Coffee With The Lord

Here I am this morning sitting with my Bible in my  thinking about some wonderful godly friends and family that have slipped away into heaven…  Some from accidents, others from disease, others for a variety of reasons.  Sweet memories!!  Wonderful, wonderful people!!  So dear to me!!

I’m sure some of you have memories of dear ones to you – sons, daughters, parents, other family members and dear friends who have died and are now with the Lord!  We miss them so much! But, nevertheless, sweet memories!!

Here are some verses I read this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” that prompted these thoughts… I send them your way this morning…

“Then I heard a voice from heaven say… ‘Blessed are the dead in the Lord!’  ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’” (Revelation 14:13)

May these word from the Bible bring you comfort today!  May your memories be sweet and precious!!  More than that, may the hope of a wonderful reunion one day fill your heart and mind!!

So… here I am – along with you – this Christmas season savoring sweet memories of wonderful Christians who have gone on ahead of us – wonderful followers of Jesus – who have left us a godly legacy and reliable path to follow into the eternal life and incredible destiny the God has prepared for those who love Him.  ‘Blessed! … Yes blessed!  Their deeds follow them!”

Looking for an interesting, uplifting, and NEW Bible reading plan for the coming year?  The “NECESSARY FOOD” BIBLE READING PLAN is for you!

Perhaps in previous years you’ve gotten bogged down in the “genealogies” of the Bible and given up reading the Bible through.  With “NECESSARY FOOD” you have a “balanced Spiritual diet” – you read a passage from each of the following parts of the Bible daily…

• The Old Testament historical books
• Bible Poetry (Psalms, Proverbs, etc.)
• The prophetic books (in the Old Testament and Revelation)
• The New Testament historical books (the gospels and Acts)
• And the epistles 

Not only that, the reading plan is “passage driven” – focusing on the natural divisions of Scripture – NOT just a pre-determined number of verses.

The plan’s name is based upon Job 23:12 in the Bible:  Job said, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my NECESSARY FOOD!”  And the “good news” is… following the “NECESSARY FOOD” Bible reading plan you complete the entire Bible in a year!

I’ve attached a “pdf” copy of the most recent edition of the Bible reading plan for your convenience (you can download her and print it)… BUT IT’S ALSO AVAILABLE NOW ONLINE TO ANYONE WITH A FREE FAITHLIFE APP or a LOGOS BIBLE STUDY ACCOUNT.  You can download the app, access it, and read it on your smartphone, your tablet or computer.  My grandson, Noah Dresselhaus, has worked with me to help make this available to you.  Attached find the instructions for accessing the plan and reading it online via FAITHLIFE/LOGOS below…

During my time of reflection and prayer today, during “coffee with the Lord,” I was reminded (I believe by the Holy Spirit) of the negative and hurtful impact of “ulterior motives” and “hidden agendas” … It is so easy to do things – even good things – for the wrong reasons… self-centered reasons, manipulative reasons – even dishonest and evil reasons.  Ulterior motives” and “hidden agendas” are sinful! … OUCH!

As a Bible college student many years ago, a godly “dean” W. H. Kesler, taught all of us at “HCBI” (later Trinity Bible College) to pray the following “Bible Prayer” every day in our chapel services…  I am convinced it would be a healthy antidote and cleansing agent to “ulterior motives” and “hidden agendas”… It has been a wonderful help to me over the years!

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!” (from Psalm 139:23-24)

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer!” (from Psalm 19:14)

And then this affirmation/declaration:  “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live – yet not I, but Christ lives in me.  And the life I live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me!” (from Galatians 2:20)

Oh Lord, cleanse me – set me free from “ulterior motives” and “hidden agendas!”