Tag Archives: My Tea Cupp Prayers

Kisses from Katie

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Kisses from KatieAnd the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.‘ Matthew 25:40 (NKJV)

We are forever changed.  All whose lives have been touched by Katie Davis in Uganda, and all who read her book here in the USA, will never be the same. We can’t return to our “normal” lives, without realizing how much more God has for us.  I invite you to be changed forever, too, as you read Katie’s incredible story.

This blessing came to me at my Wednesday Bible study where the women are passing around a book entitled Kisses from Katie. The ladies say they can’t put it down. It’s finally my turn to read it, and they are right.  As I keep telling myself, “just one more chapter,”  Katie is adopting “just one more child,” sharing the love of Jesus with the people of Uganda.

Katie, an American teenager from Nashville, Tennessee, president of her senior class and homecoming queen, gives up everything to follow Jesus’ call to care for the orphans.  Over and over, Katie relates how she is just a normal person, who says “Yes” to God’s call.  Completely honest and transparent, Katie shares the joys and trials of her new found ministry.

Learning to be a mother and run a non-profit at the age of 19 has quite the learning curve, as Katie shares her experiences. From rats and cockroaches, to HIV and scabies, to caring for the worst poverty, one might think that God gave Katie super-human powers. But as Katie relates (p. 135)…

“I believe that God totally, absolutely, intentionally gives us more than we can handle.  Because this is when we surrender to Him and He takes over, proving Himself by doing the impossible in our lives.”

Along with her engaging narrative, Katie shares Bible heroes from David to Jonah to Paul. She writes how God met their needs, and He is caring for her and her adorable children, too. Katie has a thorough grasp of scriptures and the truth, which is also the name of her ministry, Amazima.  Above all, Katie lives out the truth of the Gospel every minute of every day, pouring out God’s love, exhausted or not, (“with a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus”).

Everyone should read this book — moms, dads, teenagers, homeschoolers, college students, Bible scholars, youth leaders, grandparents, the average Joe.  Your heart will be broken for these dear people in Uganda and around the world, who need the unconditional love of Jesus.  Kisses from Katie will inspire, challenge and encourage us all to do more for God’s kingdom, more than we ever imagined. Yes, we are forever changed.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)

For more information on Katie’s ministry, check out her website: http://katiedavis.amazima.org/

Davis, K. (2011). Kisses from Katie. Nashville: Howard Books.

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

Most Women Said “Prayer”

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Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray…” Luke 11:1

At a weekly Bible study I attended, the question was posed, “In what area is God calling you to a deeper level of obedience?”  As we went around the table of 20 plus women, the majority mentioned prayer.  The women had hearts for obediently following Jesus’ example to pray, but some wondered how to proceed.  If you are reading this book, perhaps God is calling you in this area, too?  How should you press on?

Let’s review: The place to begin is the Bible.  God’s Word has all we need.   When we don’t know what to say, God does.  There are fantastic verses from Genesis to Revelations, but a great place to explore are the Psalms.  Here we read the heart cries of other believers that we may also pray to the Lord.

To THANK the Lord, we may pray,

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
    For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 136:1 (NKJV)

To EXALT (praise) our God, we may pray,

I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the nations.
For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
And Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.  Psalm 57:9-11 (NKJV)

To ADMIT our sins and ask for forgiveness, we may pray,

Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:1-2 (NKJV)

To seek God’s CALLING for our lives, we may pray,

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

To UNDERSTAND and talk with Jesus about our story, we may pray,

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off. Psalm 139:1-2 (NKJV)

To claim one of God’s PROMISES for our lives, we may pray,

You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32:7 (NKJV)

To pour out our hearts and PETITION the Lord, we may pray,

Do not forsake me, O Lord;
O my God, be not far from me!
Make haste to help me,
O Lord, my salvation!  Psalm 38:21-22 (NKJV)

And when we come to our final request, we will have had an intimate time of prayer with Jesus. My friend, encounter the Lord today in prayer.  He is most certainly calling us all.

Today’s TEA CUPP:  Continue to meet with Jesus for prayer and a cup of tea each day.  Bring your Bible, open to the book of Psalms, and let God’s Word begin your conversation.

Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us,
Just as we hope in You. Psalm 33:22 (NKJV)

Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah Psalm 62:8 (NKJV)

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV)

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

A Preschool Day

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Joel's day3So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NKJV)

“What are we going to do today?”
“What’s next?”
“I have nothing to do.”
“Can I watch TV now?”
“When will you play a game with me?”

Do you have these same questions at your house?  Are you going bonkers, getting through a long day with your preschooler? How do you stop the questions, and keep the day moving in a smooth fashion, while getting all the chores done, too? Please let me share what works in our family.

More than 20 years ago, we had a 3-year old girl who was always hoping for play time and art time and watching Barney on TV.  Mommy wanted to do all those things, but I also had chores and errands and meals to fit into the day.  So, I came up with a way for our daughter to see her day at a glance, knowing that her favorite activities would be coming soon.

We had a stack of Family Fun magazines at the time, so I cut out photos and cartoons of kids doing various activities, such as reading books, going to the park, eating lunch, etc.  I glued these clippings onto note cards and strung them up with clothespins, so our daughter could check the next activity.  Using clothespins made it easy to rearrange the note cards with each new day.Joel's day

A few years later, we also had a little boy who wanted to know the daily plan, but first I needed the chores to be completed.  So I took photos of the kids doing jobs around the house, from feeding the cat to sweeping the kitchen.  I cut the photos into star shapes, put magnets on the back, and arranged them on the refrigerator.  When each chore was completed, it was put into a special envelope.  When all the jobs were finished, it was play time.

I used the star chores again with our third child. When he completed all the stars for the day, he received a “star-buck” good for buying a prize at the “Mom Buck” store once a week.  Now he is almost 16 and would prefer Starbucks over one of mom’s star-bucks :-).

With our fourth child, we have made the stars a combination of chores and activities, so he can see the whole day at a glance.  Each morning I rearrange and exchange the stars to show our plan.  Joel’s day usually starts with feeding the cat, eating breakfast, getting dressed, brushing his teeth, making his bed, and doing an extra chore.  Then it is school time where he plays with Mommy, has stories, does a craft, and eats lunch.

After lunch, Joel heads outside for swings or sandbox, then comes in for a PBS Kids show.  The late afternoon brings Legos or a project with Daddy.  Dinner is followed by bath time, stories, and a bedtime prayer.  Joel is so used to his schedule that he will remind me, “Mommy, you have to do my schedule!”  He will even get sneaky and switch “pick-up toys” with “reading stories” so he can skip clean-up time. But Mommy is wise to this!

Joel's day2Over the years I’ve found our star chores and schedules can be used even into the early elementary years.  When the kids have outgrown the photos, it is time to start a regular lesson book (about third or fourth grade).  By then the kids have such a good routine, they know just what to do.  I hope this will help answer the preschool questions at your house!

Apply your heart to instruction,
And your ears to words of knowledge.  Proverbs 23:12 (NKJV)

This article is part of my Home School Tea Time series, sharing a few things God has taught me in our 20 years-and-counting home school journey.  Today’s message helps you plan your preschooler’s or early elementary student’s day. Be blessed and be a blessing!

New King James Version (NKJV)

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

My Home School Story

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home school

Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

The other day I realized, we’ve been home-schooling for 20 years!  This is 2016, and in 1996, when our daughter was in first grade, we began to home school.  There have been many ups and downs these 20 years, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything.  This story is how God called us to home school our children.  Perhaps He is calling you, too, and you are wondering how to get started.  I hope my home school story helps you…

We have four children on earth and three in heaven.  When our oldest two kids were ages three years and four months, we moved to a new state.  We were blessed to meet other families with young children who all had the same question for us, “Are you going to home school?”

I hadn’t even considered home school! But when the third person asked me, I thought perhaps God wanted me to look into it.  Our daughter attended preschool at our church when she was four. That whole year we prayed about whether she should go to kindergarten the next fall, or not.  When August rolled around, we still didn’t have an answer.

A friend was hoping to build a new house and told me the story of seeing a double rainbow right over their property; she took that as a “go” sign from God.  I prayed for God to give us a sign about school for our daughter. The next Sunday at church, the pastor announced that the new principal at our daughter’s school was a church member.  We took that as the sign, and sent our daughter off to kindergarten.  It was very hard to put our sweet, curly-haired girl on the school bus, just two weeks after her fifth birthday.

Our daughter attended a large rural school, where students came from all walks of life.  The teachers did their best to help the kids succeed, but they only had so much time for each one.  It seemed we were doing more with our daughter on the afternoons and weekends than she was doing during her school hours.  We would read stories, paint pictures, go for nature hikes, visit the zoo, write our own stories…I wasn’t sure why I needed to send her off on the bus each morning.  So, at the end of her kindergarten year, we decided to home school.

I remember my dad asking how long we would be home schooling.  I didn’t know at the time, but I thought a few years, at least. I often wondered why God wanted us to have that one year in public school, and perhaps it was to solidify our decision. Now, 20 years later, we’re still home schooling and about to start our four-year old on the journey, as well.  What have I learned in these 20 years?  Let me share a bit with you…

I’ve learned I’m not cut out for this!  Seriously, that’s what so many moms tell me, “I could never do that.  I don’t have the patience.”  My family will tell you I run out of patience, too.  But I keep on going because this is God’s calling.  If you’re going to home school, you really have to jump in and do it and never quit.  There will be good days and bad days, good years and bad years.  But in the end, you will be so glad you stuck with it.

I’ve learned that kids grow up way to fast, and home school is the best way to spend time together.  Yes, it’s true.  Our daughter is now 25 years old, a college graduate, working on a masters degree and expecting her first baby.  Our oldest son is now 22 and finishing a degree in mechanical engineering.  We are so thankful to still have our 15-year old son and our four-year old son at home!  The times I cherish the most are when we sit on the sofa together and read stories.  There is nothing cozier and more special than that!

I’ve learned that Daddy is a great help with home school.  Yes, moms, be sure to get dads involved.  Many times I was sure the kids learned more from doing a wood-working project or science experiment with Daddy, than all the months of book work they did with me.  It is so good to have Daddy on board and supporting the whole home school.  We like having Daddy help us start each day with prayer and devotion at breakfast before he heads off to work.  Often he’ll come home early to do a project, giving me a break, too.

I’ve learned to use the library.  When we first started home school, we had a very small income with no room for extras.  I took my two little ones to the library every week, where we checked out a huge stack of books.  We would spend the week reading them together.  Sometimes we would have a theme such as Africa or the circus, but other times it was just a random collection of stories.  You don’t need “real” curriculum until the kids are in fourth grade.

I’ve learned there is math all around.  Our most favorite thing to do for math is to bake cookies.  We double the recipe or use the wrong size measuring cup, just to do a little more math in our heads.  All my kids know how to make cookies!  There is also math on the calendar, the clock, the thermometer, the speedometer, the ruler, the calculator, the grocery store, in counting objects, and the list goes on!  I start my kids on Saxon Math in 4th grade, but before that we just work on facts, telling time, making up word problems, and an occasional work book from Walmart :-).

I’ve learned 4H has great lessons for kids.  From animals to sewing to cooking to wood-working to mechanics to photography to robotics to electricity…you name it!  If your kids join a local 4H club, they can sign up for any of these activities and receive detailed activity books.  Youth in 4H also learn great life lessons such as record-keeping, organization, goal-setting, community service and leadership.

I’ve learned what works for one might not work for all. But I still might use it, because I like it! There are certain books I love that I use for all our kids.  Pathway Readers and The Millers books have some of the best family stories and lessons. Other curriculum, such as Jensen Grammar for high school, I gave up on the third child.  Sorry, Mr. Jensen, we just couldn’t do grammar any more!

I’ve learned to ask friends for ideas.  Our town has a loose-knit home school group.  There is probably a group in your area, too.  In bigger towns, families get together to share lessons in a co-op fashion.  Our group passes around used books and shares tips on Facebook.  One friend and I used the same high school curriculum, and cried on each others’ shoulders every quarter when it was time to send in the school work.  It’s good to have a home school friend!

I’ve learned to make Jesus first and last.   Our days begin with prayer and an Our Daily Bread devotion at breakfast.  Our days end with the kids being tucked into bed with a prayer, too.  We know we aren’t perfect, but we ask Jesus to guide us in our lessons and activities throughout the day. Start and end your days with Jesus, and let Him fill your moments in between, too.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 (NKJV)

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

Cereal Bars (GF & DF)

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… And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. Exodus 16:31 (NKJV)

You might have to guard these delicious bars. They disappear quickly at our house!

Lightly grease a 9×13″ pan with coconut oil.

In a large sauce pan combine:
1 cup honey
1 cup Stevia powder
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly.  When mixture boils, remove from heat. Add,
1 cup organic almond butter and mix well.
Quickly stir in
6 cups Gluten-Free Puffed Rice, coating them evenly.
Spread the cereal mixture into the prepared pan and let rest for 30 minutes.

Optional, while the bars are cooling, melt
1 package (about 1 1/2 cups) Enjoy Life  or Lily’s chocolate chips.  Spread this over the cereal.  Place the pan in the refrigerator, allowing the chocolate to firm up a bit.

Remove from refrigerator and slice into bite-size bars.  Your Valentines will love these!

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 1 John 4:14 (NKJV)

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

Split Pea Soup (GF and DF)

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asplit pea soupAnd Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.  Genesis 25:34 (NKJV)

Here is a wonderful crock pot recipe to warm you on a cold winter’s day. Just put it together at breakfast time, and it will be waiting for you at supper time!

In a large crock pot, combine:
6 cups or so water
2 cups dried split peas or lentils
2 cups diced celery
2 cups diced carrots
1 red onion, diced
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon garlic
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 bay leaf

Cook on high for 8 hours. Before serving, ladle 2 cups of the soup into a blender, blending until smooth. Pour the blended soup back into the crock pot. For an extra touch, add:
1/4 cup molasses and juice from 1/2 a lemon. Serve with rice crackers and fruit salad. Delicious!

He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.  Psalm 23:3 (NKJV)

New King James Version (NKJV)

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

Coconut Cake, Gluten-free and Dairy-free

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coconut cake

When birthdays come around, it’s always tricky to find a cake for those with allergies. Here is a delicious version of a Gluten-Free Mama cake, that I’ve modified to be dairy-free. Your family will love this birthday cake!

Oil a Bundt cake pan with coconut oil and dust with coconut flour. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350 Degrees.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine and set aside:
1-1/2 cups Gluten-Free Mama Coconut flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon xanthan gum

In a stand mixer, combine:
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla

While mixer is running, add:
4 egg whites, one at a time

Now alternate adding flour mixture and:
3/4 cup coconut or soy milk
until all are mixed together.

Slowly blend in
1 cup shredded coconut

Spoon batter into prepared Bundt cake pan and bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove http://buylevitra.net cake from oven and let cool in pan on cooling rack. When cool, carefully remove from the pan, using a plastic knife to loosen, if needed.

Now for the yummy frosting:
In a sauce pan, combine:
1/3 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
Then add:
3/4 cup coconut or soy milk
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until boiling.
Remove pan from heat and add:
1 Tablespoon coconut oil
3-4 ounces dark chocolate (1 cup Enjoy Life chocolate chips, or 1 Endangered Species dark chocolate bar)
1 cup shredded coconut
Mix frosting well and spread it evenly on the cake. Enjoy!

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)

New King James Version (NKJV)

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

Gluten-Free Pizza

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apizzaAnother parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”  Matthew 13:33 (NKJV)

Our favorite Sabbath night activity is pizza and a family movie, often The Chosen. With restaurant prices as they are these days, it makes “cents” to whip up your own pizza at home. And this pizza tastes better than any gluten-free restaurant pizza I’ve found!

Get started about 1-1/2 hours before you want to eat.

In an electric mixing bowl, combine these dry ingredients:
3 cups brown rice flour
3 cups tapioca or arrowroot flour
1/2 cup corn meal
1/2 cup quinoa or millet flour
1/2 cup ground seed blend (sunflower, pumpkin, sesame or flax)
2 teaspoons salt
4 Tablespoons active dry yeast (leaven, we had to pause this while fighting candida, see Cauliflower Pizza recipe for an alternative)
2 Tablespoons honey or monk fruit
Blend together until well mixed.

In a measuring cup, combine:
3 cups warm water
1/4 cup olive oil
4 eggs or 8 egg whites (pasture-raised, free-range local fresh eggs!)
(use additional flax seed and water if you want to make this egg-free)
Pour this mixture into the mixing bowl and combine. Beat on high for 4 minutes.

While the dough is beating, line your baking pans with parchment paper. Using this recipe, I can make 2, 13-inch pizzas, plus 3 pie-pan size pizzas. I freeze the small ones to use later. You could also make 2 cookie sheet-sized pizzas and a few pie-sized pizzas, or a few loaves of bread.

Once the dough is mixed, turn it out onto your parchment paper, dividing between the prepared pans. Use a spatula to spread the dough to the edges of the pans. Dough will be sticky, so you may oil your spatula if needed. Let the dough rest on the pans for 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Prebake the crusts for 10 minutes and remove from the oven. Now top the crusts with your favorite toppings. Some of our favorites include:
Olive oil
Basil
Black olives
Green peppers
Pineapple
Daiya (dairy-free) mozzarella shreds or goat cheese

Bake the prepared pizzas for another 18-20 minutes, or until golden. Serve hot. The crusts taste great topped with honey like the famous restaurants use. Enjoy your family pizza night!

I would like to thank Angela Litzinger of angelaskitchen.com for her original recipe!

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.  Psalm 145:18 (NKJV)

New King James Version (NKJV)

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

My Gluten-Free Story

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gluten-freeAnd He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” Mark 5:34 (NKJV)

Everyone has a story. That’s what the “U” part of My TEA CUPP Prayers is all about, Understanding our stories in the light of God’s Word.  When we know our stories, it helps us share our testimony with others, encouraging them to follow Jesus.

But today I want to share a different kind of story with you, this story is how God brought me healing in a unique way. I share this in hopes that my readers might find healing, too. This is My Gluten-Free Story.

I have always had tummy troubles.  Forever there has been a bit of pain in my stomach area.  When my two oldest kids were little, I was diagnosed with chronic pelvic pain and IBS.  This was after several mortifying doctor visits where I was poked and prodded.   When our third child was born, I had an epidural.  It was the only time I could ever remember not having pain in my abdomen.  Too bad those epidurals wear off!

As my children grew, I continued to have tummy troubles, trying various supplements and healthy shakes to no avail.  We were praying for more children, but never thought about how my condition could be connected to the ability to conceive.

Finally, in the summer of 2009 we were expecting again, only to lose that baby in a painful miscarriage.  That very autumn, we were expecting again, and also lost the baby.  The following June, we lost a third baby soon after conception.  “Why is all this happening?” I pleaded with God.

At the time, we were working at a church camp.  I was in charge of ordering food from Sysco.  In the fall of 2010, Sysco offered a webinar for its customers about gluten-free cooking.  I chose to participate, thinking it would help me order the right foods for our guests.

The Sysco webinar turned out to say very little about their products. Instead, it went into great detail about Celiac disease and gluten-sensitivity.  They discussed the symptoms of those with gluten-intolerance, including stomach pains and miscarriages.  They explained how the walls of the intestine are covered with little fingers called villi. These villi absorb the nutrients from food, providing nourishment to the body.  The problem for a gluten-sensitive person is the gluten wraps itself around the villi. This makes the person not absorb nutrients, thus causing miscarriages and other health issues.  The webinar also explained that a traumatic  event, such as a miscarriage, could cause a person who was only slightly sensitive to suddenly become gluten-intolerant.

So, there I sat in our camp office, expecting to make a shopping list for the dining hall. Instead, God gave me information to make some new healthy choices.  And that is what I did.  I went back to our house and announced to my family what I had learned, giving up delicious pizza crusts and cinnamon rolls forever, in favor of better nutrition for my body.

And guess what, it was exactly one year later, in the fall of 2011, that God blessed us with our fourth child.  God healed me and answered my prayers.

I still have tummy problems off and on, giving up dairy a few years ago, too. But I don’t catch as many colds, and I know that by eating gluten-free, I’m doing my part to keep healthy for serving the Lord.  And so I share my favorite gluten-free recipes with you, even some pizza crust that is thick and yummy like the real thing.  I pray that you will enjoy these recipes and be blessed with better health.

And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.  Matthew 14:35-36 (NKJV)

 

Seven-Three-One

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aLuke2.1.7“Seven verses that changed history.
Seven verses that changed the world forever.
Seven verses that change us forever,” my pastor preached the Sunday before Christmas. What were those seven verses? Luke 2:1-7, the announcement of Jesus’ birth.

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:1-7 (NKJV)

Can you imagine history without these verses? No Joseph, no Mary, no census, no birth of our Savior, no hope for mankind. Even the counting of our years (we’re on 2016 now), is based on the birth of Christ. Thank the Lord that Luke 2:1-7 really happened!

I went home with my pastor’s message on my heart, pondering what other verses change history? 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 came to mind.  These three verses describe Jesus’ return to take all believers home to heaven.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NKJV)

Can you picture the headlines after that great day, when all believers are taken to heaven?  Hopefully, none will be here to write the news, for we will be in heaven with Jesus. However, those who don’t believe will be left to discover the Truth.  History will yet again be changed!

Still wondering about significant verses, I considered what one verse changes history and the future for us all. Perhaps that verse is John 3:16.

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)

God loves us so much that He willingly sent His only Son as a baby to our sinful world. That baby grew to be a perfect man, Jesus, who taught us about God, healed the sick, comforted the brokenhearted and forgave the sinners.  Then in accordance with the law which required a spotless lamb to die, Jesus died for my sins, your sins, and the sins of all the world.  But He didn’t stay dead. On the third day, Jesus rose again, conquering death forever.  That is good news!

Today’s TEA CUPP: 7-3-1, so many Bible verses today! My friend, what we do with these verses determines our eternity.  John 3:16 says “whoever believes in Him” will have everlasting life.  This is my prayer for you…believe in the the Lord Jesus, the Savior of your soul.  He is coming again to take all believers to heaven.  Instead of coming as a baby in a manger, He will come mightily.  History will be changed forever in the blink of an eye.

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52 (NKJV)

 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.  Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.  Revelation 19:11-16 (NKJV)

 

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