COFFEE ON THE DOCK

“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another,” Romans 12:10 (NKJV). As love-centered believers living in the surroundings of diminishing civility, our light shines even brighter. While many will dismiss our love as superficial, others will run to it. Strangely, Christians are often kinder and less argumentative with non-believers than with our own brethren, especially if they are from a different denomination or worship practice. NOW is the time to stand together as the Body of Christ. NOW is the time to build deeper connections with other people of faith. This is the hour to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven;” Matthew 5:16 (KJV). LORD, make us kind and affectionate toward one another that You may be seen and known by all. 

“He raises up the poor from the dust; He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's and on them, he has set the world,” 1 Samuel 2:8 ESV. There seems to be no shortage of those willing to add weights to those struggling to stay afloat. Even the well-meaning comfort of friends and family is limited by human knowledge and often leaves us additionally burdened. When God speaks, even in discipline, there is the lifting of the soul. Every Word from the Almighty imparts life, blessing, and hope; its sharpness surgical not blunt, its effect freedom not incarceration. Anxiety weighs down one’s soul, but things spoken by the Lord of Hope cause my heart to float above the storm. Gracious Father, Your Word pronounces ascent. My cup overflows, it is well with my soul. Selah!

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour,” 1 Peter 5:8 ESV. The lion doesn’t roar while stalking his prey, he uses stealth. I once saw a large log silently float by in the middle of a river; most of its bulk was suspended silently below the surface. It struck me that even something as docile and inert as a fallen tree can be deadly in certain circumstances. As I offered a prayer for passing boaters the question came to mind: “How many seemingly harmless things float just below the surface in my life that I cannot see?” Lord God, Captain of My Soul, expose those things within me and around me that are harmful and clear them away. Remove from my heart every hidden peril and use me to bring safe passage and blessing to others. 

“The   Lord   is   my strength and my shield;   My heart   trusted in Him, and I am helped;   Therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him,” Psalm 27:7-8 ESV.  Flying over the Sahara Desert, the world’s largest at 3.3 million square miles, is an amazing and daunting sight. It seems to go on forever, but every desert has its boundaries, every ocean has its shores and every storm it's ending. Likewise, every trial we experience in this life has its limits, no adversity can go on forever. While trudging through, it may feel like difficulties are limitless, but they cannot extend beyond God’s sovereign authority. His love and provision are inexhaustible, carrying us beyond limits “on eagle’s wings ”.   He accompanies us through each moment of every trial, and the rewards of trust and faithfulness are both ever-present and never-ending. Father, Your goodness and mercy accompany my journey ,   and Your   mercy   is limitless! 

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for  in due season   we will reap, if we do not give up,” Galatians 6:9 (ESV). Frankly, I often resent the time it takes to accomplish things, but we are warned to, “not become weary”. “Due season” is a God-ordained moment; it can’t be rushed, but it can be missed. Many years ago, while living in Costa Rica, we participated in a very unusual outreach. We hosted Tino and Olinka Wallenda as they performed an incredible stunt, walking between two of San Jose’s tallest buildings on a high-wire and sitting on a delicately balanced chair while preaching the gospel to thousands of amazed observers below. It took weeks of preparation to perform for just a few short minutes, but many came to salvation that day. LORD God, time is in Your hands. Forgive my impetuousness. Grant me the grace to accept Your choices and pace. 

“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me,’” Isaiah 6:8 ESV. In every generation and in every arena of life there are those who make a huge difference. I’ve met quite a number of world-changers over a lifetime. I’ve met great political leaders, military heroes, world-class moms and dads, great scientists, and industry leaders, and spiritual giants. What makes each of them so special? Intelligence? Courage? Luck? Perhaps, but what I have observed is that while others said: “someone should do something”, they said “I can, and must do something”. World-changers are formed one sacrificial step at a time, followed by another, and another, and another. The starting point is a “here am I, send me” attitude and a “get started, don’t quit” commitment. LORD, though my flesh has grown older my heart is still willing. Send me as You will. 

Today, I will watch a movie or two about war. They usually move me to tears. I'm a Baby Boomer, having been born merely nine years after the six-year “Second World War” ended. My youth was spent among an adult generation that had endured multiple World Wars. From the time I turned one-year-old until I was fifteen-years-old, the Indo-Chinese War (Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam) raged on. Over 100 million people were killed during those years. Everyone I met during my entire childhood had lost someone dear to them. Every home had fading photos displayed of those who had perished. They are often referred to as: “The Greatest Generation”. There was a soberness and strength of character, I could recognize even as a child.   I’ve always been drawn to watch the many shows and the multitude of movies that attempt to capture what war means to nations, families, and individuals. It is not an admiration of war that draws me in. Rather, it is the pain of sacrifice that individuals, families,

“Do not be like the horse  or  like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.” Psalm 32:9 NKJV. As big, beautiful, and strong as horses are, they are highly susceptible to panic. Horses have a natural “fight or flight response” that serves them well in the wild, but it can also be dangerous for them and others. I too, panic sometimes, but a life bridled by God’s leading hand will always turn us in the right direction. I am bridled and comforted by His perfect love, expunging fear from my soul. Hope and faith are the constant companions of those who trust God. Lord of Life, You set the captive free and set our feet dancing on the hilltops. Make Your Love my constant guide and use me for Your purposes. Bridle my heart, mind, and choices today, and may my ways always be wise and pleasing to You.   

“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. We typically associate patience with our self-control, time-tolerance, and composure while waiting for something; the focus being on us. One of the common Biblical Hebrew words for “patience” is “SAVLANUT.” Its meaning is rooted in the understanding that God is present in every moment. It’s less about how we deal with waiting and is 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 hast

“By wisdom, a house is built, and by understanding it is established,” Proverbs 24:3 (ESV). Great news, but how do we distinguish godly wisdom from human knowledge? James 3:17-18 reveals both the characteristics and order of priorities within wisdom: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincerity. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” First in line? Purity…pure love, pure motives, and taintless sincerity. Great counsel delivered or received with wrong motives will never bring the intended results. However, even difficult-to-receive counsel is welcomed when delivered with a purity of motives, gently and mercifully delivered, and embodied in God’s peace. LORD, may I walk in Your wisdom. May my counsel to others always epitomize Your purity of heart, Your grace, and Your goodwill. 

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it,” Psalm 118:24 ESV. I must recalibrate my heart to God’s promises each new day. Some days start out more difficult than others. Yesterday’s leftovers are already crowding into today, but I am perfectly positioned for things to improve. No, not just get a little better, all things will turn out for my good! In Romans 8:28 we read: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” The LORD I seek to love loved me first! He has already prepared my path ahead to victory. Joy unspeakable now bubbles up from my inmost being as I turn my thoughts and praise to Him in Whom I live and move and have my being. My weaknesses and challenges are now the stages upon which His Divine Goodness can be on full display. I have no inward conflict in boldly declaring: “Bless the Lord oh my soul!” Father, I am nothing without You, but limitless within Yo

“Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also,” Genesis 1:16 NKJV. The Sun is a daily demonstration of God’s amazing power, its benefits offered freely to all. Clouds may temporarily obscure its presence, and earth’s daily rotation makes it seem to come and go, but in fact, it is always there. Its power is never diminished, and its presence is never withdrawn. God, in His consummate Wisdom, created something necessary for life and made it equally a sign of remembrance of His unmitigated Power and constant Presence. He who slung the stars in place is always near whether we acknowledge Him or not. Wondrous God and Father, again, I fall to my knees, face to the ground, and praise in my heart. You are Perfectly Glorious in all Your ways. Your beauty is beyond description and Your supremacy beyond compare. 

In Nehemiah 8:10 ESV we are told: “And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” That’s it, I'm dumping human happiness for something far better, “The Joy of the LORD!” Human happiness is mostly rooted in earthly circumstances. It is temporal; coming and going with ebbs and flows like tidal waters. Over a lifetime we learn to anticipate its departure soon after its arrival since we know that circumstances never stay the same. The Joy of the Lord, however, is very different. Unlike circumstantial happiness, the Joy of God sticks and grows since it is rooted in the Eternal One Himself. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full,” John 15:11 NKJV. God’s Joy is not frivolous giddiness; instead, it brings deep gladness, exquisite blessing, and is loaded with extras. Lord, I love Your Joy, no cheap substitute will suffice. 

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to  His  purpose,” Romans 8:28. All things? Yes, to those who know and trust His perfect and perfecting love. To the stubborn and hard-hearted, God will show mercy, but that person will probably keep seeing the same scenery over and over. Circumstances cannot be transformed into our desired design by railing against them or blaming others. What is most needed is for me to change instead of focusing on the state of affairs surrounding me. In fact, I have come to realize that God arranges custom-designed “fixes” (southern vernacular for “difficult circumstances”) through which something in me gets fixed. As the saying goes, “God fixed a fix to fix me”. LORD, open my eyes and heart to the lessons each moment provides. I trust Your Goodness and guiding hand. 

“The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing,” Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV. What a powerful passage, especially in the midst of a worldwide pandemic pause! I must admit, one of the benefits that I’ve experienced during this shutdown is the blessedness of quietness. We live in a complex with 900 apartments. It’s usually bustling with the constant movement of people, cars, dogs, and delivery trucks, but now, mostly just quietness. In moments of frustration with the pace of these slowly passing days, The Mighty One has quieted me with his love. Another passage from Psalm 46 has become more alive to my heart, “Be still, and know that I am God.” O LORD My Shepherd, thank you for settling me down with Your peace. Help me not miss a thing You are saying or doing in this long pause. 

“If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen,” 1 John 4:20 ESV. Wow! The apostle John’s words hit with searing simplicity. Cain’s treatment of his brother Abel ultimately defined his relationship with God. My treatment of my “brothers and sisters” determines the depth of my relationship with God. There is no room for arrogance, prejudice, or judgmentalism in this divinely established arrangement. The parable of the “prodigal son” is as much about the self-centered “elder brother” as it is about the wayward son. Many strive so hard to be “righteous” yet turn out to have a worse character in the eyes of God than those who wholly depend upon His mercy and grace. Selah. LORD, have mercy on me. In Your goodness and lovingkindness, purify my heart from any and all hatred toward others. 

“He must increase, but I must decrease,” John 3:30 (ESV). Jesus’ simple words stand in stark contrast to the spirit of this world, especially in the self-aggrandizing culture of today’s modern culture. But self-generated humility simply will not work since it is nothing more than another form of seething pride. Notice the biblical order set by this passage, it does not begin by decreasing self, it begins by INCREASING HIM! The more God is genuinely exalted in and through our lives, the less our pride gets in the way. Don’t get me wrong, we can even fall into the trap of spiritual pride that comes from taking credit for how much God is exalted through us. I have many times. LORD, cleanse my soul of human pride. Show me how I may lift you higher with genuine humility. O Glorious One, You must increase, I must decrease. 

“No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him,” 2 Timothy 2:4 ESV. High-level strategic planning and oversight from our Commander in Chief is critical to victory, but wars are not won at Headquarters, wars are won on the battlefield. The soldier’s heart and mind cannot be on civilian affairs or on future dreams. Battlefield victory is achieved when each soldier is WHERE they are assigned, WHEN they are scheduled to be there and with the preparation, needed resources and personal commitment to finish the fight. The LORD has assigned each of us to our position in this spiritual battle for souls. He has prepared us for our individual roles and armed us for what is ahead. LORD I await Your order to hold position or advance on the enemy as You command. 

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, God commands: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Thankfulness is a power move against all attacks of the enemy. Gratitude magnifies the Alpha & Omega instead of our passing circumstances. Thankfulness comes to mind fairly easily for me, but all too often, it is my second response instead of my first. A battle I regularly face when it comes to gratitude is that even when I feel it, it can easily morph into another version of my incessant need to be comfortable. But today I awake with bona fide gratitude; for my amazing wife and family, friends both old-and-new, powerful victories, redeemed defeats, needed lessons, still waters, tall mountains, blue skies, and stormy passages alike. Father, You are good beyond earthly comprehension , and Your mercies endure forever! My heart overflows with thankfulness for Your Goodness and Grace.

“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable,” Psalm 145:3 NKJV. The troubles of this life can pile up quickly, temporarily blocking my view of the greatness of God. Yet, just one speck of tearful surrender to the LORD Almighty sends towering troubles tumbling down for no matter the fierceness of invading darkness, the LORD Our Light is GREATER STILL! When hoards of hatred surround us from the towering heights the weakest cry to the heavens scatters our foes to the four winds, for The LORD Our High Tower is GREATER STILL! Whatever may come and whatever its force it cannot prevail, for the LORD Our Victor is GREATER STILL! My Lord and King, mere moments contemplating Your Greatness lifts me above the fray. I now face this new day with renewed strength for the battle. In Your Relentless Mercy, You have again poured out Your love, for You are always GREATER STILL! 

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour,” 1 Peter 5:8 NKJV. And 1 Timothy 3:7 warns of “the devil’s trap.” Successful trapping begins with understanding the needs and habits of the intended prey. This includes knowing where the prey seeks sustenance, providing the right bait, and properly placing and setting the trap. Satan uses the same methods to get us trapped in wrongdoing. The Evil One’s deceptions are made to look interesting and inviting, not threatening. Deception never looks like the path to a deathtrap, rather it appears like a trail of breadcrumbs to something pleasant and fulfilling. 1 Peter 5:9 commands, “Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” LORD, give me discernment, vigilance, and confidence in my daily battles. I am “more than a conqueror” through YOUR LOVE! 

“But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’” Romans 9:20 ESV. I sometimes fall into the trap of personal comparisons, wondering why others seem to have an easier path to spirituality than I. But this passage snaps me back in place. First of all, why would I question my Heavenly Maker’s handiwork or wisdom? Secondly, I never really know another person’s inner struggles, and Thirdly, since I do not know the end game, who am I to try to predict what I should be like. False comparisons are useless, even dangerous! I can be inspired by others, but not their duplicate. I will never be like anyone else; even of those I admire and consider so spiritual. In the final analysis, I must trust my Father’s wisdom. LORD, forgive my insolence. I trust Your handiwork and know I am Yours. 

“For you were straying like sheep but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls,” 1 Peter 2:25 ESV. I’ve done a lot of walking in cities around the world and have made many interesting discoveries. But I have also learned the hard way that it can be very dangerous to stray into the wrong neighborhood. There is plenty of evil in this world that finds us, even when we are making wise choices, so why would we make ourselves easy targets? The wonderful gift of inquisitiveness, which motivates a child to learn, leads to medical discoveries, and motivates space exploration, can also be perilous. Curiosity, under the guidance of godly wisdom, is a gift from our Maker, but when influenced by spirits of darkness, it can be deadly. Almighty Father of Wisdom and Blessings keep my curiosity under Your control and guide my steps in the path of life. 

“The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork,” Psalm 19:1 NKJV. One glance upward into a clear, starry night immediately puts things into perspective; both our troubles and our achievements, no matter how colossal, are minuscule in comparison to God’s greatness. While engulfed in the daily grind of needs and responsibilities a heavenly perspective can easily be lost. Like the psalmist, I must remind myself to take regular glances toward the heavens in prayerful thought and praise of the Almighty. Even a mere moment in a meditation of God’s power elevates my faith and my trust in the Omnipotent One. A twinkling of soulful surrender to His Will, His Ways, and His Goodness lifts my heart to the heights of heaven! Majestic LORD, King of the Universe, to You be praise in all things! Grant divine perspective to my heart as I turn my eyes toward You. 

“But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint,” Isaiah 40:31 NKJV. The Hebrew word for “wait” here is “Qavah” which is translated “to tie together by twisting, to entwine, or to wrap tightly". When I’m waiting on the LORD I may feel impatient, disappointed, or confused, but what is actually happening is that my will is being tangled up with God’s Will. My own sense of timing is being entwined with His Sovereign Timing. My thoughts are being wrapped tightly with His Holy Thoughts. Waiting on the LORD is not passive, it is transformational! The wait is not my enemy, it is my “boot camp training” and “officer candidate school” for my assignments and missions ahead. LORD of the Harvest, keep me calm and steady in the delays. My future is safely in Your trusted Hand. 

“So, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory,” 1 Corinthians 15:4 KJV. It is possible to lose a battle but win the war. I have watched loved ones slip into eternity surrounded by friends, family, and medical professionals fighting with all their might to keep them on this side of the veil. It seems like a tragic for sure, but for the believer, this is not the end of the story, only a turning of the page. Battles for success in marriages, friendships, businesses, ministries, and every other worthy pursuit can end in what appears like sure defeat. But Our LORD turns every loss into wins for those who live in surrender to Him. Holy Father, I am so thankful for those holy moments in which defeat is “swallowed up in victory”. You shelter our souls and turn our mourning into joyful dancing! 

“On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side,’” Mark 4:35 ESV. Jesus left the multitudes on the peaceful shore and took His disciples into the storm. The apostle Paul was taken prisoner and into the storm. In each case, a miracle followed, not AFTER the storm but IN the storm. Some storms are spiritual, some emotional, some physical, and many are the storms of others. There are private storms, cultural storms, political storms, doctrinal storms, church storms, and on and on it goes. But one thing they all have in common, there is no storm to which Jesus cannot command: “Peace, be still!” There is no storm in which I cannot take the Savior’s hand and walk with Him on top of the tempest! LORD, my prayer is that of the psalmist: “From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” So be it. 

“Behold,   I am with you wherever you go," Genesis 28:15 ESV. Raising children grants many insights into spiritual development. While navigating our small children through danger zones such as a busy parking lot or crossing a street I would say: “hold dad’s hand tightly”, but wise parents do not depend upon the strength of their child’s handhold. Instead, we wrap our hands around theirs with a vice grip. It is incredibly comforting to know that I still depend upon the firm grasp of my Heavenly Father's hand. His grip on me is much firmer than my grip on Him. His Word clutches the strings of my heart. His Will clings to my own. I cannot simply pull away on a whim. At times I struggle against His embrace, only to be pulled-in tighter by His Holy Hand. Father, You are the “The Lord my Keeper”, thank You for Your encircling love. Your love has no limits and Your grasp is my constant rescue.

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us,” 1 John 5:14 NKJV. There are several spiritual principles buried within this short passage. Powerful prayer begins with “confidence in Him”. God is good. He is our Maker, our Father. And we can ask Him “anything”, but He only answers “according to His will”. The most important promise in this passage is that “He hears us”. He hears us as only Our Father can; He hears our hearts, our feelings, our confusions, our doubts, our needs, and our desires. My “confidence in Him” is that He is good, He is Almighty, and He “hears” me like no other. I should never doubt His answers, His delays, His promptings, or His will. LORD, you are good, and Your ways are above reproach. Teach me to pray according to Your will. Cleanse my desires and grant me the willingness to wait patiently and trust completely. 

“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory,” 2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV.  I’ve often heard: “Expect the unexpected,” or “Expect good things to happen,” but genuine faith is based on a much sturdier foundation than mere expectation. God says “YES” through His promises and we say “AMEN” by our belief in what He said, followed by our actions. Faith is rooted in the hope that is activated by God’s promises. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,” Hebrews 11:1 KJV. So, what are the keys to a life of faith? Surrendering my thoughts and opinions to God by reading His Word with an open heart and aligning what I say and do with His promises. Lord, I believe Your Word. Renew my mind and teach me how to live according to Your commands and promises.