"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2
My little granddaughter was with me the other evening. We were watching television and as I was flipping through the channels, the "Passion of the Christ" was on. She said that she wanted to watch it. The movie was already at the point where Jesus was being beaten in Pilate's judgment hall. So we watched it and talked about what was happening to Jesus. Of course, I started crying as I watched. My granddaughter tried to comfort me, "Don't cry, Nana". I explained to her that I was crying because of the terrible things they were doing to Jesus and how it made me very sad. She then replied back to me, "It makes me happy". (Out of the mouths of babes!)
There was a lot of wisdom in the words she spoke. They convicted my heart and took me out of my emotions back to truth. I had to stop and regroup for a moment then responded back to her, "I am happy too". I am happy that Jesus went through the shame and pain of the cross. I am happy because had He not, I would be eternally lost without any hope of eternal life. So, I rejoice in the cross and give thanks that He took the chastisement of my sins in His body. The sadness I had as I watched was the fact that He had to suffer so much pain and such a horrific chastening.
Her four little words reminded me that there are two sides to the cross-- a side of sadness and a side of joy. My focus should not remain on the sad side- the pain and suffering that Jesus had to endure because of my sins. The joy that it gave me access to God, the joy that the victory has been won over sin and death, the joy of knowing that I can have forgiveness of my sins, the joy of receiving eternal life, should swallow up the sadness- it did for Jesus. The joy of knowing that through His sacrifice we could now be partakers of eternal life and live with Him throughout eternity swallowed up the pain and the suffering of the cross.
Have a great day. While I am sad that my Savior had to endure sure horrible treatment for my sins, I am happy that He did it so that I could have eternal life.
For further reading:
Hebrews 12:3
Isaiah 53
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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.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
"Sin Is Taken Care Of"
"Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases." Psalm 103:3
The Lord forgives all our iniquities. Not just a couple of them. Not just some of them. Not just the ones we think are "minor", and not just the ones we think are "major". Our sins are not too great and there are not too many for Him to forgive. At the cross He took care of the whole sin issue. None were left out. They were all taken care of. They were all provided for. They were all punished. They were all washed.
We tend to categorize sin-- some are big and some are little. But God simply said, "All have sinned". When the young man came to Jesus concerning eternal life, Jesus took him back to the commandments. Each commandment represented a particular "area" of sin- all sin can be put into one of three categories: lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, pride of life. The young man had not willingly sinned in any of the commandments. He was not guilty of any particular "act" of sin. He was guilty of sin against God. We are guilty of sin against God- that was our sin, not just individual acts of sin.
Our sin against Him has been taken care of at the cross. Jesus shed His blood to forgive our sin. He has taken care of it. We have forgiveness. Once you have repented of your sin, once you have made peace with God through the blood of Jesus, then embrace that forgiveness and walk in it daily. Our sin against God has been forgiven and nailed to the cross. Leave yours there.
Have a great day. We are guilty of one sin-- sin against God. Jesus took care of that at the cross.
For further reading:
Matthew 19:16-22
2 Corinthians 5:19
Romans 3:23
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
The Lord forgives all our iniquities. Not just a couple of them. Not just some of them. Not just the ones we think are "minor", and not just the ones we think are "major". Our sins are not too great and there are not too many for Him to forgive. At the cross He took care of the whole sin issue. None were left out. They were all taken care of. They were all provided for. They were all punished. They were all washed.
We tend to categorize sin-- some are big and some are little. But God simply said, "All have sinned". When the young man came to Jesus concerning eternal life, Jesus took him back to the commandments. Each commandment represented a particular "area" of sin- all sin can be put into one of three categories: lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, pride of life. The young man had not willingly sinned in any of the commandments. He was not guilty of any particular "act" of sin. He was guilty of sin against God. We are guilty of sin against God- that was our sin, not just individual acts of sin.
Our sin against Him has been taken care of at the cross. Jesus shed His blood to forgive our sin. He has taken care of it. We have forgiveness. Once you have repented of your sin, once you have made peace with God through the blood of Jesus, then embrace that forgiveness and walk in it daily. Our sin against God has been forgiven and nailed to the cross. Leave yours there.
Have a great day. We are guilty of one sin-- sin against God. Jesus took care of that at the cross.
For further reading:
Matthew 19:16-22
2 Corinthians 5:19
Romans 3:23
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
Friday, April 6, 2012
"Jesus Or The Easter Bunny?"
"And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him." Mark 16:6
Happy Resurrection weekend to each and everyone. I choose to call it Resurrection Sunday and not Easter. I choose to acknowledge the death, burial and resurrection of my beloved Savior Jesus, and not the things that we typically think of when we think of Easter- such as the Easter bunny, colored eggs, hiding eggs, baskets of candies.
I wonder, (I know the answer, so I am not asking for one) why we think that these things have anything to do with what Jesus did for us? What do the things that I have already named have to do with the cross or the empty tomb or the suffering that Jesus went through? They have nothing to do with it. These things were part of a pagan celebration to their goddess of fertility. We have adopted them in Christianity and made it a part of our celebration of Jesus' resurrection.
Some say that they know the difference, yet they celebrate both at the same time. Why would you want anything to distract from the true meaning? Why would you make Jesus share the celebration with a fictitious rabbit? Why would you minimize His suffering on the cross with anything? Why would we replace the miracle of the resurrection of Christ for the belief that a giant rabbit goes everywhere during the night leaving children baskets full of candy and colored eggs? We may say we know the difference, yet once church service is over in the morning, the rest of the day will be spent "worshipping" the bunny and eggs. I just don't get it. After what Jesus went through on the cross for us, why would we allow anything to overshadow it?
At Christmas we have adopted a slogan as a reminder that the celebration is all about the birth of Jesus and not Santa Claus-- "Jesus is the reason for the season". I think we need to take it out of storage during the resurrection season because it appears that we have forgotten that it is still true for this time as well-- "Jesus is the reason for the season, not the Easter bunny." After all, who laid down their life for you so that you could have eternal life and forgiveness of your sins-- Jesus or the Easter bunny!
Have a great day. Who are you "really" celebrating, Jesus or the Easter bunny? Take a long, hard and searching look at what you are doing before you answer.
For further reading:
John 3:16
Romans 5:8
2 Timothy 4:4
Matthew 28:6
Luke 24:6
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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 unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
Happy Resurrection weekend to each and everyone. I choose to call it Resurrection Sunday and not Easter. I choose to acknowledge the death, burial and resurrection of my beloved Savior Jesus, and not the things that we typically think of when we think of Easter- such as the Easter bunny, colored eggs, hiding eggs, baskets of candies.
I wonder, (I know the answer, so I am not asking for one) why we think that these things have anything to do with what Jesus did for us? What do the things that I have already named have to do with the cross or the empty tomb or the suffering that Jesus went through? They have nothing to do with it. These things were part of a pagan celebration to their goddess of fertility. We have adopted them in Christianity and made it a part of our celebration of Jesus' resurrection.
Some say that they know the difference, yet they celebrate both at the same time. Why would you want anything to distract from the true meaning? Why would you make Jesus share the celebration with a fictitious rabbit? Why would you minimize His suffering on the cross with anything? Why would we replace the miracle of the resurrection of Christ for the belief that a giant rabbit goes everywhere during the night leaving children baskets full of candy and colored eggs? We may say we know the difference, yet once church service is over in the morning, the rest of the day will be spent "worshipping" the bunny and eggs. I just don't get it. After what Jesus went through on the cross for us, why would we allow anything to overshadow it?
At Christmas we have adopted a slogan as a reminder that the celebration is all about the birth of Jesus and not Santa Claus-- "Jesus is the reason for the season". I think we need to take it out of storage during the resurrection season because it appears that we have forgotten that it is still true for this time as well-- "Jesus is the reason for the season, not the Easter bunny." After all, who laid down their life for you so that you could have eternal life and forgiveness of your sins-- Jesus or the Easter bunny!
Have a great day. Who are you "really" celebrating, Jesus or the Easter bunny? Take a long, hard and searching look at what you are doing before you answer.
For further reading:
John 3:16
Romans 5:8
2 Timothy 4:4
Matthew 28:6
Luke 24:6
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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 unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
"Encourage One Another"
"Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see." Matthew 11:4
John baptized Jesus, heard the voice of God come from heaven declaring that Jesus was His Son, saw the dove descend upon Him, and even testified that Jesus was "the Lamb of God". A short time later we see John sitting in prison questioning whether Jesus was the One who was to come or not. He sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He truly was the one or should they be looking for another. Jesus told these disciples to, "Go and tell John what you have seen and what you have heard."
You would think that there would have never been any question for John that Jesus was truly the Messiah after his experience at Jesus' baptism, but he did. There are times that we all face trials and difficulties that make us "question" what we know. These trying times can make us wonder if we are really believing the truth or have we missed it. It is in those times that we need to look back and remember when the truth enlightened our heart and we knew that it as so. But it is also in those times that we need someone to come along beside us and encourage us to remember.
Jesus told John's disciples to go and tell John what "you" have see and heard me do and say. He didn't tell them to go an tell John what "he" saw and heard. When we see a brother or sister who is struggling, or whose faith is becoming weak because of the situation they are facing, we need to pray for them, but we also need to encourage them by sharing what we know. We need to share our testimony with them. It is time for us to share with them the things that we have "seen and heard". As we encourage them, it will remind them of their own testimony and our two testimonies together will reaffirm what they know and that it is the truth.
So when you see a brother or sister struggling in the battle, be one who will encourage them in what you have seen God do and what you have heard Him say through His word.
Have a great day. Be an encourager to those who are in a place of weakness by sharing your testimony of Jesus with them so that their faith will be reaffirmed.
For further reading:
1 John 1:3
Malachi 3:16
Hebrews 12:12
Acts 16:40; 28:14,15
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
John baptized Jesus, heard the voice of God come from heaven declaring that Jesus was His Son, saw the dove descend upon Him, and even testified that Jesus was "the Lamb of God". A short time later we see John sitting in prison questioning whether Jesus was the One who was to come or not. He sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He truly was the one or should they be looking for another. Jesus told these disciples to, "Go and tell John what you have seen and what you have heard."
You would think that there would have never been any question for John that Jesus was truly the Messiah after his experience at Jesus' baptism, but he did. There are times that we all face trials and difficulties that make us "question" what we know. These trying times can make us wonder if we are really believing the truth or have we missed it. It is in those times that we need to look back and remember when the truth enlightened our heart and we knew that it as so. But it is also in those times that we need someone to come along beside us and encourage us to remember.
Jesus told John's disciples to go and tell John what "you" have see and heard me do and say. He didn't tell them to go an tell John what "he" saw and heard. When we see a brother or sister who is struggling, or whose faith is becoming weak because of the situation they are facing, we need to pray for them, but we also need to encourage them by sharing what we know. We need to share our testimony with them. It is time for us to share with them the things that we have "seen and heard". As we encourage them, it will remind them of their own testimony and our two testimonies together will reaffirm what they know and that it is the truth.
So when you see a brother or sister struggling in the battle, be one who will encourage them in what you have seen God do and what you have heard Him say through His word.
Have a great day. Be an encourager to those who are in a place of weakness by sharing your testimony of Jesus with them so that their faith will be reaffirmed.
For further reading:
1 John 1:3
Malachi 3:16
Hebrews 12:12
Acts 16:40; 28:14,15
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
Monday, April 2, 2012
"Put Him In His Place"
"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Luke 10:19
Fear does not come from God. Guilt does not come from God. Condemnation does not come from God. They come from the adversary of our souls- the devil. He is the one who harasses, accuses, condemns and torments. Sadly, so many Christians' lives are bound by these. They live in a state of fear. They live under a cloud of guilt. They feel constantly condemned. My question is, "Why?"
If you are a born-again child of God, you do not have to receive anything that is not from God. You do not have to live under the power of the enemy. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. You have power over the adversary. Our Jesus defeated him and destroyed his work at the cross. Then Jesus turned the victory over to you. So you should be walking in victory, not defeat.
But the enemy will continue to harass and accuse and control you in these areas until you "put him in his place". How do you do that? First, you need to realize that you have power over him and that he has no place in your life. Then you have to stop allowing him to do this to you by taking your God-given authority over him. You have to resist him- steadfastly. You have to remind him that you have power over him, not vice versa. It is time that you rise up and stop allowing him any place. Do what Jesus did, use the word of God against him. He is not just going to bow out and do it gracefully. You are going to have "throw him out" and do battle until he leaves. Then you will have to stay on guard and not allow him to come back.
The bottom line is that if you are a child of the Most High God, these devices of the devil have no place in your life. You don't have to live in them. But he will continue until you take authority over him and cast him out. Which you can do through Christ.
Have a great day. Stop allowing the devil to harass you. Use your God-given authority to put him in his place.
For further reading:
1 John 4:4; 3:8
James 4:7
Romans 8:1
2 Timothy 1:7
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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 unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
Fear does not come from God. Guilt does not come from God. Condemnation does not come from God. They come from the adversary of our souls- the devil. He is the one who harasses, accuses, condemns and torments. Sadly, so many Christians' lives are bound by these. They live in a state of fear. They live under a cloud of guilt. They feel constantly condemned. My question is, "Why?"
If you are a born-again child of God, you do not have to receive anything that is not from God. You do not have to live under the power of the enemy. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. You have power over the adversary. Our Jesus defeated him and destroyed his work at the cross. Then Jesus turned the victory over to you. So you should be walking in victory, not defeat.
But the enemy will continue to harass and accuse and control you in these areas until you "put him in his place". How do you do that? First, you need to realize that you have power over him and that he has no place in your life. Then you have to stop allowing him to do this to you by taking your God-given authority over him. You have to resist him- steadfastly. You have to remind him that you have power over him, not vice versa. It is time that you rise up and stop allowing him any place. Do what Jesus did, use the word of God against him. He is not just going to bow out and do it gracefully. You are going to have "throw him out" and do battle until he leaves. Then you will have to stay on guard and not allow him to come back.
The bottom line is that if you are a child of the Most High God, these devices of the devil have no place in your life. You don't have to live in them. But he will continue until you take authority over him and cast him out. Which you can do through Christ.
Have a great day. Stop allowing the devil to harass you. Use your God-given authority to put him in his place.
For further reading:
1 John 4:4; 3:8
James 4:7
Romans 8:1
2 Timothy 1:7
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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 unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
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