"For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." Malachi 3:6
Yesterday we talked about the drastic measures that the Lord went through to get Jonah's attention and cause him to stop running from God and His call. This morning I want to ask the question, "Why did God do that? Why didn't He just let Jonah drown? Why didn't He just forget about Nineveh since Jonah didn't want to go there?"
The reason is simple-- God is a God of love and mercy. He is not willing that any should perish. He showed Jonah mercy by sparing him. He showed Nineveh mercy by not changing His plan to send them a warning.
Nineveh and Israel were enemies. Jonah didn't want to see his nation's enemies spared. He wanted judgment to fall on them. He wanted God to destroy them. And Jonah knew that if they repented, God would forgive them and they would continue to cause trouble from his people. Listen to Jonah's words to God when they did repent and God spared them. Let me read it out of the New Living Translation because it puts it so plainly-- "So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people." (Jonah 4:2) First, it seems to me that Jonah should have been thankful that the Lord is so gracious and merciful because had He not been, Jonah would have drowned in the sea- there would have been no fish story, that would have been the end for Jonah. (How is it that we want mercy and forgiveness for ourselves, but not necessarily for everyone else.) Secondly, because Jonah knew God he knew He does not change. He expected God to be no less than He is. He knew God would be faithful to His own nature. Therefore, He knew God would show mercy to even his enemies if they repented.
Are we like Jonah in these two areas? Do we want mercy for ourselves, but there is someone that we have dealings with that we don't want the Lord to show mercy to? Instead, we want Him to "get them"? We want His vengeance to fall on them? We don't want Him to bless their lives in any way? Do we expect God to do what He says He will do? Do we know Him so well that we know we can count on Him to always work according to His own nature? Do we expect the Lord to be who is His and no less?
Have a great day. We can expect God to be just who He is.
For further reading:
2 Peter 3:9
Psalm 86:5, 15; 103:8
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
"Drastic Measures"
"But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep." Jonah 1:4,5
Jonah received the word from the Lord to go preach to Nineveh that they repent or He would destroy them. But instead of obeying, Jonah rebelled and tried to run from the Lord. He boarded a ship heading in the opposite direction of Nineveh. While he was on the ship a storm arose. The storm was so bad that the sailors were afraid, they cried out to their gods, they threw their cargo overboard, they bailed water out of the ship and were preparing themselves to die. The whole time this was taking place Jonah was sound asleep in the bottom of the boat. Jonah must have been pretty comfortable to be able to sleep through such a storm.
The Lord will send/allow a storm to come into our lives if we have reached a place where we are comfortable in our rebellion and disobedience to Him. When we get comfortable in our sins, He will cause a storm to begin to wake us up out of our comfort zone.
Does He do this for our destruction? Never. He does it because of His great love. Whom the Father loves He chastens. He knows that if we go in the wrong direction and we get comfortable there, it will lead to our harm. He sends it as a "wake up call" so that we will get up, face the truth and turn back in His direction.
Even though the Lord sent the storm to wake Jonah up, He also sent a big fish to save Jonah and keep him from being destroyed. The Lord is never out to harm us. He loves us so much that if He needs to, He will go to drastic measures to save us- save us from our rebellion, save us from sin, save us from destruction. The storm and the whale were drastic measures to reach this rebellious prophet, but they can never compare with the drastic measure the Lord went to when He sent His only begotten Son Jesus to die on the cross to save us and turn us to Him.
Have a great day. The Lord loves us so much that He will go to whatever measure He has to to wake us up when we have become comfortable going in the wrong direction.
For further reading:
Jonah 1
Hebrews 12:5-10
John 3:16
Romans 5:8
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
Jonah received the word from the Lord to go preach to Nineveh that they repent or He would destroy them. But instead of obeying, Jonah rebelled and tried to run from the Lord. He boarded a ship heading in the opposite direction of Nineveh. While he was on the ship a storm arose. The storm was so bad that the sailors were afraid, they cried out to their gods, they threw their cargo overboard, they bailed water out of the ship and were preparing themselves to die. The whole time this was taking place Jonah was sound asleep in the bottom of the boat. Jonah must have been pretty comfortable to be able to sleep through such a storm.
The Lord will send/allow a storm to come into our lives if we have reached a place where we are comfortable in our rebellion and disobedience to Him. When we get comfortable in our sins, He will cause a storm to begin to wake us up out of our comfort zone.
Does He do this for our destruction? Never. He does it because of His great love. Whom the Father loves He chastens. He knows that if we go in the wrong direction and we get comfortable there, it will lead to our harm. He sends it as a "wake up call" so that we will get up, face the truth and turn back in His direction.
Even though the Lord sent the storm to wake Jonah up, He also sent a big fish to save Jonah and keep him from being destroyed. The Lord is never out to harm us. He loves us so much that if He needs to, He will go to drastic measures to save us- save us from our rebellion, save us from sin, save us from destruction. The storm and the whale were drastic measures to reach this rebellious prophet, but they can never compare with the drastic measure the Lord went to when He sent His only begotten Son Jesus to die on the cross to save us and turn us to Him.
Have a great day. The Lord loves us so much that He will go to whatever measure He has to to wake us up when we have become comfortable going in the wrong direction.
For further reading:
Jonah 1
Hebrews 12:5-10
John 3:16
Romans 5:8
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
Monday, October 10, 2011
"The Vision- Ministry Update"
Dear All,
"And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." Habakkuk 2:2
This morning instead of the Coffee Break devotional, if you will allow me, I want to give you an update on what is going on in the ministry. The Lord has been opening more and more doors lately. He is truly enlarging my tents, and I believe that this is only the beginning.
For those of you who aren't familiar with what this ministry does I want to take this opportunity to share a little with you. (Please continue reading- I have a reason for sharing this.)
In addition to the email devotions, monthly newsletter, conferences, preaching ministry, drug and alcohol recovery center ministry and nursing home ministry we also have an outreach to help meet people's physical needs. The Lord has truly blessed us to be able to help many people in many different ways. We have paid people's rent, bought medicine, paid light bills, bought gas, furnished Bibles, helped orphanages, supported missionaries, etc. Many people have been so gracious to donate items to us so that we have been able to help those who have been burned out, or need help with clothes and other items. The Lord has opened the door for me to have two storage buildings at my home to house the donated items, and a storage unit where I am free to hold yard sales to help with the financial support of the ministry.
But there is another burden on my heart- it is for the homeless. I have a vision that I believe is from the Lord and I believe the timing to pursue it is now. I am in the process of looking for a ministry center where we can feed the hungry, clothe the naked and provide shelter for the homeless. I am looking into purchasing some sort of apartment complex or multi-family dwelling. Over the past several weeks I have received numerous calls from people who were burned out and had no place to go or who were living on the streets and needed a place to stay. All I have been able to do was put them up in a hotel, which gets expensive... but the Lord has graciously provided.
I have never asked for financial support, the Lord has always supplied the need and always will. But I believe the Lord has instructed me to put the vision before you to give you the opportunity to partner with me on a monthly basis to see this vision became a reality. I believe there are some of you out there who have been wanting to partner with something like this but haven't known where or how. All I am asking is that you pray about it and see if the Lord would have you to give into this ministry. If not, then I ask for your prayer support as we help advance the Kingdom of God in the earth.
Thank you so much for allowing me to have this personal time with you and share what the Lord has laid on my heart to do. There are so many hurting people. We must reach them while we can. Thank you for prayerful consideration of this matter.
In Christ's Service,
Lorraine Ezell
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc. (501c non-profit incorporation; all gifts are tax deductable)
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
"And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." Habakkuk 2:2
This morning instead of the Coffee Break devotional, if you will allow me, I want to give you an update on what is going on in the ministry. The Lord has been opening more and more doors lately. He is truly enlarging my tents, and I believe that this is only the beginning.
For those of you who aren't familiar with what this ministry does I want to take this opportunity to share a little with you. (Please continue reading- I have a reason for sharing this.)
In addition to the email devotions, monthly newsletter, conferences, preaching ministry, drug and alcohol recovery center ministry and nursing home ministry we also have an outreach to help meet people's physical needs. The Lord has truly blessed us to be able to help many people in many different ways. We have paid people's rent, bought medicine, paid light bills, bought gas, furnished Bibles, helped orphanages, supported missionaries, etc. Many people have been so gracious to donate items to us so that we have been able to help those who have been burned out, or need help with clothes and other items. The Lord has opened the door for me to have two storage buildings at my home to house the donated items, and a storage unit where I am free to hold yard sales to help with the financial support of the ministry.
But there is another burden on my heart- it is for the homeless. I have a vision that I believe is from the Lord and I believe the timing to pursue it is now. I am in the process of looking for a ministry center where we can feed the hungry, clothe the naked and provide shelter for the homeless. I am looking into purchasing some sort of apartment complex or multi-family dwelling. Over the past several weeks I have received numerous calls from people who were burned out and had no place to go or who were living on the streets and needed a place to stay. All I have been able to do was put them up in a hotel, which gets expensive... but the Lord has graciously provided.
I have never asked for financial support, the Lord has always supplied the need and always will. But I believe the Lord has instructed me to put the vision before you to give you the opportunity to partner with me on a monthly basis to see this vision became a reality. I believe there are some of you out there who have been wanting to partner with something like this but haven't known where or how. All I am asking is that you pray about it and see if the Lord would have you to give into this ministry. If not, then I ask for your prayer support as we help advance the Kingdom of God in the earth.
Thank you so much for allowing me to have this personal time with you and share what the Lord has laid on my heart to do. There are so many hurting people. We must reach them while we can. Thank you for prayerful consideration of this matter.
In Christ's Service,
Lorraine Ezell
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc. (501c non-profit incorporation; all gifts are tax deductable)
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
Friday, October 7, 2011
"He Is Wonderful"
"...and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6b
This morning I woke up with the words of a song repeating over and over again in my thoughts. I felt impressed to share the song with you- you will find it below. The song is, "Wonderful, Merciful Savior".
There is nothing about the Lord that is not wonderful. And how wonderful it is that He desires to have a relationship with us. Though the shed blood of Jesus- the "Lamb of God"; the eternal sacrifice- we have been adopted into His family and are now His children.
How wonderful it is that He calls us His friends- we who were once His enemies. It is wonderful to know that when we need guidance, comfort and strength He gives it to us and in such generous measures. The depth of His love for us is too wonderful for us to comprehend. It is wonderful to know that He allows us to come before Him and one day we will be with Him forever.
I could go on all morning declaring how wonderful He is in so many ways. But I will leave that for you to do. Take time today to meditate on just how truly wonderful He is and all the wonderful things He has done for you. Thank Him for the wonderful gift of salvation that He so freely has given you through Jesus. Then rejoice as well that He still has wonderful things in store for you in the future.
Have a great day. He is Wonderful!!!
For further reading:
Psalm 40:5; 107:8; 111:4
Isaiah 25:1
"Wonderful, Merciful Savior"
Wonderful merciful Savior
Precious redeemer and friend
Who would have thought that a lamb could
Rescue the souls of men, Oh You rescue the souls of men.
Counselor, comforter, keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost the way, Oh we hopelessly lost the way.
You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace our
Hearts always hunger for, Oh our hearts always hunger for.
Almighty infinite father
Faithfully loving Your own
Herein our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne, Oh we're falling before Your throne.
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
This morning I woke up with the words of a song repeating over and over again in my thoughts. I felt impressed to share the song with you- you will find it below. The song is, "Wonderful, Merciful Savior".
There is nothing about the Lord that is not wonderful. And how wonderful it is that He desires to have a relationship with us. Though the shed blood of Jesus- the "Lamb of God"; the eternal sacrifice- we have been adopted into His family and are now His children.
How wonderful it is that He calls us His friends- we who were once His enemies. It is wonderful to know that when we need guidance, comfort and strength He gives it to us and in such generous measures. The depth of His love for us is too wonderful for us to comprehend. It is wonderful to know that He allows us to come before Him and one day we will be with Him forever.
I could go on all morning declaring how wonderful He is in so many ways. But I will leave that for you to do. Take time today to meditate on just how truly wonderful He is and all the wonderful things He has done for you. Thank Him for the wonderful gift of salvation that He so freely has given you through Jesus. Then rejoice as well that He still has wonderful things in store for you in the future.
Have a great day. He is Wonderful!!!
For further reading:
Psalm 40:5; 107:8; 111:4
Isaiah 25:1
"Wonderful, Merciful Savior"
Wonderful merciful Savior
Precious redeemer and friend
Who would have thought that a lamb could
Rescue the souls of men, Oh You rescue the souls of men.
Counselor, comforter, keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost the way, Oh we hopelessly lost the way.
You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace our
Hearts always hunger for, Oh our hearts always hunger for.
Almighty infinite father
Faithfully loving Your own
Herein our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne, Oh we're falling before Your throne.
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
"Praise Without Seeing The Answer"
"I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation." Psalm 118:21
When is the Psalmist offering praise to the Lord? After the Lord answered him? After he saw the manifestation of what he was praying for? After the answer was in his hands? That isn't what it says. He praised the Lord for hearing him.
Why is it that we don't think about praising the Lord until after we see the answer? The very fact that this wonderful God, the Creator of the universe, the One who is so great that there are not even words in our vocabulary to describe Him, the One who rules from heaven and all creation trembles at His voice, the One before whom every person will stand and give an account, that this awesome God would even allow us to come anywhere near Him much less make our request known to Him should give us plenty of reason to praise Him. Whether He ever answered any of my prayers or not, I have more than enough reason to praise Him all the days, and every day, of my life.
Why is it that when He doesn't answer our prayers in the way we wanted Him to, we don't praise Him? His praise should continually be in our mouths- and not only when we receive the things we desire for from Him. Is He not worthy of praise- period! Or is He only worthy of our praise after He gives us what we want?
If our praise is only based on His answer to our prayers, or because He gives us something, or because we see His hand moving in our lives, then we don't really understand what it means to give Him praise. Do I praise Him for the answer when I see it? Yes, I do. But do I praise Him when I don't see it? Yes, I do. Because with or without the answer-- He is still worthy to be praised because of Who He is.
Have a great day. Don't wait to praise Him only after He has answered your prayer.
For further reading:
Psalm 34:1; 113:1; 135:1; 147:1
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
When is the Psalmist offering praise to the Lord? After the Lord answered him? After he saw the manifestation of what he was praying for? After the answer was in his hands? That isn't what it says. He praised the Lord for hearing him.
Why is it that we don't think about praising the Lord until after we see the answer? The very fact that this wonderful God, the Creator of the universe, the One who is so great that there are not even words in our vocabulary to describe Him, the One who rules from heaven and all creation trembles at His voice, the One before whom every person will stand and give an account, that this awesome God would even allow us to come anywhere near Him much less make our request known to Him should give us plenty of reason to praise Him. Whether He ever answered any of my prayers or not, I have more than enough reason to praise Him all the days, and every day, of my life.
Why is it that when He doesn't answer our prayers in the way we wanted Him to, we don't praise Him? His praise should continually be in our mouths- and not only when we receive the things we desire for from Him. Is He not worthy of praise- period! Or is He only worthy of our praise after He gives us what we want?
If our praise is only based on His answer to our prayers, or because He gives us something, or because we see His hand moving in our lives, then we don't really understand what it means to give Him praise. Do I praise Him for the answer when I see it? Yes, I do. But do I praise Him when I don't see it? Yes, I do. Because with or without the answer-- He is still worthy to be praised because of Who He is.
Have a great day. Don't wait to praise Him only after He has answered your prayer.
For further reading:
Psalm 34:1; 113:1; 135:1; 147:1
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
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