COFFEE ON THE DOCK

We exercise our bodies to be healthier, yet we ignore our lips, even though they are even more potent than our strongest muscles. We are told in Proverbs 18:21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” The things I say can enlighten or deceive, bless or curse, release or entrap, stir love, or cause hatred. In a world where communication and the expression of ideas, opinions, and commentaries are more accessible than ever before, even greater caution should be taken. We should be careful to only speak truth embodied in love. My mouth must be a fountain of blessings, not a cauldron of poison. My words must always be saturated with kindness and wisdom. O LORD My Maker, fill my heart and lips with words of life. Let my words bring sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

The St. Petersburg Airport was dreary, unfriendly, and cold in 1990 Soviet Russia. I was traveling alone, headed home after an exhausting week of ministry. Surprisingly, a small group of American college students was spread across the dimly lighted departure area. It was a sullen scene, but in an instant, everything changed. One of the young men stood on a chair and enthusiastically proclaimed: “Ladies and gentlemen, seated among us is Mr. Ted Williams, the greatest baseball player who ever lived.” It was true, and there sat Coach Bobby Knight as well; they had been filming a fishing show in Eastern Russia. At that moment, the whole place was transformed by the unexpected presence of greatness. Lord, You are greatness personified! Help me enthusiastically reveal Your Transforming Presence to others! 

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” Ephesians 4:32 NKJV.   Kindness is one of the principal characteristics of a spirit-controlled life. Kindness activates love, forgiveness, tenderheartedness, patience, and a host of other godly virtues. Kindness and forbearance are both listed as “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22 and should be our constant guides while passing through times of turmoil, anger, disagreements, and fights. Kindness is a forethought, not a reaction. I often feel angry reactions pop up like burnt toast within me, but I have learned the critical importance of bathing my reactions with patience and kindness, especially in those moments. LORD grant me fresh grace today to be kind in all I say and do. And help my neighbors, friends, family, fellow citizens, and our nation to be kind.

“Fear the Lord and shun evil,” Proverbs 3:7 NIV. “Shun evil.” These are biblical words that seem archaic in modern church culture. A huge mistake we often make in dealing with evil is to focus on the host rather than the source. People can become so overcome by evil, they seem like evil personified, but the fountainhead of corruption is Satan’s rebellion. This is critical to understand because even very good people can do evil things. It’s complicated, but a key to godliness is learning to shun sin, not the sinner. Yet his is a mistake often made by sincere believers. The fear of God is a death blow to evil. Godly fear is to respect and reverence Him above all else. We are to love and obey Him as Father and Lord and to hate sin yet love sinners. O LORD my Redeemer, deliver me from evil and help me love You and others with Your Perfect Love. 

“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.