"Preferences"

Exodus 14:12 "Didn't we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt ? We said, 'Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It's better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!'" In a sense, anyone who comes to the salvation of Jesus Christ has come from " Egypt". Egypt is a representation of the world we live in.   Most people would rather be a slave to sin, bound in addictions and under the oppression of this world, than trust in the Lord as their source of life. Trusting is never easy because it removes certainty. I once read a quote that said "Faith does not live in the house of certainty". To trust is to have faith in the one you're placing your trust into.  Even after seeing miracles, plagues, the parting of the Red Sea , and the presence of the Lord leading them by cloud & fire they still doubted that God would take care of them.   God's miraculous works are still evident today in rescuing His people out of Egypt, but the response is still the same, "'Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians." Believers testimonies prove that God is always watching out for His people, but circumstances seem to show the opposite leaving us to doubt. Knowing God is true to His Word, that He is not a man that He should lie, and that he has given us a Promised Land, is an encouragement that He will take care of us. You can either continue being a slave in Egypt or walk through the wilderness and enter your Promised Land. Which do you prefer?

"Reason to Praise"

Luke 24:53 "And they spent all of their time in the Temple , praising God." When you come to realize that Jesus is alive and not dead you can't help but praise Him! In this passage of Luke, Jesus had just been crucified, buried, resurrected, revealed to his disciples, and now taken up into Heaven. And the response of the disciples was to run to the Temple and praise God! Any person who truly grasps what Jesus has done for them through His salvation, then the "true" response should be as King David when the presence of God came back to Jerusalem; radical praise before God! Churches should be filled with people praising God because Jesus still reveals himself to us through His saving grace. Praise should be a response of knowing Jesus is alive. If people understood that he is alive and has been revealed, then praise should come naturally. To sing, to clap, to jump, to shout, to dance before God in His temple all just because of what He has done for us!  And they spent all of their time in the Temple praising God. There is a reason to Praise!

"Expectantly"

Psalm 5:3
"Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly."


How many times has it been said, "If only I won the lottery" or "I wish won the lottery". The hopes and expectancy of so many people, yet most of them have never purchased a ticket!

Now how many times has it been said. "God help me" or "I know God will guide me". And again the hopes and expectancy of so many people, yet from so many people who never talk to God!

The Psalmist had a continual relation with the Lord each morning to where he had the confidence to know God and therefore can wait expectantly. Too many times we wait expectantly without the dedication of devoutly seeking Him.  

Having expectancy is useless without the dedicated effort of seeking a relationship. Just as expecting to win the lottery without the effort of ever buying a ticket. Waiting expectantly requires an action of actually seeking. Without seeking the Lord there is no need to wait expectantly.

But those who know the Lord knows he is faithful and can live a life of expectancy!

"The Ultimate Question"

Luke 13:18 "Then Jesus said, "What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it?" Here it is! The Ultimate Question that every minister should be asking themselves just as Jesus did! What is the Kingdom of God like and how can I illustrate it? God has called ministers to declare His kingdom and that is the message that needs to be proclaimed from the pulpit. What is the Kingdom of God like? What does it look like? How do people act there? Who is in the Kingdom of God ? What things matter in this Kingdom? What do people do in the Kingdom of God ? Who is in charge in the Kingdom of God ? These are the questions that should matter to those who claim residency of this Kingdom. These are the questions that should consume our minds, hearts, and more so our actions! How can I illustrate it? Not only over the pulpit, but in my lifestyle. Living a life that is reflecting my residency in the Kingdom of God . People need to know that Jesus said the Kingdom is here now and begin to alter their ways of living to display that of the Kingdom. As ministers we need to not speak what is of our opinion, but rather what is that of the Kingdom and in doing so diggingdeeper to find the truths of the Kingdom of God!   Ask yourself, "How can I illustrate it?"

 

"Expectations"

Genesis 26:12 "When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him." We live in a scientific age where everything adds up or at least has to add up; 2+2=4. With God and the equations of the spirit everything multiplies 2+2 doesn't equal 4 rather it now becomes 2x2 and =8 or even more than that! Why? Because God isn't confined by our mathematical systems! And because God isn't confined to them, we too need not to limit ourselves to limited outcomes. Isaac planted his crops and reaped a hundred times more than what he put in.  More than likely beyond his expectations. Was it a matter of faith? I don't really think so because any good farmer plants seeds and expects a return. No faith is really required because they trust the land and the seeds are good.  Therefore because something has been planted they're expecting some type of outcome, but when you are faithful to God, He is faithful to His people and our expectations are exceeded!  However, God did not just give Isaac a hundred times more grain. Isaac had to do something first. He had to go and plant his crop! God wants to bless and give to his people, but the problem is nothing has been planted so there's nothing to work with. There's no expectations to work with.   We need to start planting with expectation into Gods harvest field and allow him to bring the return hundred times more. He's waiting to exceed our expectations!

 

"Paranoid Trend"

Luke 9:49
"John said to Jesus, "Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn't in our group."


Today's religious society is so paranoid towards other churches/organizations due to fear of losing current attendees to them. Instead of networking and growing together fear tries to harness them out. In doing so, just like Jesus' disciples they try to stop them and make others think what they are doing is not for God because it is not of them and what they are doing.

It is a "paranoid trend".  We may deny this just as even Jesus' disciples probably would have, but the fact is it's there.  However, if believers will start to see themselves as "believers" and not individual groups or clicks and understand that we will all be with each other in one place at the end, then there is no need for this paranoia.  

Paul writes a letter to one of the churches addressing this issue and he said as long as the name of Jesus is being preached then let them continue.  In Luke, we read that others were stepping up in faith and casting out demons in Jesus' name  aside from His disciples and they became paranoid.But was it really a big deal?

 

As long as Jesus is being proclaimed, people are being saved, and lives are being changed for the Glory of God then there is no need for this "Paranoid Trend".

"Carry Your Cross"

Genesis 22:6
"So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac's shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together,"


Even before Jesus commanded his followers in the book of Luke to take up their cross to follow him, we see Isaac demonstrating the walk that the Father's only Son would have to endure. Usually in reading this scripture we tend to look directly at Isaac, the sacrificial son, but today I want to look at Abraham, the obedient Father. 

As a Father having but one son, I can't even imagine myself having to place the wood on my sons shoulder. The very wood that I know is going to be used for his own sacrifice. I could only imagine the heartache and pain that Abraham must have been feeling as he placed the wood upon Isaac and continued up that mountain. Then he himself having to carry the supplies that would be used in finalizing this sacrifice making every step a reminder of what was about to take place.  

As cruel as it may seem of the father to consent to such terms, it truly is a selfless act.  He knew that without the surrenderance of his son all humanity would face severe consequences.  

 

This is the heart of God. He loves His Son more than any earthly father could possibly love his own, but He selflessly surrendered Him for the sake of the World.

Even as Isaac carried his own wood for his sacrifice willingly, so did Jesus. And every step of the way the Father was right there with him!

 

We too need to carry our own cross knowing our Father will never leave us!

"My Glory"

Psalm 3:3
"But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high."

As I consider this scripture, I can't help but embrace the imagery David uses concerning the Lord.

 

"You are a shield around me".  When I read that I thought of the movie The Incredibles, and actually that is pretty incredible, no extraordinary! In this animated film the daughter Violet, has thisSuper Power to create force-fields to protect her. As bullets are flying and harmful objects are being tossed at her she is protected and unharmed. That is the same of the Lord with His people.

Even though Violet had this power, it did not mean that danger or the enemy wouldn't attack her,but only that when it did, she'd be protected and untouched.

 

We have that same power in Christ! He is our Shield and we can walk with our heads high even while the enemy is hurling bullets our way! Hallelujah! 

Walking with our 'heads high' can usually be misinterpreted as pride or overly confident, but reading this scripture, believers understand that the Lord is their shield and glory and it is He who holds their head up high!

 

Everything we do is for the Glory of the Lord! Even Jesus while He walked this earth always stated "For the Glory of the Father or the one who sent Me".

 

All glory be unto God, therefore,"He is my Glory and He will hold my head high!" 

"The Offering"

Genesis 4:2-7 
2 ... When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. 3 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought a gift—the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, 5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

6 "Why are you so angry?" the Lord asked Cain. "Why do you look so dejected? 7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master."

I am a firm believer in paying tithe. Giving God my 10% is the minimum of what I can give to him and anything beyond that is really an offering.

However, there are times as a Pastor, that after I already paid my tithe and even my offering, I do not have anything to give at the next weekly opportunity. So when I get up to the pulpit to pick up an offering I somewhat felt uncomfortable asking people to give when I could not at that moment. During my discomfort I would find myself trying to rush through the worship of offering. 

Offering is an act of worship and the Lord showed me through this scripture, that our offering carries a blessing. My seed of blessing has already been planted through my tithe and I must not hinder people from experiencing their blessing by rushing through this act of worship! When we give God what is rightfully His, it will be accepted and so will we!

"The Opportunity"

Luke 4:13 "When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came." Jesus being, yes Fully God was still, Fully Man while dwelling upon Earth and just like man was tempted by the devil yet without sin.  However, this scripture points out so beautifully that when we are, because the time will come, tempted by the devil and don't give him a foothold that he will leave us. Though he is still not far away and he is around still looking and waiting for his time to come in and attack at just the right moment. What is the right moment? For Jesus it was when he was really hungry and fatigued after fasting for 40 days. Jesus was in state of vulnerability and though he wanted to eat did not give into the temptation to use his, God-given, abilities to make food for himself.  The devil being sly and deceptive looks for these moments, these opportunities, of vulnerability to come in and cause Gods people to disobey Him and try to take power in our hands. The state of vulnerability for any person is at their weakest moment, the moment they're hurting, maybe for something they are use to but trying to get rid of because it's not good for them, or maybe over the loss of property or a loved-one. Basically whenever there is a yearning for something/someone we want but just can't have at that time the devil comes in and uses those opportunities. James 4:7 reads "So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Jesus demonstrated this humbleness we need in order to resist the devil, and he did resist him so he fled! So if we allow ourselves to keep an attitude of humbleness before God no matter when that next opportunity is that the devil will come he will have no success in causing us to sin. Temptation is not a sin, it is the luring of something our flesh desires thats out of obedience to God in order to cause us to sin. When we give into the temptation and actually commit the act now it has become sin. So in reality the devil doesn't cause us to sin he only tempts us and we in our flesh make the decision.  Therefore, we need to be on guard making sure that we are not giving the devil another opportunity to come and tempt us. Because, he's there and he is waiting for that next opportunity!

Ah! Morning Coffee Blogs

Psalm 5:3 "In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."


Ah! Morning Coffee is a time of devotion for me and the Lord.  And as I continue on with my devotion I felt compelled by the Lord to start blogging/journaling the interests of these devotions.  Throughout the Word of God when the Lord spoke to his servants he told them write it down (ie. Moses, John, Daniel, even Mary wrote it on the tablet of her heart) these are things to be remembered not only for the individual who received it, to reflect on it again, but also for generations to come to read and be encouraged through all that God did before them. 


There is nothing more surreal then a fresh cup of warm coffee with French Vanilla creamer and basking yourself in the Word of God and His presence to start the day.  It's in these moments that all the busyness of our daily lives, the rush/urgency of meaningless task, and the consumption of our selfishness just subside - creating an intimacy of ease that the Lord is ever so present in!




As these blogs continue many will be the reflection of the time that I spent that morning in fellowship with the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to be my teacher while giving me insight to his illuminating word. While others may be my own thoughts, concerns, or way of ventilation for whatever ventures I may be going through in that time of my life.