COFFEE ON THE DOCK

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. HAPPY NEW YEAR, HAPPY NEW DAY, HAPPY NEW FUTURE!  2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV). G od has already stocked this new beginning with valuable lessons, previously unseen opportunities, unique challenges, unexpected blessings, Life-changing experiences, and spiritual insights. Today is the day to leave failures behind, unforgiveness in the dust and to firmly embrace redeeming grace and new vision from God. And what of the dangers of the past creeping forward into this new year? No worries, He’s got this: “The Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard,” Isaiah 52:8 (ESV). Today You have provided a unique and powerful pathway to a higher life, divinely orchestrated from beginning to end. Hallelujah!! I will lift up my eyes to You.

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends,” John 15:13 ESV. “For twenty years, This sailor has stood the watch, While some of us were in our bunks at night, This sailor stood the watch,” (1 st   four verses of a 23-verse poem called “THE WATCH”). Quite a few times I have heard, and or read with tears this most moving poem called “The Watch”. I have never served in the U.S. military nor as a first responder, but I have a deep, lifelong love and respect for those who have. I’ve never patrolled a dark street in a rough neighborhood as a police officer, nor have I run into a burning building to save a stranger as our brave first responders do every day. Instead, I have stood the watch over the souls of family, friends and tens of thousands of strangers throughout the world. Now I fight each day for the rights of the Jewish people to have a biblically promised homeland. God places us in this life with a mission of His design. It somet...

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him,” 2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV. In the James Cameron movie “Avatar” the phrase “I see you” is used to describe seeing someone’s true essence. It was to acknowledge their value and expressed a deep love for that person. This type of love is 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. 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. 

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,” 2 Peter 1:3 ESV. Jerusalem is one of the world’s most ancient cities. Thousands of years of building and rebuilding have left its oldest sections buried deep underground. Constant excavations guarantee that new treasures are found daily by those who seek them. Each unearthed artifact leads to a greater understanding of the city’s true character. The work of God’s Word and Spirit has the same effect within us. He exposes and removes the rubble and refuse of the past and surfaces hidden treasures that He previously implanted. These divine attributes are designed for God’s purpose for each of His children. Lord God expose every part of my heart to Your Light and use me for Your Glory.

“And  He took them in His arms   and blessed them, laying his hands on them,” Mark 10:16 (ESV). Jesus didn’t show anger much, but he was openly “indignant” when the disciples deprived parents of bringing children and 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 the love of God within me. Little arms, huge arms, soft touches, warm embraces, shoulder squeezes, they nourish my soul. The bible speaks of God’s “everlasting arms”. That I may be used by Him to comfort and bless 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. 

“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 for 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 and deliver me from cover-ups. 

My brother-In-Law, Jack McCall, Sharon’s only sibling, passed away today after a long battle with cancer. Now he is now whole again and in the presence of his Redeemer. I’ve known Jack for 48 years. He loved to sing in churches and did so as often as he could. Jack has now joined the biggest and best choir ever! I’m sad, yet joyful. Please pray for Sharon’s mom Bettie, Jack’s wife Cheryl, his children and grandchildren, and My Sharon. We’ll see you again my brother.