Coffee Break

Coffee Break

"A Captive Of The Wilderness"

"And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers." Deuteronomy 6:23

One of the saddest stories in the Bible is about the children of Israel in the wilderness for forty years. The Lord had delivered them from Egyptian bondage after over four hundred years. He gave them the most miraculous delivery- through miracles, signs and wonders. He totally set them free from slavery. They were now free people heading to the land He had promised to give them. But instead of reaching the promised land they wound up wandering around in the wilderness for forty years. They left one captivity and wound up in another. They left the physical bondage of Egypt and Pharaoh and wound up in bondage that was unseen but real-- unbelief, doubt and fear.

That sad picture is being replayed over and over again now days in the lives of many of God's children. The Lord saved them and delivered them from the power of sin. He did it through a miraculous and costly avenue-- He gave the life of His only begotten Son and through His shed blood gave redemption from sin. He gave them freedom and a promised land to inherit. Yet instead of inheriting those promises they are being held captive by an "unseen" bondage. They have come out of the bondage of sin, but are held captive by fear, regret, guilt, condemnation, unbelief, confusion and so on. They are spending their lives wandering in endless circles in a wilderness-- a dry place that offers no hope, no joy, no peace. The promises are awaiting them but they can't get to them because of the mental, emotional and spiritual bondages that have them trapped.

Is that you today? I have good news. Unlike those Israelites who were unable to get free from the wilderness, you do not have to keep wandering around in the bondage of the wilderness. Jesus defeated sin. He won the victory by destroying its power. He brought you out. He didn't deliver you from the power of sin only to have you held a prisoner by another captive. He desires to take you into the promised land- a land of abundant life. He who the Son sets free is free indeed, not partially free; not free from one bondage but captive to another. So get out of that wilderness and enter into the land of abundant life- love, peace, joy, etc. How? By turning to Him, ask for His strength and power, believe His word and don't listen to the negative reports of the enemy. Listen to Him alone.

Have a great day. The Lord did not deliver you from the bondage of sin only to have you become a captive of the wilderness.

For further reading:
John 3:16; 10:10; 8:36
Galatians 5:1

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: [email=mastersbusiness@bellsouth]mastersbusiness@bellsouth[/email]. net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break

"No End In God"

"But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end." Psalm 102:27

There is no end to God. He is the eternal existent One-- He always has been and always will be. That also means that there is no end to His strength. He will always be just as strong as time goes on as He has always been. There is no end to His power, to His mercy, to His grace, to His love... there is no end to who He is and what He possesses. This means that He will always have enough of whatever it is that you and I need. We don't have to worry about Him "running out".

What do you need today? Do you need His strength? Do you need His grace? He has plenty enough to meet your need. If you lack, it is because you aren't asking, or drawing, upon it. Because there is no lack in Him. And He even gives you the invitation to ask and receive whatever it is that you do lack.

Have a great day. There is no lack in God. He doesn't come to an end, neither does what He possess.

For further reading:
Isaiah 9:7
Luke 1:33
Psalm 34:10
James 1:5

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@ bellsouth. net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness .org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

NOTE: CORRECTION- There is another correction that I need to point out in yesterday's message "Cry Out". The scripture should read, "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to (sink), he cried, saying, Lord, save me." Matthew 14:30. And in the closing- "Have a great day. Why keep (drowning)?"

Coffee Break

"Antichrist"

"Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time." 1 John 2:18

When we hear or think about the word "antichrist" , it immediately conjures up pictures of the man who is to come and set himself up as the one world leader. But there is also the "spirit of antichrist" which according to the scriptures is already at work in the world. It was there in the early church age and is here in these present days.

What is this spirit and what does it look like? While you can't "see" a spirit, you can certainly recognize its presence. The word "anti" means to be against. Thus "antichrist" is whatever is against Christ. The spirit of antichrist is not only against Christ but works in opposition to Christ- that is what it is and what it looks like.

The primary characteristic of this spirit is that it denies that Jesus is God who came in the flesh. It portrays Him as just a good man, a teacher, a prophet, etc., but not God. This spirit, because it is in opposition to God, calls unclean what God has called clean. It calls evil what God has called good and calls good what God has called evil. It stands against everything that God stands for. It opposes God's rule, His laws and His commands. We see it more evident in our culture today than in past generations. It legalizes and promotes abortion and homosexual marriage- those things that God calls an abomination. It applauds rebellion, slander, laziness, irresponsibility, adultery and fornication. It convinces mankind to "do what is right in your own eyes" instead of what is right in God's eyes. It persuades people to live by their own preferences instead of by Kingdom/God' s preference-- even in the church.

The "spirit of antichrist" has its origin and roots in satan - the one who is a liar, deceiver and in total opposition to God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, His Word and His Kingdom. If we accept the things that are in opposition to what God says, then we have fallen prey to this spirit and must get free immediately lest we be uprooted in our faith and find ourselves drifting further and further away from the truth. This is the goal of the "spirit of antichrist"- to get you away from the truth of God's Word and eventually away from Christ.

Have you believed this spirit? Are you falling for its lies? Are you in agreement with it- through your lifestyle, actions and beliefs- because its teachings have become acceptable in society? Then you must repent and start standing upon the truth of God's Word instead of against (anti) it.

Have a great day. The "spirit of antichrist" is alive and well today and it is trying to pull you away from Christ.

For further reading:
1 John 2:22; 4:3
2 John 1:7
Judges 17:6
Proverbs 21:2
Revelation 12:9
John 8:44
Isaiah 5:20
Philippians 3:17-19

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@ bellsouth. net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness .org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"Never Too Small"

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." 1 Corinthians 1:27

Never think that God cannot use you. Never think that you are too small, or just one "little" person, or a nobody. God uses "small" things.

He used one little boy and his little lunch to feed thousands. He uses the ant to teach a lesson to sluggards. He uses even the smallest light to expel darkness. He uses a cup of cold water to quench the thirst. He used a shepherd boy to bring down a giant with a small stone in a small sling shot. He used a widow's mite to teach the true meaning of unselfish giving. He used a rock to provide water for the millions of Israelites in the desert. He used a stick/rod in the hand of Moses to bring down Pharaoh's kingdom. He has used a hand full of meal, a bottle of oil, a raven, babes to perfect praise, and many other "small" things to do great things through.

The fact that the Lord has chosen the small time and time again is encouraging because it means that He can use us in spite of how little or weak we may be. He most definitely uses "small" things, so "small" is good.

Have a great day. You are not too small for God to use, on the contrary, you are in the perfect position for Him to use.

For further reading:
Proverbs 6:6
Matthew 21:16; 10:42

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
NOTE: CORRECTION: In the day before yesterday's CB- "Get Out of The Pit"- there was an error. The first sentence of the third paragraph should have read-- "A pit is a place of death, not life".
Coffee Break
"Cry Out"

"But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sin, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." Matthew 14:30

There are some of you who are reading this that feel like you are drowning. The pressures are more than you can bear. The trials are weighing upon you. Problems are mounting up. The load is great and more than you can bear. You feel like you are going under, possibly for the last time. But unlike Peter, you are trying to "swim" your way out of it. You are trying everything you can to "tread water". You are trying to do whatever you can to just keep your head above the "water" and not drown. You are trying in your own ability to save yourself. To you the Lord is saying today-- "Cry Out". Do what Peter did- cry out to Me.

You have tried everything on your own and nothing has "saved" you. You have insisted, like a small child, that you can do it. You have acted like you don't need any help. But the truth is you do. You can't do this on your own. The waves are too fierce. The wind is too strong. The water is too deep. But if you will cry out to Me, the wind is not too strong, the waves are not to high, the water is not too deep for Me to save you. My hand is not too short, my power is not limited. I am mighty to save. I still calm storms and rebuke the raging seas of life.

Like Peter, you have the choice-- find your own solution and try to save yourself; or cry out to Me and I will lift you up out of the raging sea and save you.

Have a great day. Why keep drawing? Cry out to Jesus.

For further reading:
Matthew 11:28; 14:22-33

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"Get Out Of The Pit"

"Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die." Jeremiah 38:10

Have you ever been in a pit? I am not talking about a literal, physical one like Jeremiah was thrown into by his accusers and enemies. I am talking about a pit that the "accuser" and "enemy" of our soul tries to throw us into. It is the pit of despair, the pit of discouragement, the pit of fear, anger, bitterness, addiction, grief or the pit of regret and condemnation.

A pit is not a place of death not life. The men in the scripture went to the king asking to take Jeremiah out of the pit because they knew he would die if he stayed there too long. He would die for lack of food and water. (verse 9). When we are in the pits that I described above, we are in a place of death-- a slow death. Life is being pulled out of us and we aren't aware of it until death begins to take a hold of us. Many times people have been in the pit for so long that it begins to feel natural and they start settling in as if it is their home. They don't even realize that their life is slipping away from them.

Because Jesus is Life and the pit is a place of death, He has come to set the captive free-- free from the pit; free from death. If you are in a pit, whether you have been in it for a long time or have just gone into it, Jesus is offering you a way out. He is stretching out His hand to you- like He did Peter when he was drowning. His hand is not short that it cannot save. He can pull you out regardless of how long you have been in it. He can, and desires to, pull you out and give you freedom from the pit and put you in a place of abundant life. He is reaching out to you this morning, will you grab a hold of His hand.

Have a great day. The pit is a place of death, but Jesus is reaching into the pit to lift you out and give you life.

For further reading:
Isaiah 59:1
Psalm 40:2
John 10:10
Luke 4:18

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"Feeling Empty?"

".... but be filled with the Spirit." Ephesians 5:18b

Do you ever have that empty feeling spiritually? Where it feels like you have nothing in you spiritually- no word, no praise, no nothing? You feel dry and... well, just empty. When something is empty, it is because there is nothing in it. When the water pitcher is empty, it is because there is no water in it. When the gas tank is empty, it is because there is no gas in it. The container is void of what should be in there. When we are spiritually empty, that is not the case. It is not because there is nothing spiritual in us. It is because it is filled with something else more.

We either walk in the spirit or in the flesh. We either mind the things of the spirit or the things of the flesh. We either feed ourselves with spiritual things or things of the flesh. It is all about flesh and spirit. When we aren't full of one, it is because we are full of the other.

We don't get spiritually empty. We have just been feeding the flesh more than we have been feeding the spirit so the flesh is the "predominate" one at the moment. It is crowding out the spirit making us feel empty and dry. Because this works both ways, when we are feeding our spirit more than our flesh, we feel spiritually full.

So when you get that empty feeling, check yourself. Have you been spending more time feeding your flesh-- watching too much television, playing too many games, overeating, being constantly entertained? Are you neglecting the feeding and care of the spirit-- prayer, worship, Bible study, fasting? I am sure you will find, for the most part, that is the cause of your emptiness.

Have a great day. Which ever you feed- your flesh or your spirit- you will find that it leaves the other with an empty feeling.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"Your Reputation"

"He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me." Numbers 22:5

The he in this verse was the king of Moab and the people that he was referring to were the Israelites. This heathen king had heard about the Israelites and recognized who they were- God's people. Their fame had reached Moab. He had heard what their God did to Pharaoh when He brought them out of Egypt. He feared them because they were a threat to him, so he called the prophet to come and curse them because he knew they were a force to be reckoned.

Does the enemy/devil know you? Does he recognize who you are- a child of God? Does he fear you because Jesus is seen in you? Does he know that you know who you are in Christ? Does he see you as a threat because you know that you have power and authority over him? Does he know that you aren't easily deceived, that you are bold in your walk with the Lord, that you are strong in your faith? Does he know that your profession lines up with your actions- that you aren't Christian in name only?

The most important thing is that the Lord knows who you are. But the enemy also needs to know who you are. The king of Moab knew the Israelites reputation and was afraid of what they would do to him and his rule. The enemy doesn't fear those who don't have a reputation- a reputation of standing strong in the Lord, of walking in power and authority, of praying, of being light and salt, of being uncompromised in their stand for the Lord and of being unwavering in their faith. Does the enemy know your reputation?

Have a great day. Do you have a reputation that causes the enemy to fear?

For further reading:
Luke 10:19
1 John 4:4
Matthew 11:12
Acts 19:15

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"Applying It"

"For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me." Psalm 18:22

It is one thing to read God's Word and to hear it preached and another to apply it to your life. God's Word is like bread to our souls, but if we aren't "eating" it we will be hungry. It is like "water" for our spirits to drink, but if we don't we remain thirsty. It is a "light" but if it is not used we will keep stumbling in darkness.

God doesn't intend for us to listen to sermon after sermon, teaching after teaching and walk away talking about "how good" the message was only. His intension is that we make it part of our being-- like air. The Psalmist said that God's Word was before Him- He read it, heard it, thought about it- and he didn't neglect to put it into practice.

Do you know what God's Word says but yet you are ignoring what it says to do? Are you reading the scriptures but that is as far as it goes? Are you forgetting what they say when it comes to what you want to do if they are in opposition? Do you just "enjoy" sermons or apply them to your life? Do you read the Word but just so that you can feel justified that you have fulfilled some religious obligation or duty? Is reading it just another habit? It has to be more. It is more. If this describes you, then you need to make it more in your life.

Have a great day. It is not about just knowing what God's Word says, but about doing what it says.

For further reading:
Psalm 119:105
James 1:22,25
Romans 2:13

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"I Know He Is Faithful"

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war." Revelation 19:11

Recently we talked about how unsearchable God is and that we will never be able to know all there is to know about Him. Even when this mortality puts on immorality and we behold Him face to face, He will be revealing Himself to us throughout eternity. What we know about Him now is only because He allows us to know it.

When we talked about this before, the one thing we said that we do know about Him is that He never changes. We don't have to worry or wonder what kind of mood He will be in or if we can trust Him today like we did yesterday.

This morning I want to address something else about this wonderful Lord that we can know-- He is faithful. The word faithful means: worthy of trust; true to one's word or promises; reliable. All these describe the Lord God.

He is worthy of your trust today because He is faithful in His love for you- it is unconditional and never ends. He is worthy of your trust because He is true to His word- He keeps His promises, He has never broken one and never will, He will do what He says He will do. He is worthy of your trust because He is reliable. You can count on Him, He won't leave you or forsake you. He won't run out on you when the going gets tough, He won't turn His back on you when you are in need and He won't neglect you.

So, again, though we won't ever know all there is to know about Him, we can know that He is faithful-- He always has been and always will be, therefore, we can put our trust in Him.

Have a great day. While we will never know all there is to know about God, we do know that He is faithful-- so we can trust Him.

For further reading:
Deuteronomy 7:9
Psalm 36:5; 119:90
Lamentations 3:23

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"Hope Is For The Future"

"Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel." Psalm 128:6

This whole chapter is about the blessings that are upon those who fear the Lord. When you read the Bible and the stories of the Israelites, you soon discover that besides their God there are two things on earth that are most important to them-- their children and their nation.

It was a big thing for them to have a lineage and heritage. In the scriptures if a man passed away his brother was to marry his widow and produce children in his name. Remember the story of Rachel and Leah, it was important for them to "out do" the other in giving children to Jacob. Hannah wept bitterly in the temple for a child. Elizabeth rejoiced to bear a child in her old age.

They also loved their home land and longed for it when they were in captivity. So as I read the verse above I see two things. The first thing I see is that the Lord tells us what the blessing is-- you will have a long life and see your grandchildren and you will see peace in your land. The second thing I see is hope. The two things they longed for are not always evident in the present, they are future happenings. But they had hope that they would see them.

Hope is not needed when the thing is seen. Hope is always for a future event. We know what we hope will happen in the future, but we can't see the future we can only see now. Even though we can't see the future, God can. And because He can see ahead He allows us to have a "glimpse" at it and gives us a promise of what is to come. So if you are waiting to "see" something that is still in the future, be encouraged. God is a God of hope and He is watching over your life-- from the past, at the present, and into the future.

Have a great day. Hope is always directed at what is still in the future. God is a God of hope and is watching over your future.

For further reading:
Hebrews 11:1
Romans 8:24,25

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"I Know He Does Not Change"
"For I am the LORD, I change not..." Malachi 3:6a

Although the Bible says that the Lord God will make Himself known to His people, He is so awesome and amazing there is no way that we can know Him in the fullness of who He is. What we do know about Him is only because He allows us to have that knowledge and revelation. If He did not reveal Himself to us we could never know anything about Him or know Him in intimate ways. The depth of God is so deep, the length of God is so long, the mind of God is so unsearchable, His thoughts are so much higher than our thoughts and His ways are beyond our ability to comprehend. Even when our mortality puts on immortality we will still not fully understand the complexity and grandeur of God. I believe that the angels who are constantly in His presence don't fully understand Him, but they stand in awe just like us. After all, how can the creation understand the Creator.

Having said all that, while God is so great that no one can fully know and explain this infinite Being, there is one thing that I do know about Him--- He does not change! He does not change in His unconditional love. He does not change in His faithfulness. He does not change in His mercy and grace. His strength does not change. His wisdom doesn't change. His compassion and loving-kindness for us does not change. His power never changes either.

He isn't like we are-- moody and fickle. People change. Often you don't know where you stand with them. They may be your friend today and your enemy tomorrow. They may start the day off in a loving mood, but before the day is over be full of anger. You just don't always know from one minute to the next where you stand with some people. You don't have to worry about that with the Lord because He does not change. This should give you great comfort and peace. You never have to wonder if He is going to love you today or not. You never have to wonder if He is going to be faithful, meet your need, fight your battle or be with you. He does not change. Whatever He is, is what He has always been and will always be.

Have a great day. We may not be able to know all there is to know about the Lord, but one thing we do know is that He never changes!

For further reading:
Hebrews 13:8
I John 5:20
Psalm 145:3; 103:7
Romans 11:33
Isaiah 55:9

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web:www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"He Stinketh"

"Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days." John 11:39

Jesus was about to do one of the biggest miracles He had performed while on earth. He was about to give Martha the biggest miracle she had ever experienced in her life. He was about to turn her sorrow into joy, her mourning into gladness. He was about to give her back hope. He was getting ready to give her the ultimate comfort-- her brother back from the dead. He was getting ready to bring life out of death. He was on the verge of giving her the thing she wanted most and all she could think about was, "Lord, he stinketh!" Jesus was giving her the desire of her heart and answering her prayer in a miraculous way, and all she was thinking about was some negative, insignificant thing-- he will stink by now.

Does Martha sound familiar? The Lord is getting ready to give us a miracle, He is in the process of answering our prayer, and all we can focus on is some minute, negative detail. We are more focused on the "stinketh" than what He is doing. What are some of those "stinketh" things? "The government will cut out my checks if He heals me". "It is in the wrong location". "What will my family think?". "It is too big, or too small". "But what about the finances?". All minute details in comparison to the thing that God is doing.

Do you think that Jesus didn't know that when the stone was rolled away there was going to be a stench come out of that tomb? But He was focused on the glory of God. We need to follow Jesus' example and not Martha's. We need to stop focusing on the negative. We need to stop focusing on petty earthly details. We need to start focusing on the will of the Father, the miracle He is trying to bring to us, and the glory of God.

Have a great day. Is the Lord trying to give you a great miracle but you are focused on the negative details?

For further reading:
John 11:1-44

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break

"God's Word Is Right"

"Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way." Psalm 119:128

God's word covers every area of life, and there is nothing that it does not cover or address. It may not say in exact words, "Thou shall not (fill in the blank) ___", but it is found in it through its teachings and principles. Sadly, not everyone-- in the world and in the church-- believes that it covers "all things".

There are two things that we need to understand concerning the word of God or we will always have trouble knowing what is right and what isn't. We will be in confusion and live a compromised lifestyle. We will be easily persuaded to go in the wrong direction. Our faith will be weak, and we will be like a double-minded man who is unstable in all his ways.

The first thing is what we have already mentioned: God's word addresses every issue mankind has. The second is: God's word is correct concerning every issue. It is the only thing that is totally correct all the time about everything- man's philosophies, his education, his intellectual assumptions, his humanistic reasoning is all flawed and therefore incorrect much of the time.

When political correctness, popular opinion, or the mindset of the age clashes or disagrees with the word of God, it will always be God's word that is the right one. Just because everyone else believes that a certain thing is right, just because it is the direction the world is going, if it is contrary to God's word, it is wrong and God's word is right. It will always be the word of God that is the correct one and the one that you need to follow.

You have to be convinced of this or you will fall prey to lies, deception, false teachings and be carried away by every wind of doctrine-- false doctrine within the walls of the church, and false doctrine that the world is propagating.

Have a great day. God's word is the only thing that is always correct, all the time, on every issue.

For further reading:
James 1:8
Titus 1:2
John 17:17
Ephesians 4:14

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"Breeding Ground"

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Philippians 4:6

"Be careful (anxious) about nothing." The word anxious means: worried, uneasy, distress, intensely eager. We are told not to be anxious and we are given the antidote to anxiety in the verse above.

When we catch ourselves becoming anxious, we must immediately do something about it and take it captive. If we don't it becomes a breeding ground for many other things. Usually our anxiety involves other people. We have to wait on someone or deal with them in a matter. Because of this we can see how easily anxiety does become a breeding ground. It is a breeding ground for complaining- - why aren't they doing it according to plan? It is a breeding ground for impatience-- can't they move any faster? It becomes a breeding ground for fear- what if they leave me; what if they make me late; what if they don't come through; etc. It becomes a breeding ground for criticism- why are they doing it like that; can't they move any faster; wouldn't it be better if they did it this other way? It becomes a breeding ground for bitterness- if it hadn't been for them things would have worked out.

Does any of this sound familiar? Anxiety doesn't just "dwell" by itself, it wants company and it produces its own company. All the things we have named and more. And before you know it, you are an emotional "basket case" surrounded by uncontrollable thoughts.

Take them captive before they ever get started, or when you recognize what is happening. If you will do it at the first sign of anxiety, it will not go any further. It will not be able to "breed". You won't have to deal with that whirlwind of emotions, you won't lose your peace and you won't do damage to others by the things that anxiety produces.

Have a great day. Anxiety is a breeding ground for all kinds of emotions and sin. So deal with it through prayer before it has a chance to produce anything else.

For further reading:
Philippians 4:7
1 Peter 5:7

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
Coffee Break
"Weapons Can't Prosper"

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord." Isaiah 54:17

The verse above tells us two things: there will be weapons that are formed against us, but they will not prosper. Don't think for one minute that just because you are a born-again Christian that there will never be any "weapons" formed against you- meaning that you will have a smooth life with no problems or trouble. That is not the case, there will be weapons formed against your spirit, soul and body for the sole purpose of destroying you. The good news is that even though they are formed, they cannot prosper. They will never get the upper hand, win the victory, have the final say so, or overcome you.

They can form, and will, but they will not prosper because if God is for us who (or what) can be against us. "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) So, let's say when the weapons of poverty come- you can't prosper against me. When weapons of sickness come- you can't prosper. When confusion, depression, fear all come- you can't prosper. No weapon that the enemy forms against you can win because God is for you, He is with you and He is in you. And GREATER is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

"For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's." (Romans 14:8) Regardless of the weapon, child of God, it cannot prosper because God is for you so it is a "win, win" situation. Because whether you live or die, you belong to Him!

Have a great day. When weapons form against you, remember that they cannot prosper because God is for you.

For further reading:
1 John 4:4
2 Corinthians 2:14

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"Call For Help"

"And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." Matthew 14:29,30

Peter was a prideful, outspoken person. At the Passover feast he told Jesus that He would not wash his feet. We hear him tell Jesus also that he would never deny Him, but die with Him if he had to. In all of Peter's boasting, pride and arrogance there is one thing that can be said for him-- he knew to call out to Jesus when he was in trouble. "Lord, save me".

Don't let your "personality" stop you from calling upon the Lord when you are in trouble. Don't let pride hold you back from seeking His help. Don't let self-righteousness keep you from being honest with Him about the fact that you can't do it or make it on your own without His help.

He doesn't expect you to do this on your own. He doesn't just leave you to yourself to try to figure out a solution or be your own source of help and deliverance. You are on this journey of life with Him. Had He wanted you to do it by yourself He never would have given you a promise to never leave you or forsake you. If He had wanted you to make it own your own He never would have sent the Comforter- Holy Spirit to be with you. He knows you can't do it without Him. He remembers what you are made out of (dust), therefore He knows how weak and helpless you become.

Don't let pride, self-righteousness, arrogance, hard-heartedness, head strong attitude, etc stand in the way of calling out to Jesus for help. Don't let anything stand in the way. Perhaps you think it will show lack of faith, or that it will show weakness. Maybe it will? But I would rather have Jesus' loving rebuke for a lack of faith than to be "drowned" by the situation.

Have a great day. You need Jesus' help, so don't let any attitude keep you from asking Him for that help.

For further reading:
Matthew 14:29-31; 26:33-35
John 13:1-9; 14:16;15:5
Hebrews 13:5
Psalm 103:14

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"Chain Breaker"

"God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land." Psalm 68:6

"He bringeth out those which are bound with chains." There are so many people walking around today burdened down and restricted by chains. Oh, you may not see the chains with the naked eye, but they are there nevertheless. Some are held captive by the chains of fear- fear of failure, fear of success, fear of the opinions of others, fear of stepping out of their comfort zone, etc. Some are held captive by the chains of condemnation and guilt. They can't get past the past. Then there are those who are held in the chains of addiction- alcohol, drugs, immorality, gambling, and so on. There are others who are held captive in the chains of anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, greed, lust, covetousness, pride, hopelessness and grief. There is an unending list of things that bind the hearts and minds of mankind with invisible, yet real, chains.

This morning I don't want to spend all the time focusing on the chains. I want to focus on the One who breaks the chains. If you are bound by any of the chains we named this morning, or some that we didn't, I have good news for you... Jesus is the chain breaker. There is no chain too strong for Him to break. There is no chain too rusty- because it has been there a long time- that He can't break. No chain is more powerful then He is. And when He gets a hold of the chain, He not only breaks it off of you but He destroys it completely so that it cannot be put back together.

Are you bound by chains? Jesus wants to free you. He can break them. He will break them if you will let Him. You will never be able to break them on your own. You can try. You can work at it. You can cry over it. You can wrestle with it. But He is the only One who can truly set you free-- free indeed. Let Him, He is waiting to.

Have a great day. If you are bound by any "chains", Jesus wants to break them off of you and set you free.

For further reading:
Isaiah 61:1
Luke 4:18
John 8:36

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"Bees In The Place Of Prayer"

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Matthew 7:11

I love to go outside early in the morning and have my prayer time with the Lord. A couple of weeks ago I shared that as I was going to my porch swing to have that time I discovered a snake there. We discussed the illustration of how the enemy tries to get into our prayer place to distract and discourage us. Well, one morning last week I had gone outside to have my time alone with the Lord, but instead of staying on the porch I went for a walk down our road. I often do that because it is off the main road and very private and quiet.

This particular morning I discovered something else in "my place of prayer". Near the end of the road I saw something laying in the middle of the road that looked very odd. Upon closer inspection I saw it was a swarm of honey bees. I called a local beekeeper and he came and got them. He said it was very unusual to see them in that type of place. And he said it was a very large swarm.

The thought crossed my mind, "I found a snake in my place of prayer before (something that brings fear) and now I am finding bees in my place of prayer (something that produces that which is sweet)". Immediately, the Holy Spirit gave me another analogy.

As we pray and seek the Lord, in that place of prayer we will find some "sweet things" - we will discover the One who produces them. We will "taste" His goodness. He will show up and satisfy our mouths with good things. He will give us unexpected blessings and surprises. He will show us great and mighty things that we don't know. He will give us "unusual" revelations and insights. And He will give us an abundance of grace, strength, joy and peace. So keep praying, you will find good things as you do.

Have a great day. During prayer you never know what you may discover, but as you continue He will show you something good.

For further reading:
Psalm 34:8; 103:5; 68:19
2 Chronicles 26:5

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break

"Aligned"

"....nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Matthew 26:39

I have several products in my home- hair care products, aspirin bottles, etc.- that all have a simple little safety thing on them to keep them from accidently coming open. You have seen it, it is an arrow that is on the lid and another one on the bottle. You have to align those arrows up exactly with each other or it will not open.

There are times we wonder why things aren't happening in our lives, why aren't we getting the answers to our prayers, why is it taking so long. The answer may be in the "alignment". A lot of times what is happening is we are not aligning ourselves with God's will and plan. We think we are but just like these products I described earlier, you can be off just a fraction in lining them up and they still won't open.

We have to align ourselves up with God's will- often we are trying to get Him to align with our will. We have to align ourselves up with His timing- usually we want it when we want it and get too impatient to just wait. Jesus was so perfectly aligned with His Father's will, many times He had to tell his disciples that "it is not My time yet". We have to align ourselves with God's way of doing it- we have a habit of thinking that we are so smart and know how God wants to do it. In order for Jesus to redeem us God's plan was the cross, our plan would have been something different, something less gruesome, something less painful, something more pleasant.

The alignment arrows on the products we talked about earlier are safety features, aligning ourselves to God's will is a safety feature for us too. Our will will lead us into unsafe places. It will lead us into confusion, fear, discouragement and so on.

If you are in that place of "wonder" this morning, have you asked Him about your "alignment"? Are you truly aligned with His will, timing and plan? It will never "open" until you get aligned with Him and stop trying to get Him to align with you.

Have a great day. Things only work out when we are aligned with God's will, timing, plan and purpose.

For further reading:
Proverbs 3:5,6
Luke 22:42

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"Not Condemned, But Saved"

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:17

The Pharisees brought the woman who was caught in the act of adultery to Jesus and asked what should be done to her. The law said she should be stoned, but they waited to see what Jesus would say. You know the story, one by one her accusers left leaving her alone with Jesus. Jesus then addressed her, "Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?" She replied, "No man, Lord." Jesus then answered her back, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and sin no more".

Under the law this woman had been found guilty, the death sentence was passed and waited to be carried out. But Jesus would not do it. He wouldn't pick up a stone because He didn't come to condemn, but to save.

You and I and all mankind had broken God's law (through Adam's sin). We had been found guilty (all have sinned). We were to be punished. We received the death sentence (the wages of sin is death). But when Jesus came to earth, He didn't come to condemn us. We were already condemned and awaiting the punishment. His mission wasn't to condemn but to save. And that is what He did at the cross- "it is finished". He saved us, He removed the death sentence on those who seek His forgiveness and turn to Him (the gift of God is eternal life). He set us free from the law of sin and death. He reversed the death sentence by taking our punishment for us.

"Go and sin no more". He told the woman who was caught in adultery that He wasn't there to condemn her, but to save her. He came to set that captive free. He came to open the prison door. He came to redeem her from the curse of the law. He came to give her life for death. He came to remove the death sentence over her life. He came to give her abundant life. So now He tells her-- go. Go and sin no more, I have saved you (not just from the stoning, but from the sting and power of sin and death itself), you are a free person. You are no longer under the death sentence. You have been pardoned. You have been justified. You have been set free. You have received life.

Jesus came to save us and He did. So today He is saying the same thing to you- go. Go and sin no more. Go and walk in newness of life. Go and live the abundant life He has given you. You are free from the death penalty. Go and live free from condemnation, guilt and misery. Go and enjoy your salvation. Go live in peace, rest and joy.

Have a great day. Jesus didn't come to condemn us but to save us, and He did so now go and enjoy the abundant life He provided.

For further reading:
John 8
Romans 8:2

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Who Needs God"

"He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire." Isaiah 44:16

In the verses prior to this one we are given the description of those who create idols to worship and serve. This is an illustration of where I believe the world is, and sadly, for the most part the organized church. In these verses the carpenter has cut down the tree and fashioned his own god from it that he looks to for all his need.

Who needs God when we can do it ourselves? This seems to be the mantra of the age. But there is a problem with that thinking and I want to address it this morning. The use of a tree symbolizes humanity/man/ flesh. Our devices, plans and works are fleshly- imperfect and unstable. Once the tree is cut down, it ceases to be alive- it is now a dead tree. Nothing, no work of the flesh that we do on our own outside of God has life in it.

1) "He burns part in the fire and warms himself". A fire is warmth. Fire is one of the most comforting elements there is. Yet when we use our own "gods that we have hewn" (humanistic wisdom, vain philosophy, education) to produce a fire to "warm" ourselves it is only temporary. You have to continue to add more wood to it or it will go out. There is no rest for those who build their own fire to warm themselves, they are continually having to work to keep it going.

2) "With part he cooks his food". While he is eating the meal he has cooked he is satisfied, but it is not long before he is hungry again. Our own devises and works of the flesh never give full and complete satisfaction. Just about the time you think you are full and satisfied hunger hits again. It is only a temporary satisfaction.

3) "I have seen the fire". When you make your own "fire" (your own god and a substitute for the true God), you are easily deceived by what you see. You believe you have the real thing. You are warm, you are satisfied and you have light. But it is a false light giving false security- it will go out and leave you in the dark.

There is only One who is the Light, there is only One who truly satisfies, there is only One who takes away the struggles, there is only One who gives warmth to our cold hard hearts. And that One is not made with our own hands. Our efforts and the works of our hands bring death, but only He can put life in dead things. That One is Jesus, and Jesus gives life because He is Life.

Are you trying to invent your own "god"? Are you trying to find something within your own strength and power that will satisfy you? Are you trying to warm yourself? Are you struggling to keep the "fire" going? Come to the real fire, only He can truly satisfy and give a lasting satisfaction. Don't be as foolish as these who think that they don't need God because they can do it themselves.

Have a great day. Man's ability to satisfy himself outside of God is impossible, so we do need Him.

For further reading:
John 14:6; 1:4; 15:5

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"You Are Not Ordinary"

".....I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine." Isaiah 43:1b

If you are born-again you are a child of God. This means that you are no ordinary person, you are not just average. You are an heir to God and joint-heir with Jesus Christ. You are royalty-- of a heavenly kingdom. This means you that you don't act like, think like, talk like or carry yourself like others in the world.

An earthly prince or princess is not like everyone else- they are different, they are set apart. They conduct theirs lives in accordance to who they are and the position that they have in life. Everything they do is a reflection of their father, the king, and the kingdom they represent. It is the same with us. We are our heavenly King's representatives. There is a certain conduct that we exhibit. We are set apart. We are a reflection of Him and His kingdom.

As His children there are things we should not do, places we should not go, attitudes we should not have. As His children there are things that we should be doing. We should be walking in His authority-- showing His power to a world that needs to see His power manifested. We should be walking in His love-- reaching out, uncondemning to a world that is starving for the meaning of true love. We should be walking in compassion-- holding out our hands to the hurting and letting them know there is hope. We should be seeking to glorify our Father-- living selfless lives that put Him first, then others, and ourselves last. We should be walking in purity and holiness-- so that His true nature is reflected through us.

We are far from ordinary. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light/" (1 Peter 2:9) We should walk in such a way where we are a true representation of who our Father is-- showing forth His praises. Jesus our older brother showed us by example how we should conduct ourselves as unordinary people in this world. He lived His life in such a way where He said, "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father." Everything He did was a reflection of the Father and showed us what He was like. As an unordinary person, as a child of the Heavenly King, as an heir to God are you living your life in the same way?

Have a great day. You are not an ordinary person if you have been born-again. You are heavenly royalty who should be representing your Heavenly King to this world.

For further reading:
John 14:9; 1:12

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"Understanding It All"

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. " Proverbs 3:5

Our opening verse is one that is very familiar to most. It is quoted often. I have used it many times in the devotional. I felt impressed that I need to share the verse again this morning. I feel the need to remind you-- "don't lean to your own understanding" .

We can't lean to our own understanding because the fact is... we just simply don't always understand. We don't understand "why?'- why is this happening. We don't understand "what?"- what is going on. Try as we may there are some things we will never understand.

Some of you are trying to "understand" some things that are going on in your life, the word to you this morning is-- stop trying, you can't figure it out. Instead take the time and energy that you are using trying to figure it out and put toward trusting God. Trusting God is not always about understanding everything, it is about having confidence, assurance and rest in Him when you don't. You don't have to understand everything, and as we have already said you won't always understand. But you do have to trust God. If you are going to make it through what you are going through you are going to have to trust the Lord.

Have a great day. Stop trying to understand it and just trust God.

For further reading:
Psalms 4:5; 9:10; 56:3

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusines.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
NOTE: The website has been updated. All the past About the Master's Business newsletters have been added. Take some time to read them. I pray you will be blessed, enlightened and encouraged through them.
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Coffee Break
"Living In Contentment"

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

"Be content". The word content means to be satisfied with where you are or what you have. So where are you to be content? In whatsoever state you are in. That doesn't mean to be content with the sin you are living in. It doesn't mean you should be satisfied living in life controlling situations- such as any "state" of addiction. It doesn't mean you should be content with being lazy or having an undisciplined lifestyle.

It means that you need to learn to be content with where you are at the moment. You need to be content while you are waiting on that promotion on your job. You need to be content while waiting for that wayward spouse to return home. You need to be content while you are waiting for the door to open to God's calling and purpose.

Contentment is not a place of slothfulness where you just sit back and "twiddle your thumbs". It is a place of continuing on with the business of living and your devotion to God. It is a place where you continue to seek Him and grow in your faith. In the place of contentment you are trusting God, waiting on Him to do the work that is needed to do and taking your hands off of it. It is a place of peace and rest because you are trusting God.

Paul learned to be content even in prison. Joseph learned to be content in slavery. They didn't let their circumstances keep them from "living" life and in a manner that was pleasing to God- in trust and faith that He had everything under control.

Don't be impatient, don't worry, don't become anxious where you are. Live your life in God to the fullest where you are. Be content until He moves you to another "state". Trust Him in this state and be at peace, and go on about your business-- living for Him.

Have a great day. Be content, God has it all under control so go on with the business of living..

For further reading:
Hebrews 13:5
1 Timothy 6:6

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"Twisted To God"

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

Often there are two things that we think of when we read this verse. The first thing is that we think about waiting as sitting back doing nothing while expecting what we are hoping for to come. It is the same idea as waiting in a doctor's office-- you sit there until they call your name to go back. The second thing we think about is that the blessings of renewed strength are physical.

On one hand both ways of thinking are correct, but they are limited. The word for "wait" means more than just sitting still in expectation. It means to "twist" or "bind together" in the same way a rope is twisted together with several strands. This waiting means that we should "twist" ourselves together with the Lord. This is where that strength the verse talks about comes from. The more we "twist" ourselves together with Him through reading His word, hiding it in our hearts, applying it, standing in faith on His promises, seeking His face and communing with Him the stronger we become in Him.

This strength does not only refer to our physical person, but to the spirit man. The strength we gain is spiritual strength to stand in adversity, to keep going when the going gets tough, to return good for evil that is done to us, to hold fast to God's promises when the day becomes night and darkness and despair are all around us.

This twisting gives us the ability to mount up-- to rise above the circumstances and storms, to see things from God's perspective, to stay at peace and have joy because the problems are now under us.

It also gives us strength to run the race that is set before us. We aren't running a physical race like the Olympic athletes are to "obtain the gold". We are running a spiritual race to receive a prize that will be given to us when we stand before our beloved Savior one day.

As we are "twisted" more and more together with Him, we gain the strength that we need to "walk"-- walk in the Spirit and not after the flesh. It strengthens us to be able to keep going forward following the Lord and doing what He desires instead of our own desires.

So let's "twist" ourselves daily tighter and tighter to Him and we will gain the strength that we need to soar above the problems, to run the race that is set before us and to walk in the Spirit.

Have a great day. When we are twisted to the Lord, we gain the strength that we need, both physically and spiritually.

For further reading:
2 Corinthians 12:9
Hebrews 12:1
Galatians 5:16

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break

"Joy Stealers"

"And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." Numbers 13:32,33

When the Lord delivered the Israelites out of Egypt, He intended to bring them into their own land-- a land of freedom that flowed with milk and honey. There was great joy among them because after all that time in bondage it was finally going to happen- they were finally going into the land that God had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. On the verge of entering, Moses sent spies to check out the land. The spies told them that the land was indeed a good land-- flowing with milk and honey, grapes, houses, vineyards, etc. But they told them one other thing as well-- there are giants in the land. Even though they saw the good things that God had promised, even though they knew God could take care of the giants just as He had Pharaoh, the giants "stole" their joy. The fear of them outweighed the joy.

The Lord has given you a vision, a promise, a calling, a destination. You know it's from Him, you know this is where He is leading you, and it looks as though the door is finally opening and you are excited with great joy at the idea of "inheriting" and "fulfilling" the promise. You are ready to go in, you can see the potential, you can "see" the "milk, honey and clusters of grapes", but then you all of a sudden you see the "giants" and your heart begins to sink.

You know God has called you to start a business and it looks like the door is opening, but then you "see" the giants- the monthly expenses of rent, utilities, insurance, supplies, employee wages, etc. How will you pay them? You know God has called you to get an education in a certain field. The door opens to go to college, but then you "see" the giants-- the studying, the tests, Algebra. Am I smart enough? Am I too old to learn it? You know the Lord has promised to restore your marriage or to save your children, but then the giants appear-- you discover he/she is seeing someone else; your child gets arrested. In every promise that awaits there is a giant there too.

When they went into the land to spy it out, they saw both-- the good things and the giants. Perhaps that is where you are, you can see the good things God has promised, but you also along with them see the giants. The spies focused more on the giants and therefore told the people "we can't do it". They let the giants steal their joy and promise. Don't let the giants steal your joy. Don't focus on them. As a matter of fact, don't even focus on the "milk and honey"- the promise. Focus and stay focused on God. When you do, the giants can't steal your joy, they can't stop you, they pose no threat to you, they are already taken care of and defeated by God.

Have a great day. Don't let the giants that you see steal your joy.

For further reading:
Numbers 13

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: [email=mastersbusiness@ bellsouth.net]mastersbusiness@ bellsouth.net[/email]
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.