Coffee With The Lord

This situation may ring a bell with some of you… It involved a real emergency – a personal crisis – something you couldn’t do for yourself and you had to depend on the expertise, resources and connections of another person. They told you, “I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry about it!” And then when you checked later… They hadn’t taken care of it! They failed you! They dropped the ball! A huge disappointment!

On the other hand… Thankfully there likely are other situations and circumstances that you can recall when the promising person came through. When you checked to see, the situation had been taken care of, the arrangements had been made, the person had followed through and made good on their promise. What relief! What satisfaction! What delight!

This morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” I read these wonderful words from Psalm 119…

“Remember Your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me life!” (Psalm 119:49-50)

Good news – God keeps His promises! All of this brought to mind a couple of other verses of Scripture today that were a great encouragement to me… Hope they are to you as well:

‘For all the promises of God find their ‘Yes!’ in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our ‘Amen!’ To God for His glory.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

And how about this one from the Old Testament: As Joshua, Israel’s leader after Moses, was about to die this is what he reminded God’s people Israel of… “And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; no one of them has failed!” (Joshua 23:14)

Relief! Joy!! He is faithful!!! God keeps His promises!!!!

Fireworks were going off all over the neighborhood last night… I was fun, it was colorful, and it was exciting! It will happen again tonight.

It occurred to me, however, that for those who risked (and in many cases) gave their lives to gain and defend our freedoms, “fireworks” likely had a different connotation. Some of our heroes this 4th of July are missing limbs, struggle with emotional challenges, or may lie beneath a headstone in a cemetery because of the “fireworks” they experienced. We celebrate what they paid for… painfully (but willingly)! I intend to pause today and offer thanksgiving for their sacrifice!

Reminds me of another symbol of victory (and sacrifice)… the cross! You see them everywhere… on buildings, as ornaments, and hanging around people’s necks as jewelry … we even have holidays that honor what the cross represents – “Good Friday and Easter.” I enjoy the benefits of the cross… forgiveness, salvation, moral and spiritual freedom, even life (because Christ conquered death!). But I need to remember – it cost Jesus EVERYTHING! He left heaven’s glory, came to earth as a baby, walked among us, lived a perfect sinless life, suffered incredible cruelty and injustice, and died on a cruel cross for your sin and mine! I would say it means something more to Him than it does to me! I want to remember! I want to express my gratitude! Freedom and forgiveness, courtesy of the cross!

Apostle Paul put it this way… “Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world!” (Galatians 6:14).

So tonight when I hear and see the fireworks… I’m going to remember, reflect and be grateful. And the next time I see a cross I intend to do the same thing.

Want to know what will make your pastor (or any authentic spiritual leader for that matter) happy? Philippians 1:27 – 2:5 does an excellent job of expressing it. (Here’s what it says in the Message paraphrase…)
“Live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ… Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they’re up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God… If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care — then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself… (and it wouldn’t hurt to read the rest of the passage)!”
I served as a pastor for many years. I’ve seen enough “cat fights,” petty disagreements, self-seeking strategies, and pickiness! Praise God for the people who exemplify a Christ-like Spirit! Every pastor loves ‘em! Every congregation needs ‘em! They’re the kind of people that fill a pastor’s heart with joy!