COFFEE ON THE DOCK

“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction,” Isaiah 48:10 ESV. On my very first trip into the Soviet Union during the Cold War, I was surprised to find a bright little store in an otherwise drab and grey place. We were guided to a back alley by our taxi driver, who behaved as if he were revealing a Soviet State Secret. The small shop had magnificent porcelain pottery. I bought several pieces and carefully packed them for my trip back to America. Upon arrival back home, I opened my suitcase only to find that all but one piece was broken; they had not been sufficiently heated and hardened in the kiln. I do not like going through the furnace of trials life can bring, yet it is the “furnace of affliction” that strengthens me for what is next. Father, You are the Potter; I am the clay. Grant me grace for the furnace that I may have fortitude for the journey.

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved,” Psalm 55:22 ESV. As soon as I awaken each day, my mind is bombarded with unresolved problems; there is never a shortage of them. My first inclination is to share my troubles with others, yet I know from experience that this will only provide temporary relief at best and often leads to further disappointment. Turning to the wrong sources will only deepen my sorrows; so instead, I will cast my cares upon Him who cares for me like no one else can. I will throw myself headlong into the nail-scarred hands and rest in the knowledge that His love never fails. I will turn to the Comforter for counsel and feast on the promises of God’s Word. Lord, I yearn for Your consoling voice and towering wisdom. Instruct me from Your limitless knowledge and strengthen me with Your benevolent power. 

HIGH AS A KITE Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in,” Psalm 24:7 ESV. Watching a kite soaring high in the sky while still bound to earth got me thinking; the disciplines that at times tie me down are actually designed by God to lift me higher. Left to the wind alone a kite will fly but soon crash. The string that holds it back actually gives it lift as it is let out slowly, the updraft carrying it to dizzying heights. In the same manner, left to my own devices, I too, will crash. It is both the wisdom of God and the goodness of God to tie me to divinely designated restraints. Yet He sends daily fresh winds to my soul, reminding me I’m destined for above. Father, thank you for the commitments and responsibilities I sometimes resent. You created me to soar, and with Your binding hand and lifting breath, there are no limits as I cling to You  

Generally speaking, I am not so easily bamboozled. The great exception to this is my own self-generated excuses to NOT DO something I know I SHOULD DO but don’t want to. Sadly, I often find my internal arguments for non-action sufficient enough to do little or nothing to actually change my mind. Here, I must pause and give thanks to the Spirit of the Living God Who will not let me have my way without a fight. His constant and compelling promptings confront my self-deceptions and provoke me to change my ways. We learn in John 14:26 (ESV): “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you,”. Lord of Truth and Light, I am earnestly listening. Fall afresh upon me and pour your light into every   unsurrendered crevasse of my soul. Reverse the work of stubbornness in me and push me forward into those things that please You. 

“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 it is reflected upon its surface. 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. “Great calm!” I should not allow passing circumstances to constantly ruffle me. Instead, I must permit His abiding peace to calm my soul so that 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. 

“And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of one's possessions’,” Luke 12:15 ESV. Coveting is a pernicious and deceptive sin. It may begin as an innocent attraction, interest, or admiration, but it leads to destruction. In fact, covetousness is akin to worshiping a false God according to Colossians 3:5, “covetousness, which is idolatry”. Covetousness is a renunciation of trust in God’s divine care and leads us to believe no desire should ever be denied us, no matter how wrong. A covetous heart cannot love anyone purely but self. Thankfulness, on the other hand, leads us to the Light. A grateful heart opens the way to unlimited peace and inexhaustible love since it focuses on the Provider, not the provision. O Lord My Shepherd, cleanse my heart from earthly entanglements. Grant me a true love for You and others.

“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend,” Proverbs 27:5-6 ESV. Friendships bring pleasantness to one’s life in so many ways, but the greatest treasure is the earnest counsel that comes from a true comrade. The honest advice of a trusted friend lifts and blesses the soul. Earthly love always comes laden with human imperfections, yet when authentically offered, it has flashes of God’s amazing and perfect love. I’ve not always welcomed loving advice at the moment, but I can honestly say I am deeply indebted to those who love me enough to confront my blunders and wrongdoings. Heavenly Father, thank You for my friends. Each one reveals a facet of Your Glory. I especially thank You for those treasured friends who love so deeply that they will risk offering wise and unvarnished counsel. Help me be that kind of friend to others. 

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3 ESV. This lesson from Jesus not only points out hypocrisy; it also reveals a bit of his sense of humor. A “LOG” in your eye?! Funny. However, judging other people while lying to myself about my own spirituality are both very serious issues. Focusing on the faults of others while ignoring or hiding our own is dangerous and paralyzes our spiritual growth. Grigor Narekatsi offered a great picture of our human condition: “I lay open the grief of my soul, which is not totally dead to the world, but is not truly alive to God.” Good stuff. So, my attention must shift from needless and harmful comparisons and remain laser-focused on the man in the mirror. LORD, pull down every stronghold of falsehood in my soul. Awaken truth and light within me that I may be a beacon of hope for others. 

“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 ourselves 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, backed up by His unlimited resources! LORD, use me for Your Glory as You desire. 

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls,” Matthew 11:29 ESV. An approaching storm at sea can come so fast that there is no way to avoid it. Both Captain and crew are put to a test that can last for days on end. Growing weary in fights against these unrelenting tempests is a normal part of life on the seas. Exhaustion can be just as  hazardous  as the gale itself; making bad decisions increasingly becomes a dangerous potential. Dropping anchor to get some rest can be the only wise course of action. For the child of God, there is also rest in the storm that only our Heavenly Father can provide. I must cease from my own works to allow Him to do His Divine Work. The great hymn “My Hope Is Built” proclaims: “In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil.” Dearest  Father, Captain of My Soul, my anchor holds. I am at rest in Your Promises.  

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations,” Jeremiah 1:5 ESV. How comforting it is to know that I am no accident. We are each created with God’s purpose and forethought. With that in mind, I am particularly thankful for THIS day. God knew what I would need in life and so just two months to the day after I was born, another baby was born. My Sharon was designed and destined to be the most important person in my life. We finally met at age 16 and have been together ever since. She has brought abundant happiness to innumerable people around the world, but none more than I. Today is Sharon’s birthday. Happy Birthday My Love. LORD, lift up Your countenance upon Your special child Sharon and may You return to her heart Ten-fold the blessing she has been to so many others, and especially to me. 

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27 ESV. Miracles occur every single day. Personal consecration anticipates the wondrous works of God, so I must consecrate myself in preparation for the amazing things God will send my way. Should I wait for signs of something happening before making my necessary changes? Absolutely not! With God, all things are possible and all the time! So, I must stop and consider whether I am truly ready for a Divine Encounter. Lord God of Wonders and Might, I yield to Your will, Your ways, and Your timing. May my heart and mind expectantly prepare for Your Glory. Teach me to live with fervent readiness and in constant anticipation   of Your wondrous works. 

“And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the Lord, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them,” Ezekiel 10:19 ESV. The mighty works of God are beyond comprehension, measurement or explanation. My best attempts to give voice to His Greatness fall wildly short, being an inadequate introduction to mysteries far beyond human understanding. It is best, then to utilize words proclaimed in Scripture: “Lord You are great and greatly to be praised!” At the very mention of His Goodness, my soul sings and my mind swirls as I catch a glimpse of His Majesty, Wisdom and Power. O Lord, My Lord, You have set Your glory in the heavens and Your Majesty in all the earth. Help me cast aside lessor things that I may see more of You. 

“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones,” Proverbs 14:30 ESV. There is a razor-thin line between admiration and envy, making it dangerously easy to slip from one into the other. Respect and esteem can inspire us and provoke us to reach for greater heights in life, but when we cross over into personal comparisons, jealousy or judgmentalism, we become trapped in envy. Soon resentment moves in and if not dealt with, it just gets worse from there. Envy is nothing but unbelief, rooted in a lack of trust in God’s love and care, and fed by our own pouting pride. For me to be jealous of another person’s blessing is, in effect, to repudiate the Goodness of my Heavenly Father toward me. LORD, You are the Way, the Truth and the Giver of Life. Deliver me from mortal traps and help me trust Your work and ways without complaint. Blessed be Your Name. 

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27 ESV. Miracles occur every single day. Personal consecration anticipates the wondrous works of God, so I must consecrate myself in preparation for the amazing things God will send my way. Should I wait for signs of something happening before making my necessary changes? Absolutely not! With God, all things are possible and all the time! So, I must stop and consider whether I am truly ready for a Divine Encounter. Lord God of Wonders and Might, I yield to Your will, Your ways and Your timing. May my heart and mind expectantly prepare for Your Glory. Teach me to live with fervent readiness and in constant anticipation of Your wondrous works. 

“Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another,” Galatians 5:26 ESV. The human condition is so frail that the Galatian believers had to be warned to not become conceited. Spiritual pride can easily slip into our hearts when we compare ourselves with others. Also, the spiritual conceit we see in others can trigger spiritual insecurity in ourselves. In either case, conceit leads to problems for everyone and hinders spiritual progress. James 4:10 ESV has the prescription for the sickness of conceit: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” God desires us to spiritually grow and help others do the same, but unchecked conceit can stop the process of spiritual growth for everyone. LORD, deliver me from prideful conceit. Take me to the “Mirror of Your WORD” and show the truth. Cleanse me from every lingering stain of sinful pride. 

There is a divine-tension for the child of God who wants to please Him. We are commanded to “Go into all the world,” in Mark 16:15 ESV, yet warned “Do not be conformed to this world”, in Romans 12:2 ESV. These two commands lead to interpretive extremes. On the one hand, some run away from the world and act as if they are afraid to be in it. Others turn to worldliness as a life pattern. So how can we be “the   light  of  the   world” as stated in Matthew 5:14 ESV, yet not be worldly ourselves? Proverbs 2:11 ESV reveals the answer: “discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you". Like a fireman’s hazmat suit, discretion can protect us within a hazardous environment while empowering us to enter danger zones to fulfill our duty to help others. LORD help me walk in the world but not walk like the world. Grant me good discernment, discretion, and deliverance from evil while “overcoming evil with good”. 

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom,” 2 Corinthians 3:17. While it is absolutely true that the Holy Spirit is our Comforter, God’s comforting nearly always includes making me uncomfortable. Since complacency is my constant nemesis, God’s Spirit continually prods and cajoles me to move forward. Like the lame man at the Well of Bethesda, I sometimes camp out on the edge of hope but feel incapable of moving when the water is stirred. That is when the Holy Spirit, nudges, convicts, prompts and pushes me forward. Herein lies a fundamental spiritual principle: convenience, comfort and loafing are not the paths to spiritual growth. Father, thankfully, Your love propels me ahead. I welcome Your holy nudges, even when it is bothersome and interrupts my complacency. Help me stand to my feet and walk forward in faith. 

“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! Sadly, I often do the same with the wonders of God. How dare I? I realize that I have experienced so many blessings, miracles, and wonders, that at times I actually take them for granted! LORD 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. 

“The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’” Obadiah 1:3 ESV. It usually takes a long time for a heart to harden. Disappointments pile up and the stiffening process commences. Hardening of the heart increases by resisting needed spiritual disciplines, allowing bitterness of any kind to settle in, or by allowing unbridled selfishness to become your norm. As the hardening continues, excuses are made, all contrary opinions are cast aside, and no spiritual authority is trusted. In the end, callousness of the heart makes us resistance to truth itself. A prideful heart is a hardened heart. Father, grant me an open and pliable heart. May nothing I think or do be held so dear that truth may no longer penetrate. 

“Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free,” Psalm 118:5 ESV. A place of deep distress can feel very lonely, as if no one, cares or understands. However, the opposite is true. It is in moments of difficulty that God draws even closer in: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” Psalm 46:1 ESV. Not just present, He is VERY PRESENT! I’ve walked through some wonderful places in this life and have walked though some very dark places, and one thing has never changed, the LORD is always with me. He is in me, before me, behind me, above me, below me, around me, within me and touching others through me. He is always VERY PRESENT! Blessed Father, I am Yours and You are mine. Please forgive my moments of turning away from You or Your perfect will. Draw me close to You this new day and keep me from straying. 

“The one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing,” JAMES 1:25 ESV. Road signs can only help those who read them and make the necessary adjustments to the messages they carry. God provides The Law of Liberty, warnings, reminders, instructions and the navigational help of the Holy Spirit in our daily walk. He is not restricting us from success, He is providing the necessary tools for us to defeat our earthly tendencies toward lawlessness. Carelessness kills, but obedience offers life and safety. A wise person is always searching to improve their awareness, discernment and response time to God’s directives. Holy Father may Your unrestricted Wisdom defeat my moments of irresponsible insensitivity to Your Guidance. Lord, make me a wiser man and grant me insight that I may live it and share it with others. 

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant   or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.   Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things,” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV. Enough said. LORD of LOVE, help me walk this out in my heart, in my words, and in my actions today and forever. 

“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, make me an open channel of Your amazing love to all whom I encounter

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ,” 1 Peter 1:13 ESV. This verse is so instructive and powerful! These simple phrases, “Prepare for Action,” “Be Sober-Minded,” and “Set Your Hope,” are jam-packed with divine instructions that can change us from pew-sitters to anointed-doers! All of this can only happen due to God’s grace and the revelation of the Word and Spirit of God! So today, I must be ready for action while having a clear mind and a hopeful heart. This is the day that the LORD has made! I’m in by His choice, and it’s front-loaded with His Goodness, Blessings, and opportunities to do His Bidding! LORD make it so. Awaken me to Your Will, use me for Your Glory, and help me stay focused on what You Desire. 

“He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken,” Psalm 62:2 ESV. We experienced small tremors quite a few times, but only once was I in a genuine earthquake. Having lived in Costa Rica and Ecuador for a few years we became so accustomed to minor tremors that we didn’t even notice the BIG ONE until the ground began to heave and shake. It is very disorienting to discover that everything can be shaken at once, and it 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 of life, on what will I stand? “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. Dear Lover of my Soul, You set my feet on solid rock. My life is safely nestled in Your Mighty Hands. In You, I safely rest. I will NOT be greatly shaken.

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.  For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem,” Isaiah 2:3 ESV. I liked to climb things as a child. Being higher  up  somehow made me feel stronger and gave me a better perspective on things. But no place gives a better perspective than “The Mountain of the LORD”! A daily visit to higher spiritual ground teaches me to see things from a heavenly perspective, where giants look tiny, and mountains are mere molehills. The great thing is that I can go to the LORD’S MOUNTAIN from anywhere! It is as close as recalling a Scripture, a moment of praise, or a quiet reflection upon God’s faithfulness. LORD, thank you for lifting me higher than daily circumstances. I will visit You there multiple times this very day! 

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 ESV. Do JUSTICE, love KINDNESS, and walk HUMBLY. This terrific trio of spiritual values reveals the character of our heavenly Father. He is impeccably just, He is kind and He is humble. Of these three godly attributes, the most stunning is God’s humility. He is perfect in every way, He is almighty, and yet He lowered Himself by taking on human form, dwelt among us, healed us, taught us, and then took upon Himself our sin, sickness, poverty, and brokenness! Humility is central to practicing godly justice and kindness. Pride is the principal enemy of godliness. Jesus’ illustration of the pharisee’s pride-filled prayer in Luke 18:11 sums up the matter.   LORD, cleanse my heart of pride in all its deceptive forms. 

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble,” 1 Peter 5:5 ESV. At age thirteen, I began piloting boats, spending endless hours cruising around a large lake in Florida. Those years of boating experience did little to prepare me for the complications of navigating tidal waters. On my first boating adventure as a young adult in unfamiliar tidal waters, we headed to shore, not paying attention to the channel markers. We ran aground on a sandbar at nearly full speed. Thankfully, we suffered no injuries, but we were seriously grounded on the sand bar until the tide rose. Thankfully, the only real harm was to my bruised ego. I learned an important life lesson that day. Father in Your mercy, please grant me a teachable heart and awaken my discernment to the navigation signals You place along my path. Deliver me from presumption and teach me to be alert to Your guidance and that of others wiser than I.

“But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also,” 2 Corinthians 7:8 ESV. This passage clearly reveals Paul’s high regard for the Corinthians. Interestingly, he zeroes in on their giving as a point of concern. He speaks of “giving” as a “grace.” What a beautiful picture of benevolence. In the same way, we need God’s grace for salvation, we also need God’s grace to live up to His standards of charity and goodwill toward others. Giving our time, talents, and treasures to others opens the windows of heaven to our own souls. It is possible to give without loving, but it is impossible to love without giving. LORD, thank you for allowing me to be a source of Your blessings for others. Help me to live to give, live to love, live to help, and live to lift. 

“For he says, ‘In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation,” 2 Corinthians 6:2 ESV. It is often said: “timing is everything!” Well, when God says: “Now is the favorable time,” then there can be no better time than right now! I must throw aside doubts, excuses, and fears and seize the day with faith, hope, and joy. Like manna in the desert, yesterday’s blessings perish quickly. Today I must again dig deep, remind my heart of God’s faithfulness and recommit to His will and ways. Lord Almighty, I renew my vows to You. Fill me afresh with Your Presence. I again put my hand to the plow and resolve to finish my course with fervor.