"Proud Or Grateful?"

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17

 

I was in the doctor's office yesterday and when I first walked in the door, I heard a lady humming a Christian song. I sat down beside her and she started singing one of the old classics. She didn't care that the room was full-- she kept singing about Jesus. I told her I enjoyed it and we got to talking. I asked how long she had been waiting and she proceeded to tell me what an impatient person she was. I answered back with what the scriptures said about impatience and that it was a Fruit of the Spirit. She said, "Really?". She seemed to not know what I was talking about. She told me she has always sung even from a young age. She sang in church often and even now has won some awards for her singing. But throughout the whole time there, she was impatient, complaining, negative and didn't know much of anything about the Bible.

 

Just because you go to church doesn't mean you are the Church. Just because you hear preaching doesn't mean you are a doer of the Word. Just because you sing about Jesus doesn't mean you know Jesus. Many are like her-- church goers with a talent. They go on Sunday, they may even sing in the choir and hold positions in the church, but there is no evidence of Christ in their lives during the rest of the week. There is an old children's song that says, "If you're saved and you know, then your life will surely show it." She had a beautiful voice, and sang the "right" song, but had no personal evidence to back up what she sang. 

 

This lady was very proud of the talent that she had, but didn't know the One who gave it to her. Do the things that God has given you-- the blessings, the talents, the abilities, the wealth, etc.-- mean more to you He does? Are you proud of the "gifts" or grateful for them? Every good gift comes to us from God. Having pride doesn't just mean that you take credit for them. People with pride may even recognize that it came from God, but they don't live like it did. Gratitude for the gift is shown by wanting to get to know the One who gave it to you, by desiring to use it for the purpose in which He gave it, and by not using it for your own self but for Him. 

 

Have a great day. Your life will reflect whether you are grateful for or proud of the gifts and talents God has given you. 

 

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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.

"Grace Bubble"

"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." Isaiah 43:2

 

For some reason we Christians have the idea that we will never go through anything. We think that just because we are saved we will never face "hardships" again. We tend to think that we will live on a "big soft fluffy pink cloud" far above any troubles. Well we don't live on a cloud, we live on earth. And in this world Jesus Himself told us that we would have tribulations. We were told we would have many afflictions. We were told there would be weapons that would form against us. We were told that we would pass through the waters, through the rivers, and through the fire.

 

No, we don't live in on a "cloud", but we do live in a "grace bubble". We like to think that this "cloud" keeps us from going through anything-- it doesn't. The "grace bubble" doesn't keep us from going through difficulties, it protects, consoles, gives peace and strengthens us when we do go through these times. 

 

What is this "grace bubble"? It is the protective place that is under the shadow of the Almighty. When we go through the waters, He will be with us (that is the grace bubble-- His presence) surrounding and shielding us. When we go through the rivers, they shall not overflow us-- that's the grace bubble. When we walk through the fire, it will not burn us and the flame will not kindle upon us-- that's the grace bubble. In the many afflictions, His deliverance is the grace bubble. In tribulation, His victory is our grace bubble. When weapons are formed against us, they will not prosper-- that's the grace bubble. We are kept by God's grace that surrounds us when we go through trying times-- that's what the grace bubble is. 

 

When you go through difficulties, remember the grace of God is with you walking with you through it. That grace will keep you, deliver you, strengthen you, undergird you, protect you, and keep you from being utterly destroyed. This is why the Apostle Paul could say, "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:8,9) He lived life in the "grace bubble"

 

Have a great day. We don't live on a cloud above troubles, but we live in a grace bubble protected during those troubles. 

 

For further reading:

Psalm 34:19; 91:1

John 16:33

Isaiah 54:17

 

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

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.

"His Train"

"In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple." Isaiah 6:1

 

After Israel's king, Uzziah, whom they had served under for over fifty years died, Isaiah saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up. This was not only a glorious revelation of God, but a vision of hope. How so? 

 

Israel had lost their king but they had not lost their God. The king was dead, but God wasn't- He was still there. King Uzziah's throne was temporary, but God's throne is eternal. Rulers come and go, but God will always be there. 

 

The Lord was sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up. God's throne doesn't just transcend man's throne- like one king that is greater than another king. His throne rules over all other thrones. His throne has dominion over every throne that is established on earth. 

 

"His train filled the temple." His train/garment of majesty, honor, authority and glory filled the entirety of the temple. I read something interesting about kings and their trains. When a king would go to battle, if he defeated the opposing king, he would cut off the hem of the king's train/garment and attach it to his own. The more victories the larger his train became. It showed he was a great, mighty and powerful king. Isaiah saw the Lord's train filling up the entire temple. The Lord is mighty, great, victorious and powerful all by Himself. His train would naturally fill the place. But I also submit to you that His train filling the temple represents His victory over all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. (Ephesians 1:21)

 

At the cross Jesus defeated the "principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places." He destroyed the works of the devil and spoiled principalities and powers, making a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 

 

In the wilderness satan tried to tempt Jesus to worship him by promising to give Him all the kingdoms of the world. Jesus didn't give in to the temptation. Jesus knew that one day they would be His anyway. "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 11:15) He knew that He would gain possession of the keys of death and hell, and all power in heaven and earth will be given unto Him. He knew He would receive them by defeating the devil, not by submitting to him. 

 

His train fills the temple because He is the victorious, conquering King of kings. He has "added" His victories over death, hell and the grave to the hem of His train. He has "added" His victory over sin, sickness, temptation and the flesh to the hem of His train. He has defeated the lust of the flesh, pride of life and the lust of the eyes and "added" them as well to His hem. He has defeated every "king" that would try to set up its throne in our lives. He has defeated them all and added them to His train showing His great power, majesty and authority. 

 

Have a great day. Jesus is the mighty King whose train fills the temple. 

 

For further reading:

Ephesians 6:12

Matthew 28:18

1 John 3:8

Revelation 1:18

Colossians 2:15

 

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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.

"He Is God, Not Man"

"For he is not a man, as I am.." Job 9:32

 

We are guilty at times of looking at God the same way we look at people. We bring Him down to our level in power, ability, strength, and understanding. Well, He is NOT like us. He is not a man. He is God. He is not limited in power. His strength is perfect. He is well able to do anything. His thoughts are higher than ours. He is a Great, Big God with Whom nothing is impossible. That can't be said about any person.

 

Even when Jesus, the Incarnate One, wrapped Himself in flesh and took on the likeness of sinful man, He went about showing us what Father God was like--- that He was not like us. He showed us the depths of God's love-- unselfish, enduring, patient, longsuffering-- which is unlike our love which is conditional and demanding. He showed us the great grace of God-- willing to reach out and grant forgiveness and pardon to those who were undeserving. We have no grace toward others unless we think there is something we can gain from it. He showed us the mercy of God-- withholding the punishment that we so rightfully deserved-- if we would be put our faith and trust in Him. We can be merciless when we have been done wrong. He showed us the healing, delivering and restoring power of God. None of us can heal, deliver or restore-- no matter how educated, how smart, how much money we have, we can't do it. 

 

So, how big is your God? Is He as small as man? Or is He the One who does what we can't-- rides on the wings of the wind, uses the earth as His footstool, calls the stars by name, tells the sun when to rise, opens blind eyes, raises the dead, sees each sparrow when it falls, clothes the lilies of the field, speaks and the winds obey and created the universe by only His spoken word? Stop bringing Him down to our level. See Him as Who He is-- I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up. I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

 

Have a great day. How do you see God? As great and big as He is, or as small as a man? 

 

For further reading:

Job 42:2

Isaiah 6:1; 55:8,9

John 1:12

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

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.

"Addition And Subtraction"

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

 

The verse above is an addition and subtraction principle. As we seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first all the things we need are added to us. 

 

What is the kingdom of God? It is the King of the Kingdom Himself. He is the Kingdom. What is His righteousness? He is the righteousness as well. Seeking the kingdom is not just a formula for getting what we need. The Bible says that when we seek we find. What do we find when we seek the kingdom? We find God Himself. As we find Him something happens in our lives-- addition and subtraction. 

 

As we find Him, we find all that He is- love, joy, peace, kindness- and it is added to our lives. As it is added to our lives, a subtraction takes place. Subtraction of those things that are not like Him-- hate, jealousy, bitterness, unforgiveness, etc. "You can't serve two masters". (Matthew 6:24) As one is added the other is subtracted. Seeking first the kingdom of God adds the very presence of God to our lives and the more He is added the things that are unlike Him are subtracted-- they can't both stay.

 

Are you struggling with the desires of the flesh? Whatever you are seeking is what will be added to you. If you are seeking the things of the flesh that is what will be added and spiritual things will be subtracted. If you are seeking spiritual things that is what will be added and the fleshly things will be subtracted. There isn't room for both. So the one you seek will be added and the other one will be subtracted. The more you seek the Lord, the more you look like Him and the less you look like the world. 

 

Have a great day. Seeking God is a principle of addition and subtraction. As we seek Him, we find Him and there is an addition of His character added to our lives. When it is added, the fleshly desires are being subtracted. 

 

For further reading:

2 Chronicles 26:5

Matthew 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.