Wednesday, November 27, 2013

"Thanksgiving Lifestyle"


"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
 
The weather may be nasty outside, but there is always something to be thankful for. You may be facing a storm, but there is always something to be thankful for. You may be going through a time of tragedy, but there is always something to be thankful for. Life is full of ups and downs, you may be in a "down" time right now, but there is always something to be thankful for.
 
We don't have to look very far to find things to complain about. The devil will make sure of that- he is good at pointing out what is wrong. But neither do we have to look very far to find something to be thankful for-- all we have to do is just open our eyes. There is actually more to be thankful for than there is to complain about. There is an old hymn that says, "Count your many blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."
 
Today why not start counting/naming some of your blessings, surely you can be thankful for them? Did you wake up with a roof over your head? Do you have food to eat? Do you have clothes on your back? Do you have eyesight? Can you hear with your ears? Is your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life? Have you sins been wash away? Then you already have much to be thankful for. See for the Christian Thanksgiving is more than a date on a calendar, it is our lifestyle. Is it your lifestyle? Or is your lifestyle one of complaining about what you don't have or what is not going right in your life? 
 
Have a great day. Your lifestyle should be one of thanksgiving because there is always something to be thankful for. 
 
For further reading:
Psalm 100
 
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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, November 26, 2013

"It Is Not A Straight Shot"

"Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance: When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it. When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people." Psalm 105:11-13
 
The Lord promised to give the Israelites the land of Canaan. When He brought them out of Egyptian bondage, He led them to that land. Before they were able to take possession of it they went from one nation to another and from one kingdom to another-- their journey to get to Canaan involved going from one place to another.
 
When the Lord tells us His plan for our lives, we think it is going to be a "straight shot" to get there. That is rarely the case. In the book Hinds Feet In High Places Much Afraid was on a journey to the High Place. Each time she thought she had arrived, there was another "turn in the road". There was another valley to cross, another hill to climb. We see this also in the life of Joseph. His destiny was the palace of Egypt. But before he arrived there he went from one place to another-- from his father's house, to the pit, to Potiphar's house, to the prison and then to the palace.
 
Perhaps you have been wondering if you will ever arrive at your promised destiny? Each time it seems like you are close, the road changes direction-- and that direction looks like it is taking you further from it instead of nearer to it. Rest assured that God is watching over His plan for your life. He is leading and He is guiding. He knows the path that you must take. He knows what places you must travel through to get there. He knows when to bring you into it. So enjoy the journey, learn from it, develop trust and faith through it, let it strengthen you, and rest in the Lord's faithfulness to bring you into the place that He said He would. 
 
Have a great day. The journey to the plan of God is not always a straight shot, sometimes it takes many turns into many places. 
 
For further reading:
Psalm 105
 
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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, November 25, 2013

"Not Hid By The Darkness"

"Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee." Psalm 139:12
 
When we go through a time of difficulty and tribulation, we call it a "dark place". It is dark because we can't see any light in the situation. It seems to be void of all hope. It is just dark. Perhaps you are in such a place now. A bad report, the lack of finances, a broken relationship, all have taken you into a place that looks dark and hopeless. If so, I have good news for you. 
 
The good news is that the darkness cannot hide you or the problem from God. He sees you. He knows what you are going through. He is not searching trying to find you in the darkness. Nothing is hid from Him. Even the darkness of night shines as brightly as the light of day to Him. He sees you. It may be so dark that you can't even see a smallest flicker of light, but it is not like that for God. Nothing escapes His vision. 
 
I feel like I am on the verge of repeating myself over and over again, but I want (the Lord wants) to reassure you this morning that He sees you. You feel like He doesn't. You feel like He has abandoned you in the time that you need Him the most. You feel like He will never find you in this dark situation because it is even too big and dark for Him. It is not. The things that are impossible for men are possible for the Lord. He doesn't have to wait for His eyes to "adjust" to the darkness before He can see you and do something about it. The situation has to adjust itself to His vision. You are not hid from Him. He sees you perfectly well. The situation only looks dark to you, but it looks light to Him. He is in the darkness with you, you are not in it by yourself. 
 
Have a great day. The place of darkness you are in cannot hide you from God. Darkness is as bright as light to Him.
 
For further reading:
Psalm 139
Hebrews 4:13
 
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.

Friday, November 22, 2013

"Aholic"

"I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)" 1 Corinthians 16:15
 
We have all heard the words alcoholic, workaholic and shopaholic. "Aholic" is a suffix added to a word that denotes a person that is addicted to something. Have you ever heard of a "fleshaholic"? Are you one?
 
We were all born "flesaholics"-- catering to our flesh, living by it, being ruled by it, under submission to it, addicted to its lusts. A person who is an "aholic" of any kind, is drawn to whatever it is they are addicted to; they crave it; they give themselves to it completely. Alcoholics are drawn to alcohol; workaholics are drawn to work; shopaholics are drawn to shopping. Fleshaholics are drawn to the works of the flesh-- jealousy, sexual immorality, lustful pleasures, drunkenness, wild parties, envy, anger, selfish ambition, etc. (Galatians 5:19-21) 
 
When we come to Jesus Christ for salvation, He breaks addictions. He is the Great Deliverer. He delivers from the power of sin- breaking its hold over us. He delivers from the power of addiction- destroying its power. He delivers from the power of our flesh over us- setting us free from walking after its desires. He changes our nature and our desire and makes us a new person. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
 
Once we come to Jesus and give our lives to follow Him, He delivers us from following after the lust of our flesh and changes our lives. We begin to walk in a different direction. We are no longer addicted to our fleshly desires, but to following and walking after the Spirit. Our desire changes from fulfilling the lust of the flesh, to fulfilling the desires of the Spirit. We no longer crave the lust of the flesh, but pursue after the things of God-- love, joy, peace, etc. (Galatians 5:21,22) You might could say we are now- "Christ-aholics"-- comsumed with, being drawn to, following after Him and in short "addicted" (giving ourselves completely consecrated) to Him. 
 
Have a great day. Are you a "fleshaholic"?

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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, November 21, 2013

"Life Is A Hard Taskmaster"

"For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity." Ecclesiastes 2:22,23
 
Life is a hard taskmaster. It is not easy, it is hard. It brings sorrow, pain, troubles, distress, hurt, difficulties and vexation of heart. Life wasn't intended to be like this, and it wasn't before the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. But because of sin, life can be a struggle. Sickness, suffering, hate, broken relationships, violence all came as a result. We now have to labor to make a living. We now have to wrestle with disease and sickness. We now have pain in child birth. We have prison systems, courts of law, medical facilities, psychiatric wards to help make life at least bearable. 
 
Life itself may be a hard taskmaster-- hard and always keeping you "down"-- but God is not. Even in the midst of a "cursed world" of pain and misery, He is the Giver of life-- abundant life. This is why life doesn't destroy us as Christians. Life may happen, but God's love and grace sees us through it. He counteracts life. Pain may come in life, but God gives comfort. Weakness may hit us, but He gives us His strength. We may find ourselves in ashes, but He gives beauty. Life hits us with sorrow and mourning, but He gives us the oil of joy. Heaviness of heart comes to weight us down, but He provides us with the garment of praise. 
 
Don't think it strange when fiery trials try you, that is just life. Don't be shaken when affliction hits, afflictions are part of life. Don't get discouraged when tribulations come, in this world we will have them. But through it all, remember the words of Jesus, the Giver of abundant life. "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." He is not a hard taskmaster and He will give you rest, peace, joy, hope, strength and victory to live in a burden laden world that tries to beat you up. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." This is why we can live in this world and overcome it instead of it overcoming us.
 
Have a great day. Life is a hard taskmaster, but Jesus gives us abundant life to overcome it and walk in peace and victory. 
 
For further reading:
Matthew 11:28
John 10:10; 16:33
1 Peter 4:12
Isaiah 61:3
 
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:
mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

"Who Is God?"

"And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you." Exodus 3:14
 
When God showed Himself to Moses and told him to go to Egypt to bring deliverance to the children of Israel, Moses asked the Lord, "What should I tell them your name is when they ask?" (verse 13) God said to tell them it is "I Am That I Am". In that "name" was wrapped up the fullness of who God is-- His nature, His character and what He does. He alone bears this name. 
 
I like to think about who God is and sometimes I use the alphabet to remind me. God is everything from A to Z and all that is in between.
 
Alpha
Beautiful
Creator
Deliverer
Eternal One
Father In Heaven
God
Holy
Indescribable
Just
King of kings
Lord of lords
Master
Never ending
Omnipotent
Powerful
Quick
Redeemer
Savior
Truth
Unique
Victorious
Way
X Extraordinary
Yahweh
Zeal
 
Perhaps you may want to do this yourself. This list barely scrapes the surface of who this Amazingly Wonderful God is. 
 
Have a great day. God is everything from A to Z.
 
For further reading:
Exodus 3:13-15
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

"Repetition"

"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." Matthew 6:7
 
When you go to God in prayer, do you find yourself repeating the same thing over and over to Him again? I have thought about this when I lift up my praise to Him in prayer. I find myself repeating the same thing again and again. But just because we repeat the same thing over and over doesn't necessarily mean it is "vain" repetition. It can be repetitive but not vain. 
 
Vain repetition is when we just babble using a bunch of idle words-- we are saying a lot but saying nothing. Vain repetition is when we aren't even giving thought to what we are saying. We are saying it just to hear ourselves talk. 
 
When you start praising the Lord, you can't help but be repetitious because there are only so many words in our vocabulary that we can use to describe Him. He is so great and we are so limited in our ability to articulate who He is. He is the indescribable God-- therefore, we "run out of words" and have to start repeating ourselves. Even the host of heaven is at a loss and are repetitious as well. They sit around His throne crying, "Holy, Holy, Holy" over and over and over again. 
 
When you pray to the Lord or when you praise Him, it is all right to be repetitious, but it is not all right to do it in a vain manner just to hear yourself talk or think that He is going to hear you because you are speaking so much. If you have to keep repeating yourself because you are at a loss for words, then repeat yourself and don't let the enemy stop you because you think it is vain repetition.
 
Have a great day. It is all right to be repetitious in your praise to God because there are only so many words that we have to describe Him. Just don't use vain repetition. 
 
For further reading:
Revelation 4:8
 
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:
mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Monday, November 18, 2013

"The Altar Of Prayer"

"I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word." Psalm 119:58
 
I wonder what we in the modern day church know about entreating God and praying with our whole heart? We tend to pray what I call "microwave prayers". Prayers that are "thrown up" to God to get our immediate need met. We don't know much about "tarrying" and "waiting" upon the Lord. We also tend to pray "brownie point" prayers. Prayers that are half-hearted and "just enough" so that we can say we have "done our duty" of prayer.
 
The Psalmist entreated God's favor with his whole heart. Jesus often prayed all night. Jacob wrestled with the angel until he blessed him. David fasted and prayed until he got word that the child he was praying for was dead. Jeremiah prayed for a word from the Lord for ten days before God answered him. We think we have really done something if we pray for ten minutes. And once we have prayed for ten minutes we expect God to have already answered and if He delays we get discouraged, frustrated and angry with Him. 
 
We need to learn how to go back to the altar and PRAY! I know we are to pray without ceasing (wherever we are) and there are times when we cry out to God and He answers immediately. But it wouldn't hurt us to have some calloused knees for a change because we have been on them praying to the Lord. When was the last time you knelt before the "altar" (presence) of God and prayed until you knew you had heard from heaven? Many times we walk in assumption instead of faith because we haven't prayed until we have truly heard God's answer. 
 
There is no set "form" or set "length" of time that we should pray. But the half-hearted, ten minute praying, on the go prayer we have been doing is not working. (That is evident by what we see happening in our world around us.) As I already said we need to learn how to go to the altar and pray and stay there until we have heard from God. 
 
Have a great day. Revive and restore the altar of prayer in your life. 
 
For further reading:
2 Chronicles 7:14
 
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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, November 15, 2013

"No Invitation"

"Let him that stole steal no more..." Ephesians 4:28a
 
The enemy comes against us in our thought life more than in any other way. He makes "suggestions" and poses questions to make us "think" and "reason". He did this at the beginning in the garden when he asked Eve, "Did God say?" He did it with Jesus in the wilderness temptation. We can't stop him from "speaking" to us but we can "shut him up" and not give him an "invitation" to come on in.
 
When he came to Eve, she had a choice to either "shut him up" or "invite him in". We know that she invited him in. How do we give him an invitation to get into our lives? We do it by "entertaining" those thoughts, suggestions and questions. She entertained them-- therefore, inviting him in-- and we know the end result. 
 
When he comes with his suggestions, accusations, words of fear, and condemnation you too have to make the decision to either invite him in or shut him up. We invite him in when we entertain what he says. When you dwell on the thoughts that he is planting, when you give heed to the words he is speaking, when you receive what he says then you have invited him in. Once he is in he will try to "run the house". He will try to set up homestead. He will not want to leave either. 
 
We don't have to invite him in, we can keep him out, we can slam the door in his face. We do this by following Jesus' example. Jesus did not give place to his words, accusations and lies. He used the scriptures to "shut him up". The enemy could find nothing in Jesus-- no place to set up residence-- because Jesus did not invite him in.
 
Shut the door on the enemy by not listening to his lies, but by listening to the truth of God's word. Cast down those thoughts when they come to you, don't entertain them. Station the sword of the Spirit (God's word) beside the door to your heart and mind, and use it. You have to make the decision to listen or not, to heed or not, to give place and invite him in or shut the door on him. Which will you do?
 
Have a great day. When the enemy comes, don't invite him in, but slam the door in his face by not entertaining the thoughts he is throwing at you.
 
For further reading:
John 14:30
James 4:7
Ephesians 6:17
2 Corinthians 10:5
Genesis 3:1
Matthew 4:4,7,10 
 
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:
mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

"Love Is Not A License"

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15
 
We have heard it taught that grace does not give us a license to sin. But love doesn't give us a license either. Just because God loves us unconditionally, and nothing separates us from His love, it doesn't mean that we can do anything we want to do and it will still be all right because He won't stop loving us. That attitude speaks volumes concerning just where your heart is in regard to God.
 
The fact that God loves us always is not in question. It is whether you love Him or not that is the question. We can say we love God but that doesn't make it so, or mean we really do. Jesus said that the true evidence that you love Him is that you keep His commandments. In other words, if you do those things that He says to do and refrain from doing those things He says not to do-- this is the sign of your love for Him. How can you love Him if you are living "against" Him. You may say, "I am not against God. I believe in Him. I know He is real. I love Him". You are against Him when you go against His commandments. You are against Him when you live the way you want to live instead of the way He desires for you to live. You are against Him when you are living after your own fleshly, selfish, self-centered desires. You are against Him when you are living by your own standards instead of His standards. 
 
You can't live in adultery and fornication, you can't get drunk, cheat, lie, steal, abuse drugs, be immoral, use profanity, covet, etc. and say you love God. The Bible says that the truth is not in you. Truly loving Him means that you have turned your life over to Him. And when you turn your life over to Him, you become a new person. You start acting like and living like Him. You start walking in love-- love toward others and love toward Him. And love toward both is expressed in action. Love toward others means you are forgiving, kind, caring, compassionate. Love toward Him means you do what He says to do-- you keep His commandments.
 
Have a great day. Because God loves you unconditionally doesn't mean that you have a license to live anyway you want to live and it will be all right.
 
For further reading:
John 15:10
2 Corinthians 5:17
1 John 2:4; 4:20; 5:2
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:
mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

"God Loves You"

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
 
I felt this morning that the Lord wanted me to remind you that He loves you. His love for you is unending. His love for you is unconditional. His love for you is always there. You may try to run from His love but you will never be able to. You may try to out run it, but you can't. You may try to deny it, but it still exist. You may try to turn from it, but you can't get away from it. You may even reject it, but you can't quench it. Nothing can separate you from the love that God has for you. 
 
When you examine your own self, do you wonder how He could love you? Do you feel undeserving and unworthy of His love? Well, you are. We don't deserve God's love. We have done nothing to earn it. We are not worthy of it. But He loves us anyway, not of the merits of what we have done, but on the merits of His own Divine nature.
 
Your mistakes, your sins, your rejection, your unworthiness, will never be greater than His love for you. His love is greater than our sins. It never changes toward us. When Adam sinned in the garden, God did not stop loving him. Adam's sin broke their fellowship but not God's love for him. God loved him so much that although He knew that Adam would disobey and rebel against Him before He even created him, He already had a plan in place to bring him back to Himself. It was a plan of love-- "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son." "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8-NKJV)
 
God is all about love. And He is all about loving you.
 
Have a great day. God loves you, and don't forget it.
 
For further reading:
Romans 8:31-39
 
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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, November 12, 2013

"Hallelujah, Any How"

"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." Philippians 4:4
 
As most of your know I don't write the devotional ahead of time. I write it each morning then mail it out. This morning I did as I usually do, I wrote it, proofed it and was getting ready to make another copy for my own files and my computer decided to have a "mind of its own". Everything started freezing up and not responding-- no matter what. It finally let me "close the program". But when I was finally able to reopen everything, guess what? You guessed it-- my devotional was "GONE!!!". I really don't have time for this, I have an appointment this morning. I don't have time to try to write it again and do what I need to do before I have to leave. Do you ever have days like that?
 
We all have them. Days when what ever can go wrong will go wrong and especially when it is the worst time in the world for it to go wrong. I have learned though, when that happens--- don't get upset, frustrated or anxious (although sometimes that is easier said than done). Instead I do what I am doing right now-- praise God anyway and give it to Him! 
 
Yes, it happened. It is too late to do anything about it. But there is one thing that I can do something about-- I can decide what I am going to let this do to me. I choose to NOT let it upset me. I choose to rejoice and praise God anyway! No matter what is going on, He is still God and He is still worthy of praise. I choose to NOT let it steal my peace or my joy or my praise. There is a song that says, "Hallelujah, any how!" When these times come, that is the attitude you have to determine to have in your heart and on your lips. So... "Hallelujah, any how! Never, never let your troubles get you down. When life's troubles come your way, hold your head up high and say, 'Hallelujah, any how'!"
 
Have a great day. Hallelujah, any how!
 
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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, November 11, 2013

"Trial And Testimony"

"Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes." Psalm 119:68
 
I would like to share a testimony with you. I will try to make it as brief as possible.
About a week and a half ago, I started feeling a soreness in my back- don't remember doing anything to it. That Friday I had to lift something at the shop that was heavier than I thought. When I did, I could tell it was too heavy and felt it in my whole body. I began to do what I had been taught-- pray, stand upon the word, quote the scriptures and promises. The pain left the next day. I was fine for almost a week until the morning it was time for me to go back to the shop- Thursday morning. I started to lift something (carefully and it wasn't heavy at all) and when I did, a pain caught me-- felt like someone hit me in the back with a sledge hammer! The pain was awful! I started praying, standing on the promises, etc. (fighting the fight of faith). I went on to the shop but that whole day the pain was so bad, I could hardly stand being in my own body. By the time I got home it was so bad that I took one of my husband's pain pills and a prescription pill for inflammation. Got up the next morning and the pain was still just as bad. I laid on an ice pack while having my prayer time. I keep praying and standing on God's healing promises, but it wasn't getting any better. I started getting dressed to go to the shop-- which was very difficult, I could barely bend over and straightening up again was almost impossible. I keep praying and talking to the Lord about it. Then all of a sudden the Holy Spirit gave me one of those "faith nudges" and I had a moment very similar to the one the prodigal son had while he was in the pigpen. It was the moment when he came to his senses and decided, "Why am I here? The servants in my father's house are better off than I am!" For me it was one of those moments when I thought-- what?! Why am I sitting here in this pain when Jesus provided healing for me- I am an heir of God? I stood up and said, "No! I do not receive this! I refuse to give into this in Jesus' Name." At that point I went back to getting dressed, determined not to allow the enemy to do this to me, and in an instant my back stopped hurting, I had free mobility, the pain left, I had full range of motion again and could easily bend and move! (I give God all the glory and honor and praise for what He has done for me!! Thank You, Jesus!)
 
In this time of trial and testimony I see a collection of the things I have shared through the devotional over the past few weeks. There are times when the word will try us as it did Joseph. We are in a time of heavy spiritual warfare. The enemy's tactic is fear. What are we going to do about it? Are we going to listen to his voice; the voice of fear; the voice of the world; the voice of our own flesh; or the voice of the Lord? Are we going to reason away God's promises and talk ourselves out of it? Are we going to pray about it only or take authority over it? 
 
I recognized it was an attack of the enemy. He was trying to make me fearful of what might be going on in my back. I listened to the voice of the Lord and knew it was a lie. But I had to activate my faith and authority against him. When I did, I received the manifested victory. 
 
Whatever you are going through remember that you are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus. No weapon formed against you shall prosper. All things work together for your good. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. Trust God. Stand upon His promises. Use His authority. Hold fast the profession of your faith. Listen to and obey the voice of the Holy Spirit.
 
Have a great day. There are times when we will be tried by the Word, but if we hold fast to our profession and trust God's promises, we will come forth victorious.
 
For further reading:
Luke 10:19
Galatians 4:7
Psalm 105:19
 
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:
mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Friday, November 8, 2013

"Where Are You Dwelling?"

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1
 
Where are you dwelling/living? Where is your place of abode? I am not talking about your physical address, I am talking about your spiritual dwelling place. Are you dwelling in the place of bitterness? Bitter because of something that happened to you in the past. Are you dwelling in the place of unforgiveness because someone mistreated you? Are you dwelling in anger? Are you dwelling in fear? Where we dwell spiritually is a choice- no one can force us into a place of residence- we choose to move there.
 
The dwelling place for a Christian is under the shadow of the Almighty God. It is a dwelling place of peace and joy and faith and love and righteousness. No one can evict you from that place. If you "move out" of that dwelling, you do it by choice also.
 
"Where do you choose to dwell/live?". I choose to dwell in the Presence of the Lord. I choose to dwell in peace. I choose to dwell in truth. I choose to dwell in joy. I choose to dwell in His everlasting care. I choose not to dwell-- and will not dwell-- in anger, bitterness, fear, discouragement, etc. Those are not the dwelling places He has prepared for us. Jesus said that He was going to prepare a place for us and then return for us and take us there. Well, He has also prepared a place for us to dwell in here until He returns for us. That place is the dwelling place of abundant life. Is that the dwelling place you choose to live in? Or will you choose to live/dwell in the place of defeat and despair?
 
Have a great day. The place where you dwell spiritually is by choice-- you choose to dwell there. 
 
For further reading:
Psalm 90:1
John 14:1; 10:10
 
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:
mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

"Reasoning Away Miracles"

"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." Mark 9:23
 
Why is it so hard for us to believe for healing, miracles and deliverance? We say that God can do it, but we don't act like He can. I believe some of the reason why is because we "talk ourselves out of them". We "reason" it out. Let me explain.
 
We come up with all kinds of reasons why it won't happen. Here are some of them.
1) It may not be His will. "And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed." (Matthew 8:2,3)
 
2) We reason that because the disease is "big"- like cancer, the "Big C"- or because it is one that there is no cure for God can't heal it. "Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?" (Mark 2:9) It is all the same to the Lord. He doesn't see "big" or "small". Healing cancer or AIDS is as easy for Him as healing a toothache. 
 
3) I have had this illness for so long-- for years-- so it is too late to receive a healing. "And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years... came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched." (Luke 8:43,44) "And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." (John 5: 5,6,8)
 
4) I am suffering for my sins. This is my cross to bear. "And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." (John 9:2,3)  "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases." (Psalms 103:3)
 
5) God put this on me so I must suffer for His glory. "But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?" (Matthew 12:24-26) If God puts the sickness on us but He also heals sickness, then He is divided against His own self and working against Himself. He doesn't, therefore, He doesn't put it on us. 
 
The thing we must stop doing is listening to the voice of our own reasoning. Our reasoning is often false reasoning. We need to listen to what God says to us through His Word. Jesus came to show us the Father and teach us what His will is concerning us. So look at Jesus, look at His life, look at what He did. He only did what the Father told Him to do. He only did the will of His Father. What did He do? "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." (Acts 10:38) Then that must be the will of the Heavenly Father. 
 
Have a great day. Stop listening to the voice of your own reasoning and start listening to the Lord and you will see miracles, healing and deliverance take place. 
 
For further reading:
John 5:19
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:
mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.