Coffee With The Lord

As many of you know, I’m a distance runner – been doing it since high school cross country … I’ve run several marathons, several half-marathons, and a lot of 10Ks. I especially love “trail running!” But the main thing is, I run for ME! And I do “Prayer Runs” nearly every day (I clock about 35-40 miles a week) and pray for the needs of family, friends, and others who send their requests my way as I run. On the week of my birthday each year (since age 65) I do an extended “Prayer Run” and run my age in miles that week (last birthday was 72).

I’ve learned a lot of life-lessons from my running and thought it might be good to share three as we approach the end of this decade and enter 2020. Here they are…

1) Patience and persistence. The Bible says, “Run the race with patience, looking to Jesus!” (Hebrews 12:1-2) The Christian life is NOT a sprint – a short run, successfully run with a burst of speed. It’s more like a marathon. In fact, the running adage for which I am known at age 72 is “I’m not fast, just stubborn!” We press on regardless of the obstacles, the pain (“no pain – no gain”), the distractions, the disappointments… even a periodic, unexpected, stumble or fall! Which brings me to the second life-lesson…

2) The need for vigilance! Anyone who has run for awhile – especially “trail runners” (those who tackle the terrain and get off the pavement to run) know that a periodic stumble or tumble is a part of running. I’ve had several falls of varying consequence… some during trail running others on pavement. Usually it not the big obstacle that gets you; instead it’s simply a lapse of vigilance… a stone, an uneven place in the pavement, something that draws your attention away from the trail for a moment. The consequences of a lack of vigilance can be painful – I’m not looking for sympathy, but one of the most painful falls I’ve taken happened about a week ago (and ended with a visit to Urgent Care and 5 stitches over my eye) and it happened on pavement because of a lack of vigilance. That’s why the Bible urges “vigilance!” (1 Peter 5:8-9) – its the little issues that can trip you up on your journey with the Lord!

3) And finally, be objective oriented – determine to finish the race! My cross-country coach always said it this way… “run patiently, run smart, and finish strong!” That’s how I intend to follow Jesus! Patiently… with vigilance… but I intend to finish strong! Heaven is my goal… Hearing Him say “well done, good and faithful servant” is my desire, and let me add, seeing His face at the finish line will top it off (“looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith!” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

For some of you who are reading this post today, it has been the most difficult and trying year of your life!  If you were honest about your feelings you would admit that 2019 can’t end and pass soon enough!  It may be death you are facing, disease, unremitting pain, a crisis, significant loss or grief you are experiencing.  You have confessed your faith in God’s providence, steadfast love, and purposes for you believe to be good (Jeremiah 29:11), but right now the realities of your life seem awfully dark, difficult and foreboding.

This post is for you!  (And I hope its message becomes “God’s word” through the Holy Spirit to you as you approach 2020 and the future lying ahead!)

First of all, I want to give you the greeting  – the blessing – I have shared with my Facebook friends on their birthday this past year… It is how Jude, in the New Testament, opened his little letter to troubled Christians…

“To all of those who are called, wrapped in the love of God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ… May mercy, peace, and love be lavished upon you! (from Jude 1-2 the NET Bible)

Then I want to share with you a brief quote from a letter written by Gorge Muller, the great English Christian, to his friend, Hudson Taylor, the founder of China Inland Mission, in his hour of deepest trial and despair (it is recorded in the wonderful Christian classic I’ve been reading, HUDSON TAYLOR’S SPIRITUAL SECRET)  May George Muller’s words to Hudson Taylor become God’s message to you! …

“On Him then reckon [calculate] – to Him look – on Him depend!  And be assured that if you walk with Him, look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you!  I’ve known the Lord for forty-four years, and say for your encouragement that He has never failed me!  In the greatest difficulties, in the heaviest trials, in the deepest poverty and necessities, He has never failed me!  I have been enabled by His grace to trust in Him and He has always appeared for my help!  I delight in speaking well of His Name!”

I know a bit about what some of you are facing (you’ve shared those things with me!)  On the other hand I am not aware of the challenges others of you are going through.  Regardless, I lifted your needs and situation to the Lord and have allowed Him to direct my prayers on your behalf!  May you, by His wonderful grace, have a better (and God-blessed) new year!

It’s the day before Christmas and this morning I had an arresting and challenging experience! I met “Glory!”

Sharon and I had gone early to the grocery store to do a little last-minute shopping. We started to check out the items we were purchasing, and I noticed the name on the identification badge of the sweet lady who was checking us out. Her badge read… “Glory.” I said to her, “Is that your given name?” And she responded, “Yes it is… like glory to God in the highest!”

I just felt I should ask if she were a believer – a Christian, a Christ follower – so I did. She responded enthusiastically, with a hand upraised, that she was.

She appeared to be from Asian descent, so I asked her what country she was from. She indicated India. I then told her that Sharon and I, through the sale of coffee and mugs when we are speaking at conferences and churches, helped fund a ministry training school in Bihar, India.

Her face darkened and she replied, “Oh, that is a hard and dangerous area of India!” And then she told us the story of her father…

She said, “My father was an ‘on-fire’ for the Lord!” He was in Bihar sharing the gospel and was assaulted by a gang of young men three times. They told him to stop or they would cut him in pieces and throw him into the river.” She said, he told them, “That’s alright – go ahead! If you do I’ll just go to heaven anyway!”

How moved Sharon and I were by our brief conversation with “Glory” on this Christmas Eve! We both left the story broken up, our eyes filled with tears – almost unable to speak!

As some of you know, every day, I lift persecuted Christians, their spouses and families to the Lord in prayer! I pray for their protection, their provision, and any need they might have that comes to mind. I pray that they will be strengthened, encouraged, and emboldened by the Holy Spirit. I pray that the Lord will open incredible doors of opportunity for them to share the gospel.

I don’t know if I ever was one who prayed for her father the day he was assaulted or not. Perhaps someone else did though. There was a line behind us at the grocery store and she was very busy checking out people, so I didn’t get to ask more questions. I may go back to the store sometime soon to see if “Glory” is still there.

But may I ask you to do something? Would you pause and pray for persecuted Christians around the world? Many are facing severe persecution today, many are in prison, separated from their families. They face hunger, danger, even death for their faith in Christ. Their spouses need prayer, their children need prayer, the churches they are a part of need prayer! Will you on this Christmas Eve or Christmas Day pause and pray for them?

Just let me say, I’m glad I met “Glory” today!