many waters,
Than the mighty waves of the sea. Psalm 93:3-4 (NKJV)
Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.
1 Samuel 12:23 (NKJV)

We still don’t have a place to call home, yet we press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, thanking Him for providing for all our needs according to His riches in glory, trusting Him for each day’s needs (Philippians 3:14, 4:19). I pray for you, dear one, that our Lord Jesus will also comfort and sustain you during this trial. And if you have lost loved ones, my heart goes out to you yet again, for I also lost my college cross country team in a plane crash. The unexpected and sudden death of a loved one can cause tears of anger and grief and unbelief. Only Jesus can make the pain go away. I know this because He took my pain and bore all our pain on the cross. Remember the Father knows how much it hurts, because He watched His only begotten Son die. Please run to Abba Father’s loving arms and let Him comfort you today and put the pieces back together. I’m running to Him in Montana, too, He has room for us all. Jesus loves you, dear one!

Claim the promises of Zephaniah 3:15-17!

Scripture from the New King James Version (NKJV) and Common English Bible (CEB).

My Resurrection TEA

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.  Philippians 3:10 (NKJV)

Many of the churches are celebrating Resurrection Sunday this weekend.  It is an interesting year because Passover isn’t until April 23rd.  So, those of us celebrating Passover and Yeshua (Jesus) as our Passover Lamb, won’t be celebrating His resurrection until Sunday, April 28th.  But truly, we should remember Jesus’ death and resurrection every day of our lives, because it is His life and death and rising that give us life and forgiveness and hope of eternal life with Him in heaven.  A dear friend of mine even takes communion every morning, thanking Yeshua for what He did on the cross.  A few times she’s invited me to join her over the phone. That was special!  As you celebrate Jesus’ resurrection this spring, I give you a Resurrection Tea based on Luke 24 to sip and pray.  God bless you, dear sister in Christ.  Jesus truly is risen indeed!  

T is for Thanksgiving

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  1Corinthians 15:57 (NKJV)

We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.  Revelation 11:17 (NKJV)

E is for Exalting

…Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people… Luke 24:19 (NKJV)

And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. AmenLuke 24:52-53 (NKJV)

A is for Admitting

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!  Luke 24:25 (NKJV)

And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?  Luke 24:38 (NKJV)

C is for Calling

He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee. Luke 24:6 (NKJV)

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Luke 24:47-48 (NKJV)

U is for Understanding our Stories

Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.  Luke 24:31 (NKJV)

And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”  Luke 24:32 (NKJV)

P is for Promises

Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”  Luke 24:36 (NKJV)

Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.  John 5:28-29 (NKJV)

This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.  John 6:39-40 (NKJV)

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”  John 11:23 (NKJV)

P is for Petitioning

But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with themLuke 24:29 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: I love that Abba Father commanded Jesus to rise and He did! (John 10:18, 14:31). Read Luke 24 and 1Corinthians15:12-26 for an even greater picture of the resurrection.  Use all these verses this week as you have TEA with Jesus: Thanking Him for salvation; exalting Him for His glory; admitting your sins and asking to be washed clean by the blood He shed for you on the cross; listening for your part in His calling; understanding your story a little more; taking comfort in claiming His promises; and finally, inviting Jesus to abide with you and your family always.  Blessed Resurrection Day, dear sister in Christ!

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. 1Corinthians 15:3-4 (NKJV)

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1Corinthians 15:20 (NKJV)

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 (NKJV)

 

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson