"Stop, Stop, Stop"

"Stop, Stop, Stop"

"Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." Ezekiel 3:19

The other morning I was at Wal-Mart. I had just left the store and as I was headed across the parking lot to get in my vehicle I had to stop and wait because the vehicle in front of me was backing out of its parking spot. Just as it started backing out, I noticed another vehicle that was parked directly behind it started backing out too. They were both about to rear-end each other. I started waving my arms and yelling at the driver-- "STOP! STOP! STOP!" Thankfully, he heard me, stopped and pulled forward avoiding a crash.

The odd thing about the whole situation was that the exact same thing had just happened the week before. As I was walking across this same parking lot two vehicles in front of me started backing out of their parking spots at the same time about to back into each other. Since I was witnessing a crash in the making, I yelled for them to stop while waving my hands to get their attention. Their crash was avoided also.

As I got to my vehicle I pondered the fact that this was twice in two weeks that the same thing happened and asked the Lord if there was anything "significant" about it. Yes, it was. I want to share with you what He spoke to me.

Mankind without Christ is lost. They are heading for a "crash" (death- eternal separation from God). Because they are in darkness they don't see what awaits them (like the driver's of the vehicles- they couldn't see the crash that was about to happen to them.) I was in a perfect position to see what was about to happen to these vehicles, therefore, I was able to warn them. (Because I know Christ and am walking in the light, I am in a position where I see the truth about what will happen to those who are lost without Christ.)

We see people around us all the time who are heading for a "crash" spiritually/eternally, but what are we doing about it? I could have kept my mouth shut, gone on about my own business and not tried to warn these people that they were going to have an accident. But I didn't. I stood in a parking lot full of people yelling and waving my arms like a "crazy" person. I let pride go in order to warn them. As a result the accident was avoided, and the man in the first vehicle turned to thank me.

Because we see the truth, and those who are in darkness don't, we must lay aside all pride, all prejudice, all self-absorption, all dignity, anything that would keep us from warning the lost about what awaits him. I didn't care how I looked, what people thought or said, I just knew that something bad was about to happen and I was in a position to stop it. Something "bad" (that's an understatement) will happen to those who die without Christ and you and I who know Him are in a position to warn them so that it doesn't happen. Are we warning them to "stop" and turn to Christ?

Have a great day. When we see people heading into eternity lost without Christ, are we warning them?

For further reading:

Romans 6:23

Isaiah 43:12

Mark 16:15

Acts 1:8

Proverbs 11:30

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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.

"Nursing The Enemy"

"Nursing The Enemy"

"And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword." Joshua 6:21

When the children of Israel came out of Egypt on their way to the land that the Lord had promised them, we read that they had to fight many battles against the inhabitants in the wilderness and in the promise land. The command that the Lord gave them was to utterly destroy them all- the kings, every man, woman, boy and girl. They were not to take any captives. When you first read this it sounds very cruel and unloving, especially the part about killing even the children and babies. I am not going to address whether it was cruel or not, I want us to look at it from a spiritual point of view this morning. There is a spiritual parallel to this command to "utterly destroy all" that we need to heed.

I was thinking about this the other day and wondering about not taking the babies captive. After all, they were little tiny babies- what threat could they possibly be. They were helpless, defenseless, weak and unable to do any harm. But the more I thought about it I realized that someone would have to "nurse" those babies. Those nursing babies were not just babies- they were enemies, and they wouldn't stay little long. They wouldn't always be those "cute" little babies that they could "carry" around in their arms. They would grow up and get stronger and stronger. Therefore, they had to be destroyed.

The spiritual parallel that I see here is that if we allow even the "smallest" sin to remain in our lives, even though it may seem "innocent", little and unthreatening at the time, and don't "drive it out" and "utterly destroy" it, eventually we will begin to "nurse" it and it won't stay little long. Once you start "nursing" it, that "small" sin will begin to grow and become a greater enemy in your life.

We need to learn a lesson from what was commanded to them in the natural and apply it to our lives when dealing with the enemy of sin and not be sympatric with sin- no matter how small and unthreatening it may look because one day it will be a bigger enemy.

Have a great day. Sin is our enemy and once we start nursing even a small sin, it will turn it into a bigger, stronger enemy.

For further reading:

1 Corinthians 5:6

Galatians 5:9

Song of Solomon 2:15

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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.

"Selah Moments"

"Selah Moments"

"Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah." Psalm 32:7

Often while reading the Psalms we come upon this word- Selah. As I looked up its meaning, I discovered that the meaning wasn't too certain. The definition I did find was that it was a technical musical term probably showing accentuation, pause, interruption. Let me give you my definition (what it means to me). My definition is- pause, stop and ponder what has been said or what has been done.

There are what I call "Selah" moments in our lives- times when we need to take some time to stop and ponder what the Lord is saying to us. Sometimes we get so busy that we don't stop long enough to actually listen to what He is saying. We usually "assume" we know what He said and meant. We need to take a "Selah" moment and be quiet and listen to everything He is saying so we get the full meaning.

Other "Selah" moments are those times when we need to stop and ponder what He has done for us. It's those times when instead of just talking about what the Lord has done, we stop and think about what that really means. When I talk about what a beautiful day it might be, I find myself taking a "Selah" moment by pausing to thank the Lord for allowing me to see it.

More "Selah" times come when I am reading the Bible. There will be times when I am reading and a particular verse will speak to my heart. I just have to stop and ponder what He is saying to me through the verse. I sit there "chewing" the word and giving it time to "digest" in my spirit before I continue. In that "Selah" moment the scales are removed from my mind and heart and I am enlighten and encouraged.

Do you have those "Selah" moments? Are there times you just stop and think about what the Lord has done? Do you pause to give Him praise? Are you taking time to ponder what He may be saying to you? "Selah" moments tend to keep me from taking things for granted- like His goodness, His blessings, His word, His love and His faithfulness.

Have a great day. You need to take "Selah" moments everyday.

For further reading:

Psalm 24:10; 46:10

Luke 10:39-44

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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.

"Questioning His Faithfulness"

"Questioning His Faithfulness"

"Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." John 11:21

For the last couple of days we have been talking about the faithfulness of God. I have reminded you that He is faithful no matter what we are going through and He is faithful to keep His word no matter what tries to stand in His way and keep Him from fulfilling it. This morning I want to talk about "questioning" His faithfulness.

There are situations we go through that cause us to question the faithfulness of God. There are situations that cause us to wonder if He really cares and really loves us. When I read the verse above, I can hear Martha's questions behind her comment. I hear her heart saying, "If you really loved my brother, if you really cared about him, if you really are who you say you are, and we believe you are, then why didn't you come sooner? Why weren't you here for us in our time of need? Where were you when we called for you? Why did you wait? Why did you let this happen?". If we are honest we have to admit that there are times when we have wondered the same thing.

There are situations that we face that cause us to question the Lord's faithfulness and love. There are times when it looks as though He has let us down. There are times when it looks as if He has not been faithful to keep His promise. My answer for those times is that we get our eyes off of the situation and off of what we are going through and turn our focus on the cross.

If you ever doubt, or question, His love for you, His concern, His faithfulness, then look at the cross. Once you do all questioning has to vanish. We can't look at the cross and not know that He loves us and cares about us. We can't look at the cross and continue to question. The cross is the proof of His love, concern and faithfulness. The cross is where He demonstrated all three-- and there is no greater demonstration. Your situation will show you otherwise, but if you will get your eyes off of it and place them on the cross you will see that He truly is faithful. Your situation will also speak to you, It will tell you that the Lord is not faithful and that He does not love you or care about you. You can't listen to your situation, you have to listen to what the cross is saying- it says,"I love you; I care; I am faithful."

Have a great day. If you are questioning the Lord's faithfulness and love look at the cross, not your situation, and you will see that He really does love and care about you and that He is faithful.

For further reading:

John 11

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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.

"Faithful To His Promises"

"Faithful To His Promises"

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)" Hebrews 10:23

Yesterday we talked about the faithfulness of God. This morning I want to remind you that He is faithful to His promises- He will do what He has said He will do.

He is not like we are when it comes to keeping His word. Some people will tell you that they are going to do something and know that they are lying to your face- they never intend to do it. The Lord is not like that- He does not lie.

Sometimes people will tell you what you want to hear in an effort to appease you but really don't mean what they are saying, or promising. The Lord never does that- He always says what He means and means what He says.

Then you have those who make promises in the "heat of the moment". They really think they are going to fulfill their word but never seem to get around to it. The Lord never does, or says, anything in haste. Everything He says is perfectly thought out through the counsel of His own will. He knows if He says it, He will do it.

You also have those who will make you a promise with all intentions of fulfilling it but circumstances arise that prevent them from doing so. They get hindered by things that get in the way. The Lord never gets hindered. If anything gets in His way, He just moves it out of the way. God made a promise to the children of Israel to deliver them out of Egypt and into the land of promise. As they were making their way out of Egypt they came upon the Red Sea. It stood between them and the fulfillment of His promise. Did the Lord say, "Oh, no, sorry guys, I didn't think about this sea. It is standing in the way so it looks like I won't be able to keep my word to deliver you."? No, He just "moved" the hindrance out of the way. He parted the sea so that it no longer stood in the way of Him fulfilling His word.

May I also remind you this morning that He is the same yesterday, today and forever- He does not change. He does not change in His faithfulness to keep His word and make good His promises. So the bottom line is this: if He has said it, if He has made the promise, He will keep it and nothing can stand in His way.... not even a sea.

Have a great day. Hindrances don't stop the Lord from keeping His promise... He just moves them out of the way.

For further reading:

Exodus 14

Numbers 23:19

Ephesians 1:11

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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.

"He's Forever faithful"

Coffee Break

"He's Forever Faithful"

"If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." 2 Timothy 2:13

I woke up this morning thinking about the Lord's faithfulness. How grateful I am that He does not change and is always faithful. He remains faithful even when we aren't. Our inconsistencies, our failures, our shortcomings, our mistakes, our sins, our unbelief, our ups and downs, highs and lows don't change His faithfulness. I can't even count the number of times I have failed and fallen short, but through all of them He has not failed to show me His faithfulness.

He is faithful to meet and supply all my need. He is faithful to give me the victory over my enemies. He is faithful to bless me with peace, joy, grace and every good and perfect gift. He is faithful to lead me, guide me and direct me. And even though there are times when I do not listen to His voice leading me in the way I should go but choose to go my own way instead, He still remains faithful and the next time I call upon Him for guidance He so graciously gives it to me.

He is faithful no matter where I am or what I am going through. He is faithful to walk with me when I go through the fire, when I go through the storm, when I face the valley of the shadow of death, when I am on the mountaintop or in the wilderness, when I face giants or the cares of this life try to consume me. What else can I say... He is just FAITHFUL!

When was the last time you pondered the Lord's faithfulness? Why not take time today to think about all the ways and times that He has been faithful to you... and thank Him for it while you are at it.

Have a great day. He is faithful.... period!

For further reading:

Hebrews 10:23

1 Peter 4:19

1 John 1:9

Revelation 19:11

1 Thessalonians 5:24

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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

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.

"No Average Blessings"

"No Average Blessings"

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah." Psalm 68:19

Just sharing an observation this morning. Have you ever noticed that the Lord's blessings are not ordinary in size or proportion? He doesn't give us a standard measure or just a sample of anything. Everything He gives us is "exceeding abundantly above". For example- He doesn't just give us "life"; He gives us "abundant life". He doesn't just give us "peace"; He gives us "peace that passes understanding". He doesn't just give us "joy"; He gives us "joy that's unspeakable and full of glory". He doesn't just give us "strength"; He gives us "perfect strength". He doesn't just give us "love"; He gives us "everlasting love". He doesn't just give us "wisdom"; He gives us "pure wisdom". And He doesn't just meet part of our needs, He meets them all, and in proportion to His riches not in proportion to the size of our need.

What a wonderful, loving Heavenly Father. He is not stingy with any of His blessings that He bestows on us. He always gives us more than we could hope for-- "good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over". Let's not be stingy with our praise and thanksgiving for all His goodness to us.

Have a great day. The Lord doesn't just give us "average" blessings.

For further reading:

James 3:17

John 10:10

Ephesians 3:20

Philippians 4:7, 19

1 Peter 1:8

2 Corinthians 12:9

Jeremiah 31:3

Luke 6:38

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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.nastersbusiness.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.