COFFEE ON THE DOCK

“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few,” Matthew 7:14 (ESV). Long before satellite navigation was possible in a car, our family was traveling in the Smokey Mountains. After unfolding and studying a map, I took a road that looked like a good shortcut for us. As the road narrowed and became a curvy, steep plunge, I doubted my decision and stopped to ask a man if the road we were on would lead to where I was trying to go. He answered: “yep!” with a nod. Then he slowly surveyed our soccer-mom-van filled with four young children and said: “Mister, you don’t want to go that way.” We turned around and thankfully missed whatever peril he knew awaited us. Father, keep me from taking perilous shortcuts as I journey this day. Guide me to what is best. May my choices please You and always lead to Your perfect will. 

“To you, I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens!” Psalm 123:1 ESV. While on a morning walk, I scanned the bright blue sky above me and counted over thirty contrails slicing across the azure canopy. The wispy white streaks silently announced the passing of high-flying passenger planes filled with travelers and cargo. So much was happening above me, yet I would have missed it all if I had not looked upward. How much in life do I miss for failure to follow King David’s example by lifting my eyes? While keeping our noses to the grindstone on earth, we must do so with our eyes and heart toward God’s throne above. I need a daily Eye Lift. To You, I lift up my eyes. Lord of Glory, You continually act within heaven to enforce Your will here on earth, whether I notice or not. Father, point the way for me this day. 

“Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,” Ephesians 4:15 ESV. Honesty is typically poorly timed and clumsily delivered. The reason for this is simple, the underlying motivation to say: "let me be honest" is most often rooted in a personal need for change rather than out of divine love for the other person. God always speaks truth with the purest of motives, while much of the time, we do not. We mostly speak up when we fear losing something, missing an opportunity,  or being harmed in some way. Honesty, in this case, is no more than our intent to control our surroundings. God always speaks the truth as an act of love, granting the hearer the chance to know a perfect way forward. Father, You are Love and Truth. Teach me Your ways. Purify my heart and put Your coals of fire to my lips. Help me speak the truth in love. 

“Do not be like the horse  or  like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.” Psalm 32:9 NKJV. As big, beautiful, and strong as horses are, they are highly susceptible to panic. Horses have a natural “fight or flight response” that serves them well in the wild, but it can also be dangerous for them and others. I panic sometimes, but a life bridled by God’s leading hand will always turn us in the right direction. I am constrained and comforted by His perfect love, expunging fear from my soul. Hope and faith are the constant companions of those who trust God. Lord of Life, You set the captive free and set our feet dancing on the hilltops. Make Your Love my constant guide and use me for Your purposes. Bridle my heart, mind, and choices today, and may my ways always be wise and pleasing to You.  

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you,” Luke 6:27-28 ESV. I was driving along many years ago when a large Irish Setter ran into the street from between two parked cars. I didn’t see him quickly enough to avoid contact, but I hit the brakes hard and fast. My vehicle only bumped him slightly. I leaped out to check on him, and he was under my van, not seriously hurt but dazed and confused. I reached toward him to comfort him and he and snarled, crawled quickly from underneath the van, and ran away. His snarl and refusal of help were not personal; he reacted out of pain and confusion. When hurting, people will often do the same. It can be brutal, but genuine love is authenticated in these moments, and shallow love is exposed. Father, forgive my snarling resistances to Your loving touch. When others react to me as I have to You, please grant me the same patient mercy for them that You always exte...

“A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul,” Proverbs 18:7 ESV. Each of us has been maligned at one time or another. It is equally true that each of us has maligned others, allowing inappropriate words to spill from our lips. Knowing how damaging and painful false judgments can be, we must take great care in forming and vocalizing our opinions before our thoughts have been bathed in love and truth. It is foolish to carelessly say whatever we think; loose talk starts wars, breaks hearts, and destroys relationships. Glorious God, forgive my indiscretions and brutish ways. Cleanse my mind of vain imaginations and govern my lips with wisdom and discretion. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer,” Psalm 19:14 ESV. 

“The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!” Psalm 119:64 ESV. God has established laws by which all things in creation are kept in order. Physical laws like gravity and motion are essential for Universal Order. In like manner, spiritual laws are critical to our existence as God’s children. The Bible and the leading of the Holy Spirit are not simply needed “add-ons” to our lives; they must be our constant “go-tos” for daily instructions on what we should do and how we should live. A life devoid of the infusion of the Word of God and the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit is destined for confusion, weakness, and self-centeredness. But a life saturated with the Word and Spirit of God prepares us for living as partners of The Almighty and tears away the limits on how and where He can use us. LORD, thank You for Your Word and Spirit. Teach me and use me as You will this new day. 

“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,” Psalm 63:1 ESV. Approaching the outskirts of Moscow in winter is a long train ride through a bitterly cold panorama of barren trees and snow-covered fields. It seems impossible that life can exist in these extremely harsh conditions. On one such trip, I was invited to a simple greenhouse behind a friend’s home. There, in the dead of winter, were summer green plants. Beautiful vegetables of many varieties thriving while surrounded by a completely frozen landscape! In like manner, worship and praise have a greenhouse effect in our souls, providing conditions for life in the midst of a spiritually barren environment. Lord of Life, I will praise You at all times! Faith springs alive in my heart, warmed by Your Glorious Presence and Resplendent Light in the midst of darkness.

“The tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” Luke 18:13 ESV. A heart that understands the unmerited grace God offers will not fall victim to a superiority complex toward others. If we are still under the delusion that we're blessed because of our moral rectitude or exceptional knowledge, then, like the pharisee, prideful judgmentalism is assured. Religious arrogance paralyzes spiritual progress and sets us up for a fall. I want to believe that I’ve left all sanctimonious pride far behind, but it still pops up like burnt toast from time to time. Spiritual pride can remain in our soul camouflaged as feeling a notch above fellow believers. It's not pleasing to God for me to deny someone else the mercy and grace on which I so heavily depend. Lord, have mercy on my earthly ways and make me more like You. May my pursuit of piety never produce a holier-than-thou response to others. 

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,” Philippians 1:9 NKJV. Making well-informed and thought-through decisions is important for moving forward, but there is no dependable substitute for divinely guided discernment. We need good judgment and the help of God’s promptings to distinguish between inspired thoughts and selfish fantasies since they often appear the same at first glance. The immature soul, driven by personal desire and emotion, can be easily confused. Imagination is a wonderful gift from God, but like everything else in this life, it must be deliberately brought under surrendered obedience to Him through His Word and Spirit. There are no shortcuts to God’s highest and best. Lord of All Creation, teach me to truly submit my thoughts to You today. Help me calibrate my dreams, desires, and meditations to Your perfect path. 

“For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,” Psalm 116:8 ESV. While raising our children, we became quite accustomed to tears; each day offered many. Most of the tearful moments resulted from minor disappointments or injuries, but occasionally there was genuine heartache. While “The Wailing Show” was more easily dismissed, a single, silent tear poised on the cheek of a sorrowful little face was riveting. Everything else stopped while full household attention was given to that one anguished soul. It is the same with God and His children. Father, You turn our mourning into dancing and tears of sorrow to tears of joy! Lord of All Comfort, one small teardrop of true repentance, or one tiny tear of heartbreak unleashes angels, archangels, and the whole company of heaven to our troubles. 

My son keep my words and treasure up my commandments within you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart,” Proverbs 7:1-3 NIV. The Word of God identifies and repairs what is broken within us and when engraved upon the heart, it also protects us from future catastrophes. Daily intake of Scripture not only informs us, it transforms us, and transports us to higher ground. I am not capable of honest self-evaluation without standing before the lighted mirror of the Word of God. Nitro glycerin can unearth mountains and in like manner, Scripture applied deep within can unearth the most stubborn resistance. Hardness of heart is pulverized by God’s Holy Word. Blessed Lord flood my heart with Your Power as I drink deeply from the Well of Life. Your Promises are my counselors, protectors, my refuge, deliverer, and victory! 

“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 self 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 just do anything I   want, but I CAN do whatever God wants! So, the things He commands in His Word are not suggestions; they are our marching orders! His heavenly provision back-up His plans for us! LORD, use me for Your Glory as You will. 

“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,” Ephesians 4:26 ESV. The powerful Santa Ana Winds are what fuels the California wildfires each fall. A fire needs plenty of air to reach its full potential. If ventilation is cut off, the flames die out. The same can be said of anger. While quiet, seething anger is dangerous, venting our anger openly to others can lead to a raging inferno. Spreading our anger to others does not get rid of it, it only makes intensifies it. Every emotion has a proper place in life but when anger is permitted to run freely, our rage becomes our destruction. We are warned: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice,” Ephesians 4:31 NIV. My consternations must remain surrendered to God. LORD, snuff out the embers of anger within my heart. Smother every flame within me that is displeasing to you.

“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters a nd  hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water,” Jeremiah 2:13 NKJV. Not every source of water is equal. On the surface, there is little difference between a spring-fed lake and a retention pond. The sky reflects beautifully over both, but in the lake abides healthy life-giving water. In the retention-pond is the runoff of the surrounding streets and lawns; its aquatic life is dangerous to consume, and no one with good sense would drink from its contaminated waters. I do not want my soul to be filled with the tainted runoff of the world around me. I need the daily flow of living waters to flood my soul. LORD, In Your Mercy, pour Your cleansing truth into my soul and make my heart like a pristine mountain lake, teeming with life and welcoming all to safely enjoy its bounty. 

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you,” Ephesians 4:32 ESV. Though past disappointments may still sting within, there is no loss in offering authentic kindness to others, even to those who have hurt us. When kindness is practiced without ulterior motives, we touch for a moment the glory and nature of God. I John 4:8 proclaims: “God is love.” Since kindness is one of the principal characteristics of love, offering kindness is one of the highest examples of genuine godliness. I Corinthians 13:4 ranks patience and kindness right at the top of the “Love List.” Even when our kindness is rejected by those to whom it is offered, it benefits the giver and invites the blessing of the Almighty. Father, You are love, and You are kind beyond description. Let Your loving flow through me that I may be more like You. Make me Your instrument of lovingkindness to others. 

“While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease,” Genesis 8:22 ESV. Understanding the principles of seedtime and harvest is a powerful motivator for wise planting. Everything we do or say is, in essence, spreading seeds in the ground; the people we meet, family, friends, co-workers, even strangers passing by are soil. We rarely know the full story of how our life impacts others, but it is sobering to realize there is a harvest, both good and bad, from the seeds I have scattered. In the case of the good seeds sown, I pray for a bumper harvest; as for the bad seed, I pray for God’s mercy and forgiveness and for permanent crop failure for those seeds. Lord of All, forgive me for forgetting how significant each action is. Help me display Your goodness to those You place in my path. May only good seed be spread from my life that You O LORD would be glorified. 

“For who has despised the day of small things?” Zechariah 4:10 NKJV. Actually, I have many times, but I’ve since learned that most really huge things begin very small; little seeds produce huge trees, huge buildings begin as tiny marker flags, a quick smile between two people can lead to a multi-generational family. Most importantly, I’ve learned that for God, nothing is too small, and nothing is too big. I’m more easily drawn into the big things, but I’ve learned that faithfulness in the small things leads to great results in the big picture.” “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much,” Luke 16:10 ESV. Today’s small acts of faithfulness lead to great possibilities for tomorrow. Blessed Father, grant me the grace to be faithful in the small things and use me in whatever capacity that pleases You. 

“There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us, therefore, strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience,” Hebrews 4:9-11 ESV. Rest and comfort seem similar but are actually quite different. Rest prepares me for what is next; comfort settles me into what has been. Everyone needs a little comfort, but too much of it feeds selfishness and feelings of entitlement, leaving us maladjusted for personal sacrifice. Rest stops are for those going somewhere, but comfort zones are for the dying. Our culture defines rest as relaxation, but Biblical rest is rooted in trust in God and is His gift to us for our journey ahead. Father, teach me to enter Your rest and to esteem your Spirit’s comfort above all other comforts.

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks,” Luke 6:45 NKJV. What I inwardly value, wish for, ponder, contemplate, daydream, or give more than a passing thought ultimately drives what I outwardly say and do. It is straightforward, garbage in, garbage out, good stuff in, good stuff out. Psalm 1:1-2 ESV proclaims: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night.” Jesus demonstrated to us how His inner life allowed Him to effectively minister among the worst of sinners while simultaneously exposing the hypocrisy of the outwardly religious. LORD, help me keep it real. May my love for You be genuine and my love for othe...

“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work,” 2 Timothy 2:21 ESV. One of the discomforts of traveling in many Third-World nations is the common use of open sewage lines in otherwise modern cities. While not as terrible as one might think, still, the unpleasant odors become a constant nuisance. Over time you get somewhat acclimated to it and only occasionally notice its presence. The same is true of our spiritual walk; allowing sewage to run openly through our lives will dull our senses to its presence. While we live in this world, we must learn to walk carefully among those who are perishing and set an example of spiritual discipline. High and Lofty One, lift me from the squalor of worldliness and cleanse the polluting stream of immorality from my soul. Make my life a sweet savor before You and others.  

“O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and  watch,” Psalm 5:3 ESV. The miracle of light was the Creator’s first gift to creation, and it is still one of His most wonderful gifts. Each new daybreak brings all that is obscured by the darkness of night back into full view. It is so natural, so repetitive, and so normal that we lose sight of the miraculous blessing it is. Dark to light is God’s daily dispensation of life and benevolence. As it is with the earth, so it is with my soul. It is by the very same hand that lights the world that my darkest moments are transformed to resplendent beauty, my mourning to laughter, and my sorrows to gladness. Lord of Light, drive all darkness from my soul. Give light and divine insight to my spiritual eyes and keep my lamp burning. May others see Your radiance in me today. 

“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him,” Psalm 18:30 NIV. Americans have become very dependent upon electronic navigational tools to help them get from one place to another. But I also need to navigate relationships, circumstances, decisions, opportunities, losses, and disappointments. This is where only Divine navigational tools will work. Learning the “God’s Way” navigational system is vital for perfect arrivals. His Word, His Spirit, discernment, prayer, and the good counsel of spiritual people combine to provide needed guidance through unfamiliar territory. His promise: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you,” Psalm 32:8 ESV. “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail,” Is...

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you,” 1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV. As soon as I awaken each day, my mind is bombarded with unresolved issues; there is never a shortage of them. My first inclination is to start working on solutions. Yet, I know from experience that this will only provide temporary relief at best and often leads to further confusion. Turning to the wrong sources for the answers I need 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. 

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds,” Psalm 147:3 ESV. God, who created everything from nothing, is never put off by the size or amount of my needs. Human languages contain words such as unbearable, unapproachable, incomprehensible, inconceivable, invisible, untouchable, unsearchable, unchangeable, and the list goes on and on. But words such as these do not exist in God’s celestial vocabulary since He has none of these limitations. By one single breath life came to all mankind, with His words "Let there be light," darkness was vanquished, and by one act of love, redemption was wrought for the whole world for all time. Gracious and Majestic Lord, the more I learn of Your greatness the more my soul’s brokenness is defeated, and my healing accomplished. I will praise Your name forever and ever! 

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together  for good, for those who are called according to his purpose,” Romans 8:28 ESV.  Even after miraculous deliverance, Israel’s final escape from four hundred years of slavery in Egypt was fraught with complications. And just as things had greatly improved, they saw an army in angry pursuit to the rear, an opening sea ahead and empty desert beyond. When your back is against the wall, the only choice is to move forward. I get this. Most of my significant progress has been forced by difficult circumstances. The goodness of God doesn’t always look so good at first glance, but in the end, He works His will in us and through us, most often using circumstances we would never choose along the way. Glorious Father, I praise and exalt you. You formed me for Your will, and You keep pressing me into it. LORD, Your wonders never cease. 

No, I didn’t misspell it; please allow me to explain. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies were “free, united and independent states.” While we did indeed declare independence from the British Government and its laws, we also declared dependence upon God and upon one another. A portion of the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence reads: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government.” Again, Independence Day represents independence from a foreign government but equally stands as the declar...

“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot,” Proverbs 14:30 ESV. Why should I waste time wishing that God had made me differently? I was made to fulfill His sovereign plan in the earth, so changing the basic design would disqualify me from my created purpose here. After all, is it “My Life” in the first place? He is the Giver of Life, so I should trust his judgments. Envy has no place in the life of a true believer. I can be inspired by others, informed by others, and learn to emulate the good qualities of others, but only to enhance my life, not trade it for someone else’s as if mine was not divinely engineered by my Creator. LORD, deliver me from every trace of envy within my soul and help me be the best version of the man you designed me to be. And in Your Goodness and Mercy, use me to help others do the same. 

“The Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one,” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV. Having raised a houseful of children, we learned a few things about the challenges and blessings of childhood curiosity. When they were small, we often kept things just out of their reach, and certain things we kept away from our home altogether. As a child of God, I must keep in mind that whatever is beyond my reach was put there by my Heavenly Father. In some cases, things are just beyond touch to urge me forward or encourage me to climb higher. However, the extra distance is for my protection in other situations, keeping me from unnecessary pain or worse. It is comforting to know, the Holy One who places things beyond my grasp can just as easily drop them in my lap if it accomplishes His will. Blessed Lord, I trust Your ways, knowing that what is inaccessible for me is firmly in Your grip. 

“Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up,” Acts 27:20 NKJV. One of life’s true delights is to enjoy an afternoon breeze off the ocean on a sunny summer afternoon. But the wind is not always so nice. It is hard to comprehend the power of the unseen; how something as docile as air can become a tempest of terror as a tornado or hurricane. I depend upon the air for my every breath, yet it may take my life in the wrong set of circumstances. Relationships can be the same. While they are vitally necessary and a cornucopia of blessings, they too can unexpectantly go from wonderful to devastating. Human love, as wonderful as it is, can turn into hatred. Only in God-centered relationships can earthborn love be entirely safe. Gracious Lord, You must be first within every intimacy. Let my love be pure, and my heart true to You at all times.