Coffee With The Lord

The prophet’s message? Put God first and blessings will follow! Obedience will lead to overflow! Frustration will lead to fulfillment! Poverty will be overcome by plenty!

Hey, there’s hope! God will bless those who turn from their sin and selfish neglect and do His will!

“From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ… to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy [or set you apart as His very own]. As a result, you have been obedient and have been cleansed by [or sprinkled with] the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace!”

What an encouraging, affirming word for disenfranchised, marginalized, persecuted, and scattered Christians from their earthly homelands! Their situation “known by God” – their Heavenly Father … Thy are “chosen by Him”, set apart as His very own through the Holy Spirit, they’ve been cleansed – sprinkled by the blood of Jesus Christ, they’re assured of more and more of God’s rich grace and wonderful peace!

Gotta tell you… As a God-honoring, Christ-following, Bible-believing, Holy Spirit empowered believer, I often feel like an alien in this old world! I affirm the reality that God has placed me here to share the message of His redemptive love. Sometimes that message is embraced by those who hear it… but at other times it is rejected! I’m just telling you, I needed to hear Apostle Peter’s inspired words today – I need to embrace them with all my heart! One more time… “This world is not my home, I’m only passing through!” But with God’s help and the Holy Spirit’s power I intend to make my time here count for the glory of God! He’s got a purpose for my life and yours!

“Therefore David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: ‘Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. BOTH RICHES AND HONOR COME FROM YOU, AND YOU RULE OVER ALL! In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now I thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. BUT WHO AM I, AND WHAT IS MY PEOPLE, THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE THUS TO OFFER WILLINGLY? FOR ALL THINGS COME FROM YOU, AND OF YOUR OWN HAVE WE GIVEN YOU! For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. O LORD OUR GOD, ALL THIS ABUNDANCE … COMES FROM YOUR HAND AND IS ALL YOUR OWN. I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. IN THE UPRIGHTNESS OF MY HEART I HAVE FREELY OFFERED ALL THESE THINGS, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, OFFERING FREELY AND JOYOUSLY TO YOU. O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you!’” (Adapted from 1 Chronicles 29:10–18 ESV)

I would not presume to tell you what you should do this holiday season to offer thanks and praise to God! But you may want to consider a significant “thank offering!” Pray about it… consider it… think about what would be appropriate and to what ministry, group or person you should give it… and then offer it with grateful thanksgiving, praise, and worship as unto Him! “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)