Coffee With The Lord

Had a charismatic, Christian friend… He really liked what was showy and dramatic in Christianity.  He loved seeing the manifestations of the Spirit like tongues, interpretations, prophetic utterances, signs and wonders… It was evident that he thought those who displayed those things a lot were very “spiritual” people (in fact he said so)… He was very much into those things himself (and you could tell by listening to him and watching him that he wanted others to think that he was very “spiritual.”)  However…

When he was in a restaurant he could be very demanding of the waitress or waiter and embarrass you.  Had a bit of a short fuse if you crossed Him up.  His opinions were always the right ones and he seemed to delight in “showing you up” in front of others.  When decisions had to be made it “was his way or the highway” (I’ve seen him stalk out of a business meeting when he disagreed with something… didn’t slam the door, but came close).  A bit intolerant of others weaknesses and bigoted.  Kinda liked to get even if someone did him wrong… When he was really “ticked off” he could “cuss” like an ol’ sailor… Did I say he thought of himself as a “spiritual person”?

Thought of him this morning as I read this passage in the Bible…

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

“Love never ends!  As for prophecies – they will pass away; as for tongues – they will cease; as for knowledge – it will pass away… So now faith, hope, and love abide – these three – but the great of these is love!” (from 1 Corinthians 13 ESV)

Yup, when I read that this morning I thought of my friend who wanted to be thought of as “spiritual” … Then I thought about me…

Well praise the Lord!!! Completed my annual “Birthday Prayer Run” in celebration of my 74th birthday in 6 days (one mile for each year of age). (Birthday is actually next week but had to schedule it a week early.) Ran the entire 74 miles – 74.29 miles actually (no walking allowed Had the wonderful opportunity of praying for the requests that friends send me. Been doing this each year since age 65 (for some reason each year it seems a little longer ! “Fitness with a purpose!”

See Sharon’s, video of me finishing the 74 miles this morning… https://www.facebook.com/sharon.b.bartel/videos/10224481356172546/

I have sinned… So have you… The Bible says, “For all have sinned!” (Romans 3:23)  In fact, Apostle John declared, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us… and If we say we have not sinned, we make Him [God] a liar, and His word is not in us.” (1 John 1:9-10)  And there are consequences to sin… sad consequences!  When we sin, our Heavenly Father disciplines us because He loves us and want our good.  Discipline is not pleasant, but it is necessary – if we were not disciplined, we would continue in our sinful ways and the consequences of our sin would destroy us! (Check out Hebrews 12:5-11.)

So what should we do when we have sinned (and perhaps are experiencing the Lord’s discipline)?  I read about it this morning during “coffee with the Lord” in Psalm 38… It’s what King David did when He had sinned and was experiencing its consequences and the Lord’s discipline… Here is what He said:

“Oh Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! … My iniquities have gone over my head!  Like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me! … I confess [acknowledge] my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin! … Do not forsake me, O Lord!  O my God, be not far from me!  Make haste to help me, O Lord, my Salvation!” (From Psalm 38 – the whole psalm is worthy reading, believe me!)

And what David prayed is exactly what Apostle John urged us to do as well!  He encouraged us and said, “If we confess [acknowledge] our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and the cleanse us from ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS!” (That’s right… ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS!)

So when I sin, I’ve determined I’m going to do what King David did… I’m going to do what a host of “saved-sinners” have done down through the centuries… I’m going to do what Apostle John urged people to do… I’m going to acknowledge my sin and ask God to forgive me of my sin! … AND HE WILL!!!