Friday, August 30, 2013

"The Measure Of Praise"

"From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised." Psalms 113:3
 
According to this verse the Lord should be praised from the time the sun rises until it sets-- which means all day. His praise should continually be in our mouths. There should not be a time when we aren't praising Him. You may say, "Well, how can I praise Him, you don't know what I am going through?" Our circumstances should not dictate our praise. They don't determine God's worthiness. God is worthy of praise period! 
 
We tend to let what we are going through or how we feel determine our praise, or how much we praise. We measure our praise level by where we are and what is happening in our lives instead of by who God is. If we would measure our praise according to who He is instead of what we are going through we would find it impossible not to praise Him. We couldn't keep our mouths' shut. There would be no way we could withhold it. 
 
There is a secular song that says, "There ain't no mountain high enough. Ain't no valley low enough. Ain't no river wide enough. To keep me from getting to you." If we would praise God according to who He is, instead of praising Him according to our feelings and circumstances, then our hearts would have a new theme and we would be saying, "There ain't no mountain high enough. Ain't no valley low enough. Ain't no river wide enough. To keep me from praising You, Lord."
 
Have a great day. Give God your praise based on who He is and not on what you are going through.
 
For further reading:
Psalms 18:3; 34:1
Revelation 5:12
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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.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

"Fighting Alone"

"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." John 8:44
 
By yourself you are no match for the devil. He is good at what he does. He has been doing it for a long, long time. He is well acquainted with his weapons and strategies because he continues to use the same ones over and over again. He knows how to lay a trap and snare to catch his prey. He is skilled in using the weapons of fear, lies, manipulation and intimidation. So don't think you are going out there all alone and you are going to defeat him. Look at what happened to the seven sons of Sceva.
 
I don't want it to sound like I am giving the devil more credit than I should. After all he is a defeated foe, but at the present he is still "alive and well" and going throughout the whole earth seeking whom he may devour. We just don't need to be naive and know who our opponent/enemy is. So having said all that, let me now say that while we are no match for him on our own, when we are connected with Jesus the devil is no match for us because he is no match for God. 
 
Through Christ Jesus we can do all things. Through Christ Jesus the devil is defeated. Through Christ Jesus we are more than conquerors. Through Christ Jesus we can walk in victory every time the devil attacks. Even when Jesus was on earth, He didn't fight the devil in His own strength- in His humanity. As we look back at His temptations in the wilderness, we see He defeated the devil through the Word of God. Jesus, the God-man, wasn't fighting alone. When He brought God's Word into the battle, He was bringing God's presence into the battle, and the Lord by the power of His own Word defeated Him.
 
You must not try to fight the devil alone. You must bring God's presence into the battle. We fight together with the Lord. And when we do, we are assured victory every time because the devil is no match for God.
 
Have a great day. By yourself you are no match for the devil, but with Jesus in you the devil is no match for you because he is no match for Jesus.
 
For further reading:
Acts 19:13-16
2 Corinthians 2:11
1 Peter 5:8
Philippians 4:13
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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:
mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

"Listening To The Storm"

NOTE: Correction- yesterday's opening verse should have been Amos 5:19

"And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" Mark 4:35-40
 
When you are going through a storm of life, did you know that it will "speak" to you. "And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still." The word for peace is translated: to be silent; hold ones peace. The word for be still means: to stop the mouth, make speechless, reduce to silence. When Jesus rebuked the wind and sea, He literally told it to "shut your mouth and be quiet". 
 
Not only does the storm speak to you, but it does it very loudly. "And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full." It shouts with intimidation and fear. The storm that the disciples were going through was shouting to them that they were going to die; they weren't going to make it; they were going to drown. It was spewing out fear and death. "We perish". 
 
"And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" Why did Jesus rebuke the disciples for not having faith? The rebuke was for not having faith in what He had said, but having faith in what the storm said instead. Jesus had already told them His will. He had already spoken His plan to them. "He saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side." He didn't say to them, "We are going to drown on the way; we won't make it to the other side; we are going to die in the sea". No, He told them that they were going to go to the other side. 'To pass over' literally means- to go through. They were going to make it over-- they had His word on that.
 
Are you in a storm? If you are, I can guarantee that it is speaking to you. It is speaking fear, dread, intimidation, hopelessness, anger, guilt, etc. But I also know that Jesus is speaking, or has already spoken, to you. When Jesus speaks, He doesn't shout it at us. When He told the disciples to get in the boat and pass over to the other side, He didn't shout it, He simply told them. He speaks in that "still, small voice". So the question is, "Are you going to listen to the shouts of the storm, or the voice of the Lord?" Are you going to put your faith in what the storm says, or what Jesus says? Whose words are you going to believe? 
 
Have a great day. Are you going to believe what the storm says instead of what Jesus says? 
 
For further reading:
1 Kings 19:12
 
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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.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

"Out Of The Frying Pan And Into The Fire"

"...a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him..." Amos 15:9
 
Are you familiar with the expression, "Out of the frying pan and into the fire"? It seems as if we don't get out of one situation before we are met with another-- sometimes seemingly worse. Well, as a matter of fact, life is often like that. Usually there is some situation we are trying to leave behind us, but another one awaits us. We make it out of one trial and we find ourselves in another one. This happened often in the Bible.
 
While Jacob was leaving his lying, manipulating, uncle Laban who was using him, he got word that his brother Esau was coming to meet him-- the same brother he stole the birthright from. (From the frying pan into the fire.) The children on Israel left the slavery of Egypt behind them and ran into a "road block" in front of them that threatened to drown them- the Red Sea. (From the frying pan into the fire.) Joseph fled from Potiphar's wife and her advancements only to face prison. (He got out of the frying pan and wound up in the fire.)
 
Often though, the "fire" that we are heading into is not as destructive or devastating as we think it is. Look again at the three examples above. When Jacob did meet Esau instead of a battle, healing and reconciliation came between them. (Genesis 33) When the Israelites faced the Red Sea they weren't destroyed, instead it was there final deliverance from the Egyptians. (Exodus 14) When Joseph wound up in prison, it was the place that put him in position to enter the palace and fulfill his destiny. (Genesis 41) 
 
In each of these examples we also see a common thread-- God was with them moving and working on their behalf. If you feel as though you have made it "out of the frying pan" but are now facing the "fire", don't be afraid, the Lord is with you and He is working on your behalf as well. He is working all things together for your good-- the frying pan and the fire. It may look like destruction, but it may also be the very avenue to blessings, restoration, healing and the fulfillment of God's plan for your life.
 
Have a great day. When we get out of the "frying pan", there is often a "fire" that awaits us. But don't fear because the "fire" is often taking you into a blessing. 
 
For further reading:
Romans 8:28
 
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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.

Monday, August 26, 2013

"Guilt"

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23
 
There are two kinds of guilt. One deals with the fact of having committed a specified offense or crime. When it is proven that we have committed such a crime, we then receive a guilty sentence. The other is a feeling that comes upon us when we have done something wrong, or image we have-- we feel the remorse of guilt. 
 
All of us have sinned. We are born sinners because of Adam. We were all found guilty of the "sin crime". Therefore, we are under the sentence of death. I have good news this morning-- Jesus took care of guilt at the cross. When He hung on the cross, He was paying the price for your and my sins. He took the guilty sentence and was put to death. We were guilty, but He took our punishment. He became guilty so that we can become innocent. Once we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. We are set free because He become guilty on our behalf. 
 
All of us have done something wrong and when we did, remorse and guilt came attached to it. Have you ever had those feelings of guilt? You wish you had not done a particular thing? You wish you could go back and undo it? You wrestle with the guilt of past mistakes and heartaches? Good news again-- Jesus took care of our feelings of guilt at the cross also. We no longer have to go around feeling weighed down by guilt from the past or the guilt of failure. We don't have to carry the burden of that the rest of our lives. Since He took that as well, there is no condemnation to us. 
 
In a nutshell, Jesus took care of guilt at the cross. We don't have to face the guilty verdict of death because of our sins. He became guilty. So we could be free. He took care of the feelings and accusations of guilt that come upon us from ourselves, others and the adversary. So don't keep staying under guilt this morning. He who the Son sets free is free indeed.
 
Have a great day. Jesus took care of guilt at the cross. When we come to Him as our Savior, we are set free from the guilty verdict. He also took care of those feelings of guilt that torment and weigh us down.
 
For further reading:
1 John 1:9
Romans 3:23; 5:12
John 8:36
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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.

Friday, August 23, 2013

"Don't Forget To Say, 'Thank You'"

"And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? " Luke 17:15-17
 
There were ten lepers who called out to Jesus to have mercy on them and heal them. Jesus did and only one of them returned to give Him praise and thanks for healing him. Only one of the ten- nine did not return to thank Him. Before we get down on the nine, let me ask you, "How many times have you returned to give God thanks for an answer to prayer that He did for you?" We are quick to call out for His help when we are in trouble but after He hears us and does what we have asked, do we thank Him or do we forget and go on about our business?
 
We should be just as quick to say, "Thank You", when He answers our prayers. We get desperate for His help, should we not have the same feeling when it comes to giving Him praise and thanksgiving? When we don't give Him thanks when He answers, we are like ungrateful children. 
 
When we don't give Him thanks, He isn't going to pout about it, neither will He withhold His help the next time out of hurt or spite. When we don't give Him thanks for answering our prayers, He is not going to punish us for it. None of these are the reasons why we should thank Him for what He has done. We should thank Him because we are truly grateful to Him. Perhaps you would said, "He knows I am thankful". You are right, He knows- He knows everything. But shouldn't you say it anyway? Shouldn't your gratitude and thanks come out of your mouth? Shouldn't He hear it from you? 
 
Have a great day. We are quick to call upon the Lord for help, shouldn't we be as quick to tell Him, "Thank You", when He answers?
 
For further reading:
Luke 17:11-18
Psalm 75:1; 140:13
1 Thessalonians 5:18
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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.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

"God Has A Plan For You"

"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
 
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV) How wonderful it is to know that the Lord has plans for us. God has a plan for each of our lives. But sometimes we forget that. 
 
Often we let the trials that we are facing, the storm that we are going through, or the dark time of testing cause us to either forget that or make us feel that He has no plan for us. 
 
The pit, Potiphar's house, and the prison tried to convince Joseph that God did not have a plan for him. The Babylonian captivity tried to make Daniel think that God did not have a plan for him. The threats of Jezebel tried to cause Elijah to forget that he was in the middle of God's plan. 
 
Don't let your circumstances convince you that God doesn't have a plan for your life. Don't believe what they are "saying" to you. Believe what God says to you--- "I know the plans I have for you." What you are going through will often make you feel as if God has no plan for you. But it might be that those very circumstances are the instrument, or avenue, that will take you into God's plan instead. The pit was the first step in the fulfillment of God's plan for Joseph. Remember that what often looks like the enemy coming to steal the plan of God, or make you think that there is no plan, is the very thing that may be taking you into His plan. In this way all things work together for the good to those who love the Lord.
 
Have a great day. Don't let your circumstances convince you that God doesn't have a plan for your life.
 
For further reading:
Romans 8:28
 
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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:
mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

"Large And Small Victories"

"And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few." Joshua 7:3
 
When the Israelites entered into the promised land, they had to drive out the inhabitants and take back the land. The second city they encountered was Ai. Ai was a very small city. So after having defeated the much larger city of Jericho they felt that overtaking this city would be easy. But they were sadly mistaken. 
 
Why were they unable to defeat such a small city? Why had they easily defeated a much larger one but were being defeated by this small one? The reason is simple, they tried to defeat it on their own. They did not bother to consult God about it. They thought they could do it without Him. 
 
It doesn't matter what size your enemy is. We, in and of ourselves, don't have the power to defeat them. The Bible warns us about "small" things that they are just as dangerous as the large ones. (The little foxes spoil the vine; a little leaven leavens the whole lump.) When we win "large" victories, we must be careful to always remember that it was not us, it was the Lord fighting the battle for us. When we face smaller battles, we must also remember that it is the Lord fighting the battle for us that wins the victory. Without Him we can do nothing. But with Him we can do all things. With Him we are more than conquerors--- over the Jerichos and the Ais. 
 
Never let the victories you have already won (especially if they are victories over larger enemies) make you think that you can win the next one by yourself. Every victory we win- large and small- is because the Lord has caused us to triumph, we didn't do it on our own. 
 
Have a great day. Every battle we win is won through the Lord, not on our own. 
 
For further reading:
Joshua 7
Song of Solomon 2:15
Galatians 5:9
1 Samuel 17:47
Romans 8:37
 
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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.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

"The Key Is To Come"

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
 
When we are tired and weary, when we are overwhelmed, when we are burdened down, when we are laboring under a heavy load, we have one desire--- get out from under it. We want rest; we want to be free; we want peace. Well, it is possible to have it. The key is found in these three words-- "Come unto Me".
 
"Come" is the condition to receiving the rest and peace that we need. Many lack it because they won't come. The word come is an action verb. It means there is something you have to do. It means you can't just sit there and expect the burden to be lifted. The woman with the issue of blood didn't stay seated in her sickness, she got up and went to Jesus. When she did, she was healed. The disciples didn't keep bailing water in the storm, they went to Jesus and cried out for His help. When they did, the storm stopped. Blind Bartimaeus got up from where he was seated and went to Jesus. When he did, he received his sight. 
 
The Lord has given you the answer, He has given you the key, He has given you the condition and the solution to finding the rest from the heavy burden you are bearing. But you can't just keep sitting there and do nothing. You can't just sit still and hope it will change. You have to make a move toward Jesus. You have to accept His invitation to "come" to Him. When you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you. And as you do, He will give you rest.
 
Have a great day. The key to finding rest and peace is to get up and come to Jesus, not continue to sit there and hope it will change.
 
For further reading:
Mark 10:46-62
Matthew 8:25,26
Luke 8:43-47
James 4:8
 
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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.

Monday, August 19, 2013

"Singing To Please Who?"

"O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation." Psalm 95:1
 
It seems as though one of the biggest complaints I hear from Christians about church services is in regard to the songs that are sung. Some people like the choruses. Some like the hymns. I have noticed some churches only sing choruses and leave off the hymns because they feel they are "outdated". On the other hand there are churches that sing nothing but hymns. A few sing both. 
 
I personally love both. The hymns give us doctrine, the choruses are more praise oriented. Naturally, we aren't all going to like the same style of music. (We are all different and unique individuals.)
 
Like I said earlier, we hear people say that they wish we would sing a certain style of music during church services. But when was the last time you heard anyone say, "What do You, Lord, want to hear?" When was the last time we asked Him what song would bring a smile to His face? Or what can we sing that will touch Your heart today? 
 
In our church services we call the "song time" worship. Well, who are we worshipping? Who is our worship to be directed toward? The congregation and what they want to hear? The song/worship leader and what they want to sing? The pastor and what his/her particular style is? Our worship is first and foremost to the Lord. It is about opening our mouth in song and what comes out should bless Him. The songs that come from our lips (the fruit of our lips) should be like the incense of a sacrifice that rises up before His throne. And as it does it should be a sweet smelling savor in His nostrils. 
 
The song that God desires is one that comes from the spirit whether it is a chorus, a hymn or a spiritual song. God doesn't like one style over another. The words of our mouth-- even words that are sung-- should be pleasing to Him first above everything else or anyone else-- ourselves included. When choosing what to sing, we need to remember that it isn't for ourselves, or for one another, we are singing our worship for an audience of One-- the Lord God Himself. 
 
Have a great day. In our church services, when is the style of music that we sing going to stop being about us, and start being about the Lord and what He wants to hear? After all, isn't our worship suppose to be directed to Him?
 
For further reading:
Psalm 19:14; 96:1
Jeremiah 33:11
Hebrews 13:15
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:
mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Friday, August 16, 2013

"Enabler"

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10
 
Are you fearful this morning? Fearful of the unknown? Of the outcome of the situation you are going through? Are you weak? Are you growing tired and weary from the battle you have been in? Are you feeling like you won't make it? Are you ready to "throw in the towel"? Do you feel like you are being swallowed up by the pain and grief of events that have happened in your life? Then read the verse above again.
 
You do not have to be fearful, the Lord is with you- you aren't alone. He is your strength- you can make it. His strength is made perfect in your weakness. He will give you strength for the battle and strength for the journey. He will give you His strength. Whatever you are struggling with, He will help you not only make it through it, but overcome it. If you feel like giving up He will hold you up so that you can continue on.
 
The word "enable" means: To give (someone or something) the authority or means to do something; make possible; empower; allow; permit. We hear that word used a lot in our society, but usually in a negative way. It is mostly used of a person who "enables" another to continue in some addition or habit they should be letting go of. 
 
But there is a positive side of the meaning of an enabler. The Lord enables us, not to do what is bad or wrong, but He enables us to stand and withstand during the times we have been talking about. He enables us to stand against fear, against despair, in spite of our weakness, regardless of what is coming against us. He empowers us to be victorious over the enemy and besetting sins. He enables us to continue to run the race that is set before us. 
 
Whatever you may be going through today, remember that the Lord is your enabler--- enabling you to go through it, enabling you to stand and be victorious in the midst of it and He does it through His presence and power.
 
Have a great day. The Lord is our Enabler. He enables us to make it through any situation of life we are going through.
 
For further reading:
2 Corinthians 12:9
Philippians 4:13
 
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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.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

"One God For All Your Needs"

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:" Deuteronomy 6:4
 
There is only one true and living God. He is the Lord God, the Divine Trinity. Because He is Infinite, you can't put a limit on Him. When He reveals Himself, He reveals Himself through His many attributes and character. When He revealed Himself to Abraham on the mountain, He revealed Himself as not only God, but Jehovah Jireh; God who provides. He revealed Himself to Ezekiel as Jehovah-Shammah; God who is here. He is still revealing who He is to us today, and daily. Today He desires to reveal Himself to you.
 
He is the God who provides and meets your need. ("But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19) 
 
He is the God who heals. ("Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases." Psalm 103:2,3)
 
He is God who delivers-- delivers from sin, from addiction, for temptations, from the pit of despair, from anger and bitterness, etc. ("But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God." Psalm 40:17) 
 
He is the God who saves us from all our sins and gives us eternal life. ("For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11)
 
He is the God who gives us peace. ("For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6) 
 
What do you need today? Don't limit God. He is not like the false gods we have read about in literature, or in the Bible that the heathen worshipped, or that many are still worshipping today. They had/have one separate god for each thing-- a sun god, a moon god, a god for peace, a god for fertility, a god for strength, and so on. They had/have hundreds of gods. Well, the Lord God is not like that. He is One God- the Almighty. He is Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent. He is not limited. He is One God and He can do it all. With Him nothing is too hard, too difficult or impossible. You don't have to seek after many gods to provide whatever it is you need, no matter how many different needs you have- He can handle them all. 
 
Have a great day. There is only One True and Living God and He is able to do whatever you need... and He desires to.
 
For further reading:
Isaiah 44:8
Matthew 19:26
Jeremiah 32:17,27
 
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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:
mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

"High Life Or Low Life?"

"...Come up hither..." Revelation 4:1
 
For far too long God's people have been living in the "low life". I believe He is calling us to come up higher. 
 
What is the "low life"? It is that place where we are held captive to besetting sins. It is that place of carnal thinking. It is the place of conformity to this world. It is the place where our affections are set on things below-- materialism, fame, fortune, approval of men. It is the place where that which is temporal is the pursuit. It is the place of fleshly, human desire. This "low living" is the life style of too many of those who call themselves Christians. We forget that this is what the Lord delivered us out of, yet we continue to live in it.
 
It is time for us to change the level on which we live. The Bible says that we are going from "glory to glory"-- there is no staying the same and there is only one direction that our lives should be gong: Up! It is time that we rise up and move up-- up to this "higher plain" that He is calling us up to. God never calls us to move down, He always calls us to move up. 
 
The "higher life" is the place where His presence resides. When we come "up hither", we come into the very presence of God. When God called John to "come up hither", John saw a greater revelation of Jesus Christ. Remember, John was one of Jesus' disciples. He saw the miracles Jesus did, heard His teachings, was on the Mount of Transfiguration, placed his head on Jesus chest and heard His heartbeat, he was called the disciple whom Jesus loved. But he had not seen it all-- he only saw such a small part, just a glimpse, of who Jesus was. Now that he has "come up hither" he sees Jesus as He truly is-- Almighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, Conquering King of glory to Whom every knee bows. 
 
When John went up higher, not only did he see Jesus in His glory and majesty. He saw the Kingdom, he saw God's plan, he saw things from God's perspective, and he saw what was in the mind of heart of God. As we come up higher, it is God's desire to show us great and mighty things. It is His desire to make His ways known to you. It is His desire to reveal Himself to you in a greater way than you have seen Him before. It is His desire that you abide in His presence as you walk throughout this world-- that is why He is calling you to "come up higher".
 
Which level will you live on? The low one? Or the high one that is filled with God Himself?
 
Have a great day. God is calling you to come up to a higher place--- a place of abiding in the presence of God.
 
For further reading:
2 Corinthians 3:18
 
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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.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

"Storms Come"

"And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep." Matthew 8:24
 
This particular day that our scripture text is taken from started out for the disciples like any other day. They woke up in the presence of Jesus, heard His teachings, watched Him perform miracles, and communed with Him. But before the day was over they found themselves in the middle of a storm afraid for their lives.
 
Your day can start off as it usually does-- you can wake up with your heart and mind on the Lord, you can seek Him in prayer, you can read His word, study His teachings and have a wonderful time of communion with Him in worship. Then before the day is over you can find yourself in the same place the disciples did. 
 
Just because you are communing with Jesus, just because you are listening to His teachings, just because you are obeying Him, just because you are His disciple/Christian, just because you have "left all" for Him, and just because He is "in the boat" with you doesn't mean that storms won't arise in your life. It doesn't mean that the winds and waves of adversity won't strike. It doesn't mean that situations won't develop to try to capsize and turn your life upside down. The tempest, the destroyer, problems, trials and afflictions come even to those who are in close relationship to the Lord-- those who are walking with Him daily (just as the disciples did).
 
But remember this, while you are not exempt from the storms of life you are not in them alone either. Jesus is in them with you. 
 
Have a great day. Storms even come to the lives of those who are following Jesus closely. But when they come, you are not going through them alone, He is with you.
 
For further reading:
Matthew 8:23-27
Psalm 34:19
John 16:33
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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:
mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Monday, August 12, 2013

"Against That Day"

"For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." 2 Timothy 1:12
 
When we read this verse, we usually think of "against that day" as being the day in which we stand before the Lord. And that He is able to keep what we have committed to Him, including ourselves, then. But "against that day" has a broader meaning as well. 
 
The Lord isn't limited to being able to keep what and who I commit to Him at the Judgment Day only. He is able to keep whatever is committed to Him now. There are other "days" that come into our lives-- days of temptations, days of trials, days of testing, days of problems, days of hardships, days of attacks, days of discouragement, days of turmoil, etc. When those days come, the Lord is able to keep what we have committed to Him, again, including ourselves. 
 
He is able to keep me safe on the days when the winds of adversity blow. He is able to keep me secure on that days when the enemy attacks. He is able to keep my mind in peace during the days when confusion settles around me. He is able to keep me comforted on the days when my body is racked with pain. He is able to keep me strong in His power and might on the days when my strength fails. He is able to keep me from falling on the days when the tempter is enticing me to sin. 
 
The Lord is the Keeper. He is your and my Keeper. He knows how to keep us. We can't keep ourselves. He will keep us as we look to Him, trust in Him, keep our mind on Him, surrender to Him, and commit ourselves to Him. 
 
Have a great day. The Lord knows how to keep us against that day... and every day, regardless of what it may bring.
 
For further reading:
Isaiah 26:3
Psalm 121:5; 91:11
2 Corinthians 12:9
 
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.

Friday, August 9, 2013

"By Himself"

"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:" Hebrews 1:3
 
"...when he had by himself purged our sins..." Jesus by Himself purged our sins. This has a two-fold meaning.
 
1) He did it by Himself. What He did took care of the sin issue in our lives. He didn't need anything else to "help" Him. He doesn't need your good works, your religious deeds or anything else to make what He did adequate enough. There is nothing else that you can add to what He did that will make you good enough to be saved. All your church attendance, all your giving of offerings, all your religious service, none of these things have a place in "purging" your sins. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9) Jesus took care of our salvation by Himself without any outside help.
 
2) He did it by Himself. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He was by Himself- He was alone. No one else joined in His suffering. No one else was able to die with Him. His disciples had abandoned Him. There were only three that stayed with Him- His mother, Mary Magdalene, and John. But they were only onlookers. They were not partakers with Him. Even His Heavenly Father forsook Him. He totally turned His back upon Jesus. "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34) Jesus was alone carrying the sins of the world upon Himself. Yet He did not let that stop Him. (I wonder how many of us go on alone in our service for the Lord when no one else will go with us? We always want someone else to do the work with us. Even when it comes to our personal relationship with the Lord, many a husband or wife has given up because their spouse would not walk the walk with them. Jesus accomplished the will of the Father alone. Jesus died alone.) 
 
If you are adding anything to the finished work of the cross, you are missing the whole point of Jesus' sacrifice. What He did by Himself was enough. If you are refraining from following Him because you feel alone and by yourself, remember Jesus was alone yet He thought you were worth it so He was willing to suffer and die alone. Can't you do the same for Him?
 
Have a great day. Jesus died alone for your sins, and what He did alone was enough- He didn't need any help to secure your salvation.
 
For further reading:
Titus 3:5
Psalm 22:1
Matthew 27:46
 
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.