My Focus

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

I really struggle with being a people pleaser.

We all want to be liked, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But if I’m seeking to please the Lord first and foremost, I will ask two questions before agreeing to do something for another person:

First, am I doing this with good motives?

And second, am I doing this for selfish reasons to gain acceptance?

You know, wherever we focus our attention the most, that will become the driving force in our lives.
The more I focus on trying to figure out how to please people, the more of a magnified force people-pleasing will become in my life.

But the more I focus on trying to figure out how to please God, the more of a magnified force He will become in my life. My focus. My choice.

- Lysa TerKeurst - Proverbs 31 Ministries

This Is The Day That I Have Made!

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

THIS IS THE DAY THAT I HAVE MADE! As you rejoice in this day of life, it will yield up to you precious gifts and beneficial training. Walk with me along the high road of thanksgiving, and you will find all the delights I have made ready for you.

To protect your thankfulness, you must remember that you reside in a fallen world, where blessings and sorrows intermingle freely. A constant focus on adversity defeats many Christians. They walk through a day that is brimming with beauty and brightness, seeing only the grayness of their thoughts. Neglecting the practice of giving thanks has darkened their minds. How precious are My children who remember to thank Me at all times. They can walk through the darkest days with Joy in their hearts because they know that the Light of My Presence is still shining on them. Rejoice in this day that I have made, for I am your steadfast Companion.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"

What Makes You Unique?

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil thinking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

What is your unique assignment in life?  The Bible shows us how to answer that question.  Galatians 6:4 reads “make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that” (MSG). Try starting with these two questions:

(1) With whom do you feel most fluent? You may be tongue-tied around children but eloquent with executives. This is how God designed you. Scripture reminds us that “God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well” (Romans 12:6 NLT).

(2) For whom do you feel most compassion? God doesn’t burden us equally. He fashions our hearts individually. When does your heart break and pulse race? When you spot the homeless? When you travel to the inner city?

Discover what makes you unique…and use your gifts for God.

From the book, "God Is With You Everyday", by Max Lucado

Thankfulness......

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians 4:31


THANKFULNESS takes the sting out of adversity. That is why I have instructed you to give thanks for everything. There is an element of mystery in this transaction: You give Me thanks (regardless of your feelings), and I give you Joy (regardless of your circumstances). This is a spiritual act of obedience - at times, blind obedience. To people who don't know Me intimately, it can seem irrational and even impossible to thank Me for heartrending hardships. Nonetheless, those who obey Me in this way are invariably blessed, even though difficulties may remain.

Thankfulness opens your heart to My Presence and your mind to My thoughts. You may still be in the same place, with the same set of circumstances, but it is as if a light has been switched on, enabling you to see from My perspective. It is this Light of my Presence that removes the sting from adversity.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"

Open Manholes

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

It happens in an instant. One minute you’re walking and whistling, the next you’re wide-eyed and falling. Satan yanks back the manhole cover, and an innocent afternoon stroll becomes a horror story. Such is the pattern of sudden sin. This demon of hell can penetrate the deepest faith, and desecrate the purest home.

Want to sharpen your defenses a bit? Recognize Satan. Rip off his mask. Look him squarely in the eye and call his bluff. “Get behind me, Satan!” And…accept God’s forgiveness. Romans chapters 7-8 declare the Emancipation Proclamation for those of us who have a tendency to tumble. “Thanks be to God, who delivers us through Jesus Christ our Lord!. . .therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 7:25-8:1 NIV).

Claim the promise. Praise the Lord. And…watch out for open manholes!

From: God Is With You Everyday, by Max Lucado

If Only I Had.....

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31


           “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 (NIV)

There’s a simple, yet incredibly dangerous little script many of us play in our minds. It might even be one of the biggest things that holds us back from feeling fulfilled in our relationship with God. It’s a script tangled in a lie that typically goes something like this: I could really be happy and fulfilled if only I had …

… a skinnier body.
… a husband.
… a husband who was more tender and romantic.
… more money.
… a better personality.
… a baby.

I don’t know what your “If only I had” statements are, but I do know this: None of them will bring fulfillment. They might bring temporary moments of happiness … but not true fulfillment. Apart from a thriving relationship with God, even if we got everything on our list, there would still be a hollow gap in our soul.

So instead of saying, “If only I had” and filling in the blank with some person, possession or position, we must make the choice to replace that statement with God’s truth. John 8:32 confirms just how powerful truth is: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Here are some examples that have helped me battle the temptation to let people, possessions or positions take God’s place in my life.

People
I no longer say, “If only I had a daddy who loved me …” Instead, I say, “Psalm 68:5 promises God is a father to the fatherless.”

Maybe your gap isn’t left by an absent father but by a friend who hurt you. Or a husband who left you. Or the children you’ve longed to have, and you still don’t. Whatever that gap is, God is the perfect fit for your emptiness.

Pray this paraphrase of Luke 1:78-79: “Because of the tender mercy of my God by which the rising sun will come to me from heaven — to shine on my darkness and in what feels like the shadow of death to me — I will find peace.”

Possessions
I no longer say, “If only I had more possessions …” Instead, I recite Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth and nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (NASB)

Any possession I ever long for, no matter how good it may seem, will only be good for a limited time. In light of eternity, every possession is in the process of breaking down, becoming devalued, and will eventually be taken from us. If I set my heart solely on acquiring more things, I’ll feel more vulnerable with the possibility of loss.

Possessions are meant to be appreciated and used to bless others. They were never meant to be identity markers. It’s not wrong to enjoy the possessions we have as long as we don’t depend on them for our heart’s security.

Position
I no longer say, “If only I had a better position …” Instead, I say the words of Psalm 119:105,“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (NASB). I don’t need a better position to get where I should go. I don’t have to figure out my path and jockey to get ahead. I need God’s Word to guide me. As I follow Him and honor Him step-by-step, I can be assured that I’m right where He wants me, to be doing what He wants me to do.

Whatever “If only I had” statement you’re struggling with, you can replace it with solid truths from Scripture that will never leave you empty.

When God’s Word gets inside of us, it becomes the new way we process life. It rearranges our thoughts, our motives, our needs and our desires. Our soul was tailor-made to be filled with God and His truth, therefore, it seeps into every part of us and fills us completely.

Proverbs 31 Ministries, by:  Lysa TerKeurst

Obedient to You.....

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."   Ephesians  4:31

We must speak with honor in the midst of being dishonored.

We must speak with peace in the midst of being threatened.

We must speak of good things in the midst of a bad situation.

We must be obedient to, trust, and believe God and let Him boss around our contrary feelings.

God, I don’t know all the details entangled in this issue. But You know all. Therefore, You, God, are the only One who can handle all. There are a lot of things my flesh is tempted to seek—fairness, my right to be right, proof of her wrongdoing, to make her see things from my vantage point—but at this point, the only thing healthy for me to seek is You. You alone. I’m going to be obedient to You and let You handle everything else.

By: Lysa TerKeurst; Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Do Not Let Circumstances Intimidate You...

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians 4:31


DO NOT LET any set of circumstances intimidate you. The more challenging your day, the more of My Power I place at your disposal. You seem to think that I empower you equally each day, but this is not so. Your tendency upon awakening is to assess the difficulties ahead of you, measuring them against your average strength. This is an exercise in unreality.

I know what each of your days will contain, and I empower you accordingly. The degree to which I strengthen you on a given day is based mainly on two variables: the difficulty of your circumstances, and your willingness to depend on Me for help. Try to view challenging days as opportunities to receive more of My Power than usual. Look to Me for all that you need, and watch to see what I will do. As your day, so shall your strength be.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"

Waiting And Wanting

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.” Isaiah 64:4 (NIV)

I don’t know anyone who likes to wait.

Life in our technologically-advanced world has taught us that waiting does not have to be an option. Let’s face it: Within seconds of posting to social media, everyone can see pictures of your lunch with your best friend.

We can instantly picture chat with anyone, anywhere, anytime. Text messaging is faster than a telephone call, and email is quicker than the postal service. Our dinner can be paid for, cooked and placed in our hands in a matter of minutes without us even leaving our car. Yes, the message we’ve received from our have-it-your-way world is this: “You don’t have to wait.”

But friend, we have been deceived.

We might want our food served quickly; however, by waiting we are more likely to get healthier food that’s better for us. I am sure we all have burned with an urgency to express our thoughts in an email, text message or Facebook update concerning something that made us angry. On the other hand, if we push through the want with a timely wait, we have the opportunity to thoughtfully respond so others will see Christ in us. Can we collectively agree things usually turn out better when we wait?

When I was young, my family had one television. My brother and I had to take turns watching our favorite television shows. This got old fast, so I decided it would be nice for me to have my very own television in my bedroom. I took this bright idea to my parents. To my surprise, they said yes, but they wisely turned my want into a wait.

Instead of buying the television for me, they made me earn the money. After months of babysitting and doing extra chores, I finally saved the $89 needed to purchase the 13-inch, black-and-white set. While sitting on my bed, watching my favorite shows, without my older brother pestering me, I determined that small television I’d wanted so much was worth the wait.

Our key verse offers encouragement for the long waits we face: “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him” (Isaiah 64:4). Although this verse is about Israel’s return to Jerusalem after Babylonian captivity, we can probably identify with “those who wait.” We share in the hope that the perfect ending to our wait is something no ear has perceived, no eye has seen when we wait on God.

As adults, the value of what we wait for is far greater than the cost of a black-and-white television. We wait for the salvation of a loved one, the healing of our friend, the end of our own long-term health issue, deliverance from addictions, a positive result on a pregnancy test, or the end of unemployment. The value of what we wait for is so great that we can easily become derailed from life.

These things are important to pray about, for sure. But when they become all-consuming, their value is magnified — especially the longer we wait. Some carry greater weight than we originally thought, while some carry less. As the days, months and years pass, we can put more energy, effort, prayer, conversations, and yes, sometimes manipulation and guilt trips, into making these things come to pass.
Without realizing it, we exchange the Person of our faith for the object of our wait.

Waiting well means staying peaceful in the present while looking forward to the future. Our wait may not be as quick as a social media post, but we can trust God to work while we wait and bring about an ending for our good and His glory.

Proverbs 31 Ministries, by Wendy Pope

Chastening Love

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

                             "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten." Revelation 3:19


There is an eternal purpose back of all that befalls a Christian. The chastening of the Lord may take different forms. Sometimes it is a stern visitation because of our sin; at other times it can be a tender pruning by the nail-scarred Hand especially laid upon us because we are a promising vine. In either case, chastening is a mark of God's divine love and concern for us. In other words, chastening does not necessarily mean that you are the worst sinner in town; rather it may mean that you are the most promising saint; for the Scripture says, "every branch....that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (John 15:2). Lives that have been the most afflicted are usually the most effective. As the tender hand of the Divine Gardener trims away the excess foliage of earthly joys and contentment, the spiritual nourishment from the vine of God is channeled to the productive buds of the branches. With hindrances, weights, and carnality cut away, we bring forth "more fruit." God's purpose in regard to our suffering, therefore, is to refine in us the gold of holiness. The Divine Sculptor employs His chisel often upon the marble from which He seeks to create a masterpiece.

A Christian mother lay dying. Beside her a loving daughter stood weeping silently. Conscious of the agony that caused the great tears to fall, the mother looked Heavenward and whispered, "Patience, darling; it is only the chiseling." Alas, the Master Sculptor sees many deformities in His children which must be chiseled off before they can find a place of honor in His divine gallery of Heaven. How good to know that the chisel of trial is held in the never erring, skillful hand of God's love.

"Bread For Each Day"

Every Time Something Thwarts Your Plans....

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

EVERY TIME SOMETHING THWARTS YOUR PLANS or desires, use that as a reminder to communicate with Me. This practice has several benefits. The first is obvious: Talking with Me blesses you and strengthens our relationship. Another benefit is that disappointments, instead of dragging you down, are transformed into opportunities for good. This transformation removes the sting from difficult circumstances, making it possible to be joyful in the midst of adversity.

Begin by practicing this discipline in all the little disappointments of daily life. It is often these minor setbacks that draw you away from My Presence. When you reframe setbacks as opportunities, you find that you gain much more than you have lost. It is only after much training that you can accept major losses in this positive way. But it is possible to attain the perspective of the apostle Paul, who wrote: Compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, I consider everything I once treasured to be as insignificant as rubbish.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence

Do Not Be Discouraged.....

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED by the difficulty of keeping your focus on Me. I know that your heart's desire is to be aware of My Presence continually. This is a lofty goal; you aim toward it but never fully achieve it in this life. Don't let feelings of failure weigh you down. Instead, try to see yourself as I see you. First of all, I am delighted by your deep desire to walk closely with Me through your life. I am pleased each time you initiate communication with Me. In addition, I notice the progress you have made since you first resolved to live in My Presence.

When you realize that your mind has wandered away from Me, don't be alarmed or surprised. You live in a world that has been rigged to distract you. Each time you plow your way through the massive distractions to communicate with Me, you achieve a victory. Rejoice in these tiny triumphs, and they will increasingly light up your days.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"