Coffee With The Lord

Almost didn’t post this “Coffee with the Lord” reflection from my Bible reading yesterday … Then I felt the “nudge” of the Holy Spirit urging me to post it… So… I’m convinced someone of my FB friends needs its message!!!

Lamentations in the Bible describes a desperate time! Jerusalem had been completely destroyed! The temple had been desecrated and demolished! The streets were filled with the consequences of brutality and violence! They thought it could never happen to “the holy city” – but their sin and rebellion had brought it upon them!

The lesson? In desperate times (both personally and nationally) we should cry out to the Lord! He will come near and speak, calming our fears… and He will act! The writer of Lamentations in the Bible came to believe that! Here is what he did…

“I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea! ‘Do not close your ear to my cry for help!’ You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’ You have taken up my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life. You have seen the wrong done to me, O Lord; judge my cause. You have seen all their vengeance, all their plots against me. You have heard their taunts, O Lord, all their plots against me… You will repay them, O Lord, according to the work of their hands!” (From Lamentations 3:55-64 ESV)

My conviction? In troubled times we should do what the writer of Lamentations did (we might even use his words)!

As a runner I understand the significance of these words…

“You were running a good race. WHO CUT IN ON YOU to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you!” (Galatians 5.7-8 NIV).

“CUTTING IN” on another runner is discourteous and unfair! (It is also common fare in highly competitive, “dog-eat-dog” races). If detected and flagrant it can result in the disqualification of the offending runner. That is why Apostle Paul goes on to say… “The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty!” (vs. 10) Interpretation? … God, the ultimate judge (“race official”) will take care of the situation… He’s the one capable, able and entirely fair… He’ll dish out the penalties. You just take care of the running!

I had an interesting, demanding, and effective cross-country coach in high school… Coach Crumpton. He had an interesting philosophy in situations like that… Here it is – only two words – “NO EXCUSES!” If another runner cut in on you, almost tripping you up, causing you to stumble (or even fall), his approach was, “don’t whine, don’t let it happen, and if you happen to stumble, don’t lay on the course writhing in self-pity, get up as quickly as you can, try to make up the difference between you and the offending runner, but even if you can’t… “NO EXCUSES!”

Seems like good advice to me for the Christian race.

My Bible reading today during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” included Psalm 95 … a Psalm that promotes authentic thanksgiving, praise and worship (you should read it for yourself!)… I especially love the musical version of its words – check out this link… ENJOY!

But it is a Psalm that also comes with a warning! Here is how it closes: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…!” Let me tell you, I intend to heed that warning and keep a tender, sensitive, and responsive heart toward God!