Coffee Break

Coffee Break

"Learn From Mistakes"

"Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." 1 Corinthians 10:11

We all make mistakes but hopefully we will learn from them so that we will not continue to repeat them. We can also learn from the mistakes of others. The verse above admonishes us to learn from the examples of the Israelites when they were in the wilderness so that we don't make the same mistakes they did- mistakes that have great spiritual consequences.

What were some of the mistakes that they made that we can learn from? The main "mistake" was their lack of faith. God did such a miraculous thing for them by delivering them from Egyptian bondage. Not only did He deliver them, but in a mighty way by demonstrating His great power over Pharaoh. They saw the plagues that He brought upon Egypt. They saw the supernatural protection of God the night that death went throughout the land killing the first born in every household. They had been slaves but they left Egypt with treasures. They saw one miracle after another. Yet, when they came to the place where they were about to inherit the promise of their own land, they did not enter because of their unbelief.

After seeing all that they had seen, after hearing the voice of God from heaven, after being led by His presence (the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night), after seeing the sea open up and make a way of escape from Egypt, after seeing their enemy drowned in the sea, you would think that they would have never doubted God ever again about anything-- yet they did. These things were written for our example because we are no different. The Lord has done some miraculous things for all of us. He has provided our needs, answered our prayers and come through for us at just the right time time and time again. He has been with us and we have seen Him working on our behalf, yet, we tend to still "disbelieve" Him when we come to certain situations in our lives. We tend to do the same thing they did.

We have an advantage when we read about what happened to them, we can go to the end of the chapter and see the outcome- the outcome and consequences when they trusted God and when they didn't. We know how the story ended. We can see that God was always faithful and did what He said He would do regardless of how the situation looked. From that we can learn that He will do the same thing for us so we have no reason to doubt or allow unbelief to enter in and keep us from inheriting our promises.

Have a great day. We can learn from our mistakes and the mistakes of others.

For further reading:
Hebrews 3:12,19; 4:6,11
Acts 7:36
Deuteronomy 6:21; 26:8
Mark 9:24

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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

If you would like to subscribe to the Coffee Break mailing list, visit our website and on the Coffee Break page you will find a submision form.

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

"Strength For The Journey"

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

When we receive Jesus as Savior and Lord, that trip to the altar or wherever you made the profession, is not the end, but the beginning-- the beginning of a life long journey. Salvation doesn't mean we have "arrived", it means we are just getting started. Along this journey from here until we reach our final destination- eternity- the "road" will not always be smooth ahead of us. There will be "pot holes", bumps, things that try to make us detour or turn around, ups and downs, highs and lows, valleys, mountains to climb, wildernesses to go through, rivers to cross and a whole list of other obstacles that we will encounter. Obstacles such as temptations, issues in relationships, financial difficulties, times of loss, grief, sorrow and pain.

Sometimes the journey feels as if it will never end. Sometimes we feel as though we have become stuck in the valley or will die in the wilderness. Often it may feel like we will never be able to climb the mountain that is in front of us or get through the storm that is raging around us. While we may feel this way, and while we do face these times, I want to encourage you this morning that you are not on this journey alone. The One who you came to at salvation got on the path with you. He is walking every step of the journey with you. Whether you are in the valley or on the mountaintop, in a storm or on a smooth path, He is right there. And His strength is right there for you as well.

You can continue on this journey, you can make it through whatever "terrain" you are facing, you can reach the end because His strength will be there when you are weak. It will uphold you. It will empower you. It will give you the grace you need. It will give you your "second wind". It will provide the victory to overcome all obstacles that get in the way. So don't give up, don't give in, you can make it, you can finish your course because the Lord Himself is with you and His strength is perfected when you get weak and weary of traveling.

Have a great day. The journey may seem long and unbearable at times, but the Lord is with you giving you the strength you need to make it to your final destination.

For further reading:
Psalm 18:29; 68:28
2 Corinthians 12:9
Joel 3:10
Ephesians 6:10

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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

If you would like to subscribe to the Coffee Break mailing list, visit our website and on the Coffee Break page you will find a submision form.

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

"There's A Famine"

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord." Amos 8:11

I believe that we are seeing the fulfillment of this prophecy in our day- at least in this nation. There is a famine of the word of the Lord. You may ask how can that be when we are inundated with preaching. We have churches on every corner in our cities. We have twenty-four hour Christian television. We have more ministers and ministries than ever before in the history of our nation. This is true, but in the vast majority of them we are lacking the "word of God".

In many churches socials, fellowships, gimmicks and programs have replaced the preaching of the word. Some have stopped preaching the word of God altogether because it isn't "popular" so they are preaching what that think the people want to hear in order to grow a big church. There are some others that are still preaching the "word" but they have watered it down, compromised its meaning, not rightly divided it, or brought in a "another" gospel- one that is a mixture of scripture, tradition and philosophy (thus making it something other than the "truth"). The preaching of the word of God has been taken lightly as if it is the least important part of the ministries. I would like to clarify this morning that it is the MOST important part.

I remember when I first got saved sitting in church and there would be times when the Lord's presence showed up in such a powerful way during praise and worship. After the worship was over, we would dismiss and go home. I can remember hearing others, and thinking the same myself, say that it was a great service because the preacher didn't even get to preach. As I am growing in the Lord, I can see that even though it was a great time in worship and the presence of the Lord was there, this was wrong thinking. The Lord wanted to do both- receive our worship and bless us in the process, but He also wanted to speak to us and edify us through His word. This mentality seems to be the norm now. We want the "experiences" more than the word. We want to "feel" something more than we want to "hear" something. We want God to "do" something more than we want Him to "say" something.

As I said earlier, the word is the MOST important part- in the church, in our ministries and in our individual lives. Jesus touched the lives of people through miracles, healings and deliverance while He was on earth. But He never neglected to give them God's word. He gave the people His Father's words everywhere He went- in every city, in the temple, in His encounters with individuals, when He was invited into homes. As Christians, the word of God is our life, and it gives us life. The word has to begin to have priority in our churches, ministries, homes and lives again. Without it, we will not only suffer a "spiritual famine" but we will also be destroyed. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." -Hosea 4:6

Have a great day. Are you experiencing a famine?

For further reading:
2 Timothy 4:2
Luke 8:1; 5:1
Acts 6:7
Romans 10:17
Ephesians 6:17
Hebrews 4:12
John 5:39; 6:63
Proverbs 4:20-23

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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

If you would like to subscribe to the Coffee Break mailing list, visit our website and on the Coffee Break page you will find a submision form.

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

"Growth Is Obvious"

"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." 1 Corinthians 13:11

Growth is a natural part of life. Everything that is living grows- people, animals and plants all grow. Just as growth is a natural part of this physical life, it is also a part of our "spiritual life".

When we come to Christ and receive Him as Savior and Lord, it is called the "new birth"- we are born again. The Bible calls us "new born babes". From that moment on growth should be taking place in our "spirit man".

Physical growth is easy to see because it takes place primarily in our appearance. I can go for weeks without seeing my little granddaughter and the next time I see her I can immediately tell she has grown- she looks bigger and her features have slightly changed. Our spiritual growth is not always that obvious because it doesn't take place on the "outside", it takes place on the "inside" of us. The growth of our spiritual man is recognized by our actions, attitudes, responses, speech, treatment of others and by our love.

But just like there are noticeable changes that take place in our physical growth, there should be noticeable changes that take place in our spiritual growth. When we are growing spiritually we begin to notice a change. Those noticeable growth changes are such things as being forgiving toward those who have done you wrong, love for your enemies, change in your speech, kindness, not being easily offended, joy, peace, patience, less selfish an self-center and the greatest change is that we are looking more and more like Jesus.

So, how obvious is your spiritual growth? Are others seeing a change continuing to take place in you? Are you looking different in your attitude because of the presence and influence of Christ in your life? Or are you still the same as you have always been?

Have a great day. Spiritual growth may not be as obvious as physical growth, but it should be evident.

For further reading:
John 3:1-7
Ephesians 4:13,15
1 Peter 2:2

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

If you would like to subscribe to the Coffee Break mailing list, visit our website and on the Coffee Break page you will find a submision form.

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

"Choose The Way of Escape - Part 2"

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

Yesterday we talked about God always making a way of escape when we are in a time of temptation, and that it is up to us to take that way. Often, we struggle with that "way" because it is not always obvious to us. It isn't like there will be a "physical door" standing in front of us with a bright red "Exit" sign over it. It would be easier to recognize it if it were.

So what does the "way of escape" look like? Let me list a few ways.

The word of God will be a way that He has made to escape the temptation. Have you ever been in a time of temptation or great trial and a scripture will come to mind? That scripture is your way of escape-- obey what it says.

Daniel's way of escape when the king's meat was set before him was the "purposing in his heart". Daniel had purposed in his heart long before he reached the temptation, that he would remain obedient to the commands of the Lord regardless of what faced him. That settled heart and mind kept him from "floundering" and being "double-minded" when the time of testing did come.

Joseph's way of escape when being tempted to sin by Potaphar's wife was found in his statement to her- "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9b) Joseph understood that when you yield to something that is contrary to God's word that it is "sin". The sin issue was settled in his mind and so he didn't allow the questions as to whether it was right or wrong tempt him to do the wrong thing.

Sometimes the way of escape comes through a still, small voice that you hear in the depth of your being and you know that it is your answer- so you follow it.

Another way is through prayer- prayer will bring God in the middle of your temptation and He will give you the strength to resist it. Also fasting. Some days the Lord will impress on me to fast. I have to be honest, I don't always yield as I should. But I have noticed that on the days when I don't, I eat more than I should. I have come to realize that often if I would fast when I feel impressed to, it was my way of escape from giving into my fleshly appetite.

These are a few ways that God opens a door for us to escape. We need to recognize what those ways are and give heed to them.

Have a great day. There are many different ways that the Lord can use to give us a way of escape.

For further reading:
Genesis 39:8-10
Daniel 1:8
James 1:8

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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

If you would like to subscribe to the Coffee Break mailing list, visit our website and on the Coffee Break page you will find a submision form.

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

"Choose The Way of Escape"

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

"But will with the temptation also make a way of escape." There is no doubt that temptations come- we are tempted daily to sin, to yield to our flesh, to stop following Jesus, and so on. But we have a wonderful promise that in the times of temptation the Lord will make a way of escape for us so that we will not be trapped by the temptation with no choice but to yield to it. So the problem when we do yield is not that we had no choice but to yield, the problem is that we did not take the way of escape that was provided for us.

You see, God makes a way of escape and provides a means of deliverance, but it is up to us to choose to take it. He opens a door of escape but we have to go through it. He doesn't do it for us. He provides it for us, but we must make use of the provision.

It works the same way in the area of obedience. God gives us a command but it is up to us to obey it. It works that way where the gift of salvation was concerned. It was provided through Jesus' shed blood at the cross but it is up to us to choose to receive the gift of salvation.

When we give into a temptation, we can't blame God as if it was His fault. We can't accuse Him of not loving us and "letting" it happen. We are to blame and we are at fault. He did what He said He would do "make a way to escape". He was faithful to provide it just as He promised, but we did not take the way of escape that He provided.

When you are facing a temptation, look for the way of escape, it is there and it will be up to you to take it. He will not take it for you or make you take it.

Have a great day. There is a way of escape made in every temptation, but you have to choose to take it.

For further reading:
Philippians 4:13
James 1:13

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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

If you would like to subscribe to the Coffee Break mailing list, visit our website and on the Coffee Break page you will find a submision form.

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

Dear All,
I want to thank you for your prayers for my husband... and your notes of concern and encouragement. Everything went well and we are back home now. I saw the Lord's wonderful keeping power and His how beautifully He moved on our behalf. I give Him praise and glory this morning.
Love and blessings,
Lorraine
____________ _________ _________ _____

Coffee Break

"A House Out of Order"

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

As most of you know, a week ago I went on a trip for a few days. Since I have been back- starting the very next morning after I returned- I have not had a minute to slow down (appointments, meetings, demands on my time- I won't bore you with all the details). Then my husband wound up having a heart cath and I have been on the go with that. I took a look around my neglected office this morning at the paper work that has piled up on my desk- bills that need attention, receipts that need to be filed, mail that needs to be sorted, etc. and thought- "this afternoon when I get back home, I have to get this office in order!'. At that moment, this verse came to me- "Set your house in order", and the Lord began to speak to me about this.

There are things that require our attention and we should give it to them. We should not be slothful or lazy in our business affairs, we should have good work ethics, we should not ignore our responsibilities, we should be diligent in every area of life. But we must also stop and take inventory of our "whole" life-- namely, our "spiritual" life.

Are we spending more time concerned with getting our "natural" life in order than we are with getting our "spiritual" life in order? You can work on taking care of the natural and neglect the spiritual until it is completely "out of order". Is your attention given first, and more, to your physical/natural well-being, or to your spiritual well-being? Which one of the two has your primary focus? Which one is your first priority?

Again, we should be taking care of business and not neglect our responsibilities, but our relationship with the Heavenly Father should be the first thing on our "to do list". Last night as I was answering my emails, I discovered a renewal notice for my website. It was due yesterday. Thank the Lord He brought it to my attention when He did, or it would have caused me to lose it and have to pay a higher price to have a new one. Neglect often cost us- it carries a price. We can't afford to neglect our spiritual man and relationship with the Lord either- it will cost us something if we do. And the price is too great to pay.

Have a great day. Don't neglect your physical responsibilities, but mainly don't neglect your "spiritual" life.

For further reading:
Hebrews 2:3
Matthew 6:19,33; 24:35

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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

If you would like to subscribe to the Coffee Break mailing list, visit our website and on the Coffee Break page you will find a submision form.
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.

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Coffee Break

"Too Heavenly Minded"

"...but we have the mind of Christ." 1 Corinthians 2:16b

We have all heard it said, "You can be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good". I understand where those who say that are coming from, but I don't believe that it is an accurate statement. As I thought about it, I began to think about the life of Jesus. He was nothing but "heavenly minded". He had a "kingdom mindset" behind everything He did- He did it with the kingdom in view. Everything He said was in reference to the kingdom. His thoughts were on the things of the kingdom- not on worldly things. Everywhere He went He was presenting the kingdom. His whole live was wrapped up in the kingdom and kingdom things and He was continually relating it to those on earth. He was the "embodiment" of the kingdom while He was on earth- showing us what the kingdom was like.

I don't think being "too heavenly minded is the problem". I think the problem with most Christians now days is that we aren't heavenly/kingdom minded enough. Perhaps it would be better said this way, "We need to be a little more heavenly/kingdom minded if we are going to be of any earthly good".

The scriptures tell us a lot about the renewing of our minds so that we won't be conformed to this world. It tells us what things we are to think on, and all those things are spiritual/heavenly things. If we are truly going to be of any earthly good, then we are going to have to be more kingdom minded than we are and less worldly minded--- we are going to have to keep heavenly things always in the forefront of our minds. Those things are: all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; the wages of sin is death- eternity in hell; the love of God that brought Jesus to earth to pay the price for our sins so that we can have eternal life; God's grace and mercy that He has shown to a lost and dying world; heaven; peace with God; fellowship and communion with the Father; joy in salvation; etc. We are going to have to have our minds on these "heavenly" things so that we will not forget that God loves the lost and without Him they are perishing.

Without being a little more heavenly minded we look, sound and act just like the world and, therefore, our lights are hid. Keeping our mind on heavenly/kingdom things keeps everything in perspective so that our lights continue to shine brightly and we don't lose our saltiness. If the world is going to see and hear about who Jesus is- it will happen as they see it and hear if from our lives. And they will only see it and hear it as we are more heavenly minded than earthly minded.

Have a great day. We need to be a little more heavenly minded if we are going to be of any earthly good.

For further reading:
Romans 12:2
Philippians 2:5;4:8
Colossians 3:1,2
Luke 17:21
John 14:9

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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
If you would like to subscribe to the Coffee Break mailing list, visit our website and on the Coffee Break page you will find a submision form.
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 Great Mercy"

"And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the Lord; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man." 1 Chronicles 21:13

Last night a friend posted something on her face book wall for the reader to think about. What she said was, "Who would you rather on your side? Men/Women or the God who created the Men/Women? For some reason that question reminded me of the story in the Bible about King David when he disobeyed the Lord by taking a census of the people. Naturally, his act of disobedience brought not only consequences but it had to be punished. God gave David three choices as a punishment then allowed him to choose which one he wanted. "And the Lord spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying, Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Choose thee either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the Lord, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me." (verses 9-12)

Out of the three David chose to fall into the hands of God and not man. His reason was: "for very great are His mercies". David knew that even though God's punishment was justified and deserved, God would show him mercy even in punishment. Therefore, he would rather face God than man because he knew that God's mercy, love, compassion and forgiveness was attached to His judgments. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" (Hebrews 12:6,7)

Even though David faced the punishment and Israel suffered for it too, David was right-- God stopped the punishment when David fell on his face before the Lord crying out in repentance asking for mercy.

I weep when I think of the goodness and mercy of God. We fall, we sin, we disobey, we reject God and by doing so we deserve punishment, yet when we will turn to Him asking for forgiveness and mercy, He so graciously gives it to us.

David was guilty of his sin against God, and God showed mercy on him. Are you in need of God's mercy this morning over your act of disobedience? It is available to you just like it was for David. His mercies are awaiting you today. Go to Him in repentance and fall upon His mercy.... I am sure you will find it.

Have a great day. The mercy of God is so much greater than all our sins.

For further reading:
Lamentation 3:23
Psalm 33:22; 51:1; 66:20; 103:17

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

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

If you would like to subscribe to the Coffee Break mailing list, visit our website and on the Coffee Break page you will find a submision form.
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

"Wrong or Right Reason?"

"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed." John 6:27

We put way too much emphasis on the physical life and material things. This is even true when it comes to our spiritual life. In John 6:26, Jesus tells us this: "Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled." Jesus said that the people were seeking Him because of the physical blessings and physical needs that He was providing for them. Then in our opening verse He tells us that this is the wrong reason to seek Him, and what we should be seeking Him for instead.

If we are seeking the Lord and following Him for the "things" He can give us, then we are following Him for the wrong reason. The crowds followed Jesus everywhere He went while He was on earth. Most were following Him because of some miracle He could give them, or because He fed them with bread and fish, or because they wanted Him to heal their body or do something for them. But few followed Him for the "right" reason. Think that isn't true? Then where were they all- where were the crowds- at the cross?

Why are you following Him? What do you seek to find from Him? Are you following Him because of some material thing you want Him to give you? Are you following Him because you want His physical blessings on your life? Are you following Him because you want to see His hand moving in your life? Are you following Him because of the eternal life that He provides? Are you following Him because you love Him? Are you following Him because you desire to see His "face" and know His "heart"? There is a right and a wrong reason for following Him. If your reason for following Him is based on receiving material blessings that He can give, then you are following Him for the wrong reason.

Have a great day. Is the reason you are following Jesus attached to some physical need He can provide for you, or out of love?

For further reading:
Matthew 6:19,20,33
Mark 7:6
Colossians 3:2

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

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

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Coffee Break
"Guilty Without Guilt"
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8
I want to talk about guilt this morning. In the English language the word guilt is a noun and a verb. The word guilt used as a noun means that it's a fact that you have committed some offense, some wrong doing or violated some law. Guilt as a verb deals with the feeling of remorse over some wrong that you have done. For example, the feeling of guilt may come as a result of cheating on your spouse. You betrayed the love that they gave you by giving yourself to someone else. It may come because you said something hurtful or harmful and now you wish you could take those words back because of the pain they inflicted. Parents often feel guilty because they did not spend time with their children while they were growing up. Some suffer with guilt because they committed a crime against another person through theft, murder, abuse, etc.
The guilt we feel is because we are in fact truly guilty of doing what we are feeling guilty about. It is not because we are innocent. I want to encourage you that if you are dealing with guilt today over something you did, the Lord wants to deliver you from it.
Look at the life of the Apostle Paul. He was guilty of persecuting the church. His occupation was to seek out those who were living for Christ and have them imprisoned or put to death. Then one day he had an encounter with the Lord on the Damascus Road and his life was forever changed. Instead of persecuting the church, he became part of it and preached the same gospel that he had tried to destroy. Although Paul was guilty of all the things we just said, he did not live in guilt over them. Had he, he would have never been able to preach the saving, healing, delivering message of Jesus. The guilt would have stopped him every time he opened his mouth. The point I want to make from the life of Paul is that while he was guilty, he did not live in guilt. And you don't have to either. The Lord wants to deliver you from the guilt of what you have done and give you healing and forgiveness. Did Paul still endure some things because of his guilty act? Yes. But he did not endure the struggle of wresting with those guilty feelings- he had peace, his guilt was gone.
Are you wresting with guilt? Are you guilty of doing the thing that you are having remorse over but you can't get past the guilt of it? The same healing that was available for Paul is available for you. The same peace that the Lord gave to him He wants to give to you. He wants to deliver you from the guilt.
The enemy wants to keep you bound in guilt so that he can stop you from fulfilling God's purpose and accomplishing God's plan for your life. He wants to keep you feeling guilty so that you will not pursue a relationship with the Lord.
This morning, take your guilt to God. Ask for His forgiveness, then let Him take the guilt away and give you peace.
Have a great day. You may be guilty, but the Lord wants to deliver you from the guilt.
For further reading:
Romans 8:1
1 John 1:9
Acts 9:1-26
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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@bellsouthnet]mastersbusiness@bellsouthnet[/email]
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
If you would like to subscribe to the Coffee Break mailing list, visit our website and on the Coffee Break page you will find a submision form.
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

"Evidence"

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:35

If you say you are a Christian, how much evidence is there in your life to back it up? It is one thing to say you are something and it is another thing to actually be what you say you are. My little granddaughter comes to me from time to time with her hands in the air saying, "I am a bear.. growl!". Yesterday, she was on her hands and knees on the floor saying she was a horse. Of course, she is not a bear, she is not a horse, or anything else she pretends to be. Just because she says she is something doesn't make it so.

Just because we say we are Christians doesn't make it so either. There has to be some evidence in our lives to back it up. And sometimes the things that we think are "evidence" are not. My granddaughter thinks that just because she growls like a bear, shows me her teeth and makes a fierce face, I will believe that she is one. Some people think that just because they do some "Christian things" that this is enough evidence to prove that they are a Christian.

The true evidence is internal evidence, not external. It is who you are on the inside, not just what you do on the outside. You may do some good deeds that look like what a Christian does, but that doesn't mean that you actually are one. Just because my granddaughter imitates a bear doesn't make her one- that is not enough evidence to prove she is one.

The real evidence comes from within- out of the heart. It is not something you can imitate, it is something that is either there or it isn't, and it is something that only God's Holy Spirit can put in and produce in you. Is the evidence that you are a Christian just your words professing that you are one, or is the evidence a Christ-like heart being manifested in your life.

Have a great day. What is the evidence in your life that gives proof to your profession that you are a Christian?

For further reading:
Matthew 7:20; 15:19
Galatians 5:22,23
Titus 1:16

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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 unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break

"Road of Departure"

"For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God." Psalm 18:21

Not only was the verse above the testimony of the Psalmist, it's the key to not departing from the Lord. Sadly, some have departed from the Lord going back to their old ways- Paul even addressed this in his letters to the churches. "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:" (Philippians 3:18) He also gave a warning that in the last days some would depart from the faith. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." (1 Timothy 4:1)

So what is this key? How do we keep from departing from the Lord? How do we continue to stay close to Him? By "keeping the ways of the Lord". His "ways" literally means- to go in His direction and follow His path. We do this through keeping His commandments and submitting to His will.

You can't obey and disobey the Lord's commandments at the same time. You can't keep His ways and your own ways at the same time. You can't follow His will and your own will both at once. His will will always take you in a different direction than the will of your own flesh. So you will either have to go in one direction or the other. Physically speaking, I can't go to the left and right at the same time. When I get in my car and start driving, I can't go north and south at the same time. I either have to drive in the direction of north or south, but not both. It's the same in dealing with our spiritual life. We can't do both- we can't go in God's direction and our own at the same time.

If you feel yourself getting further away from the Lord it is because you are not keeping His ways- you are going in another direction and that direction, since it is not His direction, is leading you away from Him. The solution is to repent, turn around, then start following His direction. You will find that when you do, you will be getting closer to Him and off the road of departure from Him.

Have a great day. Following the Lord's direction will keep us from departing from Him.

For further reading:
Proverbs 4:4; 3:1; 7:2; 5:7

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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 unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"Equipped With Strength"
"It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect." Psalm 18:32
Stop saying you are weak! Stop saying that you can't do it- that you are just too weak and don't have the strength! "Let the weak say, I am strong; strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." (Joel 3:10; Ephesians 6:10) Yes, in and of yourself you are weak and can do nothing, but as a born again child of God you are no longer too weak to do any task that He sets before you. You are no longer too weak to stand before the enemy. Why? Because He "girdeth" you with strength. (Translated- He equips you with strength.) He equips you with the strength that you need to "run through a troop", to "stand and face your Goliath"; to "preach the gospel", to "lay aside every weight of sin that would beset you". This means that you can now do "all things through Christ which strengthens you".
We have been equipped with everything we need to live victoriously- including strength. The strength that He has equipped us with is His very own strength. It is the same strength that was in Jesus when He stood against the devil's temptations in the wilderness; when He went about doing good; when He was daily confronted by His accusers; when He humbled Himself in Gethsemane and surrendered to the will of the Father. It is the same strength that caused Him to endure the shame and the pain in order to pay the price for our sins on the cross.
We do not have to cave in to weakness because not only is His strength available to us, it is part of what He has equipped us with in order to live the life that He has called us to live. Do we have moments when we feel weak? Yes, we do. But in those times we can't give into the weakness and just stop or give up. We have to look to the One who "infuses" us with His strength and get our strength renewed. "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency] ." (Philippians 4:13- Amplified Bible) And when we go to Him for renewed strength, He promises us that we will receive it. "For my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
If this describes you this morning, you do not have to be weak, the Lord has equipped you with His strength. And you won't be weak if you will "put on" the strength that He has equipped you with.
Have a great day. We have been equipped with the Lord's strength so we aren't weaklings.
For further reading:
Psalm 18:29; 39; 138:3
Hebrews 12:1
2 Timothy 4:17
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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
"Noticeable Change"
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:" 1 Peter 2:2
If you have ever watched a baby grow you have noticed that there is a transformation that takes place in it. As you watch the baby day after day you will soon see that it goes through many changes. You'll notice it putting on weight, its little legs start getting longer, its head gets bigger, its features start developing, and so on. How does this transformation take place in its little body? Does it happen by leaving the baby alone in its crib every day? Does it happen because you sit and rock it for hours at a time? Does it just automatically happen through the course of nature? No, to all of the above.
What causes the transformation in the baby's physical appearance is the milk/formula it takes in. When a baby drinks its "food', it takes in certain nutrients from that food. The nutrients that are in it are what causes the change. As those nutrients get into the muscles, organs, cells and tissues in that baby's body those nutrients start bringing about a change in its body. The more nutrients it takes in the more noticeable the change, until it no longer resembles a baby and eventually changes into an adult.
Our spiritual growth happens the same way- it comes through the "nutrients" we receive from God's word. When we take His word in, it is like taking "spiritual growth hormones". But I am not talking about just casually reading it and then being a "forgetful hearer" of what you read. I am talking about letting His word get down into your spirit and putting it into practice in your life. The putting it into practice and letting it govern your life is what brings about transformation in us. As we read the word and apply the word a transformation takes place in our spirits and there begins to be a noticeable difference in us. If we continue daily to read God's word and live our lives by it the more noticeable that difference will be. So noticeable that we will eventually come into the "measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:13) In other words, we will come to spiritual maturity and look like Christ.
Have a great day. Our spiritual growth comes from the nutrients we receive from God's word.
For further reading:
James 1:22,25
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
Hebrews 5:14
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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
"You Are Not Too Bad"
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." 1 Timothy 1:15
In sharing the good news of Jesus' love, salvation and forgiveness of sin, there is one attitude/belief that I encounter from people more often then others. It is the belief that they are "too bad" for God to forgive them. They hear what you are saying and they want to believe it but they can't get past something they have done. Their own heart condemns them and will not allow them to believe it. To them the message is just "too good to be true".
I remember going through this same thing. When I was a young girl, I was in a store one day and saw something that caught my attention. I didn't even know what it was, it was very tiny and didn't cost a quarter but I stuck it in my pocket. I knew I had done wrong. A few years later, the Lord began to deal with my heart to come to salvation. I went to the altar to pray and receive Jesus into my life but I could not get past the fact that I had stolen that item years before. I wanted God's forgiveness. I wanted to be saved. I wanted to give my life to Him, but that "wasn't" possible- I thought- because of what I had done. Thankfully, my cousin came to the altar, who was a Christian and older than I was, to pray with me. I could not get past the guilt of what I had done. I just knew I could never be forgiven. I shared what I had done years before with her. I remember saying these exact words to her, "But I stole something, I can't be forgiven." Again, thankfully, she knew the truth of God's word. I don't even remember what she told me, but before I got up from the altar I was convinced that God's love for me was greater than anything, or any sin that I had committed, and that Jesus died for my sins so I could be forgiven. I left the altar a brand new person- forgiven of my sins.... ALL of them.
Our own hearts will condemn us and tell us we are too bad for God's forgiveness. The devil will condemn us and tell us that we are too bad for God to forgive. But neither is true. The truth is that we are all "too bad" to be forgiven- even at our very "best". We are all sinners- no matter what we have done. Whatever you have done- you may have stolen something, you may have committed adultery, you may be a drug addict, you may be addicted to something else, you may have murdered someone. What you think is too big or too bad for God to forgive is not. The love of God covers a multitude of sins. The shed blood of Jesus at the cross can wash away every sin regardless of what it is.
Don't believe the lie that your sin is too big or you are too bad for God to forgive. Believe His word, which is- He loves you, He wants to forgive your sins, nothing you have done is too big or horrible for His forgiveness, and He is waiting for you to come to Him and receive His love and forgiveness.
Have a great day. You are not too bad for God to love, and your sin is not too big for Him to forgive.
For further reading:
John 3:16,17
Romans 5:8
1 John 3:20
Romans 3:23
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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 unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"Sure Foundation"
"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 3:11
Everyone is building their lives on some sort of foundation. It may be ambition, dreams, hopes or a wide variety of many other things. But there is only one sure foundation upon which we can build. There is only one foundation that offers lasting "support" for our lives. There is only one foundation that can stand the test of time, withstand the storms of life and remains solid. The foundation that I am talking about is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
When Jesus is the foundation of our life, that foundation is not a temporary one, it is an eternal one. It isn't a weak support, it is a strong one- we don't have to worry whether it is going to support our lives or not. This foundation will stay firm through all the storms- even tsunami size ones- that come our way. It will stand firm when "earthquakes" - those things that try to shake us to our very core- hit our lives.
If you are building your life on any foundation other than Jesus, you are building it on the wrong foundation. One day that foundation will give away and you will be left without a foundation under you. So are you going to build your life upon the one and only sure foundation, or build it on something that is faulty and temporary and hope that it will be able to support you?
Have a great day. There is only one solid foundation upon which we can build our lives-- Jesus!
For further reading:
1 Corinthians 3:10-12
Matthew 7:24-27
Isaiah 28:16
Ephesians 2:19-21
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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 unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"You Have To Do It"
"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 1 Corinthians 9:27
So you won't misunderstand what I am about to say, let me say this first- only the Lord can truly save us, heal us and deliver us, we can't do it ourselves. I do not have the power to set myself free from the bondage of sin. I cannot give myself eternal life. I cannot bring myself out of the pit of destruction. I can't heal my body when it is consumed with sickness. Only the Lord can set the captive free and open the prison door to those who are bound. I can't do it, but He can. He is able and with Him nothing is impossible or too difficult.
Now, having said that, let me say this- when we have a besetting sin in our lives, when we are going through a time of temptation, when we are wrestling with some lust of the flesh, we often think that the Lord is going to just "miraculously; magically" come down and take it away from us, slap it out of our hands or snatch it from us. We think that all we have to do is sit back and let Him just do it all for us. That is not the case.
Although He can do that there are some things that He expects us to do and He will empower us by giving us the grace and strength to do it. Paul, in the verse above, said that "he" kept his body under subjection. That meant that he was the one who disciplined it, he was the one who did not allow it to have everything it desired. He took control of his flesh and would not let it give into every desire and craving.
There are some things that you are waiting for God to do for you but He has told you to do it. You are waiting for Him to come and "take it out of your hands" but He is not going to. You have to do it. You have to lay it aside. You have to stop it. You have to turn from it. You have to decide not to do it. You have to discipline yourself. But when you do, like I said earlier, He will empower you with everything you need to do it.
Have a great day. You are waiting on God to do it, and you are the one who has to do it, then He will come to your aid.
For further reading:
Hebrews 12:1
Galatians 5:1
Philippians 4:13
James 4:7
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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
"The Living Sacrifice"
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1
When a sacrifice was brought to the priest, it was placed in his hands for him to do whatever he pleased with it. It no longer belonged to the person who was bringing it. The Bible says that Jesus is our "High Priest" and those who come to Him (have put their faith and trust in Him as Savior and Lord) are compared to "living sacrifices". As a "living sacrifice" when we present ourselves to Jesus, our High Priest, we are placing ourselves in His hands for Him to do with us whatever He pleases. It is no longer about what we want because this "sacrifice" (ourselves) no longer belongs to us. "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1 Corinthians 6:19)
The priest would take the sacrifice and do with it as God had commanded him to do- he was following God's will and plan for the sacrifice. Not only was Jesus the Sacrifice for our sins carrying out the will of the Father in His own life, but as the High Priest, He too- like the priests of old- carries out the will of the Father with the living sacrifices that are presented to Him. "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 6:38) Therefore, when we present ourselves to Him, He is working in our lives to bring about the will of God for us living sacrifices.
Are you being a living sacrifice? Have you presented yourself to Him for Him to do what He desires to do with your life? Are you in the hands of the High Priest- Jesus? Are you letting His will consume you- your desires, your goals, your plans, your ambition, your will? Or are you resisting His plan and will for your life? Are you being an unwilling sacrifice? There is only one acceptable sacrifice- a willing sacrifice totally surrendered to the hands of the High Priest.
Have a great day. If you are truly a living sacrifice, then it is no longer about you the sacrifice, but about the High Priest's (Jesus) plan for you. You are surrendered into His hands.
For further reading:
Hebrews 3:1; 9:11
1 Peter 2:5
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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

"The Weeping Will Stop"

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalm 30:5b

When we are going through times of pain and sorrow, we can't see past that moment. What we are going through feels like it will last forever- we see no end to our hurt. This verse gives us so much hope. It lets us know that our weeping, pain, sorrow, grief and hurt won't last forever. It will come to an end.

The verse says that "weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning". Just as surely as night time gives way to the morning, just as surely as day follows night and has since the beginning of creation, weeping will give way to joy. Joy will follow weeping. It will come. Your weeping will stop. You will have joy again.

Who causes the night to give place to the morning? Who creates the morning? Who sets each new day in place? Who tells night when it is ended and a new day when to begin? The Lord does. And He is the One who gives and restores your joy and brings your weeping to an end.

"Weeping endures for a night." Night time is a specific amount of time- it's a season. Your weeping only last for a season and then it comes to an end. The morning is the start of a new day- a new season, a new beginning. God will wipe away your tears after a season, and you will see the dawn of a new day. At the present all you can see is a "night of weeping", but it won't last forever, the morning will come.

Have a great day. Weeping only lasts for the night, but then joy will come.

For further reading:
Isaiah 51:11; 61:3
Psalm 30:11; 126:6

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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 unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"Hold On To What Matters"
"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." Revelation 3:11
"That no man take thy crown." Is that possible? Evidently, it is or there wouldn't be this warning in the verse. The next question then is, "How is it possible?". There are two ways that come to mind: carelessness and distraction.
When you forget the value of something, you can become careless with it. This happens with material possessions, it happens with relationships and it can happen with spiritual things in our lives. When we forget just how valuable what we have is, we often begin to take it for granted. When it is taken for granted, we don't show it the same care that we once did and we often begin to neglect it. Are you neglecting so great a salvation this morning? Have you forgotten just how precious your salvation is? Have you become "careless" with it forgetting how much it cost for you to be able to have it?
The second way is through distractions. I remember when my daughter was a little girl, not three years old yet. I took her to the local fair to ride the rides. I stopped by the concession stand to get us something to drink. She was standing beside me and I turned to place my order, in that brief second while I was putting my attention on making the order, she walked off from my side. That brief moment of "distraction" from her could have caused me to lose the most valuable thing to me on earth. What temporary thing is distracting you from that which is eternal? What is captivating your attention so that it is placed on something besides eternal riches? Where is your focus- on things above or things below?
I am so thankful for all the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon me- especially the eternal ones. And I am thankful that He loves me enough to warn me to hold on to those blessings. Hold on to what you have, don't be careless with it by forgetting just how precious and valuable it is. Hold on to what you have, don't allow anything to distract you to the point where it is taken away from you.
Have a great day. Don't let anything distract you to the point where you are careless with the things that matter most.
For further reading:
Matthew 16:26; 6:19,20
1 Corinthians 6:20
1 Peter 1:18,19
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.
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Coffee Break
"Eating A Lie"
"Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" Genesis 3:1
When the enemy comes to tempt us, he does it through trying to plant thoughts in our minds. Those thoughts will almost always be an attack against the Word of God by putting it in question. He has done that from the very beginning- he did it with Eve way back in the Garden of Eden.
If you entertain those thoughts and believe what he says, then you are believing a lie. When you believe his lies, you will be deceived, just like Eve. "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. " (1 Timothy 2:14) When you are deceived, you are heading down a dark path that leads to death. "For in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2:17b)
"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat." (Genesis 3:6) That day Eve didn't just eat the physical fruit that the Lord had commanded them not to eat, she "ate" the lie that the devil was "feeding" her.
Not only did the enemy put God's word in question ("hath God said?), he also tempted Eve to distrust the truthful, trustworthy character of God-."God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (verse 5) He tried to get Eve to believe that God was a liar and that she could not trust Him. "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die." (verse 4)
When he comes to tempt you it is not always just to get you to "sin", it is to get you to doubt God. It is an attack on your faith in God and in His word. It is an attack to steal, kill and destroy your faith and confidence in God. He knows that without faith it is impossible to please God and he knows that when you aren't trusting God's word you are not going to follow or stay close to Him.
This morning are you "eating" his lies? Are you being deceived by what the enemy says? Are you questioning the truthful word of God? Is your faith in God's trustworthiness being put to the test? Eve found out too late that she had believed a lie and that it wasn't God who was lying to her. Don't be deceived by the lies of the enemy. Believe God's Word and trust that what He says is the truth.
Have a great day. If you are going to "eat" anything, "eat" the truth- God's Word.
For further reading:
John 10:10; 17:17
Hebrews 11:6; 10:23
Psalm 119:103
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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 unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"It Was A VIRGIN Birth"
"Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" Luke 1:34
I am totally shocked at the number of "Christians" who don't believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. And what shocks me even more are the preachers who are preaching that Jesus was not born of a virgin. I want to clarify something this morning-- He was born of a VIRGIN! His mother knew no man! There was no man involved in Jesus' birth! The Spirit of God overshadowed Mary and she conceived Jesus. Do I understand this? No, but I believe it because the Bible- God's Word- says it was so. The verse above tells us that this was the case. The "teaching" that Jesus was not born of a virgin is straight from the "pit of hell"!!
Let's look at the importance of the virgin birth to the Christian faith. First, if we don't believe these verses about Jesus conception, how can we believe any verse in the Bible? How can we believe anything that God says? He is the One who inspired the words that are written in its pages. To say that the virgin birth is false when God said it was the truth is to call God a liar. Also, we can't "pick and choose" which scriptures we want and don't want to believe.
Second, if there was no virgin birth, there can be no salvation and we are still lost without any hope of eternal life. Our whole belief is in the fact that Jesus, because He was sinless, was the only acceptable sacrifice to take away our sins. Had He not been born of a virgin, had there been a man in the conception process, Jesus would not have been sinless- He would have been like the rest of us-- sinners. Sin came through man. Because of Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden, sin was passed on to all mankind- thus, "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) A sinful man cannot take away sin- or else we could have all saved ourselves. It took a "spotless lamb"- one without sin.
There are some strange beliefs emerging throughout "Christianity" that are trying to tear down the very foundation of our faith. If the foundations are removed, the "structure" is weak and will fall. "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3)
If ever there was a time when you must be solid in your conviction it is now. Know for yourself what the word of God says. Don't be swayed from the truth. Don't remove the foundation. Don't believe everything you hear- regardless of who you hear it from. If you don't believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, then you don't know the true Jesus. If you are preaching that Jesus was not born of a virgin, then you are preaching "another" Jesus.
Have a great day. Let me say it again, "Jesus was born of a virgin"!!! If you don't believe that, you have no foundation to your faith.
For further reading:
Hebrews 4:15
2 Corinthians 11:3,4
Isaiah 7:14
Matthew 1:23
Luke 1:26-35
1 Peter 1:18,19
1 John 4:1
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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: 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
"Fragrant Encounter"
"For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish." 2 Corinthians 2:15
I was at the store yesterday and picked up a bottle of oil that you use to make your home smell good. When I picked up the bottle, some of the oil had been spilled on the outside of the bottle. It was a cinnamon fragrance and was now on my hands. I got out a tissue and tried to wipe it off my hands. The fragrance was so strong that it got on everything I touched- the tissue, the shopping cart, my purse, etc. I made my way to the restroom and washed my hands- but the fragrance was still lingering.
After I finished getting my items I went to the checkout. I placed the items one by one on the register. When the lady who was checking me out got to my bag of potatoes, she told me, "For some reason your potatoes smell good. I have never smelled potatoes like that before". I wasn't sure what she was talking about. They didn't smell any different to me. Then it dawned on me, so I asked her, "Do they smell like cinnamon?" She said, "Yes, they do." So I explained to her about my encounter with the bottle of fragrant oil.
Did you know that Jesus has a fragrance? It is the fragrance of love, joy, peace, etc. (He smells like the Fruit of the Spirit). When we spend time in His presence, we will have an encounter with Him. During that encounter, His "fragrance" will rub off on us. So that when we leave our prayer and worship time, others should be able to "smell" His fragrance on us. They should be able to detect an "aroma" on us that "smells" like Him and causes them to "take note that we have been with Jesus". (Acts 4:13)
Do others "smell" something different from your life? The checkout lady noticed that the bag of potatoes didn't smell like potatoes. Others should notice in our lives that we don't "smell" like "sinful, self-centered flesh" (which is what we are without Jesus). They should say that there is something "different" about us, and that difference is the sweet smell of Jesus. Not only should we have His fragrance on us, but it should rub off on the lives of those that we come in contact with so that they will no longer smell like "flesh" but like Him instead?
Have a great day. Our lives should have the fragrance of Jesus on them.
For further reading:
Galatians 5:22,23
2 Corinthians 2:14-16
Ephesians 5:2
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.

Coffee Break
"He Is Not Out To Get You"
"She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." John 8:11
Many have a misconception about God. They see Him as some being who sits high upon a throne in heaven looking down upon them just waiting for them to mess up or make a mistake so that He can "get them". They think that He is always looking for opportunities to "let them have it". (How far that is from a true picture of God.)
When Jesus was on earth, He showed us what Father God was like, and what He was like in His dealings with mankind. When the woman was caught in the act of adultery, Jesus did not condemn her, He did not pick up a stone and throw it at her. Though under the Law He could have legally put her to death, instead He forgave her. When the woman came and anointed His feet with the oil in the alabaster box and wiped them with her tears, Jesus did not rebuke her, He did not turn her away, He did not belittle and ridicule her, He did not condemn her, instead He allowed her to do it. He also defended her before her accusers and affirmed her in their sight.
Let me ask you a question. Do either of those encounters with these sinful women sound like God was "out to get them"? If He just waits for the opportunity to let us have it, then there was His opportunity. He could have taken it then but He didn't. As little children one of the first verses we learned was John 3:16- "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I think we should also learn John 3:17- "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." Again, I ask you, "Does this sound like God is out to "get us"?
If God was out to "get us", if He sits up in heaven and waits for us to make a mistake so that He can punish us or condemn us then why would He send His Son to earth to save us? Why would He provide a way for us to have forgiveness from our sins? Why would He go to such great lengths as to shed His blood and die upon the cross? If that is how God really feels toward us, why would He do anything for us, He had us where He "wanted" us if that were the case? (Because we were already "messed up" and making mistakes is all we could do.)
But that is not a true picture of who He is. Jesus corrected that by demonstrating the love, grace, patience and mercy of God to those He encountered while upon earth. I hope that you don't have this misconception of who He is. He is not out to "get you". He is not out to destroy you. He isn't looking for opportunities to "let you have it". Instead He is looking for opportunities to express and lavish His love on you. He proved that by sending His Son Jesus to earth to tell you and ultimately show you that He loves you.
Have a great day. God is not out to get you. He proved that through Jesus.
For further reading:
John 8:1-11
Luke 7:36-50
Romans 5:8
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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 unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

Coffee Break
"Stand In Faith"
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7
There are times in my walk with the Lord where I am constantly aware of His presence with me. I feel His tremendous peace. Every where I look I am seeing His power being revealed. I am hearing His voice clearly and continually. The lines of communication between me and Him are wide open. The refreshing rain of His Spirit is falling on me in abundance. The insights into His word just keep coming. My praises for Him can't be contained. I am on the mountaintop and it is a wonderful time. But then, for apparently no reason, everything seems to change. I don't "feel" His presence like I did. The revelations aren't coming. I am hearing "nothing" from Him. I can't see His hand moving and working in my life. I feel so dry. It feels as if He has left me and I am alone in a desert place. (Where are you, Lord?)
Am I the only one who experiences this? So, what do we do during these times? We stand in faith. The Bible says that we walk by faith not by sight. We don't live in our relationship with the Lord by feelings. I may not feel His presence sometimes like I do at other times, but He is still there. He hasn't left me; He hasn't forsaken me; I am not alone. Therefore, I don't need to stop doing what I am doing. I need to continue and persevere. I need to continue to press in into His presence. I don't quit and give up because I am not "feeling" Him. My faith is being put to the test. My faith muscles are being exercised. My hunger for the sense of His presence is growing. I am learning what it means to truly seek after the Lord. My desire and hunger for Him is becoming greater and being strengthened. I am getting more desperate from Him- not just for His blessings.
If you are in this "dry" place unable to sense that His presence is with you, don't give into those feelings. Don't quit doing what you are doing-- continue on in your relationship with Him. Keep seeking Him, keep praising Him, keep talking to Him, keep studying His word, keep fellowshipping with other believers, don't go by your feelings, but stand in faith.
Have a great day. When we don't feel His presence, we have to continue by faith to live as if we do.
For further reading:
Matthew 28:20
Hebrews 10:38
1 Peter 1:7-9
Hebrews 11
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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've Got A Mansion"
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. " John 14:2
I woke up this morning with the old hymn, "Mansion Over The Hilltop", repeating, rather almost shouting, over and over in my mind. In case you aren't familiar with it, the chorus says: "I've got a mansion just over the hilltop, in that bright land where we'll never grow old; and someday yonder we will never more wander, but walk the streets that are purest gold."
What a wonderful thought- a mansion in heaven, forever in the presence of the Lord, living and dwelling with Him, never growing old, never in darkness, never wandering around in confusion seeking for direction, and walking on streets of pure gold. How glorious! I can't comprehend just how wonderful it will be. But this kind of eternal existence is only promised to those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ and have their sins washed away by faith in His blood that was shed at the cross. For the rest it will not be so wonderful. Instead, it will be an eternal existence that is too horrible to even imagine.
In talking to people about the state of their eternal soul, I find that so many are too "busy" making a life for themselves that they don't have time to think about what will happen to them after they die. Some are more interested in their material status now instead of what awaits them then. There are those who don't want to acknowledge Jesus, much less have a relationship with Him, because they are more desirous of enjoying the "pleasures" of this present life. They are trading the eternal treasures for temporary pleasures.
This life is not all there is. There is something that awaits us once we leave planet earth through death. And what awaits us last forever and forever. Are you ready for the forever? There are only two places where the eternal soul can go- and just because you don't believe in the existence of one or either, doesn't mean that it doesn't exist.
The desire of the Lord God is that you live with Him forever in one of those mansions. He loves you and desires to prepare a place for you in His eternal presence. He sent His only begotten Son Jesus to provide the way and "pay" for the privilege of living with Him forever. Will you take time from this temporary life to enter into a relationship with the Lord God through His Son Jesus so that one day you can occupy a mansion forever?
Have a great day. Don't exchange eternal treasures for temporary pleasures.
For further reading:
Hebrews 11:25; 9:22
Romans 6:23
John 14:1-3; 3:16
Matthew 6:19-21
2 Corinthians 6:2
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.