Coffee With The Lord

You’ve encountered the conversations – both kinds! Some are just “piling up gripes” episodes (a real downer that leaves everyone is a terrible mood) – others are characterized by the words of the old gospel song, “Count your many blessing”!

Perhaps we need to do more than “count our blessings” though… (although counting them is a good start)! How about “considering” them – or even “celebrating them”!!

My Bible reading today during “coffee with the Lord” brought me to Psalm 136, categorized as a “salvation history song” (in other words it is a psalm that God’s ancient people used to recall and rehearse God provision, protection and powerful saving acts on their behalf). Many scholars believe it was sung antiphonally by two choirs (one would sing out one of the blessings and provision of the Lord, the other would respond with the repeated echo… “His steadfast love [“hesed” – Hebrew] endures forever!” (You’ll have to read the entire Psalm to capture the effect… I’ll give you a taste…

Nothing.. No one… No situation… No circumstance… can separate us from His love!!! Here it is from Psalm 136…

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

Get it?… 26 times in one psalm!! That’s why I’m ready to lay claim to Romans 8:37-39 as a foundational, unshakable, dependable, truth in the Bible…

“No! In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!”

I’ve had enough of “piling up gripe” sessions… I want to instigate some “Count… consider… celebrate your many blessings” conversations, don’t you?!

An uplifting and powerful thought that Sharon and I shared together this morning during our devotions…

“GOD’S GRACE IS A BIG BUCKET! EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS IN IT! (AND ITS RESULT? PEACE!!)

The Scripture that prompted that thought? A common apostolic greeting in the epistles… “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!” (2 Thessalonians 1:2 and others)

And a “hymn” to reinforce the truth… “Wonderful Grace of Jesus!”

“Wonderful Grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden, setting my spirit free;
O the Wonderful Grace of Jesus reaches me!

“Wonderful Grace of Jesus, reaching to all the lost;
By it I have been pardoned, saved to the uttermost.
Chains have been torn asunder, giving me liberty;
O the Wonderful Grace of Jesus, reaches me!

“Wonderful Grace of Jesus, reaching the most defiled;
By its transforming power,
Making me God’s dear child,
Purchasing peace and Heaven, for all eternity;
And the Wonderful Grace of Jesus, reaches me!

Refrain
“Wonderful the matchless Grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All sufficient Grace for even me.
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious name of Jesus,
PRAISE HIS NAME!”

Songwriters: Haldor Lillenas / Lari Goss

Some of you will remember the instructions you received from your Mom as you prepared to leave for a date, or go on a trip, or when you left to go to college… One tidbit of final instructions after another (in “rapid fire”)! … “Remember!… Don’t forget!… Now be sure… Be careful!…” 

Well, I read a passage this morning written by Apostle Paul by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration designed to prepare us to live the way God want us to in “community” – “in the last days” before the Lord returns… (I counted 7 general instructions)…

1. HONOR AND ESTEEM HIGHLY YOUR SPIRITUAL LEADERS!

“Respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you! Esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”

2. GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER!

“Be at peace among yourselves.”

3. HELP EACH OTHER ALONG AS YOU LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE!

“And we urge you, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with them all.”

4. DON’T TRY TO GET EVEN FOR WRONGS YOU’VE EXPERIENCED – INSTEAD DO GOOD TO EACH OTHER!

“See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another – and to everyone.”

5. BE A PRAYING, PRAISING, …A GRATEFUL CHRISTIAN… ALL OF THE TIME!

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

6. WELCOME THE HOLY SPIRIT’S ACTIVITY AMONG YOURSELVES – TEST AND AFFIRM ONLY WHAT IS GENUINE!

“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast to what is good.”

7. STEER CLEAR OF ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT WOULD DISPLEASE THE LORD!

“Abstain from every form of evil.”

Good stuff it seems to me! And I sure don’t want to do with these what I sometimes did with Mom’s advice… “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!” (and then ignore what she said). I want to be READY when He comes!