COFFEE ON THE DOCK

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me,” Philippians 3:16 ESV. This passage points us to reality. Instead, we often say: “I can handle it!” Brazen pride leads to tragic endings. To bulldoze through fears with unreasonable self-confidence is foolish and dangerous, but to run from fears leaves us in a state of relentless anxiety. So, what do we do? We must run to God with our terrors, face our fears and allow Him to destroy them. When the cares of this world hit us hard, we must cast them upon “the One who cares for us”1 Peter 5:7. His Promises and Presence transform doubts into dominion and fears into faith. So, in fact, I CAN handle it if I get the order straight: Run to God, Confess my fears, Believe His Word, Run and toward the Fight! Lord God, You are my Glory and the Lifter of my head! You, O Lord are my shield and deliverer, in You I put my trust and on You I cast my cares. 

“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. 

“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. 

Today is NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL DAY. The Vietnam War emerged from the First Indochinese War. The French had enough after many years of war and pulled their forces out of Vietnam in 1954, the year I was born. The U.S. became the principal financial, strategic and military leader of South Vietnam at that time. The U.S. involvement lasted until 1975. It is no exaggeration to say the Vietnam War impacted my formation as a man, my family, my friends, and their families, my generation, and the soul of our nation for two decades. Our nation has fought many wars before Vietnam and since. There will likely be new wars in the future. That is why days of remembrance like this are so important. The lessons of years past prepare us for today and tomorrow. LORD, thank you for those who have sacrificed so much for this nation. May this generation and future generations never forget the debt we owe. 

“A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool,” Proverbs 17:10 ESV. Even when offered with mixed motives, criticism is a huge motivator for my self-examination and for making the needed changes it exposes. I do not like to be critiqued, but I have learned that my personal development has been propelled by it and that criticism and unsolicited advice are vital components of my growth process. “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future,” Proverbs 19:20 ESV. When I am criticized, my first instinct is to criticize the critic, but there is no benefit by going down that path. In fact, criticism is more often than not, a glimpse into reality. It may sting, but it is actually a kind gift. Father, I welcome Your transforming power, delivered by whatever means You choose. I am earnestly thankful for the stripping away of every weakness or flaw that I may fully reflect Your Glory. 

“I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken,” Psalm 16:8 ESV. There are a lot of questions about what is ahead right now across the globe, but the psalmist got it right. He stated, “I’ve set the LORD   ALWAYS BEFORE ME ”. Based on this passage, I conclude, if the LORD is “always before you” it immediately accomplishes several things. First, it predicts what is ahead. Secondly, if the LORD is “always before you” it puts You in a “right hand” partnership with the Almighty. And thirdly, if the LORD is “always before you” it stabilizes you while everything around you is shaken! With those things settled I can stop asking “what does the future hold” and start proclaiming, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!” Father, with You before me, at my side and as my foundation, I’m all good. Help me lift others. 

In Psalm 23:5 , we read: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Nothing beats a family dinner or a meal with close friends, but God sometimes places us in close proximity to those who don’t like us or openly revile us. And then, in seemingly awkward circumstances, He sets a table of blessing before us for all to see. King David was clearly an example of this. Many things happen within this scenario. For one thing, God often lavishly blesses upon us to provoke others to jealousy and to activate their hunger for God. Sometimes, the purpose is to deal with our own pride issues or strengthen our resolve to live our faith out loud despite circumstances. Other times, we are merely learning to only see a crowd of one. The One. Father in Heaven, Your ways are mysterious, yet beautiful.