"Where Is Your Trust?"

"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." Psalm 118:8

Why is it that we will put our trust in people and things more than we do in God?  We will put our trust in medicine to make us well; in counselors to tell us what to do; in a judicial system to defend us; in our jobs to provide for us; in the government to take care of us; in law enforcement to protect us; in other people to affirm us yet we will not put our trust in God to do all of the above, plus more.

We put more trust in man than we do in God.  We put our trust in the creation instead of the Creator.  We put more trust in what is temporary than we do in He who is Eternal.  Something is definitely wrong with this picture.  Isn't He trustworthy?  Can't He who died for us be trusted with our lives?  Can't He who created us to begin with be entrusted with our well being?  Can't the One who loves us with an everlasting love that is greater than we can even comprehend be trusted to take care of us?  I am not saying that these things and people don't have a place in our lives at times.  I thank God for His grace that has given them to us... but He never gave them to us to replace Him!

What are you putting your trust in the most?  Is it in man and this worldly system?  Do they have a greater level of your trust then the Lord does?  Before you answer with, "Of course, I trust God more", take a good look at your life and your daily routine and choices.  Think about what you would do if suddenly today all means of help and support were gone and it was just you and God.  How would you feel, better yet, how would you react? 

Have a great day.  Do you put more trust in people and things than you do in God?

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

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

 

"Two Perspectives"

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28

The pessimist says the glass is half empty.  The optimist says the glass is half full.  It is a matter of perspective as to how something is seen.  As Christians we can either see things from a natural perspective, or we can see them from God's perspective. 

When the children of Israel came out of Egypt and were before the Red Sea with Pharaoh's army pressing in behind them, the natural perspective was-- we will either die at Pharaoh's hand or drown in the sea.  God's perspective was-- be still and see the salvation of the Lord, after today you will not see Pharaoh again. 

The natural perspective viewed the cross as a place of defeat-- Jesus is dead.  But God's perspective saw it as a place of victory and triumph-- Jesus is alive, sin has been conquered. 

When we view circumstances through a natural perspective, we can become fearful, hopeless and discouraged.  Viewing them from God's perspective brings faith, hope and peace. 

When we view things through our own perspective, we can easily fall into self-pity because we see it as something happening "to" us.  But when we view it through God's perspective, we see it as something happening "for" us.  From his own perspective Joseph saw his brother's hate, the pit, Potiphar's house and the prison as something that was done "to" him.  Once he viewed all that had happened from God's perspective, he saw it wasn't done to him but "for him".  "All things work together for the good".  It brought him into God's purpose and destiny for his life.  It put him in a position to be able to save the nation of Israel. 

Viewing what is happening in your life from your own natural perspective will bring self-pity, fear, doubt, unbelief and discouragement.  But when we view it from God's perspective it will bring hope, life, comfort, strength, peace and faith. 

Are you in a situation?  Ask God to help you see it from His perspective-- His view point.  The higher you go, the broader your view becomes and you can see more of the picture and realize that whatever comes your way has been filtered through the hands of God first and instead of it being done "to" you, it is actually being done "for" you, to work out God's greater plan for your life.

Have a great day.  Seeing the situation from our perspective produces fear.  Seeing it from God's perspective produces faith. 

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

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
 

"Yoked"

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Matthew 11:29

 What is a yoke?  The dictionary defines it as: 

a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull.  When two animals were yoked together it meant that they both shared the load of what they were pulling.  It also meant that if one got tired or weak, the strength of the other one would help lighten the load.  Jesus said to take His yoke upon us.  What does that mean? 

 

The yoke of Jesus is two-fold.  Being yoked to Him has two meanings.  When we are yoked to Him, it doesn't mean that something has simply been imparted to us.  But it is something that we now share with Him.  We share in the fellowship of His suffering.  We share in drinking the cup in which He drank.  What they did to the Master, they will do to us.  We conform to His death.  We take up our cross and deny ourselves.  We surrender to the Father's will.  It means we labor together with Him.

 

Being yoked to Him also means that we share in His victories.  When we are weak, His strength is perfected in us.  When we get weary and feel like giving up, He will undergird us and carry the load helping us to make it through.  Being yoked to Him means we are "yoked" to peace, joy, love, grace, and all that He is.  We are yoked to the King of kings and Lord of lords.  We are yoked together with the Savior, the Redeemer, the Healer, the Deliverer, the One who was triumphant over death, the One who is fairer than ten thousand, the Lord of Glory, the Lord of hosts, the Lord Strong and Mighty, the Almighty God!

 

Being yoked to Him means we follow Him, even into suffering and death.  It feels at times like a hard yoke to bear, but Jesus said it was light and easy.  It is light and easy because as we submit to letting Him take the lead, He will help us, He will carry the load, He will give us grace and He has already been victorious over the suffering and will lead us through any difficulty we face.  It is also light and easy because we are yoked to Jesus and He will never leave us but stay attached to us no matter what we face.

 

Have a great day.  The yoke of the Lord is a yoke of sharing-- sharing in His suffering and sharing in His victory.

 

For further reading:

Romans 8:17

Philippians 3:10

Mark 10:39

 

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

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

"The Greatest Blessing"

"Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord."  Psalm 118:26

This verse was a prophesy concerning Jesus and it was fulfilled in Him at His triumphant entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey's coat.  But this verse is also still being fulfilled.  It is being fulfilled in each and every person who witnesses and testifies to others about the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

When we share the message of hope, eternal life and salvation, we don't do it for our own sakes.  We aren't doing it in our own name.  We are doing it in His name.  We are coming in His name commissioned by Him, not by our own selves.  We are His messengers. 

When we share this wonderful message of love and life with others, we are being a blessing because we are bringing a blessing.  There are many ways we can be a blessing to others-- giving a hungry man a meal; clothing someone who is naked; being a shoulder to cry on for someone who is sad; giving a ride to someone so they can go to church; mowing the yard of a widow; paying a light bill; etc. etc. etc.  But the greatest blessing we can be to someone is to give them the message of eternal life.  It is a far greater blessing to be a light to someone who is in darkness and looking for a way out.  It is a far greater blessing to throw a rope of hope down to someone who is in a pit of despair and pull them out.  It is a greater blessing to show a captive of sin the way of escape.  It is a greater blessing to help someone who is in bondage find freedom. 

On that day in Jerusalem as they cried out-- "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord"-- they had a preconceived idea of what the blessing was that Jesus was bringing.  They thought it was deliverance from Rome and restoration of the throne of David.  But it was a much greater blessing that Jesus was bringing-- an eternal one.  Let's not have a preconceived idea that the only way to be a blessing is by doing something "physical, tangible, material" for others.  Let's not forget that the greatest blessing is not just food and clothing, but giving someone the opportunity to hear, and receive, the good news that Jesus saves.

Have a great day.  The greatest blessing we can be to someone is to tell them the message of salvation and eternal life through Jesus.

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

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

"Love Others"

"Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."  1 John 4:11

God loved us so much that He gave up His Son Jesus to die for us.  God loved us so much He gave us not only a way to be saved through Jesus, but the opportunity to be saved.  He should have left us on our own without hope.  But He didn't.  There is no greater demonstration of love than to lay down your life for someone else-- especially an enemy.  This is exactly what He did. 

If He did that for us.  If He loved us in such an amazing way.  If He loved us so much that He was willing to do whatever it took to show us His love.  Then, shouldn't we be willing to do the same toward one another?  If God Himself, humbled Himself to love us so much, why can't we?

Why do we keep holding on to grudges?  Why do we show respect of persons?  Why do we love only those who love us?  Why are we full of hate?  Why are we more interested in self than others.  Why aren't we willing to forgive? 

God did not, and does not, have to love us, but He does.  If He loves us in spite of ourselves, can't we love others?  Who is it that you are having a hard time loving?  Ask God to help you to love them.  They may not be "worthy" of your love, but neither were we "worthy" of God's love, but He gave it to us anyway.

Have a great day.  If God loved us who were undeserving of His love, why can't we love others?

 

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

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

 

"Mighty To Save"

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

The Lord God is a mighty God.  He is a saving God.  He saved us from our sins through the shed blood of His Son Jesus.  He saves us when we are in trouble.  He saves us from the enemy.  But His salvation doesn't always come the way we think it should or prefer it to.

His salvation of our souls always comes the same way-- through faith in Jesus Christ.  There is no other way that He saves.  We aren't saved through religious acts and good deeds.  Only through the Lord Jesus Christ.

But His salvation in trials, afflictions, problems, etc. may come through various ways.  Sometimes His salvation delivers us out of the situation, but sometimes His salvation delivers us through it.  For example-- sometimes He saves us in sickness by healing us of it.  Sometimes He saves us in sickness by taking us home to be with Him.  Sometimes His salvation in a financial problems comes through sending us the money.  Sometimes it comes through acts of faith and obedience that He shows us to do to correct the situation. 

He didn't save Joseph from the pit, slavery and the prison, He saved him through it and brought him to a greater purpose.  We often think the best way would be instant deliverance in our problems and trials.  But that is not always true.  Sometimes what we go through, instead of being delivered out of, works in us a far greater weight of glory.  It produces a greater level of faith and trust.  It brings a greater revelation of who this Mighty God we serve truly is.

Are you in a trial?  God is mighty enough to save you.  And He is saving you even if you don't think He is because it isn't coming the way you think it should.  Just trust this Mighty God to work all things together for your good-- even His plan to save you.

Have a great day.  God's salvation in the situation doesn't always come the way we want it to, but it is the best way.

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

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

"Bowing Things"

"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 all mankind will stand before the Lord.  Everyone from Adam to the last person born on earth.  We will not only stand before Him, but bow our knee before Him and confess that He is Lord.  This includes kings, presidents, emperors, politicians, judges, college professors, policemen, mayors, movie stars, the affluent, the poor, the worshippers of false gods, the atheist, Pharisees, preachers, teenagers, children, etc... it will include all no matter who they were in life or what position or title they held.  All will bow their knee to King Jesus and confess that He is Lord.

Are you bowing your knee to Him out of loving devotion and service now?  Will you be forced to on that day or are you doing it willingly and cheerfully now?  Let me ask you another question-- is all you are, all you have, all you possess bowing its knee to Him?

The verse says, "things" in heaven, "things" in earth, "things" under the earth.  Are your "things" bowing to Him?  Or are you bowing to them?  Is your time bowing to Jesus-- meaning, are you making your time honor and serve Him, or are you wasting it on too much busyness that accomplishes nothing?  Are your talents bowing to Him?  Are your hobbies?  Is whatever form of entertainment you enjoy bowing to Him?  Or, again, are you bowing to it by watching and engaging in activities that are not pleasing to Him or by allowing it to have first place in your life?  Are your relationships bowing to Jesus?  Or are you holding on to certain people because of your own desire and wants?  Are your finances bowing to Him?  Are you using them for His kingdom or furthering your own, spending them strictly on selfish desires?  What about your appetites, ambitions, dreams, etc.?

Think about it.  Even though you have bowed to His Lordship in your life when you received Him as Savior, how much of you is not "bowing" to Him.  How much of what you possess and have been given is not bowing and declaring Him as Lord?

Have a great day.  Is all of you and what you possess bowing to Jesus?

For further reading:
Romans 14:11 

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

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

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

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

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

"Persuaded In Love"

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:38,39

Neither shall famine, terrorists' attacks, a failing economy, corrupt politicians, wolves in sheep's clothing, a broken relationship, an unfaithful spouse, rebellious children, you name it-- it cannot separate us from the love of  God which is in Christ Jesus. 

Paul was persuaded concerning the love of God that nothing could separate us from it.  He was confident because it was God's love-- not man's.  God's love is so powerful.  It isn't conditional.  It isn't effected by external variables.  It isn't temporary.  It isn't fickle.  It has stood the test of time.   

He was persuaded because of God's demonstration of love.  While we were still sinners Christ died for us.  He didn't wait for us to get "cleaned up".  He didn't wait for us to quit sinning.  He didn't wait for us to become righteous.  He didn't even wait for us to repent before He showed His love.  Had He, He would still be waiting and we would never have the opportunity to experience God's love.  But He didn't wait.  He sent His One and Only Son Jesus into the world to die for our sins because He loved us.

He was persuaded because God's love was in and through Christ Jesus.  He saw what great lengths God went to to demonstrate His love to us--  He went to the cross.  He suffered pain, shame, the reproach of ungodly and wicked men, He was nailed to a tree, He was mocked, lied about, abandoned and forsaken.  He died on the cross. 

He was persuaded because Christ was resurrected from the dead.  He demonstrated His power by doing what He said He would do-- rise again on the third day.  He knew that He was faithful to His word and nothing could alter it or stop it.  Therefore, when God says He loves us with an everlasting love-- He means it and nothing can change that.

Are you persuaded of God's love for you?  Do you really believe He loves you?  Are you allowing anything to make you believe otherwise?  Have you accepted His love by accepting His Son Jesus as your Savior and Lord?  Are you secure and confident in God's love for you?      

Have a great day.  How persuaded are you that nothing can separate you from God's love? 

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

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

 

"Jesus Is The Theme"

"But we preach Christ crucified..." 1 Corinthians 1:23a

I watched the movie "The Cross and The Switchblade" last night.  In the scene where David Wilkerson was getting ready to preach to the gang members he said that he doesn't preach religion, he preaches about a man.  The whole theme of his preaching was Jesus Christ.  It seems as though today that we hear anything, and everything, else preached about but Jesus.  We preach about our religion, our programs, our visions, our philosophies, our convictions, but very little about Jesus. 

Without Jesus there is no gospel-- no good news.  Without Jesus there is no message.  Without Him there is no hope for a lost and dying world, or our own soul.  Our church growth sermons won't change the hearts' of men.  Our sermons on religion won't help the downcast and broken hearted.  Our spiritually based motivational speaking won't set captives free.  There is only one thing that can break through a heart of stone, a soul in bondage, a ruined life--- His name is Jesus. 

The preaching of the cross seems foolish, but it is the power of God unto salvation, and it is the means in which God chose to save the lost. (1 Corinthians 1:18,21)  The cross and Jesus Christ crucified is the greatest demonstration of the love of God.  The love of God revealed through Jesus at the cross was so great that it forgives to the uttermost-- no sin is too bad that it can't forgive.  It reaches into the deepest pit of despair that is present in the heart of men-- no pit is too deep.  It can penetrate the grossest darkness in our lives and bring into it the brightest light.  It saves so completely that nothing else needs to be added to it.  It is able to completely transform a life and make it brand new.  Our eloquent, well educated, religious, enticing words of man's wisdom, leaning to our own understanding, faddish, new fangled methods, flesh filled sermons won't and can't do any of that.  Only Jesus can-- He is the Way, the only Way. 

Have a great day.  Jesus Christ is the theme of our message because He is our only hope. 

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

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

 

 

"Standing Before The Judge"

"Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity."  Psalm 98:9

If you ever have to go into a court of law and stand before a judge, sadly, you aren't always assured that he/she will deal out true justice.  Many do uphold the law and do what is right, but many also judge according to their own preference, convictions, outside influences and even through bribery.

Perhaps you have never gone to court and stood before a judge.  It is a sobering experience.  That person, in a sense, holds your whole life and future in their hands- or in their decision.  You may never find yourself standing in a court of law while you live on earth but one day we will all stand before the Judge.  Not just any judge or person appointed or elected by men, but The Judge of the Universe.  The Creator.  God Himself.  We will all stand before Him one day and give an account. 

When we stand before Him, we won't have to wonder if He will be fair, be just, be influenced against us, bribed, listen to false accusations, or make a mistake.  He will judge us in righteousness, and His judgment will be true.  His verdict will either be-- "well, done, good and faithful servant", or "depart from me".  His sentence will be to those He finds faithful to enter into His rest and the joy of heaven for an eternity.  For those to whom He says, "Depart", it will be into everlasting torment. 

If you were to stand before Him today, what would the verdict be?  What sentence would He decree?  There is no reason that anyone should not hear Him say, "Well, done, enter into heaven".  The reason being because He has provided a way for us to receive a "not guilty" verdict.  We were all guilty of sin and trespassing against Him.  We were all guilty of being rebellious toward Him.  We all deserve eternal damnation.  But, unlike many earthly judges, He is merciful.  He has given us a chance to be "innocent".  That chance comes through His Son Jesus Christ.  Accept Him as Savior and follow Him as Lord and you will be found innocent when you stand before Him.  Reject Jesus and you will be found guilty.  It is just that simple.  He is a just judge. He will not clear the guilty, but He will not condemn the innocent.  Which are you?

Have a great day.  We will all stand before God one day and He will be our Judge.  What verdict will He pronounce on your?   

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

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

"The Deterrent"

"There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"  Genesis 39:9

Joseph was in Potiphar's house as a slave.  You know the story.  Potiphar's wife had her "eye" on him and the first opportunity that availed itself, she tried to seduce him into having sex with her.   What was his reply?  He didn't answer her by telling her that they couldn't because Potiphar might find out, or one of the other servants might see, or any other excuse.  His answer was plain-- "how can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

When we are faced with the temptation to sin, it is good to have a deterrent to that sin, but the real deterrent is that we will not sin against God.  Some people reframe from sexual immorality because they are afraid of getting pregnant or a disease, etc.  Some reframe from lying and cheating because they are afraid of getting caught.  Some reframe from breaking the law because they are afraid of going to jail.  Some don't engage in other sinful behavior for fear of losing their family.  Again, these are all praise-worthy deterrents, but the reason we don't engage in sin has to be deep rooted in our love and fear of the Lord.  The reason being because our minds and feelings can change.  We can "reason" ourselves out of our deterrents.  Our conscience is a good deterrent, but we can ignore it and eventually "sear" it.  For example, the teenage girl who won't have sex with her boyfriend out of fear of her parents finding out or of getting pregnant can easily change her mind once her living arrangement changes and one day she leaves her parent's home.  But if her deterrent is grounded in her relationship with the Lord.  She won't give in no matter where she is-- like Joseph.

We need to see sin through the eyes of God.  We need to understand that it hurts His heart each time we sin.  We need to realize that sin is always against Him.  We should never forget that God sent His One and Only Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross to save us from our sins.  If we love Him, we don't want to sin against Him or hurt Him through sinful actions.

Have a great day.  The greatest deterrent to sin is our love and fear of the Lord.

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

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

 

"It's Paid"

"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh."  Romans 8:12

There is an old hymn that says, "Jesus paid it all", and another one that says, "He paid a debt He did not owe, I owe a debt I could not pay".  Jesus paid our sin debt.  He paid it in full.  We no longer owe it.  When you don't owe something, then you don't keep paying it.  It is just like a note owed to a creditor.  Once it is paid off, you no longer owe it.  It would be foolish each month to keep paying for something that is already paid for.

Jesus paid the sin debt that we owed.  He paid it in full at the cross-- "it is finish".  Nothing else was needed.  Nothing was left hanging in the balance.  It now has a "zero" balance.  Yet, many are still trying to pay this debt.  They are trying to pay it through righteous deeds, religious acts, by being good, etc.  You can't pay it.  You don't have to pay it.  It has been paid already.  You don't owe the wages that sin demands.  Rest in the fact that Jesus took care of it and He didn't stop until it was paid in full. 

There is another debt that we keep trying to pay that we no longer owe.  It is the debt the flesh demands of us.  Our flesh wants us to continue to pay it.  But we have been freed from that debt as well.  We don't owe our flesh anything.  It doesn't rule over us any more- like an evil landlord always demanding more and more payment from us. 

Once you have accepted Jesus as Savior and are following Him as Lord, you have been delivered from any "payment" that you owed to your flesh.  This means that when your flesh wants to commit an immoral act, tell a lie, be selfish, be gluttonous, throw a temper, get intoxicated on some substance, hold a grudge, and so on--- you don't have to do it.  You don't have to "pay" it.  You don't have to give in.  You are not in debt to it-- that means you owe it nothing! 

If a creditor that you had paid off keeps coming to collect a payment, you would stand up to him and state your case as to why you don't owe it.  You would give them proof of the paid account.  You would continually stay on the phone with them until you got the matter settled.  Ok, then, when your flesh starts demanding, and sin starts demanding, that you owe them, state your case-- Jesus paid it all.  Then stand fast in the liberty wherein Christ has made you free.  Do what Paul did-- take authority over your flesh and keep it under subjection. 

Our debt to sin and to the flesh was taken care of by Jesus.  We don't owe it when it comes "knocking at the door" for payment.  He who the Son sets free is free indeed.

Have a great day.  Stop paying a debt you no longer owe-- to sin or your flesh.

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

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

"Not Obvious"

"And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight."  Mark 10:51

When Jesus asked the blind man what he wanted Him to do for him, he asked that he would receive his sight.  This need that he had was the obvious need, but not his greatest need.  Many times we want our obvious needs met but not our most important/greatest one.  We confuse what our real need is with temporal needs. 

We think our greatest need is to have a million dollars in the bank, a new car, our health, a spouse, etc.  We think if God would grant us all these things our life would be happy and complete.  The blind man received his sight, but he was still lacking in what was really needed. 

Mankind's greatest need is that of salvation.  We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.  Because of sin, death reigns in all of us.  We need to be saved from our sins.  But we are so consumed with and more desirous of the things that only meet our physical need that we are often neglecting the most important thing.  What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?

What needs are you focused on today?  Getting a bigger house?  Making a fortune?  Finding Mr. Right?  Being successful?  There is nothing wrong with desiring the best in life, but will you neglect your greatest need?  Will you exchange the eternal for the temporary?  Has your need for salvation been met already?  If you have taken care of your greatest need first- salvation- then you have received the greatest gift.  If not, do it today.  Go to God Who has provided the gift of eternal for you through His Son Jesus.  Ask Him to save your soul.  Ask Him to forgive you of your sins.  Ask Him to be your Savior.  And put your faith and trust in Him alone.

Have a great day.  Our greatest need is not always the most obvious one, but we can't afford to neglect it. 

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

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

"True Abundance"

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  John 10:10

I have always looked at this verse as meaning that Jesus gives me life to the fullest.  Through Him I can truly enjoy my life.  And this is true. Through Him I have peace, contentment and His presence-- what more could you want.  My life is full.   But there is more to this verse than just having a full, fulfilled and complete life. 

Here are some of the definitions for abundantly-- over and above, more than is necessary, superadded, something further, more, much more than all.  It means that through Jesus, I have an abundance of all that I need in life.  He doesn't give to us sparingly.  He doesn't give to us in a miserly fashion.  He doesn't only give a little.  He loads us with benefits.  He pours out all good and perfect gifts upon us-- not just a trickle.  He gives us all things that pertain to life and godliness. 

So what that all means is I have an abundance of whatever it is I need in life.  If I need wisdom, He gives it to me liberally.  If I need strength-- He gives me perfect strength- His strength.  If I need grace-- He gives it in a sufficient measure.  If I need resources-- He supplies them according to the size of His own riches.  If I need finances-- He gives them to me good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.  If I need peace-- He gives me a peace that passes understanding.  The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not lack.  No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.  That is abundant life! 

When the Israelites were in the wilderness, He didn't give them just a little bit of manna, barely enough to get by on.  He gave them the full measure that they needed for the entire day.  Abundant life is given from the Lord.  He is the one who meets all our needs.  He did it for them, He does it for us.   

Have a great day.  Real abundant life means not lacking in anything you need in life and having plenty of it when it is needed.

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

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

"Laying Life Down"

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."  Matthew 16:25

We sing songs in church about loving and desiring Jesus and laying our lives down for Him.  But how truthful is what we are saying/singing?  Are we really laying our lives down?  I don't think so.  We can't even lay down some time during the day for Him.  We are off and running as soon as our feet hit the floor in the morning.  Have we made any time for Him in our schedule each day?  We can't even lay down our computer games and television watching to spend time in His presence.  We can't lay down one meal a day and spend that time in prayer.

Does this sound like I am condemning?  It isn't meant to.  But we wonder why we live defeated lives.  We wonder why we are powerless.  We wonder why our prayers aren't being answered.  It is because we are doing everything but laying down our lives-- our dreams, our desires, our wants, our flesh, etc.  

If we want all these spiritual blessings, we need to do more than just sing about it.  We need to do it-- lay it all down.  An electrical appliance, no matter how expensive, how beautiful, how handy, how much needed will not operate until it is plugged into the power source.  No light bulb will shine until it is screwed into a socket.  How is it we think we can have all the blessings, answers to prayer, revelation, insight, power, influence, spiritual gifts, and so on if we are "plugged" into everything else but the "true source"?

If you are feeling powerless, defeated, discontent, confused, it may very well be because you need to truly lay down your life for Jesus by laying down some other things... instead of laying Him down to accommodate the desires of your flesh.

Have a great day.  Are you laying down your life for Jesus?  Or are you laying Him down for other things?    

 

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

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
  

"Thine Or My Will?"

"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10

When Jesus gave us the model prayer to pray, He said that we should pray for God's will to be done.  How many times do we actually pray that prayer?  Or does our prayer consist more of asking for what our will is?  Do we go to God with our own wants and desires and ask Him to grant them?  How many times do we set our sights on something and go after it in prayer begging God to fulfill it?  How many times have we assumed that the desire for a particular thing is the will of God, yet never seek to truly find out?

Are you guilty?  I have been- we all have been.  We say we want God's will, but in reality we only want it when it lines up with what we want.  How many times have we asked for our will and God gave it to us, then afterwards wish He hadn't? 

Life is much easier, we have more peace, there is more clarity in direction if we will always pray for His will to be done.  His will and our will/desire may not always be the same.  We may be wanting a "yes" and His will may be "no".  We have to be willing to give up and surrender what we want for His will.  We have to be willing from the heart to desire the will of God first and foremost above any and all of our own desires.  After all, Jesus did not teach us to pray-- Thy will be done, only when it lines up with what my will and desire is.   

Have a great day.  When you pray, whose will are you praying for to be done?   

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

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

 

"Take A Pill"

"My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.  Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.   For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh." Proverbs 4:20-22

Let me preface what I am going to say by telling you that I am not against medicine.  I thank God for giving it to us to help us when we are sick.  I take it on occasion when I need it.  This is not intended to bring condemnation, guilt or accuse anyone of lack of faith.  If you are taking medicine, don't stop!  I just want to make a point.

We take medicine when we have an illness.  We go to the doctor- who in most cases we only know on a professional level- or we go to a clinic and see someone we have never laid eyes on before.  He/She gives us a prescription for medicine that is suppose to help.  We take the prescription to the pharmacy and trust that the pharmacist is following the doctors orders and giving us the right meds.  We follow the directions and take it the way the doctor prescribed.  We take it even though the side effects include- may cause cancer, blindness, or even sudden death. 

The point I am getting to is this- we take medicine that man prescribes in hope of being helped or cured.  But God's Word gives health to our spirit, soul and body but we neglect it. We have to exercise a lot of trust and faith in the doctor, the pharmacist and the medicine when we are sick.  Where is our trust in God's Word? 

Again, I am not trying to bring condemnation, or belittle medicine.  I just wonder if we give even half as much attention to the reading, studying, and "eating" of God's Word which gives greater health in all areas of life to us.  His Word will give you peace of mind.  It will restore health to your body.  It will change your attitude.  It is the best anti-depressant, best attitude disorder medicine, the best heart medicine, the best pain-killer, the best mood medicine-- it will take care of whatever ails you.

Have a great day.  As diligent as you are about taking medicine that is prescribed by a doctor, you need to be more diligent about "taking" the Word of God into your life everyday.
 

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

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

"Living For Today"

"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."  Matthew 6:35

We hear lots of preaching about not living in the past and how we should let what was in the past go so that it will not hinder our future.  But we don't hear much about not taking thought about tomorrow.  Just as many people live in the future as they do in the past.  We are always looking to some event that is months off, or some thing that we anticipate in the future.  We are busy making plans for tomorrow, next week, next month, next year and we are focused on it.

Let me say there is nothing wrong with "planning" and making sure that when you get to that place-- when it finally comes-- that you are prepared.  The Bible says for us to occupy while we are here.  You can't wait to take care of some things until they arrive.  Weddings have to be planned in advance.  A baby's arrival has to be taken care of before it gets here.  There are years of educational training that have to be done before you can start your career.  A store has to be set up before it can open for business.  These are not the things I am talking about.

What I am talking about is being so consumed with the future that you miss out on today.  God doesn't want us living in the past.  But He doesn't want us living so far in the future that we miss the wonderful things He wants to do for us today.  He doesn't want us to miss His plan for today.  He doesn't want us to lack in what He wants to use us to do today.  Yesterday is gone, you can't do anything about it now.  Tomorrow isn't promised to us-- it may or may not come.  So let yesterday go.  And in all your planning and preparation for tomorrow, don't forget about today.  Enjoy it fully.  Love those who you can while you can today.  Don't stress over tomorrow.  Trust and believe God for your provision today.  Live today with Jesus to the fullest.  Remember, today will be yesterday when tomorrow comes.  Will it be one of those days that you will look back at with regret?

Have a great day.  Yesterday's gone.  Tomorrow isn't promised.  Live today to the fullest in God's plan.     

 

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

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