"Joy Stealers"

"And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." Numbers 13:32,33

When the Lord delivered the Israelites out of Egypt, He intended to bring them into their own land-- a land of freedom that flowed with milk and honey. There was great joy among them because after all that time in bondage it was finally going to happen- they were finally going into the land that God had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. On the verge of entering, Moses sent spies to check out the land. The spies told them that the land was indeed a good land-- flowing with milk and honey, grapes, houses, vineyards, etc. But they told them one other thing as well-- there are giants in the land. Even though they saw the good things that God had promised, even though they knew God could take care of the giants just as He had Pharaoh, the giants "stole" their joy. The fear of them outweighed the joy.

The Lord has given you a vision, a promise, a calling, a destination. You know it's from Him, you know this is where He is leading you, and it looks as though the door is finally opening and you are excited with great joy at the idea of "inheriting" and "fulfilling" the promise. You are ready to go in, you can see the potential, you can "see" the "milk, honey and clusters of grapes", but then you all of a sudden you see the "giants" and your heart begins to sink.

You know God has called you to start a business and it looks like the door is opening, but then you "see" the giants- the monthly expenses of rent, utilities, insurance, supplies, employee wages, etc. How will you pay them? You know God has called you to get an education in a certain field. The door opens to go to college, but then you "see" the giants-- the studying, the tests, Algebra. Am I smart enough? Am I too old to learn it? You know the Lord has promised to restore your marriage or to save your children, but then the giants appear-- you discover he/she is seeing someone else; your child gets arrested. In every promise that awaits there is a giant there too.

When they went into the land to spy it out, they saw both-- the good things and the giants. Perhaps that is where you are, you can see the good things God has promised, but you also along with them see the giants. The spies focused more on the giants and therefore told the people "we can't do it". They let the giants steal their joy and promise. Don't let the giants steal your joy. Don't focus on them. As a matter of fact, don't even focus on the "milk and honey"- the promise. Focus and stay focused on God. When you do, the giants can't steal your joy, they can't stop you, they pose no threat to you, they are already taken care of and defeated by God.

Have a great day. Don't let the giants that you see steal your joy.

For further reading:

Numbers 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.

"It Is Temporary"

"And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth." Numbers 33:5

When the Lord delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt, the first place they stopped at was Succoth. The name Succoth means booths. The dictionary defines booths as: a temporary structure made of any type of material. Succoth was not their destination, the promised land was. It was just a temporary stopping place on the journey to their destination.

When Joseph was thrown into the pit, it was not his final destination. The palace was his destination. The pit was a temporary place intended to get him to the next level on his journey to the palace. The pit got him into Potiphar's house (which too was a temporary place.)

If you know that God has a purpose for you to fulfill and where you are is not it, don't get discouraged with where you are. Where you are is only a temporary place that is the avenue to get you to the next level and one step closer to His purpose. Our problem is we want to bypass these temporary places and get straight to the "palace", "the promise land", "the goal". Joseph never would have made it to the palace- God's purpose- had he not gone through the pit, Potiphar house and the prison first. But they were all temporary places. Don't see where you are as the destination, but rather a stepping stone to the next place in God's plan.

Before my husband had to retire from offshore he was in a supervisory position. But when he first started working in the oilfield thirty years earlier, he didn't start out as a supervisor. He started out in the lowest position there was. After a period of time he finally worked his way up to his final position. All the positions he had worked in were only temporary (they were like booths). They were steps to get from one level to another. But he had to go through each, just like Joseph did and just like you and I have to do in order to get to that final level.

So enjoy, be content and learn from this place where you are. And remember that it is only temporary but you have to pass through it in order to get to God's intended destination for you.

Have a great day. Where you are is only a temporary stopping place, not your final destination.

For further reading:

Philippians 4:11
Romans 8:28

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.

"Demotion And Promotion"

"And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison." Genesis 39:20

When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, he wound up in a man name Potiphar's house. The Lord blessed him and caused him to have favor with Potiphar so much so that he was made overseer of his house and all that he had. Joseph was in a place of position and authority even though he was a slave.

One day Potiphar's wife tried to get Joseph to commit adultery with her. He refused and ran out of the house. In his haste he left his garment behind and she used it as evidence to support her lie that Joseph had tried to force himself on her. Joseph was thrown into prison.

"What happened?", I am sure he asked. The test came-- would he obey the commands of the Lord and abstain from sexual immorality or give in; would he do the right thing and resist or not? He did the right thing, He followed the commandments of the Lord, he remained faithful to his God and loyal to Potiphar, yet he was thrown into prison.

On the surface it looked as though following the Lord and keeping His commandments only got him in trouble. He certainly didn't look blessed because he did. He passed the test, but the outcome looked like he failed. It cost him-- he went from a position of authority to a prisoner in the king's prison. Joseph didn't realize at the time that what looked like a demotion actually brought him closer to his promotion. Being put in the prison brought him one step closer to the palace.

Often when we have done the right thing (the thing that pleases God) and it seems to "back-fire" on us and it looks like we have been "demoted", what's happening is that it is bringing us closer to our promotion. Joseph would not have made it to the palace had he not gone through the prison. The prison was the reward (although it didn't look like it at the time) for passing the test because it positioned him for the promise. He had to go "down" (demotion) before he could go "up" (promotion) because going "down" is the route that leads "up".

Have a great day. What looks like a demotion may actually be positioning you for promotion.

For further reading:

Genesis 39; 41

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.

"Warning Signals"

"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot." Revelation 3:15

We live a world that is full of warning signals. The yellow light on a traffic light warns you to slow down and get ready to stop. The signal lights at the railroad track warn you that a train is coming. The sirens at the local Civil Defense warn you that a tornado is in the area. The rippled asphalt on the side of the highway warns you that you are getting off the road. All these warning signals serve a purpose. They let you know when you are in danger. They are meant to be heeded and not ignored if you want to be safe.

There are spiritual warning signals that let us know when we are in danger spiritually. The most dangerous place for us to be is in a place of lukewarmness. There are warning signs that will let you know if you are there. Some of them are: lack of love for others; lack of love for God's word; lack of prayer. How are you treating others? Are you exhibiting the Fruit of the Spirit in your life? Are you going for days without picking up your Bible and reading it? When was the last time you prayed-- only when you have a need or are in trouble? Is your assembling with other believers going lacking? Are you hungering and thirsting after righteousness? Are you doing the first works? How do you spend the majority of your time?

If you are seeing these things in your life, they are warning signals. Pay attention to them. If you are driving and approach a railroad track and the crossing gate comes down in front of you you are not going to keep going, you are going to stop. You will heed it or you are putting yourself in grave danger. Heed the spiritual warning signs, don't ignore them or you are putting yourself in the danger of becoming lukewarm.

Have a great day. Don't ignore the warning signals, pay attention to them.

For further reading:

Revelation 2:4,5; 3:13,16
Matthew 5:6

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or

Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.

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

"Let's Just Praise The Lord"

"Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" psalm 107:8

We are always in need of something and if we are wise we will take that need to the Lord because He is the one who meets and supplies all our needs. But in our communion with Him is that all we do-- make request and ask for something? There is another side to communion and it's praise. The verse above is repeated four times word for word in the same chapter. The writer must be trying to say something. This morning we are going to take heed to it and just praise the Lord.

When was the last time you just praised Him without asking anything? This morning will you join me in doing just that. Let's praise Him for His goodness, for His faithfulness, for His grace and mercy. Praise Him for His forgiveness that runs deep, for His great, incomprehendable and unconditional love, for not sparing His one and only Son to pay the ransom for our sins. Praise Him for lifting you up out of the pit, for setting your feet upon the solid foundation, for writing your name in His Book of Life, for His healing, delivering power. Praise Him for His loving-kindness and care. Praise Him for meeting all your spiritual, physical and material needs. Praise Him for not leaving you nor forsaking you. Praise Him for the air you breath. "Oh that you would praise Him!" He is worthy of all praise!!! He has done great and mighty things. He is great and greatly to be praised! Like the song says, "Never would have made it"-- you never would have made it period without the Lord. So give Him praise and give Him glory. And do it not only when you feel like it, not only when He comes through with the answer you have been waiting for, not only when things are going good, but praise Him because He is good and He is worthy of all praise!

Have a great day. When was the last time you "just praised the Lord"?

For further reading:

Psalm 107:15,21,31; 7:17; 146:1; 48:1

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.

"A Snake In Prayer Places"

"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made." Genesis 3:1a

One of my favorite places to pray is on my front porch. It is quiet and no one disturbs me, and I love being outdoors with the Lord. Yesterday morning I stepped out on my porch and headed to the swing to have my usual quiet time when something caught my eye. Between the swing and wall, laying on the porch, was a snake. I wasn't sure what to do for a moment. Then I went and got my wasp spray and hoe to kill it. When I returned, it was gone. It gave me an eerie feeling to sit on the swing knowing a snake had been right beside it. But I was armed with my "weapons" if it came back. Then it made me angry that a "snake was in my place of prayer"!

Of course, immediately I sensed a "sermon" coming on. The Bible calls the devil that "old serpent". Don't think for one minute that he will not try to worm his way into your prayer time. He will do all he can to distract you. He will try to make you get your mind off of the Lord. He will try to come in on your prayer to confuse you, to cause doubt and steal your faith. He doesn't just stay away because you are praying. He doesn't excuse himself from tempting you while you are making your request known to God. He is trying to stop you from praying. He knows that prayer is powerful. It isn't just conversation with God. It is the avenue by which God moves in the earth-- He acts in response to our prayers of faith. (Matthew 7:7)

The snake had gone but as I was sitting there, I heard birds in the tree behind me begin to do lots of chirping. I knew that sound. (They are good to let you know when a snake is around.) So I got up with hoe in hand to see if it was around. I saw it. I prayed for the Lord's help to kill it and down on top of it with the hoe I went. Needless to say that snake won't be in my prayer place again! When the devil tries to distract you in prayer, listen for the voice of the Spirit who will make you aware that what you are experiencing is the devil's scheme to get you to stop. Then use your weapons that you have been armed with to destroy him. Put God's word on him and cut him up. He will leave and you can continue to win victories through prayer.

Have a great day. When the devil tries to get in your place of prayer, use your weapons and destroy him.

For further reading:

2 Corinthians 10:4
Revelation 12:9; 20:2
Matthew 4:1-11

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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
E-mail: 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. Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.

"God Is Good And Great"

"The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works." Psalm 145:9

 

There is a certain prayer that has been taught to children for generations that they say before meals-- I learned it, my daughter learned it, my granddaughter has learned it. "God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food. Amen." Many times it is repeated without any thought to what it says, we just say it out of habit.

The truth is God is good, and God is great. God's goodness is seen in His kind and tender mercies that He shows to us daily. His goodness is connected to His glory. Moses desired to see His face and He showed him His goodness. Goodness is not just something the Lord possess, it is what He looks like. His goodness is with us because He is with us- never leaving or forsaking us. His goodness follows us all the days of our lives.

God is great. His greatness is seen in creation. He created the smallest atom and the largest planet. His greatness is shown in His saving, delivering, healing power. Sin is not too great that He can't forgive and cleanse a repentant heart from it. There is no bondage, or life controlling substance, that can withstand His delivering power. There is no disease or sickness that is more powerful than His ability to heal.

The next time you hear a child, some one else or even yourself say that simple little prayer think about what is being said--- God is good and God is great indeed.

Have a great day. God is good and God is great.

For further reading:

Exodus 33
Psalm 23:6; 48:1; 145:3

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.

"Get Dressed"

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:11

Blessed by a message I heard last night, I want to encourage you this morning to put on the full armor of God before you begin your day, before you go to your work place, before you have dealings with any person, before you step out of the house. Daily we fight battles. They are spiritual battles but they are very real-- more real than the natural ones. In these battles we don't fight against flesh and blood-- other human beings. Our fight is against the enemy of our soul, the devil and his forces.

As we were encouraged last night to be sure we have on every piece, I want to encourage you to do the same. Make sure you have it all on. Don't leave off any piece. Whatever you leave off will be unprotected and make you vulnerable in that area. If you leave off the helmet of salvation your mind will not have any protection from a flood of evil thoughts and lies. If you leave off the girdle of truth your spirit will be left open to attack by discouragement and false teaching. If you leave off the breastplate your heart is left open to temptation. And so on with every part. There was a reason why God gave us individual pieces for specific areas and then told us to put it all on. They all work together to protect our whole self.

So let me ask you this morning, "Are you fully dressed? Or are you going out into the world only partially dressed?" Every article of the armor you leave off leaves you exposed in that area.

Have a great day. Are you entering the world today fully or partially dressed?

For further reading:
Ephesians 6

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or

Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.

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

"Races Of Faith"

"... let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Hebrews 12:1b

Don't give up. Don't quit. Don't stop running the race that you are on. There is a prize that awaits and it is only given to those who finish. We often think it is about starting the race, but it is about finishing it. Anyone can start it, but it takes patience, perseverance and discipline to finish it.

This race that you are on is not a sprint or 50 yard dash, it is more of a marathon. It is not ran in a few seconds or minutes, it is ran over a lifetime. Any one who has ran a marathon can tell you that you have to stay focused-- you have to keep your eyes on the goal. You can't be distracted by what's on the sidelines, or the cheers of the people that are looking on hinder you. They also know you have to keep looking forward, you cannot look behind. They know too that you have to press through the fatigue and not give into the weakness that you are feeling.

The race that I am taking about is the race that you get in when you receive salvation-- it is the race that we run through life to eternity. But there are many other races that you run while on this "race track"-- races of faith. You may be running toward a dream, you may be running toward a promise, you may be running by faith concerning a relationship, you may be running toward the plan of God in a particular area-- well, keep running. In order to finish this race you can't be distracted by the cares of this life or by the words of others. You can't look back, you have to keep looking ahead. You can't give into weariness or impatience. There is a prize that awaits every race we run-- the fulfillment (the time when faith becomes sight).

Have a great day. Whatever race you are running, don't quit because there is a prize that awaits those who finish.

For further reading:

Galatians 6:9
1 Corinthians 9:24
2 Thessalonians 3:13

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.

"Remove And Add - Part 2"

"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." Romans 7:18

Yesterday I talked about my battle plan for mortifying my flesh. I call it "21 days to discipline". This morning I want to talk about it again but I want to clarify, lest anyone misunderstands, that this is not some "magic formula". It is not a "one time fix it all". At the end of the 21 days I will still have my flesh to contend with. I am not saying that at the end of the 21 days I won't ever have any problem with my flesh again. That just is not true. As long as we live in these fleshly bodies we will always have to mortify their deeds.

There are no formulas-- no A, B ,Cs and 1, 2, 3s - that take care of your battles with the flesh once and for all. There are no "3 steps to victory". All these are are guidelines to help you develop more discipline in your life.

When we have unruly or disobedient children, we have to chastise them. If we are constant with our correction, it will produce in them submissive and obedient action. But that does not mean they won't ever be disobedient again in the future. Our flesh is like an unruly child that has to be disciplined as well.

These guidelines help us recognize the areas that we are weak in and develop a habit of dealing with them. As we develop this habit through repetition (in this case repeatedly for 21 days), we will immediately deal with the flesh when it tries to rule again at another time, instead of putting it off because of lack of discipline.

The only way to walk in total victory is through submission and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in your life. Victory over the flesh comes by following Him and allowing Him to change you into His image. Disciplining our flesh through mortifying its deeds is all part of that process. So following guidelines is all right if it will develop those disciplines in you, but they don't "quick fix" anything. They just train you in how to deal with the flesh when it tries to rule.

Have a great day. There are no "quick fixes" to mortifying the flesh. It takes daily discipline and submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

For further reading:

Matthew 6:33; 16:24
1 Corinthians 15:31

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.

"Remove And Add"

"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

I don't know about you but lately I have found my flesh trying to take more and more control in my life. While I am suppose to be putting it to death, it seems as though it is getting stronger instead of weaker. I am in a battle to stay focused on things above. Distractions, the lust of my own flesh, the cares of this life are waging war against my spirit by trying to consume my time and attention, in order to hinder me from fulfilling the plan of God for my life.

When you are in a war, you have a choice to make-- either let the enemy destroy you, or fight him. In a spiritual battle you have the same choices-- do nothing (which is giving in) and be destroyed, or fight and win the victory. I choose to fight. Below is my strategy for fighting. I am inviting you this morning to join with me if you are going through a time where your own flesh is trying to rule and destroy you.

My strategy is called: 21 days to discipline. For the next 21 days I am on an all out war on my flesh. For the next 21 days I am examining the weak areas of my life and I am doing two things: Remove- "let aside"; Add - "run". The reason for most struggles with the flesh is a lack of discipline. When we aren't disciplined, our flesh runs wild. We have to chasten it and make it obedient to the Spirit.

This is how the plan works. I am removing (laying aside) those things that I have identified as snares. Each day remove something that you know is hindering you- that may mean you have to fast from food, from television, from the computer, from going shopping, etc.... from anything that seems to consume your time and thoughts besides God. Each day I will add something that I know will help grow spiritually and make me strong. What can you add that will make you stronger? Set your clock to get up one hour earlier so that you aren't in a rush and leave the house without communion with the Lord. Read an extra chapter in your Bible. Get those newsletters out of the drawer that you haven't read and begin reading them. Bake a cake and give to a neighbor. Visit the sick or shut ins. Stop during the middle of the day and meditate on God's word. Memorize a new scripture verse. Send an encouraging email to a friend. Add anything that will stop you from thinking about yourself so much and what you want to do.

Some teach against doing this because Christianity isn't a "checklist", it is a "lifestyle". That is very true, but sometimes you have to have a plan of attack against your flesh and carry out that plan. If I want to have a healthy productive garden, I have to remove the weeds and add nutrients. It's the same. I want to have a healthy spirit man, so I have to identify the "weeds of the flesh" and remove them, and I have to add those spiritual nutrients that will make me thrive spiritually.

If you are joining me in this please keep in mind that Jesus already won the war, we already have victory in Him. We are just bringing our flesh into submission to the Sprit so that we can walk unhindered in and enjoy the victory He won for us, and so that our spirits become fine tuned to His Spirit so that we can also finish the race that is set before us and complete the task He has called us to do. Also keep in mind that if you don't look to Him, lean upon Him and be strengthened by Him, then you are making it just a checklist of dos and don'ts and will wind up trying to accomplish it in your own flesh-- which is just another work of the flesh.

Have a great day. Battle plan: Remove and Add.

For further reading:

Romans 8:13
Colossians 3:5
1 Corinthians 9:27

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.

"Simple To Seek"

"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near." Isaiah 55:6

Do you need answers this morning? Do you need guidance? Do you need direction? Do you need wisdom concerning a situation you are facing? Your answer is simple, it is found in the verse above-- "seek ye the Lord". While this is the answer, many will do everything but follow its instruction mostly because it seems too "simple". We want to make everything difficult. We think we have to do more-- we have to strive, we have to do some sort of works, we have to go around in circles. No, all we have to do is "seek the Lord".

He has the answer to the questions. He has the solution to the problems. He has the wisdom in the matter. And in seeking Him we will find whatever it is we need.

Seeking Him is simple, it is not difficult. The discipline to seek Him is what is difficult. It is so easy just to run here and there to get your answer. It is so easy just to seek out other things. "While He may be found" implies that He may not be found readily, in the instance you begin seeking Him. It takes discipline to stay on our knees until we "pray through". It take discipline to learn to wait for Him to answer. It takes discipline to train yourself to hear what He is saying. And it takes discipline to obey what we do hear Him say once we have sought Him. Often, He speaks but we don't like what He says. He doesn't always give us the answer we want. His answer often involves more waiting.

The answer you are looking for is simple-- "Seek the Lord" because He has and is your answer. Learning to discipline ourselves to seek and to wait until He answers may not be as simple. But if we will seek Him and if we will learn to wait until He draws near to answer, we will have the right answer to meet our need.

Have a great day. Seeking the Lord is simple, it just takes discipline to do it and to wait until He answers.

For further reading:

Matthew 6:33
Psalm 37:7

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.

"Yes, He Does See You"

"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father." Matthew 10:29

 

This morning's word is a reminder that while the Heavenly Father sits high, He looks low. There is nothing that He does not see. Nothing gets past Him. He sees everything-- even a bird that falls to the ground, even the ant who is making a mound, even the caterpillar in the cocoon, even the seashell at the bottom of the ocean, even the furthest star in the universe.

He also sees you. He sees where you are and what you are going through. He sees your tears. He knows your fears. He counts the number of hairs on your head. He sees your tomorrows. He saw the end of your life before it even began. He sees each time your heart beats, each time you take a breath, each cell that makes up your body, each thought before you think it. You are not hid from Him. You are not so small in this vast universe that He does not see you.

Sometimes we feel like we are invisible-- no one sees us, no one notices, no one cares, they don't even know we are alive. That is not true with the Father. He sees you, He knows you, He cares about you. He knows exactly where you are this morning-- He is watching. If you are feeling like even God doesn't see you take comfort, yes, He does and you are not alone. He does know what's going on. He does see and He does care.

Have a great day. God sees you and knows where you are and what you are going through.

For further reading:
Psalm 139

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.

"How's Your Diet?"

"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4

For our physical bodies to be healthy there is a certain kind of diet that we have to have. We have to eat fruits and vegetables and whole, raw foods to maintain good health. We can't eat lots of sugar, fats and processed foods and expect our bodies to stay healthy. Some foods benefit our bodies and help make them strong and healthy, while others poison and destroy it.

To be spiritually healthy we also have to maintain a proper diet. We can feed our spirit good nutrition and make it strong and healthy or we can feed it a diet of "junk food" that makes it unhealthy.

There is only one type of diet that has nutritional valve for your spirit man and will make it healthy-- the Word of God. If you feast on it, you will maintain good spiritual health. But if you feed it "junk food"-- false teaching, negative words, gossip, worldly philosophies, humanistic wisdom, compromise, or anything that is contrary to God's Word-- it will take its toll on your spirit man and breed spiritual disease in you.

We are either going to have healthy spirits that are thriving, growing and getting stronger in faith, or we will have unhealthy spirits full of doubt, fear and unbelief that produces confusion, depression and fear. Which type we have is determined by what we feed it. So, what kind of diet are you feeding your spiritual man?

Have a great day. What kind of diet are you on?

For further reading:

John 5:39
Proverbs 3:1-8

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.

"Broken Beneath - Part 2"

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." Isaiah 61:1

 

Yesterday I shared with you that my sister and I had found a ceramic planter that was very beautiful and at a great sale price at a store we were shopping in. We would have bought it except for the fact that it was broken on the bottom. We passed it up because of that and so did another woman who was looking at it.

One of my dear brothers on the mailing list sent me a comment about the devotion. What he shared was very good so I don't want to miss this opportunity- since we are talking about "broken pots".

The thought he shared was this: "God purchases the broken planter (that everyone else looked at and passed it by) and makes it better than before."

The broken planter is symbolic of our lives. I am extremely glad that He didn't pass me by. My life was broken in a million pieces. It was marred and ruined by sin. It looked worthless. It looked as if there was no value to it. It was good for nothing but the trash pile. But God saw my life through His infinite love and chose me even as broken as I was to be His. He purchased me (with the blood of His Son Jesus) and took my life that was broken and repaired it- making me brand new. The brokenness was gone. The mar was no longer there. I now have hope, I have value, I am accepted, I am loved, I have purpose, I have a life and an abundant one at that. I was rescued from the trash pile and "repurposed". Sin and the devil had a purpose for me-- death and destruction. But Jesus gave me a new life and a new purpose-- a hope and a future.

You and I are no different. You were broken. You were passed by. You were unworthy. You were unloved by the world. You had an aimless existence. You were living on the trash pile. You were hopeless. Perhaps you still are, perhaps this is how you are feeling today. I have good news for you-- God takes what others would discard, He goes "dumpster diving" and reclaims what was destined to be thrown away and repurposes it by cleaning it up with His own blood and refinishing it with His righteousness-- and then makes it into something brand new.

If that is you, He wants to take away your brokenness and reproach and give you a new life.

Have a great day. The Lord chooses us who were destined for the trash pile- unwanted and discarded- and repurposes our lives making them into something brand new.

For further reading:

2 Corinthians 5:17
1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23
John 10:10; 15:16
Jeremiah 29:11
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.

"Broken Beneath"

"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." John 7:24

 

You've all heard the old sayings, "Looks can be deceiving" and "Not everything that glitters is gold". Some things you can't take at face value, you have to examine them. Yesterday my sister and I were in a store and found a clearance sale aisle. One of the items that was marked down was a planter. It was ceramic, nice large size and very beautifully decorated. It was 66% off the original price so it hardly cost anything. I like it, my sister liked it and another lady who was looking at it like it as well. It was a perfect piece-- beautiful and cheaply priced. Did we buy it? No. Did the other lady buy it? No. We all left it on the shelf.

None of us purchased it because when we picked it up, the whole bottom of the planter was cracked. Although it looked pretty, looked desirable, was well priced, it was useless and worthless because it was broken.

The devil paints a pretty picture for us. He tries to make things look desirable and enticing. He tries to make you see something "good". He doesn't reveal the "under side" that is broken. He paints pictures that make cheating on your spouse look appealing-- after all, that other person listens to you and understands you, your spouse doesn't. He transforms lies into something that is acceptable because it helps you get what you want-- it's just a little "white lie". He only shows you the glamorous side, the fun side, the pleasurable side. He doesn't show you the side that loses everything. He shows you how cool it looks to smoke and drink, but he doesn't show you the side where your health is destroyed and life ruined because of it. He shows you fame and fortune, but he doesn't show you the sacrifices of integrity, morality and peace of mind that often accompany it.

The planter we were all looking at looked too good to be true, and it turned out to be just that. When something looks too good to be true, it usually is. You should stop and take a second look. You should examine it a little closer. The good things that come from God don't just look good on the outside, they are good through and through. He gives us every good and perfect gift, not just something that has the appearance of good but is broken.

Have a great day. Looks can be deceiving, so look at it a little closer.

For further reading:

2 Corinthians 11:13,14
James 1:17
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.

"Stop Struggling"

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18

Mankind seems to always be struggling when it comes to religious/spiritual matters. The Lord recently spoke something to me on the subject. He said, "The struggle stopped at the cross". At the cross Jesus took the "struggle" as well as the punishment for our sins.

The cross did away with our struggle to be accepted by God. Our struggle to be good enough for God stopped at the cross. Our struggle to be right with God stopped at the cross. Our struggle to prove to God our love for Him was stopped at the cross.

We could never be accepted by God on our own merits. There aren't enough good works that we can do that will make us good enough. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves no matter how religious we might act. We could sacrifice a million sacrifices, spend our days doing religious deeds, read the Bible through from cover to cover everyday, be kind to everyone we meet, and we would still fall short.

At the cross we went from law to grace. We went from works to faith. We no longer have to sacrifice goats and bulls, we no longer have to confess to the priest, we no longer have to bring an offering to make atonement for our sins. The law made us work for something that we could still never achieve. The cross gave us something we never could have achieved on our own. The cross stopped law and works, and gave us grace and faith as the way to be right with God.

At the cross, Jesus provided the way for us to be accepted by the Heavenly Father. In His cross was the satisfactory payment for all our sins. We spend our time struggling to be right with God through our own efforts, when there is only one thing we can do to make that happen-- faith and trust in Jesus' atoning work on the cross makes us right and good enough-- that is the grounds of our righteousness.

If you are struggling to be good enough for God and accepted by Him, your struggle is in vain. You are struggling for nothing. All your efforts are no good. You can only be accepted and good enough as you put your faith in what Jesus did at the cross. Mankind's struggle was stopped there because the victory was won there.

Have a great day. The struggle stopped at the cross.

For further reading:

Galatians 6:14
John 19:30
Ephesians 2:8,9
Romans 8:1-4
Hebrews 9:11-15

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.

"What Are You Speaking?"

"I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1

 

What's in your mouth? The Bible says that "death and life are in the power of the tongue". Are your words words of life-- do they encourage, build up, bring hope, peace and comfort? Are your words words of death-- do they bring pain, defeat, hurt, sorrow, destruction? The Bible also says that "praise is becoming to the righteous". That means that the only words that really "look good" on those who are followers of Jesus are words of praise.

So as you go about your day, as you encounter daily situations, as you are involved in conversation with others, pay attention to your words and what you are saying. You could even "grade" yourself by taking note of the number of times you complain instead of praise; the number of times you speak life instead of death- and vice versa; and see which words there are more of. If words of death, unbelief and murmuring out number the words of life, faith and praise that you speak, then you need to have a talk with the Lord and ask Him to help you change the way you speak.

Have a great day. What words are you speaking?

For further reading:

Proverbs 18:21
Psalm 33:1; 19:14
Romans 10:8

 

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.

"Victory Over The Devil"

"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8

Do not let the devil have any place in your life. He has no power over you. He is not the greater one. He has been defeated by Jesus/God. He has been defeated twice-- once in heaven and once on earth. He was defeated in the heavenly realm and in the earthly realm. When he tried to have dominion in heaven and establish a throne above God, he was defeated. "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." (Luke 10:18) When he tried to have dominion in earth and establish a throne above mankind whom God had given dominion of the earth to, he was defeated. "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:14,15)

Jesus has defeated the devil in every way possible, in every realm and on every level. And when He returns He will enforce that victory once and for all forever. Then satan will be cast out and will not be found in the New Heaven and New Earth.

So today, enforce the victory in your own life that Jesus has won. He gave that victory to you and He intends for you to walk and live in it. Don't keep giving into the devil, don't keep believing his lies, don't keep falling for his tricks, don't give in to his temptations. He continually tries to set up a throne over your life- a throne of bondage, remorse, addiction, anger, condemnation, and so on. But he has no authority over you. If you have surrendered your life to Jesus, He is the only one who has authority and lordship over you.

Have a great day. The devil has been defeated by Jesus in every area, so don't give him any authority in your life.

For further reading:

1 John 4:4
Revelation 20:18
Luke 10:19
Genesis 1:28
Matthew 16:19

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.