Coffee With The Lord

If I were serving as the pastor of a congregation today, I’d use the following “call to worship” tomorrow in the “worship service” [hint – hint!)!  I read it this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord.”  A wonderful call to worship – a great praise entre – “unfailing love – forever faithfulness!”

Here it is from Psalm 89:1-8 NLT adapted as a call to worship…

“I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever!

Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.

Your unfailing love will last forever.

Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.

All heaven will praise your great wonders, Lord;

myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness.

For who in all of heaven can compare with the Lord?

The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God.

He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne.

O Lord of Hosts!

Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O Lord?

You are entirely faithful.

You rule the oceans.

You subdue the storm-tossed waves.

The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours;

everything in the world is yours—you created it all.

Powerful is your arm!

Strong is your hand!

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.

Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.

Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,

for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation.

They exult in your righteousness.”

Hey, have a God-exalting – Christ-honoring Lord’s Day!!!

Here’s a spiritual secret … God sometimes allows painful, unpleasant things to happen to us and come our way (even remain – without delivering us) to display the marvel of His enabling grace in our lives and prove that His power works best in human weakness!

Apostle Paul experienced it… I read about it this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” … He experienced a “thorn in his flesh” and said, “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.  Each time He said to me, ‘My grace is all you need!  My power works best in weakness’… that’s why I rejoice in my weakness, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ.  For when I am weak, then I am strong!” (From 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10 NLT)

One of the hardest things for an excellent mentor (or loving parent) to do is stand back, let the protégé, son or daughter, wrestle with an issue, and [after all the life-lessons] allow them to struggle with an issue or challenge, and with assured presence and encouraging words, demonstrate they can handle it!  That’s just a lot like what God does… His word to guide us, His Spirit to empower us, and His presence to encourage us, as we face trials He allows to come our way… NOT delivering us, but “gracing” us, empowering us, and encouraging us!  God’s power displayed through human weakness… and the result?  God glorified!  “When I am weak, then am I strong!”