"Cleaning Up Halloween"

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Ephesians 5:11

 

This is one of my favorite times of the year, minus the days that surround the last day of October. It is on these days when all you hear and see is centered around Halloween. And sadly, you don't only see it out in the world, you see it in the church and in the lives of people who profess to be Christians. While I am no ones judge, I often wonder how can you profess Christianity and involve yourself in something that is purely evil and violent in nature. We may have tried to "clean it up", but the root (the beginning) of it is evil. Therefore, no matter how much you try to "clean it up" it is still whatever the root (origin) is. You can't take what is evil and make it good. You can't take rotten meat and make it fresh. You can't take poisonous water and make it pure. You can't take a lemon tree and make it an apple tree. It is what it is. 

 

The Bible tells us that during the days of King Ahab's rule the Israelites were worshipping Baal. God sent Elijah to confront them about this sin. Israel's "jumping back and forth" between their worship to God and their worship of Baal had to stop. He told the king to bring all the prophets of Baal to mount Carmel. You know the story, there was a contest. Which ever God/god answered by sending fire upon the altar would be declared God/god of Israel. 

 

The prophets of Baal built their altar and cried out to Baal all morning to consume the sacrifice on the altar-- but he did not answer. Then it was Elijah's turn. This is the part I want to focus on. Elijah did not use the same altar that was made to Baal. He did not use the same bullock. He did not even use one stone from their altar. He built a totally new one to God and offered another sacrifice. Elijah could have "cleaned up" the altar that was made for Baal and used it, but it would have still been an instrument of offering to this false god. 

 

You can dress a pig up but it will still be a pig. You can paint a black horse white but it will still be a black horse. We can't "clean things up" and make them "fit" for God. Only God can do that. That is what He did with us when we came to Jesus for salvation and forgiveness of sins. He made us a new creation. He took our sins away. He cleaned us up. He removed our robes of unrighteousness and gave us His robe righteousness. Since we are new creations, filled with Him, with His nature in us, bearing the fruits of the Spirit, should we not act like new people and stop doing "old things"- things that were dedicated to something other than God? Like involving ourselves with things that are evil in nature and the unfruitful works of darkness such as Halloween, adultery, fornication, lying, cheating, drunkenness, etc.

 

Have a great day. Some things remain the same no matter how much you try to clean them up. So where should Christians draw the line in separating themselves from them? 

 

For further reading:

1 Kings 18

2 Corinthians 5:17; 6:14

 

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web:www.mastersbusiness.org

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

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

"He Loves You Openly"

 

 

"The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

 

For those who still aren't convinced that God is not against you, for those who think He just waits for you to mess up so that He can "let you have it", and that He doesn't love you, you should read this verse and take it to heart. This verse expresses exactly how He feels about you His child. It is a clear picture of a God who is not mad, who is not looking for opportunities to punish you, and who does not stay angry with you.

 

The verse says that God is in your midst- He is right there with you. He doesn't leave you and He doesn't forsake you. He is there all the time- good times and bad times.

 

He is mighty- there is nothing weak about God, and He uses His might and power on your behalf. He also imparts His power to you when you are weak and have no strength.

 

He will save- He won't turn those away who call on Him for His help. He knows we need Him because we can't do it on our own. No one can save themselves, no one can deliver themselves. But He can, and He will.

 

He will rejoice over you with joy and with singing- it literally means that He will display His joy and happiness about you openly. Think about it, God actually sings over you. He is open about His feelings for you. He doesn't hide them. He doesn't get embarrassed to show them. The God of the universe openly displays the fact that He loves you more than anything and He does it for all to see. What do you think the cross was all about? He loved you so much that Jesus died for you on the cross to secure that love relationship with you. He didn't die in the back room somewhere or in secret, but openly for all to see, high on a hill and then lifted up even higher on a cross.

 

He will rest in His love for you- He isn't forceful, pushing Himself on you. He keeps quiet about the mistakes you have made, not exposing your sins for all to see. He throws them into the depth of the sea and a place of forgetfulness and doesn't speak of them ever again. He doesn't remind you of your past sins and use them to condemn you. 

 

See how deeply and dearly He loves you. When you start feeling unloved, forgotten, neglected, as if He doesn't care, just remind yourself that He is with you and He is displaying joy, singing, strength and love over you.

 

Have a great day. God doesn't hide His love for you, He is very open with His display of how much you mean to Him. 

 

For further reading:

John 3:16,17

Romans 5:8

Jeremiah 31:3

 

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web:www.mastersbusiness.org

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

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

"The Weapons Cannot Succeed Against You"

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord." Isaiah 54:17

 

Never think that there aren't weapons that the enemy is forming against you, there are. They are formed against your spirit, soul and body. They are formed to destroy your health, your mind, your relationships, your spiritual well being. But the weapons that are formed against you will not prosper. There is not even one weapon that will prosper against you. The scripture says "no" weapon, and the last time I checked, "no" means "no".

 

The word prosper here means: to succeed, to be successful, to make progress. When weapons form against us, it often looks like they have succeeded in hitting the target of our lives-- our children are in rebellion away from God, our marriage is falling apart, our health is deteriorating, our possessions are being taken away, and so on. 

 

We must remember that they don't prosper because all things work together for our good. It may look like defeat but we can never be destroyed, we have eternal life. It may look like defeat, but we always triumph through Christ Jesus. It may look like defeat but we are already dead to our flesh. It may look like defeat by the just live by faith not by sight. It may look like defeat but something of eternal value is being worked out in us through it. It may look like defeat but greater is He that is in us, therefore, He is still in control- not the weapon. It may look like defeat but we are still here to fight another day.

 

So when the battle rages remember that just because there are weapons that are trying to destroy you, they will not prosper. They can't win against you. They only work together for good on your behalf. 

 

Have a great day. The weapons that are formed against you will not succeed in their attempt to destroy you. 

 

For further reading:

Romans 8:28

1 John 4:4

Hebrews 10:38

Exodus 14:14

 

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

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

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

"Cast Them Upon The Lord"

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7

 

Yesterday the subject of how we give our burdens and problems to the Lord and then we go and take them back came up by several different individuals. Picking them up and taking them back is not what the Lord said to do. He said to "cast them on Him" implying that from that point on He would take care of them. That being the case He neither wants us to carry them ourselves and He doesn't want us taking them back once we give them to Him. 

 

So how do we stop taking them back? How do we leave them with Him once we have cast them upon Him? The answer is-- refuse to give into the temptation to take them back. The word refuse means to express a determination not to do something. In other words just say, "No". 

 

Determine in your heart and mind that you are not going to take them back. Daniel had purposed (determined) in his heart that he would not eat the king's meat. This meant that doing differently was not an option for him. He could only do one thing-- not eat the food. You have to determine before you cast your care upon the Lord that you don't have an option to take it back. Once it is given to Him, it is given to Him. 

 

Once it is given to Him you have to realize that it no longer belongs to you-- the care now belongs to Him and has become His property. That means that you are "stealing" something from God each time you take it back.

 

The reason we take it back is because of a lack of faith. Evidently, we don't believe that God can take care of it-- at least not by Himself; He has to have our hands on it to help Him. If you don't believe He can take care of it, then don't "cast" it upon Him in the first place-- just keep trying to handle it yourself. Taking it back shows that you have more faith in yourself than in God.

 

So how do you stop the habit of taking it back? Once you realize that you have, the next step is to go to God with it again and cast it on Him again. Don't just keep holding on to it. Keep casting and casting and casting until you stop picking it up. But remember that you are wasting precious time, energy, joy and peace by having to spend all your time "casting".

 

Have a great day. It is possible to cast your cares on the Lord and leave them there. 

 

For further reading:

Daniel 1:8

Matthew 6:30

Ephesians 3:20

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

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

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

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

"Your Heavenly Father Is With You"

"...for thou art with me..." Psalm 23:4

 

The utilities company that services my electricity has been sending a crew around to cut back the limbs on the trees. They were at my house a couple of days ago. The men were working right in my backyard within a few feet of my house. I was here alone. For some reason while they were here I started feeling very uneasy about their presence. I could feel fear trying to take hold of me. What I was feeling was so out of character for me. These kinds of situations never bother me and I never feel the least bit uncomfortable in them. I knew it was the enemy trying to place a spirit of fear on me. So I immediately began to rebuke it, pray against it, call upon the Lord and pull out the sword of God's word to cast down those thoughts and accusations. I continued to do this until that spirit was gone.

 

Later that evening my parents, who live within walking distance of my house, were having dinner with us. My dad told me that he had walked over to my house earlier that day while the men were here working because he could see them and thought they were taking too long to do the job. So he came over and told them they needed to get finished. I had no idea he was here because I didn't see him and he didn't come to the door. 

 

While I was inside doing spiritual warfare against the fear, my Heavenly Father was already coming to my aid and placing Himself in the battle by sending my dad over. Of all the people the Lord could have sent to come during that time, He sent my dad- not a friend, not another man, not my brother, and not even my husband. He used my dad symbolically to show me that He Himself is with me in every situation and is taking care of me at all times. He showed me through my dad that He is watching over me and sees what is going on. 

 

I was comforted, even after the fact, when I found out that my dad had been here. It is comforting to remember that our Heavenly Father is always with us. And even though we may not "see" Him, even though we may not "sense" that He is there, even though we may not "feel" His presence, He is with us. My dad was looking out for me so he made his presence known in the situation to those men. Because our Heavenly Father is always watching over us and looking out for us He too makes His presence known to the enemy when he comes against us. 

 

Have a great day. Our Heavenly Father is with us even when we don't realize that He is. 

 

For further reading:

2 Timothy 1:7

Matthew 6:26

Psalm 23:4

 

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

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

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

"Giving Gifts To God"

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7

 

Which is more important, the gift you give to God or the attitude in which you give it? It has been said that the way you give it is more important. Actually, it is both. What you give and the way you give it are both equally important. 

 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) God gave out of love, and He gave the best (His Son) for us. By example He showed us that the gift and the way in which it is given are both important.

 

In the very beginning Abel and Cain both offered gifts to God. Abel's gift was accepted, Cain's was not. Neither Cain's gift nor his attitude in giving it was pleasing to God. There was a widow who gave two mites. Her gift wasn't big, it was very small, but Jesus made sure to point it out to His disciples. Her gift and her attitude in giving it to God were both accepted. In the Old Testament the people brought their sacrifices to the priest. The priest then inspected the sacrifice (gift) to see if it was acceptable as an offering to the Lord. We also read in the scriptures where God Himself told Israel that He would not accept their offerings or even take notice of them. He rejected their gifts and the attitude in which they gave them. 

 

So when we talk about giving our gifts and offerings to the Lord, it is important that we give them with the right motive, the right heart and the right attitude because God loves for us to give cheerfully and not grudgingly. But what we give to God is as equally important. He deserves our best, our finest, the first fruits and not just anything we choose to give Him just for the sake of saying we gave. So what are you giving to God? And how are you giving it? 

 

The gift He wants most is you. Our lives are to be living sacrifices. Is that what you are giving Him-- yourself? And how are you giving Him yourself? With reservation? Willingly or unwillingly? Gratefully or begrudgingly? 

 

Have a great day. The gift we give to God is as equally important as the attitude in which we give it. 

 

For further reading:

Luke 21:2-4

Amos 5:22

Genesis 4:1-7

Romans 12:1

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

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.

"It Is Already There"

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

 

My sister and her husband recently took a cruise to Alaska. We had them over last night to share their pictures and experience with us. My sister was telling us that she was a little seasick the first day. One of the crew members told her to eat a certain variety of apples and it would help with the sea sickness. At that I made a remark about how that when God created the earth He placed in it everything that we would need (even a remedy for sea sickness). My husband jokingly said that there weren't cruise ships around when He created the earth. My response was that God sees ahead and makes provision for! (Jehovah-Jireh) He saw cruise ships long before they were invented. 

 

God is the Beginning and the End. He is the Author and the Finisher. He is the Alpha and Omega. God doesn't have to wait until something happens to then make provision for it. He makes provision way in advance because He sees way in advance, He knows it is coming before it actually comes-- He sees the end from the beginning.

 

He made provision for the saving of the world before Adam ever sinned. Jesus was the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world was ever laid. He made provision for Abraham before he took his son up to the mountain to offer him as a sacrifice by providing a ram in the thicket. He made provision for the children of Israel before they came out of Egypt by having houses already built and vineyards already planted for them in the land they were going to inhabit. 

 

The Lord has not changed. He still makes provision for us today, and not just when the need arises but before the need arises so that when we get to that place of need it will already be there waiting. 

 

Have a great day. God doesn't wait until the need arises to make the provision for it. He sees the need ahead of time and makes provision for it then so that when you get to the need it is already taken care of. 

 

For further reading:

Revelation 13:8; 1:8; 22:13

Genesis 22:13,14

Hebrews 12:2

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

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

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

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

"Never Alone"

"... .I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5b

 

It doesn't matter where you are- what circumstance you face, what trial you are in- you are not alone the Lord is there with you. He was in the fiery furnace with the three Hebrews- He is in your "fiery furnace" with you also. He was in the lion's den with Daniel- He is in your "lion's den" with you too. He was there when Peter's faith was weak and he began to sink in the sea, He is there in your time of weakness. He was there when the Israelites were hemmed in between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's army- He is there with you when you feel "hemmed in" by overwhelming circumstances and it looks like all odds are against you. He was there with His sheep leading them beside still waters- He is there leading you as well into a place of rest. He is there when you face the valley of the shadow of death, walking with you. He was there with Paul in the storm that caused the ship to wreck. You may feel like your life is a "ship wreck" but He is there with you as He was with Paul. 

 

As I said earlier, "It doesn't matter where you are, you are not alone because the Lord is with you." The Psalmist said it this way-- "I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you." (Psalm 139:7-12- NLT)

 

When you begin to feel alone, when the circumstances of life make you feel alone, remember that you never are alone. The Lord is with you regardless of where you are and what you are going through because He has promised to never leaver you, nor forsake you. 

 

Have a great day. No matter where you are and what you are going through, you are not alone because the Lord is with you. 

 

For further reading:

Psalm 23

Acts 27:20-23

Daniel 3:23-25

Exodus 14:9,13,14

Daniel 6:19-22

 

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

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

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

"He Immediately Answers"

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee..." Jeremiah 33:3a

 

A couple of nights ago I was awaken from a sound sleep by a lack of feeling and inability to control my arm and hand. As soon as it woke me up my first thought was to call on Jesus- so I said, "Jesus", out loud. The very instant I called out to Jesus my husband, who was sound asleep, said, "What's the matter?". I told him I had no feeling in my arm. Without hesitation he began to rub my arm and hand. Within just a minute the blood was flowing again and I regained feeling and use. So we turned over and went back to sleep. 

 

I shared this because it was such a beautiful example of the way the Lord does us. When we are in need and call out to Jesus, He is immediately there. He has our answer, knows what to do and begins taking control of the situation. He doesn't hesitate to come to our aid. His ears are attentive to our cries even when we don't think He is there or that He is listening.

Peter knew what I am talking about. "And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him." (Matthew 14:29-31)

 

Are you going through some sort of difficulty, problem, or concern? Call out to Jesus. As soon as I realized what was happening I called out His name. As soon as Peter began to sink he called out to Jesus. Don't hesitate to call on Him. Don't wait until after you have tried to figure it out or gone through every other source. He is right there beside you and will come to your aid the moment you call to Him.

 

Have a great day. Don't hesitate to call upon Jesus in your time of need, He won't hesitate to come to your aid.

 

For further reading:

Psalm 3:4; 120:1 

 

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

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

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

"Goodness And Mercy Are Following"

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." Psalm 23:6

 

I want to look at the portion of the scripture that says, "goodness and mercy shall follow me", and address it. When I think of "following", I think of it in two ways.

 

The first way that goodness and mercy "follow" is in the sense that not only do they "accompany" me but that I also "leave them behind" me everywhere I go. Our reputations "follow" us- people know who we are because of the things we have done. Do you have the reputation of showing goodness and mercy in the situations you face? Are you leaving goodness and mercy behind you like a footprint a person would leave in the sand that testifies that they were there? As Christians goodness and mercy should always be accompanying our lives. We should be good regardless of the situation, and we should do good to all those we come in contact with. We should also show mercy, mercy to all. Mercy should be there when we deal with people who don't deserve mercy. 

 

Then secondly, God gives us a promise that goodness and mercy shall follow us- they will be our "traveling companions", ever present wherever we go. Goodness and mercy are following us to encourage us in our walk with the Lord. They are "pushing" us from behind to continue to run the race, fight the good fight of faith and keep pressing toward the mark. Their presence is a constant reminder that it was because of God's own goodness and His mercy, not our own and not anything that we did, that we have been forgiven and are now His child. That then gives us the strength to go on. 

 

Goodness and mercy follow us in two ways. One way is for others- to be extended to them as a testimony of Christ in your life. The other way is for you- they are given from God to aid and encourage you in your walk with Him. 

 

Have a great day. Goodness and mercy are following you, and are they following you? 

 

For further reading:

Matthew 5:7

Galatians 6:10; 5:22

Proverbs 11:17

Luke 6:36

Ephesians 5:9

 

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

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

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

"God Is Good"

"Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes." Psalm 119:68

 

God is accused of many things, but He can never be accused of not being good. He is a good God who does good things. Everything He created in the beginning was good. After each day of creation He looked at what He had created and said it was "good". There was nothing but the goodness of God in the earth until man sinned and opened the door to evil. Even though the good things that God created were tainted by evil at the fall, it did not taint who God was, He still remained to be good and do good. 

 

God's goodness didn't stop just because man sinned. On the contrary, our need now for a way out of what we got ourselves into- sin and death- prompted God's goodness to action. That action was Him sending of His own Son Jesus into the world to bear the sins of mankind. Do you want to see what a picture of God's goodness looks like? Look at the cross. 

 

Even now your need today prompts God's goodness to action on your behalf. If you are suffering, His goodness will show up and give you the comfort and strength that you need. If you are in some sort of physical, material lack His goodness will meet that need. 

 

Why would He be so good to us even though we fail, even when we mess up, even though we don't always do what we should? It is because of who He is-- a good God. Not only is He good and does good to us, but He has also released His goodness to follow us all the days of our lives. So take heart this morning. You may be walking through a valley but His goodness is following you. You may be going through a storm but His goodness is following you. You may be facing pain but His goodness is there still following you. You may be going through a fiery trial, a time of temptation or persecution by your enemies but His goodness is following you. When His goodness is following you, it means that He is following you because you cannot separate God from His goodness.

 

Have a great day. God is good and He does good and His goodness follows you. 

 

For further reading:

Psalm 23:6; 27:13; 33:5; 73:1

James 1:17

Genesis 1:4

 

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

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.

"Change Of Plans"

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11

 

Things don't always go according to our plans. Plans tend to fail, obstacles arise and get in the way of our plans, circumstances change that hinder our plans, situations take us in a different direction than we had planned. Health issues, loss of income, death in the family, job transfer, the birth of a child, etc. all affect our plans. Our plans are never in "concrete" as we would like to think they are. Look at the life of Joseph. I am sure he had plans. His plans included growing up in his own home with his father and family, but that was not the case. Instead his life went in a direction he would have never planned-- sold into slavery by his own brothers, spending most of his life in Egypt, being thrown into prison. 

 

When plans change, and not always in what appears to be a good way, if you are a born again child of God there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind. Always remember that your life is in God's hands. He sees all, He knows all, and though the change in plans may have taken you by surprise they have not taken God by surprise. He saw them coming and is working through them to give you "an expected end"-- hope in the midst of the situation. 

 

Remember too that when plans change, it doesn't mean that God is not still in control. Joseph's life went through many changes. Just as he finally accepted his new life in Egypt as a slave, Potiphar's wife lies on him and he is thrown into prison. At that point one would think that God was not in control or that He had abandoned him. But God was always in control because He was always there watching over the entire situation. 

 

Lastly, when plans change not only is God still in control and not taken by surprise at the change in your situation, He is also working even this change of plans together for your good. I didn't say the situation or change was good- slavery, lies told on you, prison was not a good thing- but God can take the change of plans and bring something from it that will work together for good on your behalf. So when your plans change, remember that God has a plan and He can turn the change of plans around for your ultimate good.

 

Have a great day. Things don't always go according to our plans, but when they change always remember that God is still in control and can work all things together for your good. 

 

For further reading:

Genesis 45:6-8

Romans 8:28

Colossians 3:3

 

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

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.

"Do It For Yourself"

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

 

It has been said, "The Lord helps those who help themselves", and "God will not do for you what you can do for yourself". The truth is- we cannot help ourselves and anything that we "can do" is only because God has so graciously enabled us to do so. Jesus said that "without Me you can do nothing". He even confessed that "without the Father I can do nothing". The Bible has made it plain that it is in Him that we "live, move and having our being". Apart from God we wouldn't even exist. "It is He that has made us and not we ourselves". Had He not created us in a certain way we would not be able to do anything-- speak, walk, act, learn, think, etc. 

 

Having said that, let me now say that even though we can literally do nothing apart from God, He has so graciously placed within us the abilities to "do for ourselves". Since He has it is in those areas that we "help ourselves". For example, the Bible tells us to "study to show ourselves approved"- we do the "studying". It tells us to "stir up the gift that is within us"- we do the "stirring". And so on. We are waiting for God to "come down" and do the things for us that He has already enabled us to do. It isn't going to happen. He isn't going to come and place the Bible in your hand and start reading it to you. He isn't going to grab you by the neck and pull you out of bed, dress you and drive you to church. These are all abilities He has given you to do for yourself and He expects you to do them. 

 

The point is that without God imparting abilities within us there would be nothing that we could ever do for ourselves. But since He has we are to do them and not sit around waiting on Him to do them. There are things that He will do for us because we truly cannot. But He has already done everything else for us when He placed the ability within us to do them. So stop waiting for Him and start doing them yourself.

 

Have a great day. Stop waiting for God to do the things He has given you the ability to do. 

 

For further reading:

John 15:5; 5:19; 8:28

Genesis 1:1, 26

Acts 17:28

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

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.

"The Provision Is Already Made"

"And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen." Genesis 22:14

 

Today we are going to spend some time thanking the Lord for His provisions.

He has made provision for our salvation- John 3:16

He has made provision for all our needs to be met - Philippians 4:19

He has made provision for our healing- Psalm 103:3; Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24

He has made provision for us to have strength when we are weak- 2 Corinthians 12:9

He has made provision for us to have wisdom- James 1:5

He has made provision so we can have peace of mind- Philippians 4:7

He has made provision for us to be able to walk in victory- 2 Corinthians 2:14

He has provided a way of access into His presence- Hebrews 4:15,16

He has made a provision for us to be forgiven when we miss the mark- 1 John 1:9

He has made provision for us to have abundant life- John 10:10

He has made provision for our comfort in times of grief- 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

He has provided a way of escape in every temptation- 1 Corinthians 10:13

 

The Heavenly Father is our Provider, therefore, He makes provision for all we need- spirit, soul and body. There is nothing that He has not and does not provide for us His children. What do you need today? He has already made a provision for it, the provision is there just like the ram in the thicket that was there for Abraham. Look to Him, put your trust in Him and when what you need doesn't appear to be there, then boldly with faith proclaim the same thing Abraham did-- "And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide." (Genesis 22:7,8)"

 

Have a great day. God has already made the provision for everything that you need. 

 

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

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.

"Ripple Effect"

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

 

To be honest with you I didn't know if there was going to be a devotional this morning or not. The power company was reconnecting a line yesterday and in the process cut the power to my house. That meant everything shut off, including my computer. For some reason this morning as I have turned it back on it has taken forever to reboot and even the smallest task like typing is in "delay" mode. I have had to wait and wait and wait for windows, screens, etc. to stop "not responding" or freezing up. At some point, actually a couple of times, I had to decide to continue or give up-- I have to be at the shop at a certain time this morning so I don't have the option of being able to sit here all day. What choice should I make? Do I give up or do I continue? 

 

Every choice we make has something attached to it- the end result, a consequence, a blessing, a curse. What will the end result be if I give up and walk away this morning? Will it matter? Will it hurt anything or anyone? Will someone be blessed if I don't give up? Is it in my best interest to continue on? Would it be better to just forget about it and try again another time?

 

Everyone of us are faced with choices and when we are we should ask ourselves these questions. Often your choices don't only affect you they affect other people. My choice to give up this morning would have meant that no one would receive the devotional. A man's (or woman's) choice to leave his family affects everyone in the household and extended family. When the bread winner in a household makes the choice to look for another job, the livelihood of the family is affected, either in a good way or a bad way. When a person chooses to break the law, those he commits the crime against and his family are all affected by his actions. Your choices have a "ripple effect"- they reach far and wide and affect others and not just yourself. 

 

So what will your choice be? Even in the smallest things your choice should always be to do what is right, to always follow God's word, to always consider how it will affect someone else, and always persevere and don't give up when that is the best choice to make.

 

Have a great day. Your choices don't only affect you, they have a "ripple effect", so consider before you make them what result it will have.

 

For further reading:

Joshua 24:15

Isaiah 7:15

Psalm 25:12

 

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

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.

"Humble"

"Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!" Psalm 113:6
 

This verse is talking about God and how He humbles Himself to take notice of the things that are in heaven and in earth. You may find it odd that He "humbles" Himself to even look upon the creation, but when you think about it, it isn't. The Creator is so superior to the creation that in order to take notice and be involved God the Creator would have to humble Himself to come down to a lower place. Thus, He humbles Himself to look upon mankind. And not only does He humble Himself in order to even look upon us, He humbled Himself when we came and dwelt among us in the likeness of human flesh. Jesus (God the Son) humbled Himself and took off His heavenly garment and placed upon Himself an earthly one. He humbled Himself and took on the form of a creation. He humbled Himself and became mortal and though He was Life He humbled Himself to death (before He defeated it!). He humbled Himself and became limited to time and space, and vulnerable to hunger and thirst, to accusations, to beatings, and to temptations. 

 

If God Himself, the One who is above all, who is highly exalted, who has a name that is above every name, chose and chooses to humble Himself for our sakes, then why can't we follow His example and humble ourselves before Him and man. Can't you humble yourself in obedience to Him? Can't you humble yourself and turn the other cheek? Can't you humble yourself and let Him take vengeance on your behalf? Can't you humble yourself in the areas you kick against and let go of pride which will eventually lead to destruction? Can't you humble yourself and forgive the one who has hurt you? 

 

They say it takes the "bigger" person to humble themselves and forgive, to humble themselves and do the right thing, to humble themselves and not to fight. There is more truth to that then we realize because when we humble ourselves we are following "The Supremely Bigger One"-- God Himself, because that is exactly what Jesus did.

 

Have a great day. If God humbles Himself for our sakes, can't we humble ourselves before Him and others. 

 

For further reading:

Philippians 2:1-8

John 1:14

Proverbs 16:18

 

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

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web:www.mastersbusiness.org

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

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