"I Know He Does Not Change"

"For I am the LORD, I change not..." Malachi 3:6a

Although the Bible says that the Lord God will make Himself known to His people, He is so awesome and amazing there is no way that we can know Him in the fullness of who He is. What we do know about Him is only because He allows us to have that knowledge and revelation. If He did not reveal Himself to us we could never know anything about Him or know Him in intimate ways. The depth of God is so deep, the length of God is so long, the mind of God is so unsearchable, His thoughts are so much higher than our thoughts and His ways are beyond our ability to comprehend. Even when our mortality puts on immortality we will still not fully understand the complexity and grandeur of God. I believe that the angels who are constantly in His presence don't fully understand Him, but they stand in awe just like us. After all, how can the creation understand the Creator.

Having said all that, while God is so great that no one can fully know and explain this infinite Being, there is one thing that I do know about Him--- He does not change! He does not change in His unconditional love. He does not change in His faithfulness. He does not change in His mercy and grace. His strength does not change. His wisdom doesn't change. His compassion and loving-kindness for us does not change. His power never changes either.

He isn't like we are-- moody and fickle. People change. Often you don't know where you stand with them. They may be your friend today and your enemy tomorrow. They may start the day off in a loving mood, but before the day is over be full of anger. You just don't always know from one minute to the next where you stand with some people. You don't have to worry about that with the Lord because He does not change. This should give you great comfort and peace. You never have to wonder if He is going to love you today or not. You never have to wonder if He is going to be faithful, meet your need, fight your battle or be with you. He does not change. Whatever He is, is what He has always been and will always be.

Have a great day. We may not be able to know all there is to know about the Lord, but one thing we do know is that He never changes!

For further reading:
Hebrews 13:8
I John 5:20
Psalm 145:3; 103:7
Romans 11:33
Isaiah 55:9

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or

Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

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

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

"Seek The Lord"

"And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper." 2 Chronicles 26:5

"...he sought the Lord..." In regard to the Lord, what are you seeking? So many are more involved in seeking what the Lord can do for them instead of seeking Him. They are seeking His blessings, His provisions and His benefits. But very few are just seeking Him- seeking to know Him, seeking to please Him, seeking to have a closer relationship with Him.

I understand that there are times when we have to seek the Lord because of a situation that we find ourselves in and need an answer from Him or His guidance. But for the most part, we have it "backwards". We tend to seek more after what He can give us and do for us; we seek His hand and what's in it; we seek after the tangible things that come from Him; but if we would seek HIM- then all these things (the things that we truly need) will be added to us.... without having to "seek" after them. They would come as a result from seeking Him first.

Ask yourself this morning, "What am I seeking?" Are you seeking the blessings or the giver of the blessings? Are you more interested in seeking what He can do for you instead of He Himself? Are you seeking after the things that He gives or to know who He is? Are you seeking Him for His gifts or just because of who He is?

Have a great day. Are you seeking the things that God gives, or are you seeking the God who gives good things?

For further reading:
Psalm 34:4
Deuteronomy 4:29
1 Chronicles 16:10,11
2 Chronicles 15:12
Acts 17:27

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

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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry

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"Celebrate Me"

"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!" Luke 6:26a

I have heard a recurring message from ministers of the gospel that encourage you to go where you are "celebrated". They will tell you not to hang around people who don't celebrate who you are and what God is doing in your life. They are saying that you need to be around people who will applaud you and rejoice in you. And if you are around people who aren't doing that then find someone else who will. I need to correct something this morning, it is not about you or me! It is not about you being celebrated. It is not about men speaking well of you. It is not about them acknowledging you, your accomplishments, or who you are. As a matter of fact, the scriptures issue a warning about this very thing. We are warned not to seek the praise, approval or applaud of men.

We are already applauded by God. We are of great value to Him. My pastor always says, "The value of something is determined by the price that someone is willing to pay for it". Well, God was willing to pay the ultimate price for us- the blood and life of His only begotten Son Jesus. You can't get any more valuable than that. So I am not saying that we aren't valuable. I am saying that it is not about others applauding who we are. Instead, it is about our lives being to the praise and honor of Jesus. Every thing we do and say should point to Him. We should be doing all for His glory so that HE will be the One celebrated.

Why did He give us a warning on this subject? Seeking the approval of men can cause us to miss the approval of God. Seeking the applaud of men helps further puff our flesh up and can set us up for a downfall because it is a breeding ground for pride. Desiring to be applauded by men robs the glory from God. How? Because anything that we are, anything that we do that is notable, anything good that we may have become, is all because of the grace and goodness of God, we didn't get there by ourselves or on our own.

Don't misunderstand. A word of encouragement is needed from time to time. Everyone needs a "pat on the back" sometimes. We should let people know when they are doing a "good job", the Bible does say to give honor to whom honor is due. But the focus is never on self and we should not live expecting and seeking applauds. Jesus was not always celebrated or applauded, and often He was rejected and ridiculed instead- we won't be either.

Don't seek the applauds of men, instead seek to please the Father. Seek to glorify Him. Seek to lift Him up so that others will applaud Him. If we seek the applauds of men, then we have our reward- their applauds and that is all. But when we seek to see Jesus alone applauded through of lives, then great will be our reward in heaven- where it really counts.

Have a great day. Our desire should not be to be celebrated by men, but to live in such a way where our lives will cause others to celebrate Jesus.

For further reading:
Matthew 6:1-4
John 15:19-20
Ephesians 1:6,12
Acts 17:28
Psalm 100:3
Romans 13:7

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

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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

"Out of Focus"

"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." John 16:33

I woke up this morning with this chorus repeating over and over in my thoughts- "Savior, worthy of honor and glory, worthy of all our praise, You overcameJesus, awesome in power forever, awesome and great is Your name, You overcame." The words of this song were taken directly from the scriptures, therefore, they are truth. Jesus has overcome. He is awesome in power- He is the Omnipotent One. He is no "wimpy" little "Casper milk toast" God. He is not a "ninety-eight pound weakling". He is not limited in power- with Him nothing is impossible. May I remind you this morning that He is the Creator of the Universe. He is the Ruler of all creation. He is so powerful that He did not even have to take something in hand to create all that is, all He had to do was speak and it came into existence. His throne is eternal- He will always be though everything else may pass away. He always has been- when nothing else was.

I think that sometimes we need to readjust our focus- and thinking. Have you ever starred at something for so long that once you got your eyes off of it, everything else seemed blurry? When we look at our problems for too long without taking our eyes off of them, the same thing happens. Once we finally look somewhere else, everything else is out of focus-- including our view of God. We don't see Him as He really is- but as a distorted figure who is weak, not in control, unable to meet the need, unfaithful, etc.

Today turn your eyes for a moment from your problem, and start "starring" at Jesus. Get refocused on Him. If you "stare" at Him long enough, once you look back at your problem, it will be a blur- it will now look distorted and unclear. It won't look as intimidating, as big, as hopeless and as impossible, because it will be a true image of the problem compared to God.

Have great day. Readjust your focus and place it on the One who is awesome in power and overcame.

For further reading:
Philippians 2:10
Revelation 5:12
2 Samuel 7:22
Psalm 86:10; 121:1
Jeremiah 10:6

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

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

"Revelation of the Father"

"For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 2 Peter 1:17

Last night at church, during our song/worship service, one of the songs we sang was "Fire Fall Down". One of the choruses in that song repeats the lines- "Show me Your heart; show me Your way; show me Your glory." As we were singing it, I felt the Lord spoke something to my heart- I want to share it with you. He said that it was His desire to show us His heart, His way and His glory. Then He said that He has indeed already showed us- we saw it in Jesus.

Jesus showed and demonstrated to us the heart of God. "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) The heart of God is love. It is the very core of His being; who He is, not only what He possesses. "...for God is love." (1 John 4:8,16)

Jesus showed us the Father's way. His way is obedience. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:5-8) "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Hebrews 5:8,9) "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:42)

Jesus showed us the Father's glory. He was and is the glory of God. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." (John 17:4,5) "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) "Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Hebrews 1:2,3)

The next time you desire a deeper revelation of who God the Father is, look at His Son Jesus, in Him was the fullness of the Godhead bodily. When you saw Him, you saw the Father- the Father's heart, His way and His glory.

Have a great day. All that the Father is, is seen in Jesus.

For further reading:
Colossians 2:9
John 14:8,9

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

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com