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Luke 5:27-29 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

Levi didn’t care that he had an unpopular job. Or at least that’s what he led others to believe. His job brought him a steady income, and he could bank on swindling some unknowing souls into paying more than their fair share of taxes to further supplement his income. But even as he was convincing others to dig deeper and pay out more of their meager earnings to him, he noticed that something didn’t feel quite right. Something nagged at him.

. . . .

Something nags at Daniel, the homeless man who stands on the corner next to the building where I work. He seems to think it’s his need for his next fix of alcohol. Passersby often give him food, water, and clothing, which he accepts. But he seems to have a smile on his face only when he has in hand a brown paper sack with a glass container filled with yellow or brown liquid. And when that runs out, the smile on his face disappears.

. . . .

When Jesus saw Levi sitting in the tax collector booth, he didn’t turn his head and walk on by. He saw a need, one that Levi probably hadn’t even identified himself, and sought to meet it. Jesus offered Himself: Follow me. Learn from me. Watch me, and I’ll show you how it’s done. You needn’t continue making yourself and others miserable. There is another way.

And at Jesus’s two-word invitation, Levi immediately responded.

While Levi’s obedience is extraordinary in some ways because he was willing to walk away from a job that provided financial security, it may have been his emotional insecurity that he was more willing to trade in for a chance to be mentored and led. Maybe he had recognized how lonely it was to be at the top of the tax bracket. Maybe he was tired of his wealth attracting “friends.”

Or maybe Levi’s obedience was simply a natural reaction to the power with which Jesus spoke. He was fully God walking among the people. People who had been oppressed by the law for a long time. People who wanted a different way. A better way. A way that Jesus offered.

. . . .

As I reflect on this passage and the power of Jesus’ invitation, I wonder how I can show Daniel that the glass bottle is a temporary nagging and that he really longs for Jesus. I know that in my power, I can’t. It’s only through Jesus’ love that I can love the unlovable. It’s only through Jesus’ leading that I can lead others to Him.

Father God, thank You for offering Yourself to us and for giving us Your love to extend to the unpopular of this world. Show us how we can offer You to the people we encounter each day and help us to not be afraid to do so. Help us to remember that we can do all things through Your power.

Amen.

For a second cup see Matthew 9:9 and Mark 2:14.

A few highlights of his hospital stay:

Friday night, his entire family group from his church filed into his hospital room. We sang praise songs, read scripture, prayed, and basically had revival right then and there!

Later Friday night, Dad slept soundly for the first time since his surgery on Wednesday. He fell asleep before 9 p.m. At 11:55, he woke up and had to go to the restroom. The nurse came to assist him, and soon, she poked her head around the corner from the bathroom.

“Does he have a razor?” she asked.

“I don’t know. I’ll look in his suitcase,” I told her, wondering why in the world she needed his razor.

“He’s decided he wants to shave,” she answered my unspoken question.

So there, at midnight, two days after having three feet of his small intestines removed, Dad shaved. Brushed his teeth. Combed his hair. Put on cologne.

In our family, vanity dies hard.

Then he went back to bed and slept until 4 a.m., when he made another trip to the bathroom and then slept until nearly 7 a.m.

Saturday, he was allowed to drink clear liquids.

Sunday, all liquids.

This morning, sausage and eggs! He is on his way home right now. I have to go, so I’ll be there to meet him.

Thanks so much for all your continued prayers and support! I don’t know what I would have done without all of your love and comments and e-mails over the last few days.

God is good, all the time. He is the Healer. Praise Him!

–r

Dad’s tumor was much larger than they expected. They got all of it, and they found its source and got it, as well. But because of its location, there is a possibility it has spread. They got all they could see, but they won’t know more until the pathology report comes back.

This a rare cancer and is difficult to treat. They don’t know much about it.

What God’s Word says: (and what I believe!)

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” John 15:7 ***** Dear Father, I want more than anything to remain in You. Your words, written here, remain in me. I ask that you heal my father completely, and give him decades more of healthy living, so that he can continue serving You.

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24 ***** Father, thank You for healing my daddy completely.

“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:1 - 16 ***** Father, thank you for the godly men in Daddy’s church who anointed him with oil and prayed for him. I have faith in You. Thank You for making him well.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 ****** Father, I am certain of Your healing work in my father’s body. Absolutely certain of it.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 ***** Father, thank You for Your goodness. Please grant my request to heal my father.

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 ***** Father, I may not have the faith of a giant. But I know I have at least the faith of a mustard seed. So, I say to any cancer which may be lurking in my father’s body, ‘Move from his body! Get out of there!’ According to Your promise here, it has already moved. Thank You, Father.

“He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” Luke 17:6 ***** Father, I have faith in You. Because of Your promise here, I say, ‘Cancer, go jump in the sea!’ Thank You, Father, that even cancer must obey You.

“For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever.” Psalm 37:28 ****** Father, You know that my daddy is one of Your most faithful followers. He loves You with his whole heart, his whole life. Thank You for protecting him, and for healing him. I love You, Father.

So there you have it, my friends. Will you please join me in claiming these promises on my father’s behalf? His name is James. He is tall, strong, good-looking, and loves the Lord more than anyone I know.

Thank you.

–r

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Luke 5:1-11 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats left there by the fishermen who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

This was one of my favorite stories when I was little! My Bible story book had a picture of the beautiful blue water and a big brown boat. Strong husky men were straining backwards trying to get that bursting net full of silvery fish into the boat. Some of the ropes in the net had already snapped, and a few lucky fish were splashing back into the water. It was a miracle, a wonderful impossible miracle, and I wished I could have followed Jesus right along with Simon!

But now I’m noticing a little sentence buried in the middle of this story. “Because you say so, I will let down the nets.” I think now that Jesus was giving Simon Peter a test. He passed that test, but I’m wondering… What if I had been Simon?

My friends and I have been out all night fishing. It is hard, hard work. We are cold from being in the water, we are weary to the bone, and we still have to wash all our nets to get them ready for tomorrow. What makes it even worse is that our work has been useless with not even one fish to take home. Then Jesus tells me to row back out into the deep water and try again. I’ve been over every inch of that deep water, many times, all night! I know there are no fish there to be caught! …What would I have said?

Simon couldn’t quietly obey without protesting just a little! It gives me hope to see that in him! “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.” Going back out there just did not make any sense. But look what Simon said next! “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

“Because you say so…” I don’t understand. I’m so tired. We’ve already tried this. I really don’t understand… “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

What if Simon had decided to pass on Jesus’ offer of another fishing trip that morning? I’m sure that would have made more sense to him, and I’m positive that would have made more sense to me. But Simon obeyed. He passed the test that day, and the miracle that happened next changed his life.

Heavenly Father, there is so much I don’t understand, just like Simon Peter, and my own mind so often gets in the way. Help me to trust You and obey Your instructions even when I can’t understand.

Amen

Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Word spread quickly about this man called Jesus. After He healed Peter’s mother-in-law, people lined up outside their door. He spent the rest of the evening and far into the night healing people.

Don’t you know He was exhausted? But He didn’t stop. He didn’t turn anyone away. Finally, he closed His eyes for a bit of rest, but He was up before anyone else the next morning. He went away to pray. When the others, who were also weary, finally woke up, they said, “Where’s Jesus?”

“I dunno. I thought you knew.”

“I haven’t seen Him.”

Before long, they formed a search party and went looking for Jesus. When they found Him, they said, “There you are! Everyone is looking for you.”

Now, if I had been Jesus (aren’t we all glad I’m not?) I would have been tempted to stay right where I was. I mean, think about it. These people loved Him! He had been thrown out of His hometown, and now He was at a place where He was the most popular guy around. They couldn’t get enough of Him. Yep, I would have hung around a while, and basked in the accolades of those folks.

But not Jesus. He had work to do. He had a purpose, and He never once allowed Himself to forget that purpose. There were people out there who needed His touch, His message, His love. They needed to know Him, and the One Who sent Him. He couldn’t stop, or even slow down.

Hmmmm. This makes me look at myself, at the way I spend my time, in a new light. I have purpose in my life, no doubt about it. I want to love my children and my family and friends with all the love that God has placed in my heart for them. I want to tell the rest of the world, with my small voice, how much God loves them.

But all too often, I get sidetracked. I forget my purpose, and I get caught up in things that in no way fulfill that purpose. I waste time. Friends, God has an important purpose for each of us. Are we living it? Or are we getting off track, getting caught up in things that really don’t matter? Now that I really think about it, I don’t want to waste any time. Like Jesus, I want to press onward and forward, living the life that He wants me to live.

Oh, God, forgive me. I want to live out Your calling on my life, in work, in play, even in rest. I want to stay so focused on that purpose that, like Jesus, I refuse to get sidetracked.

Amen

Dear Friends, As many of you are reading this on Wednesday morning, my dad will be in surgery. Please keep him, as well as all the doctors and nurses, in your prayers.

Thanks.

–r

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Mark 1:29 – 31 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

Even with dusk approaching, sunlight streams into the open windows of Mama’s room. The merciless heat shrouds me like a hot, damp blanket. Mama’s fatigued, shallow breathing fills the room, her lungs meekly grasping for air. Limp and thin, her body occupies a straight, unmoving lump under the pile of blankets and offers no hint of recovery. I examine her gentle face which appears impossibly aged from the course of just one week: rosy cheeks now gray and hollow and sunken, with dark circles encasing her once-bright eyes.

Where did this fever come from? With each day it grows more and more tenacious for claiming Mama’s life. Was it someone she spoke with at market? Someone’s hand she took in a warm embrace who unknowingly passed on this disease?

I glance out the window upon hearing my husband’s voice in the distance. Mingled with the far-away cry of a child and the bustle of marketplace shoppers, I hear Simon’s excited, boisterous talk above the others. Thank God he’s home. He and Andrew have no idea how bad Mama is, how this terrible, relentless fever racks her body. Wringing water from the rag for a thousandth time, I place the wet towel across Mama’s forehead and lean to kiss her before running to the door.

Wait, who are all these men? I can make out John and James, and of course there’s Andrew, but who is this other man?

It must be Jesus.

Well, this is not the time. Not the time to prepare a meal and entertain Simon’s new friend. I have no bread prepared, and barely enough water for cleaning hands and feet. Our home is a mess. Every ounce of my energy is reserved for fighting Mama’s relentless fever.

I don’t know what to think about Jesus, anyway. He asked Simon to give up his life’s work of fishing - and Simon said yes! How does my husband expect his and Andrew’s new “work” of walking from town to town with Jesus to put bread on the table? People in town are starting to talk - even my friends question Simon’s loyalty to this strange man.

As they approach, my gratitude and relief for Simon’s presence overcome my frustration with his days-long absence. I run to meet him on the road.

“Simon, come quick! It’s Mama!”

He reaches to embrace me, but sees my distress and instead races toward the house. Andrew’s face flushes with concern, and James and John and the stranger hurry close behind.

Back in Mama’s room, Simon asks his friend Jesus for help. Jesus?! To help my Mama? I didn’t ask for this man! Without hesitating, Jesus goes to the bedside and takes hold of Mama’s hand. He folds his dusty, dirt-caked hands over Mama’s limp palms, bending over the bed and leaning in close to her face. I watch him watching her, and something in me relaxes.

This Jesus has gentle eyes. Gentle eyes and strong hands that seem to embrace Mama with tenderness and authority all mixed together. Mama’s eyes flutter open, the first time all day. She gazes at Jesus and smiles a faint smile, and he lifts her to sitting. Before I can utter a word, Jesus helps Mama out from under the stagnant covers and helps her stand on the hard dirt floor. Her eyes are twinkling, and I rush through the men to hold her. I press my face to hers. Gone is the burning heat of fever, replaced with the warmth of restored health.

I glance across the room to Jesus, now leaning against the doorway, this mysterious man who in one touch healed Mama. Who is this man? Simon trusts him, says he’s a man of God and has come to bring hope to the brokenhearted and freedom to prisoners; to restore sight to the blind and make the lame walk and preach good news to the poor. The people in our town whisper all kinds of things. But looking again into those gentle eyes, I realize that I have already begun to trust this man called Jesus.

Dear Father, I know you hold in your hands the power to heal, to restore, to set free. I trust you.

Amen

“Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.

All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!” And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.

This passage reminds me of the story of the Alamo. Okay, yes, I am a Texan. And true, it doesn’t take much to remind a Texan of Texas - we are very proud of our state. But hear me out.

In 1836, Santa Anna decided to take back control of Texas. He took a huge army of men and invaded a little mission called the Alamo. By comparison, there were only a few men inside the Alamo, yet they fought off the Mexican army a first time, then a second time. The third time, Santa Anna’s men scaled the walls of the mission and defeated the men inside.

Now, the thing that always comes to mind when I hear this story is: Why would Santa Anna invade a mission? I thought missions and churches were supposed to be safe places. But then I remember, all’s fair in love and war. The one who is trying to win the war doesn’t care about playing by the rules. He just wants to win.

Satan doesn’t play by the rules, either. There was Jesus, teaching in the synagogue - a holy place, right? If Satan had been minding his manners that day, he would have stayed out. But Satan doesn’t care. He has no manners. He is fighting a war, and yes, he will come right into the church in order to win. He doesn’t play fair.

But I haven’t told you the end of the Alamo story yet. When news spread of the Alamo massacre, Texans became outraged. They joined Sam Houston’s army in record numbers. They had a renewed purpose. As they fought other battles around the state of Texas, one could hear cries of “Remember the Alamo!” The Texans eventually won against Santa Anna, and went on to become the greatest state win freedom.

Sometimes, Satan wins his dirty little battles. But the truth is, he is no match for Christ. James 4:7 tells us to resist the devil and he will flee from us. When we resist Satan in the name of Christ, he and all his demons tuck tail and run! The only reason he wins in so many of our churches is because we don’t resist him. Too often, we just welcome him in, offer him a cup of coffee, and move over so he can have a comfortable seat.

When Satan attacks, we must do exactly what Jesus did on that day. We must tell him to be quiet, and throw him out! Oh, he will keep coming back. But he will never win. He will never win, as long as we remember who we are and Whose we are, and resist the one who wants to destroy us. We must become outraged at Satan’s schemes, and cry out, “Remember the cross!”

And you can rest assured of the outcome, my friends. We will win.

Dear Father, I know You are more powerful than Satan could ever hope to be. Please help me to remember that when Satan attacks. Help me to fight back in Your power.

Amen

We weren’t quite sure what to think about that. We were hoping he’d have to keep going back, because there would be nothing to find. That’s what we hoped, prayed for. Instead, we waited for the doctor to call and tell us what was found.

Today, the doctor called. There is a tumor in Dad’s small intestine. The good news is, we all have about 15 feet of small intestine, so there’s plenty to spare. Next Wednesday morning, they will go in and take out the one foot section where the tumor is located, and reconnect the intestine. He will have to stay in the hospital for four or five days, or in the doctor’s words, “Until your gut is working properly.” There is a danger of infection, so he will be given antibiotics starting well ahead of time.

This isn’t the best news we could have hoped for, nor is it the worst. Praise God for doctors! Please continue to pray for my sweet father, that he will come back from this healthy and strong and ready to drive that tractor around his land for decades to come. And please pray for wisdom for the doctors and nurses who care for him.

Please keep my dear mother in your prayers, and all of our family, as we are dealing with this and the loss of my mother’s sister, as well. Thank you so much for your encouragement, friendship and prayers.

Love,

Renae

You also may have noticed I’ve been posting less over the last few months. I never intended for my Morning Coffee break (no pun intended) to last this long. But I am snowed under! I’ve been wanting to go back to posting five days a week. But I just can’t . . . yet.

So I’ve called in reinforcements. They are Judi, Jean, TJ, Alyssa, and Jeanette. I adore them - each and every one! And they’ve agreed to help me out for a little while. I know you’ll love them as much as I do, especially once you read their posts. They are “the bomb”! (Do people still say “the bomb”?)

Below, I have briefly introduced each of them. Honestly, I can’t do any of them justice here. I hope you’ll check out their blogs, and get to know them like I do. (If you click on their names below, you’ll find links to their blogs.) In the meantime, here is a song I’d like to dedicate to them, and to all of you who have offered your love, friendship and prayers to me. This is for you! (click here.)

Judi: I met Judi at a writer’s conference in 2007. Her warm smile and sense of humor initially gave me the impression of a carefree, happy-go-lucky personality - but don’t let her fool you. Beneath that winning smile is a deep thinker, a philosopher. If I had to describe Judi in one word, I think it would be genuine. She is real. She has a passion for crossing outside of Christian circles and telling the world that God loves them!

Jean: I can’t remember who visited whose blog first. Jean and I have never met face to face, but her Conversations with God have showed me her heart, and more importantly, God’s heart. Over the months, I have developed a deep and genuine respect for Jean as a Christian and as a writer. I can’t wait to give her a real, live, in-the-flesh hug one of these days! But until then, I keep feeling hugged by her - and God - every morning, as I read her conversations.

TJ: I met TJ at a writer’s conference (same one where I met Judi) and immediately fell in love! First of all, TJ is gorgeous. Oh, not just a little bit. She is stunningly beautiful. We’re talking Barbie here, only with a brain to go with the package. But as I’ve gotten to know TJ, I’ve decided that she is my hero. She loves her family with all her heart. She is passionate about them, and her calling in life seems to be making them feel loved and important. But she doesn’t reserve her loving generosity for her family only. Anyone who meets her feels loved and important, because that’s just the way TJ is.

Jeanette: I’ve never met Jeanette face-to-face, either. But at some point, we started visiting one another’s blogs, and I feel like I’ve met my long lost sister. She and I share so many common views and experiences, yet our upbringings could not have been more different! You see, Jeanette was brought up in Liberia, where her parents were missionaries. Her mother actually translated the Bible, one word at a time, into the Liberian language! When I go to Jeanette’s blog, I feel like a kid at story time, watching those flannel-graph pictures come to life. She has a way of writing, a way of telling, that keeps me on the edge of my seat. I know you’ll love her like I do!

Alyssa: Alyssa and I were introduced by TJ at another writer’s conference. To read Alyssa’s credentials, one might be tempted to feel intimidated. She is a lawyer. She teaches a class to law students a couple of nights a week. She is tall, slim, has silky, wavy, dark hair, and yes, she is beau-ti-ful. But all you have to do is meet her, and you know there is nothing false in this woman. She is gentle, kind, thoughtful . . . the kind of person you just want to sit by at lunch every single day in the cafeteria, or every morning at the coffee shop. And that sweet nature shows up in her writing. I know you will be blessed by her, as is everyone who knows her.

Please feel free to comment, and join me in giving each of them a warm welcome. (Insert applause here. ) Thanks, friends!

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John 4:46-47 (NIV)
Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.

When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

The scene is the sleepy town of Cana in Galilee. I’m guessing it was abuzz with the news that Jesus was back in town. Maybe folks remembered that wedding miracle He had performed and wondered what He would do this time.

Right in the middle of visiting with His childhood neighbors Jesus was interrupted by a government official from Capernaum. However, instead of marching in with his entourage, trumpets blaring, guardsmen pushing the crowds out of his way, this official threw every ounce of dignity to the wind. He elbowed his way through the crowd and flung himself to the ground at Jesus’ feet. His expensive robes crumpled into the dirt around Jesus’sandals. Maybe he grabbed the Master’s robe and pleaded into its dusty folds.

“Please, Sir. Come to my home and heal my son. He will surely die without your help. I beg you, Sir. Please.” Tears puddle at Jesus’ feet. The man groveled. He begged. He was desperate.

Aren’t we all sometimes? Sooner or later some circumstance of our lives drives us into the dust at the Savior’s feet. Some event or failure or decision we’ve made pushes us to desperation. This man’s precious son was dying. All hope was gone. He was in a desperate situation holding on for dear life to a carpenter’s homespun robe.

We’re often like that official. Not until we’ve exhausted all of our own resources do we abandon our self-importance and run wildly into the presence of Jesus. But when we do-

When we do let go of our own schemes and solutions, we find Jesus standing there waiting to help us.

Jesus told that desperate dignitary to go back home. “Your son will live.” (vs. 50) Your problem will be solved. Your request will be granted. Your nightmare will end.

Verse 50 tells us simply that the man took Jesus at His word. So can you and I, friend. No matter what our desperate situation may be, we can take Jesus at His word.

Dear Jesus, When life flies out of control, when we’ve used up all our options and have no place else to run, may that desperation drive us straight to You.

Amen