Mark up your Bible with Psalm 103

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Jennifer Grace

Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.
Psalm 103:4 (NKJV)

Dear Friends,

Today I want to encourage you to mark up your Bible! I know, it’s hard to write in books if you’ve been taught all your life not to. Ever get in trouble for coloring in a library book with a crayon? Well, this isn’t a library book, it’s YOUR Bible! It’s God’s Word to teach and instruct you (2 Timothy 3:16). And, if you took classes in college, you likely marked up your textbook with a highlighter.

Sometimes I’ll write in my Bible when a pastor is giving a sermon. I’ll underline key verses and write notes in the margin, reminding me of the message. Other times I’ll underline verses during my TEA time with Jesus, those that really speak to me that day. I’ve been reading the same Bible for years, and there are still new verses that jump out at me for underlining almost every day.

When I underline verses, I like to code them with the letters of My TEA CUPP Prayers acronym, so I can use them in prayer later. I’ll label them T for Thanks, E for Exalt, A for Admit, C for Call, U for Understand, P for Promises, and Pet for Petitions. Often there will be several verses all on the same page. Psalm 103 is one of those places where I found my whole TEA CUPP. I’d like to share it with you today:

T is for Thanksgiving
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits. Psalm 103:2 (NKJV)

E is for Exalting
Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul! Psalm 103:22 (NKJV)

A is for Admitting
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases. Psalm 103:3 (NKJV)

As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12 (NKJV)

C is for Call
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Psalm 103:1 (NKJV)

U is for Understanding
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children. Psalm 103:17 (NKJV)

P is for Promises
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:5 (NKJV)

P is for Petitions
Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word. Psalm 103:20 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: Pick a Psalm today, perhaps Psalm 103. With pen in hand, underline your favorite verses. Label the verses how you might use them in prayer with Jesus. Then, pray your underlined verses as conversation starters when you meet with the Lord.

God With Us

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Jennifer Grace

God with Us

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23 (NKJV)

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)

The book of Matthew begins and ends sharing the message “God with Us.”

My TEA CUPP Prayers are all about getting to know our wonderful Lord, sitting down daily with Him for TEA. He promises He will be with us!

Why not in preparation for Easter, read the book of Matthew? You can divide the 28 chapters into 7 daily readings:

Palm Sunday (Sunday before Easter): Matthew 1-4
Monday: Matthew 5-8
Tuesday: Matthew 9-12
Wednesday: Matthew 13-16
Thursday: Matthew 17-20
Good Friday: Matthew 21-24
Saturday: Matthew 25-28

Happy Blessed Easter Sunday, celebrating our risen Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus!

I Thirst

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Jennifer Grace

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” John 19:28 NKJV

Up again in the night for another feeding, I sat in bed nursing our new baby. Though I had just sipped some water, my throat was still dry, since nursing requires a great deal of fluids.

“I thirst,” I mused. And then I thought of Jesus and His words from the cross. “I thirst,” He whispered weakly. The people heard and offered Him vinegar on a sponge. Then Jesus died for our sins.

This is Jesus who proclaimed “I am the Living Water.” Yet on the cross He thirsted. When Jesus said, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” perhaps at that moment He was alone, a perfect Man, the spotless Lamb, not God the Living Water. For at that moment God had left Him so He could die for our sins. Thus Jesus thirsted.

This is what our Jesus did for us. Thank You, dear Jesus. May I remember what You did for me on the cross every time I thirst. Amen.

Today’s TEA CUPP: Read Matthew 27:45-54. Thank Jesus for His gift of life. Remember Jesus every time you thirst.

But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14 NKJV

Petitions: With my whole heart

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Jennifer Grace

Today’s TEA CUPP: Praying God’s Word.

Here is a verse to pray today as we POUR out our hearts to Jesus, giving Him our PETITIONS.

I cry out with my whole heart;
Hear me, O LORD!
I will keep Your statutes. Psalm 119:145 (NKJV)

Promises: For our children

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Jennifer Grace

Today’s TEA CUPP: Praying God’s Word.

Here’s a PROMISE from God’s Word to claim during our TEA CUPP time with Jesus today:

But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD’s love is with those who fear Him,
and His righteousness with their children’s children. Psalm 103:17 (NIV)