Coffee With The Lord

One of the neat things about large convocations (like the General Council for the Assemblies of God) is renewing acquaintance with a lot of old friends… former classmates in college, colleagues in ministry (and for me, just a lot of my former students). I love it!! (I endure the business sessions … but love the “fellowship”!  There are wonderful opportunities for conversation, reminiscing about “old times” together, catching up on where people are now and what they’re doing, as well as hearing the great stories of what God is doing through their ministry and in their lives…

Thought about all of that this morning as I read how Apostle Paul opened his second letter to the believers in Thessalonica…

We ought always to give thanks to God for you … because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we boast about you for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.” (2 Thessalonians 1:3–4 ESV)

That’s the report I want to hear from my old friends… Faith growing! Love for one another increasing! Perseverance and faith evident in all that life brings!

I not only expect to hear that kind of report from and about them… I want that to be the report that they hear from and about me!!

COM’ON, LET’S “BUILD ONE ANOTHER UP” SHALL WE?!!

I’ve encountered the conversations and so have you; both the negative and the positive – the griping and the grateful! Some are just “piling up complaints” 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 them 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 grateful 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…

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords:

His love endures forever.

To him who alone does great wonders,

His love endures forever…

“He remembered us in our low estate

His love endures forever.

And freed us from our enemies.

His love endures forever.

He gives food to every creature.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven.

His love endures forever. “

(From Psalm 136 NIV)

I’ve had enough of “piling up gripe” sessions… INSTEAD I’D LIKE TO INSTIGATE SOME “COUNT… CONSIDER… CELEBRATE YOUR MANY BLESSINGS” CONVERSATIONS, wouldn’t you?!

I read (and prayed personally) a powerful “apostolic prayer” this morning for dear fellow Christians… A prayer that we would be ready for the Lord’s return both personally and collectively (as His Church – the “Body of Christ”)…

“Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus…make you increase and abound in love for one another, and for all, as we do for you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.” (From 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13)

Amen!!  Oh Lord may it be so!!!  Fulfill it within in us and among us!!!