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, Adam’s sin condemned all mankind; Jesus’ obedience gives the right standing before God to those who put their trust in Him. So, likewise, the righteousness of the Son of God is immediately imputed to those who believe in His redemptive work. He came down from heaven, taught us the truth, demonstrated walking in love, redeemed us, commissions us, and fills us with His Spirit. So, each day I’m faced with a decision, will I walk in Adam’s condemnation or in Christ’s redemption and resurrection power? LORD, give me strength to cling to Your divine work. In Your mercy, melt me, mold me, fill me, use me! 

“‘Am I a God who is near, declares the Lord, ‘And not a God far off?’“ Can a man hide himself in hiding places, So I do not see him?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?’ declares the Lord.’” Jeremiah 23:23-24. Time spent pondering the life-transforming power of God's presence is time well invested. Bidden, or not bidden, He is always near, yet He often remains unacknowledged. Awareness of His presence is a major game-changer. I must recalibrate my mind, body, and spirit to recognize and welcome God’s Presence. Upon awakening, I must thank Him for the gift of a new day. Throughout each day, I must practice disciplines that cultivate consciousness of His Presence. At the close of each day, I must trustingly rest in God’s Presence, casting all my cares upon Him. Lord, grant me the grace to pull away from the dizzying anxiety of this world and, like a child, lay my head against Your chest. May my breath rise and fall in cadence with Yours and help me learn You

“Do you not fear me? Declares the LORD. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; Though they roar, they cannot pass over it,” Jeremiah 5:22 ESV. Beholding an ocean scape is full of life lessons, so I will offer just a few. What you see on the surface tells very little of its true volume and hidden abundance. While significant activity can be seen on top, the real action is only discovered by going deeper. There is always much more over the horizon headed your way. Every wave leaves new treasures along the shoreline, but an effort must be made to uncover them. Eternal God and Maker of All things You made the seas as but a token of Your Mighty Wonders. You are the Well that Never Runs Dry, the Dawn that Never Dims, and the Depths of Your Love are never exhausted. 

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost,” Luke 19:10 ESV. Having lived most of my life in a city by the sea, I’ve been around search and rescue operations and operators often. Rivers, lakes, and oceans are beautiful, but they can be very dangerous under certain conditions. I’ve always admired the brave men and women who do search and rescue. Jesus came to “seek and to save,” as believers, we, too, must care for the lost. At any given moment, in any given place, we may be called upon by God to pull away from our daily routine to focus on a lost soul or help heal a broken heart. On a plane, at the store, in a taxi, waiting in line, I’ve been pulled into life-giving moments so many times; blessed opportunities to be "God’s Hands" extended. LORD, help me stay keenly aware of the needs around me. Use me to be Your Hands of Mercy. 

“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 quietness of the early morning is a daily gift from God. As the world awakens around me, so does my soul. Light appears on the horizon and exposes what was previously shrouded in darkness. In the same manner, the Lord’s Light penetrates the deepest darkness of my heart and brings forth repentance, cleansing, and joy. New faith is released to walk in His unfailing love, and fresh resolve to steer clear of known traps arises within me. O Lord My Maker and Redeemer, I welcome Your truth. May faithfulness replace my unwillingness. Heal my wounds and use me to heal others to be a source of healing to others. 

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,” Isaiah 41:10 NIV. In 1960, Hurricane Donna slammed into North Florida with all its fury. The power went out, and our only occasional light was a flash of lightning. The wind howled and tore at our home, the rain pounded, sounding like a speeding train! As a 5-year-old, I was terrified, but each flash of lightning revealed my Daddy’s silhouette as he stood the watch. I fell asleep, assured all was well. And it was. Over a lifetime, I have come to trust my Heavenly Father through the storms of life in the same manner. I sometimes lose sight of Him, but I see His powerful Presence in a momentary flash of light, and I rest. Precious Father, one glimpse of Your Presence sends fear scampering away. 

“ He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty,” Psalm 91:1 NKJV. The secret place is any place God calls us under His shadow. More often than not, it is in times of deep, anguished, or desperate prayer, where we say and genuinely mean, “not my will, but Yours be done.” There is no room for personal pride in the secret place. The secret place is not merely a scheduled prayer time; it is a deeper place within a prayer.   “When you pray,   go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place ;   and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly , ” Matthew 6:6 NKJV. The secret place is a fully surrendered, uncluttered space within prayer. This kind of prayer refreshes the heart while cutting away fleshly things. LORD, thank You for Your divine invitations and holy intrusions. Make, me, melt me mold me, use me. 

“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes that it may bear more fruit,” John 15:2 ESV. The first time I saw a rose bush properly pruned it stunned me. I watched as a friend hacked away at a healthy-looking plant. By the time he was finished the pruned plant was a stick-like shadow of its former self; I thought it was ruined but I was wrong. As it turned out, it grew to be beautiful and productive later that spring. Pruning had made it healthier and more dazzling than ever. The LORD is faithful to prune my life when it is necessary, so He does again and again. While it is uncomfortable to face this process each time, springtime’s bounty always comes. Father, You are the Great and Mighty Gardener and I am the willing target of Your handiwork. I am thankful for the pruning You see fit and I welcome Your holy work in me. 

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand,” John 10:27-28 (ESV). I am well acquainted with God’s Holy Grip. When I press in, it is gentle but powerful, soft yet firm. In moments when I’m being pulled away or straining against it, I feel His heavenly grasp tighten, His divine clench stiffening. There is no escape from the Good Shepherd’s hand. There are those startling moments of my feet dangling over a precipice, yet still, I am held firmly in the Savior’s clutch with no fear of being plucked from His Hand. No one and no circumstance will snatch me out of God's Great and Mighty Grasp. Father, I thank You for Your Mighty Handhold upon me. With Your loving embrace, You uphold me, guide me, prod me, restrain me and comfort me. I thank You for Your Hand of Protection. 

“…Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me,” Psalm 23:4 ESV. These simple words of a shepherd spoken to his Heavenly Father Above reveal the shepherd’s simple tools: A rod and a staff; sticks of love. Our Heavenly Shepherd deals lovingly with our many weaknesses, treating us as lambs requiring His discipline, yet bearing no grudges against our many failings. Though I stray from the boundaries of His Will, He never stops searching for his wandering lamb. When I fall onto perilous ledges, He finds and lifts me to safety with the hook of His staff instead of abandoning me as I deserve. When I scamper away from His Presence, He never turns away in disgust; instead, He chases me down. His rod of discipline is always used justly and delivered in perfect love. O Lord My Great Shepherd and Keeper, hallowed be Your Name! Deliver me from earthly distractions and draw me near to Your side. 

“You shall keep my commandments and do them: I am the Lord,” Leviticus 22:31 ESV. That is about as clear and direct as it can get. Following after the Will of God is, by definition, inconvenient since anything that imposes upon my human desires is bothersome. So, following His promptings cannot be done without constant rearrangement of my personal priorities and commitments. Daily infusion of the Word and Spirit is vital to the walk of faith but will have minimal effect without a corresponding willingness to hear and obey. I am far better at this process now than when it first began, but still, I must put in effort every day to make further progress. Lord, Your relentless pursuit and unfailing love are my strength and hope. Grant me grace for immediate obedience. Help me knuckle under again today and put You first in all things. 

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless,” James 1:26 ESV. We install security devices in our cars, homes, and businesses. We build fences, establish security checkpoints, hire gate guards and police to secure our lives. However, the most dangerous instrument of harm is the tongue. Proverbs 18:21 declares: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits,” so guarding my lips guards my life and the lives of others. Since there are no electronic lip alarms available, safety begins in my heart, out of which the mouth speaks. The heart is a battleground, not a playground. Lord, purify my heart and lips; and by Your Word and Spirit destroy the enemy of my soul at its source.

“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 ESV. It is impossible to think my way out of being offended; believe me, I have tried. In fact, the opposite is true. The more I mull over offenses and discuss them with others, the more indignant I become. Our fuming deliberations only deepens the pain, entrenching us in sullen exasperation and excessive defensiveness. However, forgiveness turns our sorrows into joy, placing the situation into God’s hands instead of our own; in this case, 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, disappointments, and consternations. Keep me reigned in so love may always prevail. 

“Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.” Mark 5:19 ESV The Gerasene Demoniac understandably wanted to remain with Jesus and His disciples, but the LORD sent him back home where he was to be a witness of Jesus’ power to change lives. Our human imaginations sometimes take us in the wrong direction, pushing us to want what seems best, when in fact, our greatest concern should be “what does the LORD desire of me?” The Gerasene turned out to be one of the great heroes of the Bible, and we do not even know His name; we only know where he was from. The lessons here are many, but one of the most critical is that I must surrender my imaginations to the LORD and ask Him, “where is my assignment?” Father instruct me in Your ways. Position me perfectly within Your plan. LORD, not my will, but Your Will be done. 

“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts,” Proverbs 17:3 NKJV. There is a worldwide test going on at this very moment. This pandemic is something never faced before; it is truly a refining pot, a fiery furnace. But for those who entrust their lives to God, it is an opportunity for us to be cleansed, purified, strengthened, shaped, and used by the Master. Esther faced a moment in the furnace of complicated circumstances when Mordecai asked her: “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 NIV. What if we are in such a moment? What if God has chosen us “for a time such as this”? Like Esther, we must face our personal fears for the sake of a lost world around us. In the coming days and months, we will be given opportunities to share our wonderful message of hope and salvation with many others. LORD, prepare my heart for a great harvest in Your Kingdom. 

“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law,” Romans 13:8 ESV. Keeping all the rules has never been my strongest character quality. Yet in this passage, I have found my sweet spot. Allowing the love of God to flow to me, and through me to others, has transformed my ability to draw within the lines. Though I still struggle at times, those beautiful moments in which God’s love is at work have become precious. Frankly, it is easier than we think. We are each created IN GOD’S LOVE to be vessels OF GOD’S LOVE. When I’m consciously WALKING IN GOD’S LOVE I’m fulfilling my created purpose. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love,” 1 John 4:7-8 ESV. LORD, Use me today. 

“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” Matthew 6:27 ESV. I've often fallen into the trap of feeling something was urgent or desperate, when in fact, it never was. I have wasted innumerable hours trying to think my way past problems only to later discover they had never even existed the way I had perceived them. It is wise to be on our guard, but anxiety drains away the joys of life and contradicts God’s commands. For instance, we are told in Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing.” Instead, we are to let prayer, promises, and praise reshape our worries into the expectation of God’s intervention. Heavenly Father, today, I will again cast my cares upon You. You are the answer to every question, the provision for every need, and though I may deserve judgment and condemnation, You never turn away in disgust. I can truly say: "it is well; it is well with my soul."  

A good start is critical to winning when running a sprint, but in a marathon, every decision along the way must be focused on a strong finish. It is necessary to respect the distance in a long race. A marathoner must run with the end in mind. The apostle Paul compared our life of faith to a marathon in 1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV: “ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?   Run in such a way that you may   obtain   it ”. It is not so much a competition against others; it is a race to finish well. While literally on his deathbed, Costa Deir, one of my precious spiritual fathers, looked like a traffic cop at the center of a jammed intersection. “Please, write this down.” “Send this to Africa,” “Get me the phone.” “Hand me my Bible, please.” He ran to the ribbon. He finished strong. He died as he had lived. Dearest LORD, grant me the strength, wisdom, and endurance to finish fast and strong. 

“If you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,” 1 Peter 1:17 ESV. A sense of Christian duty drives much of what I do, so each day, I recommit myself to do the right things. This seems fine on the surface, yet for a child of God, there is a more noble way. God seeks those who delight to do His will, even if they do it imperfectly. In Psalm 40:8 David prays, “I delight to do Your will,” yet later confessed, “I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.” Still, God said of David, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.” The LORD’s eyes move over the earth searching for those with gratitude, for those whose hearts are turned toward Him. He seeks those who delight in pleasing Him. Father, I desire to permanently join the ranks of those who have moved from serving out of duty to serving out of delight.

“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made,” Romans 1:20 ESV. Even in the midst of a violent storm, there is beauty all around. Dancing trees, rumbling clouds, and the sheer power released are marvels in the midst of a tempest. In like manner, each and every day has marvels sprinkled into it by the Hand of God, even throughout the most difficult ones. Like eyes adjusting to a dimly lit room, my heart must attune itself to see what could be easily missed. Divine moments can appear on a crowded plane or in a busy grocery checkout line. New friendships can emerge from nowhere and began patching up the gaping losses that befall us. Blessed LORD, Your Holy Finger dabs beautifying touches onto the canvas of my life in so many ways. May I never miss the marvels you perform nor fail to acknowledge the wonders You deposit all around. 

“Even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master’s table,” Mark 7:28 ESV. These were powerful words spoken out of the deep need of a mother seeking God’s help for her child. Even when the disciples and The LORD Himself seemingly made it difficult for her, she would not go away, she would not lose heart, she would not quit! Psalm 107:9 ESV gives us further insight into unlocking the power of spiritual need: “For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.” And Proverbs 27:7 NKJV states: “A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing  is  sweet.” Too many people walk away from the help they seek because the journey of faith is more difficult than they expected. A truly hungry heart is not easily offended. Glorious Father, may I never tire of following hard after you. Only in Your Presence can I quench my thirsty soul, only You have the Words of Life, and in Your will alone will I find rest. 

"For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years, the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing,” Deuteronomy 2:7 ESV. The Hebrew people’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land offers many lessons. It was in the desert where the idolatrous influence of Egypt and the deep scars of enslavement were confronted; the people of Israel were slowly being delivered from the past so they could embrace their future. While wandering forty years, God’s people learned to chase after the cloud and trust God’s daily provision. Climatic moments brought the Ten Commandments, deliverance from enemies and cleansing from cultivators of sedition. They were learning to do God’s will God’s way. Lord, thank You for streams of life that only the desert can reveal. Out of barren rock flows living water to those who seek Your face. 

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well,” Psalm 139:13-14 ESV. A relationship with God must be absolutely genuine. In our earthly relationships, we are accustomed to holding back a bit. There can be none of this with God. He knows us inside and out because He made us; therefore, He cannot be fooled in any way. In simple terms, there can be no fraud allowed with God; cover-ups must end here. Such wonderful deliverance and freedom can be ours as we live in unrestrained surrender and openness to the LORD God Almighty! While it is harder than we think, yielding to His control offers greater rewards than we can imagine. Heavenly Father, You created my inmost being, You knit me together in my mother's womb, and You call me by name. I am happily and eternally Yours.   

“Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones,” Proverbs 16:24 KJV. Anytime you are around others, you can be sure someone needs affirmation or encouragement. No matter how things look on the outside, there is always more going on than meets the eye. So, I try to stay on the hunt for those who may need “pleasant words.” What I have learned is that speaking encouraging words is a skill that grows in effectiveness with practice. I myself am lifted as I seek to lift others, but genuine, intentional encouragement must be done without a selfish motive to be effective. Sometimes, I actually feel the breath of God in those privileged moments when His love is reaching out to someone’s secret pain through me. What a joy! Lover of Souls, use me today to speak a good word to someone’s heart. 

“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 NASB. I like to cook, so I end up in grocery stores quite a bit. Of course, there are often young moms distracted with shopping, and a small child nearby taking in all the sights and sounds. I often catch the eye of a strapped-in 2-year-old with my grandfatherly smile. I get everything from a busy glance to an occasional “eyes-locked-on, happy-face”. How pleasant those few seconds are! It’s still hard to grasp with my earthly mind, but God’s eyes are also looking “to and fro” across the earth for those moments with His children. He is looking to bless and connect with us, but we’re often far too distracted with our daily duties. LORD, remind me to “lift up my eyes” to You today in all I do. Father, sweep my heart into Your glorious glance and use me to bless others with Your amazing love.

“We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open,” 2 Corinthians 6:11 ESV. On my first trip to Nebraska, I was utterly amazed by the Open Plains of the Western United States. The wheat fields spread in every direction as far as the eye can see. In like manner, the apostolic team that worked with the Corinthians was holding nothing back from them. Their hearts were wide open, so the truth could be openly seen. The Apostle Paul called upon the Corinthians to “widen” their hearts; fully open, nothing hidden, and no games. Opening our hearts to others, even with those we love and trust the most, is not easy. We do not want to disappoint others, and we frankly struggle to understand our own hearts. Yet, though it is counter-intuitive, opening ourselves to those who love us and are wise in God’s Word and ways opens a pathway of deeper understanding and healing for us. LORD, may my heart be fully open to You and to Your people. 

“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” Psalm 118:5-6 KJV.  Mankind's fallen nature inherited from Adam’s sin made us enemies of God, but the redemptive work of our Savior opened the way for us to become His sons and daughters. I would have remained in darkness and utterly lost forever had not the LORD been “on my side.” My attempts to follow His will or pursue His call would be entirely impossible, and my hopes would have been vanquished forever had not the LORD been “on my side.” While at times I struggle to muster the strength and valor to fight this earthly battle, I know I will finish strong for “the  LORD is on my side ”! Glorious Adonai, Captain of Our Salvation, Eternal Father, all glory to You now and forever! I march ahead in victory and abiding peace along with all who are Yours, for You O LORD are on my side. 

“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 often feel impatient, disappointed, or confused, but what is happening during “the wait” is that my will is being tied together with God’s Will. During “the wait”, my timing is being entwined with His Sovereign Timing and my earthly 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; needed preparation for my assignments and missions ahead. LORD of the Harvest, keep me calm and steady in the delays. My future is safely in Your trustworthy Hand. 

“See,   we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will   condemn him to death   and   deliver him over to the Gentiles   to be mocked and flogged and   crucified, and he will be raised on   the third day , ”  Matthew 20:18-19 ESV. Agonizing prayers of submission offered amid sleepy disciples. Betrayal by the disillusioned, taken captive by the powerless, judged by the ignorant. Abandoned by the fearful, stripped by the inwardly unclothed, crucified by the lifeless, mocked by fools. Redeeming wounds suspended between heaven and earth, forgiveness freely given. What majestic mystery, what love divine! Good Friday? Yes, a very Good Friday indeed! Indescribably good, eternally good! Blessed Redeemer, my thoughts retrace your labored steps along the Via Dolorosa. You stretched out Your arms on the cold, hard, wood of the cross and cured my broken and diseased soul. Glory to You forever! 

“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction,” Isaiah 48:10 ESV. On a whim, I signed up for Metal Shop in eighth grade. I learned that iron, a relatively soft metal, is turned into hardened steel by a purification process. This process includes adding elements together, putting them under a lot of pressure, and a series of severe temperature changes. The iron is repeatedly heated red-hot, pounded, and pressured, then placed in water to cool it quickly. This “tempering process” presses the ore’s molecules tightly together, making it stronger than ever. Character is built the same way. No one enjoys the conflicts that forge us, yet it is the heat, pressure, pounding, and cooling process that gives our character hardened-steel strength. Lord God, I marvel at Your wisdom and power to transform. Make and mold me strong for the battles I face today and for those that are yet ahead. Refine my heart and shape my life to do Your will.