Friday, October 28, 2011

"His Word Is Enough"

"Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." Luke 24:7

Jesus told His disciples that He was going to be crucified but that He would rise again. They saw Him being arrested. They saw Him beaten. They saw Him die on the cross. They saw all their hopes and dreams and all they had believed vanish before them. All they had was Jesus' word- "I will rise again on the third day".

"And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side." (Mark 4:35) While they were in the boat all the disciples could see was a violent storm, the seas roaring and the wind blowing. They could see the water in the boat. They could see the helplessness of the situation. It did not look good for them at all. All they had was Jesus' word- "Let us pass over to the other side".

In both cases the disciples saw nothing encouraging, nothing hopeful, nothing but darkness and death. All they had was Jesus' word to hold on to, but that was enough.

When you face the storms and trials of life, when you go through difficulties, when all looks hopeless, when there is nothing around you but despair, and all you have is God's word about the situation, then that is enough.

All the disciples saw was death, but Jesus said they would see Him raised from the dead--- and they did! All the disciples saw was a storm that was about to destroy them, but Jesus said they were going to the other side--- and they did!

Things may not look good, but we don't walk by sight, we walk by faith-- faith in what Jesus has said. It is not about what we see, but about what we hear. It doesn't matter how dark it may look, if Jesus said the light is coming, then it is. It may look like you are going to drown, but if Jesus said you are going to survive, you will. If whatever you face is saying one thing, but Jesus is saying another-- then what Jesus said is what you can count on.

Have a great day. If all you have is God's word about the situation- no matter how it looks- His word is enough.

For Further reading:
Mark 4:35-41
Romans 1:17
Hebrews 11:1
2 Corinthians 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, October 27, 2011

"I'll Be Back"

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3

Jesus had spent the last three years with His disciples- day in and day out- and now He tells them that He will be going away. Jesus knew this would be troubling news to them so He begins by telling them not to let what He is about to say trouble their hearts. Then He tells them- "I will come again." He was saying, "You haven't seen the last of Me. I may be absent for a little while, it may look like I am gone for good, but I am not, I will be back." ("Yet a little while." John 14:19a)

There are times when we feel as if we have seen the last of Jesus. You were walking with Him so closely- hearing His words guiding you, feeling His arms of love around you, knowing every move you made He was making it with you. But all of a sudden it appears as if He has left you. You can't feel His presence. It doesn't look like He is anywhere in sight. You can't hear His sweet voice directing you in which way to go. You seek for Him, but He must be hiding because you can't seem to find Him.

Are you feeling like that? During the period of time that He "left" the disciples He had not forgotten them. He was working on their behalf to fulfill the plan of their redemption. He was making preparation for their eternity. He was, as a high priest, presenting His blood on the mercy seat in heaven. They were still on His mind. Though it may seem as if He has "left" you, He has not. He is still making intercession on your behalf. He is still going before the Father on your behalf. Take heart! You haven't seen the last of Him. He has not left you. His eyes are still on you. He is still there.

So this morning, "Let not your heart be troubled. I will come again." You will sense His presence again. You will feel the warm of His presence. You will hear His voice again. You will see His hand working on your behalf. You have not seen the last of Him.

Have a great day. While it seems as if He has left you, He hasn't, He is working on your behalf.

For further reading:
John 14:1-3
Hebrews 8:1; 9:24; 7:25

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

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

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

"He Won't Put Up With It"

"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Luke 6:46

What do you think would happen if on your job you decided to set your own hours- you would come in and leave when you wanted to? What if you decided that you wouldn't go to work at all this week- just because you didn't feel like it? What if when you got to work you only did the job that you wanted to do? What do you think your employer would say about that? Do you think he would continue to allow you to work there? If you were an employer with an employee like that, would you allow him to remain or would you fire him?

What if when you got married you told your husband- I will wear your ring and take on your name, but I will continue to see my old boy friends. I will be at home during the week but on the weekends I am going out with the girls. Suppose you told your husband that you were not going to cook his meals or wash his clothes- except when you felt like it. Wives, suppose your husband told you that he was not going to work and make a living, you would have to take care of everything that needed doing, and he would not be home but one night a week because he plans on spending the other nights with his buddies or seeing a girl friend. If that was you, how would you feel? What would you do about it? Would you put up with that type of "relationship"?

In both examples neither would put up with it. Your employer would fire you. Your spouse would never agree to such an arrangement. So, let me ask you a question-- why do we think that Jesus will put up with it? Why do we say we are saved and not act like it? Why do we continue to do the things we want to do and think that it is all right with Him? Why is it that we think He will overlook the fact that we never go to His house, we never read His word, we never talk to Him (except when we are in trouble) and think that He'll "understand". We don't get by with it in our earthly relationships with other people, yet, we think we will get by with it where Jesus is concerned.

An employer wants an employee that he can count on, that is faithful to his position and that will actually work for his pay check. A husband/wife wants their spouse to love them, spend time with them, choose them above others and be there with and for them. What do you think Jesus wants? He wants someone to love Him- not with "lip service" but with lifestyle. He wants someone who desires to be with Him, who will follow Him and will listen to His voice. We give that respect to others, why is He any different?

Your employer would not put up with your lack of commitment. Your spouse would not put up with your lack of love and respect. And contrary to popular opinion, Jesus won't put up with your taking Him for granted. One day He will tell you, "Depart, I never knew you."

Have a great day. If our boss and spouse won't put up with our lack of commitment, why do we think Jesus will put up with it?

For further reading:
Matthew 7:21,23; 16:24; 22:37

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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, October 25, 2011

"The Outdated Bible"

"And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock." Matthew 7:25

"And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew." The scripture said that the storms came. It didn't say, "If the storms come". Storms are a given in life-- they come. So what do we do when they come?

Some seek the advice of others. Some try to solve the problems themselves. Some think they can throw enough money at it and it will calm down. Others think that they can ignore it and it will go away. There is only one sure solution- the Word of God.

Sadly, we aren't taught how to hold fast to and stand upon God's word much any more. Instead we are taught that God's word is outdated and old fashioned- it was all right for men in the old days but not for today. We live in a modern society- the Word of God is "old school". Then we are taught that the Word of God is a crutch for the weak minded, uneducated and poor. We have "evolved" our thinking past what the Bible says- we are living in the "Age of Enlightenment". The Bible was good for the "dark ages" but not for today.

Let me go on record as saying that the Bible never has been and never will be outdated!! You can believe what you want to believe about it. You can believe that it does not apply to your life or situation. You can believe that there are more effective ways of dealing with your problems/storms. You can believe that it has run its course and is no longer relevant. But just because you believe it doesn't mean that your belief is right.

I choose to believe what God says. He says His Word is eternal- heaven and earth will pass away but His Word will remain forever. In the beginning was the Word and at the end the Word will still be there. His Word is the only true source of strength, healing, light and life. I choose to believe what Jesus said, "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock." (Matthew 7:24) Truly wise people build their lives on God's Word.

Jesus also said something else, "And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand." (verse 26) We may think we are so smart and have outgrown the Word of God, but Jesus Himself said that you are "foolish" to think that without His Word you can make it through this life. There is a verse that sums up pretty well those who think that the Word of God is irrelevant, outdated and not necessary-- "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." (Romans 1:22)

Have a great day. Wise men believe that the Word of God is relevant and necessary. Foolish men believe that God's Word is outdated and unnecessary.

For further reading:
John 1:1
Matthew 24:35
Psalm 119:105
James 1:22
2 Timothy 1:13; 3:15-17; 4:2-4

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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, October 24, 2011

"Lifestyle Adjustment"

"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." Hebrews 1:24,25

When Moses was a baby, he was not only rescued from death but he was raised in the palace as the grandson of Pharaoh. He could have lived the rest of his life in comfort and ease. He had everything that a person could ever hope for- position, power, education, wealth, servants at his disposal, pleasures, etc. He would never have to work to make a living. He would never have to struggle. Everything would come to him on a "silver platter". He had it made by our estimation. His life was a true "rags to riches" story. Yet Moses gave it all up.

He refused to associate with those who were enjoying this lifestyle. He chose a life of suffering instead. He turned away from worldly pleasure, ease and comfort. It seems foolish. There are those who would say he was crazy. Why would he do that? He had everything that others so desperately desire and work to achieve?

The answer is found in the next verse- "Considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward." (NAS) Moses knew that to be identified with Christ was greater than to be identified with Pharaoh. He knew who the real King was- kings/Pharaohs come and go with the passing of time. He also knew that kingdoms rise and fall, but Christ is the Eternal King who has an eternal kingdom. He knew the riches of Pharaoh's palace were only temporary- moths and rust would destroy them, and thieves could steal them- but the riches of Christ are eternal. As far as Moses was concerned, there was no comparison of the earthly riches and the heavenly ones. He knew that there is a reward that can never be taken away, that will never fade away, that will last forever. He was looking for the crown of life which was so much more valuable than some sort of gold crown fashioned by the hands of man. He knew that a relationship with the Heavenly King was far greater and more wonderful.

What about you? Are you choosing the riches of this world above eternal riches? Are you choosing the temporary pleasures of this world above the eternal rewards that await those who choose to be identified with Christ? There is no comparison and Moses knew this, therefore, he adjusted his life accordingly. And in the end, there was no doubt he made the better choice. Are you adjusting your life accordingly? In eternity, you will be so glad that you chose Christ instead of all this world has to offer.

Have a great day. Our belief in Jesus will often cause an adjustment to be made in our lifestyles, but it will be worth it all in eternity when it really counts.

For further reading:
Mark 10:28-30
Matthew 6:19,20
Romans 8:18
2 Timothy 4:8
James 1:12

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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, October 21, 2011

"Capturing The Enemy - Part 5"

"And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you." 1 Corinthians 12:21

All week we have been talking about the things that I have learned from a dream I had earlier in the week. This morning we are going wrap it up- although there are many lessons still yet that we can learn from it.

In the dream the others- who were my allies- would not come and help in the capture of the enemy. What we see from this is that when someone doesn't do their part, it makes it harder on the others. It is just like our physical body. When one part isn't functioning properly another part has to compensate and work harder to make up for what is lacking. For example, when a person is visually impaired, their hearing has to go into "double-duty" to make up the difference. Everything would be so much easier for them if their eyes functioned at full capacity. If these allies had been doing their part the task before us would have been easier, quicker and we would not have had to stretch ourselves as far.

Capturing the enemy was as much for their benefit as it was for mine. They should have joined the battle for their own sakes- they had as much to gain. When the enemy was captured, they were able to enjoy the freedom that came through his defeat, they just weren't able to share in the joy of being the victor. Reminds me of the story of Barak. He enjoyed the freedom that came from the destruction of Israel's enemy Sisera, but the honor of the victory did not go to him it went to a woman- Jael.

The last thing I want to say is something that a friend pointed out to me. When these people weren't willing to help, when they did not join us at all, we did not get discouraged and give up. We did what we needed to do and captured them. So many times it feels like we are the only ones who are willing to do anything. So many times it feels as if we are all alone- even among those who profess to be our brothers and sisters in Christ. But we cannot be discouraged by that. We must go on. It is like the chorus says, "Though none go with me, still I will follow. No turning back." That must be our theme song. Our motto must be: "I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back." We must daily determine that we are going to do what we have to do even if no one else does. We must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. We must keep pressing for the mark. We must keep our eyes on the prize. We must continue pursuing. We can't quit or give up, and we can't let the fact that they have, influence us to do the same.

Not everyone is going to go with you- even those who seem the most spiritual, but we must continue on. All the disciples but one forsook Jesus in His most trying time, but He continued to follow the plan and will of His Father and went to the cross. His example is the one we must follow.

Have a great day. You must continue to go on with the Lord whether anyone else does or not.

For further reading:
1 Corinthians 12:20-22
Judges 4
Philippians 2:12
2 Timothy 4:12

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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, October 20, 2011

"Capturing The Enemy - Part 4"

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Matthew 16:24

All week I have been sharing some insights the Lord showed me through a dream I had a few days ago. This morning I would like to share something else with you. In the dream the people on the other couch would not lift even one finger to do anything about capturing the enemy that was in their midst. They would not get up off the couch. They just sat there. They were even given instructions on how to capture and defeat him. We, myself and the person with me, were going to help them so that they could be victorious in capturing the enemy. But never once did they even make any effort do get up off the couch.

If you are going to live this life of faith, if you are going to walk in the victory that Jesus provided for you, if you are going to reach the lost for Christ, if you are going to help advance the Kingdom of God in the earth, if you are going to grow in your faith, then you are going to have to get out of your "comfort zone". That couch was pretty comfortable so they didn't leave it. Because they didn't, they did not enjoy the victory that was awaiting them.

The Lord never called us to "comfort zone" Christianity. Most of the teachings of the Bible involve an action and are represented by action verbs: go ye, study to show yourself approved, work out, mortify the deeds of the flesh, renew your mind, fight the good fight of faith, etc.

No one who accomplished great things for the Lord's glory did it by staying in a nice, soft and easy place. Moses got out of his comfort zone by going back to Egypt to face Pharaoh. David got out of his comfort zone when he ran to meet the giant on the battlefield. Gideon left the winepress. Mary, the mother of Jesus, got out of her comfort zone when she said yes to the will of God and became the vessel through which the Messiah would be born into the world. And Jesus Himself, our beloved Savior, certainly got out of His comfort zone- first, to put on the likeness of human flesh and leave the splendor of heaven to come and live among us; and also when He submitted Himself to the will of the Father by dying on the cross for our sins.

If we are going to fulfill God's purpose and plan for our lives, we are going to have to step out in faith and that means getting "off the couch"- out of our comfort zones.

Have a great day. God never called us to be "couch potatoes" living in "comfort zones".

For further reading:
Luke 1:38; 18:28
John 15:8
Mark 16:15

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

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

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

"Capturing The Enemy - Part 3"

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12

We are still talking about the dream I had the other night. Yesterday we talked about the enemy. We said that when we take a closer look at the enemy, he isn't at all as he appears. If you will remember I said that in the dream the enemy looked like a person but upon closer inspection it looked more like a couple of small infants sitting together. We said that even though the enemy looks stronger, more powerful, more intimidating, we don't have to fear him because He is not bigger than Jesus and Jesus has already defeated him.

I want to look at the enemy again this morning. It is so easy for us to mistake who the enemy really is. I told you that in my dream there were two couches- the enemy was on one and there were some people sitting on the other one. Those other people were my allies. Yet when it came time to capture the enemy, they did nothing to help. They did not move- they just sat there. They did not come to my aid, they did not lift a finger, they gave me no words of encouragement- nothing. The only one who helped me was the one person who was standing on my side of the couch.

At that point it would have been easy for me to look at my allies now as foes. I could have decided that since they did not help, they were now my enemies as well. We must guard against making "people" our enemies. They are not- even if they don't come to your aid; even if they don't help you or support you; even if they fail you; even if they oppose you, or even if they are attacking you. They are not the real enemy. I didn't say they might not be used by the enemy, but they are not the enemy. Our real enemy is revealed through the verse above.

If we don't correctly define who the real enemy is, then we will wind up fighting the perceived enemy and not him. In my dream if I had turned to fight those people, I would not have captured the real enemy and he would have gotten away free to attack me another day.

Have a great day. We must know who the true enemy is- and it is not flesh and blood.

For further reading:
1 Peter 5:8
Colossians 2:15
Revelation 12:10
John 10:10

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

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

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

"Capturing The Enemy - Part 2"

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8

Yesterday I shared a dream that I had. The dream took place during a time of war. In the dream I was in a room which had two couches in it. On one couch was the enemy. When I looked at this enemy closer, it looked more like two babies instead of a full size adult.

What I wanted to share with you this morning is: when we take a closer look at the enemy, we will find that he isn't at all as he appears. He isn't as fearful, as powerful, as strong, or as intimidating as he seems. The scripture above says that our enemy, the devil, goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. It said, "like/as" a roaring lion. He is not a lion. He goes about like one roaring (threatening) to try to intimidate you with fear and confusion. There is only one "real" lion-- Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

When Goliath would come out each day and taunt the armies of Israel they feared him because of his size. But upon further inspection we discover that he wasn't so big after all- a rock in a teenager's sling shot brought him down. (He wasn't too big for God to handle.)

The enemy often appears one way in order to make us feel defeated before we even get into the battle- like the Israelite army. But when you really take a good look at him, you will see that he is no one you need to fear because you will discover that Jesus is bigger, wiser, more powerful, greater and the Conqueror. He is no match for Jesus. Jesus already defeated him once (once and for all that is) at the cross. So do not fear the enemy. In the dream when I followed the Lord's instructions, the enemy was so easy to capture. It barely took any effort at all. Why was that? Because Jesus has already rendered him defeated!!

Have a great day. Your adversary is not as powerful as he may appear to be.

For further reading:
Psalm 98:1
Colossians 2:15
John 19:30
1 John 3:8
1 Samuel 17

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

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

Monday, October 17, 2011

"Capturing The Enemy"

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Joshua 1:8

I overslept this morning because I was dreaming-- seems like all night. I feel the need to share one of the dreams with you.

I was in a room. The room was dimly lit and there were two couches in it (one on one wall and the other on the wall beside it). On the first couch which was closest to where I and one other person were standing, was a person (actually, it looked like two people who looked more like babies than full size adults). On the other couch were sitting several people. In the dream I knew that the person on the couch closest to me was the enemy (the dream was taking place during war time). The people on the other couch were my allies. As I stood there looking at the enemy a word came to me (I thought it was a scripture, but I knew it was from the Lord). The word was "encircle the enemy and you will have victory".

I looked at my allies on the other couch and told them, "Encircle the enemy. We (referring to me and that other person) will get at this side of the couch arm and you get on the other side and then come connect in a circle with us around them." The enemy would have been hemmed in, with no way of escape, we outnumbered them and could have easily overpowered them, and we would have the victory over them. The other person and I got into position, but the ones on the other couch did not. They would not move. Victory was so close and so easy to obtain yet they would not get off the couch to do it. The person who was with me and I stretched ourselves around the couch and captured the enemy. We tied them up and took them as prisoner.

(There is so much to share from this dream that it will be the topic of the Coffee Break devotionals for the next few days.) What I want to share this morning is this: obedience to the Word of God is what brings victory. "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land." (Isaiah 1:19) A lot of people are willing (they want to have the victory over the enemies in their lives), but it's the obedience that they don't want to do. They want it, they just don't want to have to do anything to obtain it. You can't have victory though without it- they go hand in hand. Perhaps you are not walking in victory in a certain area and can't understand why. May I suggest that you check and see if it is because you have not obeyed what the Lord has told you to do. (Who knows, it might be??)

Have a great day. Obedience and victory go hand in hand.

For further reading:
Luke 6:46-48

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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, October 14, 2011

"A Word Painting"

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. " Proverbs 25:11

This is an interesting word picture to describe our words when they are spoken at the right time. They are compared to "apples of gold in pictures of silver".

Let's break it down this morning to grasp the meaning.

There is an old saying- "An apple a day keeps the doctor away". A word spoken correctly will bring "health" to the hearer. Our words either build up or tear down. So we want to speak words that bring health and healing to the hearts and minds of others.

Gold is one of the precious metals. It is highly valued and has an expensive price. It represents the divine nature of God. His words are always precious and should be valued. When we use our words wisely, we are reflecting His nature.

Pictures has the translation of more than just an object hanging on a wall to look at. It is also an image, a show piece, figure, even an idol. When we speak to others, we are leaving an "image" with them. (Our words truly do paint pictures.) It is either an image of defeat and discouragement, or its an image that builds faith, hope and encouragement. When we speak to others, we want to leave them with a "show piece"- something they can go back to and "look" at over and over again, and each time be encouraged.

Silver is another precious metal- right up there at the top. It symbolizes redemption. Our words have a redeeming power about them- if they are used correctly. They can deliver someone who is feeling weak, unloved, worthless, no good, forgotten. How amazing, just one word can completely change a person's life. A word is all it takes sometimes for someone to change- a word of kindness, a word of compassion, a word of mercy, a word of grace, a word of encouragement or even a word of correction that is spoken in love.

Did you "get the picture"? Seeing the beautiful picture that our words can paint should cause us to consider what we say, how we say it and when it say it.

Have a great day. Our words are painting a picture. The question is, "What kind of picture are they painting?"

For further reading:
Psalm 19:14
James 3:5
Proverbs 18:21; 15:4
1 Timothy 6:3,4

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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, October 13, 2011

"Scattered Paper"

"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Psalm 61:2

A friend and I were praying recently for a mutual friend of ours who was going through a very difficult time. They were being pressed on every side. Their job was getting overwhelming. They were under a heavy burden and lots of pressure. In short, they were being bombarded in every area with chaos and confusion. As my friend and I were praying, I saw a picture in my mind. I feel the need to share it with you this morning.

I saw a floor that was covered with paper. It looked as if someone had taken a stack of copy paper and tossed it up in the air and it all fell scattered on the floor. I knew these scattered papers represented all the chaos that our friend was going through. Each piece was symbolic of an area of their life- family, job, demands, health, etc. It was just a mess of paper all over the floor. But then I saw something else. I saw the loving hand of our Heavenly Father reach down and begin to pick up each piece of paper and put them in a nice neat stack. As He did I saw Him begin to reorganize them. He would pick up one and put it in the stack, then He would pick up another one and throw it out because it was unnecessary and not important. Pretty soon the floor was cleared and there was a small neat stack of organized, prioritized papers.

Do you feel as if your life is a bunch of scattered papers on the floor? Does it feel like there is no order to your life, only chaos? Does it look hopeless as you look at the mess of papers laying on the floor? Are there things in your life that need to be discarded but you can't seem to decide exactly which ones? If this represents your life, then there is hope. What I saw was not for our friend only, but for all of us whose lives feel the same way. The focus of what I saw was not the scattered, disorganized paper all over the floor, the focus was the hand of God reaching into the mess and bringing peace, order, clarity and help.

You may be having a hard time with what is happening in your life- not knowing what to keep and what to discard, how to organize it, how to clean it up, how to have some peace through it- but the Lord doesn't have a hard time with it. He knows what to do with what is "scattered on the floor" and how to clean it up. Look to Him this morning and ask Him to help get your life back in order.

Have a great day. Your life may feel like a stack of scattered paper on the floor, but the Lord wants to help you pick them up.

For further reading:
Psalm 121:1
Mark 4:39
Matthew 6:33

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

"Drastic Measures - Part 2"

"For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." Malachi 3:6

Yesterday we talked about the drastic measures that the Lord went through to get Jonah's attention and cause him to stop running from God and His call. This morning I want to ask the question, "Why did God do that? Why didn't He just let Jonah drown? Why didn't He just forget about Nineveh since Jonah didn't want to go there?"

The reason is simple-- God is a God of love and mercy. He is not willing that any should perish. He showed Jonah mercy by sparing him. He showed Nineveh mercy by not changing His plan to send them a warning.

Nineveh and Israel were enemies. Jonah didn't want to see his nation's enemies spared. He wanted judgment to fall on them. He wanted God to destroy them. And Jonah knew that if they repented, God would forgive them and they would continue to cause trouble from his people. Listen to Jonah's words to God when they did repent and God spared them. Let me read it out of the New Living Translation because it puts it so plainly-- "So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people." (Jonah 4:2) First, it seems to me that Jonah should have been thankful that the Lord is so gracious and merciful because had He not been, Jonah would have drowned in the sea- there would have been no fish story, that would have been the end for Jonah. (How is it that we want mercy and forgiveness for ourselves, but not necessarily for everyone else.) Secondly, because Jonah knew God he knew He does not change. He expected God to be no less than He is. He knew God would be faithful to His own nature. Therefore, He knew God would show mercy to even his enemies if they repented.

Are we like Jonah in these two areas? Do we want mercy for ourselves, but there is someone that we have dealings with that we don't want the Lord to show mercy to? Instead, we want Him to "get them"? We want His vengeance to fall on them? We don't want Him to bless their lives in any way? Do we expect God to do what He says He will do? Do we know Him so well that we know we can count on Him to always work according to His own nature? Do we expect the Lord to be who is His and no less?

Have a great day. We can expect God to be just who He is.

For further reading:
2 Peter 3:9
Psalm 86:5, 15; 103:8

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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, October 11, 2011

"Drastic Measures"

"But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep." Jonah 1:4,5

Jonah received the word from the Lord to go preach to Nineveh that they repent or He would destroy them. But instead of obeying, Jonah rebelled and tried to run from the Lord. He boarded a ship heading in the opposite direction of Nineveh. While he was on the ship a storm arose. The storm was so bad that the sailors were afraid, they cried out to their gods, they threw their cargo overboard, they bailed water out of the ship and were preparing themselves to die. The whole time this was taking place Jonah was sound asleep in the bottom of the boat. Jonah must have been pretty comfortable to be able to sleep through such a storm.

The Lord will send/allow a storm to come into our lives if we have reached a place where we are comfortable in our rebellion and disobedience to Him. When we get comfortable in our sins, He will cause a storm to begin to wake us up out of our comfort zone.

Does He do this for our destruction? Never. He does it because of His great love. Whom the Father loves He chastens. He knows that if we go in the wrong direction and we get comfortable there, it will lead to our harm. He sends it as a "wake up call" so that we will get up, face the truth and turn back in His direction.

Even though the Lord sent the storm to wake Jonah up, He also sent a big fish to save Jonah and keep him from being destroyed. The Lord is never out to harm us. He loves us so much that if He needs to, He will go to drastic measures to save us- save us from our rebellion, save us from sin, save us from destruction. The storm and the whale were drastic measures to reach this rebellious prophet, but they can never compare with the drastic measure the Lord went to when He sent His only begotten Son Jesus to die on the cross to save us and turn us to Him.

Have a great day. The Lord loves us so much that He will go to whatever measure He has to to wake us up when we have become comfortable going in the wrong direction.

For further reading:
Jonah 1
Hebrews 12:5-10
John 3:16
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.

Monday, October 10, 2011

"The Vision- Ministry Update"

Dear All,

"And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." Habakkuk 2:2

This morning instead of the Coffee Break devotional, if you will allow me, I want to give you an update on what is going on in the ministry. The Lord has been opening more and more doors lately. He is truly enlarging my tents, and I believe that this is only the beginning.

For those of you who aren't familiar with what this ministry does I want to take this opportunity to share a little with you. (Please continue reading- I have a reason for sharing this.)

In addition to the email devotions, monthly newsletter, conferences, preaching ministry, drug and alcohol recovery center ministry and nursing home ministry we also have an outreach to help meet people's physical needs. The Lord has truly blessed us to be able to help many people in many different ways. We have paid people's rent, bought medicine, paid light bills, bought gas, furnished Bibles, helped orphanages, supported missionaries, etc. Many people have been so gracious to donate items to us so that we have been able to help those who have been burned out, or need help with clothes and other items. The Lord has opened the door for me to have two storage buildings at my home to house the donated items, and a storage unit where I am free to hold yard sales to help with the financial support of the ministry.

But there is another burden on my heart- it is for the homeless. I have a vision that I believe is from the Lord and I believe the timing to pursue it is now. I am in the process of looking for a ministry center where we can feed the hungry, clothe the naked and provide shelter for the homeless. I am looking into purchasing some sort of apartment complex or multi-family dwelling. Over the past several weeks I have received numerous calls from people who were burned out and had no place to go or who were living on the streets and needed a place to stay. All I have been able to do was put them up in a hotel, which gets expensive... but the Lord has graciously provided.

I have never asked for financial support, the Lord has always supplied the need and always will. But I believe the Lord has instructed me to put the vision before you to give you the opportunity to partner with me on a monthly basis to see this vision became a reality. I believe there are some of you out there who have been wanting to partner with something like this but haven't known where or how. All I am asking is that you pray about it and see if the Lord would have you to give into this ministry. If not, then I ask for your prayer support as we help advance the Kingdom of God in the earth.

Thank you so much for allowing me to have this personal time with you and share what the Lord has laid on my heart to do. There are so many hurting people. We must reach them while we can. Thank you for prayerful consideration of this matter.

In Christ's Service,
Lorraine Ezell

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc. (501c non-profit incorporation; all gifts are tax deductable)
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

Friday, October 7, 2011

"He Is Wonderful"

"...and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6b

This morning I woke up with the words of a song repeating over and over again in my thoughts. I felt impressed to share the song with you- you will find it below. The song is, "Wonderful, Merciful Savior".

There is nothing about the Lord that is not wonderful. And how wonderful it is that He desires to have a relationship with us. Though the shed blood of Jesus- the "Lamb of God"; the eternal sacrifice- we have been adopted into His family and are now His children.

How wonderful it is that He calls us His friends- we who were once His enemies. It is wonderful to know that when we need guidance, comfort and strength He gives it to us and in such generous measures. The depth of His love for us is too wonderful for us to comprehend. It is wonderful to know that He allows us to come before Him and one day we will be with Him forever.

I could go on all morning declaring how wonderful He is in so many ways. But I will leave that for you to do. Take time today to meditate on just how truly wonderful He is and all the wonderful things He has done for you. Thank Him for the wonderful gift of salvation that He so freely has given you through Jesus. Then rejoice as well that He still has wonderful things in store for you in the future.

Have a great day. He is Wonderful!!!

For further reading:
Psalm 40:5; 107:8; 111:4
Isaiah 25:1

"Wonderful, Merciful Savior"

Wonderful merciful Savior
Precious redeemer and friend
Who would have thought that a lamb could
Rescue the souls of men, Oh You rescue the souls of men.

Counselor, comforter, keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost the way, Oh we hopelessly lost the way.

You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace our
Hearts always hunger for, Oh our hearts always hunger for.

Almighty infinite father
Faithfully loving Your own
Herein our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne, Oh we're falling before Your throne.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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, October 6, 2011

"Praise Without Seeing The Answer"

"I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation." Psalm 118:21

When is the Psalmist offering praise to the Lord? After the Lord answered him? After he saw the manifestation of what he was praying for? After the answer was in his hands? That isn't what it says. He praised the Lord for hearing him.

Why is it that we don't think about praising the Lord until after we see the answer? The very fact that this wonderful God, the Creator of the universe, the One who is so great that there are not even words in our vocabulary to describe Him, the One who rules from heaven and all creation trembles at His voice, the One before whom every person will stand and give an account, that this awesome God would even allow us to come anywhere near Him much less make our request known to Him should give us plenty of reason to praise Him. Whether He ever answered any of my prayers or not, I have more than enough reason to praise Him all the days, and every day, of my life.

Why is it that when He doesn't answer our prayers in the way we wanted Him to, we don't praise Him? His praise should continually be in our mouths- and not only when we receive the things we desire for from Him. Is He not worthy of praise- period! Or is He only worthy of our praise after He gives us what we want?

If our praise is only based on His answer to our prayers, or because He gives us something, or because we see His hand moving in our lives, then we don't really understand what it means to give Him praise. Do I praise Him for the answer when I see it? Yes, I do. But do I praise Him when I don't see it? Yes, I do. Because with or without the answer-- He is still worthy to be praised because of Who He is.

Have a great day. Don't wait to praise Him only after He has answered your prayer.

For further reading:
Psalm 34:1; 113:1; 135:1; 147:1

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

"Our Conversation"

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." Philippians 3:20

"Our conversation." I am going to get straight to the point this morning by asking you a question-- what do you spend your time talking about? What does your usual conversation consist of? Is your conversation centered around worldly things or godly things? Is your conversation always negative? Are you always murmuring and complaining, belittling, criticizing and gossiping about someone else? Does your conversation encourage or discourage others? Do the things that others hear you say relay a message of defeat or victory to them? Do your words inspire those who hear them? Do they bring them hope? Is it easy or hard for others to tell that you are a follower of Jesus by the conversations they hear you engaged in?

We may not think that our conversation has much of an influence on others but it does. The things we say can either build up or destroy; bring life or death; bring hurt or healing. Perhaps you haven't been giving much thought to the things that you say, or to the things that others hear you say. Often, those who don't know Christ as Savior are turned off and don't want Him for two reasons- 1) they don't see Him in those who profess to be Christians- instead they see hypocrisy; 2) they don't hear the things coming from our mouths that would give them a reason to desire to know Him.

It's time that we start becoming more aware of what we are saying. Our speech should always be "seasoned with grace"- pleasant and wholesome. Kindness should always be in our mouths. Words of faith should be at the center of our conversations. Praise for the Lord should be continually in our mouths. Our words should always edify and never pull someone else down. They should be full of wisdom. They should never speak that which is evil. Our words should be truthful and not deceitful.

There is far too much to say about our words and conversations than I can write this morning, but the Bible puts great importance upon them. My primary focus was on how our conversations either help bring someone to Christ because they hear uplifting words that glorify Him, or they turn them away because they hear the opposite coming from someone who professes to know Him. If God uses preaching- that's our words- to spread His gospel, then by the same token, our words can also hinder the spreading of the gospel if they are not the right kind of words.

Have a great day. What is the topic of most of your conversations, and what kind of words are always coming out of your mouth?

For further reading:
Colossians 4:5
Proverbs 3126; 10:20; 18:21; 15:2
Romans 10:8
Psalms 34:13
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

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

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

"My Daddy"

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Matthew 7:11

Saturday I had a yard sale for the ministry. At the end of the day, I went to get in my vehicle and noticed that my key was on. I tried to crank it but it was dead. The battery was completely drained. I was going to need some help.

My first thought for help was my husband but he wasn't at home and I didn't want to call him because he was an hour away fishing. My brother in law who lives in town was with him, so I couldn't call him. I thought about my son in law, but he was too far away also. I thought about asking a stranger where I was having the yard sale, but wasn't sure if any of them would have jumper cables. Wondering what I was going to do, I finally thought about my daddy. He was only a couple of minutes away, had all the equipment that was needed to crank my vehicle, he was available and had the know how to get my vehicle running again.

Looking back over that situation I can see several spiritual parallels, and lessons, that I want to share with you.
1) The first one I thought about was the fact that when there was no one else around to call- there was my daddy. All were gone and unable to help me, but he was there. Our Heavenly Father is always there. We can always call on Him and He will be there for us. We can't always depend on people, they may not be there, but He will be. They may let us down, but He won't.

2) My daddy had everything that was needed to change my situation and put me back on the road again. I wasn't sure if those strangers who were already there had what was needed to help me, but I knew my daddy did. My Heavenly Father has everything that I need too. There is nothing that I need that He doesn't have. I may need peace, joy, strength, wisdom, finances, a healing-- He has it all no matter what my need may be.

3) When I called my daddy, I was confident that he would come and help me because in all my life he has never let me down. He has always been there when I needed him. When I need my Heavenly Father, I know I can call on Him with confidence that He will be there for me-- He always has, He has never let me down, He has never forsaken me in my time of need. Each and every time I have called on Him He has answered me-- and always will.

4) When I called my dad for help, he did not hesitate to come to my aid. He didn't put me on hold, or act like he was too busy, or tell me to call someone else. He dropped everything he was doing and came to my aid. (He literally dropped what he was doing and denied himself, because I discovered after it was all over that he was in the middle of eating his dinner when I called. He left his plate half-eaten to come help me.) My Heavenly Father doesn't hesitate to come to my aid either. He "drops" everything else to reach out to me whenever I need Him. He never turns me away. He is never too busy for me. I am His child and He does not hesitate to help me when I call Him.

5) When I needed the help, I don't know why I didn't immediately think about my daddy. I should have. He should have been on the top of my list. The parallel here also is that when we have a need, or are going through some difficulty, we often think about everyone else's help except our Heavenly Father. Why do we put Him at the "bottom of the list"? Why do we think we can do it ourselves, or turn to other men- who are just as weak and unwise as we are- when we are in need? Like my daddy in this case, our Heavenly Daddy should be at the very top of our list.

6) The last point is this-- why did my daddy do that? Why did he leave his dinner plate unfinished? Why didn't he turn me away when I was in need? Why did he come and help me? Why did I feel confident that if I called him he would come? The reason is simple-- I know my daddy loves me! Our Heavenly Father loves us too. Because of His love for us, He will not leave us nor forsake us, nor abandon us in our time of need. His love for us will always reach down to us when we call upon Him. He loves us and will be there to meet each and every need we have.

Have a great day. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much and will never abandon us in our time of need, but come to our aid.

For further reading:
Psalm 103:13
Matthew 6:32
Hebrews 13:5
1 John 3:1

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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, October 3, 2011

"Rejoice In The Lord"

"This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Not everything that happens to us each day causes us to "rejoice". There are situations that arise, events that take place, circumstances that occur that we can't rejoice over. Today we might get a bad report from the doctor- that is nothing to rejoice over. Our teenage daughter might tell us she is pregnant out of wedlock- we can't rejoice over that. We might find out our spouse has been cheating on us- no one can rejoice over that. The boss might give us the pink slip and tell us to pack up our things we no longer work for them- that is not something we can rejoice over either.

The scripture doesn't tell us to rejoice about the bad things that come our way. It doesn't mean we are to rejoice because some bad or evil thing happened. The rejoicing that it is talking about is in the Lord. In the Book of Philippians we are told to, "Rejoice in the Lord always", and it is even repeated, "And again I say, rejoice".

The rejoicing is not in the thing that happened but in the Lord. I will rejoice because even though this or that happened it can't separate me from the love of God- He will continue to love me. I will rejoice because, even though it was bad, the Lord will make all things work together for my good. I will rejoice because even though some terrible thing has formed against me, the Lord will see to it that it does not prosper. I can't rejoice when evil comes, but I can rejoice in the Lord who will deliver me from evil. I can't rejoice about the battles that rage against me, but I can rejoice in the Lord because He fights my battles for me. I will rejoice in the fact that the Lord is still in control- not my circumstances. I will rejoice in the Lord because I know He sees what is happening and will not leave me nor forsake me but will make a way for me.

While I can't rejoice about a bad thing that may happen in my life today, I can rejoice in the Lord who does not change and who is with me always. Therefore, I will rejoice in the Lord today even when bad things come my way.

Have a great day. Our rejoicing is in the faithfulness, goodness, tender mercies and grace of God- not in the bad things that happen.

For further reading:
Philippians 4:4
Isaiah 61:10
Psalm 97:12; 34:1,2
Habakkuk 3:17-19

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

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