Coffee With The Lord

I just have a feeling that today’s “coffee with the Lord” post is going to provoke all kinds of images and memories in your mind…

This is what my dad would do when he really had something important to say to me… He’d reach out, grab me by the sleeve or put his hands on my shoulders, establish eye contact with me and say, “Now LeRoy, listen to me! Pay attention!” I’ve seen coaches do something similar with their team members… They would sit one of them down on the bench, get down at eye level, put a hand on their shoulder… and the message delivered was, “Come on! You’ve got to focus! Pay attention!” There are probably variations on that theme, and different ways that message was communicated or relayed, but the fundamental truth relayed is the same… “What I’m about to say to you is really important… Listen up!”

Here’s how the writer of Proverbs put it…

“Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction! Be attentive, that you may gain insight! I give you good precepts! Do not forsake my teaching! When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, ‘Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live! Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth! Do not forsake her, and she will keep you! Love her, and she will guard you! The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight! Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her!” (Proverbs 4:1–9 ESV)

We’ve got a wonderful Heavenly Father… His love for us in beyond comprehension – His concern for our welfare unrivaled! In my mind’s eye today I can see Him doing something similar to the picture that I’ve painted for you today with each one of us – His sons and daughters. “Come on He says, “Listen to me! Pay attention! Focus! If you do, things will go well for you! I’ll lead you! I’ll guide you! I’ll bless you!”

Listen… I’ll tell you what: I’m going to do my best to pay attention to Him!

I’m sitting here this morning during “Coffee with the Lord” thinking about all the ads I’ve seen on television urging investment in gold and silver as a hedge against the fluctuations “the market,” inflation, and the uncertainties of world currencies. To listen to the ads you would think the wisest decision a person could make was to invest in gold and silver!
Problem is, I’ve just read about a wiser investment in the Bible that is urged upon us all…

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for THE GAIN FROM HER IS BETTER THAN GAIN FROM SILVER AND HER PROFIT BETTER THAN GOLD. SHE IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN JEWELS, AND NOTHING YOU DESIRE CAN COMPARE WITH HER. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.” (Proverbs 3:13–18 ESV)

And the price for this investment? The “fear (or reverence) of the Lord! (Check out Proverbs 1:7, 9:5) That is what will get you in on the ground floor and open the doorway to all kinds of related benefits and return on investment!

Here’s the guy you want to make contact with “to get in on the ground floor”… (He’ll not only help you get started investing… He’ll be your “go to guy” all along the way… His name? “Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2–3 ESV)

Hey, It’s high time we started investing, don’t you think?

Old recipes have value! Many modern cooks collect them. Family members treasure them and pass them on. At our family reunion this year, my sister-in-law, Maureen Bartel, shared several of my mother’s favorite old recipe’s with the family. My wife, Sharon, has a personal collection of recipes, many of which are old favorites collected over the years. One in particular is an old German favorite, a recipe for Pfeffernüsse, a spicy, hard, holiday delight perfect with a cup of coffee or tea (the name means “pepper nuts”) we got from a wonderful German lady in our church, Phyllis Keierleber. Old recipes provoke nostalgia of delicious food, wonderful family events… and they are “tried-and-true” – and simply GOOD!

Both my Bible reading and reflection today brought to mind some special, tried-and-true, “spiritual recipes” that, I believe, we dare not forget, but carefully preserve and pass on… One is contained in an old hymn…

“Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

“Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

“Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

“Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.”
William D. Longstaff – 1882

Another was expressed in my Bible reading today… A well-known, favorite Biblical recipe for success in life… Proverbs 3:1-12 (you really need to read it for yourself). Here are the “ingredients” (and each comes with a promise!)

1. Give high priority to Godly teaching. Remember it! Heed it! (vss. 1-2)

2. Make “steadfast love” and faithfulness the adorning characteristics of your life! (vss. 3-4)

3. Trust God completely – acknowledge Him in everything! (vss. 5-6)

4. Don’t be a know it all! Reverence God and live the way He wants you to. (vss. 7-8)

5. Honor God with your money and your possessions (vss. 9-10, cp. Malachi 3.8-10a)

6. When your Heavenly Father disciplines you as His child – don’t resent it or pout. (vss. 11-12)

Old recipes… Good stuff… Worth preserving and “cooking up!” A couple of old recipes for spiritual success!