Coffee Break

Coffee Break

"Places"

"And he lighted upon a certain place..." Genesis 28:11a

There are "places" that we find ourselves in during our lifetime. When I used the word "places", I wasn't necessarily referring to physical location. There are places we find ourselves in mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Some of those places happen as a natural result of life. Death is a natural fact of life- it is appointed unto man once to die. When death hits close to home, we find ourselves in a "place" of grief and sorrow. Some "places" are by Divine appointment- God places us in locations and situations. Those places may be to our liking or not. Remember Joseph in the pit and the palace- divinely appointed by God.

There are also places that we find ourselves in by our "own doing"- we got ourselves there. The disciples found themselves in a place of discouragement, hopeless and fear after the crucifixion. Why and how did they get there? Because they did not believe the word that Jesus had spoken to them just days before. Jesus told them that He was going to be delivered up and put to death. He also told them that He would rise again on the third day. Had they remembered that, they would not have been in the place of despair that they were in. Had they remembered His words they would have been looking with expectation to the third day. They would have had joy and rejoicing of heart because they knew that the cross was not the end.

We, like them, find ourselves in places that we got ourselves into, and the primary reason is because we either forgot what the Lord had spoken to us or we didn't believe what He said. If you are in a place of discouragement, bewilderment, fear or confusion wondering what is happening and why, think back, has the Lord already spoken to you about that situation. Has He given you a promise either spoken to your heart or through His written word? If so, then that is the place you need to be instead-- in the place of standing in faith, peace and assurance that what He has said He will do, He will do.

Have a great day. Don't put yourself in a place because you aren't believing what the Lord has said. Instead put yourself in a place of faith.

For further reading:
John 20:19; 2:19
Hebrews 9:27
Matthew 12:40
Luke 9:44
Matthew 26

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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.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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstones magazine. homestead. com

Coffee Break
"Needing Comfort"
"Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?" Psalm 119:82
When we are going through difficulties, we want to be comforted. We want to be helped, we want to be supported, we want relief, we want a caring touch. We want this of the Lord- that is why we turn to Him in prayer. We want some sign that He is there and that He cares. We want to feel His presence bearing us up in His mighty hands. We want some sign from Him that all is well and that it will be all right.
There are times when we feel the presence of God in our problem that we are looking for in almost a "tangible" way. There are other times when the peace comes in what we consider a "supernatural way" and it seems as though we are instantly translated from the burden of the problem as if it no longer exist. But our comfort doesn't always come in this fashion. Our comfort primarily comes in what the Psalmist is talking about in the first half of the verse. "Mine eyes fail for thy word."
The comfort that you and I so desperately seek is found in God's word. He has given it to us- not only to direct and guide us through life- but to bring us comfort in times of trouble and distress. His word brings peace to our hearts as we remember His promises, as we are assured by His very words that He is with us and that He cares about us.
Are you needing comfort but it seems to evade you? Are you seeking peace in your storm? Are you desiring to hear a word that it will all be well? Are you needing to know that the Lord cares about you and sees you? Then go to His word. Don't neglect it. You will find the peace and solace that you need. His word is peace and life, hope and comfort.
Have a great day. The comfort that we so desperately seek after and search for is found in God's word.
For further reading:
Psalm 119:165;28,50, 147,148
Jeremiah 15:16
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstones magazine. homestead. com

Coffee Break
"Believe What He Says"
"And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send." 2 Kings 2:16
In the verses prior to this one the Lord has taken Elijah up into heaven in a chariot of fire and Elisha has received his mantle. The sons of the prophets saw from a distance what had happen. This brings us to this morning's verse. These prophets wanted Elisha to let them send out fifty men to look in the valleys and mountain tops for Elijah- in the event the Spirit of the Lord had "dropped him off" there. Elisha told them not to go. They continued to be persistent in their request until finally Elisha was ashamed to tell them no again. After searching for Elijah for three days they could not find him. When they returned not having found Elijah, Elisha reminded them that he had told them not to go and look. If only they had listened they would have saved themselves three days of searching and travel up and down mountains and valleys.
Aren't we like these men at times- more often than not? We just have to "see for ourselves". We don't want to take another's word for it. We aren't satisfied until we find out for ourselves. We have to prove it for ourselves. In some cases this isn't a bad thing- there are times we should "check it out" for ourselves. But it becomes a waste of time and just a distraction when we do it after God has "spoken" to us already about it. We could save ourselves a lot of grief and misery if we would just listen to what the Lord says to us and let that be enough.
When we don't trust the word of the Lord, we will wind up in the wilderness, down in the valley or climbing the mountains wasting our time and having nothing to show for it, just like those in the scriptures above. We will only wear ourselves out, become frustrated and start murmuring and complaining. And we will always wind up back at the place where we started. Then we will condemn ourselves by questioning, "Why didn't I listen in the first place? I could have saved myself a lot of trouble!" (Does that sound familiar? It does to me!)
This story sounds so familiar to our everyday lives. If you have children you know what I am talking about. You can tell them something but they don't always believe you, sometimes they think they know better and have to find out for themselves. Like the rest of us, they have to learn it the "hard way". The lesson for us today is: just listen to the Lord, He knows what He is talking about. Believe what He says.
Have a great day. Don't have to learn the lesson the hard way-- listen and believe the Lord when He tells you something.
For further reading:
2 Kings 2:14-18
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Coffee Beak
"Don't Ignore The Battle"
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." John 10:10a
We will always have enemies- some one who opposes and threatens to destroy us. Our greatest enemy is the devil. His primary goal is to "steal, kill and destroy". He uses any thing that he can to accomplish that purpose. So what do you do when he comes? What do you do when you are under attack by him? How do you respond to the battle?
You have to confront the devil. You can't ignore him in hopes that he will go away. You can't just sweep the battle under the rug. You can't pretend it doesn't exist. Ignoring it won't make it go away. Look with me at the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. The devil came to Him three times hoping to destroy Him. Did Jesus ignore him? Did He turn and walk away as if he wasn't even there? Did He shut up His ears and tell the devil that He didn't want to hear it? No, Jesus dealt with it. Jesus pulled out His "sword", the word of God, and used it to defeat the enemy- winning the battle.
Did David ignore Goliath? No, he ran out to meet him on the battlefield. He didn't go into hiding. He didn't retreat. He didn't back down or try to pretend that the battle wasn't happening. He faced him and he faced him with the "word of faith".
If you ignore it, or run from it, or try to sweep it under the rug or act like it doesn't exist, it will not just "magically" disappear. It will still be there until you use your battle weapons against it. Just because the Israelite army turned and hid from Goliath didn't make him go away. He was still there, waiting and taunting them day in and day out.
Does this describe you? Are you trying to ignore the battle you are in? Do you think that if you don't acknowledge that it is real that then it doesn't exist- trying to "confess" your way out of it? The battles are real and they are fought against a very real devil who hates you. It is time you stop retreating and running from it and running to it instead. It is time you start speaking to it. It is time you use the word of God- your spiritual sword- like Jesus did. It is time you speak to the giant that is intimidating you. It is time you speak to the mountain to be removed. It is time you shout the word of God to the walls so that they will come down.
Our battles are not against flesh and blood and our weapons are not carnal ones. They are spiritual in nature- such as "speaking the word"- and they accomplish even more than natural weapons do. But they do you no good if you don't use them. So start using them by speaking to the enemy. Start destroying and bringing his attacks down with the sword of God's word.
Have a great day. Ignoring your battles won't make them go away. They have to be fought and won. This is done by speaking God's word in faith to them.
For further reading:
Matthew 4:3-11
1 Samuel 17
Ephesians 6:11-19
Joshua 6:16
Mark 11:23
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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.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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstones magazine. homestead. com

Coffee Break

"Be Still In Battle"

"Be still, and know that I am God..." Psalm 46:10a

The Christian life is one of doing. It is full of commands and responsibilities. Those commands are stated through such action verbs as go, study, work, etc. Among our commands to "action" is another one that we don't usually associate with action-- "be still".

There come times when we are to refrain from "doing" and be still and see what the Lord will do. There are times when He will tell us to be still and wait. David was told to wait before he went into battle until he heard the rustling sound in the mulberry trees. Sometimes we want to jump into the battle but instead we need to wait and be still until we have sought the Lord and heard His instructions. This was what got Israel in trouble at Ai. They did not consult the Lord. They hastily went on their own. Had they been still and sought Him first they would have had a different outcome. Esther waited to face the battle against Haman for three days until everything was in place to confront him.

On the flip side, there are times concerning the battles that we face that instead of wanting to run to them and get it dealt with, we want to run from them.
It's in those times when the temptation hits you to run, that you have to "be still". None of us like battles, but they come. They are a way of life-- especially the Christian life. But when they come, be still- resist the urge to run. Don't do anything- don't turn back. Bring your flesh under subjection. Cast down the fear and intimidation. Remember that you are already victorious through Christ- more than a conqueror. Remind yourself that the greater One is in you. Seek the Lord for strength and wisdom.

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." (Psalm 23:5) This verse speaks of being still and not running. Who can sit still and take their leisure to eat a meal when the enemy is before them? Certainly you would rather run than sit still. But it speaks of peace even in the face of battle. The desire to run shows lack of peace and confidence in God. Consider the Israelite army when they faced Goliath- no peace, no faith in God to fight for them-- they wanted to run, and they did by hiding. David on the other hand didn't run from the giant. He had peace because he had confidence in his God.

You may be facing a battle this morning and the urge to run from it is almost overwhelming. If that is you-- don't run, just "be still". Stand still, don't retreat. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore." (Ephesians 6:13,14) In other words-- be still!

Have a great day. There is a time to be still when you are tempted to run to the battle, and a time to be still when you are tempted to run from the battle.

For further reading:
2 Samuel 5:23-25
Joshua 7
Esther 5:1,2
1 John 4:4
Romans 8:37

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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.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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

"Bible Groups"

"Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments." Psalm 112:1

"That delighteth greatly in his commandments." When you read about God's commandments in the scriptures, it is also referring to God's word, His teachings, the scriptures and what the Bible says in general. So when I read this portion of the scripture, I thought about different "categories" of Christians where His word and commandments are concerned.

There are those who ignore and neglect His commands. (I don't know how you can call yourself a Christian and do that.)

Then there are those who are "causal" about it. They only seek out His word when they are in trouble or have a need. These only read it and apply it when they feel like it or think about. They read the word out of habit or because they are doing some Bible reading plan and want to accomplish what they have set out to do- it is more out of duty. In that group are also the ones that are like "roller coasters"- they walk in His commands today, but not tomorrow- they are up and down, on and off, doing it for a while, then not, and they keep repeating the same pattern.

There are also those who enjoy reading the Bible but haven't yet grasped the concept of living by its words.

Another group are those who delight in His commandments. They don't mind taking the time to read it and do their best to apply it in certain areas of their lives.

Finally, you have one more group- those who "delight greatly" in His commandments. Those who delight greatly are those people who love to read it- they don't have to be coaxed. They don't wait until they are in trouble to pick it up. They pattern their lives after its teachings by putting it into practice in their everyday affairs. They seek the Lord to give them understanding and wisdom concerning what they read so that they can apply it to their lives. They study it and seek out the truths that are in it. They adjust their lives and make any necessary changes in order to accommodate and practice doing what it says. They will do their best not to make any moves that are contrary to the commandments and teachings. These have made it the lamp unto their feet, light unto their paths and their daily bread. They know that in the words of the Bible they find God's will, their source of life, their guide to victory and their strength to navigate through this life.

Out of all the different groups of Christians that we have talked about this morning concerning the word of God, on thing remains, a question--- which category are you in?

Have a great day. What is your relationship to God's word? No relationship, a casual one, a good one or a great one?

For further reading:
Psalm 119:24,105,165,174
Matthew 4:4
James 1:22

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Coffee Break

"Early Seeker"

"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is." Psalm 63:1

"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee." As I read this verse I wondered how true it is in the lives of most believers, or if it is true at all.

There seems to be very little seeking of God, unless we are in trouble and need an answer to a problem. Even then we don't actually seek Him. If the answer doesn't come instantly we get up and go about our way trying to find a solution. Let me ask you a question-- When was the last time you actually sought the Lord in prayer- either for an answer or just to experience His presence in a deeper, more glorious way? When was the last time you sought Him early? Have you set your clock an hour earlier than usual so that you would not be rushed in your prayer time? We get up early to go to work. We get up early to drive to some sort of activity we are interested in. I remember as a child when we would go on vacation, we would get up a long time before daylight and start our journey.

There is something about seeking the Lord early. First thing in the morning. While the rest of the world is still asleep. Before the busyness sets in. The great men of God in our history did it and we are still reading the testimonies of how they "turned their world upside right" for Jesus. Jesus Himself would get up early and seek the Father concerning His will and direction for the day.

Some would protest that you can pray anytime and to say one must pray early in the morning is religious bondage and legalism, and not liberty and grace. No, we can pray anytime. We are admonished in the scriptures to pray without ceasing. But there is something about getting up while there are no interruptions and distractions of the day. There is something about making the sacrifice to deny yourself that extra sleep. There is something about getting out of your "comfort zone"- that nice, soft bed- and seeking the Lord. There is something about doing it then instead of "tagging" your prayer time with Him on after everything else. That "something" is a greater empowerment to live for Him, to work for Him, to serve Him and others and to see His presence manifested in your life in a greater way.

Have a great day. "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee".

For further reading:
Luke 21:38
Mark 1:35
1 Thessalonians 5:17

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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.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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Coffee Break
"Messy House - Part 2"
"That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Hebrews 6:12
Yesterday we talked about having a "messy house"- translated, a "messy life". We need to guard against getting too busy with the cares of this life that it causes us to neglect our spiritual well being. If we neglect it, it can become cluttered by selfish desires and the works and fruit of the flesh.
This morning I want to talk about another way that causes us to have a "messy" life besides the cares and distractions of this life. That way is laziness. Sometimes my house gets messy because I have just been too lazy to clean it up. (Confession is good for the soul.) There are times when I know I need to wash the dishes or vacuum the floor or do some other task, but I just don't "feel" like doing it. I want to sit down and relax. Or I want to sit back and be entertained. I just simply don't want to do it although I know I should.
We get like that with our spiritual lives as well sometimes-- lazy! We know that we should do those things that tend to godliness and cause us to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord, but we just don't "feel" like doing them. We don't feel like reading our Bibles or praying (unless we are driven to our knees by a problem). We don't want to have to get out of our comfort zone. We don't want to make the effort to discipline ourselves to do what it takes to keep our lives clean and de-cluttered.
Is that where you are this morning? Do you have a case of the "I don't want to"? Do you want to surrender to comfort instead of making the effort to go the next step in making sure your life is not "messy" spiritually? The difference between having a messy house and a messy spiritual life because of laziness is this- I can always hire someone to come and clean my house if I get that lazy, but I can't hire someone to come and take care of my "spiritual house" for me. I am, with the help of the Holy Spirit, the only one who can do that. It is up to me and no one else. If I don't get up off of my "lazy do nothing" then it won't get done. It will only get worse. And worse is something that I can't afford, not if I am going to enjoy an abundant, victorious life and a close intimate relationship with the Heavenly Father that Jesus paid the price through His death to give me- and neither will you. (I sure am glad He wasn't lazy, and got out of His comfort zone and went to the cross!)
Have a great day. A lazy life makes for a messy house- spiritually as well as physically.
For further reading:
Proverbs 22:29
Romans 12:10-12
Galatians 5:19-21
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Coffee Break

"I Am"

"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." Exodus 3:14

When God told Moses to go and deliver His people, Moses asked God,"When I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?". (Ex. 3:13) God told him to tell them that His name was "I Am".

Today God wants to remind you that He is still I Am.
I Am the same yesterday, today and forever. I do not change.
I Am your Healer.
I Am your Savior.
I Am your Deliverer.
I Am your strong tower that you can run into for safety.
I Am your strength in weakness, peace in confusion, guide in decisions.
I Am the glory and lifter of your head.
I Am with you always. I won't leave you nor forsake you.
I Am the way, the truth and the life.
I Am your light in darkness.
I Am the one who fights your battles for you.
I Am your guide even unto death.
I Am your righteousness.
I Am your shelter in the time of storm.
I Am able to do exceeding, abundantly above all you can ask or think.
I Am the one who answers your prayers when you ask, seek and knock.
I Am the one who meets and supplies all your needs.
I Am the one who makes a way even when there seems to be none.
I Am all sufficient and more than enough for all you need.
I Am the one who loves you with an everlasting love.
I Am the one who is able to keep you.
And... I Am still so much more.

Have a great day. God is still "I Am".

For further reading:
Exodus 15:26; 6:2
John 14:6; 8:12
Proverbs 18:10
Ephesians 3:20
Hebrews 13:8

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Coffee Break

"Messy House"

"...Set thine house in order..." Isaiah 38:1

When I know that someone is coming to see me, I try to make sure that my house is "in order". I make sure that the furniture isn't dusty and the floors are clean. I won't have clothes all over the couch, dishes piled up in the sink and clutter lying around. Sometimes when I have been busy and on the go, I let things get a little messy around the house. If it is like that when unexpected company drops in, it is a little embarrassing.

We have another "house"- it's our lives. One day, perhaps soon, we will have a "visit" from someone very special- the Lord. When He returns, how will He find our lives? Will they be in order? Will we be giving Him the place in them that He rightfully deserves? Will He find our lives filled with "flesh"- living according to the dictates of our own selfish desires and lusts? Will He find gossip, backbiting, unforgiveness, anger, adultery, fornication, lies, hate and so on? Will they be cluttered by the cares of this life? Will He find faith or fear, doubt or trust, unbelief or assurance? Will he find obedience to His word or rebellion? Will He find His word having free course in it or will other things occupy it? Will He find it "swept and cleaned"?

When He returns, in what condition will He find your "house" (life)? Will you rejoice with great joy at His arrival or will you be embarrassed to have Him see its condition? As I said earlier, my house will get messy and out of order when I get busy with other tasks and neglect it. Jesus warned us not to become too busy with the "cares of this life". Why? For several reasons, but it is also one of the main reasons why we let our lives get out of order. We are too busy taking care of the things of this life that we don't have, take or make the time to tend to our "houses", and our spiritual well being. When we don't take care of them, that is when they get out order. After all, you can't do both at the same time- one will suffer. Are we allowing the one that is most important to suffer and lack? If so, we need to rearrange some things in our lives and place the importance back on making sure our houses STAY in order because we don't know when the Lord will return and we don't want to be caught with a "messy house".

Have a great day. Is your life in order should the Lord come today?

For further reading:
Luke 12:40-46; 21:34
Matthew 13:22; 25:13

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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.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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Coffee Break
"Lost Battles"
"Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God." 1 Samuel 17:36
Our scripture this morning is taken from the conversation that David had with King Saul trying to assure him that he was able to go out and fight against the giant Goliath. David told Saul about the times when a lion and a bear had tried to take some of the sheep that he was watching over and how he slew them both.
As I thought about the lion and even the giant that David was facing, a thought came to me that I want to share this morning. A lion roars even before it begins to chase its prey to destroy it. The roar is intimidating and meant to cause fear in the heart of its prey. Often when the prey hears the roar it becomes fearful and easier for the lion to catch and kill because it is paralyzed by the fear.
The giant that David was going up against also "roared" his intimidations- threatening to destroy David and the whole Israelite army. Intimidation is meant to make you afraid. The devil makes threats against us hoping to paralyze us with fear. The thought I want to share with you is this: if you listen to the enemy's intimidation and allow it to strike fear in your heart, then you have already begun to lose the battle even before you fight it.
The Israelite army believed Goliath's intimidating words and drew back in fear. They were already defeated before they even faced the actual battle. David didn't believe the threats; he didn't allow them to put fear in his heart. Therefore, he was able to go to the battle and defeat him.
If the enemy can get you to believe his lies and threats and make you fearful, then he is already defeating you before you even get to the real battle. If you don't make it to the battlefield to defeat him he will continue to attack you and overcome you. This is why even though the battle was set in array between the Israelites and the Philistines, the Israelites weren't making it to the battlefield to fight and win the victory.
If the enemy is coming against you, don't listen to his threats, don't allow them to paralyze you with fear, go on out to the "real" battle and defeat him and get the victory over him that Jesus already won for you.
Have a great day. If you listen to the enemy's words of intimidation and allow them to strike fear in your heart, then you have already begun to lose the battle even before you fight it.
For further reading:
1 Samuel 17
1 Peter 5:8
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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Coffee Break
"Recorded Tears"
"Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?" Psalm 56:8
I have read this verse hundreds of times, but somehow I missed the part about God writing about our tears in a book. What a loving God who takes note of every tear we cry, so much so, that He bottles them up and records them. After reading that how can you possibly think that God doesn't care or isn't concerned about you.
The Father's heart is "touched by the feelings of your infirmities". He sees you in times of grief and pain as well as in times of peace and joy. His eyes are always on you. Watching you, as well as watching over you. He knows when you lose even one hair from the top of your head. He knows how many tears it took to "soak" your pillow. He not only sees and knows about your tears and the pain behind them that caused them, but He is with you in those times as well as in the good times. He is with you at all times. He is with you when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death. He is with you when the night seems to linger on for days. He is with you when darkness hides the sun and you begin to wonder if it will ever shine again. He is with you when the trials are so strong, the pain so deep, the sorrow unbearable, the situation is overwhelming and all hope seems lost.
Regardless of what you may be going through- good times or bad- you have the promise that the Heavenly Father will never leave you nor forsake you in your time of need or distress. You have the promise that He is with you always, watching over you and even keeping a record of your tears. Receive comfort from that. Hold on to His promise and trust His faithful word.
Have a great day. The Lord bottles up your tears and records them.
For further reading:
Hebrews 4:15; 13:5
Psalm 23
Matthew 28:20
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Coffee Break

"Every Need"

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

"My God shall supply all my need." What I need isn't always financial, as some people think when they read this verse. My needs go far deeper than just material things. I not only have physical needs but I have spiritual needs too. I have needs in every area of my life.

I already have a list of things that I need today. This morning I need to hear a word from the Lord to share with you in the devotional. Later I will need a word to share with the precious people in the nursing home. I will also need to know how to minister to a lady that I will visit today who is facing cancer. I need wisdom to know how to be a good wife to my husband. I need to know how to be a friend to those the Lord has blessed my life with. I need to know when to speak and when to keep my mouth shut. I need to know how to battle the enemy in prayer for the souls of my loved ones. I need to know how to walk in the Spirit and how to stay attuned to the voice of my Good Shepherd. I need to know how to use the full armor that the Lord has equipped me with in order to stand against the enemy of my soul. I need His help to bear the Fruit of the Spirit. I need to know how to present my body as a living sacrifice, how not to lose my savor, how to keep from hiding my light, how to decrease so that He might increase. I need to know how I can best glorify Him through my life today. I need to know how to walk out the victory over besetting sins that Jesus gave me through His death. I need to know how to treat others the same way I want them to treat me. I need peace of mind. (And this is just the beginning of my list of needs.)

The disciples and others who came to Jesus with a multitude of various needs- some needed healing, some needed forgiveness, some needed deliverance, some needed answers to their questions. Like the disciples who needed Him to teach them to pray. The rich young ruler who needed to know how to have eternal life. Nicodemus came to Him with the need for understanding. There was no lack of needs- spiritual as well as physical. And as we read in the Bible, Jesus met them all. There was not one need of one person that He turned away. He either supplied what was needed, gave them the needed healing or miracle, answered their questions, gave clarity and understanding when asked, or told them what they needed to do.

Whatever you need today, He won't turn you away either. Voice your need to Him. Tell Him what it is. Bring Him into the area of your need. Ask for His help and ask Him to meet it. He desires to meet you at the point of your need- all your need and every need.

Have a great day. Our needs come in a wide variety, but He promised to supply them all.

For further reading:
Matthew 6:8-13
Luke 6:19

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Coffee Break
"Mind Games"
"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices." 2 Corinthians 2:11
When you look up the word devices in the concordance, it means: a mental perception, thought, the mind, an evil purpose. So when I read this verse I see a two-fold meaning. First, I see that it means we are not ignorant of what goes on in satan's thinking/mind- we aren't ignorant concerning his thoughts toward us. His thoughts are to "kill, steal and destroy" us. Secondly, I see it to mean that the devices he uses against us are attacks against our mind. His main weapon is to play "mind games" with us.
It has been said that the mind is the battlefield. It is against our minds where most of the attacks against us take place. Satan comes against us with accusations- "You are no good; you aren't going to make it, God doesn't care about you; who do you think you are?; etc.". He tries to plant seeds of doubt in our mind- "Did God really say that?; what if God doesn't show up on time?; etc". He brings confusion to our minds in order to make us "wishy-washy" (double minded) in our faith. He tries to make you think that your situation is hopeless and impossible, and too big for God.
Satan has his mind set on destroying you and he does that by coming against your mind/thoughts. But the Lord has provided everything we need to be victorious in the battle. We have been given the helmet of salvation to protect our minds. We have been instructed to capture wayward thoughts and cast them down. We have been told by the Lord what we should be thinking on in order to have victory and peace of mind. If we set our mind on the things that God says instead of what satan says then his devices, plans, purposes and thoughts against us won't prevail.
Have a great day. Satan's thoughts and plans are to destroy you, and he carries out his plans by attacking your thoughts.
For further reading:
John 10:10
Ephesians 6:11-8
James 1:8
Revelation 12:10
Philippians 4:8
2 Corinthians 10:4,5
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Coffee Break

"The Enemy Of Unbelief"

"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Mark 9:23,24

Belief isn't a hard thing to do, or have, that is if it wasn't for one "little" thing-- unbelief! It would be easy to believe if we weren't hit by unbelief. Unbelief comes to try to steal our faith. It comes to try to keep us from receiving the promises of God. It is an enemy to our faith, therefore, it has to be dealt with as such.

Unbelief can't be ignored. It can't be overlooked. You have to do something about it. The father in the story above recognized that he had unbelief and he confessed it to Jesus. He didn't try to cover up the fact that it was there. He didn't try to hide it from Jesus. He didn't try to defend the unbelief. He didn't try to pretend that it didn't exist. He didn't let pride get in the way, but readily admitted that it was there.

If there is unbelief in your heart concerning a matter, don't ignore it, don't try to justify it, don't try to act like it doesn't exist- recognize it for what it is, then confess it to the Lord. It is not a "negative confession" to admit it is there- it is the first step to getting rid of it. Once you have confessed it to God, ask Him to "help your unbelief". Then begin to renew your mind and heart with God's word- "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

Jesus didn't scold the man. He didn't turn His back on him. He heard the cry of an "honest heart" and He met him where he was. Jesus hears the cry of your heart as well when you are feeling weak in your faith. He won't turn away from you. He will help you to overcome the unbelief.

Have a great day. Unbelief is an enemy to our faith, and must be dealt with.

For further reading:
Mark 9:20-27; 11:22-24
Matthew 21:21,22; 14:27-31

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Coffee Break

"Prodigal Places"

"For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods." Matthew 25:14

Well, I learned something this morning that I didn't know. I always thought that a prodigal was a person who went astray. I arrived at this conclusion from the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15). But according to the dictionary the definition of prodigal is: wastefully or recklessly extravagant; waster; spendthrift.

I decided to look up the word and get a clearer understanding because I felt that the Lord had laid on my heart to talk about "prodigal places" in our lives. I thought He was talking about the places in our lives where we "like the prodigal son" have pulled away from Him in. But I see that He is addressing the areas of "waste" in our lives.

God has given us all "gifts" and "talents". What we have been given may seem small and insignificant. It may not be as visible as what He has given to others, but we all have been given something and we have been given it to use for His glory. Just as the servants that Jesus talked about who had received talents from their master when he went away. He gave the talents to them to use to gain more for him at his return.

Are you being a "prodigal" with the talents, gifts, monies, etc. that God has given to you? Are you wasting them on yourself by using them for selfish pleasure and personal gain? Are you using them to bring attention and admiration, fame, fortune and popularity to yourself? Are you using them at your convenience- only when you "feel like it"? Are you wasting them by keeping them hid and out of view? Just what are you doing with what God has blessed you with. Everything we have been given comes from God and is given to us to help build His Kingdom. The education you have God intends you to use for His glory. The good job you have been given, you have been given so that you will be able to give into God's work. The ability you have to communicate was so that you could communicate the gospel to the lost. It is all about the Kingdom of God- not about self. The men who Jesus talked about were given the talents in order to increase their lord's assets, not their own. We have been blessed with all we have been given for the purpose of glorifying the Lord and seeing others brought into His Kingdom. Is that what you are doing with what you have been given? Or are you being a "prodigal"?

Have a great day. Are you a prodigal- a waster of your time, money and talents? Or are you an investor- investing them into the Kingdom- using them wisely to receive eternal rewards?

For further reading:
Matthew 25:14-30
Luke 15:12,13; 12:42,43

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

"The Thief in the Night
(Matthew24:42-44)
Jesus used Noah to warn that men will not know the day, and He used the picture of the burglar to warn that they will not know the hour. After the rapture of the church, there will be a time of peace and safety on earth. Then suddenly God’s judgments will fall. (2 Peter 3:10)
People alive on earth during the tribulation period will be able, from the scriptures, to tell the drift of events, but they will not be able to calculate the exact day or hour of Christ’s return. Added to this is the fact that the days will be “shortened for the elect’s sake” (Matthew.24:22)
This may mean fewer days of tribulation, or it may mean fewer hours so that the people on earth suffer a bit less (Rev.18:12)"

Coffee Break
"Applying The Sermon"
"For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass." James 1:23
What do you do when you hear a sermon preached, read a word in a devotional or writing, or hear a teaching? Do you take what you hear or read and pray about it? Yesterday morning we talked about hiding our lights under the "bushels" of intimidations, fear, rejection, etc. After having read it, did you take it in prayer before God or did you ignore it, forget what you read, think that it applied to someone else instead, or did you let it shine a light into your own heart and bring exposure, truth and repentance.
When we read or hear a word, that should not be the end of it. We should take that word and ask the Lord to show us how it applies to us. We should ask the Lord to forgive us if we have failed in the area that it addressed. We should ask the Lord to help us to do what that word taught.
If you read a message about hiding your light, for example, you should ask God to show you if you are doing that. If He shows you that you are doing it, you should ask Him to show you how you are doing it. Once He shows you, you should repent and ask for forgiveness. From there you should ask for the help and empowerment of Holy Spirit to make a change and stop hiding your light. This goes for every message/teaching you hear or read.
Jesus said that a wise man is one who not only hears, or reads, the word but then applies it-- does something with what He hears. James says that we aren't justified by the word until we do more with it than just hear it-- we become a doer of it.
The Lord didn't bring that word across our paths just so that we can talk about what a "good sermon" or "message" it was, but so that we can apply it to our lives-- not just its truths, but its convictions as well. We have to let that word bring repentance and transformation in our lives. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16,17)
Have a great day. When you hear the word being preached, or read it, what do you do with it?
For further reading:
James 1:22-25
John 8:9
Matthew 7:24
Acts 17:11
Luke 24:32
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

"Is It Hid?"
"Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." Matthew 5:15

Is your light shining brightly? Or is it being hid under a "bushel"? Are you hiding it under the "bushel" of intimidation, fear of others, or the opinion's of men? Do you let what others think about you cause you to keep quiet when you should speak up? Do you let their opinions cause you to draw back or cow down when you should be bold? Do you let what they say about you stop you from doing the right thing at the right time? Are you hiding it under the "bushel" of rejection? Are you letting your desire to be liked by others cause you to hide your light through compromise? Are you so willing to please someone else- a friend, a family member, a boss, a co-worker, one of your peers- that your light isn't seen at all.
This world is a "dark" place. People are in darkness and don't even realize it- at least not until they see the light, then they recognize the difference. Each time we hide the light of Jesus that is within us, their world gets a little darker. As long as they are in darkness, they will remain that way until someone comes and shines a light on the path out of the darkness.
We are called to be lights in this dark world and shine a light on the path out of darkness and to Jesus, the true Light. But if we hide it under some of the things we have talked about this morning, there won't be a light to shine the way.
Have a great day. If your light is hid today, bring it out from under the "bushel" that it is hid under and let it shine brightly to those around you so that they can find the path that leads out of darkness.
For further reading:
Isaiah 51:12
Matthew 5:14-16
John 1:1-9; 9:5; 12:46
Ephesians 5:8
1 Thessalonians 5:5
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Coffee Break
"Being Careless"
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1
Some of the synonyms for the word "careless" are: inattentive, negligent, forgetful. And one of the definitions given for the word is: unconcerned in attitude or action; heedless; indifferent. I bring up this word this morning because I want to talk about treating Jesus "carelessly". There are many ways we can treat Jesus in a "careless" manner, but there is one in particular that I want to discuss because we usually don't associate it with careless treatment of Him.
Did you realize that when you don't read your Bible, when you neglect to read it or study it, when you go for periods of time without even opening it up, you are treating Jesus in a careless manner? We just think that we are neglecting the Bible, but we are actually neglecting Him. How is that? Jesus is "THE WORD". He is the living Word that is brought to life for us through the pages of the written word.
When you are careless about your reading, you are being careless in your treatment of Jesus. You are being inattentive to Him. You are neglecting Him. You show your lack of concern about who He is and what He has to say to you. (You can't read the word of God without it speaking to your heart.) You are being forgetful of the place He should occupy in your life. You are saying that you have no time for Him. You are showing an indifference toward Him. Your action- or lack of it- is revealing your attitude toward Him.
Like I said earlier, we don't usually think that by neglecting our Bible and treating it in a careless manner we are treating Jesus the same way, but we are. Has that been you? Is that you? Are you neglecting Jesus by neglecting His word?
Have a great day. Our careless treatment of the word of God equals careless treatment of Jesus.
For further reading:
John 5:39; 1:1,14
1 John 5:7
Revelations 1:1
Hebrews 2:3
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Coffee Break
"Red Letters"
"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63

It seems as though the Lord keeps speaking to me through songs for the devotional lately, because there is another song on my heart this morning and it is one I have not thought about or heard in a long time. The song is entitled, "Red Letters". The chorus says, "There is love in the red letters. There is truth in the red letters. There is hope for the hopeless, peace and forgiveness. There is life in the red letters, in the red letters."
Many Bibles have the words of Jesus written in red. The whole Bible, of course, is the word of God but this morning I want to talk about the "red letters"- the words of Jesus Himself. There are many counselors and advisors out there in the world. There is no lack in finding someone who is ready to give you some instruction. There are people who make a living at telling you what you should do and how you should do it- life coaches, financial advisors, therapist, etc. (Some people won't make a move without consulting them.)
While there are those who can give us help and instruction in certain areas of life, none but Jesus have the words of life. He is the Word and He is Life. Therefore, His words are life to us. This is where your true counsel lies. He, and His word, is where you should turn to first. His words are the words you should heed above anyone and everyone else. His words are the words you should obey even when they conflict with the words of men. His word takes precedence over every other word.
We often get in trouble because we don't seek His word or heed His word. He will never lead you astray. He will never lead you in the wrong way- He may lead you in the opposite way that you wanted to go, but His way is always best. He will never lead you on a path of death or destruction. His words bring life, health and peace.
How sad it is when we have to be reminded to go to Jesus and seek the counsel of His words when we are in need and need instruction. For the Christian, going to God's word and seeking His counsel should come naturally. It should be the first place we consider going- not the last.
If you are needing instruction, guidance, help, counsel, wisdom, etc. look at the "red letters" in your Bible- in other words, look to Jesus- you will find the answers you are looking for.
Have a great day. There is life in the red letters.
For further reading:
John 5:39; 1:1,14; 14:6; 17:17
Psalm 119:105, 130,160
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Coffee Break

"Times Of Life"

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Psalm 23:4

This morning, again, there has been a song repeating over and over in my heart. The words are, "The God of the mountain, is still God in the valley. When things go wrong, He'll make them right. And the God of the good times, He's still God in the bad times. The God of the day, is still God in the night."

Life is made up of various "times" - we learn this from creation. We learn this through the changing of the seasons- there isn't just one season, there are four. We can look at the landscape and see that it isn't all the same- there are mountainous areas, wildernesses, forests, valleys, the desert, etc. They each are needful and they are all part of this physical life.

We go through spiritual seasons as well. There are times when everything in our lives is wonderful and the blessings are flowing. Then there are times when it looks "dead" with no sign of "life". There are also times when we feel like we are in a valley or on a mountain top.

But regardless of where the "times" of life take us- God doesn't change and He is with us in them all. He is with us on the mountain top. He is with us in the valley. He is with us in the wilderness. He is with us when it feels like the windows of heaven are open and when it feels like they are shut up. He is with us when we face "dry spells" and when the "river" is flooding our lives.

I don't know where you might be this morning. You might be in one of those times when everything is going good and it doesn't feel like it could get any better. Or you might be in one of those times when it feels like it can't get any worse. But wherever you are, you are not alone- God is with you.

Have a great day. God is still God even when things change in your life... and He is still with you.

For further reading:
Malachi 3:6
Matthew 28:20
Psalm 23
Daniel 3:25
Deuteronomy 1:33

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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.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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

NOTE: There will be no Coffee Break devotional for a couple of days. All is well, I will just be out of town. God bless you all!

Coffee Break

"Broken And Spilled Out"

"And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it." Jeremiah 18:4

I woke up again this morning with yet another song on my heart and mind. "Broken and spilled out just for love of you Jesus. My most precious treasure lavished on Thee. Broken and spilled out and poured at Your feet. In sweet abandon let me be spilled out and used up for Thee."

Are you a broken vessel this morning? The Lord is looking for broken vessels. That is so contrary to what we look for when we are looking for a vessel to hold something- we look for the ones with no cracks or breaks. God doesn't, He wants the broken ones. When we are "broken", then that means that we can't "hold anything"- namely "self", and that's what He is looking for.

The Lord wants to take our brokenness and make us into new vessels fit for His use. He wants to make us into vessels that He can pour His Spirit into and vessels that He can fill with His love. In our vessels (our lives) there is no room for both our will and God's will; our plans and His plans; our life and His life. Just as you can't have sweet and bitter in the same vessel. You can't have clean water and dirty water in the same one. You can't have both morality and immorality, obedience and rebellion, love and hate, forgiveness and unforgiveness all occupying the same vessel. So we must be broken, and continually broken, so that our "self": self will, selfishness, self-centeredness, self desire, self ambition, etc. is unable to stay in our vessels/lives.

Again, are you a broken vessel? Broken to your own self so that He can make you into a new vessel and fill you with Himself?

Have a great day. If you are a broken vessel, that's a good thing because that is what God is looking for.

For further reading:
James 3:11
Luke 5:37,38; 16:13

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Coffee Break

"Using The Gift"

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

I woke up again this morning with another song going over and over in my thoughts. I want to share one verse that keeps repeating itself. "And all my days are gifts from You I pray I'd use them as You want me to. Use them for You."

Each day we have is a gift we have been given by God-- none of us have been promised this day. How are you going to spend it? On self or on God and others? Are you going to spend it as a "living sacrifice" surrendered wholly and completely to God? Are you going to spend it letting your light shine or hiding it? Are you going to spend it in rebellion against the will of God or in submission to Him? Are you going to spend it in disobedience to His word by living immorally, seeking only your own pleasure and desires? Are you going to spend it showing love or living with hateful attitudes? Are you going to spend it in fear or in faith? Are you going to spend it being led by your emotions and feelings or by the word of God? Are you going to spend it gratifying your flesh or are you going to do those things that build up your spirit and deny your flesh? Are you going to spend it in bitterness, unforgiveness and nursing grudges, or are you going to walk in mercy, grace and forgiveness?

There are probably a hundred more questions like this that I could ask you this morning concerning how you will spend the day, but the answer to each one boils down to choice. We either choose to spend this day our way or God's way. We will choose to either serve Him or serve self. Your choices determine how you will spend it. They also reveal whether you are truly using the gift of this day for Him or not.

Have a great day. If you choose to spend the day on yourself, then you have chosen not to use this gift for Him.

For further reading:
(Song is Hillsong- "You Are My World")
Psalm 103:15
James 4:13-15
Romans 12:1; 8:14
Matthew 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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Coffee Break

"Your Grace Is Enough"

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee." 2 Corinthians 12:9a

From the moment my eyes opened this morning a song has been playing in my head. The words that keep repeating themselves are- "Your grace is enough. Your grace is enough. Your grace is enough for me." It doesn't matter if there is a thorn in your flesh. It doesn't matter if you haven't had enough sleep and still have to put in a full day's work. It doesn't matter if your co-workers are lying about you and your boss is taking his problems out on you. It doesn't matter if the bill collectors are harassing you every day. It doesn't matter if your spouse is being inattentive. Whatever you are going through from a "major storm" to having to deal with a "little fox", God's grace is enough to see you through the situation. His grace is enough to strengthen you in the trouble. His grace is enough to help you respond and have an appropriate attitude in what you are facing.

Grace is not just God's unmerited favor- giving us something we don't deserve. It is also His divine influence upon the heart. One way we can say it is that it is the Fruit of the Spirit and its evidence in what we do, what we say, our attitude and how we react to situations and to others. When His nature influences us, we can turn the other cheek; we can bless our enemies; we can pray for those who use us; we can stop returning evil for evil; we can leave vengeance in the hands of the Lord; we can give a soft answer that turns away wrath-- we can do all the things that we are commanded to do in such a way where our "doing" it looks like the Lord Himself- instead of us.

Today you may be facing a mountain or perhaps a molehill, you may be facing difficult people, you may be facing unnerving situations, regardless of what you are facing, remember that His grace is enough to see you through and sustain you. Allow His grace to influence your actions, thoughts and attitudes and His nature will become your response and give you peace.

Have a great day. Your grace is enough.

For further reading:
Song of Solomon 2:15
Matthew 5:44
Proverbs 15:1
1 Peter 3:9
Galatians 5:22,23
Romans 12:19

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Coffee Break

"Prayer Places"

"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Yesterday I was praising the Lord for the privilege of being able to come before Him in prayer. I live on a dead-end road and the only other person on the road is my mother in law, so when I can, I like to walk up and down the road and pray. I said that because, although there are times when we do need to get on our knees and go into our prayer closet alone with God, I am thankful that He hears our prayers no matter where we are when we pray them. I am thankful that He didn't set certain conditions as to where we should pray-- such as the only prayers He hears would be those we pray in church.

Look with me for a moment at all the places where people prayed in the Bible. Hezekiah turned his face to a wall. Daniel prayed in a lion's den. The three Hebrews prayed in a fiery furnace. Jonah prayed in the belly of a big fish. David prayed laying on his bed. Jesus prayed in a garden. A thief prayed on a cross. Moses prayed on a mountaintop. Joshua prayed on a battlefield. Noah prayed in a boat. Esther prayed in the palace. Joseph prayed in a pit. Nathanael prayed under a fig tree. Paul prayed in prison. One hundred and twenty prayed in an upper room. And the list goes on.

Where we pray isn't as important to God as the fact that we pray. God loves to commune with us. He loves for us to pray to Him. He loves to hear from us. He wants us to bring our needs, petitions and cares to Him. He delights in answering us when we call. He proved that by making Himself available to us whether we are in a prayer closet or anyway else we choose to call upon Him.

Have a great day. Where you pray is not the issue, the issue is that you pray.

For further reading:
Matthew 6:6
Jeremiah 33:3
Mark 6:46
Luke 11:1
1 Timothy 2:8
Philippians 4:6

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Coffee Break

"The Jewelry Case"

"I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." 1 Corinthians 3:6

Years ago I worked at a jewelry/gift store. All the jewelry was displayed in locked glass cases. People would come in to look at the jewelry but could only admire it through the glass. If they wanted a closer look a salesperson would have to come and unlock the cabinet, take out the piece they were looking at and then begin to give them information about it. If it was a ring we would tell them what type of gem it was, what metal it was made of, the cost, etc. We would give the customer all the information they needed about the jewelry so that they could then decide if they wanted to purchase it or not- we didn't make the decision for them.

Like those customers who were wanting more information about a piece of jewelry, there are those who are wanting to know more about the life of Christianity and who Jesus is. There are many people who are looking at salvation from a distance and through a glass- a dim one. They are waiting for someone to come and tell them about it. Are you that someone? Are you telling people about the gift of eternal life that came through Jesus Christ? Are you sharing the good news with them? "How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?" (Romans 10:14)

Often when we would show a customer the jewelry they still didn't buy it. But my job as an employee was not to make sure they purchased it, my job was to make sure they were given all the information they needed to help them make their decision. Sadly, not everyone you share the gospel with will accept it and be saved, but many will. It is not our job to make sure they accept, we are "employed" (commissioned) to plant and water (tell and re-tell) and God will give the increase.

There would be customers who would come in stand over the cases looking and you could tell they were wanting to take a closer look, but all the salespersons would be tied up with something else. Often before you could get free to wait on them, they gave up waiting and left. You never knew whether that person would have bought something or not, they looked interested but were not given the opportunity. Don't let people leave without giving them the opportunity to hear the good news. Don't be too busy with the cares of this life, with selfishness, with worldly distractions that you neglect to tell them. They may be more than just curious, they may be ready to receive Christ.

Have a great day. Are you giving people the information about the good news of Jesus that they need to make the decision to receive Christ?

For further reading:
Matthew 28:19
Acts 26:28

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

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.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry.
Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.
http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com