Coffee With The Lord

Many of you are aware of my practice to send a “Scriptural Birthday Greeting” to my Facebook friends on their birthdays.  I have collected a whole list of appropriate greetings from the Bible.  Today my Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord” included one of my very favorite birthday greetings.  Believe me, it’s a wonderful passage!  Perhaps I have sent it your way in the past on a birthday or some other special occasion.  It would be difficult to find anything in the Bible that is more appropriate or gracious to share with someone you care about and love for any special occasion for that matter.  I’m passing it on to you today (birthday or not).  A BLESSING FROM THE LORD IS ALWAYS SPECIAL!!!

Here it is – Psalm 20:1-5!!!

“May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!  May he send you help from His sanctuary and give you support from Zion!  May He remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices!  May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!  May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!” (Psalm 20:1–5 English Standard Version)

If it’s your birthday… Happy Birthday!  If it’s not your birthday… just enjoy it and be blessed!!  If it’s some other special occasion accept it from God… and Me… to YOU!! 

Lent is usually a period of 40 days, observed by Christians from several different denominations that begins on Ash Wednesday, (this year – March 2) and ending on April 14, just before Easter.  It is a period of time devoted to self-denial (i.e., “fasting” of various kinds), introspection and reflection.  I have Christian friends who are observing it with the hope of increased devotion and Spiritual growth.

Interestingly, my devotional time this morning (I call it “coffee with the Lord”) included Isaiah 58… a worthy read I must say during Lent!

As I read it today, this question formed in my mind… Is it possible that what Isaiah has to say on the subject of “fasting” should be heeded as it relates to Lent?

This is not all that the chapter urges, but the following excerpt certainly should guide and challenge us…

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?  

“Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.  Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

“If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” (From Isaiah 58:6–11 ESV)

And my prayer after reading that?  Oh Lord, during this season of Lent, may the fasting I practice resemble more closely what Your word urges me to do in Isaiah 58!  And the promises you give there?  May they be fulfilled in my life as a result!!!

I was reminded of two big “theological” words often used to describe God this morning during my Bible reading … “TRANSCENDENT” and “IMMANENT”!

Transcendent means that God is very big and great… Webster defines the word as “exceeding the usual limits: surpassing.  Extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary experience, beyond the limits of all possible experience and knowledge, beyond comprehension, transcending the universe or material existence.”  Response? WOW – that’s God!!!

Immanent means that God is very near – very close – very approachable… Again Webster defines it like this: “Being within the limits of possible experience or knowledge (even indwelling!).”  God – involved down to the smallest sub-atomic particle! Response? God is like that!  WOW!!!  And again, WOW!!!

That’s right!  According to the Bible GOD IS BOTH OF THESE at the same time!  You doubt it’s possible?  Well here’s what Isaiah 57:15 declares…

“Thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is ‘Holy’: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place (i.e. I’m ‘transcendent’), AND ALSO with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit (i.e. I’m immanent), to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

Believe me, WE NEED A GOD WHO IS BOTH!  (And He is both!!)  Bigger and more powerful than ANYTHING … Bigger and greater than the universe He created!  Yet immanent – close – near to help those who are in need!  One word… WOW!!! (And add to that THANK GOD!!!)