Coffee With The Lord

Well here are the basic details about “your’s truly”…

Born to Ewalt and  Vera Bartel, LeRoy Robert Bartel, April 8, 1947 in Polson, Montana.

Dedicated to the Lord shortly thereafter by Rev. Wesley Fine, at Ronan Assemblies of God Church, Ronan, Montana.

“Born again,” baptized in water and “baptized in the Spirit” at a very early age through the ministry of the same church.

Attended Ronan Elementary School and graduated from Ronan High School.

Married to Sharon Martha Barnett, May 12, 1967

Four children, Tina, Robert, Shari and Philemon, 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Attended and graduated from Trinity Bible Institute and College, as well as Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.

Served the Assemblies of God in several pastorates, as a university professor and dean, and a denominational leader.

Still alive at 71 years of age, happily married, serving the Lord, and awaiting either death, the resurrection, or the return of the Lord.

All of that personal history came to mind as I read the following words in my Bible as I enjoyed “coffee with the Lord” this morning…

“In You, O Lord, do I take refuge! … Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may continually come! … You are my rock and my fortress!  Rescue me, O my God from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and the cruel man!  For You, O Lord are my hope, my trust, from my youth!  Upon You I have leaned from before my birth!  You are He who took me from my mother’s womb!  My praise is continually of You!  You are my strong refuge!  My mouth is filled with Your praise, and with Your glory all the day!

“Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent! … I will hope continually and will praise You yet more and more!  My mouth will tell of Your righteous acts, of Your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge! … O God, from my youth You have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds!  So,, even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim Your might to another generation, your power to all those to come!”  (From Psalm 71)

That’s my prayer!  That’s my commitment!  That’s my testimony … all life long!  And I sincerely hope and pray that those words from Psalm 71 are your prayer, your commitment, and your testimony as well!

Her voice was urgent… “LeRoy, hurry up! I need help NOW!”

It sent me scrambling! I dropped what I was doing and scurried to the room where she was… Whew!! It wasn’t a life-threatening emergency, but it required my immediate attention and assistance (and I was happy to provide it)!

“Hurry up! Help me!” – Not something we normally think appropriate to say to God! But nevertheless, something David, the psalmist, said in a prayer… Here it is, right from your Bible…

I’m just trying to do my part to preserve some of the great legacy of gospel music and hymns the church has enjoyed!  (It would be tragic to completely neglect it, abandon it and forget it!) …

I had my devotions this morning (I call them “coffee with the Lord”) and read the following words in my Bible (a psalm of David)…

“Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.  I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.  I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God… O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you… But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.  Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.  Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me.  Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.  Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me!”  (From Psalm 69)

After reading those words this morning I was reflecting on how I felt when I became aware of my own sinfulness and spiritual poverty!  I rehearsed my own sense of helplessness, lostness, and depravity!  I felt like I was sinking in sin and despair and I was helpless to save myself from sin’s grip and consequences!  And as I thought about the feelings I had before I experienced the mercy and grace of God, this old gospel song came to mind (and the words expressed my sentiments perfectly – along with the message of Psalm 69!)…

“In loving-kindness Jesus came
My soul in mercy to reclaim,
And from the depths of sin and shame
Through grace He lifted me!

“He called me long before I heard,
Before my sinful heart was stirred,
But when I took Him at His word,
Forgiven!  He lifted me!

“His brow was pierced with many a thorn,
His hands by cruel nails were torn,
When from my guilt and grief, forlorn,
In love He lifted me!

“Now on a higher plane I dwell,
And with my soul I know ’tis well;
Yet how or why, I cannot tell,
He should have lifted me!

“From sinking sand He lifted me!
With tender hand He lifted me!
From shades of night to plains of light,
O praise His name, He lifted me!

–Chas. H. Gabriel, 1905