"Thou Art The Same"

"But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end." Psalm 102:27

 

As we are on the eve of another year, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy, prosperous, God filled New Year. None of us know what to expect from this year. We don't know what the future holds. Perhaps it will be your best year yet, or your worst, there are no guarantees. But regardless, there will be one thing you can count on-- the Lord. 

 

You can rest assured that this year He will be just as faithful as He has always been. He will be just as loving, compassionate, gracious, caring, and forgiving as He has been in the past. He does not change. He will be the same this year as He was last year and the year before and the year before that one. 

 

He will still be the shade upon your right hand. He will still be a present help in time of trouble. He will still answer when you call. He will still command His blessings upon you. He will still be with you. He will still guide you when you acknowledge Him. He will still meet all your need. His goodness will still be there for you.

 

So remember in the days ahead that while bad things may happen, the unexpected may come, the blessings may seem to cease, His presence may seem for away, circumstances may change and uncertainty may stare you in the face, of this one thing you can be certain-- God will always be who He is and He will never change. Therefore, you can go into and throughout this New Year with peace in your heart.

 

Have a great day. Things change but God will stay the same. 

 

For further reading:

Hebrews 13:8

Proverbs 3:5,6

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.

"Asking Or Not?"

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

If God is not answering, perhaps it is because you aren't "calling"? Sometimes we don't call because we assume we know the answer already. Sometimes we are trying to figure out the answer for ourselves. Sometimes we think we know what to do and act accordingly. But have we really "called unto the Lord"? Have we really sought Him until we have heard? And if we are calling, are we really listening to what He is saying? 

 

Never assume, ask-- call on Him. Never try to figure it out yourself-- call on Him. Never think you can solve it by yourself-- call on Him. Never call on Him as a last resort, after you have tried everything else-- call on Him first. Never get in a hurry and become impatient if He doesn't answer you the instant you call. Be still, wait patiently in faith for Him to answer-- He will answer.

 

Have a great day. If you will call on the Lord, He will answer. Are you calling?

 

For further reading:

Matthew 6:33

Psalm 91:15

James 4:2

 

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

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

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

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

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

"Evidence Of Mercy"

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22,23

 

You may have fallen yesterday. You may have failed God. You may have missed the mark. But you aren't by yourself. Countless numbers of other people have- even in the Bible. Abraham missed it when he and his wife tried to help God out by devising their own plan to produce a son. David sinned when he committed adultery and tried to cover it up through murder. Elijah ran from Jezebel. The worst one I can think of was Peter when he denied Jesus.

 

But as you look at each of their lives, you will see that they weren't "consumed"- God didn't destroy them for their faults, failures or mistakes. Why? Because of His mercy. Like we said yesterday, "He is out to get us"- not to destroy us, but because He loves us and wants us. Jesus told the story of a prodigal son that beautifully illustrated this point. What mercy, what compassion, what forgiveness, what love this father showed to his wayward son. The son had rebelled, had messed up, had rejected the father, had shamed him, he squandered what he had, had gone his own way, yet when he turned in repentance from going his way and turned toward his father, the father received him, embraced him and rejoiced over him. This was not just a story that Jesus told to get a point across, this was the picture of the Heavenly Father and His love for us- even when we are the ones who fail and rebel. 

 

Not only did Jesus tell the story to help us better understand the love and mercy of the Heavenly Father, but He Himself was the evidence that this is so through His death. The death of Jesus was all about the love, mercy, grace and compassion of the Heavenly Father toward mankind. It was all about His desire to have us as His own children. It was about making a way for us to be able to come back to Him when we sinned and when we fail. Evidently, the prodigal hoped that there would be a door of entrance that he could go through to get back to his father- and it was. There is a "door" that is opened to us through which we can get to the Father when we fail-- that door is Jesus. When we come in repentance, the door is wide open to us and we may enter in. 

 

Have a great day. Jesus is the evidence of God's mercy and the door by which we can enter into it. 

 

For further reading:

John 1:12; 10:7,9

Luke 15:11-32

 

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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 Is Out To Get You"

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:17

 

So many people have the idea that God is "out to get them". Well, He is... but in a good way, not in the way that most people think. They think that He is sitting up in heaven just waiting for them to "mess up". They think He sits there with some sort of club, or stick, hoping that they will make a mistake so He can let them have it by hitting them with it. They act so though He wants them to do something wrong and that He looks for opportunity to "get them". This just is simply no so.

 

He really does want to "get you", but in such a good and wonderful way. He is out to get you all right, but so that He can make you His own-- His own child, His own beloved. He is out to get you so that He can lavish His love on you. He is out to get you so that He can bless you, so that He can show you great and mighty things that you don't know. He wants to reveal Himself to you and show you how great the depth, breathe, length and height of His love for you is. 

 

So when someone says that "God is out to get you", in one sense, and only one sense are they right. If they mean He is out to condemn you, to destroy you, to harm you, etc., they are totally wrong. But if they mean that He is out to get you so that He can love on you, minister to you, encourage you, provide for you, be with you, show you wonderful things, etc., then they are totally right. 

 

Have a great day. God is out to get you, but in such a good way.

 

For further reading:

John 1:12; 3:16

Romans 5:8

Ephesians 3:17-19

 

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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 Most Value"

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:" Matthew 6:19,20

 

At no other time of the year is it so easy to become material minded. People make wish lists of things they want, are compelled to buy gifts, are bombarded with advertisement by stores and manufacturers to buy and are presented with sales to make it easier to get the things that are desired. It is easy to turn your attention and affection to "things" and the having of "things".

 

But lest we get trapped, or consumed, by materialism let us continually remind ourselves to set our affection on things above. On things that are eternal. On things that will never pass away. We brought nothing into this world and it is sure that we will not take anything out of it with us when we leave it. We should not be seeking earthly things, but seeking God's kingdom first and far most above anything else. 

 

Where is your affection? What are you placing the most value on? The material items that line the shelves at the store? The presents that are wrapped under the tree? On temporary things? On eternal things? On those things that are treasures in heaven? Or the treasures on earth? Are you like the rich young ruler who came to Jesus wanting to have eternal life but his possessions got in the way? His love for them was greater than his love for the Lord. What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and losses his soul? Are you preparing for eternity by laying up treasures in heaven? Or are you laying up your treasures here on earth? Those who lay them up here, have their reward, this is all they get. Those who lay them up in heaven enjoy blessings, benefits and rewards that will never end.

 

Have a great day. Don't get caught in the trap of materialism-- for where your treasure is that is your heart also. Put the most value on eternal things. 

 

For further reading:

Colossians 3:2

1 Timothy 6:7

Matthew 6:33

Mark 8:36,38

Luke 12:15-21

 

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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.

"My Miracle Testimony"

"I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations." Psalm 89:1

 

When the Lord does something good for you, you should testify of it-- especially when He gives you a miracle. This morning that is what I am going to do. What He did for me yesterday, I consider nothing short of a miracle.

 

I went to Wal-Mart yesterday. Because people are gearing up for Christmas, you know how busy the store is. You have to drive around for what seems like forever just to get a parking place-- people, people everywhere and lots of activity. I did my shopping, loaded my items into my vehicle to go home and put my shopping cart in the cart return and left. When I got home, I was unloading my vehicle and started to grab my purse but could not find it. I searched my vehicle, my husband searched my vehicle, but no purse. I know I had it when I put my cart up because it was in the top section of it. Evidently, I had left it in the cart. I called Wal-Mart to see if it had been turned in-- no it hadn't. So I go in my vehicle and headed back there-- praying the whole way. (Lord, put your angels around it. Let it be there still in the cart or let it have been turned in. If someone finds it, don't allow them to have any evil intent and steal it. Please let it be there, please let it be there.) I remembered the lane number I had parked on. When I pulled into the parking lot, because of the flow of traffic I had to go down the lane next to the one I was in earlier. The traffic was so bad I was having to wait and inch through it. As I got even with the lane where I had been, I looked across at the cart return and there was my purse! I parked in the middle of the lane (blocking another woman in who was trying to get out) and ran across the lanes and retrieved my purse-- thanking God with every breath!!! 

 

When I got back to my vehicle, I went to the lady whom I had blocked and the first thing I said was, "God answers prayer!", then apologized for making her wait, and told her what happened. She rejoiced with me in the goodness of God and said that He had done it, because she had seen about five or six people walk past it.

 

The miracle is this- the place was more crowded than usual. I live on the other side of town. From the time I left until I arrived back to get my purse was at least thirty minutes. Surely dozens of people had passed by it. The cart pushers had not come to take the carts in yet but were on the lane beside it. There have been robberies around here lately. People are getting desperate to get money and here was a purse laying in front of them. The purse was completely undisturbed- exactly how I left it, nothing was missing. No other carts had even been added to the return where it was. It was the first one and my purse was completely exposed-- I saw it from one lane away. It was as if the Lord did send an angel to cover it from view. 

 

So this morning, I just wanted to publicly give Him the glory for this wonderful thing He did for me. Even though it was my negligence that caused it, He was still looking out for me. I praise Him for His great goodness to me.

 

Have a great day. The Lord is always watching out for us! 

 

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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's Ways"

"Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." John 18:37

 

What if Jesus had come in a way that the people were expecting? They were expecting their Messiah to come as a king and deliver them from Roman oppression and set up a kingdom here on earth. Had He come in that fashion would they had accepted Him? Would the ones who cried for His crucifixion done otherwise? Would they have "fought for their king" instead? 

 

How do we react when the Lord doesn't come in the way that we think He should? What about when He answers our prayers in a different way than we wanted? God doesn't always do things the way we want Him to do them or the way we think He should. He does them the way He has chosen according to His own wisdom, plan and will. Martha and Mary discovered this when their brother Lazarus had died. The first thing both of them said to Jesus upon His arrival was, "Lord, if You had been here my brother would not have died". Jesus came into their situation but not in the way they had expected or hoped. They wanted Him to come heal Lazarus of his illness. God's plan was to do a greater miracle and raise him from the dead.

 

God's ways are not our ways. When He shows up, He has a far better way of doing things in mind. When He came to earth, His plan was not reach only those who were there and restore a physical kingdom. When He came, He came to redeem all of mankind from the curse of sin and give them the hope of eternal life. There were those at the cross who tried to get Jesus to prove who He was by coming down from the cross. He didn't answer them in their way. He answered them His way and proved who He was by staying on the cross and dying for our sins so that we- thousands of years- and all mankind could receive the benefits of salvation. 

 

When God doesn't show up the way you want Him to or do things the way you think He should, just trust Him and know that He is moving on your behalf in a far greater way.

 

Have a great day. The Lord will come into your situation, it just might not be in the way you think He should. 

 

For further reading:

Matthew 27:42

John 11:21,32

Isaiah 55:8,9

 

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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.

"Your Gift"

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh." Matthew 2:11

 

The gifts that the wise men gave to Jesus were not cheap gifts that were an after thought. They were very costly and the best. What gift are you giving to Jesus? There is only one gift that He desires. It is not some material possession that you have. It is not your earthly treasures- He already owns everything. The greatest gift you can give Him is the gift of yourself. That is the one that He wants. That is what He died for-- so that He might have you, your love from your heart, soul and mind. 

 

You may think that "you" aren't much of a gift. Surely, there is something better you could give Him. You may feel as though you are valueless and "cheap". You may feel unworthy of being an appropriate gift. But He thinks you are the most valuable thing there is. It has been said that the value of something is determined by the price that someone is willing to pay for it. That being the case, God was willing to pay His own Son for you. Jesus was the ransom price that was paid in order for you to be able to present yourself as a gift to Him.

 

This morning, bring Him your gifts-- your offerings, your alms-- but remember that there is only one gift that He is hoping for-- you.

 

Have a great day. Don't bring God just any "gift", give Him the gift of yourself.

 

For further reading:

Matthew 22:37; 20:28

Romans 12:1

John 3:16

1 Timothy 2:6

 

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

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.

"Using The Blessings"

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh." Matthew 2:11

 

Immediately after the presentation of the wise men's gifts to the Christ child we see Joseph, Mary and Jesus having to flee into Egypt for the child's protection. God's timing is always perfect. He knew what was coming. He knew that this family would have to relocate. He knew the move would be costly. He knew that Joseph would be leaving an established business as a carpenter and have to seek out new employment in a strange place where no one knew him or of his skills. He knew he would have to become reestablished in business to make a living to support his family. The gifts the wise men brought would help to fund this transition, provide for their needs and take care of the child.

 

God always sends what we need when we need it, but what do we do with it when He does? Living in a material society, such as we do here, it is easy for Christians to develop the mindset that everything God gives us is meant to be spent on us alone. We often think that He has given it to us so that we can buy some new material thing that we have wanted. 

 

Is this what you do with what God has given you? Are you spending it solely on selfish material desires? Or are you spending it on Him? Joseph and Mary could have gone out and bought many luxuries for themselves with these treasures they had just received. But in their case it was sent to meet a need that God saw was coming, it was sent to use to take care of Jesus and accomplish the work that God had given them to do. When God sends extra blessings our way, it is so easy for us to want to spend it selfishly and foolishly. It is not wrong to enjoy what you have labored hard for, but just remember that when God gives you anything it is intended to meet your need and to use to "take care of Jesus and His work". We are blessed to be a blessing and not to consume it upon our own lusts. 

 

Have a great day. When God sends material blessings your way, do you use them solely on selfish wants, or do you use them on Him and His work? 

 

For further reading:

Matthew 6:19,20

James 4:3

1 John 3:17

Luke 12:15-31

 

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

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.

"Key To Asking, Seeking And Knocking"

"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Luke 11:9

 

They key to receiving what is asked depends on who you ask. The key to finding when you seek depends on where you are seeking. The key to having an opened door depends upon what door you are knocking on. 

 

You can ask people for things or assistance but it may be outside of their ability to grant what you need. But if you ask the right one, which is Jesus, you shall receive (it will be given) because with Him nothing is impossible. 

 

You can seek answers or help from the world but they aren't always able to give it to you because they too are needy and fall short. But if you seek the right one in those time, which again is Jesus, you will receive (find) because He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think. 

 

You can knock on any door but it won't always be opened to you. People don't tend to open doors to strangers, sometimes the person behind the door is not home, or at times they just simply don't even hear the knock. But if you knock on the right door, again this is Jesus, the door will open to you. It will open because Jesus Himself is the door and He has promised that the person who comes to Him He will in no way turn away. 

 

If you want to receive when you ask, you have to ask the right one. If you want to find when you seek, you have to seek in the right place. If you want to have the door opened to you, you have to knock on the right one. The one we ask is Jesus. The one we seek is Jesus. The door we knock upon is Jesus. When we ask, seek and knock to Jesus we are assured that we will receive, find and have an opening.

 

Have a great day. Ask who? Jesus if you want to receive. Seek where? Jesus if you want to find. Knock where? On the right door, which is Jesus and it shall be opened. 

 

For further reading:

John 10:7,9; 6:37

Luke 1:37

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.

"Denying The Power"

"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." 2 Timothy 3:5

 

There are a lot of people who have a "form of godliness". They look and act religious. They talk about God. They do religious things but they deny the power of God. These are people who are putting their faith in their works. They believe they are right with God, are a Christian and are going to heaven because they have joined a church once upon a time. They believe they are saved because they believe God exist. They are basing their whole eternity on the fact that they do religious things-- go to church, give offerings, sing in the choir, etc. 

 

When you put your faith in your religious works to save you, you are denying the power of God-- the real hope of salvation. What is the "power" it is talking about? "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) The cross is the power of God to save the lost. It was at the cross where the price was paid and atonement made for our sins. When a person is depending on their good/religious works to save them, they have denied the power of the cross and the power that was in the shed blood of Jesus to save them. 

 

Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. (Hebrews 9:22) All the good deeds one can do, all the religious acts one can perform, all the offerings you could give, all the church service you do will never save you. Good works have no "power" to save or deliver us from the hold of sin or its penalty. All have sinned, and there is only one thing that can wash our sins away-- and it is not church attendance, giving to the poor, paying tithes, teaching Sunday School, etc. The only thing that has the power to save us is the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross. 

 

If you are placing your hope of eternal life, forgiveness of sin and a home in heaven on your good works or even on your knowledge that God is real, and your faith is not in what Jesus did at the cross as the only means of salvation then you are denying the power thereof. If you deny the power of the cross to save you and put your trust in religious "forms" to save you, one day when you stand before God He will deny you. You will not enter into heaven, and instead of recognizing your good deeds, He will call you a worker of iniquity (a worker of evil). 

 

Have a great day. If your trust is in your good deeds and religious acts to save you, you are denying the only true power to save you, and that is the cross. 

 

For further reading:

Romans 3:23

Ephesians 2:8,9

Titus 3:5

Matthew 7:23

 

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

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

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

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

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

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

"A Sign To You"

 

"And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." Luke 2:12

 

What an appalling thought, a new born baby in a stable, in a manger, surrounded by animals--- germs, nasty, smelly! Babies are suppose to be in clean, lovely, pleasant environment. But don't forget, this was no ordinary baby. This baby was the Lamb of God that would take away the sins of the world. What better place for a lamb to be born than in a stable. 

 

"And this shall be a sign unto you". The angel was speaking specifically to the shepherds that night and told them how they would know that this was indeed the Christ child when they saw Him. Today the swaddling clothes, the stable, the manger, are all signs to us that this was the Lamb of God, the Christ child, the Savior and that we don't have to continue to go from place to place looking for another one.

 

"And this shall be a sign unto you". There have many signs throughout time concerning the Savior of the world. There was a sign that was given in the garden when Adam sinned-- God killed an animal and made clothes with it to cover their nakedness. There was a sign when Abraham saw the ram in the thicket that became the sacrifice instead of Isaac. There was sign when the blood was applied to the doorposts in Egypt on the first Passover. There was sign when a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes was placed in a manger. All these signs led up to one final sign-- the cross upon which Jesus the Lamb of God was sacrificed for the sins of mankind. 

 

The shepherds at His birth saw the sign of the Lamb wrapped in swaddling clothes and declared that this was the Christ. The centurion at His death saw the sign of the cross, the earthquake and all that had been done and declared that this was the Son of God. They each saw a sign and believed. Jesus said blessed are those who believe having not seen. We may not have been there beholding the Christ in the manger, we may not have been there looking upon Jesus on the cross, but we have a sign as well that causes us to declare that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the Lamb that was slain to take away our sins. That sign is His word and His love. His word is a greater evidence and His love is a stronger witness than these even had. Will you believe this "sign" if you have not already done so?

 

Have a great day. God's word and love is the greatest sign. 

 

For further reading:

Genesis 3:21

Matthew 27:54

John 20:29; 1:29,36

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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.

"Why Did God Do It That Way?"

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid." Luke 2:8,9

 

Because of their position, wealth and title you would have thought that the wise men would have been the first ones to have the honor of seeing the newborn Christ child. But they weren't. The first ones were some of the lowest class of people- shepherds. You would have also thought that the wise men would have had the glorious angelic visitation announcing the birth to them. They had the sign of a star, the shepherds were the ones who received the message given by a host of angels. It seems as though the Lord respected the shepherds over the wise men. We would have done the opposite- put the wise men above the shepherds simply because of who they were. 

 

Why did God do it that way? Why didn't angels appear to the wise men instead of a star? Why were the shepherds the first ones to receive the invitation to see the child? There are many reasons we can derive from it, spiritual parallels that we can see, analogies, fulfillment of prophecies, and spiritual significance, but the bottom line as to why God does what He does and chooses whom He chooses is because He is a Sovereign God and does everything after the counsel of His own will. 

 

He picks, He does, He chooses, He sets up, He pulls down, He allows according to His plan and purposes. While there are times He allows us to understand His ways, He doesn't always do things in a manner in which we understand. He doesn't do things the way we would do them, He doesn't do them the way we think they should be done. His ways are higher then our ways and His thoughts are past finding out. 

 

While we may not always understand what He is doing, we can rest assured that everything He does is done perfectly and He knows exactly what He is doing and why He is doing it. He makes no mistakes. He orchestrates all things well.

 

Have a great day. When God doesn't do things the way we think He should do them, and when we don't always understand His ways, we can have assurance that He does everything perfectly after the counsel of His own will and plan. 

 

For further reading:

Psalm 103:7

Romans 11:33

Isaiah 55:9

Ephesians 1:11

 

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

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

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

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

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

"Steps of Light"

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." Matthew 5:14

 

My little granddaughter has a pair of shoes that have lights in the soles. Each time she makes a step the light shines. Jesus called us "the light of the world" if we have His light in us. As lights in the world, we should be like her shoes-- shining with each step we make. 

 

The lights in her shoes shine regardless of where she is and what she is doing. If she is in church they light up. If she is at home they light up. If she is walking around the grocery store, they light up there too. When she is playing, they shine. No matter where we go or what we do our lights should be shining. Is your light shining as you are "walking around" this world? Is it shining in each place you go? Is it shining in your home; on your job; around town? Is it shining even though you may be walking through the valley, through the fire, through a storm? Is it shining so that all can see? 

 

It is extremely hard to keep those shoes from shining- I really don't know what you would have to do to stop them from doing so. it should be hard to keep our lights from shining-- actually, it should be impossible. Wicked men tried to stop the light of Christ from shining in the early church but the more they tried, the brighter it shone in the lives of the apostles and followers of Christ. Threats could not stop it from shining. Persecution could not stop it. Imprisonment didn't stop their lights from shining. On the contrary, the more the light was tried to be destroyed the brighter it shined. Are you letting things-- rejection from others, the cares of this life, persecution, etc.-- stop your light from shining? Or is it shining brighter in spite of what you are facing? 

 

Have a great day. Our lights should be shining no matter where we are or what we are going through. And it should be impossible for anything to stop them from shining. 

 

For further reading:

Matthew 5:13-15

John 8:12

Acts 13:47-52

Philippians 2:15

Luke 12:35

 

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

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.

"Bow And Confess"

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:10,11

 

One day every knee is going to bow and every tongue is going to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. At that time every knee of every created being- men, angels, demons- that has ever existed from eternity past- before and since the foundation of the world- will bow their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord. 

 

Can you imagine what it will sound like when a multitude too large to even count will all at the same time make this confession? I cannot even fathom in my finite mind what it is going to be like. There are no words to describe it. All I can say is that I look forward to it because I will be among those who are doing it willingly because I have done it willingly and cheerfully now during my lifetime. I have not only bowed my physical knee but the "knee of my heart" to Him. 

 

At that time there will be no choice, every knee will bow, even if you did not bow it now out of free will, even if you didn't believe Jesus existed, even if you rebelled and cursed God with you mouth and life, you will still bow. So why not do it now? When that time comes, bowing your knee and confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord will not make a difference in your eternity. It will be too late. It won't change anything for you- it won't save you at the end. 

 

Making Jesus Christ your Savior and confessing that He is Lord now is your opportunity for salvation. If you wait it will be too late. At that time every knee will bow but not every heart. Will you bow the knee of your heart to Him now and confess from your heart that He is Lord? He is Lord and He is worthy to be praised. He is Lord and He is worthy to be followed. He is Lord and there is no life without Him. He is Lord and He loves you so much.

 

Have a great day. One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Will you be one of the ones that does it willingly now from your heart? Or be forced to do it then? 

 

For further reading:

Romans 14:11,12

Isaiah 45:23

Revelation 5:11-13

 

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

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.

"Turn Around And Go Back"

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." James 4:8

 

I took my four year old granddaughter shopping yesterday. While we were walking through the stores she decided that she would walk ahead of me. The closer I tried to get to her, the faster and further away from me she would go. At one point I decided to step behind some clothes out of her view-- but of course, I could still see her. She turned around and discovered that I wasn't there. She panicked, started calling my name and turned around running back to the spot where she had last seen me. I then stepped out from my "hiding place", hugged her and talked to her about staying close to me. 

 

We often do the same thing with our Heavenly Father-- run away from Him, put some distance between us, and leave Him behind while we do our own thing. When we do, He "steps aside" and allows us to "do it on our own"- like I did to my granddaughter. I had not left her, I was still there watching over her. Our Heavenly Father never leaves us, He is always watching over us, but we can distance ourselves from Him. Once we realize that we are a little too "far" from Him what we need to do is the same thing my granddaughter did-- call on His name, turn around and head back in the direction where we last "saw" Him. In the same way that I stepped forward to embrace her, He will step forward then and embrace us-- "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

 

Have you distanced yourself from Him? Are you running ahead of Him? Are you neglecting Him? Are you doing your own thing and leaving Him behind? Then turn around and go back to the place you last saw Him and was aware of His presence. Sometimes it is a sin that we have committed that places distance between us and Him. If so, turn and go back to that place through confession and repentance. Get "reunited" with Him and then start walking together, side by side.

 

Have a great day. If you are distancing yourself from God, turn around and go back to the place where you left Him. 

 

For further reading:

Hebrews 13:5

1 John 1:9

 

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

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

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

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

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

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

"Woven In"

"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." 2 Timothy 2:4

 

One definition of the word entangleth means- to be involved in. So does the scripture mean that we are not to get involved in any activity including running a home, working on a job, taking care of business? Another definition of the word helps paint a clearer picture of its true meaning. The word is "inweave". In other words we are not to "weave ourselves into" or allow the cares of this life "to weave their way" into our lives. We are not to get involved to the point where we can't separate ourselves from them when we need to. 

 

When my daughter was getting ready to deliver our grandbaby, she was given the name of the doctor who was on call that evening in case she went into labor. That doctor kept his pager with him the whole time he was on call and when the call came in that it was time to deliver a baby, he had to drop everything he was doing and go to the hospital. It didn't matter if he was in the middle of dinner, at a ball game, or asleep he had to go. There are branches of the military that stay on alert all the time not knowing when they may be called out to go and handle a situation. There are some jobs that require their employees to be on 24 hour call. In all these cases, the individuals have to be ready to drop whatever they are doing and go to where they are needed. 

 

This is what the scripture above is telling us. Be ready always at a moment's notice to do battle, to take advantage of an opportunity to witness to someone, to be obedient to do what the Lord calls you to do. The only way we can be ready at all times is by not being entangled with this life. Lay aside those things that would easily beset you. Put away those things that are nothing more than snares to hold you back. Don't be involved with the "unnecessary". Don't be so tightly "woven" to this life that you can't free yourself from it when "duty calls".

 

Have a great day. Don't be so tightly woven to this life that you can't separate yourself from it when your service for the Lord is required. 

 

For further reading:

Galatians 5:1

Luke 21:34

 

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

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.