"It's The Best Way"

Please note that there will be NO Coffee Break devotional for the next couple of weeks. The store will be closed so we can take a break, so I am taking some time off from everything for a couple of weeks. Love and blessings to you.

"It's The Best Way"

"And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."  Matthew 11:6

God doesn't always do things the way we think He's going to do them. Usually, He does it just the opposite of what we think.  The point is...don't get offended with God just because He chooses to do something in a way contrary to how you think He is going to do it.  

God's ways aren't our ways...they are perfect.  Our ways are imperfect.  We do things from a natural perspective; God does them from a spiritual perspective.  We do things according to the present while God does them with the future in mind.  God does what He does on an eternal plane, not a temporary one.

God always does things in a much greater way than we can imagine.  Our verse this morning, in context, was Jesus's reply to John the Baptist when he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the Messiah or should he look for another.  You may be facing a "John situation" this morning.  You may be sitting in the middle of a dark prison of confusion.  You may be looking for Jesus to do something for you in a certain way.  You may not understand why God isn't moving in a certain way on your behalf.  Or why He allowed a certain thing to happen.  His word to you this morning is the same one that He spoke to John..."Blessed is he who is not offended in me."  Don't be offended because He isn't doing it "your" way or the way you thought He would.  Trust Him.  Trust that His way is better, and that He knows exactly what He is doing.  

Have a great day.  His way is the best way.   

           

"Weeping For a Season"

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."  Psalms 30:5

When we think of a night, we think of a literal space of time- from the time after the sun has gone down until it rises again.  There are nights that are spent in weeping, but when the next day comes the weeping seems to cease.  This is what I usually think of when I read this verse.  But there are also "night seasons"- times in our lives when everything is dark, when it doesn't look like there is any light at the end of the tunnel, when your world is turned into confusion, only shadows shroud your day, your weeping feels endless, and tears have become your meat. 

This scripture is talking about these times as well as a literal night.  You may be in a "night season", but take comfort...the morning cometh, and with it comes joy.  You will not always be going through this time, it will not always be nighttime in your life, you will see the light of day again, you will feel the warmth of the sun upon your face once more, the darkness will flee, you will see the dawn of a new day, and you'll walk with gladness and joy of heart again.

Have a great day.  This season will not last forever; there is a time of joy on the horizon.

"Handling The Enemy"

"When the enemy shall come in..."  Isaiah 59:19

There are many people who come to Christ thinking that they will have no more problems, everything will be great and wonderful, they won't have to deal with the devil, and life will be a bed of roses.  They are disillusioned.  On the contrary, this is when your "trials" begin.  Before you came to Christ the devil had you, so he didn't bother you too much.  Also, you were ruled by the lust of your flesh, so you did whatever it wanted without protest.  Now that you are a Christian the devil is out to get you, and your flesh is fighting against the Spirit to keep or regain control.  

Now you have this adversary who is going around trying to destroy you.  So, what are you going to do?  First thing I can tell you is don't be afraid of him.  Don't give into him.  Don't listen to and believe his lies.  Don't run from him.  You don't have to fear him.  Jesus has already destroyed his work and power over us.  Jesus is now living in your life, and He is the greater one.  When the enemy comes against you, the Lord has given you instructions on how to handle him- heed the Lord's instructions and you will walk in victory over him.  "Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

Have a great day.  Your enemy is no match for the Lord Jesus who is living in you, so stand against him instead of running from him.

"Who Are You Listening To?"

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith..." Revelation 2:7a

I know we hit on this subject yesterday, but I believe the Lord led me in this direction again today. He wants to say something to us about what we hear and listen to. 

The Bible tells us that there are many voices, therefore it is important to know which voice to listen to.  There is only one voice that is safe to follow- the voice of the Spirit. 

What voice are you listening to?  The voice of the flesh?  The voice of fear, condemnation, unbelief?  The voice of discouragement that says, "You can't do it; you never will be free; you never will be anything."? Or the voice of the enemy who keeps saying that he'll destroy you.  Or are you listening to the voice of the Spirit- it's the voice of faith, hope, peace, assurance, joy, and victory.

Stop listening to the wrong voice, it will only bring defeat.  Listen to what the Spirit is saying, believe what He is saying, and respond to what He is saying.

Have a great day.  Know what voice you are listening to.

"Don't Become Deaf"

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise." Psalm 98:4

There is a lot of noise going on in the world.  When I say noise, I am not necessarily talking about the noise of radios playing, dogs barking, bands playing, machinery working, etc.  I mean there is the noise of violence, hate, threats, fear, anger, worry, destruction, intimidation, injustice, negativity and confusion.  It is all around us.  It is in our  homes and around the world.

If you listen to these noises too long, or if they are the only noises you hear, they will discourage you, cause you to give up, become depressed, and despair of living.  Listening to them too long can also cause you to become "deaf".  Deaf to the voice hope.  Deaf to the whisper of faith.  Deaf to the sound of abundant life.

So how do we guard and protect our "hearing" so we are not deafened by the noise of chaos in the world?  We drown them out with another noise.  We drown them out with praise.  We drown them out with thanksgiving.  We drown them out with shouts of joy.  We drown them out with rejoicing in the goodness of God.  Your praise has to be louder than those other noises.  Let you praise be the "dominate" noise you hear.  When you start hearing those other noises, counteract them with praise.  When the noise of fear is shouting, shout back with praise.  When the noise of intimidation is getting louder, get louder with praise.  Praise is more powerful than those noises are.  God inhabits praise.  

Don't let those other noises deafen you, let your praise deafen and silence them.  

Have a great day.  Praise protects your hearing from the noises of the world that would cause you to become deaf.    

For further reading:
Hebrews 13:15
Psalm 34:1

"Loving The Word"

"And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath."  Acts 13:42

Paul and Barnabas were preaching at Antioch- the words that they spoke so touched the hearts of certain ones in the synagogue that they asked them to return the next week and tell them more.  These people had heard the truth, the true gospel was preached to them, and they were hungry to hear more.

How do you feel about the Word of God?  Do you love it and love hearing it?  Do you want to know more about what it says or are you content with just a little taste now and then?  Is it precious to you?  Do you delight in it?  Do you meditate on it day and night?  Do you give yourself to the study of the Word or just flippantly read a verse every now and then?  Do you read it every day, or do you go days without end without even picking it up?  Do you only turn through its pages when you have a need and are trying to find something that will fit your situation?  

If your love for the Word of God has grown cold, you need to ask the Lord to restore a love for it in your heart.  For us Christians, the Word of God is vital to our very life...it is our life!  These people at Antioch found hope, peace, joy, comfort, grace, strength, truth, and salvation in the words that Paul spoke...they found Jesus.  As we read the Word of God daily, we will find the same thing that they did.

Have a great day.  How precious is the Word of God to you?

       

"Live In Faith"

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Some Christians think that faith is something they have to put into operation when things are going bad, or they are going through a trial.  I agree that during those times we do have to stand in faith and put it into action, but faith isn't just for these times... it's for ALL the times of our lives.  Faith is needed for the good times as well.  

Faith is not just an anchor in the storm.  The Bible tells us that the "just shall LIVE by faith."  This means that my whole life is encompassed by faith, and not just certain times or situations.    

It's been said that after the trial has passed or that thing that you were hoping for has manifested, you don't need faith anymore.  Faith is the substance behind what I am hoping for, so when I get it, I don't need faith for that particular thing anymore, but I still need faith- I have to walk in faith every day.  Are you putting your faith in action just when things are going bad?  Are you standing in faith only when you are facing a trial?  It takes faith to believe that God is going to keep you safe and protected while you sleep and wake you up to the dawn of a new day.  It takes faith to believe that with each new day God will supply your every need.  It takes faith to keep holding on to the hope that should this be the day that He calls you home, you will go to be with Him.  It takes faith every time you say a prayer or send up a praise- faith that He hears you.  It takes faith to believe that He is finishing the work He started in you.  So, you see, faith isn't just a "bad weather" friend, it should be there in the "fair weather" too.

Have a great day.  Faith is a lifestyle for the Christian.

"His Presence Equals Change"

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13

I am of the firm belief that the reason we don't see the "church" making much of a difference in our world; the reason why we ourselves are in such a "mess"; and why our lights aren't shining very brightly is contributed to our lack of getting into the presence of God.  When I say, "getting into the presence of God", I am not talking about just prayer.  Unbelievably, most Christians either don't have a prayer life or it consist of a few minutes making request and sending up petitions to God to bless them.  There is a big difference between this type of "praying:" and getting into the presence of God.  

If we were spending time daily getting into God's presence, we would see a difference in us and in this world.  There would be a lot of changes made in our lives.  We would cut out so much foolishness in our behaviors, we would have more integrity, we would stop condoning and making excuses for our sins, our attitudes would change, our lives would be cleaner, our lights would shine brighter, our actions would glorify Christ instead of bringing reproach on His precious Name.  We would look more like and act more like Christ.

How do I know this to be the reason why the church is powerless in winning the world and making an impact for Christ?  Because when you really come into the presence of God- you meet Him "face to face".  When you meet Him face to face, you can't stay the same.  Everyone in the Bible who came into the presence of God was changed.  When Moses was in the presence of God, the glory came upon him, and he had to put a veil over his face.  When Isaiah was in the presence of the Lord, he became convicted of being "undone" and having "unclean lips".  When Job was in the presence of God, he cried out in repentance.  When Peter was in His presence, he recognized that Jesus was The Lord and acknowledged his sinful state.  When Abraham met the presence of the Lord, he was willing to deny himself and follow God anywhere He led him whether He told him where he was going or not.  When Jacob was in God's presence, it changed his walk (literally after the encounter he walked with a limp).  The spiritual parallel- he no longer walked his own way, but with that of the touch of God upon him.  When Peter and John came out of the presence of the Lord, the people even commented that they had been with the Lord.  When Enoch was in the presence of God, he was translated. 

I know that if we were really spending time each day in the presence of the Lord, our lives would be changed too- we would not be the same or act the same.  There is something about the presence of God that exposes sin and those Un Christlike things in our life.  His presence brings conviction, the desire to change, and the strength to do so.  You can't get into the presence of God and continue going your own way and living contrary to His will and character.  His presence will cause a response in you that will not leave you the same.

Have a great day.  We need to come into His presence and be changed by it so that we can glorify Him before the world.

"Watch...."

"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41

As I was sitting here, I happened to glance at some of my plants.  I saw something (large and long) hanging from one of the leaves.  I wasn't sure what I was seeing, then I couldn't believe what I saw...a spider's web.  You know, I was sitting here yesterday and never noticed it.  (I don't think it was there yesterday, or perhaps I was just too busy to notice?)

That's how it is with sin in our lives.  One day it's not there and the next day it is.  (Sometimes it kind of creeps up on us.)  Everything may be going fine, we think we are doing alright, we think that we are finally getting on the right track, and then boom, all of a sudden, we are staring it in the face.  Sometimes we are too busy to notice what's going on.  We aren't on guard; we aren't paying attention to the snares and traps that have been laid for us, then the next thing we know something happens to trigger it and we wonder, "Where did that come from?"  

We have to be watchful and guard against letting anything come into our lives that is sin.  You can't neglect your spirit man for one minute.  You have to be on the lookout because just like a spider's web it will be hanging there before you know it.  By the time you realize it, it's a little harder to deal with.  Have you heard the old expression...It's easier to keep the barn door closed than it is to round up the cows after they have gotten out.

Be on guard, watch and pray, keep your eyes open.  You don't have to go looking for sin, it will find you.  But if you are watching, it won't sneak up on you unaware.  

Have a great day.  The next time you see a spider's web, check your heart to see if any sin has made a "web" there.

"No Other Gods"

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3 

Surely this verse doesn't apply to us today.  We don't have idols or statues that we bow before and worship.  Or do we?  In the Old Testament the gods/idols came in many forms-- wood, brass, stone, etc.  Our idols today are the same-- they come in many forms.

 

They come in the form of mammon-- money.  They come in the form of material possessions.  They come in the form of more than just objects.  Anything that you give more than half of your attention to, and thoughts as well, has become a god to you. 

 

The scripture did not say "no other god", it said, "no other gods"- plural.  We can have many gods in our lives, and like I said, they can come in many forms. Some of the gods that are in our life may be: entertainment, an addiction, food, gluttony, another person, our jobs.  We might be serving the gods of greed, bitterness, anger, etc.   We don't usually consider these things/attitudes as gods, but they are if we are giving into them.  Because in giving into them, we are not following the Lord and His commands.  We are allowing them to be ahead of Him, because we are more focused on them than on Him.  If you won't give up the anger you have in your heart, if you won't give up the bitterness that you are holding on to against someone, if you won't lay down that pleasure for even a short time, then you have "other gods" before the Lord. 

 

So, what are you going to do about it?  You can't serve more than one master/god.  You can't serve God and.  Are you going to turn from these "idols" and repent?  Are you going to continue to "serve and worship" them?  Check your heart and see how many "gods" you are serving... there should only be one God that you are bowing before.

 

Have a great day.  Do you have other gods in your life? 

 

For further reading:

Matthew 6:24

Luke 16:13

 

"Don't Be Moved"

"Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance."  Psalm 112:6

Who is this person who isn't moved?  Who is unshakeable, steadfast, grounded?  Who isn't moved by what they see or hear?  Or moved by circumstances of life?  We live in a world that is full of violence, uncertainties, threats, economic problems, and concerns about the future.  When you look at the state of affairs in the world, it is easy to become fearful, anxious and discouraged.  It is easy to dread the future.  It is easy to want to turn and run or put your head under the covers and go into hiding.  It would be easy to leave the firm foundation upon which your hope, strength and peace lie.  But we don't have to be moved by anything that is going on around us-- nationally, internationally or personally.  "Surely he shall not be moved forever." 

So again, who is this person?  Who is this one who isn't moved?  Who is this one that stands firm and strong?  Who is this one who continues to have peace though everything around them is falling apart?  The answer is found in verse 1- "Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments."  That person is the person (man or woman, boy or girl) who fears the Lord and delights in His commandments. 

The fear of the Lord is a keeper.  It is the beginning of wisdom.  Wisdom will keep you grounded and unmovable.  The commandments (God's Word) are a keeper as well.  It will keep you rooted and grounded.  It is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path, so that you can see clearly and know which direction to go.  The Word is more powerful that any weapon known to man.  The Word of the Lord gives us faith which in turn helps us to trust the Lord no matter what we see, hear or feel.  When we have the fear of the Lord, and the Word of God hid in our hearts and renewing our minds, we will not be moved regardless of what comes our way.

Have a great day.  The key to remaining unmoved and unshaken by distressing situations is to fear the Lord and delight in His commandments.

For further reading:
Psalm 112

"Familiar Places"

"And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot."  Deuteronomy 29:5

Yesterday we talked about how much of our lives are lived in the unfamiliar-- places we have never been before, experiences we have never had before, new and uncharted "waters".  But we also live our lives in familiar places.  Once we have been in the unfamiliar places for a while, they become familiar to us.  For example, when I first got married, it was an unfamiliar place to me.  Now, I have been married so long that it is a very familiar place to me.  I am somewhat of a "pro" at marriage and being a wife.  (I didn't say I was perfect at it or had arrived.  I said that I am more familiar with it now and know how to live in it.)

Regardless of whether what we are going through is unfamiliar or familiar, there is a fact that remains--- we need the Lord to help us get through both.  We think we just need His help when we are unfamiliar with where we are and what we are doing.  But we need His help just as much when we are very familiar with where we are.  That doesn't exempt us from needing His help. 

The children of Israel wandered around in the wilderness for forty years-- the same wilderness.  I am sure they could tell you where every stone, every boulder, every rock formation was-- blindfolded.  Did their familiarity negate their need for God-- for His leadership, for His help, for His provision?  NO. 

We don't need to think that just because we have done something for so long, lived in a situation for years, or know what to do, that we "got this".  We still need God's help.  We still need Him daily to navigate us through life-- the unfamiliar and the familiar.

Have a great day.  It doesn't matter where we are or how long we have been there, it doesn't matter how unfamiliar or familiar the places that we are in are, we still need the Lord's help-- we can't do it on our own.

For further reading:
Hebrews 13:6

"Unfamiliar"

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."  Galatians 6:9 

Much of life is spent in the "unfamiliar".  We all go through experiences, walk down paths, and face circumstances that are unfamiliar to us.  We haven't been that way before, it is new to us, we are having to learn something else.  For example, when I got married, I entered into an unfamiliar place-- it was a new life and lifestyle for me.  The same was true when I became a mother, a grandmother, when I was employed at my first job, when I got my first computer and when I started the ministry.  All were uncharted waters and new frontiers- unfamiliar experiences. 

 

The point is, there is more of our life that is spent in unfamiliar places and new experiences and not everything is something we "know how to do".  But we don't give up.  We keep pressing through.  We keep working at it.  We keep going forward.  Sometimes we may have to, like my sister-in-love says, "Backup and punt".  But we don't stop.  We persevere and keep going on.  You know, all those things that I said were once unfamiliar to me, have become very familiar and now I can "navigate" through them with either no trouble at all, or a lot less trouble.  God hasn't called us to quit and give up just because we don't understand something, or it isn't familiar to us.  We would live miserable lives if we did and miss out on so much that is good and wonderful. 
 

Have a great day.  Don't give up just because what you are facing is unfamiliar to you.  The longer you stick with it, the more familiar it will become and eventually you may even be a pro at it.

 

For further reading:

Romans 8:28

"Are You Going To Complain?"

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

How did you wake up today? Did you wake up complaining? Did you wake up complaining because you have to go to work? Did you wake up dreading the day? Or did you wake up thanking God that you saw another day or that you have a job to go to?

  

Things may not be perfect for you today. You may have some "reason" to complain- we can all easily find something to complain about. There may be something about today that you dread. But what we have to be thankful for far outweighs what there is to complain about. Our lives should be one of thanksgiving and praise. When we live in such a way, the dread, the fear, the anxiety and the complaining will stop because we will realize that we have so much more to be thankful for than we have to complain about.

 

Check yourself today and take note and see what you spend more of your time doing. Praising God and giving Him thanks? Or complaining about the things you should be thankful for?

 

Have a great day. Are you spending your day complaining or giving God thanks?

 

For further reading:

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Psalm 113:1; 135:1; 92:1

"Grace In Tribulation"

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 

"God's Divine Grace is in the midst of tribulation".

 

When we go through tribulations, of any sort, God's grace will be right there in the middle of it. Grace is many things. It is His unmerited favor. His grace will be there, not because we are so deserving of it, but because of who He is-- a loving, compassionate Heavenly Father who cares deeply for us. 

 

Grace is God's holy influence. His very nature-- holy, divine, righteous, loving-- will influence us (with peace, joy and comfort) to keep us from stumbling and falling and giving into the demands of the tribulation to give up, to recant, to turn away from the Lord, to throw up our hands, to run the other way, and to fall short. 

 

Grace is also God Himself. He is the Origin of grace. All grace comes from Him. He is in the midst of our tribulations, leading, strengthening, keeping and loving us through it so that it will not overcome us and destroy us. He, through His grace, will be with us, not leaving or abandoning us during our time of need. 

 

Whatever you are facing today, whatever trial, whatever affliction, whatever tribulation, you have a promise from the Heavenly Father Himself. His divine grace will be in the middle of it because He is with you in the middle of it.

 

Have a great day. God's divine grace is in the midst of tribulation.

 

For further reading:

Hebrews 13:5

"Bow At His Name"

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth." Philippians 2:9,10

Are you feeling defeated this morning? Are you plagued by a besetting sin? Do you feel like you can't get victory over a certain area in your life? Well, whatever it is, it is not greater than Jesus. He has been given a name that is above whatever name it has. And at His name it has to bow-- it has to surrender and submit. 

At the name of Jesus fear has to bow. At the name of Jesus anxiety has to bow. At the name of Jesus worry, depression, bitterness, anger, confusion, sorrow, unbelief, immorality, addiction, sickness, unforgiveness, weakness, greed, pride, it all has to bow at the name of Jesus. And any other thing that has a name has to bow. (If it has a name, it has to bow.) 

His name is full of power and authority. His power is greater, and He has all authority. Realize that what you are wrestling with is not greater than He is. Call upon the name of Jesus. Bring it to Him. Place it under His feet. Give it to Him. Trust Him. Don't wrestle with it on your own. It doesn't bow at your name, but it does at His. He has already conquered it at the cross. He already has authority over it. Walk in freedom and victory because it is yours through Jesus.

Have a great day. Through Jesus you don't have to bow to that sin or bondage, it has to bow to Him.

For further reading: Romans 14:11; Matthew 28:18; 2 Corinthians 2:14

"Spiritually Poor"

"If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail." Job 31:16 

In this verse Job is making his case for his innocence concerning the "punishment" that he perceives he is going through. He declares that he has helped the poor and the widows and not withheld from them what they desired or needed. Can we say the same? Can we say that we have helped the poor and needy? The Bible says that true religion is to help the widows and orphans in their affliction. But there is another way also that we help them that is not physical, that is not material and that is not monetary.

 

Without Christ as Savior, we are spiritually poor. Our souls are not enjoying spiritual prosperity. While we should help the poor when it is in our ability to do so, just meeting a person's physical need is not enough. You can meet it today and that same person can be in need tomorrow. Jesus said, "You have the poor with you always."

 

But when you meet a person's spiritual need, you have given him something that is eternal and that will satisfy his soul more than bread that will satisfy his stomach. So, how do we do that? How do we meet a person's spiritual need? How do we help them in their spiritual poverty? We don't "withhold" the gospel from them.

 

Job declares that he didn't withhold any physical need from the poor. Can we say the same thing about the "spiritual poor"? Are we giving them "bread" to feed their spiritual hunger? Are we telling them about Jesus- the Bread of Life? Are we giving them sustenance for their souls? Jesus told the woman at the well that whoever drinks the water from that well would thirst again. But whoever drinks the water that He has-- which is salvation and eternal life-- will never thirst again. 

 

When the spiritual need of a person is met, they will never be thirsty again, hungry again, needy, or poor. The only way it can be met is through Jesus Christ. And the only way they will know Jesus is if someone tells them-- if someone who already knows Him will not withhold the good news from them. Is that person you? Are you giving the poor-- the lost-- what they really need?

 

Have a great day. Are you withholding the gospel from those who are spiritually poor so that they can become spiritually rich?

 

For further reading:

James 1:27

3 John 1:2

Matthew 26:11

John 4:13,14; 6:35,41

Romans 10:14

"Waiting For The Right Conditions"

"He that observeth the wind shall not sow, and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap." Ecclesiastes 11:4 

Many people are waiting for all the "right conditions" before they will do anything. This is true when it comes to surrendering their lives to the Lord in salvation. I was one of those people. I was going to wait until I got old, until I had lived my life, until I was finished doing all the things I wanted to do, until my "death bed". These were the "right conditions" I placed on when I would receive salvation.

 

If I had waited for all these right conditions, I probably never would have been saved. I never had the assurance of living to be "old". At what point in life would I have done all the things that I wanted to do? (There is always more that keeps getting added to the list.) How did I know I would make it to a "death bed"? There was no guarantee that my life might not be snuffed out suddenly and unexpectedly. I was playing around with my soul and deceiving myself with unrealistic conditions that I had placed on when I would do something about my eternity. 

 

Is that you this morning? Are you waiting for some "right condition" before you will do something about securing your eternity? Are you waiting until you have made your first million dollars? Are you waiting until you get married? Are you waiting until you have finished your education? Are you waiting until you are old and grey? Are you waiting for your children to surrender first to the Lord then you will? Are you waiting until your children, or grandchildren, are grown? Are you waiting for someone else to get their lives right with the Lord? Are you waiting until you have done all the "partying" you want to do? If you are, you will never do it. You will wait too long and leave this earth in death and then it will be too late. 

 

There is only one right condition as to when we give our lives to the Lord and receive Jesus as Savior, and that is when He is knocking on our heart's door. When the Lord is convicting you, when He is offering you an invitation to come, when He is drawing you to come to Him, that is the condition in which you come. You can't come to Him otherwise. You can't go when you finally decide you will do it. You come when He draws you and calls you to come.

 

Have a great day. If you wait on all the right conditions in your life before you will get saved, you will never do it. The only right condition is when the Lord is speaking to your heart to come. 

 

For further reading:

John 14:6; 6:44 

"He's The Only"

"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:18 

The world and those who don't believe that Jesus is who He is uses the word "many" to describe who He is. They say He is one of many ways that lead to God. He is one of many gods. They say He is one of many prophets. And so on. But when it comes to Jesus, the word is not "many", the word is "only". Jesus is not one of many, but the only one. 

 

Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. Jesus is the only way to the Father. Jesus is the only way that leads to eternal life. Jesus is the only true and living God. Jesus is the only acceptable sacrifice for our sins. Jesus is the only life giver. Jesus is the only redeemer of mankind. Jesus is the only healer. Jesus is the only name given under heaven by which we must be saved. Jesus was the only sinless one. Jesus is the only one to whom all power in heaven and earth is given. Jesus is the only one who can establish true and lasting peace. 

 

When Jesus asked His disciples, who do men say that I am. There were many answers. All the answers minimized Him to just another one of many prophets. Their answers were wrong. But when He asked them who do you say I am, Peter proclaimed that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Peter's answer was correct. His answer was the truth-- Jesus is the only Son of God, God Himself. Who do you say that He is? If your answer equates Him with many others-- other ways to God, other gods, other sacrifices-- then your answer is wrong. There is only one right answer concerning Jesus, and it will always contain the word "only".

 

Have a great day. Jesus is the "only", not one of "many".

 

For further reading:

Acts 4:12

John 14:6; 3:16

"Abundant Life"

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

When you want something, you have to go to the source to get it. If I want a drink of water, I go to the water faucet. If you want abundant life, if you want to "really" live, have a productive life and an unordinary life, you have to go to the source. Jesus is the source of life- "I am the way, the truth, and the life". He is the source of real life. 

 

But in order to get that abundant life you have to do more than just believe in Him. You have to do more than just acknowledge His reality. You have to do more than just call on Him when you are in trouble. You have to do more than just make an occasional appearance in His house. You have to do more than have communication with Him when you want it. You have to have a personal relationship with Him. You have to follow Him. You have to surrender to Him. You have to give your whole undivided heart to Him. You have to receive Him as Savior and follow Him as your Lord. 

 

This abundant life that He makes available only comes as you follow Him with your whole heart and life. If you give up your life to Him and place it in His hands, He then in return gives you abundant life. Is that what you want? Abundant life? Then follow Him and He gives it to you.

 

Have a great day. Jesus offers you abundant life and it can be yours if you will follow Him. 

 

For further reading:

John 1:4; 14:6

 

"The Lord's Always Faithful"

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

As I was praying about what to say to you this morning, I reflected back on the faithfulness of God. I am not sure how long I have been writing the devotional each morning. It is going on twenty years. In all that time I can truthfully say the Lord has never once let me down by not giving me what to say. He has always given me the word He has for us. He truly is faithful as promised. The Bible says, "Faithful is He who called you, who also will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

 

Over forty years ago I accepted Jesus as my Savior and surrendered my life to Him to follow Him as my Lord. I can also say that in all that time He has been faithful as well. In all these years I have been through some storms of great magnitude. I have been through some hard places and trying times. I have been through times of pain, heartache, suffering and hurt. I have faced trials that I never dreamed I would face. I have crossed rivers, walked through the fire, encountered roaring lions, been in the pit, faced a sea of uncertainty, wandered in the wilderness and been to the cross. But in every place I have encountered, He has faithfully been walking with me, guiding me, encouraging me, strengthening me, consoling me, counseling me, watching over me, protecting me, reassuring me, imparting faith to me, giving me power, carrying me and loving me. He has never once failed me or let me down. How many of us have the same "track record" that He has? 

 

I am sure you have the same testimony, for what He does for one He does for all. We all face "life" but when we place our trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord, we don't face it alone. We face it with a faithful Lord who will never abandon or withhold His goodness from us. He certainly hasn't withheld it from me... that is why you are reading this now. Each and every time you read one of the Coffee Break devotionals let it be a reminder to you that the Lord is faithful.

 

Have a great day. The Lord has never once stop being faithful. 

 

For further reading:

Psalm 89:8; 119:90

Isaiah 25:1

"Do You Really Lose?"

"And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Job 1:21

It is when you lose everything that you realize you already had the most important thing when you have the Lord.

 

Job was a man who "had it all". He had material wealth. He had family. He had friends. He had all the things one could hope to have in this life. Yet when calamity came, he lost it all. He lost his wealth, his resources, his children, the respect of his friends and his health. He was left with nothing-- naked I came into the world and naked I will leave. 

 

Was Job really left with nothing? According to our standards he was. He no longer had the things that were really important or mattered. Or did he? Through all his loss he still had the Lord. The Lord was still with him. He still had his relationship with the Heavenly Father. He may have had nothing else, but he had God in his life. Therefore, he had the one "thing" that truly was the most important and most valuable thing to have. 

 

You can lose your possessions. You can lose your relationships. You can lose your health. You can lose every material thing on earth; these things are all temporary. But it is the eternal things that you have that is of the greatest value and most importance. Which is your relationship with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have that, though you may have nothing else, you have everything. Paul counted all things but lost for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. He knew his relationship with Christ was the most "excellent" thing. He had had all the things that we think are important and had suffered the loss of them all. But what he had in Christ outweighed it all anyway. It was the greatest treasure he possessed.

 

The most important thing you "posses" is not your wealth, it is not your riches, it is not your job title, it is not your educational degrees, it is not your talents, it is not your relationships, they are all like the grass that withers in the field-- here today and gone tomorrow. Your most important asset is your relationship with the Lord. It will still remain when all else is gone.

 

Have a great day. It is when you lose everything that you realize you already had the most important thing. 

 

For further reading:

Philippians 3:8