Coffee With The Lord

I’ve observed it… and so have you… Contributions and commitments are being taken for a worthy project or need.  An influential person or leading donor steps forward and says, “I’ll give this much…” and does it with heartfelt passion.  The result?  That single act – that gift – sets the standard for others in their giving…

Thought about that this morning as I read these words from the Bible…

“For you know the grace (i.e. the generosity) of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although He was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by His poverty could become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9 from the NET Bible)

Oh, may the standard He set in His giving become the benchmark for mine!!

A prayer for this day led by my dear friend, John Maempa, who has for a number of years led the ministry of the Prayer Center for the Assemblies of God…

On this National Day of Prayer, O God, we are reminded of the shortcomings and sins as Your people and as a nation. May we be reminded of the importance of seeking Your aid, living according to Your Word, obeying its precepts, and applying it to every aspect of our lives. O God, we ask that a new realization of our need of You and for Your help and divine presence would sweep across our cities, our states, and our nation. May a hunger for You and Your righteousness be awakened in our hearts. May we as a nation humbly confess our sins and ask for Your mercy and forgiveness; and may we align our lives according to Your Word and will. In so doing, may we, as one nation under God, continue to be a bastion of freedom, peace, hope, and divine blessing to all who call this dear land home, and to all the world. Amen.

And to that prayer I say a passionate and heartfelt, AMEN!! Yes! May it be so O Lord!!

I don’t know about you but I struggle with the continual onslaught of news filled with the acts of evil men and their violent ways!  Sometimes I feel so helpless in the face of escalating evil!  This morning, however, during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read some “good news” on a day filled with all the reports of evil…

“We give thanks to you, O God! We give thanks! You reveal your presence!  People tell about your amazing deeds!  You say, ‘At the appointed times, I judge fairly.  When the earth and all its inhabitants dissolve in fear, I make its pillars secure.’ (Selah)  So, I say to the proud, ‘Do not be proud,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not be so confident of victory!   Do not be so certain you have won!  Do not speak with your head held so high!’ … For victory does not come from the east or west, or from the wilderness.  For God is the judge! He brings one down and exalts another.’ …As for me, I will continually tell what you have done; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob!  God says, “I will bring down all the power of the wicked; the godly will be victorious!” (from Psalm 75 the NET Bible)

So, I’m taking heart!  God will deal with the wicked and their violent acts!  One day justice will come!  In the meantime, I’m going to do what I can on behalf of righteousness and justice in my community and in our world… And trust the Lord, giving Him the praise due His Name!