Coffee With The Lord

From my Bible reading today (1 Thessalonians 3:6-10) during my time of “Coffee with the Lord”…

When an authentic, loving Spiritual leader receives a good report about those they love and serve… “In all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith! Now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord! What thanks can we render to God for you… night and day we pray exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith!” (adapted from 1 Thessalonians 3:7-10 NKJV) Bartel’s paraphrase? “You made my day!!!”

From my Bible reading today: A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO CHRISTIAN COUPLES WHO ARE EARNESTLY SEEKING GOD FOR A CHILD…

Sometimes our anguished cries to God in prayer in this regard are answered not simply in ways that satisfy us – they can have incredible collateral benefits for the Kingdom of God long term!

Read 1 Samuel 1:1 – 2:11: Hannah, a barren wife, earnestly poured our her heart to God in prayer for a son! God heard and answered her prayer by giving her Samuel!

Samuel, in Biblical history, served as the last judge in the Old Testament, was a significant prophetic voice in Israel, and a Spirit-guided kingmaker who transitioned Israel from a tribal confederacy into a unified monarchy by anointing both Saul and David as King. In fact, two books of the Bible bear his name!

Additionally consider Hannah’s vow… She said, “As long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord!”

Who knows what significance the child you as Christian parents pray for may have?! But may I be one voice that urges you, to dedicate your children to the Lord “as long as they live” as Hannah did! Additionally, do your best to nurture them spiritually personally, and keep them surrounded by other godly influences… “The child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest” (2:11).

I don’t know what discouraging, disastrous circumstances you may be facing… BUT YOU REALLY NEED TO READ RUTH IN THE BIBLE!!! Just finished reading it today in my time of “Coffee with the Lord”

Think about what the Sovereign God did for “Naomi”: From “Naomi” (pleasant, delightful) to “Mara” (bitter, bitterness) because of her painful, seemingly hopeless circumstances she experienced, and then back to her name – “Naomi” because of what God was able to accomplish through Ruth and Boaz!

Naomi never dreamed what God would be able to bring about in His sovereignty – but God fulfilled it for her! And He didn’t just do it for her – He did it for all of us! (Check it out, her grandchild was in the lineage of the “Christ” – “Son of David” – our Savior – read Ruth 4:13-22!)

HE IS ABLE!! (Ephesians 4:20-21; Romans 8:28) He can turn a “mess” into “majesty!”