COFFEE ON THE DOCK

“For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous,” Romans 5:19 ESV. To the same extent that Adam’s sin condemned all mankind, the obedience of Jesus made all who put their trust In Him righteous. Sin is our downfall, but God “ raised   us up   with   him   and seated us   with   him   in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus .” Ephesians 2:6 ESV. By the grace of God, I’ve been escorted into some very amazing places. But I was not allowed in because of who I am personally, I was allowed in because of who I was with. Yet, the greatest gate that still awaits my arrival is the entry into heaven. I will enter it, but again, not because of who I am, but because of who I am with. WITH HIM, BY HIM, THROUGH HIM, such powerful words, such wonderful blessings, such glorious promises! LORD, You are so good! 

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you,” Matthew 6:33 ESV. How much of what we chase in life after is rooted in wanting what seems to mean so much to others? There is little doubt the aspirations of those around us influence us to want what they want. This can be a positive motivator, but more often than not it is a fountainhead of sorrow. A much better pattern for our lives is a relentless pursuit of what pleases God. To push aside copying others and to passionately pursue what pleases God is a wellspring of true joy. Perhaps this is what the Apostle Paul described in 1 Corinthians 15:31 with the simple but powerful statement: “I die daily”. For me, this is the battle; daily abdication of my own desires and humble submission to His. LORD, teach me to surrender every earthly appetite to You alone. Help me to pattern my life according to Your will. 

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding,” Proverbs 4:7 ESV. We are living in the “Information Age”. Never before has so much knowledge been so accessible to so many. Unfortunately, the increase of information does little to positively change my spiritual condition. All the knowledge in the world accomplishes nothing without God’s wisdom. Knowledge without wisdom is useless, even dangerous. Wisdom is a spiritual gift; it is the revelation of knowledge, the proper use of what we know. What I need more than information is the moral clarity and the courage to apply what I know in God’s way and in His timing. This kind of understanding comes from God alone. Oh God, My Creator, without Your Divine Spark, without Your Wisdom, knowledge is useless. Align my heart to Your Word, Your Will and Your Ways in all things. 

“Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the  Lord ,” Genesis 19:27 (ESV). I too, find that going to the place I stand before the LORD instead of thinking of what is ahead is the best way to begin my day. “O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch,” Psalm 5:6 (ESV).  Each new day quickly fills with yesterday’s leftovers, today’s demands, and tomorrow’s concerns, but David had learned by experience, God first, that’s it.  Why delay? Like a road trip, starting late means additional traffic. Prayerful meditations do not belong bumper to bumper on a crowded freeway, the cares of this world cutting into holy space. Other things can wait. Dear Shepherd and King of My Soul, early will I seek You. Help me set aside encroaching thoughts and concerns that I may seek You first and always. 

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man   in our image, after our likeness.’” Genesis 1:26 ESV. I have often marveled at the instinctive creativity of a small child. A stick in the hand is easily reimagined into a ship hurtling through space, a simple flower into a royal wedding bouquet, a quarter becomes a million dollars, and so it goes on and on. This creativity is wired in our souls by our Creator, we were created to be like Him. The effect of sin is to turn this wonderful creativity stamped upon our soul by the Creator Himself into craftiness for doing wrong. As pride and selfishness grow, creativity is repurposed and used to devise ingenious ways of deceit and wrongdoing. The only corrective for this is to return our creativity to its original purpose; to use it for good instead of evil. Holy Father, turn my instinctive ingenuity into creative ways to spread Your love to others. 

“ But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere,” 2 Corinthians 2:14. In this verse, we learn that our lives spread the fragrance of Christ! It is a delightful mystery how an aroma can transport me to a different place. A passing scent can return me to my great grandmother’s kitchen when I was but a child. A fragrance can awaken a lost memory long forgotten. An aroma can even activate an emotion that I did not know I held in secret. To think that my life can spread the “fragrance of the Knowledge of Him” just by showing up and allowing the love of Christ to flow freely from my life is a wondrous, and glorious thought. For the backslider, the scent of our Savior upon us can awaken a desire for lost spiritual ground. For the unbeliever, a whiff of the Giver of Life can pull them to a previously unknown hunger for something more. LORD, pour out the fragrance of heaven upon me to...

Psalm 119:133 “Direct my steps by Your Word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.” Like most people, I have stumbled on stairs plenty of times over a lifetime. Though I was often reminded by others, I am not sure why it took me so long to recognize the value of handrails. It’s not that I had never been instructed, I just thought they were for others, not me. I still forget sometimes but it only takes the slightest slip to send me reaching for the rail’s stabilizing safety. Actually, my whole life requires equilibrium and boundaries each and every day. David’s prayer in Psalm 116:8 expresses why I am confident this new day: “For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling.” God, in His immense goodness, provides the handrails of His Word and Spirit to keep me safe from foolhardy ways. And as with all handrails, I must hold onto the Word and Spirit each and every step, not waiting until I’m already falling. Father of All Me...

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another,” Galatians 5:13 ESV. Our freedom is Christ is the freedom to love, freedom to serve, freedom from selfishness, and most importantly, freedom from needing to be the center of attention. While I still must continually push back against self-centeredness, I’ve found the battle to be less intense as I’ve spiritually matured. True freedom is an inward reality as opposed to an outward acknowledgment from others. I’m not free when others know it, I’m free when I know it, believe it, and express it in my actions toward the world around me. Again, our “freedom in Christ” is most clearly manifest when we are serving others. Glorious God, and Father, carry me farther down the path of servanthood. Thank you for allowing our partnership with You. 

  “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day”, 2 Peter 3:8 ESV. Though small children have plenty of time on their hands they still must learn to wait. Nothing seems to put their little souls to the test more than having to delay something they want right now. A long road trip is especially hard for them to get their minds around and is usually repeatedly peppered with the question: “Are we there yet?” Actually, we never quite seem to grow up in this regard; patience with God’s pace is still an issue for me. His timing is perfect so I must learn to not bail out before His chosen time of arrival. I must also resist the temptation to interpret the delay as a sign God doesn’t want me to do something. Heavenly Father teach me the difference between “No” and “Not Yet”. Grant me grace for the journey and help me not miss the lessons in the detours. 

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap,” Galatians 6:7 ESV. God is never taken-in by my words, no matter how sincere they seem to me. Frankly, nor am I, for I too, must see follow-through in my own actions to genuinely believe in what I say. Often, I’ve been at that divine tipping point where intent teetered toward sincerity, only then to lean back toward selfish contentment and to again settle for spiritual complacency. But God will not abandon me to the squalor of begging from a barren heart. He is intent on teaching His children to abide in the blessings of their Heavenly Father. 1 John 3:18 points the way, “let us not love in word or in tongue but in deeds, and in truth.” LORD, You lovingly rock my world every time I fall into the trap of contentment. Thank You Father for provoking me to lay hold of that for which You hold took hold of me.

“Be strong in the LORD and in the strength of his might,”  Ephesians 6:10 ESV. There are many forms of human strength. There is mental strength, physical strength, personality strength, and many more types. But even possessing every human strength in full measure is not a substitute for God’s Strength. His Might over every force of darkness and His Power to provide, bless, heal, encourage, lift, enlighten, love, and overcome has brought me through more times than I can recount. There’s no God like Jehovah! There’s no power that can stand against Him. There’s no hope without him. Being “strong in the LORD” requires being “IN the LORD”. This is not a casual, distant relationship. It is “Christ IN US”, and “US IN HIM”! LORD, in Your grace, make it so. Deliver me from stubborn resistance to Your eternal ways and help me relax under the shadow of Your wing. 

“Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” Matthew 18:21-22. It is impossible to think myself out of offenses. Actually, the opposite is true. The more I mull them over and discuss them with others the more indignant I become. Our fuming deliberations only deepen the pain, entrenching us in sullen exasperation and excessive defensiveness. Forgiveness is the key to turning our sorrows into joy since it places the situation into God’s hands instead of our own; letting go of the wheel is the only sure path to the right destination. O Lord My Keeper, into Your hands I commit my heartbreaks and disappointments. Keep me out of the way of Your divine work so that Your Wisdom and Mercy may prevail, and my heart and hands may be clean. 

“He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature,” 1 Peter 1:4 ESV. I’m often told that I am an optimistic person. While I appreciate the intended compliments, in fact, optimism is a feeble substitute for trusting God based upon His written promises. It’s not simply optimism, it is bedrock belief in the integrity of Scripture, knowing that “for those who love God all things work together for good,   for those who are called according to his purpose,” Romans 8:28 ESV. God’s got this, whatever “THIS” is!! When doubts and fears arise, ultimately, I am roused to my senses by an indisputable fact: Jesus IS LORD of all and as His child I fall under His care. My God & my Strength, You alone are the High and Lofty One. May I never place hope in anything but You my Lord, my Hope. 

“I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is   vanity and grasping for the wind,” Ecclesiastes 1:14 NKJV. Watching a dog chase its tail is comical. It makes me wonder if he actually catches it, will he be happy with his prize or will he regret it?     But when people chase after empty pursuits it is not funny at all. We each spend time considering what we want and how we will attain it. Unfortunately, we make little effort to understand “WHY” we want it in the first place. Too often, after obtaining long-sought goals, our accomplishments leave us exhausted and disappointed. Discerning the “WHY” before the start of the chase can deliver us from the wrong quests. Lord, help me truthfully discern my desires. Cleanse me of mixed motives and keep me from running headlong down empty trails. 

“And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose,” Romans 8:28 ESV. Gladness is easier to embrace than letdowns yet both have enduring value if I have the right perspective. Frankly, the multitude of unrelenting challenges life brings has done more to strengthen my character and soften my heart than the many joys I have known. The magnitude, multitude, and frequency of problems press me deeper into God’s hands. While I certainly do not prefer additional difficulties, I realize they come whether invited or not.     This is another powerful reason to live a life driven by godly purpose instead of the pursuit of our own desires. Father, keep me from the snare of my own preferences. LORD, whatever may come, You make all things well and turn my sorrows into dancing. 

“For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the Lord, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink,” Isaiah 32:6 ESV.  A simple definition of a fool from a biblical perspective is a person who does not believe in God: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Psalm 14:1 ESV.     Another type of fool is someone who rejects His divine knowledge and authority: “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion” Proverbs 18:2 ESV. Every person has the choice to be as wise as they should be or foolish as they want to be. However, to choose to be a fool is to choose the way of those who are perishing. So how can I be wise? “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him,” James 1:5 ESV. 

“For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you not to   think   of himself more   highly   than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned,” Philippians 2:3 ESV . When we are offered opportunities to do amazing things in this life, we must keep one thing in mind, these privileged moments are for the Glory of God, and not our own. Pride is a constant issue in our human condition on this earth, but as citizens of Heaven, we must renounce arrogance of any sort. My attention must be steadily focused upon glorifying God and lifting others, not self-glorification. Father, thank You for the amazing places to which You have granted entrance FOR ME. LORD, there is none like You. You alone deserve our highest praise. Help me keep my eyes continually upon You. 

“You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations,” Psalm 77:14 ESV. I awoke to another beautiful sunrise, today. Each day it is different, yet each sunrise is magnificent.  That God is a Master Artist and Architect is beyond dispute. When I consider the incredible beauty of nature, the combinations of colors and textures with which He strokes the earth and sky, and His use of light, shadows, and darkness I am overwhelmed with praise. There are not enough words to describe His exquisite work. He spins the worlds in His hands and slings the stars in their places, yet misses not one single detail, no matter the size. How comforting it is to know that it is the very same Grand Master who created the world that is working in me and through me! Lord, I trust Your brilliant creativity and Your steady hand. I humbly offer my life as Your canvas. 

I was at a local retreat center praying with a group of pastors when the North Tower of the World Trade Center was struck at 8:46 a.m., 9/11/2001.     Within minutes someone rolled a TV into the room and we sat in mesmerized horror, watching and wondering what it all meant. As we were silently taking in the events unfolding in Manhattan another plane crashed into the South Tower. I immediately stood and said to the pastors: “gentlemen, captains need to be on the bridge at times like these”, so we all packed our bags and headed to our respective churches. While I was driving to my church two additional planes were crashed in D.C. and Pennsylvania. Praying for wisdom as I walked into our offices, it came to me, “ those who know little of God’s love and supremacy will live in a constant state of fear” . Lord, Your Sovereignty will always prevail. Though horrible things happen, You deliver us from fear. Even in the worst of moments, Your Sovereign Hand is on the wheel. Captai...

“But they say, ‘That is in vain! We will follow our own plans and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart” Jeremiah 18:12 (ESV. What are the signs of a hardening heart? There are many, such as indifference to spiritual issues, prayerlessness, and refusal to listen to God or obey His promptings. A heart beginning to crust over is far more comfortable around people filled with spiritual cynicism than with those of spiritual hunger. Spiritual minimalism becomes the habit of those slipping away, choosing the least confronting forms of worship. The most ominous sign of hardening is when we cut ourselves off from fellowship with passionate believers, seeking rather to constantly associate with those of little or no genuine faith. O Lord My Creator, You formed me for Your will. Keep me stirred and pliable; work me over like moldable clay. Thank you for the power of fellowship and the witness of burning hearts.   

“And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him,” Mark 14:35 ESV. Each heart knows its own bitterness, its own fears, its own self-doubts, and its own solitary path; though others may wish to accompany you, no one else can enter this private space. Likewise, no one else can fully share your soul’s deepest joys, its inexplicable peace, or its moments of irrepressible victory. In both bad times and good times, there are very private moments where we yearn to invite others, but they cannot join us; these are times of single space passageway where no others may tread. These are the precious occasions of life when there is only God, The LORD alone can walk with you there. In fact, He is waiting for you there. Almighty Father, I am never alone or without recourse; You, O LORD, are the ever-present Shepherd of My Soul. 

" Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you,” Luke 6:38 (NKJV). A farmer cannot control how weather will affect his future crops, but it is guaranteed that if no seed is put into the ground, no harvest will come forth. Everything in my hand is a seed; my time, my talents and my treasures. The future can’t be controlled, nor need it be feared. The seed I put in the ground today is the best forecast of what is ahead. Everything I sow or don’t sow today affects my future. He who has given me this moment also holds all my tomorrows in His Mighty Hands. Lord of All, You are rightly praised by all creation. Grant me grace to sow the right seed today and confidently trust Your daily guidance, provision and sheltering right arm. You are my refuge today and hope for all eternity. 

“ For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.   For the   weapons of   our warfare are not of the flesh but have   divine power   to destroy strongholds,”  2 Corinthians 10:3-4 ESV. I live in a moment-by-moment spiritual battle. I wish I could say it was solely a five-star, gallant fight against dark forces in high places, but frankly, it feels less noble than that. While it is, in fact, a spiritual battle of the highest importance, my biggest battles are mostly within and fiercely waged against my own self-centeredness, self-indulgence, and self-interests. Though I am sincerely God’s servant and have pledged my allegiance to the King of Kings, the enemy’s minions are always insidiously present, lurking within the shadows and targeting my weakness. Shepherd of My Soul, My LORD, and Commander, thank You for sending relentless conviction and unending mercy; by Your unlimited grace and constant help, final victory is assured....

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed,” Mark 1:35 ESV. Every time I read this verse, I think about how often my most sincere prayers are offered to God from “a desolate place”. Not a physically desolate place, as described in the passage, but a place of desolation in my soul. Frankly, my best prayers are usually prayed when I am desperate. I truly admire those whose prayer life is a peaceful, sweet place of worship and fellowship with God, and I’m thankful to have those moments as well. But I’ve also come to truly love and highly value those raw, intense moments of prayer in a desolate place. LORD God, You are wise beyond describing, creating each of us with unique needs and unique grace. I praise You and desire to know Your ways more and more.

Another day has dawned. How will it all unfold? Am I prepared for it? Will I have what it takes? So, I will now turn to God’s Word in preparation for what is ahead: John 1:3 assures me that both I and this new day were made by Him, “All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made” (KJV). So what must I do? Acts 17:28 reveals “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being,” (KJV). Like a fish in water, my breath, my movement, my sustenance, my very being is formed and dwells within my Creator and LORD. I cannot do anything without Him, but in Philippians 4:13 I am assured that “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (NKJV). Well…that just about sums it up; “BY HIM, IN HIM, THROUGH HIM”. Yes, LORD, You’ve definitely got this! Therefore, so do I! Let’s roll.

“You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness,” Exodus 23:1 ESV. Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph, then falsely accused him of attempted rape after he refused to have sex with her. Potiphar believed her false report and Joseph was imprisoned. Once anger is aroused truth becomes irrelevant to those with malice in their hearts. Two years later, Joseph is miraculously put into the second most powerful role in Egypt. Sadly, Potiphar, who had been so blessed with Joseph’s presence in his household, is never mentioned again; lies cut both ways. The lesson here is sobering, lying, and believing unsubstantiated lies strip away our blessings and set us aside from usefulness in the Kingdom, whereas, steady faithfulness delivers us from traps of the enemy and qualifies us for greater things. LORD of Truth, in Your mercy, put Your coals of fire to my ears and mouth. 

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart,” Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV. Each new day, the sands of time seem to be pouring through the hourglass faster and faster. Perhaps it is simply because I am getting older, or it could be as many believe, that we are in the climax of God’s eternal plan in the earth. Scripture reminds us to  live in a manner that is “redeeming the time, because the days are evil,” Ephesians 5:16 NKJV. Talents, treasures, and time are gifts from the Almighty to be invested wisely, I want to live and act in a manner that is most effective. To live with a sense of divine purpose is to truly live! Heavenly Father, Giver of Life, thrust me full speed into the race. Open doors of opportunity for me to make a difference and give me the courage to steward my life accordingly. 

“O God You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory,” Psalm 63:1-2 (NKJV). The daybreak is very quiet. God’s whispers seem more easily heard in the gentle rollout of a new day. Soon the world awakens and the still of dawn is lost in the cacophony of life. An indispensable characteristic of the God-directed life is seeking, hearing, and obeying the voice of God. So, I push away the rushing horde of things this new day brings and remember Jesus’ words to Mary as she sat at the Master’s feet, while others complained. Jesus said: “ but one thing is necessary, Mary has chosen   the good portion, which will not be taken away from her,”   Luke 10:42 ESV. Dearest Lord of Life, early and often will I seek You. Thank You for the blessedness of sitting at Your feet. Teach me to hear accurately and obey swif...

“Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor,” Proverbs 22:9 ESV. The opposite of a “bountiful eye” is the eye that only sees what it desires. The selfish heart sees giving as a necessity instead of an honor and blessing.  In 1 Chronicle 29:14 we see King David’s heart and learn the key to generosity: “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to GIVE AS GENEROUSLY as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” Like David, we must recognize that everything comes FROM GOD and everything belongs TO GOD. Giving is one of the principal ways that God promotes us into sonship and partnership with Him. Giving is evidence of our royal position at the side of our King and Savior. LORD, thank You for Your daily provision and use me to be Your hand extended to others.