COFFEE ON THE DOCK

“He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken,” Psalm 62:2 ESV. I have lived through many small tremors, but only once did I experience a genuine earthquake. Having already lived in Costa Rica for a couple of years we had become so accustomed to small tremors that we didn’t even notice the BIG ONE until the ground began to truly heave. It is disorienting to discover that everything can be shaken at once and can last for such a long time. Frankly, we don’t expect the very ground on which we live to convulse, but sometimes it does. In those bewildering moments, on what will I stand? “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ,” 1 Corinthians 3:11 ESV. Lover of my Soul, You set my feet on solid rock. My life is safely nestled in Your Mighty Hands. In You, I safely rest. 

God loves me. Proverbs 3:12 proclaims: “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives,” ESV. And in the New Testament, we read: “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives,” Hebrews 12:6 ESV. With these passages in mind, I’m thinking that God loves me a whole lot! It seems that nothing I think or do misses His constant oversight in things both large and small and His instructive voice never ceases. So, I take heart in knowing both the severity and the goodness of God. Thankfully, He is loving and kind, being patient with my micro-changes and slow pace. But at times His rebuke is sharp and to the point. This too is the mercy, wisdom and love of God at work. Dear LORD and Father, though at times discouragement buffets my soul Your love lifts me to the heights and grants strength for the battle.

“Now, we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” 1 Corinthians 2:12 (ESV). Sharon and I are sifting through piles of stuff gathered over many years. In the process of downsizing, we are discovering how much we possess that is useless to our current lives. We have also found things that could be precious and needed by others but sit uselessly. We needed to do a personal inventory. One of the roles of God’s Spirit is to cleanse our lives from useless things and help us understand what matters, turning dusty blessings into shiny new gifts for the benefit of others. It’s time to clean our spiritual closets, activate what is of value and bless others! Gracious God. May our stewardship never be left inactive or wasted. Use all that we have and all who we are for Your Glory. 

“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 be just ahead and coming my way. At times, one looks more imminent than the other, but doom or blessing always appears to be circling the landing strip and on final approach. As it turns out, neither has ever actually arrived exactly the way I had previously imagined nor had the impact I had envisioned. In fact, what 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.  

" Through Him, we have also   obtained access by faith   into this grace   in which we stand,” Romans 5:2 (ESV). In my work, I have been “waved through” many times into amazing places. I always feel privileged when I am and am very grateful for each experience. But these are merely human spaces. No privilege in this life rises to the greatness we each obtain as believers in Our Redeemer King; we have  access to His grace ! The heavenly hosts wave us through with no restrictions as God welcomes us into His Holy Presence as family. There, none of the shackles of sin may pass, there, every chain of darkness is broken, there, we are clothed in righteousness! Hebrews 4:16 proclaims: “ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. O LORD MY GOD, Your Mercy endures forever! 

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up,” Galatians 6:9 (ESV). Frankly, I often resent the time it takes to accomplish things, but we are warned to: “not grow weary”. The “due season” is a God-ordained moment; it can’t be rushed, but it can be missed. Many years ago, while living in Costa Rica, we participated in a very unusual outreach. We hosted Tino and Olinka Wallenda as they performed an incredible stunt, walking between two of San Jose’s tallest buildings on a high-wire and sitting on a delicately balanced chair while preaching the gospel to thousands of amazed observers below. It took weeks of preparation to perform for just a few short minutes, but many came to salvation that day. LORD God, time is in Your hands. Forgive my impetuousness. Grant me the grace to accept Your choices and pace.

“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 may never be exhausted.