"The Quick Passing of Time"

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:16

This will be the last devotional that I share with you this year. So I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a prosperous and blessed New Year. My prayer for you throughout the coming year is that "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)

It is hard to believe that we are at the end of another year- not just another week or month, but a year. Where did it go? It has certainly gone by quickly. I have always heard adults say that the older you get the faster time goes by. But over the past couple of years I have begun to hear many younger people say the same thing. I believe the quick passing of time is a sign that the return of the Lord is near. The Bible speaks of an "acceleration" of time. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt." (Amos 9:13) The reaper will over take the sower. This eludes to the fact that you will barely have time to plant the seed before it is time to harvest it. I don't know about you, but I am seeing this very thing happen in my own life. I hardly have time to do one thing before it is time to do it again.

In light of this fact, what should we as believers be doing with our time? Should we be squandering it on foolishness? On selfish interests? On things that will not even matter a week from now? Or should we be taking advantage of it and help promote the gospel of the Kingdom of God? Should we be warning the wicked man to repent of his wicked way? Should we be reaching out to the hurting with compassion? Should we be letting our lights shine in this dark world? Should we be living salty lives that cause others to thirst for this Jesus that we live for? Should we be letting others see and know that God loves them deeply and dearly? Should we be reaching out as His hand extended to the hurting, the hungry, the widow and the orphan? What should we be doing? How can we make the best use of what time we still have available? The theme scripture of this ministry is, "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." (John 9:4) The night is fast approaching, the day is about to be over, if we don't do the works now, we won't be able to do them later-- it will be too late.

So what are you going to do with this new year that lies ahead of you? Or better yet, what are you going to do with this new day that is ahead of you, that the Lord has blessed and allowed you to wake up to? Will you use it wisely, redeeming the time, or will you waste it?

Have a great day. Time is a gift, but it goes by so fast, what are you going to do with it?

For further reading:
Luke 2:49
Mark 16:15
John 17:18
Matthew 5:16; 28:19,20

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"He Loves You"

"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:3

As I was praying about what the Lord wanted to say to us this morning, He spoke the words above to me--- "I have loved you with an everlasting love". This morning He wants to remind someone that He loves you. You are feeling unloved because of guilt from the mistakes you have made. You are wondering if He still loves you; or how could He still love you after what you have done. You disobeyed, you made a mess of things, you turned away. I am here to reassure you this morning that He has not stopped loving you. His love is everlasting- that means it has no end to it. He will love you as much today as He did yesterday, and He'll love you as much tomorrow as He does today. His loves bears, believes, hopes and endures all things. His love doesn't give up on you. It is unconditional. It isn't "fair weather love"- present as long as you are doing everything right and as long as you are giving love back to Him in returned. Remember, He loved you first, before you ever loved Him. He loved you while you were still dead in trespasses and sin. He gave Himself as a ransom for your sins while you were still His enemy.

This morning do not let guilt, condemnation, your mistakes and failures convince you that God does not love you. He does love you, and this morning through this word (if you will believe it) He is drawing you to Himself by His loving-kindness. Go to Him, don't run from Him. Repent. Tell Him you are sorrow. Tell Him how much you really do love Him. Pour out your heart to Him. He will not turn you away, but He will forgive you, cleanse you, restore you and embrace you. He is a loving Father who wants to lavish His love on you.

Have a great day. HE REALLY LOVES YOU!

For further reading:
1 John 4:19
1 Corinthians 13
Romans 5:8
John 3:16,17

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Keeping Joy"

"....for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10b

Who doesn't want joy in their lives. We search in a wide variety of areas hoping to find it. We hope to obtain it through material possessions, through popularity, through relationships, through wealth, through success. But true and lasting joy comes only from one source-- "of the Lord". Only He can give true and lasting joy. Only He can give us a joy that passes the test of time, that withstands the storm, that holds steady when we are being shaken.

Have you ever noticed that at a time when you should be full of joy, instead there is sorrow and confusion? You should be rejoicing because God has answered your prayer and you have seen the promise come to pass, but you aren't. You would have thought that the Israelites, when they came out of Egypt would have come out overjoyed. After all, the Lord had delivered them from cruelty and bondage. But they barely made it out of the city and you don't see rejoicing you see fear, doubt, complaining and rebellion. That's because- in their lives and in ours- there is a thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy, and one of the things he is after is our joy.

If there should be joy in your life but there isn't, the thief is at work. He has come to steal it. How does he steal it? By getting you to look at the circumstances. By getting you to "believe what you see". Our joy stays intact when we look at God's word, His promises and His faithfulness. Our joy is of the Lord, in the Lord and through the Lord, so by staying focused on the Lord the thief cannot steal our joy.

Have a great day. Our joy is of the Lord, and we keep it by staying focused on Him.

For further reading:
John 10:10
Ephesians 5:22
Isaiah 61:10
Hebrews 12:2
2 Corinthians 5:
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Provision Ahead of Time"

"And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." Matthew 2:13

Two verses prior to this one we read about the wise men presenting their gifts to the Christ child. When they presented their gifts, perhaps Mary and Joseph began to have ideas about what to do with them. Perhaps it could be used to build a more suitable house for their special new arrival or put up for His "college fund" later? But in hindsight we see that God was sending a provision ahead of time to meet a need that was right around the corner... "flee to Egypt". The Lord saw beforetime the trip they would have to make and the expenses it would entail. He saw the need to purchase a place for them to live once they got to Egypt. He knew that Joseph would have a find another job, or start a new business, in a strange place, and that they would have to eat in the meantime. So the gifts were given to provide for their upcoming needs.

When the Lord blesses us, we tend to think about what we are going to do with it- perhaps purchase something we have been desiring to have, or put it aside for later use. I can remember going through a really hard financial period in our lives- not always knowing where our next meal would come from. The Lord would bless us with an unexpected financial blessing but in a day or two something unforeseen would arise that would take all of it. It seemed as if we were never going to "get ahead". I have heard so many other people say this same thing. They would receive a financial blessing, but no sooner than they did some expense would take all of it.

It took me a while to understand that what was happening was not the "devour coming to take what I had", it was the Lord seeing ahead and making provision for the need. The Lord saw what was coming, so He sent what I would need so that when it came I would have it. (This is what He did for Mary and Joseph.) One of His names is Jehovah-Jireh (God our Provider, the One who sees ahead and makes provision, the One who will "see to it"). Beloved, this is what is going on more times than not when this happens to us. Instead of rejoicing and thanking God that the provision was there when the need presented itself, we bemoan and complain about it being taken. We need to change our attitude about the way we see things and consider that there may be another reason why God has sent this blessing.

Have a great day. The provision the Lord sends is not always about the present, sometimes it is about what lies ahead.

For further reading:
Matthew 2:1-14
Philippians 4:19

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Peace Where?"

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:14

"On earth peace". These words brought hope into a world that is without peace. There is no peace to be found in this world. There are wars, rumors of war, murder, hate, toil, strife, hardships, burdens, oppression, calamities, etc. When the angels pronounced their good tidings, they pronounced that peace was on its way.

Peace had to come from some where besides the earth. It had to come from heaven. Man cannot devise peace. He had tried for over two-thousand years without success. Mankind has been unable to achieve it through his wars for peace, through his compromises, through his threats, through his plans or through his resources. As a matter of fact, man lost the peace that was on earth back in the Garden of Eden.

We are hopelessly without peace and the ability to make peace, no matter how hard we try. So peace had to come from the only true source of peace- God Himself. Peace was entering the world again after two-thousand years. It was coming to set itself up in the earth once more- this time within the hearts of men.

There won't be total and lasting peace universally on earth until Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace returns to set up His Kingdom here on earth. But this peace that the angels sang about is a peace that can abide in the individual hearts and lives of those who will receive Jesus as Savior and follow His plan for their lives.

The peace He gives doesn't necessarily mean we will live peacefully with everyone we encounter or the rest of mankind. It doesn't mean that enemies won't rise against us. It means that we now have peace with God and are no longer His enemies. Only Jesus' coming and death on the cross could pave the way for us to have peace with God. To have peace with God and know all is well between you and Him is so much better than to have peace with the rest of mankind. And the key to have any peace with others comes from having peace with God. Do you have peace with Him?

Have a great day. Jesus came to bring peace into the hearts of those who would accept Him.

For further reading:
John 14:27
Isaiah 9:6
Romans 5:1
Psalm 29:11
Colossians 3:15

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"The Plan"

With CHRISTmas only a few days away, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours and very Merry CHRISTmas and a Happy New Year. May your heart be the continued dwelling place for our wonderful Savior. May He bless you coming in and going out. May you have the knowledge of His will guiding your every step. May He prosper you throughout the coming year for His glory and make you fruitful in every good work as you endeavor to represent His kingdom here on earth.
Love and blessings, Lorraine Ezell
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"The Plan"

"...To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world..." John 18:37

We have all heard the saying: He who fails to plan, plans to fail. This is not always true. Even the best laid plans can do awry, they can fail, they can fall through and they can change. Planning is a good thing, we should plan, but just because we do there is no guarantee that our plan will succeed.

God has plans as well. His plans are unlike ours-- His plans never fail, they always succeed. This Omniscient God looked through time and before He ever laid the foundation of the earth or called anything into existence, He saw that the creation (man) He would eventually create turn in disobedience from His command and open the door to sin upon all mankind and broken relationship with Him.

Before the act of Adam's disobedience ever occurred, God already had a plan to redeem mankind. When we make a plan, it has to make sense to us and those who hear it. God's plans, on the other hand, often seem foolish and make no sense. God's plan to redeem us included a young virgin girl, a manger, swaddling clothes, a baby (not just any baby, but the Son of God clothed in flesh), a cross and an empty tomb.

When God began to put His plan into action, He entrusted the care of His plan into the hands of humans but not the fulfillment of it. God planted His plan (Jesus) into the womb of Mary. She gave birth to it, nurtured it/Him and raised it/Him; but Jesus Himself went to the cross to fulfill it. This is why His plans never fail. He planned it and presented it, but fulfilled it Himself.

Every plan should have a reason behind it. God's plan had a reason- it is so that no person would perish but that all may have eternal life. God succeeded in His plan. The way to eternal life has been provided through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. But in order for us to receive the benefit and promise provided by His plan, we must plan something. We must plan to receive Jesus as Savior, turn from our sins in repentance and follow Him. When we do this, then God's plan is fulfilled in our lives. When we don't accept His plan, we are planning to spend eternity separated from Him in torment.

God's plan, the gift of eternal life, came wrapped in swaddling clothes that first CHRISTmas. Will you receive that gift this CHRISTmas? Will you receive His plan for your life?

Have a great day. God's plans never fail, therefore, you and I have the opportunity to receive the wonderful gift of eternal life.

For further reading:
John 3:16,17
1 Corinthians 1:25
Romans 11:33
2 Peter 3:9
Jeremiah 29:11
Revelation 13:8

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"To Save People"

"But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." Genesis 50:20

"To save much people alive." When the Lord uses us or places us in some position, we must resist the temptation to "think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think". We must not look at what He is doing through us as an avenue solely for the purpose of blessing us or making us great.

When Joseph was promoted in Egypt to the place of leadership, it was not so that Joseph could have a great biography to write about how he went from being betrayed to power. It wasn't so that he could brag about how he got from the pit to the palace. It was so that he could save many people during the famine. When Esther was made queen, it wasn't so that she could have a rags to riches story. It wasn't so that she could boast of being a captive who became a queen. It was so that she could save her people from annihilation. When Mary was chosen to give birth to the Son of God, it wasn't so that she could find a place of honor among the saints. It was so that the Savior could come into this world who would save us from our sins.

When God uses you to do something great in His kingdom, it is not about you either. It is not so that you can become famous or popular. It is not so that everyone will know your name. It is not so that you will be admired. It is always so that He can receive glory because whatever He has called you to do will "save many people". Remember this- God in His sovereignty could have chosen someone else besides Joseph, Esther or Mary. It was nothing that they did to cause Him to chose them. In His sovereignty He could have also chosen someone else to do the task He has called you to do. He could have even called a "donkey" to do it. So never think more highly of yourself than you should. Always remember why He called you. Stay focused on Him and what He has called you to do and not on yourself.

Have a great day. Whatever He has called you to do will be about saving people, not about you.

For further reading:
Romans 12:3
Genesis 45:7
Matthew 18:11

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Right Timing"

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law." Galatians 4:4

"The fullness of time" is a phrase that I have been hearing in my spirit a lot lately. The Bible says to everything there is a season and a time. There is a time when a certain thing occurs, when an event happens, when a birth takes place, when a promise is fulfilled. We would call it-- right timing. It's a time when all the conditions have been met and everything that needs to be in place is.

The thing about "the fullness of time" is that it is God's time- not ours. The "fullness of time" is when God says that it is time for this thing to happen. Eve thought the fullness of time- the promise of the seed that would bruise the head of the serpent- was when she conceived Seth. This promised seed did not come until two-thousand years later with the birth of Christ. Abraham thought that the fullness of time to receive the promised son would be in nine months- the length of time a baby is carried in the womb. But for Abraham the fullness of time came twenty-five years later. The fullness of time did not come for David at his anointing by Samuel, but around fourteen years later. The fullness of time for the Israelite's deliverance from Egyptian bondage did not come the day after Moses went to Pharaoh asking for the release of God's people- it came after all the plagues were fulfilled. Mary did not birth the Christ child the morning after the angel gave her the news, He came nine months later.

We don't understand why the manifestation of the promise of God often waits in coming to pass in our lives, but it is because it is not the "fullness of time". All things aren't ready. Some things need to happen first. Some things need to change. Some things need to be put in place. If it happens too early something may be lacking. You may not can handle it then. But just because it delays doesn't mean it will not happen. Just because it doesn't happen when we think it should doesn't mean that He won't fulfill His promise. God is a sovereign God who sees the end from the beginning, therefore, He sees all things in the middle and by seeing the whole picture He is orchestrating things to be in the right place at the right time. God moves on His time clock. He does everything perfectly. He is never late and never early but always at the right time-- which is called the "fullness of time".

Have a great day. God doesn't work according to our time clock but His own, and in the fullness of His time the promise will be fulfilled.

For further reading:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Genesis 3:15
2 Peter 3:8
Isaiah 57:15

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Counselors"

"Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety." Proverbs 11:14

"In the multitude of counsellors there is safety." We all have times when we have to seek out the counsel of others. We need help, we need instruction at times because we don't always know what to do. Pharaoh sought counsel concerning the dreams he had. Moses needed the wise counsel of his father in law concerning judging the matters of the children of Israel. Ruth heeded the counsel of her mother in law concerning Boaz.

"Where no counsel is, the people fall." Without godly counsel we can rest assured that we will fall- that is what the verse tells us. We can easily make mistakes. We can go in the wrong direction. We can mess up our lives. Without wise godly counsel we will do "what is right in our own eyes". Doing what is right in our own eyes ends up leading us in the way of death.

Where do we get counsel? From our spiritual leaders, our teachers, our elders, those who are more educated than we are, those who have greater wisdom or from our public officials? The answer is yes, we can get counsel from all the above. But there is a primary source of counsel that we tend to forget about and instead seek out the counsel of other people. "And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6b) Our beloved Jesus whose birth we are getting ready to celebrate, our everlasting Father, His name is called Counselor. He is the Counselor of counselors. He is the greatest counselor because He knows everything about everything. He knows everything about the situation. He knows the end result before it even begins. He knows every detail, every hidden motive, every agenda, everything! And when He gives His counsel, it is not with an ulterior motive, it is not to trap you into something, it is not to take advantage of you, it won't lead you astray, He counsels you according to counsel of His own will-- with your best interest at heart. He counsels you according to the good plans that He has for your life.

While the Bible tells us to seek out godly, wise counsel so that we will have safety in the decisions that we make, we must never place the counsel of men before the counsel of God. Get counsel from others, but go to God and seek His counsel as well.

Have a great day. His name shall be called Counsellor.

For further reading:
Proverbs 16:25; 12:15
Jeremiah 29:11
Ephesians 1:11
Judges 17:6: 21:25

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Only One I Am"

"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." Exodus 3:14

I have noticed in the music field, entertainment field and throughout various parts of society that "I AM" has become the popular saying. Many people out there are identifying themselves as "I Am". I want to set the record straight this morning-- there is only one "I Am" and that is God. This title is ascribed to Him alone.

While people might like to think that they are "I Am"- He only is. In those two small words is wrapped up the full nature, character and identity of God-- I Am the Beginning and the End. I Am the Creator. I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life. I Am unchanging. I Am all powerful, all knowing and all present. I Am the Provider. I Am the Deliverer. I Am the Good Shepherd. I Am the soon coming King of kings. I Am the all sufficient One. (The list is endless, because He is endless.)

While men like to think they share equality with God- they don't. Anything we have, anything we possess, anything we can do or accomplish, is only because He so graciously blesses us with them. Even our beloved Savior Jesus declared, "Without Him I can do nothing".

When someone thinks that they are "I Am" (meaning so great and powerful), perhaps what they should mean is- I am unable to save myself. I am not able to deliver myself. I am lost. I am without hope if I am the one who can fix the problem. I am not very smart or wise. I am weak. I am helpless. I am nothing without the Lord. These are more truthful statements. And it is only when we realize this truth that we will switch positions from thinking we are "I Am" to allowing the true "I Am" to take control and charge of our lives.

Have a great day. Man is not "I AM", the True and Living God is the only "I Am".

For further reading:
John 5:19: 15:5; 14:6
Isaiah 43:10, 13
Revelation 1:18

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Praise Among The Presents"

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." Psalm 100:4

Perhaps you are wondering why I would use the verse above to open the devotional- after all, we tend to associate this verse with the Thanksgiving holiday and we are getting ready to celebrate Christmas. For the Christian each day should be a day to give God thanksgiving and praise, but especially now as we are in the Christmas season. What better time to thank the Lord for the wonderful gift of His Son who came into the world to save us from our sins.

It is so easy to get caught up in all the trappings that we associate with Christmas that we forget why we are celebrating. It is so easy to get anxious about all the demands and details that go along with the preparation for our celebration. It is so easy to let the pressures of finding the "right" gift, having the finances to pay for it, time limitations to get it all done before its too late, make us frustrated. And as we are paying attention to the "externals" that we call Christmas we can miss the true reason for our celebration.

We need to stop all our running around and take time to offer up thanksgiving and praise for the true reason behind Christmas. We need to thank the Lord for His gift. We need to thank Him for not leaving us in our sins, but providing a way of escape. We need to thank Him for paying the greatest price ever paid to redeem us. We need to praise Him for His wonderful grace, for eternal life, for devising a plan to save us and for fulfilling that plan. In short, we need to praise Him for the true meaning of Christmas and the great gift of love that He gave to the world that first Christmas night.

Have a great day. Don't let the true meaning or your praise get lost among the trappings of what we consider Christmas.

For further reading:
John 3:16,17
Romans 5:8
Matthew 1:21

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Who's Your Friend?"

"But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man." 2 Samuel 13:3

Let me give you a little background about this verse. Amnon was King David's oldest son. He fell in love with his half sister Tamar. The Bible records that he wanted her so badly that it made him ill because he thought it was impossible for him to ever be with her. So he made no attempts toward her, but just grew sicker and sicker because of his longing for her.

But Amnon had a "friend" so all that was about to change. This friend encouraged him to pursue his desire and even devised a plan to fulfill it. The end of the story was that Amnon finally fulfilled his desire to be with his sister by raping her. Although he wanted her badly he did not make any advance to cause it to happen until his "friend" showed him how to get what he wanted.

Friendship is a wonderful blessing, or it can be a curse if you don't choose your friends wisely. The Bible warns us that evil companions corrupt good morals. This was certainly the case with Amnon's "friend". It was only at the advice and prompting of his friend that he filled his lust toward his sister by raping her. Up until that point he made no advances toward her and was innocent of that evil.

How many of us have gotten into trouble because we listened to a "friend's advice". This is why it is so important that you choose your friends wisely. The right kind of friends will encourage you to do the right thing. Many people have been led astray by their "friend". This is one of the first things we encourage those who are getting out of the recovery center to do-- break ties with those "friends" that you did drugs with- they will only bring you back down into that pit with them. This is why parents are concerned about their children's friendships.

Choosing your friends wisely is so important. A good friend has your best interest at heart. They will help you make the wisest choice and weigh the consequences of making the wrong choice- not just help you figure out how to get what you want. Ungodly friends will lead you in the wrong direction. It may have seemed like Jonadab had his friend's best interest at heart, but he wound up doing him more harm in the end-- Amnon hated Tamar after he raped her instead of loving her, and his act against her eventually led to his death.

Think about your friendships. Do you have any that you should not have? Are your friends building you up or pulling you down? Are they encouraging you to do the right thing, or the wrong thing? Are they helping you get closer to the Lord and obeying His commands, or do they pull you further away from Him and into sin?

Have a great day. Friendship is a wonderful blessing, or it can be a curse if you don't choose your friends wisely.

For further reading:
1 Corinthians 15:33
2 Samuel 13

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Ignorance Equals Concern"

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." 1 Thessalonians 4:13

It is always our ignorance that gives us cause for concern. When we are concerned about a matter, it is usually because we are ignorant of the details, outcome or results concerning the matter. If I have understanding and knowledge of the matter I am less concerned. As in the verse above. These believers at Thessalonica were concerned about their brothers and sisters in the Lord who had already died as to what would become of them at the resurrection. The apostle set their minds at ease with the truth of God's word concerning this matter.

We don't have to stay in a state of confusion and concern because of ignorance. God's word gives us clarity, enlightenment and understanding- and along with that comes hope. If you are concerned about a matter, if you aren't sure about what is going on, then go to God's word, go to Him in prayer, seek Him. He will enlighten the eyes of your understanding. He will give you revelation and insight. He will guide you, calm your fears, and clarify your concerns. After all, He doesn't want us to be anxious, worried or overly concerned. And He doesn't want us in ignorance. He wants us to know the truth because when we do, the truth will set us free-- free from worry and anxiety.

Have a great day. Ignorance often causes us to worry and be anxious, but the knowledge of the truth gives clarity and peace.

For further reading:
Philippians 4:6
John 8:32
Ephesians 1:18

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Don't You Waver"

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)." Hebrews 10:23

If there is any wavering it is clear that it is on our part, not God's. He is faithful- always has been, always will be. He hasn't changed and He never will. He was faithful in the past and He will be faithful in the future. He was faithful yesterday and He will still be today. He remains faithful even when we aren't.

We are the ones who need to hold fast- be firm, not give up, not change, not waver- in our profession of faith, in our trust in Him, in our belief in His word. We are the ones who need to anchor our trust in His word, pattern our lives after it, build our hopes upon it. And we can, because He is faithful as promised.

How do we hold fast our profession of His faithfulness? How do we keep from wavering when the storms and trials come? By being grounded in His word. By hiding it in our hearts. By studying it. By renewing our minds with it. By keeping it before our eyes and in the hearing of our ears. This will build our faith and reinforce the foundation of His faithfulness that we are standing upon.

Have a great day. God will always be faithful, there is no wavering in Him.

For further reading:
Lamentations 3:23
Deuteronomy 7:9
1 Corinthians 1:9
1 Thessalonians 5:24

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Family Resemblance"

"And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." 1 Corinthians 15:49

It's not very often that I get to spend much time with my sister, but we were able to spend the whole day together just the two of us this weekend. Each time we have been together for any length of time and are out among the public, I have noticed that we are much more alike than I thought we were. We both have some of the same mannerisms. We interact with other people the same way. We have some of the same characteristics. We think alike, act alike and conduct ourselves in certain situations the same way- even though in many ways we are uniquely different.

While my sister and I don't look alike at all, we do tend to act alike. The reason is obvious-- we are family. I was thinking about this yesterday and the Lord spoke to me about family resemblance. As a part of God's family there should be some family resemblance that I have with my Big Brother (Jesus). I should have the same character and mannerisms that He has- love, grace, peace, joy. I should interact with others the way He does- with concern, compassion, mercy, patience.

The reason these same characteristics are evident in my sister and I is because we have the same daddy and mama. Jesus and I have the same Father- I am God's child. Therefore, I should be acting like Him. It should be said of me- "when you have seen me, you have seen the Father" (just as Jesus said). I am not saying that when you see me, you see deity and you don't see a "little god", but you should see His nature alive in me- the Fruit of the Spirit.

Another reason for the resemblance in our mannerisms is because my sister and I both grew up in the same house together- we both got our training, upbringing and influence from the same place. While Jesus was on the earth He was trained in "God's word" and communed with the Father through prayer. I am being trained in "God's word" also, and I have the same communion with the Father that Jesus did- if I am spending time with the Father in prayer. So, like my sister and I both grew up under the same influence, Jesus (while He was on earth) and I are under the same influence- God's word and His Holy Spirit. This means there should be a family resemblance between us.

Is there a family resemblance between you and Jesus? Do you "look" like the Father in your mannerisms, in the way you conduct yourself, in the way you deal with others? Do other people know that you are part of the family of God by the way you act and speak?

Have a great day. What kind of family resemblance do you bear with your Big Brother Jesus?

For further reading:
John 14:7-9; 1:12
2 Corinthians 3:18
Ephesians 5:1

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Fear Of Who?"

"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28

Who do we fear? Has our fear of man replaced our fear of God? Have we stopped speaking the truth when the situation dictates because we fear man more than we fear God? Have we stopped contending for the faith because we fear man above our fear of God? Have we ceased to be obedient to the commands of God because of our fear of man?

King Saul is our example of the consequences of fearing man more than we fear God. "And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice." (1 Samuel 15:24) The Lord rejected him from being king over Israel.

"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." (Proverbs 29:25) The fear of man will bring a snare that will disturb our peace. It also brings a snare that will entangle us and lead us into sin.

"I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass." (Isaiah 51:12) Why do we fear people- their opinions, their words, their looks, their responses, their threats- more than we fear God? They are no different than we are. They will all die one day just like we will. Their power is limited just like ours is. They aren't God, they can only kill the body- if God permits- and after that there is nothing else they can do to us. It is the fear of the Lord that we must be more concerned with than the fear of man, because He has the power to destroy both soul and body.

How do we stop fearing man? The antidote is to fear God. It is better to have them look down upon us, talk about us, ridicule us, persecute us, than to have God "frown" upon us.

Have a great day. When you truly fear God, you won't fear man.

For further reading:
Acts 4:19
Psalm 111:10
Proverbs 1:7; 8:13; 9:10
Isaiah 33:6

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Do You Know Him Personally?"

"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God." 1 Samuel 30:6

Notice that it said David encouraged himself in the Lord "his" God- not just in the Lord. The Lord was "his" God. That indicates something personal. God wasn't just someone he had heard about. Or someone that he was only familiar with through the testimonies of another person. The Lord wasn't just David's father's God that he had been brought up to believe in. He wasn't just a God that he had heard the priest teach about. But He was someone that David knew for himself.

David knew God in a personal way. He had communion with Him daily. He had depended on Him many times through many trials. He had a personal relationship with Him- as a Father and a son. He was a worshipper of God. He followed His commandments. Therefore, when David was in his greatest hour of testing, he knew that he could turn to "his" God. He knew that He would not fail him or let him down. He knew that the Lord would guide and direct him. He knew that the Lord would encourage and strengthen him. He knew that he could count on the faithfulness, love and grace of God to see him through.

David's confidence in God was because of his own personal relationship with Him. If we don't have a personal relationship- one filled with fellowship, worship, love and devotion- then when we call upon Him, we can only "hope" that He will hear us or answer us.

The good news is that we can have a relationship with Him. We can experience that confidence and assurance of knowing that He hears and answers us when we call upon Him. He can be "my" God. I can have personal knowledge of Him and not just hear-say or second hand experience. This personal relationship comes through faith in His Son Jesus. Jesus died to save us from our sins and bring us into a personal relationship with the Lord God. Do you have that relationship? Do you know Him personally? Can you say that He is "your" God?

Have a great day. The Lord was David's God, he knew Him personally... do you?

For further reading:
John 1:12; 14:7,17
Romans 5:8
1 John 2:3; 5:20

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"We've Come To Worship Him"

"Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." Matthew 2:2

The goal of the wise men that searched for the new born King of the Jews was that they might worship Him. Their goal was not to receive something from Him, but instead give something to Him. Their plan was not to petition Him for some need, or seek His hand of favor, or gain some position. It was simply to worship Him.

Imagine traveling the great distance they traveled and under such conditions- on camel, facing the elements (rain and heat), with the threat of robbers during the journey. They did not have planes, trains, buses or cars to travel in. They did not have luxury automobiles (no air-conditioning or heaters or comfortable seats). They did not have iPods to keep them entertained on their journey. They could only travel at one speed. Yet they endured and continued on in order to worship this new King.

I can't help but wonder what price are we willing to pay to worship our glorious King of kings, the Lord Jesus. If all the conditions aren't just right will we do it? If we have to get out of our comfort zone will we do it? If it places any inconvenience upon us, do we withhold it?

I can't help but wonder when we do worship Him if our motive is pure. Or is our worship self-centered, because of what we hope to receive from Him instead of give to Him? Do we worship Him with hopes of something in return?

It cost these wise men much to go and worship the new King- time, comfort, material things (those were no cheap gifts that they were bringing- gold, frankincense and myrrh). They did it and they were from heathen lands-- they weren't Jews. If that was the case and they paid this great price, how much easier should it be for us, how much more should we desire to worship Him if we call ourselves Christians because of our love and gratitude to Him for all He has done for us.

Have a great day. Are you a worshipper? If so, what is your motive behind your worship?

For further reading:
Matthew 2:1-12
John 4:23,24
Psalm 29:2; 95:6; 96:9

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Seeing And Hearing"

"(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)" 2 Peter 2:8

"In seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul." It is so important that you watch what you watch and be careful of what you listen to. You can't just listen to anything and it not effect you. You can't spend your time watching anything you want and it not effect you. There are two avenues through which knowledge and influence enter our lives-- through seeing and hearing.

The Psalmist said that he would "set no wicked thing before his eyes". Why? Because what you watch does effect you. It leaves a picture on your mind. It is a seed that produces an "imagination". You can't watch porn (for example) and it not begin to effect your behavior. It will develop into a lustful, immoral and perverted attitude in your life. King David learned the hard way what happens if you don't guard your eyes from looking at the wrong thing. He watched as Bathsheba bathed and it led to lust, adultery and murder.

The Bible says that "faith comes through hearing". Faith comes through hearing, and so does fear, cursing, rebellion and every other evil attitude. Riots, strikes, uproars are started because a group of people "listened" to what someone else was saying. People aren't automatically born speaking profanity- they learn it by hearing it. This is why we, when talking about little children, always say that you have to be careful about what you say around them because they will repeat it. This is also why parents spend a lot to time "spelling" words around little children. When the devil came to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, he used the tactics of hearing and seeing-- "he said" and "he showed". He tried to get Jesus to act upon what he was saying to Him.

If you sit in front of the television, listen to radio, watch videos and listen to CDs it will effect you. It will get into your mind and heart. Therefore, you have to guard your eyes and your ears and be careful about what you are watching and listening to. If you think that you don't have to be "selective" in the things you watch and listen to because you are "beyond" that- it won't effect you in the wrong way- you are fooling yourself. If you think it doesn't, if you think you can watch and listen to whatever you want, then step back and take a look at yourself and listen to yourself talk. I think you will find that it has more of an influence on you than you realize. What you "fill" yourself with is what comes out.

We guard our hearing and seeing through the Word of God. Let it instruct you as to what you should listen to and what you should watch. Had King David followed it at that moment, he never would have fallen prey to lust. Had Eve listened to the "Word" of God instead of the words of the serpent, and had Adam listened to His Word instead of that of his wife, we would all still be living in the garden without sin.

Have a great day. What you watch and listen to does effect you- either in a good way or a bad way.

For further reading:
Psalm 101:3
Romans 10:17
2 Samuel 11:2
Matthew 4:3,6,8,9

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Complaining"

"Wherefore doth a living man complain.....? Lamentations 3:39a

Recently, it seems like everywhere I go I wind up in the company of complaining people... and many of them are professing Christians. The complaints that I hear are not confined to one area, but every area. I hear complaints about everything from the weather to what someone else is doing. People tend to complain about everything that doesn't go their way. We want what we want, when we want it and the way we want it. If it is not to our liking-- we complain about it.

The problem with complaining is that it shows a lack of gratitude. When you complain about your food, it shows that you aren't grateful for the fact that you have something to eat and are not going hungry. When you complain about your spouse, it shows that you aren't thankful for that person. And whether you realize it or not, the primary focus and object of your complaint is God. You are saying that what He has done for you is not good enough. This was the problem with the Israelites in the wilderness. You would have thought that they would have been so thankful to be out from under Egyptian bondage that there would never be a complaint in their mouths ever again--- wrong. They complained about everything, even the blessings the Lord was sending them.

Another problem is that complaining is contagious. When you are around someone and they start complaining, it is easy to get pulled into that complaining spirit yourself. (If you ever talk to any one about politics you'll see this happen real quick.)

The Bible tells us that godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6) As I said earlier, complaining comes as a result of things not going the way we want them to go. The truth of the matter is, as long as we live in this world, things will not always go the way we want them to go-- they will go the opposite more times then not. There are plenty of reasons to complain all around us. But we need to learn how to be content with such as we have so we won't be guilty of complaining. If we will have an attitude of gratitude- regardless of the fact that all we have is "manna" and "no meat", then we will not be complaining people. Because when you get down to it, the blessings and good things that we have are far more than we should have.

Have a great day. Let your gratitude outweigh your complaining.

For further reading:
Psalm 144:13-15
Exodus 16:8
John 6:43
1 Corinthians 10:10

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"What Do You Want To Reap?"

"Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same." Job 4:8

There is a law in the natural called sowing and reaping. If you sow corn seeds, you will reap corn. If you sow butter bean seeds, you will reap butter beans. If you sow apple seeds, you will reap apples. Whatever type of seed you sow is the type of fruit you will reap. You can't sow orange seeds and expect to get peas. It doesn't work that way. Everything reproduces after its own kind.

The law of sowing and reaping is also a spiritual law. The principles in the spiritual law of sowing and reaping are the same-- you reap the same thing you sow. So why do we think that we can sow one thing and get another? Why do we think that we can sow the wrong kinds of food into our bodies and not reap the consequences of it in our health? Why do we think we can sow fearful, negative, worldly thoughts into the ground of our minds and not reap fear, negativity and worldliness? Why do we think we can sow seeds of rudeness and not receive rude treatment in return?

The law of sowing and reaping is one of the most powerful laws naturally and spiritually. It doesn't change- never has, never will. It doesn't alter itself for certain individuals- there are no exceptions. Each and every seed that is sown produces according to its nature. It won't become something else just because it is planted along with other seeds of a different kind. Remember the story of the wheat and tares. Both seeds were planted in the field and both grew after their own nature. The wheat didn't change into a tare, and the tare didn't change into wheat just because they were planted side by side.

What kind of seeds are you sowing? When a farmer gets ready to plant his crops, before he even purchases his seeds, he is looking ahead to the harvest. He knows when the time comes to reap, exactly what kind of crop he wants to have so he plants that type of seed. We should do the same. We should have "harvest time" in mind. If we did, we would be more careful about what we are planting/sowing.

Have a great day. Whatever you are sowing is what you are going to reap.

For further reading:
Galatians 6:7,8
2 Corinthians 9:6
Matthew 13:24-30
Genesis 1:11-25
Luke 6:38

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Gaze Upward"

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

Life may not always go the way we plan. We may not always have everything we want. There may be things we don't have. Most people tend to spend so much time focused on what they don't have instead of what they do have. When we do that, it tends to make us ungrateful and complaining. The best way I know to counteract this type of attitude is by changing your focus.

If you are a Christian, instead of being focused on what you don't have here in this life turn your focus upward. Begin to focus on what you do have- on what awaits you in heaven. There is a place that is being prepared for us. It is a place where there is no need for the sun or moon because Jesus is the Light that shines always there. It is a place where the streets are pure gold and the gates are pearl. It is a place where there is no sickness, pain, death, sorrow, wars, murder, abuse, adultery, or any other evil. It is a place of indescribable peace and joy. It is a place where those who have put there faith and trust in Jesus have a home- the Bible calls it a mansion.

We may not have it all while we are here on earth. Actually, the Bible never promises that we will. But it does promise us eternal life and a home with the Lord forever if we have faith in and follow Jesus. So don't bemoan what you don't have, or when you do change the direction you are looking and gaze up and into the future to what awaits you.

Have a great day. We may not have all we want down here, and when we start feeling down and depressed about that we need to turn our gaze to heaven and think about what we do have- or what awaits us.

For further reading:
Revelation 21:18-23; 22:14,15
John 14:2
Matthew 25:21


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"You Are God"

"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable." Psalm 145:3

Before I could even get my eyes open this morning I began hearing the words of a song playing over and over in my thoughts. Let me "sing" it for you this morning. "You are God on the highest mountain. You are God in the deepest sea. You are awesome in power and glory. Great is Your love for me."

No matter where you may be, or what you may be going through, there are a few of things you should remember:
1) God is still God when you are on the mountaintop- when you are in a place where trouble is "below" you and you are looking "down" on your problems.

2) God is still God when you are in the sea- the sea of despair, the sea of trouble, the sea of fear, the sea of pain, a sea of overwhelming odds, the sea of financial ruin, a deep sea that threatens to drown you.

3) God is awesome in power and glory- He is more powerful than sickness and disease, then the addiction that has you in bondage, more powerful than the guilt and condemnation that plagues you, more powerful than the enemy of your soul and the weapons that he forms against you.

4) God's love for you is GREAT- the magnitude of His love for you is incomprehensible, the depths of His love for you is unsearchable, the abundance of His love for you is inexhaustible. Nothing separates you from His love. He loves you with an everlasting love. And He demonstrated how great His love for you is by giving His one and only Son Jesus as a ransom for your sins. He loves you so much that He paid the greatest price in order to have a relationship with you.

Have a great day. God is the almighty, powerful, glorious God on the mountain and in the sea... and He loves you.

For further reading:
Romans 5:8
1 John 4:4
Romans 8:1, 31-39
John 3:16

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Eat"

"But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened." 1 Samuel 14:27

The Israelites were fighting against the Philistines and on this particular day King Saul commanded that none of his men eat anything that day. They were tired and faint from hunger. But Saul's son Jonathan did not hear the charge of his father so when he saw the honey he dipped his rod in it and ate what was on the end of it. As a result of eating even that small amount he was strengthened and refreshed. "See, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey." (verse 29)

The Psalmist described God's word as sweeter than honey on his lips. The honey that Jonathan ate refreshed him and gave him strength physically. When we "eat" God's word, it does the same thing for us spiritually. God's word refreshes our weary souls. It strengthens us for the journey. It enlightens our understanding. It gives health. It lifts up our heads. It brings peace to our hearts.

King Saul foolishly commanded the men not to eat that day. The lack of food during the battle hindered their victory. We do foolishly too when we do not "eat" the word of God each and every day- whether we are in a battle or at peace.

When the men came to the woods, the Bible recorded that there was honey all around them- on the ground and dropping from the trees. God's word is in abundant supply. Its pages are filled with wonderful promises, blessings, hope, encouragement and everything else that you need. I wonder how long it sits around in our houses and we never pick it up and taste of its contents.

King Saul had made an oath that placed a curse of death upon any man who ate. Therefore, none of the men would eat the honey although they wanted to, needed it and it was in abundant supply because they feared the king's oath. King Saul was just foolish for making such a command, but the enemy of our soul is strategic. He knows that without the word of God in our lives we will be weak, grow faint and weary- enabling us to be more easily defeated. So he uses fear tactics as well to try to keep us from God's word.

Are you suffering from lack of spiritual food? Are you growing faint and weary? Then take not just a taste, but heartily eat God's word and you will be refreshed.

Have a great day. What honey does to refresh the body, God's word does to refresh the soul.

For further reading:
Psalm 119:103
1 Samuel 14

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Have Faith Where?"

"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God." Mark 11:22

This statement made by Jesus may seem odd-- "Have faith in God". Why would He tell us to have faith in God? Where else would our faith be based? Of course our faith is in God-- or is it? It may seem odd that He would tell us such a thing but He said it because our faith isn't always in God.

There are many things, people and places that we can place our faith in. The banks, loan companies, the doctor, modern technology, the word of some person, our education-- all these are where we often tend to place our faith. We have faith that the medicine the doctor prescribes will heal us. We have faith that our education will open doors of opportunity for us. We have faith that if the bank will loan us the money we will make it.

I am not saying that it is wrong to go to the doctor or take medicine. I am not saying that you shouldn't get an education. I am not saying that you shouldn't work. What I am saying is that your faith should not be in any of them as your healer, deliverer or provider. I know people who have years and years of education with so many degrees in front and behind their name that it takes ten minutes to read them- yet they can't find a job. We all know that medicines don't always work and doctors can't always save someone's life.

Putting your faith in people and things is not putting your faith in a firm foundation. God is the only true foundation upon which to place our faith. Men will fail. Things will fail. The products of men's hands will fail. Our monies will fail. Our abilities will fail. But the Lord never will. You can put your faith in Him eternally and know without a doubt that He will not fail.

Have a great day. Have faith in God because He is the only source that will not fail.

For further reading:
Hebrews 10:23
1 Chronicles 28:20
Lamentations 3:23

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Trust The Lord With The Future"

"They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever." Psalm 125:1

One of the biggest problems we have is the desire to know everything. We want to know what is going to happen before it happens and how things are going to turn out before they begin. We want to know the future. The knowledge of what will happen in the future will always elude us because no one can tell the future. We each have to wait until it gets here.

When we read the stories of Bible characters who have gone through tremendous trials, we have the advantage of reading the whole story- from the beginning to the end. Those who we read about had to take it one day at a time. They did not know what each day would bring, they did not know how things were going to turn out while they were in it any more than you and I know what will happen while we are in our trials.

Job could not see into the future when his trial began. He didn't know that he would come forth from it as gold. When Naomi's husband and two sons died and she was left a widow, she didn't know that she would become the great-great grandmother of King David through her daughter in law Ruth- who was in the lineage of Jesus. When Joseph was thrown into the pit, he had no idea that one day he would rule "the world"- second to Pharaoh. When the three Hebrews were thrown into the fiery furnace, they didn't know they would come back out alive.

They didn't know the future, they didn't know what was going to happen to them in the end. They had to trust the Lord each and every day with their lives. Since we don't know what the future holds, since we can't see the end from the beginning, since we don't know what the outcome of our trial will be, we have only one course of action that we can take-- we have to trust the Lord. That's what it means to live by faith.

You may be suffering with an illness in your body and unsure of the outcome, but trust the Lord- He knows the outcome. You may be facing financial loss and don't know if you will have a roof over your head in the future, but trust that the Lord sees the outcome. You may be going through a broken relationship unsure if reconciliation is in the future, but trust the Lord because He sees the end. Whatever you may be facing, you may not know what will happen next, but trust the Lord because He does. He sees the end from the beginning; He is the Author and Finisher; He is the First and the Last. He already knows how it is going to end. And the outcome will always work together somehow for your good.

Have a great day. We don't have the luxury of knowing the future, but God does so we can put our trust in Him.

For further reading:
Job 23:10; 13:15
Revelation 1:11
Hebrews 12:2; 10:38
Genesis 45:5-7

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Fear And Thanksgiving"

"Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped." Job 1:20

I wasn't going to send out a devotional this morning since it is a holiday here in the United States, but the Lord woke me up early this morning and spoke a simple- yet powerful- statement to me to share with you. This is it: "Even in the worst situations, there is still something to be thankful for".

If ever there was a man who faced unimaginable grief, hardship and sorrow it was Job. He lost everything he possessed, his wife wanted him to curse God and die, his friends accused him while "comforting" him, he lost his entire family, yet in his time of lamentation he worshipped God.

Job was no different then we are. He was just another ordinary man. He wasn't a "super saint". He wasn't a mega church pastor or a prophet. He was in deep grief, he didn't understand everything that was happening, he was hurting, and he questioned why. Yet he still worshipped God through it all. How? How did he make it through it? "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil." (Job 1:1) Job feared the Lord. Our fear of the Lord will sustain us when everything is against us, when our world is shaken, when the bottom falls out from beneath us and when everything else fails us. It will give us the power to stand and continue on.

How did his fear of the Lord cause him to find something to be thankful for which caused him to worship? "And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21) Because he remembered where His blessings came from in the first place. He remembered that anything he has was given to him by the grace of God. He knew that God was in control- He had the power to give and take away. He knew that regardless of what he was going through God was still worthy to be praised. He knew that when you praise and worship the Lord it brings His presence closer in a deeper way. And he knew that all things- some way, some how- work together for the good of those who love and fear the Lord. Therefore, there was still something that he could be thankful for. Everything else in his life may have been gone, but his fear of the Lord was still in tact.

You may be going through the darkest time of your life. You may be facing tremendous grief and sorrow. You may be at the bottom and see no hope in sight. But hold on to your fear of the Lord. It is the anchor that will hold you steady as this storm is raging.

Have a great day. Even in the worst situations, there is still something to be thankful for.

For further reading:
Job 1
Romans 8:28
Psalm 100

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"It's Right In Whose Eyes?"

"In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Judges 21:25

During this time in the history of Israel there was no king to govern the people. They had God's law but they ignored it and did not follow it. The priest and the Levities did not follow it either. They did exactly as the verse says, "What was right in their own eyes." This verse sounds like it is talking about our modern day society- especially in the Western world. People are being led by what they deem as "right". They are following their own lusts, feelings and emotions. They are led by selfishness, greed and their own understanding. Sadly, this mentality isn't just reflected in the "world", it seems to be pretty prevalent in the present day church as well.

In the period of time in which the verse above was written there was no regard for the commandments and law of God. Have you noticed how little regard there is for God's word among professing believers? They attend church, but they don't live their lives after the guidelines of God's word. They are doing what is right in their own eyes. Many in the church are living in adultery and immorality- which is contrary to God's word, but it is right in their own eyes. They see nothing wrong with it. They see nothing wrong with cheating, lying, cursing, getting drunk, watching pornography, etc., and they justify it by saying, "For me it isn't wrong". One question-- why isn't it? If God's word says it is wrong then why isn't it wrong for you? God's word is the determining factor as to what is right and what is wrong; what we should be involved in and what we shouldn't; how we should conduct our lives and how we shouldn't; what we should participate in and what we should avoid.

If a person continues to do what is right in their own eyes, it will lead to the ways of death. In Israel during this time, as I said earlier, even the priests and Levities were guilty of doing what was right in their eyes instead of following after and holding God's word up as the only true standard of living. It is clear that these religious leaders weren't following God. So whoever you are- pastor, evangelist, church leader or lay person- if you are doing what is right in your own eyes and ignoring God's word as your guideline, then you aren't following Him either.

As long as we are doing what is right in our own eyes we are not following the Lord. And if we aren't following Him, then we are going in the opposite direction. When we are going in the opposite direction, we will get further and further away from Him and find ourselves on a way that leads to destruction. We must repent and turn back to following Him and doing what is "right in His eyes".

Have a great day. Are you doing what is right in your own eyes? Or are you living your life doing what is right in God's eyes?

For further reading:
Proverbs 12:15; 21:2; 16:25; 3:5
Judges 17:6

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Lifted Up"

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." John 12:32

Jesus said that if He was lifted up He would draw all men unto Himself. I see this verse as two-fold. In context the verse means the literal lifting up of Jesus on the cross on Calvary's hill for all to see. Being lifted up on the cross opened up the way for all men to now be able to come to the Father and receive eternal life.

The second way I see this verse when I think about it is lifting up Jesus through our praise. We lift Him up when we tell of His goodness and greatness and testify of His wonderful love. This morning I would like to take this time to do just that. I want to lift Jesus up through praise and adoration and remind you of just who He is.

He is the great and mighty God. The Counselor; Prince of Peace; Everlasting Father. He is the Beginning and End; the Author and Finisher of our faith. The One who was and is and is to come. The Ancient of Days who has always been. The Eternal One who will always be. His days have no beginning and no end. His Word is powerful- sharper than a two-edged sword. His mercies are new each morning. His faithfulness cannot be measured. His promises never fail. He will never abandon His children. He gives rain on the just and unjust. He is a very present help in time of trouble. Every soul that cries to Him, He gives an attentive ear. He does not cast us away. He loves us with an everlasting love. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He does not change. He is as powerful as He has always been. He can still put money in the mouth of the fish. He can still send manna from heaven. He is still able to part the sea, quench the fire of the furnace, shut the mouths' of lions, command ravens to bring bread, call all the stars by name and He rides upon the wings of the wind.

I have a two-fold reason for lifting Him up this morning. One is because He is worthy to be lifted up through praise. The second is to remind you who He is. We do not act like God is God. For the most part His children appear to live discouraged, defeated, depressed lives. Why!? I believe it is because we have forgotten just Who He is. He is no "wimpy, feeble, weak" God that we are serving and placing our faith in and love upon. He is who He says He is in His word. He hasn't, and never will, changed. I think we need to start reminding ourselves daily who God is. And one way we do that is by lifting Him up through our praise.

Have a great day. Lift Him up today through your praise- it will help you remember how great He is.

For further reading:
Psalm 95:3; 86:8; 145:3-5; 105:2; 26:7
Jeremiah 10:6,7

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"The Greater Reward"

"Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment." John 12:3

We learn from the scriptures that the ointment that the woman with the alabaster box poured out on Jesus was very expensive and valuable. As I was thinking about that fact I couldn't help but think that as she poured it out on Jesus, she was giving away something expensive but not as expensive as what she would get in return.

While it was a great price for her to give up, the price of what she got in return was so much greater. It reminds me of the words of Jesus, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew 16:25) When we try to keep and hold on to what we have, instead of "spending" it on Jesus, we wind up the loser in the end.

What are you withholding from Him this morning? What is that thing which you esteem as valuable that you aren't releasing to Him? Your talents? Has He blessed you with some talent- singing, writing, creativity- but you won't use it for His glory, but for selfish gain instead? Your time? Are you spending your time on you with no regard to spending time doing His service? Your financial/material blessings? Are you being stingy with them? What about your children? Perhaps the Lord has called your children into His service, but you are unwilling to let them be used by Him.

Are you withholding from Him the most valuable thing you have- which is your life? What the woman with the alabaster box gave to Jesus was more than just costly perfume or expensive ointment. It represented her life. Everything she had was in that box-- blood, sweat, tears, her future, her worth. But she gave it to Jesus, and she gave all of it to Him. While others accused her of wasting it on Jesus, she didn't waste anything- she "invested" it. She invested her life into Him and received eternal life in return.

Have a great day. When we give our lives to Him, we are making an investment that will receive an eternal reward.

For further reading:
John 12:1-8
Mark 14:1-5
Matthew 16:26

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"The Wedding Dress"

"And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless." Matthew 22:12

It seems like all night I dreamed about weddings. Mostly about wedding garments- namely wedding dresses. The first dream dealt with a young lady who was looking for a wedding dress. Everything she tried on was as far from a wedding dress as you could get. There was another lady who had on one of the most beautiful and elaborate dresses I had ever seen. She looked like a princess in it. There was one more wedding dress in the dream. It wasn't as elaborate, but extremely beautiful. Then I saw a stack of bridesmaids dresses- they were all very lovely.

The more I thought about the dream the more it made me think about the wedding to end all weddings that will take place one day- hopefully in the near future- the marriage of the Lamb.

Wedding gowns are reserved for the bride. The gowns that were so beautiful and tradition in my dream were all designer originals. The garments that will be worn at the marriage of the Lamb are garments that the Master Designer Himself has prepared for the bride. They are made of fine linen, clean and white. The Bible calls them the righteousness of the saints.

As I was thinking about the young lady who was looking for a wedding dress but nothing she tried on looked like something a bride would wear- they were made of cotton, one was pants, one outfit was black, one was short another was long, they were non-traditional- I thought about the many people who are trying to be a part of the "bride" their own way. Many are trying to do enough good works and deeds to be a part. Others are trying to go through "other ways"- thinking "all ways" will get them there. Some are trying to be religious in their attempt to be a part of this marriage. Their efforts are in vain, they will not have on the proper wedding garment. (The young lady in my dream never did find her dress.)

The only wedding garment that will be acceptable at the Marriage of the Lamb is the one that is designed by the Father and purchased through the blood of His Son Jesus. These garments are His righteousness that has been applied to the lives of those who have come to Him and made Him Savior and Lord of their lives.

Have a great day. There is a great marriage coming one day. We may all have a part in it, but only if we have on the right wedding garment. Do you?

For further reading:
Revelation 19:6-9
Matthew 22:1-13; 7:21-23
Ephesians 2:8,9
Titus 3:5
2 Corinthians 5:21

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Lower Than Dirt"

"My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word." Psalm 119:25

When the Psalmist said his soul "cleaveth" to the dust, he was saying that he and the dust were "joined together"- they had become one. Literally, he was as low as "dirt". The dirt under our feet is about as low as you can get. Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt that you were as low as you could get-- you couldn't get any lower because you were already on bottom? Perhaps you are feeling that way today?

Sometimes the mistakes we make cause us to feel lower than dirt-- we betrayed a trust or caused someone unnecessary grief and pain, now we are feeling like "dirt" over it. Sometimes the sin we indulge in takes us to the place of feeling like we are on the bottom. Repeated sin and the remorse that comes from it will often make us feel like we are no better than the dirt we walk on. Sometimes what others do to us make us feel like dirt. They abuse and misuse us and we begin feeling not only taken for granted but worthless- as worthless as dirt. Regardless of the circumstances that make us feel this way (whether self inflicted or inflicted by others) I want you to know that there is hope. "Quicken me according to Thy word".

God's word gives us hope and rescues us "out of the dirt" as we look to it. His word has the power to lift us up and sit us on high. It lets us know that we are loved, that we are valuable, that there is no condemnation, that we have not been forsaken, that there is forgiveness, that we can hold our heads up, that we can be victorious and it restores us.

Whatever has caused you to feel so low this morning look to God's word and you will find that it will lift you up. We may have been made 'from' the dirt, but we aren't "dirt". We were made 'in' the image of God and that is the way we should be "feeling".

Have a great day. When you feel as low as dirt, look to God's word and let it lift you up to a higher place.

For further reading:
Genesis 1:26
Psalm 40:2; 3:3; 113:7

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.