Coffee With The Lord

Developing patience is a real drag! 😉 Hallelujah anyhow!  I’m going to continue to praise the Lord – He’s in control!  I’m going to trust Him – His timing is perfect and He knows what He is doing!

Family reunion time or just some special time spent with our children or grandchildren… And one of the them makes the request… “Tell us some stories about the ‘olden days’ – some of those neat stories about miracles!” Hey I can tell you, we’re a fortunate family – it’s happened several times in our family! My Dad and Mom had some great “miracle stories” to tell – stories of healing, of God’s provision and protection, and how God honored their commitment to live for Him when times were difficult and temptations were great! Fact is, Sharon and I, along with each of my brothers and their spouses, have our own stories to add to the rich legacy of serving and trusting God! And our children and their families? They’ll have some more of their own to add!

I read about it this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” in the Bible…

“Give ear, O my people; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable [a story]; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from our children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done! He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.” (From Psalm 78:1–7 ESV)

There it is… God urging His people to share the rich spiritual legacy – the wonderful heritage of faith – from one generation to another… Passing “the faith” along!

It’s not simply entertaining stories we tell in times like that… It’s our experiences with God, our values, God’s promises and provision, and His will and ways from one generation to the next… Time well spent!!! Hey, let’s encourage it – let’s look for opportunities – let’s savor the moments! We’ll be obeying God and passing on our faith heritage from one generation to another!

Generosity… Look it up in the dictionary and read the definition and description that is found there. I’ll bet it’s not the same kind of generosity found in 2 Corinthians 8:1-7!

Here’s the description of generosity that passage gives us…

“We want you to know about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia. In a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints — and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly… as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also” (From 2 Corinthians 8:1–7 ESV)

So after I read that remarkable passage during my time of “coffee with the Lord” this morning I wrote down this personal definition and description in my journal… “Generosity – An act of the lavish grace of God poured out selflessly though His people even in the face of their personal poverty. He provides and we share what He gives us with others who are in need, freely.”

Oh, let me tell you, I want that quality of His grace to pour out through me to others!!!