Coffee With The Lord

Mental pictures can be pretty powerful! Psalm 148 paints such a picture!! If we could only enter into it – if we could only see the reality of it in our mind’s eye! Today I want to walk through my day with the mental picture of this in view! I am convinced it will change how I view things… Read it over and see what you think…

“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created, and he established them for ever and ever— he issued a decree that will never pass away. Praise the Lordfrom the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens… PRAISE THE LORD!”

Can you imagine it?! ALL CREATION ENGAGED IN WORSHIP OF THE LIVING GOD! One day it will become a vivid reality for us all… Sin’s curse will be lifted and what is now hidden will become visual and actual! For those who believe – for those with eyes of faith – it is a present reality… both “already” and “not yet”!!! Wow!! Believe it’s going to change this “Lord’s Day” for me!!

I read Psalm 145 today during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” and was blown away by how kind, good, gracious, great, loving, and righteous the Lord is… and I could say more!  My suggestion?  Read it over yourself… reflect on its message… and respond with worship and praise!  Here’s just a “sip”:  “I will extol You, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever!  Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever!  Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised!  Your greatness is unsearchable! … (and at the end of the Psalm)… My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever!”

I was at a banquet several years ago where I was being honored and was receiving an award… Hey, I even got to sit at the head table! During the meal a wonderful African-American man served our table diligently, cheerfully, and graciously. All of that came to mind as I read this passage today during “coffee with the Lord”…

Luke 22:24–27…“A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. BUT YOU ARE NOT TO BE LIKE THAT! Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? BUT I AM AMONG YOU AS ONE WHO SERVES!”

Who was my Lord and Savior most like? The guy sitting at the head table about to receive an award? Or the one serving with diligence, cheerfulness and grace? The words of Jesus pierced my heart today… “I AM AMONG YOU AS ONE WHO SERVES!”

Oh, I want to be done with the petty discussions of “who is considered the greatest” among us! Instead may I aspire to be like Jesus… “I am among you as one who serves.”