Coffee With The Lord

A devotional reflection from my Bible reading using the Necessary Food Bible Reading Plan for today – 10/7/2024: 2 Kings 6:24-7:20; Proverbs 18:9-16; Amos 3:1 – 4:5; John 16:4b-15; Hebrews 7:1-10

FOUR “WISDOM TIDBITS” for Monday, the beginning of another week of work (but they’re wise advice for any day of the week, as well)!

“One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.” I’m determined to give my very best to any task I’m involved in today! I believe that it is honoring to God! (1 Corinthians 10.31; Colossians 3.17; 1 Peter 4.10-11).

“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower, the righteous run to it and are safe… The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall to high to scale.” Wealth is a deceptive source of security. The Everlasting Lord – Jehovah God – is much more reliable and secure. I’ll put my trust in Him instead of riches, which can evaporate through forces and circumstances beyond our control!

“Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.” It’s so easy to have a success or two – a compliment here and there – and get an exalted opinion of your own ability or importance. I’m going to do my best this week to remember without the Lord, I am nothing! Any ability or success I have comes from Him and is achieved with His help.

“To answer before listening – that is folly and shame.” How foolish! Yet I’ve done it more than I’d like to admit! How many times, to my shame, have I been thinking about what I was going to say next, when someone was trying to tell me something really important? I’m going to do my best to give people who are speaking to me my full attention and attempt to listen to their heart as well as their words.

Good advice… “GOD ADVICE!”… at the beginning of another work week from Proverbs 18.9-16!!

A devotional reflection from the Necessary Food Bible Reading Plan for today – 10/6/2024: 2 Kings 5:1-6:23; Proverbs 18:1-8; Amos 2:4-16; John 15:18-16:4a: Hebrews 6:13-20

“His word is good… If he said he’d do it, you don’t have to worry about it – he’ll deliver, and deliver on time…regardless of the challenges or obstacles!”

What a wonderful reputation for ANYONE to have! … And in this case, THE REPUTATION IS GOD’S!

Here’s what I read in my Bible this morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord”…

“When God made a promise to Abraham, He had no one greater by whom to swear, so He swore of Himself, saying, ‘Surely I will bless you and multiply you!” And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise! [And believe me, there were some obstacles and challenges! Read Abraham and Sarah’s story in Genesis 12-23] … It is impossible for God to lie! … We have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us! We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain [“the Holiest of All” – the very presence of God Himself!} where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf!” (From Hebrews 6:13-20 ESV)

Hey, don’t fret and worry… be patient and trust Him! What He has promised He’ll deliver!!!

After finishing John 15:1-17 today I was in awe! Can you imagine someone gifting you Glacier National Park, or Yellowstone National Park, or even the Bob Marshall (you have to understand… I’m a Montana native)… and then taking a LIFETIME to explore, discover, and enjoy and appreciate the beauty and grandeur there! Some passages of Scripture are like that! When I completed reading John 15:1-17 I felt a bit like that… Just so much profound, rich and wonderful!!!

All I’m going to do today in “Coffee with the Lord” is highlight a few key “vistas of wonder” in the passage and then encourage you to read and reflect on the passage for yourself and allow the Lord to enlighten and enrich one (or perhaps two) of them to you… Hey, there’s enough incredible power, profundity, and beauty in this passage TO LAST A LIFETIME… (Believe me, it’s more than just a “sermon or teaching series”)! Here you go…

“I am the true Vine – you are the branches!” … “Abide in me, and I in you!”

“Bear fruit!” … You cannot unless you abide in Me! “Apart from Me you can do nothing!”

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, aske whatever you wish, and it will be done for you!”

“By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples!”

“Abide in My love!” (If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love!)

“These things I have spoken to you that MY JOY may be in you, and that YOUR JOY may be full!”

“No longer do I call you servants… but I have called you friends!”

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you!”

… And believe me, I’ve only scratched the surface! A “Spiritual lifetime” of exploration and application! Hey this isn’t going to be boring! Instead, incredibly fulfilling and fruitful!