Coffee With The Lord

Have you been wronged?  Have unjust accusations been made against you or a family member?  Perhaps it’s been an assault, destruction of property, or you’ve been cheated financially.  You are hurt, angry and feel violated.

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read some words in Lamentations that may provide helpful advice and comfort.  Jerusalem had been destroyed, the temple was just a smoking pile of rubble, and the people had been carted off into exile in Babylon!  The situation was dire – the results disastrous!

And in the midst of it all the writer of Lamentation penned these words…

“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! … You have heard their taunts, O Lord – all their plots against me! … You will repay them, O Lord!” (From Lamentations 3:55-64 ESV)

That’s right, do what the writer of Lamentations did!  Take it to the Lord – put the matter in His hands!  Listen for His voice in your situation.  Don’t take the matter into your own hands.  Trust Him to work and vindicate in His time and way!  That’s what the writer of Lamentations did.

Here’s God’s inspired word on it from another place in Scripture… “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)

A reflection on personal and world evangelism from my reading in the Psalms today…

Oh, may all our attempts at evangelism have this character about them!!

“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples … Say among the nations, ‘the Lord reigns!” (From Psalm 96.1-10)

What a positive, winsome, approach!!  Lord help me to always exhibit and exemplify it!

Praise the Lord!  COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted and families and others are making travel plans for the summer!  A lot of you this summer are going to some very beautiful places!  Places that leave you in awe – places that bear the mark of the “Master Sculptor” – the “Artist Extraordinaire” – Creator God!!  I just love the Bible’s calls to worship when I see towering mountains, laughing brooks, cascading waterfalls, wooded lakes, roaring ocean waves, and canyons exploding with stunning colors.   It’s in situations like that when Psalms like the 95^th Psalm come to mind!  I read it just this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…

“Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;

Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

Let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods!

In his hand are the depths of the earth;

The heights of the mountains are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it,

And his hands formed the dry land.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;

Let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

For he is our God!

And we are the people of his pasture, he sheep of his hand.

(From Psalms 95:1-7 ESV)

It won’t be long before Sharon and I head out to one of the most beautiful places on earth – to the “Bartel Cabin” at Glacier Bible Camp, just outside Glacier National Park in Montana.  Where are you headed?  Wherever it is, why not pause, look around, see God’s “handiwork,” and worship!  Wherever you go, have a praise-filled summer!!