COFFEE ON THE DOCK

“No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him,” 2 Timothy 2:4 ESV. High-level strategic planning and oversight from our Commander in Chief are critical to victory, but wars are not won at Headquarters; battles are won on the battlefield. The soldier’s heart and mind cannot be on civilian affairs or on future dreams. Battlefield victory is achieved when each soldier is WHERE they are assigned WHEN they are scheduled to be there and WITH the training, needed resources, and personal commitment to finish the fight. The LORD has appointed each of us to our position in this spiritual battle for souls. He has prepared us for our individual roles and armed us for what is ahead. LORD, I await Your order to hold position or advance on the enemy as You command. 

“Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying,   ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever   follows me will not   walk in darkness, but will have the light of life,’” John 8:12 ESV.  Light shining into darkness needs no clarification; when light appears, additional confirmation is not required; it is obvious what it is. When there is light within view, it is not hard to find the source. Darkness does not obscure light. In fact, deep darkness amplifies light’s beauty and transformative power when it arrives, even in the smallest amount. Considering these simple truisms gives new meaning to “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” This doesn’t sound complicated; the light within us and upon us points attention to the Father. LORD, You are the Light and Life of the World; help me to reflect the grace and love of Your Light to others.

“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day,” 2 Peter 3:8 ESV. Though small children have plenty of time on their hands they still must learn to wait. Nothing seems to put their little souls to the test more than having to delay something they want right now. A long road trip is especially hard for them to get their minds around and is usually repeatedly peppered with the question: “Are we there yet?” Actually, we never quite grow out of this; patience with God’s pace is still an issue for most of us. His timing is perfect so I must learn to not bail out before His chosen time of arrival. I must also resist the temptation to interpret the delay as a sign God doesn’t want me to do something. Heavenly Father teach me the difference between “No” and “Not Yet”. Grant me grace for the journey and help me not miss the lessons in the detours. 

“T he   Lord   appeared to him   from far away.   I have loved you with an everlasting love,   therefore   I have continued   my faithfulness to you,”  Jeremiah 31:3 ESV . Anytime you are around others, you can be sure someone needs affirmation or encouragement. No matter how things look on the outside, there is always more going on within than meets the eye. So, I try to stay on the hunt for those who may need an encouraging conversation. Speaking hopeful words is a skill that grows in effectiveness with practice. I, myself, am lifted as I seek to lift others, but genuine, intentional encouragement must be done without a selfish motive to be effective. Sometimes, I can actually feel the breath of God in those privileged moments when His love is reaching out to someone’s secret pain through me. What a joy! Lover of Souls, use me today to speak a good word to someone’s heart. 

“May the LORD direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ,” 2 Thessalonians 3:5 ESV. What a powerful prayer! “May the LORD DIRECT YOUR HEARTS.” Too often, my heart is drawn toward useless interests. As I’ve aged, I’ve increasingly realized that time is one of life’s most precious resources. I have moderate control over how I spend my time, but I cannot create more of it. I truly need the LORD to point me toward what He desires each moment of each day. My heart must be bathed daily in His love and recharged with the steadfastness of the Son of God. Jesus’ earthly mission was driven by His divine calling, and so should mine. In fact, this should be so for each of us who call ourselves His disciples. Father, grant me Your divine guidance this new day. Point my heart toward what pleases you and give me the courage to act accordingly. 

“He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken,” Psalm 62:2 ESV. Having lived in Costa Rica for a couple of years, we had become so accustomed to minor tremors that we didn’t even notice the actual earthquake until the ground began to heave and shake. It is very disorienting to discover that everything can be shaken at once and can last for such a long time! We don’t expect our world to convulse, but sometimes it does. In those bewildering moments, on what will I stand? “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,” Hebrews 12:28 ESV. “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. 

  “He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken,” Psalm 62:2 ESV. Having lived in Costa Rica for a couple of years, we had become so accustomed to minor tremors that we didn’t even notice the actual earthquake until the ground began to heave and shake. It is very disorienting to discover that everything can be shaken at once and can last for such a long time! We don’t expect our world to convulse, but sometimes it does. In those bewildering moments, on what will I stand? “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,” Hebrews 12:28 ESV. “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.