Coffee With The Lord

Here I am, sitting this morning thinking about all the incredible miracle stories of God’s protection, provision, healing, help and leadership that my mother and dad told me. As a boy I could listen to them for hours! Now I’ve got a few of my own stories to tell! I want to pass on the legacy of God’s faithfulness and power to my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and students and friends!

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

“WE HAVE HEARD IT WITH OUR EARS, O GOD; OUR ANCESTORS HAVE TOLD US WHAT YOU DID IN THEIR DAYS, IN DAYS LONG AGO. With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish. It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for your people… I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but You give us victory… In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever!” (Psalm 44:1–8 NIV)

Tell them… share them… preserve them! They’re “spiritual legacy!” They’ll impact and challenge the coming generation and generations to come!

Today in my Bible reading I was reminded of the repeated refrain of Psalms 42-43… The Psalmist engages in “self-talk” as he struggles with discouragement, despondency and a season of depression… He asks himself, “Why are you cast down,  O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? – [And then as someone who trusts the Lord he answers himself from his own faith and confidence in God…] Hope in God!  For I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God!” (Psalm 42:5, 11 and 43:5 ESV)

During my “prayer run” today as I reflected on those words A 4-FOLD STRATEGY came to mind… I offer it to anyone today who is experiencing the feelings and situation of the Psalmist…

HEAR O God!

HEED my cry!

HELP me!

…And HALLELUJAH!!!!

Hey, I’m confident He’ll do it – HE’LL HEAR, HEED AND HELP… OH, HALLELUJAH!!!

When I had the privilege of visiting Israel several years ago I remember traveling around the Sea of Galilee and thinking, Jesus walked all over this area with His disciples, teaching the marvelous mysteries of the Kingdom of God to multitudes, healing the sick, and delivering people of demonic control! This morning as I read Mark 1.21-45 during “coffee with the Lord” I was again reminded of the power of God to do the miraculous!!

While Jesus was teaching in the synagogue the service was interrupted by a man possessed by a demon – Jesus commands the demon to be quiet and delivers the man from his control.

Peter’s mother –in-law is sick in bed with a high fever and Jesus comes to her bedside and heals her.

A man with a disease that was considered incurable and terminal – a disease that was socially ostracizing – is healed by the power of God and the compassion of Christ. The man told Jesus, “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Moved with compassions, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing.” He said. “Be healed!”

The Bible says, “So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases and he cast out many demons… He traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.” (Mark 1.34 & 39).

I believe in the power of God to work miracles! Nothing has changed! God’s power is the same today as it has always been. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!” the Bible proclaims (Hebrews 13.8. And one more declaration: “He is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us!” (Ephesians 3:20) I’M GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRUST GOD TO PERFORM THE MIRACULOUS… ARE YOU?