COFFEE ON THE DOCK

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold,” Proverbs 3:13-14 ESV. My most consistent prayer throughout life has been one of seeking wisdom from God. Wisdom empowers more than treasures, fame or good fortune. In fact, success in earthly pursuits cannot guarantee happiness, love or safety, but wisdom supplies all we truly need. You could say wisdom is the perennially promised but rarely delivered “all in one special package”. Wisdom provides access to everything we truly need and protects us from things that harm us. “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding,” Proverbs 4:7 NKJV. Glorious God and Father, grant me a continual flow of wisdom, understanding, and discernment.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever,” Psalm 136:1 ESV. In this chapter, David states twenty-six times: “His love endures forever”, every single verse repeating this simple but profound truth. At times I really feel it, yet sometimes I lose awareness of His abiding and perfect love. But His love never diminishes, never grows cold, never, ever ends: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness,” Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV. Our human view of God’s love is clouded by our own capacity to love without conditions or limitations. 1 John 4:8 ends with this simple phrase “God is love”. He does not “fall in love”, become “more loving”, or “less loving”; He IS love. Father, You made us in Your image, use me as an open channel of Your amazing love to all whom I encounter. 

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” Psalm 9:1-2 (ESV). I have so many things to be thankful for that there are simply too many to recount.   I began my adulthood with a huge advantage in life. It was not the things most people believe are necessary for success, our family had little of those. My enormous advantage was embodied in parents who loved each other deeply and genuinely loved God. My father passed away when I was but twelve, but God provided for me several men and women that were spiritual giants. Humble, powerful, loving, honorable and very honoring of others. So today on this Thanksgiving I’m particularly thankful for those who helped form me into the man I am. The full list is simply too exhaustive for this venue, but a shortlist would be my Mother Nadjy, Costa & Ruth Deir, Russell & Barb...

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland,” Isaiah 43:18-19 ESV. Having traveled the globe to many impoverished areas I have seen the amazing creativity and ability of mankind to repurpose things; recycling is nothing new among the very poor. I have also experienced firsthand the human ability to recycle guilt, condemnation, and hatred of others. Letting the past go is a critical step to grasping today’s opportunities. Single-minded trust in today’s provision opens heaven’s fresh blessings now, while longing for the past paralyzes us, keeping us from moving forward. LORD, infuse my soul with faith and help me let go of what is no longer useful so I may take hold of the manna You send for me this new day. 

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God,” Colossians 3:16 ESV. The first word in this verse is the key to a transformed life, “Let”. God’s Word is powerful, but only in the heart of someone whose will is surrendered to it. How can I “teach and admonish” others when I do not let the Word “dwell richly” in my own life? The word “admonish” in this context is directly connected to the words “dwell richly” and speaks of admonishment by example, not by nitpicking other’s failures. Our freedom in worship and an attitude of thankfulness are the signs of the Word of Christ dwelling “richly” within us. Blessed Father, enrich my heart and entire life with Your Word. May my life exemplify Your Joy and Kindness and my Your praise ever adorn my lips. 

“He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken,” Psalm 62:2 ESV. Small tremors a few times, but only once was I in a genuine earthquake. Having lived in Costa Rica for a couple of years we had become so accustomed to minor tremors that we didn’t even notice the BIG ONE until the ground began to heave and shake. WOW, it is disorienting to discover that everything can be shaken at once and can last for such a long time! We don’t expect the ground on which we live to convulse, but sometimes it does. In those bewildering moments, on what will I stand? “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,” Hebrews 12:28 (ESV) “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ,” 1 Corinthians 3:11 ESV. Lover of my Soul, You set my feet on solid rock. My life is safely nestled in ...

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,” Colossians 3:1-2 ESV. Here, the apostle Paul speaks to believers as if their ascension into heaven has already happened! It has! The moment we die to self and take Christ as LORD we immediately begin transitioning from this world being our life-source and start living out of Heaven’s resources and power! We may boldly believe and declare, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” Philippians 4:18 ESV. To be clear, I can’t do just anything I   want, but I CAN do whatever God wants! So, the things He commands in His Word are not suggestions, they are marching orders! His heavenly provision back-up His plans for us! LORD, use me for Your Glory as You will. 

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours, be done,” Luke 22:42 ESV. Even Our Savior faced a struggle with full surrender in the heat of battle. His self-denying garden prayer must become my own: “not my will, but Yours be done.” There is but one salvation, but the process of sanctification is day by day, moment by moment. I am quite proficient at making up excuses to avoid doing something I do not want to do. Simultaneously, I am equally adept at constructing convincing arguments within myself for what I want. Neither of these skills is helpful to the person who wants to please God. In fact, there is constant danger of talking myself right over a cliff into a sea of selfishness and disobedience. Father help me pull away from carnal desires and to push deeper into surrender. Your will first, Your will always and Your will alone! 

“Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness but is guilty of an eternal sin’, they were saying, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’” This is very serious. “Eternal sin” sounds really, really bad. Yet, all sin is really bad, so what is the uniqueness of this particular sin? The answer is in John 16:8 NKJV: “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment”. While Jesus is the source of our forgiveness, only the Holy Spirit can “convict" us. Conviction is not feeling sorrow, the word  “ convict ” is a translation of the Greek word “ elencho ” which means “to convince someone of the truth”. Like an attorney in the courtroom, the Holy Spirit clarifies facts, destroys false arguments and leads the jury to the truth. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to destroy the only path for actually “coming to the Jesus, “the WAY, the   TRUTH , The LIFE”. LORD, may I never refuse or deny the means of my salvation by rejecting the wo...

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying,   ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever   follows me will not   walk in darkness, but will have the light of life,”  John 8:12 ESV.   I love the unique sense of hope and anticipation my heart feels as dawn approaches. In early dawn shadowed objects may seem strange, but when morning light breaks, previously obscured details are openly exposed. Light reveals the formerly unseen in resplendent glory. In simple terms, light reveals the truth. It is commonly said: “the truth hurts.” Yes, it does! But not as much as deception does. I cannot honestly say that I always welcome the truth easily, but ultimately, I love truth. I need the truth. I want the truth. When truth bathed in love arrives to the tormented heart, it cleanses the soul and lifts our spirit like nothing else. You, O Lord, are Truth and Love Incarnate. May Your Light fill me afresh this day. 

Each new day presents unanticipated battles, unforeseen foes lurking just beyond view. There is no chance I can be fully prepared for everything that awaits me, yet “how sweet the joy that fills my soul”, my victory rests in the Seer of the Unseen.  “No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are   naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account,” Hebrews 4:13 ESV.   Come what may, the Lord is my triumph; what is unforeseeable for me is in clear view of Almighty God. “The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me,” Psalm 118:7 ESV. While on ground level I may struggle to find a way forward, the LORD of Glory never loses sight of where I am nor what I will need to finish strong. I possess “blessed assurance” in the knowledge that God will make a way where there is no way. King of Kings, into Your hands I cast every care, You are my strength O Lord. I trust in Your unfailing love. 

We often feel compelled to “have the last word” in conversations, but having the RIGHT words is far more important. Scripture reveals: “Death and life  are  in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof,” Proverbs18:21 KJV. Since we have no control over our words after they depart our lips, it is necessary to take great care BEFORE we speak. “ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone,” Colossians 4:6 NIV.   A Biblically informed and Spirit-guided lip filter between the mind and the mouth serves everyone’s best interest, avoiding needless pain and giving love the chance to be our guide. Slowing the velocity of my replies to others increases the effectiveness of the filter. Lord, let Your Word saturate my thoughts, and transform my spoken words into instruments of life. May only that which is bathed in Your love and filled with Your truth depart my lips. 

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” Psalm 100:1-4 ESV. God’s Presence is glorious, soul-cleansing, affirming and transforming. Nonchalant casualness should never accompany my approach to God; I must not take for granted the high privilege of worship; "For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named," Ephesians 3:14 ESV. Almighty Father forgive my recklessness. May I never show contempt for your kindness by inappropriate brazenness. I acknowledge the privilege of worship and I bow my knees to Your Majesty. 

I picked up a small stone in my shoe while walking. It was so tiny I could hardly see it, but I could go no farther until it was removed. Little things are often our demise as King Solomon pointed out in Song of Solomon 2:15 ESV:  “ Catch the foxes for us, the  little   foxes  that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.”     For God, everything is small in comparison to Himself, yet He scrutinizes even the tiniest details. There is a lesson here: It is harmful to ignore lingering issues that need attention, no matter how tiny and manageable they seem at the moment. Once I get into a rhythm, I don’t like to stop, but minimizing things can lead to much bigger disasters. Father, nothing is hidden from Your eyes, help me to recognize hidden, debilitating issues. Settle me down and place me at Your feet that I may learn to walk in full freedom.    

Life will continuously teach us lessons if we pay attention, our Heavenly Father weaves His wisdom into every aspect of His creation. As an example, Proverbs 6:6 ESV instructs us: “Go to the ant, O lazy one; Observe her ways and be wise.” Like ripe fruit dangling on a low-hanging limb, knowledge, and understanding are easily within reach at any moment if we just pay attention. But excuses come easier than actions. And while failure is painful, it is also a convenient alternative to the hard work success requires. So, we think: “If only I were more good looking, or had fame, or a better boss, or more money, then…!”  Frankly, what we possess makes little difference, but what POSSESSES US makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE! Desire and passion outweigh fame and fortune. LORD, I am Yours. Possess my heart, my mind, my soul, my strength and use me for Your Glory. 

“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us,” Romans 5:3-5 ESV. This passage is not suggesting that suffering is to be celebrated, it is pointing to the power of God’s redemption. We do not rejoice “FOR” our sufferings, we rejoice “IN” our sufferings and “FOR’ what it produces…endurance, character, hope, deliverance from shame and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Love of God! Wow! Suffering turned to rejoicing is but one beautiful example among many, of the ways God REDEEMS us!! LORD God Almighty hallowed be Thy Name! You are Wonderful beyond description, too Marvelous for words. You are LORD of All.

“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked,” 1 John 2:6 ESV.   The desire to walk in bigger shoes is instinctive and rooted in mankind’s created purpose since “God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them,” Genesis 1:27 NKJV. We are being groomed by God for higher things. As a child, I would commandeer my father’s shoes and walk around the house. It was clumsy, awkward, adventurous and a bit perilous; it still is. Now that my daily pursuit is to walk in my Heavenly Father’s shoes, I sometimes experience the same perils I did as a child. I often feel too small, too amateurish, too inelegant and clunky. But wear them I must. Lord, I am still a rookie, but I know that "risk is reward" when taken in pursuit of Your will. Stabilize my steps as I continue to learn. 

“ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair,” 2 Corinthians 4:8 NIV. Life often seems like a rugby scrum. While I know full well that God is always present and all His ways are loving and faithful, still, at times it feels as if I’m dwelling in a trash compactor. Each time I am tempted to complain I must remember that there are many more powerful options, instead of complaining about the pressures, I can glorify God in my distress. I can confess His Promises and shout for joy, giving grateful praise to Him who is Ever Faithful. I can put on a garment of praise and anoint my head with the oil of joy. Glorious Father, You are my Keeper; Your presence sustains me in the midst of chaos. I lift my eyes to You, my Fortress, my Deliverer, my Peace. 

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Psalm 139:23-24 ESV. I prefer to think of myself as strong and steady in my pursuit of God’s will and ways, but the reality is I am easily distracted. Passing interests sometimes cause me to pull against the safety and needed guidance His handhold provides. I do not resent the Lord’s firm grip on my life, but in moments of preoccupation with temporary things I sometimes forget I’m not just being taken for a stroll; God is actually taking me somewhere He WANTS me to be, somewhere I was CREATED to be, somewhere I MUST be. So, I must again begin a new day reminding myself to yield to the Master’s slightest touch. Glorious God and Father bind me to Your guiding Presence and Purpose. Lead me in the way of everlasting. I’m thankful for Your steady grip.

“Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the  patient  in spirit is better than the proud in spirit,” Ecclesiastes 7:8 ESV. The Hebrew word for “patience” is “savlanut.” Its actual meaning is rooted in the understanding that God is in every moment, so it’s not simply “cool your jets”. It’s more like: “While you are waiting, take it all in, don’t miss a thing.” When I patiently pay attention, I often see amazing things that I would have hurriedly brushed by. Every moment is full of lessons and blessings that are thinly veiled but easily missed. God is present in every place at all times; therefore, every second is brimming with all that He is. Each twinkle of time is permeated with wisdom, provision, opportunity, life, light, victory, and peace. Lord, help me to see thinly-veiled wonders. Heal my restless haste that I in may know Your glorious mysteries and marvels. 

“Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill,” Philippians 1:15 ESV. Envy is a doorway to deep darkness. In the first place, wishing to have someone else’s good fortune is in effect, to question God’s forethought, wisdom, and goodness to us. When we wonder, “Why them and not me?”, we have already judged God as potentially unfair or misguided. Additionally, to cherry-pick from another person’s life is foolish from the start because we tend to choose what we would like to happen for us but completely ignore their sorrows and pain. Finally, to feel that we “deserve better” is an insidious form of pride. The Bible declares: “Blessed   are   the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Father, in You I have all things in One, therefore I lack for nothing and “ no good thing  will You  withhold  from them that walk uprightly”. 

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer,” Psalm 19:14 ESV. This passage makes it clear that God doesn’t differentiate between our thoughts and what we say out loud. In fact, our thoughts are the primary target, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” Proverbs 23:7 NKJV. As they say, “you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig”. Dishonesty was formed in me as a young child before I was even conscious of what lying was. But the “Hound of Heaven” won’t let me escape. Each new day He takes another run at my falsehood. And for this I am thankful. My goal is Ephesians 4:25 ESV: “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another”. LORD, I ask for increased grace that this verse would be fully manifest in my life. 

“ For the time is coming when people will not endure   sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,   and   will turn away from listening to the truth and   wander off into myths,” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV.   Many believers chase after the best teachers, preachers, exotic doctrines, unique worship experiences, and popular gatherings only to remain in the same shallow spiritual condition year after year. But spiritual nutrition will not change what only repentance can transform. It is common that grass will be summer green yet have stubborn patches where grass will not grow. These hard, crusty areas must be removed before new growth will appear. Sunshine, water or nutrition will not help, only removal and replacement will make a difference. Lord, help me to establish the right sequence. Where dried patches lie in my soul, grant me the grace to truly repent and sow into my life that which You desire....

“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters,” Psalm 23:2 ESV. Sometimes a lake can be so still everything above is nearly perfectly reflected upon it. This is what God wants of me; I too, must settle down and be still, allowing Him to be mirrored upon my life. So, what is my problem? Ripples. What God sees of Himself in me is too often distorted by every shifting wind. “And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm,” Mark 4:39 ESV. I must not allow passing circumstances to constantly ruffle me. Rather, I must permit His abiding peace to calm my soul so His majesty can be clearly reflected in my life. This is a daily battle. Father, I am content in Your care. Glorify Yourself in me, make my whole life like still waters so Your greatness may be fully reflected. 

“Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen,” Matthew 6:9-13 ESV. I truly admire the ease with which some people pray. I generally require an impulse; circumstantial prompting is almost always the cause of my most sincere prayers. Thankfully, as I have matured the impulses need not be as intense and they seem to arrive with greater frequency. The disciples were so aware of the difference between the Savior’s prayerfulness and their own that they asked for instruction on it. Lord, I too, need continual instruction. Guide me to a place of constant praise, surrender, thankfulness, and invocation. 

“ The   Lord   is my   shepherd; I shall not   want…” Psalm 23:1 ESV. You know what follows, but this simple phrase says it all!    So, why give in to the convenience of discouragement? Despair offers no rewards, yet since it is so readily available it is easy to take its downhill path. The trail of trust is a much steeper climb, but trusting Him grants unseen vistas, still waters and restored souls. God never ceases His tender care, He is “ Yahweh Ro‘i  “, “The LORD My Shepherd”. Even when we drift away from the fold or run and hide from His care, The Shepherd of Our Souls never loses sight of His lambs, not even for a brief moment. Though at times we try we simply cannot tread alone, for He will never, ever abandons one of His lambs. Blessed Yahweh, Ro’i, from sinking sand, You lift me, With tender hand, You lift me. Truly, all is well today and forever on the trail of trust. 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,” John 3:16 ESV. As Christians, we most often use this passage to share our faith with unbelievers. Today I’m focusing on the words “SO LOVED”. I feel sad for the child of God who knows so little of God’s love that all they can see is their own concerns and needs. These words “SO LOVED” prick my heart in ten thousand ways. Even one drop of God’s pure love upon an open heart changes everything; reordering priorities, provoking a sense of purpose and opening our eyes to the needs all around us, even those far, far away. When God’s love enters our heart, it comes fully loaded with such power it releases effusive joy, motivation, and faith to act. Blessed Father, God of Glory, Your Love offers far more than we could ever need or desire. Lord, make me a channel of Your amazing, irrepressible love.

“In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps,” Proverbs 16:9 NIV. We each spend countless hours planning for things that never happen. Most of what has actually occurred in my life I never planned for at all. I am at peace with that, having accepted that God establishes my steps. The Bible promises: “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail,” Isaiah 58:11 ESV. The LORD is working me into His plan, not the other way around. I will not cease making new plans, but not without His guidance. I will do my best to hold my plans loosely, knowing that God is in control and has the final authority. Father, I trust Your infinite wisdom. What comfort there is in leaning on Your Everlasting Arms! You work all things for our good and grant us joy divine. 

“So, we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him,” I John 4:16 ESV. These are such powerful words that openly reveal our Heavenly Father’s motivations toward all mankind. “ Beloved,   let us love one another, for love is from God, and   whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.   Anyone who does not love does not know God, because   God is love,”  I John 4:7-8 ESV. It is stunning considering how depraved we are without His moment-by-moment work within us. Yet, those He created in His image hold His heart and constant attention. Any hatred for others I accommodate shows dangerous disrespect for the Creator Himself. I cannot claim to be His child while harboring hatred or disregard for those He loves. Father, Lover of My Soul, pour Your pure love through me to others, especially those I disdain. Forgive my reckless gall. 

Paul warned Timothy long ago about things we see today on an ever-broadening scale: “evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived,” 2 Corinthians 3:13 ESV. This is nothing new. There have always been lies and liars, the deceived and the deceivers. So why does it seem to be worse in today’s world? Deception is simply more easily spread in the technological age in which we now live. But our protections from falsehood are as powerful and effective today as ever before. Daily prayer and study of Scripture, regular fellowship with mature believers and the discernment granted by the Holy Spirit are more than sufficient to keep us stable in a roaring sea of lies. Remember, “ He who is in you is greater than   he who is in the world,” I John 4:4 ESV, so:  “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful,” Colossians 3:15 ESV. LORD, keep me on course. Use me to gu...

“They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them…But You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them,” Nehemiah 9:17 NKJV.  While waiting for a flight I noticed three young boys poised at the window watching all the runway activity. The giddy wonder of their new experience prompted me to realize how much I’ve become indifferent to the wonder of modern flight. I’m so accustomed to moving across the world at amazing speeds I resent that it is not even faster! Really? Sadly, I often do the same with the wonders of God. How dare I? I‘ve experienced so many blessings, miracles, and wonders, that at I actually take them for granted! God of Wonders, forgive my hubris and awaken my attentiveness to the wonders you perform. Help me see Your works with childlike eyes of innocence, fascination, praise, and wonder.