"His Footprints"

"Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness." Psalm 65:11

 

The word paths means: track or rut. A track is an indication of where something or someone has been. A rut is caused by the repeated action of travel along the same path. The word fatness speaks of fertility, and of blessings. So the picture that is painted for us from this verse is one of the Lord walking ahead of us day after day, moment after moment, and leaving an abundant size blessing behind Him. 

 

My husband loves to hunt. One important element of hunting is looking for tracks. Tracks lets him know if there is a deer or turkey, or some other kind of animal in the woods. When he sees a footprint/track, it is evidence that the animal is in the woods or has been there.

 

According to the verse above, wherever the Lord walks He leaves a "footprint" (track) as well. What does His track look like? "Fatness". It looks like abundant blessings. The verse also says He "drops" them. This means that wherever He goes He drops blessings down, they drip from Him. The blessings of the Lord automatically flow from Him, but He also deliberately leaves them behind. He is leaving blessings, "fat" ones, abundant ones, behind Himself for us to "pick up" and enjoy. But there is only one way to receive those blessings-- follow Him. 

 

You don't get these blessings outside of following Him-- He leaves them behind Him everywhere He goes. These blessings are grace, goodness, mercy, peace, hope, comfort, joy, peace, provision, etc. 

 

As you follow Him, not only are you receiving the blessings that He leaves behind, but just like the tracks my husband follows in the woods leads him to the deer, following the "tracks/footprints/path" of Jesus will lead you directly to Him-- the greatest, most abundant blessing there is!

 

Have a great day. The Lord is leaving His footprint everywhere He goes-- abundant blessings. As you follow His footprints you will receive those blessings and eventually they will also lead you to His presence-- the greatest blessing of all. 

 

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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.

"The Big Picture"

"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." 1 Peter 5:10

 

It is human nature to be impatient and not want to have to wait. We want instant gratification, a "quick fix", a microwave existence, and all our problems solved yesterday. When Joseph was thrown into the pit by his brothers, he wanted out. He didn't want to have to wait in the pit for any length of time. Neither did he want to stay in Potiphar's house or the prison. He wanted out quickly. 

 

The point I am trying to make is that we don't want to have to go through certain "places" much less stay in them for any length of time. The children of Israel did not want to go in captivity, and they certainly didn't want to stay there for seventy years. The false prophets were telling them not to even unpack their bags, they would not be there that long. Jeremiah told them to unpack, raise their crops, and "get comfortable" because they were going to be there for a while. 

 

You and I don't want to go through places of suffering, trials, problems or adversity, and we certainly don't want to "unpack" our bags and stay there. We want out before we even go in, or come out quickly if we do go in. While there are times we want instant "deliverance" God is saying "no". He is saying that you have to walk through it. Not because He doesn't care. Not because He is unaware of what is going on. Not because He doesn't know how you feel. But because He sees the "big picture" of your life. Jesus prayed that if it was possible to let the cup pass from Him. The Heavenly Father did not let it pass from Him, because He saw the "big picture". He saw the salvation of all mankind provided for. 

 

We don't want to go through anything, and we certainly don't want to have to stay there. We want instant deliverance. But there are places we have to walk through and will walk through them unto they have accomplished their purpose in our lives because God has something in mind for our life. While you don't always understand and want out, God has a plan for your life. He sees the big picture and is working in your life to accomplish it. The big picture for Joseph was the palace. Therefore, he had to stay in the pit for a time. He had to stay in Potiphar's house for a while. He had to stay in the prison until what needed to happen was finished so he could step into the big picture plan for his life. It is the same for us.

 

Have a great day. You may want instant deliverance from where you are, but God sees the big picture of your life and is working to accomplish it through where you are now.

 

For further reading:

Jeremiah 29:11

Romans 8:28

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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

"One Of Those Days"

"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God." 1 Samuel 30:6

 

Have you ever had "one of those days"? David was having one. The Philistine king had sent him away not wanting his help for lack of trust. When he got to his home at Ziklag, he discovered the Amalekites had invaded it, burned it and taken his wives and children captive. He was in deep grief. His faithful men who had been with him all this time were so distressed over the situation that they accused David that it was his fault and talked about stoning him to death. What are you to do?

 

Job also experienced "one of those days". He lost all his cattle, his sheep, his oxen, his servants and his children, all in one day. What are you to do?

 

For us "one of those days" may come in many forms. Your car breaks down, the boss calls you in and tells you you are fired, the doctor gives you a bad report, your son runs away from home, you sit on your glasses and break them, you get distressing news about a loved one, the list is endless. What are you to do?

 

What are you to do? The Bible says that David "encouraged himself in the Lord his God". He strengthened himself. He "girded" up himself with God's word and promises. He "tied" them to his heart and mind. This is one way we "encourage" ourselves. "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13) You "gird" up your mind with God's word and His promises. You hold fast to them regardless of what is happening around you. You renew your mind with them and trust in God's faithfulness to do what He said He would do. David was distressed, what he saw grieved him, but he took hold of the promises that God had made to him and knew that if God made them He would bring them to pass. 

 

What are you to do? The Bible says that when Job received his bad news he "worshipped". Job literally bowed himself to the ground and gave God reverence and prayed to Him. We "worship" by humbling ourselves before the Lord, recognizing who He is, and praying to Him about the situation. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6)

 

When we are going through the valley of the shadow of death, when we are being tested on every side, when we are in a fiery trial, when our world is fallen apart, when all hope seems lost, when destruction is all around us, when the storm is raging, the lions are roaring, the sun is setting, what are we to do? We follow these examples of encourage ourselves in the Lord by remembering and holding fast to His word and promises and binding them to our minds; and we worship the Lord through our praise and prayers.

 

Have a great day. When you are having "one of those days", encourage yourself in the Lord.

 

For further reading:

Job 1:20 

 

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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

"Supplying It All"

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

 

We all have needs. Sometimes those needs are spiritual in nature-- salvation, the empowerment of Holy Spirit, wisdom, grace, mercy, etc. Sometimes they are physical-- healing in our bodies, strength for a task. Sometimes the need is emotional-- peace of mind, comfort in sorrow, healing of a broken heart. Sometimes they are material-- food, clothing, shelter. Sometimes the need is in the area of relationships-- restoration of a broken relationship, grace in dealing with other people, love for someone. Sometimes the need is financial-- a bill that needs paying, a job to make a living. Then sometimes a need is in a category all of its own. Needs vary and they come in all forms. But whatever the need, God gives us a promise that He will supply it.

 

When God said He would supply all your need, He didn't say He would supply only the spiritual ones or the physical ones. He said He would supply all of them regardless of how they are classified by us. When He said He would supply all your need, He said all. He didn't say He would supply part of it, some of it, half of it, a portion of it, He said ALL of it. He is not a "Half way God". He supplies it all. He has never done anything half way. He didn't create just a portion of the world at the beginning. He created it all until it was finished and there was nothing left to create. He didn't provide for part of your salvation, He provided it all. Jesus didn't stop short of the plan of redemption. He drank every last dreg of the bitter cup He was given. He hung on the cross until the last enemy of our soul was defeated and the full price of our redemption was paid. He stayed there suffering until it was finished-- completely finished. There wasn't anything left to do.

 

My God shall supply all your need. Man may only be able to help you to a point. He may help a little. He may begin his help and then either stop or fall short. But God will not stop half way in supplying your need. He will supply all of it. He will supply it until He has finished it. He will move on your behalf until it is all taken care of. Look to Him to supply it and trust Him to supply it-- all of it.

 

Have a great day. God will supply your need, whatever it is, and He won't stop short of fulfilling it all.

 

For further reading:

John 19:30

Genesis 2:2,3

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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

"Stop Comparing"

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." Psalm 139:14

 

As humans we tend to compare ourselves with each other. But sadly, when we do, we use that comparison as an indication of our self-worth. We then try to identify who we are by comparing ourselves with someone else. Also when we compare ourselves with others it will usually cause us to give up and not press on and be who God designed us to be or receive from Him what He wants to give us. 

 

In school if we compare ourselves with a student who makes better grades than we do, we will label ourselves as stupid or ignorant. As a result we won't even try to make better grades. If we don't have the enthusiasm about the things of Christ that we see in a fellow Christian, we start thinking that something is wrong with us. We wonder if we are even saved. When we are sick and compare ourselves to someone else who is worse off than we are, we become content to stay in that sickness because, after all, it isn't that bad in comparison. So we won't even seek God for a healing. When you are going through a time of grief and aren't living with your head in a Kleenex box, but others who are going through the same thing are, you begin to wonder if you're a caring, loving or compassionate person. When you are going through a trial and are not handling it as well as you see someone else handle it, you start to wonder if you even have any faith. 

 

Does any of this sound familiar? Don't we do this? We look at the things others are going through, the way others are handling things, the responses and reactions they have to life's issues and we either give up because we can't ever be like that/them or we think something is wrong with us. 

 

I have a word for you this morning-- stop comparing yourselves to others. When Jesus told Peter what would happen to him later in life, Peter immediately asked what about John, what would happen to him. Jesus told him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” (John 21:22-NAS) The key point that Jesus was giving Peter-- and us-- was don't compare what I am doing in your life with what I am doing in someone else's life. You just follow me. 

 

God didn't make you like everyone else. He made you you! We each one work out our own salvation. We each one go through things according to who we are, not who someone else is. If there is any comparison to do, then it is with Christ. We are to compare our lives with His life and that is the only one it has to measure up to.

 

Have a great day. Stop comparing yourself to others or you will miss out on who God wants you to be and what God wants to do in your life. 

 

For further reading:

John 21:20-23

Philippians 2:12

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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