Coffee With The Lord

I’m an older person now – 67 in fact. I jokingly tell my students, “You’re listening to an old dog!” But I remember vividly many of the “life lessons” taught to me by my father and mother as a child and a young man. Listen, I’m so glad for the decision I made early in life to listen to them and heed what they had to say – rather than resist them! Looking back, I’m so grateful for what they taught me, and their godly example!

I have other friends… I’ve observed other lives… who rebelled, who resisted what their elders tried to teach them – who rejected their advice and were determined to go their own way. They’re older now and many of them live with deep regrets and in their own words “wasted years.”
Thought of that this morning as I read these wise words from Proverbs 1…

“The fear (or reverence) of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge! Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Hear, my son (or daughter), your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching! They are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

“If sinners entice you, do not consent! If they say, ‘Come with us, let us… let us… let us… we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”— do not walk in the way with them! Hold back your foot from their paths! For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, but these individuals lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.” (From Proverbs 1:7–18 ESV)

Yes, looking back, I’m glad I listened – glad I heeded the wise words of my parents and other wise leaders and Spiritual influences God sent my way! No regrets on that score! Like I said, I’m 67 now… And I want to keep listening… and heeding!

I’ve run a few marathons (26.2 miles) and a lot of 10Ks (6.2 miles). Let me tell you you something… If you have not “put in the miles” ahead of time – in training in preparation for the road race – if you have not “hardened your legs” to the distance, when the day of the race comes the distance and the road will tell you whether or not you’ve adequately trained! How do I know that? I’ve experienced the pain, the frustration, the disappointment of not being able to finish!

The lesson? Put in the miles! Don’t let anything stand in the way of adequate training! Get up early, prioritize your training schedule, do whatever you have to in order to finish strong!

Thought of that this morning as I read these words from 1 Timothy 4 (Apostle Paul’s challenge to young Timothy…)

“Train to be godly! For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, holding promise for the present life and also for the life to come!” (from 1 Timothy 4:7-8)

Gotta tell you, I desperately want to be able to say what Apostle Paul did as he approached the finish line of his “life course”…

“I have fought a good fight! I have finished the race! I have kept the faith! Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day – and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Somehow I think Apostle Paul had run a road race or two! Listen… I WANT TO FINISH STRONG! Don’t you?

Psalm 150… Part of my Bible reading this morning. Last of the Psalms in the Bible. If I were to give it a title, this would be it… “Praise! In the words of Nike… Just do it!”

My advice? When you read this Psalm allow it to create a picture in your mind … a sound in your imagination. (Depending on your personal musical tastes and preferences, that picture will be different – that’s OK! That’s expected!) In fact, my former students who have taken the course Bible Study from me will understand… In fact they will be grinning right now, because I do a wild and crazy thing in class to visualize the kind of worship experience I sometimes visualize as I read this Psalm… Exuberant! Wild! Loud! Uninhibited! God-exalting! Christ-honoring!

So, here’s the psalm for your reading… (Now be sure to let it create a mental picture in your mind – a sound in your imagination!)

“Praise the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary!

Praise Him in His mighty heavens!

Praise Him for His mighty deeds!

Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!

Praise Him with tambourine and dance!

Praise Him with strings and pipe!

Praise Him with sounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

(You…) Praise the Lord!”

Now your picture may have been of a symphony… or it may have been of wild, exciting improvisation – a jazz or rock musical expression… or it may have been of a group of children just “cutting loose” in praise to God with pans, spoons, whistles, whatever – a “rhythms band!” Once more… In the words of Nike… “Praise! Just do it!”