COFFEE ON THE DOCK

“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another,” Romans 12:10 NKJV. Kindness attracts a crowd. I am not talking about “Kindness Stories” being featured on the local news showcasing random acts of kindness. Those are great, but I am referring to a much more meaningful crowd that is attracted by kindness; a huge crowd of divine characteristics quickly surrounds genuine kindness; Tenderheartedness, forgiveness, mercy, joy, peace, and many more immediately begin appearing as kindness prevails. One godly act invites another, and so, on it goes. Kindness should be central to our approach toward others at all times. God is kind beyond description, so His children must follow His example. Lord God, You are kind beyond measure, help me be more like You. May kindness be the centerpiece of Your work through me. 

"Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you,” 1 Peter 5:6-7. Life is replete with letdowns; some are truly consequential, but most are fairly petty. The problem is that small disappointments tend to clump together, and if left smoldering, they eventually mushroom into something truly ominous. Festering letdowns, if not dealt with, will turn into anger toward others, discouragement, withdrawal, and depression. Learning to cast our disappointments into the Sea of God’s Love is vital to emotional, mental, and spiritual advance. Father, thank You for Your Unfailing Love which is my deliverance from daily letdowns. Fill my heart with Your Joy and teach me to console others with the same care I have received. 

“In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” 1 Peter 3:15 ESV. To openly live a life of faith is not a proclamation of personal perfection. In fact, the opposite is true. For me to reveal myself as a person of faith is to open the curtain and turn on the lights; my imperfections become the stage upon which the amazing grace and relentless love of God are displayed for all to see. In my weakness, His awesome strength is discovered and brought to the forefront. Glossing over our foibles presents a false image of the believer’s life and, in the end, does more harm than good. Lord, You are my Fortress and Deliverer, reveal Yourself in me. May my failings spotlight Your exquisiteness. May my need for constant redemption encourage others to seek the same. 

“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven,” Matthew 18:3 NKJV. Children provide immense joy with their bright faces, quirky questions, simple solutions, ruffled hair, boundless energy, and missing teeth. It is, at once, comforting and humbling that God sees me as His child. When I offer my lips in praise, does He see cupcake icing in the corners of my mouth? Does He grin when I ask, “are we there yet”? Lord, I AM Your child and I desire to imitate You in all that I say and do. Show me Your ways this new day. 

“ He is like   a tree   planted by   streams of water   that yields its fruit in its season,   and its   leaf does not wither.   In all that he does, he prospers,” Psalm 1:3 ESV.  A trip to East Texas a few years ago was both shocking and sad. As I looked out the window of the commuter plane, in place of the hilly, summer green vistas I normally saw, drought and an unrelenting heatwave were killing tens of thousands of trees. As we flew over, I noticed that around a large lake the trees stood tall and green, even those growing a relatively long distance from the shoreline; their roots provided salvation. The biblical promise to all who delight in God’s Word came to mind: “He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water.” Often our human condition in this world seems barren and hellish around us, but we can flourish if rooted in Him. Father, You lead me beside still waters, Your Word nourishes my soul, Your Spirit continually pours forth life and peace. 

“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful,” 1 Corinthians 4:2 ESV. Why am I still surprised how quickly things deteriorate since I know everything of this world does? As is true with most people, much of my personal interest is focused on what is new, fresh, and cutting-edge, but I’m often negligent toward what I already have. I don’t care very much about possessing new material things. What captures my attention is new experiences, fresh understanding, and ground-breaking effectiveness. However, just like physical things, neglected relationships or unapplied knowledge will also deteriorate. Even spiritual ground gained can be lost if abandoned. Father forgive my tendency to neglect what is already within my assigned responsibility. You rightly require me to be a good steward. Help me be more thankful for and faithful to what I already been given and to nix negligence from my soul. 

“You ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s wills, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” James 4:15-16 ESV. Growing up in Florida did little to prepare me for treading on ice-covered ground. On my first winter trip to the mountains of North Carolina, I was filled with the self-assured hubris of a thirteen-year-old boy. As I was again being warned of its danger, I brashly walked onto the ice. At the exact moment, I confidently said, “it’s no problem, I can handle it,” both of my feet lost footing, and I fell flat on my back. In fact, I fell hard several times. Lesson learned; ignorance, arrogance, and stubbornness are a very dangerous brew indeed. Lord God, You are my Faithful Instructor. I confess to You that presumptuousness still plagues my soul. Purge from me all indifference to Your voice and keep me safely within the boundaries of Your wise counsel. 

“ Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ,” Colossians 1:28 ESV. We, too, are called to “Proclaim Him.” We proclaim Him in our choices. We proclaim Him in our scheduled priorities. We proclaim Him in our acts of kindness. We proclaim Him in our forgiveness of others. We proclaim Him in our attitudes at work, home, travel, or play. We proclaim Him in our giving. We proclaim Him in our service to those in need. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.   No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, giving light to everyone in the house.   In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father,” Matthew 5:14-16 NLT. LORD, grant me the grace to proclaim You in all that I do throughout this new day! 

“Go to the ant, O lazy one; Observe her ways and be wise,” Proverbs 6:6 ESV. Life will continuously teach us lessons if we pay attention since our Heavenly Father weaves His understanding and wisdom into every aspect of His creation. As an example, like ripe fruit dangling on a low-hanging limb, knowledge and understanding are easily within reach at any moment. However, we must pay attention to reap the benefits of low-hanging fruit. 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 had fame, or more money, or were better looking, then…!”  Frankly, what we possess makes only a minimal difference. But WHO POSSESSES US makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE! Desire, passion, and vision far outweigh fame and fortune. LORD, I am Yours. Possess my heart, mind, soul, strength, and use me for Your Glory. 

Wood floats until it stays in the water too long. It has natural resistance to water penetration but over time the water seeps in, and once waterlogged, it sinks to the bottom, so it must be removed from the water and sealed again against water penetration. In like manner, to spend time with God and those who love Him is a sealant against becoming waterlogged with the ways of this world. Too much time in the wrong environment without protection is a recipe for disaster. We are in this world but not of it. Whether I float or sink is dependent upon a spirit-sealed life. “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,” Ephesians 1:13 ESV. My trust must be placed in Him, His Word and His Spirit for me to remain capable of floating instead of sinking. LORD, make it so. While You have me in this world use me to touch it without me sinking into it. 

“I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken,” Psalm 16:8 ESV. There are a lot of questions about what is ahead right now across the globe, but the psalmist got it right. He stated, “I’ve set the LORD   ALWAYS BEFORE ME .” If the LORD is always before me, it immediately accomplishes several things. First, it predicts that there are blessings, provisions, and protections ahead. Secondly, if the LORD is always before me, it puts me in a hand-in-hand partnership with the Almighty. And thirdly, if the LORD is always before me it stabilizes my emotions and releases joy and peace in my heart even while everything around me is shaken! With those things settled I can stop asking “what does the future hold” and start proclaiming, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!” Father, with You before me, at my side and as my foundation, and my rearguard, I’m all good. Help me lift others. 

“Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings,”  Leviticus 23:3 NKJV.  In Mark 2:27, Jesus gives us further understanding: “Then he said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.'” Rather than approaching the Day of Rest as another set of rules that we must keep, we can approach it as a “Thanks, I needed that” pause in our weekly routine. While Shabbat is practiced in many different ways, what is most important that it is a time of physical and mental resting from “our own works” by intentional remembrance of God’s promises and commands, reflection on personal spirituality, and strengthening relationships with our family, friends, and others. These are the things that bring us God’s peace and rest. LORD, You have called us to this SABBATH REST. Help me embrace it as both Your command and a special gift.

“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I  put away childish things ,” 1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV. As a child, I did not mind playing alone. I would simply dream-up elaborate scenarios filled with interesting things to do, and I, of course, was the central figure in all these imagined adventures. Pretending is an essential pathway to learning and development for children, but it is a passageway to self-deception as we become adults. Imagination and creativity have lifelong value, but to masquerade as something we are not is nothing more than falsehood and can lead to many serious problems. As I have matured in life, seamlessness between who I want to be and who I actually am has become more crucial. Heavenly Father, may Your maturing work in me produce increasing authenticity. Help me not gloss over weaknesses, deliver me from cover-ups, and use me for Your Glory. 

  “How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings,” Psalm 36:7 ESV. Blessings come in many ways and sizes. While some are huge and obvious most blessings arrive in simple forms without fanfare: a beautiful horizon, a memory of someone special, a baby’s smile, a wonderful taste, a gentle touch. As I reflect on how often God works unannounced, it strikes me how utterly unpretentious He is. The LORD can work on any scale and is worthy of all glory, yet He stoops low to quietly craft a constant stream of blessings into our lives. He does not hold back for our lack of acknowledgment; His unrequited love pours forth without restraint. Lord God, You are our Glorious Benefactor. Sin has dulled my senses, and I am slow to see, but in this moment of reflective contrition, I glorify You and thank You for Your humble affection. Please make me more like You. 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Green rivers and swilling brew? These are but commercialized distractions from celebrating one of the greatest apostles of all time. Patrick was a Wales-born slave to Irish Pirates, but after his escape, he became a re-born servant of God whose greatest passion was to win his former captors to Christ. Years of faithfulness, study, servanthood, and character development prepared him for apostolic ministry. After training and ordination, Patrick’s missionary zeal led him back to his Irish enslavers to change a nation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. THIS is Patrick. Lord, thank You for those who point the way. 

“Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble,” Matthew 6:34 ESV. Both dreaded doom and needed blessings always seem to loom just ahead and coming my way. At times, one looks more imminent than the other, but doom or blessing perpetually appear to be circling the landing strip of my life and “on final approach." As it turns out, neither has ever actually arrived the way I had previously imagined nor had the impact I had envisioned. In fact, what sometimes appears as “doom” often comes laden with hidden blessings upon arrival, and “blessings” often contain unexpected complications. The lesson here? “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you,” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV. Father, come what may, I am more than a conqueror because You love me and are working everything for my good.  

“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: “covetousness which is idolatry” Colossians 3:5 ESV. 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 purely. 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 perceived provision. O Lord, My Shepherd, cleanse my heart from earthly entanglements. Grant me a true love for You and others.  

“The Lord makes firm the steps. of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand,” Psalm 37:23-24 NIV. Risk management is the process of making and managing decisions to minimize failures. While this has proven value for many things, no One but One, can accurately predict the future and make the trails ahead safe for the journey. King David assured us: The Alpha and Omega has already trod every trail ahead before I uttered a sound, He heard my voice before I lifted a hand, He acknowledged my needs before I failed, He provided mercy before I cried out, and He attended to my longings. Gracious Father, I know I must turn to You first in all things. You, O LORD are the Fountain of Life, Wisdom, and Safety. In all my wanderings, keep me close to You and guide me with Your Sure Hand.

“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,   and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,   and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,” 2 Peter 1:5-8 ESV. Faith is our daily spiritual-multivitamin, faith is the baseline of spiritual health. But like the handful of additional supplements, I take for my body each day, faith also needs additional supplements: “Virtue, Knowledge, Self-control, and steadfastness”. Additionally, exercising our faith makes it grow stronger. LORD, thank you for my daily supply of what is needed to walk in victorious spiritual health!

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,” Acts 16:25 ESV. Were Paul and Silas praising God so that He would deliver them from jail, or were they simply praising God for their inner-freedom no matter the circumstances? I believe the latter. It seems clear from their following actions that they were already free within. When the shackles fell off and the doors opened, they stayed right where they were...the praise service was not over! Astonishingly, none of the other prisoners wanted to leave either! Such is the effect of praise flowing freely from a grateful, God-praising, fully surrendered heart! This is the promised “oil of Gladness” that comes when we are filled with the Joy of the Holy Spirit: “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit,” Acts 13:52 ESV. LORD, You are great and greatly to be praised! 

“He must increase, but I must decrease,” John 3:30 ESV. Profound words from John the Baptist. He recognized that God had greatly used him for a time, but it was now time for him to decrease so that Jesus would have Full-Stage. Sharon and I have downsized our home a couple of times in the last few years. It’s always a surprise to us how much stuff we continue to hold onto for no good reason. How much more this is true in our spiritual lives! We all hold on to unhealthy relationships, false dreams, old habits or even physical things that we keep around for inexplicable reasons. It’s time to dump the stuff! It’s time to give it away! It’s time to move into the future! “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit,” John 12:24 ESV. LORD, grant me the grace to lay down what I must that You may be glorified in me. 

“We humans make plans, but the LORD has the final word,” Proverbs 16:1 CEV. There are many powerful forces in the universe. A violent storm on the high seas seems impossible to defeat, but the story of Jonah reveals that the LORD has the final word. The Egyptian Army was the most powerful of its day, but the story of God’s deliverance of the enslaved Jews again reveals, God has the final word. So, whatever you face, no matter how powerful the feared outcomes appear, no matter what others may say, never forget, the LORD has the final word! “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:6-7 ESV. LORD, I rest in Your love. 

“And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them,” Mark 10:16 ESV. Jesus didn’t show anger very often, but he was indignant when the disciples deprived parents of having Jesus touch them. I get it. One of the constant blessings of my life is giving and receiving so many hugs. Family hugs, friendship hugs, makeup hugs, sad hugs, happy hugs, last hugs. They each contain a unique blessing. The love of others gives me great joy and encouragement, and activates afresh, the love of God within me. Little arms, huge arms, soft touches, warm embraces, shoulder squeezes, they all nourish my soul. The bible speaks of God’s “everlasting arms”. That I may be used by Him to comfort and bless even one of His children of any size or age is an enormous blessing to me. Lord, my arms are Yours, may I again be Your hands extended this very day. 

“Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul”; poignant words penned by Horatio Spafford as his ship passed the very spot in the Atlantic where his four daughters had died in a tragic shipwreck just days before. “It is well” are the words spoken to the prophet by the Shunamite woman in 2 Kings, erstwhile her child laid dead at her home. Her son would later be raised from the dead because of the underlying faith driving those words. No one can declare such things while mired in earthly obsessions. These are divinely breathed words, spiritually informed words; faith infused words spoken from consecrated hearts. To proclaim, “It is well” is not a refusal to accept earthly facts, it is simply to call upon higher realities. I may not see the full manifestation of the miracle I seek while in this flesh, even so, it is well, it is well with my soul! Circumstances come and go but God’s goodness and promises never change. My Lord Almighty, Healer of the Brok

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and from throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him,” 2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV. In the James Cameron fictional hit movie “Avatar,” the phrase “I see you” describes seeing someone’s true essence and acknowledging deep love for that person. But this “picture of love” is most beautifully revealed in the biblical story of Hagar. In her darkest moment, the LORD came to her and showed her His love. Hagar coined another name for Yahweh that day when she called Him: “EL ROI”, which means: “You are  the   God   who sees   me ”. She boldly proclaimed: “I have now seen the One who sees me”. We can easily feel alone, misunderstood, maligned, and abandoned by others at times. Unrequited love is deeply painful, but one thing we can know for certain, God IS love and He will always declare: “I see You!” O LORD, EL ROI, I am swept into unspeakable joy by Your Perfect Love! 

" So, whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin,” James 5:14 ESV.  The temptation to compromise is constant. While most sincere believers hold the line on the big issues, it is easy to make concessions on smaller things. We can be spirit-filled but leaking. Those who manage dams do not take leaks lightly. Cracks do not self-repair, so they must be addressed, or they will only worsen. The same can be said of the soul. When life’s pressures build, even the most spirit-filled heart can be drained. I must consistently seek fresh infilling and simultaneously take care of issues that siphon away God’s Presence. No one else can guard my heart; I must take personal responsibility to remain filled. Glorious Father open the windows of heaven afresh. Grant me wisdom to recognize and attend to things that deplete my heart of Your Glory and Presence. 

“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 yet remain in the same shallow spiritual condition year after year. But spiritual nutrition will not change what only repentance can transform. Commonly, 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. 

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him,” James 1:12 ESV. Our perceived needs are too easily overestimated. By the same token, the blessings of life are too easily underestimated. Family, laughter, opportunities, vision, mission, challenges, friends, servanthood, children, sunsets, music; considering the multitude of blessings I enjoy, I realize how truly prosperous I am. Keeping count of trials and needs brings no reward, but faithfulness in spite of perceived lack brings the Crown of Life for the steadfast believer; Lord, forgive me in those moments when I ignore Your loving care; abandoning the splendor of thankfulness to roam in the squalor of cravings. Strengthen my resolve to ignore the temporary and to lay hold of that which is eternal. 

“These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God,” I Corinthians 2:10 ESV. I can hardly remember what it was like to search for information without pushing the “find” button on a device. However, the wisdom of God remains unsearchable by earthly means. No amount of human effort can forcibly open the treasures of heaven; even the Tower of Babel in modern form still would not reach heaven’s gates. Yet, God pours out limitless insight into the ones who approach Him with humility and sincerity. He not only provides the Word for our study and enlightenment, but He also sent His Spirit into our hearts! Father, Creator, and Caretaker, You withhold no good thing from Your people. Your promises are “yes and amen.” Heaven’s blessings await the fervent seeker, its doors wide open to the humble of heart.    

“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 and 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. However, 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!