Coffee With The Lord

Well it’s the week of Thanksgiving… and my post today is going to be personally brief – to the point… the bulk of it is going to be a tribute from Scripture.

My Bible reading this morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” included Proverbs 31:10-31… After reading it this morning I put a one-word comment in the margin of my Bible with exclamation marks after it… Here it is…

SHARON!!! [her full name is Sharon Martha Barnett Bartel – my wife]

She is the epitome of all the kinds of things this passage speaks of… I ought to know, I’ve been married to her for over 55 years! Believe me, I’ve been incredibly blessed! I’m SO thankful for her – she is God’s incredible gift to me! Here’s the passage…

“AN EXCELLENT WIFE WHO CAN FIND? SHE IS FAR MORE PRECIOUS THAN JEWELS! The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. HER CHILDREN RISE UP AND CALL HER BLESSED; HER HUSBAND ALSO, AND HE PRAISES HER: MANY WOMEN HAVE DONE EXCELLENTLY, BUT YOU SURPASS THEM ALL! Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” (From Proverbs 31:10–31 ESV)

Sharon, I love and adore you! I thank God for you daily!

“Now, O my God, let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place… And now arise, O Lord God, and go to Your resting place [among your people]… Let your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in your goodness! Oh Lord God, do not turn away the face of your anointed one! Remember your steadfast love!” And as soon as Solmon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple! (From 2 Chronicles 6:40-7:1 ESV)

I’ve observed it, as have you… Panic, action, frantic searches, search parties, blood hounds, the use of helicopters… if a child, a loved one hiking in the wilderness, or a challenged adult WANDERS AWAY! Every caring person is sought and mobilized who can be persuaded to help out and the search begins… Every possible location is searched, dangerous places are scoured, the name of the person who wandered away is called over and over again. And oh, the joy and relief, when the wanderer is found and is safe again!!!

All of that came to mind as I read the following word in James 5:19-20 this morning…

“If anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins!”

The family [the “Spiritual family] of the WANDERER is first… they mobilize and search – no effort is too great, nothing is more important! Others who care are mobilized and participate on search teams [from other bodies of believers] and they are so appreciated and valued! And Oh the joy when the lost is found and returns “home” [in this case, back to their Savior and Lord, and family of believers they are a part of]!

You know, there is a parable that gives us a glimpse of the “Father’s heart” on this issue!

“So Jesus told them this parable: ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.’” (Luke 15:3–7 ESV)

Hey, at some time or other we have all strayed… 1 Peter 2:25 speaks to this issue: “You were all straying like sheep, but now you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls!”

Listen, I want to be available and willing to search for the WANDERER! I want to take the risks and make the effort necessary find them and bring them back “home” to the Lord! What rejoicing in heaven – the redeemed of all ages there erupt in joyful praise! “DIVINE SEARCH AND RESCUE” – what a ministry!!!