"Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" Genesis 3:1
When the enemy comes to tempt us, he does it through trying to plant thoughts in our minds. Those thoughts will almost always be an attack against the Word of God by putting it in question. He has done that from the very beginning- he did it with Eve way back in the Garden of Eden.
If you entertain those thoughts and believe what he says, then you are believing a lie. When you believe his lies, you will be deceived, just like Eve. "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." (1 Timothy 2:14) When you are deceived, you are heading down a dark path that leads to death. "For in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2:17b)
"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat." (Genesis 3:6) That day Eve didn't just eat the physical fruit that the Lord had commanded them not to eat, she "ate" the lie that the devil was "feeding" her.
Not only did the enemy put God's word in question ("hath God said?), he also tempted Eve to distrust the truthful, trustworthy character of God-."God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (verse 5) He tried to get Eve to believe that God was a liar and that she could not trust Him. "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die." (verse 4)
When he comes to tempt you it is not always just to get you to "sin", it is to get you to doubt God. It is an attack on your faith in God and in His word. It is an attack to steal, kill and destroy your faith and confidence in God. He knows that without faith it is impossible to please God and he knows that when you aren't trusting God's word you are not going to follow or stay close to Him.
This morning are you "eating" his lies? Are you being deceived by what the enemy says? Are you questioning the truthful word of God? Is your faith in God's trustworthiness being put to the test? Eve found out too late that she had believed a lie and that it wasn't God who was lying to her. Don't be deceived by the lies of the enemy. Believe God's Word and trust that what He says is the truth.
Have a great day. If you are going to "eat" anything, "eat" the truth- God's Word.
For further reading:
John 10:10; 17:17
Hebrews 11:6; 10:23
Psalm 119:103
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
"Hold On To What Matters"
"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." Revelation 3:11
"That no man take thy crown." Is that possible? Evidently, it is or there wouldn't be this warning in the verse. The next question then is, "How is it possible?". There are two ways that come to mind: carelessness and distraction.
When you forget the value of something, you can become careless with it. This happens with material possessions, it happens with relationships and it can happen with spiritual things in our lives. When we forget just how valuable what we have is, we often begin to take it for granted. When it is taken for granted, we don't show it the same care that we once did and we often begin to neglect it. Are you neglecting so great a salvation this morning? Have you forgotten just how precious your salvation is? Have you become "careless" with it forgetting how much it cost for you to be able to have it?
The second way is through distractions. I remember when my daughter was a little girl, not three years old yet. I took her to the local fair to ride the rides. I stopped by the concession stand to get us something to drink. She was standing beside me and I turned to place my order, in that brief second while I was putting my attention on making the order, she walked off from my side. That brief moment of "distraction" from her could have caused me to lose the most valuable thing to me on earth. What temporary thing is distracting you from that which is eternal? What is captivating your attention so that it is placed on something besides eternal riches? Where is your focus- on things above or things below?
I am so thankful for all the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon me- especially the eternal ones. And I am thankful that He loves me enough to warn me to hold on to those blessings. Hold on to what you have, don't be careless with it by forgetting just how precious and valuable it is. Hold on to what you have, don't allow anything to distract you to the point where it is taken away from you.
Have a great day. Don't let anything distract you to the point where you are careless with the things that matter most.
For further reading:
Matthew 16:26; 6:19,20
1 Corinthians 6:20
1 Peter 1:18,19
Hebrews 2:3
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
"That no man take thy crown." Is that possible? Evidently, it is or there wouldn't be this warning in the verse. The next question then is, "How is it possible?". There are two ways that come to mind: carelessness and distraction.
When you forget the value of something, you can become careless with it. This happens with material possessions, it happens with relationships and it can happen with spiritual things in our lives. When we forget just how valuable what we have is, we often begin to take it for granted. When it is taken for granted, we don't show it the same care that we once did and we often begin to neglect it. Are you neglecting so great a salvation this morning? Have you forgotten just how precious your salvation is? Have you become "careless" with it forgetting how much it cost for you to be able to have it?
The second way is through distractions. I remember when my daughter was a little girl, not three years old yet. I took her to the local fair to ride the rides. I stopped by the concession stand to get us something to drink. She was standing beside me and I turned to place my order, in that brief second while I was putting my attention on making the order, she walked off from my side. That brief moment of "distraction" from her could have caused me to lose the most valuable thing to me on earth. What temporary thing is distracting you from that which is eternal? What is captivating your attention so that it is placed on something besides eternal riches? Where is your focus- on things above or things below?
I am so thankful for all the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon me- especially the eternal ones. And I am thankful that He loves me enough to warn me to hold on to those blessings. Hold on to what you have, don't be careless with it by forgetting just how precious and valuable it is. Hold on to what you have, don't allow anything to distract you to the point where it is taken away from you.
Have a great day. Don't let anything distract you to the point where you are careless with the things that matter most.
For further reading:
Matthew 16:26; 6:19,20
1 Corinthians 6:20
1 Peter 1:18,19
Hebrews 2:3
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
"It Was A VIRGIN Birth"
"Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" Luke 1:34
I am totally shocked at the number of "Christians" who don't believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. And what shocks me even more are the preachers who are preaching that Jesus was not born of a virgin. I want to clarify something this morning-- He was born of a VIRGIN! His mother knew no man! There was no man involved in Jesus' birth! The Spirit of God overshadowed Mary and she conceived Jesus. Do I understand this? No, but I believe it because the Bible- God's Word- says it was so. The verse above tells us that this was the case. The "teaching" that Jesus was not born of a virgin is straight from the "pit of hell"!!
Let's look at the importance of the virgin birth to the Christian faith. First, if we don't believe these verses about Jesus conception, how can we believe any verse in the Bible? How can we believe anything that God says? He is the One who inspired the words that are written in its pages. To say that the virgin birth is false when God said it was the truth is to call God a liar. Also, we can't "pick and choose" which scriptures we want and don't want to believe.
Second, if there was no virgin birth, there can be no salvation and we are still lost without any hope of eternal life. Our whole belief is in the fact that Jesus, because He was sinless, was the only acceptable sacrifice to take away our sins. Had He not been born of a virgin, had there been a man in the conception process, Jesus would not have been sinless- He would have been like the rest of us-- sinners. Sin came through man. Because of Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden, sin was passed on to all mankind- thus, "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) A sinful man cannot take away sin- or else we could have all saved ourselves. It took a "spotless lamb"- one without sin.
There are some strange beliefs emerging throughout "Christianity" that are trying to tear down the very foundation of our faith. If the foundations are removed, the "structure" is weak and will fall. "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3)
If ever there was a time when you must be solid in your conviction it is now. Know for yourself what the word of God says. Don't be swayed from the truth. Don't remove the foundation. Don't believe everything you hear- regardless of who you hear it from. If you don't believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, then you don't know the true Jesus. If you are preaching that Jesus was not born of a virgin, then you are preaching "another" Jesus.
Have a great day. Let me say it again, "Jesus was born of a virgin"!!! If you don't believe that, you have no foundation to your faith.
For further reading:
Hebrews 4:15
2 Corinthians 11:3,4
Isaiah 7:14
Matthew 1:23
Luke 1:26-35
1 Peter 1:18,19
1 John 4:1
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
I am totally shocked at the number of "Christians" who don't believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. And what shocks me even more are the preachers who are preaching that Jesus was not born of a virgin. I want to clarify something this morning-- He was born of a VIRGIN! His mother knew no man! There was no man involved in Jesus' birth! The Spirit of God overshadowed Mary and she conceived Jesus. Do I understand this? No, but I believe it because the Bible- God's Word- says it was so. The verse above tells us that this was the case. The "teaching" that Jesus was not born of a virgin is straight from the "pit of hell"!!
Let's look at the importance of the virgin birth to the Christian faith. First, if we don't believe these verses about Jesus conception, how can we believe any verse in the Bible? How can we believe anything that God says? He is the One who inspired the words that are written in its pages. To say that the virgin birth is false when God said it was the truth is to call God a liar. Also, we can't "pick and choose" which scriptures we want and don't want to believe.
Second, if there was no virgin birth, there can be no salvation and we are still lost without any hope of eternal life. Our whole belief is in the fact that Jesus, because He was sinless, was the only acceptable sacrifice to take away our sins. Had He not been born of a virgin, had there been a man in the conception process, Jesus would not have been sinless- He would have been like the rest of us-- sinners. Sin came through man. Because of Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden, sin was passed on to all mankind- thus, "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) A sinful man cannot take away sin- or else we could have all saved ourselves. It took a "spotless lamb"- one without sin.
There are some strange beliefs emerging throughout "Christianity" that are trying to tear down the very foundation of our faith. If the foundations are removed, the "structure" is weak and will fall. "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3)
If ever there was a time when you must be solid in your conviction it is now. Know for yourself what the word of God says. Don't be swayed from the truth. Don't remove the foundation. Don't believe everything you hear- regardless of who you hear it from. If you don't believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, then you don't know the true Jesus. If you are preaching that Jesus was not born of a virgin, then you are preaching "another" Jesus.
Have a great day. Let me say it again, "Jesus was born of a virgin"!!! If you don't believe that, you have no foundation to your faith.
For further reading:
Hebrews 4:15
2 Corinthians 11:3,4
Isaiah 7:14
Matthew 1:23
Luke 1:26-35
1 Peter 1:18,19
1 John 4:1
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Monday, June 27, 2011
"Fragrant Encounter"
"For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish." 2 Corinthians 2:15
I was at the store yesterday and picked up a bottle of oil that you use to make your home smell good. When I picked up the bottle, some of the oil had been spilled on the outside of the bottle. It was a cinnamon fragrance and was now on my hands. I got out a tissue and tried to wipe it off my hands. The fragrance was so strong that it got on everything I touched- the tissue, the shopping cart, my purse, etc. I made my way to the restroom and washed my hands- but the fragrance was still lingering.
After I finished getting my items I went to the checkout. I placed the items one by one on the register. When the lady who was checking me out got to my bag of potatoes, she told me, "For some reason your potatoes smell good. I have never smelled potatoes like that before". I wasn't sure what she was talking about. They didn't smell any different to me. Then it dawned on me, so I asked her, "Do they smell like cinnamon?" She said, "Yes, they do." So I explained to her about my encounter with the bottle of fragrant oil.
Did you know that Jesus has a fragrance? It is the fragrance of love, joy, peace, etc. (He smells like the Fruit of the Spirit). When we spend time in His presence, we will have an encounter with Him. During that encounter, His "fragrance" will rub off on us. So that when we leave our prayer and worship time, others should be able to "smell" His fragrance on us. They should be able to detect an "aroma" on us that "smells" like Him and causes them to "take note that we have been with Jesus". (Acts 4:13)
Do others "smell" something different from your life? The checkout lady noticed that the bag of potatoes didn't smell like potatoes. Others should notice in our lives that we don't "smell" like "sinful, self-centered flesh" (which is what we are without Jesus). They should say that there is something "different" about us, and that difference is the sweet smell of Jesus. Not only should we have His fragrance on us, but it should rub off on the lives of those that we come in contact with so that they will no longer smell like "flesh" but like Him instead?
Have a great day. Our lives should have the fragrance of Jesus on them.
For further reading:
Galatians 5:22,23
2 Corinthians 2:14-16
Ephesians 5:2
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
I was at the store yesterday and picked up a bottle of oil that you use to make your home smell good. When I picked up the bottle, some of the oil had been spilled on the outside of the bottle. It was a cinnamon fragrance and was now on my hands. I got out a tissue and tried to wipe it off my hands. The fragrance was so strong that it got on everything I touched- the tissue, the shopping cart, my purse, etc. I made my way to the restroom and washed my hands- but the fragrance was still lingering.
After I finished getting my items I went to the checkout. I placed the items one by one on the register. When the lady who was checking me out got to my bag of potatoes, she told me, "For some reason your potatoes smell good. I have never smelled potatoes like that before". I wasn't sure what she was talking about. They didn't smell any different to me. Then it dawned on me, so I asked her, "Do they smell like cinnamon?" She said, "Yes, they do." So I explained to her about my encounter with the bottle of fragrant oil.
Did you know that Jesus has a fragrance? It is the fragrance of love, joy, peace, etc. (He smells like the Fruit of the Spirit). When we spend time in His presence, we will have an encounter with Him. During that encounter, His "fragrance" will rub off on us. So that when we leave our prayer and worship time, others should be able to "smell" His fragrance on us. They should be able to detect an "aroma" on us that "smells" like Him and causes them to "take note that we have been with Jesus". (Acts 4:13)
Do others "smell" something different from your life? The checkout lady noticed that the bag of potatoes didn't smell like potatoes. Others should notice in our lives that we don't "smell" like "sinful, self-centered flesh" (which is what we are without Jesus). They should say that there is something "different" about us, and that difference is the sweet smell of Jesus. Not only should we have His fragrance on us, but it should rub off on the lives of those that we come in contact with so that they will no longer smell like "flesh" but like Him instead?
Have a great day. Our lives should have the fragrance of Jesus on them.
For further reading:
Galatians 5:22,23
2 Corinthians 2:14-16
Ephesians 5:2
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Friday, June 24, 2011
"He Is Not Out To Get You"
"She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." John 8:11
Many have a misconception about God. They see Him as some being who sits high upon a throne in heaven looking down upon them just waiting for them to mess up or make a mistake so that He can "get them". They think that He is always looking for opportunities to "let them have it". (How far that is from a true picture of God.)
When Jesus was on earth, He showed us what Father God was like, and what He was like in His dealings with mankind. When the woman was caught in the act of adultery, Jesus did not condemn her, He did not pick up a stone and throw it at her. Though under the Law He could have legally put her to death, instead He forgave her. When the woman came and anointed His feet with the oil in the alabaster box and wiped them with her tears, Jesus did not rebuke her, He did not turn her away, He did not belittle and ridicule her, He did not condemn her, instead He allowed her to do it. He also defended her before her accusers and affirmed her in their sight.
Let me ask you a question. Do either of those encounters with these sinful women sound like God was "out to get them"? If He just waits for the opportunity to let us have it, then there was His opportunity. He could have taken it then but He didn't. As little children one of the first verses we learned was John 3:16- "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I think we should also learn John 3:17- "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." Again, I ask you, "Does this sound like God is out to "get us"?
If God was out to "get us", if He sits up in heaven and waits for us to make a mistake so that He can punish us or condemn us then why would He send His Son to earth to save us? Why would He provide a way for us to have forgiveness from our sins? Why would He go to such great lengths as to shed His blood and die upon the cross? If that is how God really feels toward us, why would He do anything for us, He had us where He "wanted" us if that were the case? (Because we were already "messed up" and making mistakes is all we could do.)
But that is not a true picture of who He is. Jesus corrected that by demonstrating the love, grace, patience and mercy of God to those He encountered while upon earth. I hope that you don't have this misconception of who He is. He is not out to "get you". He is not out to destroy you. He isn't looking for opportunities to "let you have it". Instead He is looking for opportunities to express and lavish His love on you. He proved that by sending His Son Jesus to earth to tell you and ultimately show you that He loves you.
Have a great day. God is not out to get you. He proved that through Jesus.
For further reading:
John 8:1-11
Luke 7:36-50
Romans 5:8
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Many have a misconception about God. They see Him as some being who sits high upon a throne in heaven looking down upon them just waiting for them to mess up or make a mistake so that He can "get them". They think that He is always looking for opportunities to "let them have it". (How far that is from a true picture of God.)
When Jesus was on earth, He showed us what Father God was like, and what He was like in His dealings with mankind. When the woman was caught in the act of adultery, Jesus did not condemn her, He did not pick up a stone and throw it at her. Though under the Law He could have legally put her to death, instead He forgave her. When the woman came and anointed His feet with the oil in the alabaster box and wiped them with her tears, Jesus did not rebuke her, He did not turn her away, He did not belittle and ridicule her, He did not condemn her, instead He allowed her to do it. He also defended her before her accusers and affirmed her in their sight.
Let me ask you a question. Do either of those encounters with these sinful women sound like God was "out to get them"? If He just waits for the opportunity to let us have it, then there was His opportunity. He could have taken it then but He didn't. As little children one of the first verses we learned was John 3:16- "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I think we should also learn John 3:17- "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." Again, I ask you, "Does this sound like God is out to "get us"?
If God was out to "get us", if He sits up in heaven and waits for us to make a mistake so that He can punish us or condemn us then why would He send His Son to earth to save us? Why would He provide a way for us to have forgiveness from our sins? Why would He go to such great lengths as to shed His blood and die upon the cross? If that is how God really feels toward us, why would He do anything for us, He had us where He "wanted" us if that were the case? (Because we were already "messed up" and making mistakes is all we could do.)
But that is not a true picture of who He is. Jesus corrected that by demonstrating the love, grace, patience and mercy of God to those He encountered while upon earth. I hope that you don't have this misconception of who He is. He is not out to "get you". He is not out to destroy you. He isn't looking for opportunities to "let you have it". Instead He is looking for opportunities to express and lavish His love on you. He proved that by sending His Son Jesus to earth to tell you and ultimately show you that He loves you.
Have a great day. God is not out to get you. He proved that through Jesus.
For further reading:
John 8:1-11
Luke 7:36-50
Romans 5:8
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
"Stand In Faith"
Coffee Break
"Stand In Faith"
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7
There are times in my walk with the Lord where I am constantly aware of His presence with me. I feel His tremendous peace. Every where I look I am seeing His power being revealed. I am hearing His voice clearly and continually. The lines of communication between me and Him are wide open. The refreshing rain of His Spirit is falling on me in abundance. The insights into His word just keep coming. My praises for Him can't be contained. I am on the mountaintop and it is a wonderful time. But then, for apparently no reason, everything seems to change. I don't "feel" His presence like I did. The revelations aren't coming. I am hearing "nothing" from Him. I can't see His hand moving and working in my life. I feel so dry. It feels as if He has left me and I am alone in a desert place. (Where are you, Lord?)
Am I the only one who experiences this? So, what do we do during these times? We stand in faith. The Bible says that we walk by faith not by sight. We don't live in our relationship with the Lord by feelings. I may not feel His presence sometimes like I do at other times, but He is still there. He hasn't left me; He hasn't forsaken me; I am not alone. Therefore, I don't need to stop doing what I am doing. I need to continue and persevere. I need to continue to press in into His presence. I don't quit and give up because I am not "feeling" Him. My faith is being put to the test. My faith muscles are being exercised. My hunger for the sense of His presence is growing. I am learning what it means to truly seek after the Lord. My desire and hunger for Him is becoming greater and being strengthened. I am getting more desperate from Him- not just for His blessings.
If you are in this "dry" place unable to sense that His presence is with you, don't give into those feelings. Don't quit doing what you are doing-- continue on in your relationship with Him. Keep seeking Him, keep praising Him, keep talking to Him, keep studying His word, keep fellowshipping with other believers, don't go by your feelings, but stand in faith.
Have a great day. When we don't feel His presence, we have to continue by faith to live as if we do.
For further reading:
Matthew 28:20
Hebrews 10:38
1 Peter 1:7-9
Hebrews 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.
"Stand In Faith"
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7
There are times in my walk with the Lord where I am constantly aware of His presence with me. I feel His tremendous peace. Every where I look I am seeing His power being revealed. I am hearing His voice clearly and continually. The lines of communication between me and Him are wide open. The refreshing rain of His Spirit is falling on me in abundance. The insights into His word just keep coming. My praises for Him can't be contained. I am on the mountaintop and it is a wonderful time. But then, for apparently no reason, everything seems to change. I don't "feel" His presence like I did. The revelations aren't coming. I am hearing "nothing" from Him. I can't see His hand moving and working in my life. I feel so dry. It feels as if He has left me and I am alone in a desert place. (Where are you, Lord?)
Am I the only one who experiences this? So, what do we do during these times? We stand in faith. The Bible says that we walk by faith not by sight. We don't live in our relationship with the Lord by feelings. I may not feel His presence sometimes like I do at other times, but He is still there. He hasn't left me; He hasn't forsaken me; I am not alone. Therefore, I don't need to stop doing what I am doing. I need to continue and persevere. I need to continue to press in into His presence. I don't quit and give up because I am not "feeling" Him. My faith is being put to the test. My faith muscles are being exercised. My hunger for the sense of His presence is growing. I am learning what it means to truly seek after the Lord. My desire and hunger for Him is becoming greater and being strengthened. I am getting more desperate from Him- not just for His blessings.
If you are in this "dry" place unable to sense that His presence is with you, don't give into those feelings. Don't quit doing what you are doing-- continue on in your relationship with Him. Keep seeking Him, keep praising Him, keep talking to Him, keep studying His word, keep fellowshipping with other believers, don't go by your feelings, but stand in faith.
Have a great day. When we don't feel His presence, we have to continue by faith to live as if we do.
For further reading:
Matthew 28:20
Hebrews 10:38
1 Peter 1:7-9
Hebrews 11
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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.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
"I've Got A Mansion"
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. " John 14:2
I woke up this morning with the old hymn, "Mansion Over The Hilltop", repeating, rather almost shouting, over and over in my mind. In case you aren't familiar with it, the chorus says: "I've got a mansion just over the hilltop, in that bright land where we'll never grow old; and someday yonder we will never more wander, but walk the streets that are purest gold."
What a wonderful thought- a mansion in heaven, forever in the presence of the Lord, living and dwelling with Him, never growing old, never in darkness, never wandering around in confusion seeking for direction, and walking on streets of pure gold. How glorious! I can't comprehend just how wonderful it will be. But this kind of eternal existence is only promised to those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ and have their sins washed away by faith in His blood that was shed at the cross. For the rest it will not be so wonderful. Instead, it will be an eternal existence that is too horrible to even imagine.
In talking to people about the state of their eternal soul, I find that so many are too "busy" making a life for themselves that they don't have time to think about what will happen to them after they die. Some are more interested in their material status now instead of what awaits them then. There are those who don't want to acknowledge Jesus, much less have a relationship with Him, because they are more desirous of enjoying the "pleasures" of this present life. They are trading the eternal treasures for temporary pleasures.
This life is not all there is. There is something that awaits us once we leave planet earth through death. And what awaits us last forever and forever. Are you ready for the forever? There are only two places where the eternal soul can go- and just because you don't believe in the existence of one or either, doesn't mean that it doesn't exist.
The desire of the Lord God is that you live with Him forever in one of those mansions. He loves you and desires to prepare a place for you in His eternal presence. He sent His only begotten Son Jesus to provide the way and "pay" for the privilege of living with Him forever. Will you take time from this temporary life to enter into a relationship with the Lord God through His Son Jesus so that one day you can occupy a mansion forever?
Have a great day. Don't exchange eternal treasures for temporary pleasures.
For further reading:
Hebrews 11:25; 9:22
Romans 6:23
John 14:1-3; 3:16
Matthew 6:19-21
2 Corinthians 6:2
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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.
I woke up this morning with the old hymn, "Mansion Over The Hilltop", repeating, rather almost shouting, over and over in my mind. In case you aren't familiar with it, the chorus says: "I've got a mansion just over the hilltop, in that bright land where we'll never grow old; and someday yonder we will never more wander, but walk the streets that are purest gold."
What a wonderful thought- a mansion in heaven, forever in the presence of the Lord, living and dwelling with Him, never growing old, never in darkness, never wandering around in confusion seeking for direction, and walking on streets of pure gold. How glorious! I can't comprehend just how wonderful it will be. But this kind of eternal existence is only promised to those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ and have their sins washed away by faith in His blood that was shed at the cross. For the rest it will not be so wonderful. Instead, it will be an eternal existence that is too horrible to even imagine.
In talking to people about the state of their eternal soul, I find that so many are too "busy" making a life for themselves that they don't have time to think about what will happen to them after they die. Some are more interested in their material status now instead of what awaits them then. There are those who don't want to acknowledge Jesus, much less have a relationship with Him, because they are more desirous of enjoying the "pleasures" of this present life. They are trading the eternal treasures for temporary pleasures.
This life is not all there is. There is something that awaits us once we leave planet earth through death. And what awaits us last forever and forever. Are you ready for the forever? There are only two places where the eternal soul can go- and just because you don't believe in the existence of one or either, doesn't mean that it doesn't exist.
The desire of the Lord God is that you live with Him forever in one of those mansions. He loves you and desires to prepare a place for you in His eternal presence. He sent His only begotten Son Jesus to provide the way and "pay" for the privilege of living with Him forever. Will you take time from this temporary life to enter into a relationship with the Lord God through His Son Jesus so that one day you can occupy a mansion forever?
Have a great day. Don't exchange eternal treasures for temporary pleasures.
For further reading:
Hebrews 11:25; 9:22
Romans 6:23
John 14:1-3; 3:16
Matthew 6:19-21
2 Corinthians 6:2
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
"Are You A Follower?"
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27
So many people have their opinion and interpretation of what it means to be a "Christian". Most think that if they repeat some sort of "sinner's prayer", or join a church membership roll, or do some other religious work that it automatically makes them a Christian and now they are "saved" Many talk about being saved, but what Jesus talked about was- following. If we are truly saved, if we are His sheep, if we have salvation and eternal life, if we have been born again, then we are to "follow" Him.
I often wonder how people- I am talking about those who say they are "saved"- have such a hard time understanding what the word "follow" means. It seems pretty plain and elementary. But should you be having a hard time defining what it means, I thought I would help you out this morning.
It means: if you are living the "party life"- going to the bars and getting drunk- you are not following Jesus. If you are having sex with someone who you are not married to, you are not following Jesus. If you never go to church, you are not following Jesus (He always went to His Father's house). If you are sitting at your computer looking at pornography, you are not following Jesus. If you are abusive to your spouse or children, then you are not following Jesus. If you are quick tempered and continually curse people out, you are not following Jesus. If you are selfish, self-centered, covetous, greedy, love your money, cheat and lie, and are full of hate... then you are not following Jesus.
When you are following someone, it means two things: you are in that person's presence and you are doing the same things they are doing. That's what it means when we say we are saved... or at least it should. That is what Jesus meant when He said, "Follow Me".
Have a great day. Can you really be saved and not follow Jesus?
For further reading:
Matthew 4:19; 8:22; 16:24;19:21
John 12:26
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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.
So many people have their opinion and interpretation of what it means to be a "Christian". Most think that if they repeat some sort of "sinner's prayer", or join a church membership roll, or do some other religious work that it automatically makes them a Christian and now they are "saved" Many talk about being saved, but what Jesus talked about was- following. If we are truly saved, if we are His sheep, if we have salvation and eternal life, if we have been born again, then we are to "follow" Him.
I often wonder how people- I am talking about those who say they are "saved"- have such a hard time understanding what the word "follow" means. It seems pretty plain and elementary. But should you be having a hard time defining what it means, I thought I would help you out this morning.
It means: if you are living the "party life"- going to the bars and getting drunk- you are not following Jesus. If you are having sex with someone who you are not married to, you are not following Jesus. If you never go to church, you are not following Jesus (He always went to His Father's house). If you are sitting at your computer looking at pornography, you are not following Jesus. If you are abusive to your spouse or children, then you are not following Jesus. If you are quick tempered and continually curse people out, you are not following Jesus. If you are selfish, self-centered, covetous, greedy, love your money, cheat and lie, and are full of hate... then you are not following Jesus.
When you are following someone, it means two things: you are in that person's presence and you are doing the same things they are doing. That's what it means when we say we are saved... or at least it should. That is what Jesus meant when He said, "Follow Me".
Have a great day. Can you really be saved and not follow Jesus?
For further reading:
Matthew 4:19; 8:22; 16:24;19:21
John 12:26
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Monday, June 20, 2011
"God Given Ability"
"Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6
The Lord has truly blessed mankind with the ability to do so much. Look at the world around us. We have the ability to plant and harvest our food sources. We have invented devices that have made life easier. We know how to drill oil from out of the ground to produce energy. We know how to build enormous boats that can stay afloat on water and not sink. We have learned how to fly, and even stepped foot on the moon. When you think about all that we have accomplished, it is truly amazing. Yet, in all our accomplishments, we must never forget that we did not do it on our own.
We can never take full credit for anything that we accomplish. It wasn't our own might that has created anything, it was the blessing and goodness of the Lord that allowed it. He is the One who gave us the wisdom, the skill, the ability, the understanding, the strength and creativity. If we accomplish anything the credit and glory must go to God.
I am reminded of the tabernacle in the wilderness. I am sure it was a sight to behold. The vessels were ornamental gold and silver, the tapestries were of fine linen, there was carved woodwork, and so forth. The part that I am reminded of was the fact that the Lord had given the men who built it wisdom and understanding in how to do the work.
We have been blessed with the ability to do so much. Whatever you have the ability to do- whether it is the ability to paint, to write, to invent gadgets, to sing, to carve wood, computer programming, teaching, etc.- that ability comes from the Lord. And we must always remember to use it for His purposes and never forget to give Him the glory through it.
Have a great day. Any ability we have has been graciously given to us by the Lord and we should always use it in a way that will honor and glorify Him.
For further reading:
Exodus 36:1,2
1 Corinthians 10:31
Colossians 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.
The Lord has truly blessed mankind with the ability to do so much. Look at the world around us. We have the ability to plant and harvest our food sources. We have invented devices that have made life easier. We know how to drill oil from out of the ground to produce energy. We know how to build enormous boats that can stay afloat on water and not sink. We have learned how to fly, and even stepped foot on the moon. When you think about all that we have accomplished, it is truly amazing. Yet, in all our accomplishments, we must never forget that we did not do it on our own.
We can never take full credit for anything that we accomplish. It wasn't our own might that has created anything, it was the blessing and goodness of the Lord that allowed it. He is the One who gave us the wisdom, the skill, the ability, the understanding, the strength and creativity. If we accomplish anything the credit and glory must go to God.
I am reminded of the tabernacle in the wilderness. I am sure it was a sight to behold. The vessels were ornamental gold and silver, the tapestries were of fine linen, there was carved woodwork, and so forth. The part that I am reminded of was the fact that the Lord had given the men who built it wisdom and understanding in how to do the work.
We have been blessed with the ability to do so much. Whatever you have the ability to do- whether it is the ability to paint, to write, to invent gadgets, to sing, to carve wood, computer programming, teaching, etc.- that ability comes from the Lord. And we must always remember to use it for His purposes and never forget to give Him the glory through it.
Have a great day. Any ability we have has been graciously given to us by the Lord and we should always use it in a way that will honor and glorify Him.
For further reading:
Exodus 36:1,2
1 Corinthians 10:31
Colossians 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.
Friday, June 17, 2011
"Run To Him"
"When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God..." Deuteronomy 4:30a
What do you do when you are facing difficulties? Do you stand and fight with the weapons the Lord has made available to you? Do you sit down and feel sorry for yourself? Do you try to hide from the situation? Do you look for some form of escape? Do you pretend that it isn't happening? Do you run? Perhaps you try to run from it? Or perhaps you run to some sort of pill, or other substance, to ease the way you are feeling in the situation?
When facing trials, problems and difficulties, you actually should run. You should run straight into the arms of Jesus. You should run to that place of prayer where you will meet with Him. Often that is the last place that we run to. Usually we wait to run to Him after we have exhausted everywhere else. He should be the first place.
If, and when, you are going through these times, your answer lies in the Lord. He should be the first place you turn. Why? Because He loves you, He cares about you, He has the answer and solution, and He alone can give you everything you need to make it through what you are facing. So don't run here and there and everywhere else... run straight into His loving arms.
Have a great day. Where will you run when you are facing difficulties?
For further reading:
James 4:8
Psalm 120:1
2 Samuel 22:7
1 Peter 5:7
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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.
What do you do when you are facing difficulties? Do you stand and fight with the weapons the Lord has made available to you? Do you sit down and feel sorry for yourself? Do you try to hide from the situation? Do you look for some form of escape? Do you pretend that it isn't happening? Do you run? Perhaps you try to run from it? Or perhaps you run to some sort of pill, or other substance, to ease the way you are feeling in the situation?
When facing trials, problems and difficulties, you actually should run. You should run straight into the arms of Jesus. You should run to that place of prayer where you will meet with Him. Often that is the last place that we run to. Usually we wait to run to Him after we have exhausted everywhere else. He should be the first place.
If, and when, you are going through these times, your answer lies in the Lord. He should be the first place you turn. Why? Because He loves you, He cares about you, He has the answer and solution, and He alone can give you everything you need to make it through what you are facing. So don't run here and there and everywhere else... run straight into His loving arms.
Have a great day. Where will you run when you are facing difficulties?
For further reading:
James 4:8
Psalm 120:1
2 Samuel 22:7
1 Peter 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.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
"Brand New"
"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8
I had a dream last night that I am unable to get away from, so after praying about it I feel I must share it with you. It is a little different than some of the other dreams I have shared in the past.
There were several characters in the dream but one main one- an infant boy named Jackson who was very ill. He had some sort of disease that he was born with- I don't know what it was. There was a young girl who was with me. In the dream she and I were driving in town and the Lord showed me that Jackson was going to die. When He showed me this, I started crying and crying, and so did the girl with me. Then I began to talk to her about what was going on and by then I knew Jackson was gone. I started telling her about him being in heaven with the Lord, and that he wasn't ill any more but he was whole and healthy, just then we came upon a young man who was standing in the road- he appeared to be "preaching". As I was telling her about Jackson being in heaven, I realized that the young man who we saw was Jackson. He was grown up, very handsome, standing in his own strength and had a sound mind and a healthy body. (This was what he would have grown up to look like had he lived and not had a diseased body.)
The point of the dream is not to cause a theological debate about what we look like in heaven, etc. I am sharing it to bring hope and comfort to those who read it. For those who die in Christ, death is not the end. And neither are we left throughout eternity to suffer with the same conditions that we suffered with while on earth. In heaven, all things are made new- this corruptible flesh puts on incorruption and this mortality puts on immortality. There is no more pain or disease there that plagues us here. We are made whole once and for all. When I saw the young man, I knew that was Jackson- there was no doubt in my mind. His old body was left behind and the Lord gave him a new one. The Lord took away the effects of living in a sin cursed world off of him.
Be encouraged this morning. This is not all there is. There is an eternity that awaits us. When we die, we will spend that eternity in one of two places- either heaven or hell- and which one it will be is determined by what we do with Jesus. But for those of us who have put our faith and trust in Jesus as Savior and are continuing on to follow Him as Lord, we have a blessed hope. We will spend eternity with Him in His Father's house and all the trials, cares, pain, sickness, disease, heartaches will all be gone. They will be past and be a thing of the past, because in His presence He will make all things new-- just like He did for Jackson.
Have a great day. In heaven all things are made new-- including us.
For further reading:
1 Corinthians 15:53-55
Revelation 21:5
Luke 16:25
John 14:1-3
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
I had a dream last night that I am unable to get away from, so after praying about it I feel I must share it with you. It is a little different than some of the other dreams I have shared in the past.
There were several characters in the dream but one main one- an infant boy named Jackson who was very ill. He had some sort of disease that he was born with- I don't know what it was. There was a young girl who was with me. In the dream she and I were driving in town and the Lord showed me that Jackson was going to die. When He showed me this, I started crying and crying, and so did the girl with me. Then I began to talk to her about what was going on and by then I knew Jackson was gone. I started telling her about him being in heaven with the Lord, and that he wasn't ill any more but he was whole and healthy, just then we came upon a young man who was standing in the road- he appeared to be "preaching". As I was telling her about Jackson being in heaven, I realized that the young man who we saw was Jackson. He was grown up, very handsome, standing in his own strength and had a sound mind and a healthy body. (This was what he would have grown up to look like had he lived and not had a diseased body.)
The point of the dream is not to cause a theological debate about what we look like in heaven, etc. I am sharing it to bring hope and comfort to those who read it. For those who die in Christ, death is not the end. And neither are we left throughout eternity to suffer with the same conditions that we suffered with while on earth. In heaven, all things are made new- this corruptible flesh puts on incorruption and this mortality puts on immortality. There is no more pain or disease there that plagues us here. We are made whole once and for all. When I saw the young man, I knew that was Jackson- there was no doubt in my mind. His old body was left behind and the Lord gave him a new one. The Lord took away the effects of living in a sin cursed world off of him.
Be encouraged this morning. This is not all there is. There is an eternity that awaits us. When we die, we will spend that eternity in one of two places- either heaven or hell- and which one it will be is determined by what we do with Jesus. But for those of us who have put our faith and trust in Jesus as Savior and are continuing on to follow Him as Lord, we have a blessed hope. We will spend eternity with Him in His Father's house and all the trials, cares, pain, sickness, disease, heartaches will all be gone. They will be past and be a thing of the past, because in His presence He will make all things new-- just like He did for Jackson.
Have a great day. In heaven all things are made new-- including us.
For further reading:
1 Corinthians 15:53-55
Revelation 21:5
Luke 16:25
John 14:1-3
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
"Where He Leads"
"And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest." Luke 9:57
I was thinking about a song that one of the precious saints in the nursing home sang for us yesterday. It is an old familiar hymn- "Where He leads me I will follow... I'll go with Him, with Him all the way". The plan of Jesus for all Christians is that they "follow Him". When we come to Jesus for salvation it means we not only acknowledge our sins and need for a Savior, and that He alone is that Savior, but that we will follow Him the rest of our lives. We all talk about the "call of God" on our lives and wonder what He has called us to do. It is simple, the call of God is, "follow Me". This was the grounds on which He called, and still calls, His disciples.
When He calls us to follow Him, we don't always know what that looks like. We have our own ideas and opinions of what we think "following" means. We often think that it means blessings, blessings and more blessings. We think it means no more pain, no more sorrow, no more suffering or trials. We tend to think that following Jesus is an "escape" from the cares and problems of this life. On the contrary!
Jesus never promised those who followed Him that they would have a life of ease and be problem-free. He said that following Him involved taking up a "cross" (and we all know what the cross represents- a place of death; death to self and self-will). He said we would have tribulation, be hated by all men for His sake and be counted like sheep headed to the slaughter.
Jesus' call to follow Him is two-fold. It is an invitation to put your trust and faith in Him as Savior, and after you do it then becomes a command. The twelve disciples accepted His invitation and it placed them in a boat in the middle of a storm, in the desert, on a mountaintop, among demons, in the midst of angry religious leaders and beside the seashore. When we accept His invitation to follow Him, it may place us in many of the same places as well. But if we follow Him on earth, even if it is through places of pain and suffering, we will have a reward in heaven that far out weighs the difficulties of following Him here. And we will get to "follow" Him in heaven throughout all eternity.
Have a great day. Following Jesus will often lead you into some difficult places, but it will also lead you to heaven where you will enjoy eternal life.
For further reading:
Mark 8:34
Matthew 5:10,11
Romans 8:36
Luke 9:57-65
2 Timothy 3:12
John 16:33
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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.
I was thinking about a song that one of the precious saints in the nursing home sang for us yesterday. It is an old familiar hymn- "Where He leads me I will follow... I'll go with Him, with Him all the way". The plan of Jesus for all Christians is that they "follow Him". When we come to Jesus for salvation it means we not only acknowledge our sins and need for a Savior, and that He alone is that Savior, but that we will follow Him the rest of our lives. We all talk about the "call of God" on our lives and wonder what He has called us to do. It is simple, the call of God is, "follow Me". This was the grounds on which He called, and still calls, His disciples.
When He calls us to follow Him, we don't always know what that looks like. We have our own ideas and opinions of what we think "following" means. We often think that it means blessings, blessings and more blessings. We think it means no more pain, no more sorrow, no more suffering or trials. We tend to think that following Jesus is an "escape" from the cares and problems of this life. On the contrary!
Jesus never promised those who followed Him that they would have a life of ease and be problem-free. He said that following Him involved taking up a "cross" (and we all know what the cross represents- a place of death; death to self and self-will). He said we would have tribulation, be hated by all men for His sake and be counted like sheep headed to the slaughter.
Jesus' call to follow Him is two-fold. It is an invitation to put your trust and faith in Him as Savior, and after you do it then becomes a command. The twelve disciples accepted His invitation and it placed them in a boat in the middle of a storm, in the desert, on a mountaintop, among demons, in the midst of angry religious leaders and beside the seashore. When we accept His invitation to follow Him, it may place us in many of the same places as well. But if we follow Him on earth, even if it is through places of pain and suffering, we will have a reward in heaven that far out weighs the difficulties of following Him here. And we will get to "follow" Him in heaven throughout all eternity.
Have a great day. Following Jesus will often lead you into some difficult places, but it will also lead you to heaven where you will enjoy eternal life.
For further reading:
Mark 8:34
Matthew 5:10,11
Romans 8:36
Luke 9:57-65
2 Timothy 3:12
John 16:33
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
"Not Ashamed- Part 2"
"Not Ashamed - Part 2"
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16
Yesterday we talked about how our conversations contain a wide variety of subjects but for many Christians sharing their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is not one of them. Many believe they don't have to be public or open with it because, like we said yesterday, the Lord knows their hearts. That is true He knows your heart, but that is not why we share our faith. We share it so that others will know about Him.
The Bible says, "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14) In other words, how are the lost going to hear the good news that Jesus saves if no one tells them? Someone told you, and someone told me.
When something good happens to us, we can't help telling others about it. If you were to win ten million dollars today, I have no doubt that you would be on the telephone today telling everyone you knew. You couldn't wait to tell someone. So why aren't you telling others about this as well? Receiving the gift of eternal life is better than winning money, or anything else. The security of your eternal soul is priceless. It is the greatest treasure and it is the most valuable thing you have.
People need the salvation that only Jesus Christ can give. They need to have peace with God. They need to have their sins forgiven and washed away from their lives. They need to have a heart transformation. They need to be born again. But if someone doesn't tell them how will they know? You can't depend on the church to tell them- they may never enter a church. You can't depend of the television preachers to tell them- they may never watch them. You can't depend on anything else. As a matter of fact, God is depending on us to reach them with the good news of salvation. This is why Jesus' last instructions before leaving earth were to, "Go and tell".
Have a great day. Are you going and telling others about the good news that Jesus saves?
For further reading:
Mark 16:15
Matthew 28:19; 10:7
Romans 10:15
1 Corinthians 4:3
Isaiah 52:7
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16
Yesterday we talked about how our conversations contain a wide variety of subjects but for many Christians sharing their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is not one of them. Many believe they don't have to be public or open with it because, like we said yesterday, the Lord knows their hearts. That is true He knows your heart, but that is not why we share our faith. We share it so that others will know about Him.
The Bible says, "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14) In other words, how are the lost going to hear the good news that Jesus saves if no one tells them? Someone told you, and someone told me.
When something good happens to us, we can't help telling others about it. If you were to win ten million dollars today, I have no doubt that you would be on the telephone today telling everyone you knew. You couldn't wait to tell someone. So why aren't you telling others about this as well? Receiving the gift of eternal life is better than winning money, or anything else. The security of your eternal soul is priceless. It is the greatest treasure and it is the most valuable thing you have.
People need the salvation that only Jesus Christ can give. They need to have peace with God. They need to have their sins forgiven and washed away from their lives. They need to have a heart transformation. They need to be born again. But if someone doesn't tell them how will they know? You can't depend on the church to tell them- they may never enter a church. You can't depend of the television preachers to tell them- they may never watch them. You can't depend on anything else. As a matter of fact, God is depending on us to reach them with the good news of salvation. This is why Jesus' last instructions before leaving earth were to, "Go and tell".
Have a great day. Are you going and telling others about the good news that Jesus saves?
For further reading:
Mark 16:15
Matthew 28:19; 10:7
Romans 10:15
1 Corinthians 4:3
Isaiah 52:7
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Monday, June 13, 2011
"Not Ashamed- Part 1"
Coffee Break
"Not Ashamed - Part 1"
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16
It is amazing the variety of conversations that people (Christian people) will carry on. They will talk about everything from the weather to politics, from sports to what they saw on television. They will talk about what others are doing, the latest trends, what is going on at their jobs, how their children are doing, and so on. Yet when it comes to talking about their faith in Jesus Christ, they seem to get silent.
Oh, you will have many that say something like, "The Lord has been good to me", but that is pretty much the extent of it. Very seldom do they share their faith in Jesus, very seldom do they witness of His saving grace and what He has done in their lives by saving their soul. Some believe that they don't have to be public and open with it because the Lord knows their hearts.
Sure He knows your heart, you aren't being open with it just for the sake of being open with it. There is a reason why we testify and witness. First, when it is in your heart- truly in your heart- sometimes you can't help it "coming out". The Bible tells us that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks". Whatever is going on in your life and has filled your heart, automatically comes out of your mouth. I know people who are expecting a child, or have just had a baby, or just got married, or going through a job change, or involved in some sort of activity and that is what the topic of their conversation revolves around. It just comes out of their mouth before they know it.
So, when you are filled with the love of Jesus, and the love for Jesus, when you are filled with His word and He is your life, it just can't stay "bottled up" within you. If it does, perhaps you need to "check" your heart and see what is filling it. Yes, I know there are times to speak and not to speak, but when you do speak, if He is never your topic of conversation, then something is not right. And it is not right in your heart because that is where your conversation originates.
Have a great day. Whatever fills your heart comes out of your mouth- does Jesus' wonderful love and saving grace ever come out of your mouth?
For further reading:
Matthew 12:34
Jeremiah 20:9
Psalm 34:1; 69:1; 109:30
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
"Not Ashamed - Part 1"
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16
It is amazing the variety of conversations that people (Christian people) will carry on. They will talk about everything from the weather to politics, from sports to what they saw on television. They will talk about what others are doing, the latest trends, what is going on at their jobs, how their children are doing, and so on. Yet when it comes to talking about their faith in Jesus Christ, they seem to get silent.
Oh, you will have many that say something like, "The Lord has been good to me", but that is pretty much the extent of it. Very seldom do they share their faith in Jesus, very seldom do they witness of His saving grace and what He has done in their lives by saving their soul. Some believe that they don't have to be public and open with it because the Lord knows their hearts.
Sure He knows your heart, you aren't being open with it just for the sake of being open with it. There is a reason why we testify and witness. First, when it is in your heart- truly in your heart- sometimes you can't help it "coming out". The Bible tells us that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks". Whatever is going on in your life and has filled your heart, automatically comes out of your mouth. I know people who are expecting a child, or have just had a baby, or just got married, or going through a job change, or involved in some sort of activity and that is what the topic of their conversation revolves around. It just comes out of their mouth before they know it.
So, when you are filled with the love of Jesus, and the love for Jesus, when you are filled with His word and He is your life, it just can't stay "bottled up" within you. If it does, perhaps you need to "check" your heart and see what is filling it. Yes, I know there are times to speak and not to speak, but when you do speak, if He is never your topic of conversation, then something is not right. And it is not right in your heart because that is where your conversation originates.
Have a great day. Whatever fills your heart comes out of your mouth- does Jesus' wonderful love and saving grace ever come out of your mouth?
For further reading:
Matthew 12:34
Jeremiah 20:9
Psalm 34:1; 69:1; 109:30
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Friday, June 10, 2011
"Stay With You"
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1
Occasionally, when I am around my little granddaughter and it is time for her to leave, she will decide she doesn't want to leave. She will come to me and say, "I want to stay with you". She doesn't want to go home with her mother or daddy, but she wants to stay with me instead. As a grandmother that blesses my heart so much, makes me feel good and brings me lots of joy because at that moment she is saying that there is no place she would rather be than with me. I wonder how much the heart of our Heavenly Father is blessed when we have that same attitude-- "I want to stay with You".
When was the last time that you felt like my granddaughter--- toward the Lord? Are there other places you would rather be than in His presence? Are you content to just sit at His feet, like Mary? Or are you more concerned about being other places and doing other things, like Martha? One of my favorite hymns is "In The Garden". One line of the song says, "I'd stay in the garden with Him, though the night around me be falling". Is that how you feel? You long to stay with Him regardless of what may be going on around you? Does your heart yearn for His presence- to stay with Him? Or are you in a hurry to get finished with your time of communion with Him so you can rush off to do something else- something that you would rather do?
It gives me so much joy to be with my granddaughter. Do you know where I get that attitude from? My Heavenly Father- He is the same way. We are what brings Him joy. And He has great joy when we willing desire to be, and stay, with Him in His presence.
Have a great day. Where would you rather be? Staying in His presence or somewhere else?
For further reading:
James 4:8
1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19
Zephaniah 3:17
Psalm 65:4; 84:10
Luke 10:41,42
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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
Occasionally, when I am around my little granddaughter and it is time for her to leave, she will decide she doesn't want to leave. She will come to me and say, "I want to stay with you". She doesn't want to go home with her mother or daddy, but she wants to stay with me instead. As a grandmother that blesses my heart so much, makes me feel good and brings me lots of joy because at that moment she is saying that there is no place she would rather be than with me. I wonder how much the heart of our Heavenly Father is blessed when we have that same attitude-- "I want to stay with You".
When was the last time that you felt like my granddaughter--- toward the Lord? Are there other places you would rather be than in His presence? Are you content to just sit at His feet, like Mary? Or are you more concerned about being other places and doing other things, like Martha? One of my favorite hymns is "In The Garden". One line of the song says, "I'd stay in the garden with Him, though the night around me be falling". Is that how you feel? You long to stay with Him regardless of what may be going on around you? Does your heart yearn for His presence- to stay with Him? Or are you in a hurry to get finished with your time of communion with Him so you can rush off to do something else- something that you would rather do?
It gives me so much joy to be with my granddaughter. Do you know where I get that attitude from? My Heavenly Father- He is the same way. We are what brings Him joy. And He has great joy when we willing desire to be, and stay, with Him in His presence.
Have a great day. Where would you rather be? Staying in His presence or somewhere else?
For further reading:
James 4:8
1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19
Zephaniah 3:17
Psalm 65:4; 84:10
Luke 10:41,42
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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
Thursday, June 9, 2011
"Thirst Quencher"
"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." Isaiah 55:1
When you are hot and thirsty, you want something to drink. There is an assortment of drinks to choose from- coffee, soda, tea, lemonade, juice, sports drinks, etc. But none of these quench your thirst, they still leave you thirsty and needing something else. When you are really hot and thirsty, the only true thirst quencher is water.
Our souls are thirsty too and we look for something to quench that thirst. We will take a "drink" of a variety of things- drugs, alcohol, relationships, entertainment, etc.- to try to find something that will satisfy that thirst that is within us. Like in the natural, all the things that look promising, that look like they will quench the thirst don't. Like in the natural again, there is only one thing that can truly quench the deep thirst that is within our souls.... water!
There is "water" that only the Lord can give and it will quench the thirsty soul once and for all. Jesus offered it to a woman one day that He met at a well. She had a deep thirst. She was trying to satisfy it through relationships but to no avail. He told her that if she would drink of the water that He has to give she would never thirst again. Nothing else and no one else can make that claim. Everything else leaves us unsatisfied and continuing our search for something else that will.
Are you thirsty this morning? Are you trying to find something that will quench that longing in your soul? Are you drinking from sources that are not satisfying? Then come and drink of the water that the Lord has to give. It will quench your thirst and you will never thirst again.
Have a great day. Only the water of life that Jesus has to give can quench your thirst once and for all.
For further reading:
John 4:1-29
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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
When you are hot and thirsty, you want something to drink. There is an assortment of drinks to choose from- coffee, soda, tea, lemonade, juice, sports drinks, etc. But none of these quench your thirst, they still leave you thirsty and needing something else. When you are really hot and thirsty, the only true thirst quencher is water.
Our souls are thirsty too and we look for something to quench that thirst. We will take a "drink" of a variety of things- drugs, alcohol, relationships, entertainment, etc.- to try to find something that will satisfy that thirst that is within us. Like in the natural, all the things that look promising, that look like they will quench the thirst don't. Like in the natural again, there is only one thing that can truly quench the deep thirst that is within our souls.... water!
There is "water" that only the Lord can give and it will quench the thirsty soul once and for all. Jesus offered it to a woman one day that He met at a well. She had a deep thirst. She was trying to satisfy it through relationships but to no avail. He told her that if she would drink of the water that He has to give she would never thirst again. Nothing else and no one else can make that claim. Everything else leaves us unsatisfied and continuing our search for something else that will.
Are you thirsty this morning? Are you trying to find something that will quench that longing in your soul? Are you drinking from sources that are not satisfying? Then come and drink of the water that the Lord has to give. It will quench your thirst and you will never thirst again.
Have a great day. Only the water of life that Jesus has to give can quench your thirst once and for all.
For further reading:
John 4:1-29
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
"The Invitation"
"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
What a wonderful invitation given to us by our Lord. He invites us to come to Him. He wants us to be in His presence. He isn't a God that is afar off. He opens the door of access to us. He makes Himself available to us. He doesn't have to. There is no reason why He should. He could keep us at a distance, but His desire is that we come to Him.
Not only does He invite us to come to Him, but we can come with our burdens and the load that we are carrying. It would have been more than we could hope for just to be able to come to Him but He invites us to come when we are "not at our best", when we are feeling down, weak and discouraged. When you approach an earthly king, you are not suppose to come before him with a sad countenance. You are to approach his presence with gladness of heart. Thankfully, that is not the case with our wonderful Lord. As a matter of fact, He wants us to come before His presence when we are burdened and heavy in heart. That is the whole point of His invitation to come to Him. He wants us to come so that He can do something about our burden. He wants us to come to Him so He can give us rest; so He can wipe our tears away; so He can give us His peace.
I wonder why it is that when we are under a heavy burden, going through a difficult time or feeling the pressure of trying situations, instead of going to Him we stay away or even draw back from Him. Why don't we take advantage of His invitation? Why don't we make our way into His presence? Why do we let the tears, the pain, the confusion cloud the path that leads directly to Him?
This morning, you have an invitation to come to Him- the One who bears your burdens, who gives peace and rest. Are you going to reject the invitation by staying away, or will you take advantage and not only enter into His presence, but find the rest you so desperately need?
Have a great day. The invitation to come into His presence is given. Are you going to come?
For further reading:
Psalm 34:18
Matthew 11:29,30
James 4:8
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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
What a wonderful invitation given to us by our Lord. He invites us to come to Him. He wants us to be in His presence. He isn't a God that is afar off. He opens the door of access to us. He makes Himself available to us. He doesn't have to. There is no reason why He should. He could keep us at a distance, but His desire is that we come to Him.
Not only does He invite us to come to Him, but we can come with our burdens and the load that we are carrying. It would have been more than we could hope for just to be able to come to Him but He invites us to come when we are "not at our best", when we are feeling down, weak and discouraged. When you approach an earthly king, you are not suppose to come before him with a sad countenance. You are to approach his presence with gladness of heart. Thankfully, that is not the case with our wonderful Lord. As a matter of fact, He wants us to come before His presence when we are burdened and heavy in heart. That is the whole point of His invitation to come to Him. He wants us to come so that He can do something about our burden. He wants us to come to Him so He can give us rest; so He can wipe our tears away; so He can give us His peace.
I wonder why it is that when we are under a heavy burden, going through a difficult time or feeling the pressure of trying situations, instead of going to Him we stay away or even draw back from Him. Why don't we take advantage of His invitation? Why don't we make our way into His presence? Why do we let the tears, the pain, the confusion cloud the path that leads directly to Him?
This morning, you have an invitation to come to Him- the One who bears your burdens, who gives peace and rest. Are you going to reject the invitation by staying away, or will you take advantage and not only enter into His presence, but find the rest you so desperately need?
Have a great day. The invitation to come into His presence is given. Are you going to come?
For further reading:
Psalm 34:18
Matthew 11:29,30
James 4:8
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
"He Rescues"
"The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth." Psalm 145:18
This morning I woke up with one line of a song that we sing in church repeating over and over in my thoughts. "I called, You answered, and You came to my rescue." There is so much truth, hope and comfort in those few words.
When we call upon the Lord, He answers us. It doesn't matter if we call upon Him for help, for strength, for guidance, in a time of need, of trial, of adversity- He answers and comes to our aid. It doesn't matter how great the need is when we call, He does not lack in strength or ability to meet the need. How comforting to know that He will come to our rescue and not leave us on our own to try to deliver ourselves, solve our own problem or figure out a solution.
Are you in a place where you need to be "rescued" Rescued from grief, worry, fear, a financial burden, the pain of a broken relationship, confusion that continually clouds your thinking or from some besetting sin? Call upon the Lord. Trust Him to answer you. Believe that He will rescue you. Know that He loves you deeply and will not stay away from your cry. He will rescue you because when you call, the Bible says He draws near to you. When He draws near to you, then He is close enough to reach you and lift you out of whatever you are needing to be rescued from.
Have a great day. Call on the Lord, He will answer and He will rescue you.
For further reading:
Psalm 99:6; 44:6; 91:14,15
Isaiah 65:24
Jeremiah 33:3
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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
This morning I woke up with one line of a song that we sing in church repeating over and over in my thoughts. "I called, You answered, and You came to my rescue." There is so much truth, hope and comfort in those few words.
When we call upon the Lord, He answers us. It doesn't matter if we call upon Him for help, for strength, for guidance, in a time of need, of trial, of adversity- He answers and comes to our aid. It doesn't matter how great the need is when we call, He does not lack in strength or ability to meet the need. How comforting to know that He will come to our rescue and not leave us on our own to try to deliver ourselves, solve our own problem or figure out a solution.
Are you in a place where you need to be "rescued" Rescued from grief, worry, fear, a financial burden, the pain of a broken relationship, confusion that continually clouds your thinking or from some besetting sin? Call upon the Lord. Trust Him to answer you. Believe that He will rescue you. Know that He loves you deeply and will not stay away from your cry. He will rescue you because when you call, the Bible says He draws near to you. When He draws near to you, then He is close enough to reach you and lift you out of whatever you are needing to be rescued from.
Have a great day. Call on the Lord, He will answer and He will rescue you.
For further reading:
Psalm 99:6; 44:6; 91:14,15
Isaiah 65:24
Jeremiah 33:3
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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
Monday, June 6, 2011
"Whose Plans?"
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Our life consists of plans- one plan after another. The question is, "Whose plans are we going to follow?" We have plans for our lives- plans that will take us to bigger and better things. Other people have plans for us- they want to tell us what we should do and how we should go about doing it. The devil has plans for our lives- plans to destroy us. Then the Lord also has plans for us. Out of all those that we have listed above, the Lord is the only one who is truly qualified to make plans for us. His plans are good plans- they give us a hope and a future.
I want to ask you a question this morning, "Whose plans are you following?" If you are following the plans of the devil, you will be destroyed. If you are following someone else's plans for your life, you will wind up missing the best plan for your life. If you are following your own plans, you will eventually make a mess of your life. But if you are following the Lord's plan, you can't go wrong. His plans lead to eternal life and an abundant life while on earth. His plans are the only ones that leave us feeling fulfilled, satisfied and productive.
We have been given the freedom to choose whose plans we will follow. We can follow the wrong plans or we can follow God's plans. Perhaps you are struggling this morning with surrendering to God's plan for your life. If so, you are struggling against the one who loves you, cares about you and whose plans can only do you good and bring you lasting peace in the end. So surrender to His plan and gain hope and a future.
Have a great day. Out of all the plans that are presented to us, only God's plan can give us hope and a future.
For further reading:
John 10:10
Proverbs 3:6; 16:25
Jeremiah 10:23
Genesis 12:1,2
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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
Our life consists of plans- one plan after another. The question is, "Whose plans are we going to follow?" We have plans for our lives- plans that will take us to bigger and better things. Other people have plans for us- they want to tell us what we should do and how we should go about doing it. The devil has plans for our lives- plans to destroy us. Then the Lord also has plans for us. Out of all those that we have listed above, the Lord is the only one who is truly qualified to make plans for us. His plans are good plans- they give us a hope and a future.
I want to ask you a question this morning, "Whose plans are you following?" If you are following the plans of the devil, you will be destroyed. If you are following someone else's plans for your life, you will wind up missing the best plan for your life. If you are following your own plans, you will eventually make a mess of your life. But if you are following the Lord's plan, you can't go wrong. His plans lead to eternal life and an abundant life while on earth. His plans are the only ones that leave us feeling fulfilled, satisfied and productive.
We have been given the freedom to choose whose plans we will follow. We can follow the wrong plans or we can follow God's plans. Perhaps you are struggling this morning with surrendering to God's plan for your life. If so, you are struggling against the one who loves you, cares about you and whose plans can only do you good and bring you lasting peace in the end. So surrender to His plan and gain hope and a future.
Have a great day. Out of all the plans that are presented to us, only God's plan can give us hope and a future.
For further reading:
John 10:10
Proverbs 3:6; 16:25
Jeremiah 10:23
Genesis 12:1,2
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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
Friday, June 3, 2011
"The Root"
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Hebrews 12:1
When we have issues in our lives, most of us are guilty of dealing with just what we see on the surface, we never get to the root of the issue. When someone has an addiction problem, they work on the addiction. When someone has an anger problem, they work on anger management. When someone has a problem with relationships, they walk away from the relationship. They are only dealing with what is on the surface but never the real heart of the matter.
Anyone who has done any gardening- be it a vegetable garden or a flower garden- knows that when you have weeds in your garden, you don't just cut down the weed at the surface of the dirt, you have to dig up its root. If you don't, it will continue to come back and you will spend your time constantly cutting it down.
The root to these issues in our lives is "sin". So we must deal with the sin issue. We can't deal with sin on our own, we need Jesus. Jesus came to deal with sin. He took care of it at the cross. He won the victory over sin. He destroyed its work in our lives. He set us free from its captivity.
How to deal with the root? Go to God and confess your sin. Ask Him to forgive you and wash you clean from it with His blood. Once I pull up the weed that was in my garden, I am then able to work on making the plants that I want to grow healthier. Spiritually speaking, we do the same thing. We spend so much time dealing with the effects of the sin that we neglect our spiritual growth.
If you have a sin issue in your life, deal with it at the root level. Get it out of your life through the power of the blood of Jesus. Then you can work on making His fruit in your life "healthier".
Have a great day. Go straight to the root of the issue and deal with it there.
For further reading:
1 John 1:9
Matthew 1:21
Acts 5:31
Ephesians 1:7
Colossians 1:14
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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
When we have issues in our lives, most of us are guilty of dealing with just what we see on the surface, we never get to the root of the issue. When someone has an addiction problem, they work on the addiction. When someone has an anger problem, they work on anger management. When someone has a problem with relationships, they walk away from the relationship. They are only dealing with what is on the surface but never the real heart of the matter.
Anyone who has done any gardening- be it a vegetable garden or a flower garden- knows that when you have weeds in your garden, you don't just cut down the weed at the surface of the dirt, you have to dig up its root. If you don't, it will continue to come back and you will spend your time constantly cutting it down.
The root to these issues in our lives is "sin". So we must deal with the sin issue. We can't deal with sin on our own, we need Jesus. Jesus came to deal with sin. He took care of it at the cross. He won the victory over sin. He destroyed its work in our lives. He set us free from its captivity.
How to deal with the root? Go to God and confess your sin. Ask Him to forgive you and wash you clean from it with His blood. Once I pull up the weed that was in my garden, I am then able to work on making the plants that I want to grow healthier. Spiritually speaking, we do the same thing. We spend so much time dealing with the effects of the sin that we neglect our spiritual growth.
If you have a sin issue in your life, deal with it at the root level. Get it out of your life through the power of the blood of Jesus. Then you can work on making His fruit in your life "healthier".
Have a great day. Go straight to the root of the issue and deal with it there.
For further reading:
1 John 1:9
Matthew 1:21
Acts 5:31
Ephesians 1:7
Colossians 1:14
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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
Thursday, June 2, 2011
"Uplifting Words"
"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." John 12:32
Would you mind this morning if I talk about how wonderful our glorious Savior Jesus is? He said in the verse above, if He was lifted up He would draw all men to Himself. I know that He was talking about the literal lifting up of His body, hanging above the earth on the cross for all to see. But I also think about "lifting Him up" through praise and adoration from our mouths.
Speaking of "lifting up". When you open your mouth, just what are you "lifting up" with your words? Are you lifting up Him or self? Are you lifting your problems up? Are you lifting your pain, your frustrations or bitterness? Are you lifting up words of criticism and condemnation? Are your words negative and unkind, or wholesome and edifying? We are never at a loss for words, and our words are always going to be either lifting something or someone up or tearing them down. Which will yours be?
So this morning, I want to lift Jesus up. He has been so good to me, why should I complain about anything. He saved my soul from hell, gave me a home in heaven, blotted out my sins, made me a new person, calls me His child, He supplies all my needs, He is with me always, He watches over me continually, He never leaves me and won't forsake me. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He loves me with an everlasting love and nothing can separate me from His love. As I lift Him up through my praises and thank Him for who He is and what He has done, not only does He draw others who hear my praise to Himself, He draws me near to Him also. When I get near Him, my words have to change because my heart is filled with gratitude and thanksgiving because of what He has done for me. And that leaves no room for the other words.
Have a great day. Keep your mouth filled with His praise.. continually lift Him up and you won't be lifting up the wrong things with your mouth.
For further reading:
Psalm 89:1; 34:1; 105:1
James 3:10,11
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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
Would you mind this morning if I talk about how wonderful our glorious Savior Jesus is? He said in the verse above, if He was lifted up He would draw all men to Himself. I know that He was talking about the literal lifting up of His body, hanging above the earth on the cross for all to see. But I also think about "lifting Him up" through praise and adoration from our mouths.
Speaking of "lifting up". When you open your mouth, just what are you "lifting up" with your words? Are you lifting up Him or self? Are you lifting your problems up? Are you lifting your pain, your frustrations or bitterness? Are you lifting up words of criticism and condemnation? Are your words negative and unkind, or wholesome and edifying? We are never at a loss for words, and our words are always going to be either lifting something or someone up or tearing them down. Which will yours be?
So this morning, I want to lift Jesus up. He has been so good to me, why should I complain about anything. He saved my soul from hell, gave me a home in heaven, blotted out my sins, made me a new person, calls me His child, He supplies all my needs, He is with me always, He watches over me continually, He never leaves me and won't forsake me. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He loves me with an everlasting love and nothing can separate me from His love. As I lift Him up through my praises and thank Him for who He is and what He has done, not only does He draw others who hear my praise to Himself, He draws me near to Him also. When I get near Him, my words have to change because my heart is filled with gratitude and thanksgiving because of what He has done for me. And that leaves no room for the other words.
Have a great day. Keep your mouth filled with His praise.. continually lift Him up and you won't be lifting up the wrong things with your mouth.
For further reading:
Psalm 89:1; 34:1; 105:1
James 3:10,11
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
"Used In Big Ways"
"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:10
The cry of many Christian's hearts is that the Lord will "use them". They want to be "used" by the Lord to do great things. But each and everyday He opens up opportunities for them yet they "miss it" because they have their own idea of what that means and how they want Him to use them. Many are looking for Him to use them in some big, glamorous, open way where all can see.
Being used by God simply means "stepping up to the plate" to do whatever needs doing when it comes to your attention. One day a Samaritan was riding down a road and came upon a man who had been beaten by robbers and left for dead--- opportunity. A little servant girl discovered that her master Naaman had leprosy and told him about a prophet that could heal him-- opportunity. Giving a cup of cold water is not as small a thing as we think, it will receive a reward-- opportunity. Giving something to eat to a hungry person, or clothing to the destitute-- opportunity. Wiping the tears of the hurting, lifting up the hands of someone who is weak, a kind word when someone is feeling down, a gentle hug to someone who is feeling unloved-- opportunity.
The Lord gives us opportunities everyday to be used by Him to reach others with His love and reveal His glory. But we miss them because we are looking for some bigger, better work. Start taking time to notice what is going on around you. Look for "little" ways to touch someone's life, and do them. As you are faithful in the "little" opportunities that come your way, then the Lord can open up "bigger" opportunities.
Have a great day. Don't miss your opportunity to do something for the Lord because it isn't what you had in mind.
For further reading:
2 Kings 5:1-3
Matthew 10:42; 25:21
James 2:15,16
Luke 10:30-36
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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 cry of many Christian's hearts is that the Lord will "use them". They want to be "used" by the Lord to do great things. But each and everyday He opens up opportunities for them yet they "miss it" because they have their own idea of what that means and how they want Him to use them. Many are looking for Him to use them in some big, glamorous, open way where all can see.
Being used by God simply means "stepping up to the plate" to do whatever needs doing when it comes to your attention. One day a Samaritan was riding down a road and came upon a man who had been beaten by robbers and left for dead--- opportunity. A little servant girl discovered that her master Naaman had leprosy and told him about a prophet that could heal him-- opportunity. Giving a cup of cold water is not as small a thing as we think, it will receive a reward-- opportunity. Giving something to eat to a hungry person, or clothing to the destitute-- opportunity. Wiping the tears of the hurting, lifting up the hands of someone who is weak, a kind word when someone is feeling down, a gentle hug to someone who is feeling unloved-- opportunity.
The Lord gives us opportunities everyday to be used by Him to reach others with His love and reveal His glory. But we miss them because we are looking for some bigger, better work. Start taking time to notice what is going on around you. Look for "little" ways to touch someone's life, and do them. As you are faithful in the "little" opportunities that come your way, then the Lord can open up "bigger" opportunities.
Have a great day. Don't miss your opportunity to do something for the Lord because it isn't what you had in mind.
For further reading:
2 Kings 5:1-3
Matthew 10:42; 25:21
James 2:15,16
Luke 10:30-36
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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
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