Coffee With The Lord

Proper timing is a REALLY big deal… in sports, in business, in medicine, in education, in personal relationships… in nearly everything I can think of !  So when I read this in the Bible this morning I just had to post it (along with a brief reflection I wrote in the margin of my Bible…

Here is what the passage in the Bible says:

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
-A time to be born, and a time to die;
-A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
-A time to kill, and a time to heal;

-A time to break down, and a time to build up;
-A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
-A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
-A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
-A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
-A time to seek, and a time to lose;
-A time to keep, and a time to cast away;
-A time to tear, and a time to sew;
-A time to keep silent, and a time to speak;
-A time to love, and a time to hate;
-A time for war, and a time for peace.

(From Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV)

And then my personal reflection and prayer…

“Oh Lord, may I ALWAYS prayerfully consider the proper time for things!  I believe you will lead and guide in all of these things!”

Today in my Bible reading during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read about the effective and powerful communication of God’s word by Apostle Paul and Barnabus in Iconium in ancient Galatia (part of what we now call Turkey)…  Here’s how Acts 14.1-7 puts it…

“Paul and Barnabus went as usual into the Jewish synagogue.  There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed… They spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.”

These words caused me to express thanksgiving to God for all those, who anointed by the Holy Spirit, effectively communicate God’s word in our culture!  One of the great joys of my life has been the privilege of hearing some of the greatest gifted communicators of God’s word – some of them local pastors, some itinerant evangelists, others missionaries and church leaders!  What a privilege to hear God’s word proclaimed with integrity, skill, and power!  There’s nothing like “anointed preaching”!!!  And then as an added blessing to see the message confirmed by people putting their trust in Christ and accompanied by signs and wonders (the miraculous) – powerful Pentecostal preaching!!!  Something to be grateful for!!!  And believe me, I am grateful for it!!

So this Thanksgiving season, I want to pause and express gratitude for my local pastor, Lennon Noland, one of the finest young preachers I know, at Trinity Church, Waxahachie, Texas … for our General Superintendent in the Assemblies of God, Doug Clay; and for every pastor, evangelist and missionary that have powerfully proclaimed the life-transforming message of the Gospel that has enriched my life over the years!!!  Thank you!  Thank you!!  Thank you!!!  I’m praying for you (and doing my best to honor God with my personal communication of His wonderful word every opportunity I have)!

HEY, THERE’S VALUE IN BEING A “NICE PERSON” AS A CHRISTIAN!  It enhances the power and potency of your testimony!  It’s the kind of life the Lord can bless!

In my Bible reading this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I was reminded of that fact.  Apostle Peter had just dealt with the responsibilities and behavior of Christians as citizens (1 Peter 2:13-17)… Then he spoke to “servants” about their work ethic (1 Peter 2:18-21 – and what he says applies to employees as well!)… Then the responsibility of wives and husbands within the context of marriage and the home is addressed (2 Peter 3:1-7).  But he ends it all up by saying…

“FINALLY, ALL OF YOU, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.  Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”  (1 Peter 3:8–9 ESV)

Christians are called upon to be exceptionally, consistently, kind, gracious, NICE people!  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it were always that way?  Wouldn’t the cause of Christ be furthered?  Wouldn’t the “Gospel” have maximized impact?  I gotta tell you I want to be that kind of Christian!  Don’t you?  I know, it will take the grace of God and the fruit of the Holy Spirit working in my life to pull it off… But isn’t that Who is working in our lives?  Hey, we can do this!