COFFEE ON THE DOCK

“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16 ESV. What does “grace upon grace” mean? It is like the mashed potatoes on a southern dinner table; there’s more where that came from. It is like waves at the seashore; they just keep rolling in. But we must not misunderstand grace. It is not just something extra to have around; it is God’s gift of power to do what we must. There is grace to give, grace to suffer, grace to sacrifice, grace to serve, grace to forgive, and grace to be forgiven. Grace is a powerful force to be utilized properly and with great care. It is precious yet supplied in abundance. “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” Zechariah 4:7 ESV. Yes, there is even grace to move mountains! LORD, pour out Your grace and point me to the mountain of Your choosing. 

“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal,” Matthew 6:20 NKJV. This biblical admonition to “store up for yourselves riches in heaven” is not talking about sending earthly valuables there; after all, the “Gold Standard” of this world means nothing in a place where it is utilized for pavement. “Storing up in heaven” means that everything I do now contributes to my spiritual growth in the here and now also counts in heaven. Everything I do right now to fulfill my divine purpose here on earth contributes to my eternal purpose there. So, if I believe heaven is real, shouldn’t that affect what I do today? Yes, it does! Eternal LORD, open my eyes to the reality of heaven’s impact on my life this new day. Show me what really matters and give me the grace to pursue it wholeheartedly.   

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

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep,” Romans 12:15 ESV. The Love of God has taken me to so many places that I would have never known without it. I’ve sat at the bedside of a multitude of precious souls as they slipped into eternity. I’ve held many newborns in their first few moments among us. I’ve been privileged to share deep agony and immense joy with so many of God’s people in so many places; rejoicing with those who rejoiced and weeping with those who wept. The Love of God is a precious gift; it is powerful and transforming to all who accept it and spread it. The more of God’s amazing love that is offered to others the more of it gathers in my own soul. What an amazing heavenly endowment! What a tremendous blessing to all who receive it and share it! LORD, use me this day as a vessel of Your Love. 

“I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace,” Acts 20:24 ESV. I cannot honestly say that I have the depth of commitment expressed in these powerful words penned by the Apostle Paul, but I most definitely want to. I’ve had my moments of genuine risk for the sake of advancing the Kingdom of God, but there is always more that can be done with greater faith and a willingness to risk everything. But it is in the small things, the daily sacrifices we make each day, in each moment, that are the seedbed for greater faith. Greater surrender is the pathway to greater faith. LORD God, I am Yours. Awaken within me a deeper love for You and the courage to live my faith out loud, each and every day. I am gratefully Yours to command. 

“Commit   your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established,” Proverbs 16:3 NKJV. This verse makes it very clear that we must first commit what we do to God, and then, and only then, will divine clarity begin to unfold. God will not commit His wisdom and resources to something not born of Him. Nor will He grant His blessing if we are not fully prepared to trust Him throughout. He does not hold back solely for His own sake, but as a Good Father, He delays certain things for our sake: “For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, And for My praise I restrain it for you, In order not to cut you off,” Isaiah 48:9. In other words, God delays manifesting the big picture outcome He is after until we get fully on board. He delays so we don’t get left behind and miss our calling, purpose, and reward. Holy LORD, God of Mercy And Grace, thank You for Your kindness and patience toward Your children. 

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

“Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill,” Philippians 1:15 ESV. Envy is a doorway to deep darkness. In the first place, wishing to have someone else’s good fortune is, in effect, to question God’s forethought, wisdom, and goodness to me. When I wonder, “Why them and not me?” I have already, in effect, judged God as possibly unfair or misguided. Additionally, to cherry-pick from another person’s life is foolish from the start because we tend to choose what we would like to happen for us but completely ignore their actual sorrows and pain. Finally, to feel that “I deserve better” is an insidious form of pride. The Bible declares: “Blessed  are  the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Father, in You, I have all things in One; therefore, I lack for nothing, and according to Your promise: “no good thing" will You withhold from those that walk uprightly. 

“Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” Psalm 31:24 ESV. My first indoor herb garden taught me this valuable life lesson, but frankly, I still don’t like “the wait.” Anytime we start a process of growth, there is always the anticipation of a future harvest. Roots slowly emerge and begin digging their way through the soil. This process takes time and remains unseen for a long time. Above ground, there can be a lot of anxiousness during the lengthy process, especially for the novice. Much of what we do as people of faith requires sowing, weeding, fertilizing, and waiting. Disappointment with the pace often discourages further sowing. Lord of the Harvest, keep me calm and steady in the delays. Harvesttime is safely in Your Trusted Hands. Teach me to delight in Your perfect timing and to take joy in Your wonderful ways.

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap,” Galatians 6:7 ESV. This is not that complicated; if I plant an orange seed, I get an orange tree; if I sow love, I get a harvest of love. I have never been a big fan of connect-the-dots puzzles, but refusal to connect the dots in life can be very costly. What I do today has both benefits and consequences in the future, whether I realize the connection or not. After a lifetime of counseling people through difficulties, I conclude, the human capacity to disassociate one thing from another is stunning and dangerous. I’ve seen very bright people foolishly refuse to connect the obvious. When our desire is inflamed, the truth can easily be ignored. Gracious Father help me see through the confusion selfishness activates. Awaken good discernment within me and lead me in the way of life. 

Years ago, after a windy night of rain, I looked out the window and received quite a surprise. An 80 ft. tall Live Oak Tree had fallen over our driveway. Trunk to the ground, its huge roots pointing skyward; It is a shock when something that normally stretches into the sky collapses and now lies unearthed and broken. Soil and water are the very things that nourish a giant tree, but these life-giving necessities can also be its undoing when given in excess. It is the same with me. Only the Eternal Designer who knit me together can keep me in equilibrium. My spirit, soul, and body must be fully nourished but protected from excess. I cannot assume my past will be my future. O Lord, My Caretaker, guide me into balance and moderation. Keep me from seeking excessive sustenance outside of Your design or provision. Grant me grace for what each new day brings.

“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us,” Romans 5:3-5 ESV. This passage is not suggesting that suffering is to be celebrated, it is pointing to the power of hope. We do not rejoice “FOR” our sufferings, we rejoice “IN” our sufferings and “FOR’ what it produces: endurance, character, hope, deliverance from shame, and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Love of God! Suffering turned to rejoicing is a beautiful example of the way God redeems us from this world while we are still in this world! LORD God Almighty hallowed be Thy Name! You are Wonderful beyond description, too marvelous for words. You are truly the LORD of All.    

“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” Joshua 24:15 ESV. Our daily challenge is to glorify the greatness of God while still imbedded in human frailty. Each new sunrise presents both opportunities and dilemmas. Will I now move farther away from wrongdoing and commit to greater devotion to godliness? Will I cut loose the many tethers to earthliness to embrace heavenly freedom? As Joshua commanded the people, so must I “choose this day” who I will serve. Father, I praise You for Your grace that delivers me from the thick darkness of doubt. I choose You. Grant me fresh faith to walk more perfectly in Your promises. LORD, in Your mercy, hear my prayer. 

“To the weak, I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means, I might save some.   I do it all for the sake of the gospel that I may share with them in its blessings,” 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 ESV. Many Christians feel it necessary to wear their faith as if it is armor against the surrounding world, but our spiritual armor is against darkness, not people. Taking the Biblical example of the apostle Paul to heart, I prefer to make a thoughtful effort to connect with those around me wherever I go. Paul’s strategy of becoming “all things to all people” was not an effort to hide his faith but rather an intentional commitment to offering bridges of love to those he encountered. It doesn’t take long for others to notice the effects of God’s Presence in our lives. Holy Lord, we are grateful Your Presence shelters us while empowering us to effectively share Your Grace with others. 

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” Romans 11:33 ESV. Like most people, I enjoy a good mystery, but I really dislike not knowing how to figure something out. The exception is when it comes to divine mysteries. While I am still just as curious, years of practice have taught me that spiritual mysteries may only be understood as God reveals them in His timing and in His way. And even then, there is always deeper truth embedded that may only be discerned by divine revelation of His Word and Spirit; again, in His time and His way. Human formulas or deductive reasoning, no matter how brilliantly practiced, are useless in holy space. Divine mysteries may solely be revealed, not solved. Glorious God, High and Mighty One, forgive my earthly attempts to uncover what You have hidden. Grant me grace and good discernment for the journey as mysteries unfold.

“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness. You who seek the LORD.  Look to the rock from which you were hewn and to the quarry from which you were dug,” Isaiah 51:1 ESV. These are powerful, penetrating words spoken by God to His people. I can change my mind, change my location, and change my priorities, but I cannot reshape my foundation. Therefore, if I truly believe that God “created my inward parts” and “knit me together in my mother's womb,” then I will not reject the LORD’s Will for my life. No other foundation can support my calling and destiny; only the Rock from which I was hewn will suffice. No other life will fit the foundation already laid. Therefore, instead of wishing things were different, I must seek to understand and embrace the will of the LORD. Father, Your handiwork is perfect; I humbly yield to Your plan, purposes, and ways. You are my sure foundation.   

We each face battles that are not of our own choosing. Some are arbitrarily forced upon us by life’s circumstances, others come as a result of our own bad decisions. Many battles fall into the category of spiritual warfare while some are strategically chosen for us by our heavenly Commander in Chief. Though the sources of our battles are many there is but one sure path to victory; we must embrace God’s promise: “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent,” Exodus 14:14 ESV. Trust in God alone must be the banner under which we march. Our self-dependence must first be vanquished by God’s wondrous love, then and only then we are ready to stand back and see God vanquish the enemy! Holy Father, my unruliness and fears are defeated by Your love, therefore I march ahead in triumph! 

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building,” 1 Corinthians 3:9. Life can seem pretty mundane at times, yet, by God’s design, our daily vocation coincides with His. That we may behold His work is wondrous enough, but that the Creator of the Universe and Ruler of All Things grants us partnership in His earthly activities is breathtaking. To be a craftsman at the Lord’s side fills me with delight day after day. Though I am never allowed more than a peek at the blueprints, from time to time, I catch a glimpse of what He is doing and am always amazed. The intricacy and purposefulness with which He works are magnificent. Lord, I rejoice to do Your bidding. May my work this day and every day thereafter be synchronized with Yours. Guide my hands and give me laser focus in my assigned work. Let’s roll. 

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you,” Isaiah 60:1 ESV. The transformation between the dark of night to morning light never loses its fascination for me; I am drawn to its power to awaken. Every second brings subtle change; everything around is slowly transfigured as the rising sunlight brightens whatever it touches. There are so many parallels between sunrise and the way God pulls me deeper into His will. Each day He quietly moves into my darkness, His resplendent Presence renovating my soul. His Word reveals hidden treasures, and new details unfold. He unveils flaws that He immediately begins repairing, and His Glory illuminates previously unseen passageways forward. Lord of Light, I welcome Your transformational Presence in every square inch of my being. LORD, You are so good!   

“In all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us,” Romans 8:37 ESV. It is unsettling to think about the wickedness in this world. At the very same moment I am striving to do good, someone else is seeking to do harm. This would lead to fear if I did not know that in spite of the marching hordes of evil, I am not alone or unarmed. The heaven-sent “weapons of our warfare are mighty through God”. And they are not only for defense; they are for “pulling down strongholds”. When the enemy rises to attack, thinking there are no troops on guard, the One Who Never Sleeps Nor Slumbers rises to my defense, sending unseen armies of angels to the aid of the people of God. O Lord My Victor, with You on my side the battle is won, and the eternal victory is sure. To call upon Your Name is to bring a deathblow to every work of darkness! 

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother,” Matthew 18:15 ESV. Friendships are precious; all of us need genuine relationships with others. They are life-giving and life-challenging at once. But even the best relationships can be damaged or destroyed by things large and small. Feelings can be hurt by little things and eventually pile up and become a mountain in our minds. Broken relationships are painful and, often, completely unnecessary. But be prepared; attempts to confront problems often only make things worse. Following biblical steps of honesty, kindness, confrontation, and restoration are critical components of success in relationship building. LORD, grant me sufficient wisdom and grace to build and maintain deep and lasting relationships. 

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue  is  the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her,” Proverbs 31:26-28 ESV. That just about nails it. These are the mothers I know, honor, and love. I have been especially blessed my entire life, having had amazing mothers throughout my family and multiple spiritual mothers. No role in life rises any higher than that of the women who birth us, raise us, care for us, pray for us, and hold us in their arms. Today, my prayer is that God will pour our special blessings upon all mothers everywhere who demonstrate the characteristics of His love in ways only a mother can. LORD, thank You for all the blessings You offer, and I especially thank You for our mothers. 

“ Death and life  are  in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof ,” Proverbs18:21 KJV. We often feel compelled to “have the last word” in conversations, but having the RIGHT words is far more important. Since we have no control over our words after they depart from our lips, we must take great care BEFORE we speak. “ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone,” Colossians 4:6 NIV.   A Biblically informed and Spirit-guided “lip-guard” between the mind and the mouth serves everyone’s best interest. Blessed Lord, let Your Word saturate my thoughts and transform my spoken words into instruments of life. May only that which is bathed in Your love and filled with Your Wisdom and Truth depart my lips. 

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; Now, it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness, And rivers in the desert,” Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV.  Like grains of sand slipping through the hourglass, each moment of life moves quickly into the past. I sometimes feel the sting of previous mistakes, missed opportunities, and bad choices I’ve made. But once I regain my bearings and recall that I’m God’s child, I remember that nothing is beyond the power of my Redeemer. An eternal perspective rotates the impulse of our lives; instead of dwelling on the past, we are pulled forward into an unlimited future filled with hope. An eternal perspective opens our hearts and unlocks faith. Those things left behind in the process become a footnote as our eternal purpose unfolds to us. Eternal Father, I joyfully move forward. 

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me,” Psalm 23:4 NKJV. This famous passage is jam-packed with powerful words! But my favorite is the word “through.” Unseen blessings are awaiting me at the end of every perilous journey. Though the trail to victory sometimes descends into dark valleys full of frightening “shadows of death,” my feet shall again stand on the sacred ground of God’s holy mountain! To act with due caution is wise, but timidity is never a prudent course of action. Fear-governed thoughts and actions rarely lead us to the right conclusions; panic is not a reliable strategy. THE LORD is My Champion and My Victor, of whom will I be afraid? Fear of God delivers me from all other fears! Selah! LORD, thank You for leading me beside the still waters of Your Promises. In You, I peacefully rest. 

“Blessed  be  the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. This is the model for understanding our purpose and how to fulfill it. As recipients of God’s goodness, we must pass along what we receive. Dr. Costa Deir taught: “There is a one-word definition of love… ‘Others’”. What God makes happen for you equips you to make things happen for others. Our lives are to be channels of blessing, not reservoirs where only the spillover is offered! The old hymn states it well: “Make me a channel of blessing today, Make me a channel of blessing I pray; My life possessing, my service blessing, Make me a channel of blessing today.” LORD, thank You for making me both Your son and Your partner. Help me be a free-flowing river of Your mercies and grace. 

“Do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” Romans 2:3-4 ESV. We sometimes justify our own behaviors by believing there are distinct levels of good and evil, and of course, we grade ourselves on the curve. This is foolish. There is good, and there is evil; there is nothing in between. The goodness of God convicts, coaxes and nudges us to repentance. That’s it. Nothing else matters. We must not interpret His kindness as acceptance of our failures. Sin is poison, and it is our enemy. Every new day should begin with a recommitment to expunge all of it from our lives. LORD, You are good, and Your mercy endures forever. Forgive my absurd attempts to diminish the perfection and purity of Your redemption.  Wash my heart and soul whiter than snow. 

“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things,” Philippians 4:8 ESV. Today I will think thousands of thoughts. Neuroscientists estimate the average person has a from 20,000 “present moment” thoughts per day up to as many as 70,000! I often over-think problems, mulling over the same details, ad nauseam, despite knowing that the answers I most often seek come from God alone. An overcharged mind is no substitute for a heart that is open to God’s voice of wisdom. Blessed Lord Our Maker, Fountain of Wisdom, help me stay in perfect peace as my thoughts are steady upon You. When my mind drifts away, pull me back to Your thoughts, Your ways, Your Promises. 

“And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed,” Exodus 3:2 ESV. A rocky mountainside, a bush on fire; these are seemingly unremarkable things, but on a fateful day on Mount Sinai, the ordinary was transfigured into the miraculous. On that day, God’s manifest presence and spoken promises transformed dirt into sacred ground, a fugitive into a deliverer, and a shepherd into a prophet. Moses was simply fulfilling routine duties as a sheepherder when an upward glance on a mountainside radically changed everything. Soon, he would lead a nation of slaves into the Promised Land. Majestic Lord and Father, nothing is ordinary when it is infused with Your Presence and Power. Pull my eyes and heart toward Your Will. Help me to “turn aside” that I may see Your Glory. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help!” 

“As for You, O Lord, You will not restrain Your mercy from me; Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness will ever preserve me!” Psalm 40:6-7 ESV. This is King David’s proclamation of the steadiness and perfection of God’s unfailing love! So much of what we call “love” in this world is merely a passing condition of the heart prompted by circumstances. The love of God is very, very different; He doesn’t HAVE LOVE, God IS LOVE:  “ 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. To love is to experience what and who God is. Our human love can be compared to a charged battery that runs out of power and must be recharged, whereas God’s love is like a nuclear reactor; it is self-sustainable energy. LORD, make me a man of sincere and sustained love. 

“As for You, O Lord, You will not restrain Your mercy from me; Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness will ever preserve me!” Psalm 40:6-7 ESV. This is King David’s proclamation of the steadiness and perfection of God’s unfailing love! So much of what we call “love” in this world is merely a passing condition of the heart prompted by circumstances. The love of God is very, very different; He doesn’t HAVE LOVE, God IS LOVE:   “ 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. To love is to experience what and who God is. Our human love can be compared to a charged battery that runs out of power and must be recharged, whereas God’s love is like a nuclear reactor; it is self-sustainable energy. LORD, make me a man of sincere and sustained love.