COFFEE ON THE DOCK

“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction,” Isaiah 48:10 ESV. On my very first trip into the Soviet Union during the Cold War, I was surprised to find a bright little store in an otherwise drab and grey place. We were guided to a back alley by our taxi driver, who behaved as if he were revealing a Soviet State Secret. The small shop had magnificent porcelain pottery. I bought several pieces and carefully packed them for my trip back to America. Upon arrival back home, I opened my suitcase only to find that all but one piece was broken; they had not been sufficiently heated and hardened in the kiln. I do not like going through the furnace of trials life can bring, yet it is the “furnace of affliction” that strengthens me for what is next. Father, You are the Potter; I am the clay. Grant me grace for the furnace that I may have fortitude for the journey.

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved,” Psalm 55:22 ESV. As soon as I awaken each day, my mind is bombarded with unresolved problems; there is never a shortage of them. My first inclination is to share my troubles with others, yet I know from experience that this will only provide temporary relief at best and often leads to further disappointment. Turning to the wrong sources 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. 

HIGH AS A KITE Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in,” Psalm 24:7 ESV. Watching a kite soaring high in the sky while still bound to earth got me thinking; the disciplines that at times tie me down are actually designed by God to lift me higher. Left to the wind alone a kite will fly but soon crash. The string that holds it back actually gives it lift as it is let out slowly, the updraft carrying it to dizzying heights. In the same manner, left to my own devices, I too, will crash. It is both the wisdom of God and the goodness of God to tie me to divinely designated restraints. Yet He sends daily fresh winds to my soul, reminding me I’m destined for above. Father, thank you for the commitments and responsibilities I sometimes resent. You created me to soar, and with Your binding hand and lifting breath, there are no limits as I cling to You  

Generally speaking, I am not so easily bamboozled. The great exception to this is my own self-generated excuses to NOT DO something I know I SHOULD DO but don’t want to. Sadly, I often find my internal arguments for non-action sufficient enough to do little or nothing to actually change my mind. Here, I must pause and give thanks to the Spirit of the Living God Who will not let me have my way without a fight. His constant and compelling promptings confront my self-deceptions and provoke me to change my ways. We learn in John 14:26 (ESV): “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you,”. Lord of Truth and Light, I am earnestly listening. Fall afresh upon me and pour your light into every   unsurrendered crevasse of my soul. Reverse the work of stubbornness in me and push me forward into those things that please You. 

“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters,” Psalm 23:2 ESV. Sometimes a lake can be so still everything above it is reflected upon its surface. This is what God wants of me; I too, must settle down and be still, allowing Him to be mirrored upon my life. So, what is my problem? Ripples. What God sees of Himself in me is too often distorted by every shifting wind. “And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm,” Mark 4:39 ESV. “Great calm!” I should not allow passing circumstances to constantly ruffle me. Instead, I must permit His abiding peace to calm my soul so that His majesty can be clearly reflected in my life. This is a daily battle. Father, I am content in Your care. Glorify Yourself in me, make my whole life like still waters so Your greatness may be fully reflected. 

“And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of one's possessions’,” Luke 12:15 ESV. Coveting is a pernicious and deceptive sin. It may begin as an innocent attraction, interest, or admiration, but it leads to destruction. In fact, covetousness is akin to worshiping a false God according to Colossians 3:5, “covetousness, which is idolatry”. Covetousness is a renunciation of trust in God’s divine care and leads us to believe no desire should ever be denied us, no matter how wrong. A covetous heart cannot love anyone purely but self. Thankfulness, on the other hand, leads us to the Light. A grateful heart opens the way to unlimited peace and inexhaustible love since it focuses on the Provider, not the provision. O Lord My Shepherd, cleanse my heart from earthly entanglements. Grant me a true love for You and others.

“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend,” Proverbs 27:5-6 ESV. Friendships bring pleasantness to one’s life in so many ways, but the greatest treasure is the earnest counsel that comes from a true comrade. The honest advice of a trusted friend lifts and blesses the soul. Earthly love always comes laden with human imperfections, yet when authentically offered, it has flashes of God’s amazing and perfect love. I’ve not always welcomed loving advice at the moment, but I can honestly say I am deeply indebted to those who love me enough to confront my blunders and wrongdoings. Heavenly Father, thank You for my friends. Each one reveals a facet of Your Glory. I especially thank You for those treasured friends who love so deeply that they will risk offering wise and unvarnished counsel. Help me be that kind of friend to others.