Coffee With The Lord

My Bible reading today during “Coffee with the Lord” left me so impressed by the godly leadership skills of Hezekiah in the Bible…

When facing the crisis of a siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib, king of Assyria, he consulted with his officials and military staff, strategized, and did what he could to deal with the situation (2 Chronicles 32.1-5)… That’s always good practice!! Do what can be done!

Then Hezekiah encouraged the people he led to trust God! The Bible says, “He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words: ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.’ And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.” (2 Chronicles 32:6–8) What a wise and godly leader!

But Sennacherib, king of Assyria, scoffed at Hezekiah, taunted him, and demeaned the Living God … The Bible says, “He spoke about the God of Jerusalem as they did about the gods of the other people of the world – the work of human hands.” (2 Chronicles 32.9-19)

Finally, Hezekiah went one step further … He did what every godly leader ought to do in a crisis… HE PRAYED and got others to join him in prayer! “King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this. And the Lord sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons, his own flesh and blood, cut him down with the sword. So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others. He took care of them on every side.“ (2 Chronicles 32:20–23)

So here are 4 key leadership lessons from Hezekiah when facing an incredible crisis…

1. Do what can be done – collaborate with good people, strategize, and take constructive action.
2. Encourage those you lead not to listen to those who ridicule the Living God, but urge them to join you in trusting the Lord in the crisis.
3. PRAY (and solicit the prayer support of other praying people)
4. Finally, exercise faith – trust God to act in powerful ways!

Good stuff!! Don’t you want to lead in a crisis like Hezekiah did?!

Thanksgiving 2025 – My Top 7 things this Thanksgiving…

1. A loving “Heavenly Father, a “Gracious Savior, and the Holy Spirit – “the Helper – who dwells within!

2. Salvation from my sin and a personal relationship with God!

3. God’s inspired, infallible word to instruct, guide, inspire, encourage and sustain me!

4. A loving, faithful companion and helper – my “soulmate” and wife, Sharon, and our children and grandchildren!

5. The Christian heritage of our family!

6. Fellow “brothers and sisters” in Christ!

7. The nation I am a citizen of and the freedoms we enjoy!

So here’s my “Top 7” this year of things for which I am thankful… But I am fully aware and am seeking to heed the challenge God’s word gives me: “In EVERYTHING give thanks!” (Ephesians 5:19-20; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

I purchased this electronic device (my “smartphone”)… they said it would do all kinds of wonderful things. That was not why I bought it, I bought it to do only one things for me – make and receive calls… and it did it well. But then one day I discovered I needed something else accomplished. I happened to pick up the instructions to the device and it said my device could do that as well. I tried it, and it worked! Since then I’ve tried it out on other tasks they said it could accomplish and “woollah!” it worked for those as well! Gotta tell you I’ve been impressed!

Thought about that during my Bible reading this morning during “coffee with the Lord” as it relates to my experience of “salvation.”

I think I probably originally may have embraced what the Bible calls “salvation” to escape “hell” and gain “eternal life” in “heaven.” I’m convinced “salvation” is effective for that. But, since then, I’ve also discovered it is effective for much more than that! The resources God provides through “salvation” are good for all of life – from “new birth” all the way through life, even in death, and on to my eternal inheritance! In fact, I’ve discovered what it provides, sustains me though all kinds of trials that come my way. God’s word declares that with my “salvation” comes a keeping power that will protect me all the way – every day – from here to my “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for me.”

Wow! Makes my “smart phone” and the stuff it will do look like small stuff wouldn’t you say?

Oh, the passage! Here it is…

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this [salvation] you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls!” (1 Peter 1:3–9 ESV)

Wow! “Salvation” is a good deal wouldn’t you say! Everything you need is in it! More than you ever imagined!