Billy Graham's 1952 Thanksgiving Message

A Message to our friends from The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry:

Here in the U.S., we annually observe Thanksgiving Day on the last Thursday of November. It is a time of deep reflection and thankfulness. We, too, at our ministry, use this time to be thankful to God for all He has done for us, and those we love. 

Thus, it is tradition that we break for the holiday so that we may have this time to spend time with our loved ones, as well. Of course, God and all his blessings are always at the forefront of our hearts as we gather for this holiday.

© Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

"Whatever hardships you’ve experienced this year, there's always a reason to be thankful." - Billy Graham

As Colossians 3:17 reminds us: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." 

The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry blog will return on Monday, December 2, 2024. From all of us here, including the staff, and contributors, we hope that you will take the opportunity to give thanks to the LORD for even the smallest things in your life. 

Lastly, we are thankful for you blog readers and your prayers!

In gratitude and with love,

~Eve

What Spiritual Responsibilities..?

"God has given us the ability to direct our lives, either according to intelligence in recognition of our obligation to God and our fellowmen, or according to selfishness and unintelligence in the supreme seeking of our own happiness."  - Gordon Olson (1907–1989)

We are all familiar with responsibilities that are related to our lives. There are, for example, work responsibilities, financial responsibilities, family responsibilities, and legal responsibilities, and so on. 

Although the word "responsibility," may be defined several different ways, we will fixate on just one today: "the state or fact of being accountable or to blame for something." 

Adding the adjective "spiritual" before the word, in effect, raises the stakes considerably. Unfortunately, a good number of us have no clue what our "spiritual responsibilities" as Christians are. 

An uncomplicated way of describing "spiritual responsibility" might be this: to know what God and others expect from me, and doing it. This can be easier said than done. Still, it is essential.

I realize our lives are chock-full of various responsibilities as it is. The last thing we need is to add one more "responsibility." But this isn't just one more routine responsibility. This particular responsibility matters to God.

With the holiest of seasons rapidly approaching, perhaps there's no better time to bring this up than the present. In our pursuit of material wealth and personal comfort, we can become distracted from, and indifferent toward, others. 

1 John 3:17 tells us, "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

An unsympathetic, compassionless attitude is not acceptable to God. We can inform ourselves about our "spiritual responsibilities" by reading the Bible. Obedience to His Word, loving and forgiving others, and meeting practical needs are highlighted therein.

And while God is not against anyone living comfortably and having the means to do so, He wants us to be "responsible" in our awareness of, and empathy toward, the indigent or ailing. 

When Jesus was here, he gave us a template regarding "spiritual responsibility." We, as believers in Him, are responsible to carry on His work, of which this is a part of. We are not being asked to do the impossible, only to do what is expected of us.

Scripture: Proverbs 19:17; Ephesians 4:32; Galatians 6:2; Zechariah 7:9; Romans 12:13

Prayer: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,"  - 2 Corinthians 1:3

Have a blessed day!

Colleen

Weekend Message: Move Forward! | Beth Moore | God is on the Move Pt. 2

Welcome to the Weekend Message! 

As always, it's my pleasure to bring you quality presentations from some of the best Christian teachers in the world! Each video presentation can vary, but whatever the topic, you can be certain that it will be informative and Bible-based.

This week, we continue a new study series featuring Bible teacher, author, and speaker Beth Moore.

In the second of four video presentations, Beth presses forward with this message: "Whatever path the Lord has given you, move forward in faith!"

During the course of this series, seven points about God moving among us, and us learning how to move with Him, will be set forth. 

© Living Proof Ministries with Beth Moore

Beth discusses three of the seven points in this lesson:

1. How are we to respond when God is on the move in our lives?

2. God is moving in our lives, but we have become immobilized because we are so over-burdened by life. What then..?

 

3. Once we have this figured out, God wants us to move. But in what direction..?

Key Scriptures: Ephesians 5:15-18, Psalm 32:8, Colossians 1:9-11, Acts 17:28, Genesis 33:12, Deuteronomy 2:2-3, Exodus 14:10-15, Proverbs 3:5-6 

Give your weekend an extra boost by taking a little "me" time to unwind with this encouraging word from Beth Moore!

Enjoy!

~Eve

The Lord Is King!

"The sovereignty of God may be defined as the exercise of His supremacy. Being infinitely elevated above the highest creature, He is the Most High, Lord of heaven and earth. Subject to none, influenced by none, absolutely independent; God does as He pleases, only as He pleases always as He pleases. None can thwart Him, none can hinder Him."  - A.W. Pink, The Attributes of God, chapter 6

Presently, it may seem that the world is spinning out of control; that nothing makes sense; and all is slowly slipping from our grasp. Perceptions like these can make it difficult for one to get out of bed in the morning! 

"Where is God?" "Why doesn't He do something?" "Why is He allowing this to happen? Do any of these sound familiar? During perplexing and chaotic times, such as we are experiencing today, people begin to question the power and authority of God, Himself. 

This is a sad, but all too common sentiment of people who feel lost, distressed, and disheartened. The Israelites rebelled against God and Moses in the Bible on several occasions, including: Numbers 11-21; Exodus 16; and Psalm 78.

Dear friends, I implore you to reject, eject, or toss out that line of thinking! No matter what you may think, or have heard, God is in total control! He has complete authority over every micro-particle of this universe.

His actions and ways can be difficult for us to comprehend, but that is because we are not meant to know God's motives. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord, in Isaiah 55:8.

One problem is that many don't give God a second thought until catastrophe and calamity are pounding on the door. In essence, God has been reduced to a fire extinguisher; waiting to be used in emergencies only.

Contrary to what many believe, He listens to our petitions/supplications. In fact, God knows what we ask for before we ask (Matthew 6:8; Romans 8:26). What is hard for us to digest is why He may choose to act or not. (Psalm 115:3; Lamentations 3:37-38)

His steadfast nature and sovereignty over the world allows him to do so. But rest assured that God's aim is not to deny us or harm us, but to do what is best for our lives. Good or bad, He, and only He knows why. (Proverbs 16:33)

We can only trust and believe in the One who created the world. And that, in spite of messy situations and confusion, that He is the stabilizing force who assures that the world that it will remain resolute and unshaken. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:6; Job 23:13; Proverbs 20:24; Jeremiah 10:23; Isaiah 14:24

Prayer: "The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?" - Psalm 27:1

May God be with you,

Sophie

Walking By Faith | What It Takes to be a Follower of Jesus | Luke 9

"Living by faith isn't living with certainty. It's trusting God in spite of unanswered questions and unresolved doubts."  - Rick Warren

Perhaps a good opening question could be, “What is walking by faith?” This is reasonable enough, as it can evoke many answers. But since our purpose here is primarily a brief inquiry into the subject, simplicity is best.

Crosswalk.com defines it this way: "Walking by faith" means living one's life and making decisions based on a deep trust and confidence in God, even when circumstances are unclear or challenging. 

What's more, "it encourages believers to rely on their spiritual convictions and trust in God's guidance." I feel quite comfortable using this solid and clear definition as the cornerstone of our discussion. (2 Timothy 3:16)

Luke, Chapter 9, provides an effective illustration of some characteristics associated with a follower of Jesus' "walking by faith."  These are: courage, devotion, humbleness, selflessness, and love. 

To illustrate what I mean, in the first six verses (1-6), Jesus empowers the Twelve to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and heal the sick. He also instructs them to take nothing along for their journey. (Colossians 1:10)

Referring to the attributes listed above, which of these are exhibited by the twelve disciples? As you can see, after some careful consideration, all may be applied with confidence. Afterward, you might do well to examine this within yourself.

In fact, Luke 9 might serve as a standard by which to compare your own walk of faith. It is a marvelous workshop in discipleship, miracles, revelation, and instruction in humbleness. (1 Peter 2:21)

One quickly learns that there is a cost to fellowship with Jesus. But compared to the price He paid for all of us, the cost is more than worth it to be called one of His own. (Galatians 2:20)

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:1; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:17; 2 Corinthians 4:18

Prayer: "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  - Ephesians 2:10

Sincerely with the Grace of God,

Sloane

We Must Move As God Commands

"We cannot wait until we feel the Spirit moving us… We must obey God even when our heart is not in it – often to discover that our hearts come alive to our duty even while we do it."  - Samuel Bolton (1606-1654)

God gave commands (or directives) to many in the Bible, most notably: Adam and Eve, Moses, the Israelites, Saul, and David. One thing we learn for certain about His commands is that they are meant to be followed without question or delay.

Still, it's astonishing how much we challenge Him and postpone doing that which we are told. We can never wait for a better, or more suitable time to rise to the pinnacle. Procrastination is our own worst enemy when it comes to God's commands.

There may be other factors preventing us from complying with His directives, such as a lack of resolve. Still, we must be willing to first surrender ourselves before any of God's commands can be obeyed (John 14:15).

We never know what plans God has in store for us. Nor does he need to be specific with us. He will tell us all we need to know, as we need to know. Our principle responsibility is to obey Him (Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Corinthians 2:9).

Scottish-American preacher Peter Marshall said, "Sometimes this going out in obedience to God's command is more dramatic than at other times... sometimes more spectacular... sometimes more brave... but always it is a venture into the unknown."

To comply with God's commands can be intimidating, especially if you're not used to carrying out directives in blind faith. However, there a plenty of assurances found in Scripture to encourage the anxious and unsure heart, for example: Proverbs 3:5; Luke 1:37; Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:1; James 1:3.

Resist the urge to pick and choose your service for God. There is no such option! For instance, if he dictates that trials are something you must move through, accept this, and trust in His judgment. Never choose your form of suffering. Recognize it and go forward.

We are all limited by our earthly ties. These serve to keep us grounded, but only to what is safe and familiar. None can truly appreciate what God does unless we endeavor to be still, listen, and allow him to enter upon our lives (Isaiah 14:24).

Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:8; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Psalm 73:26; Philippians 4:6-7; John 14:27 

Prayer: "Lord, those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." - Psalm 9:10

In grace and peace, 

Betsy

Weekend Message: The Spirit Moves | Beth Moore | God is on the Move Pt. 1

Welcome to the Weekend Message! 

As always, it's my pleasure to bring you quality presentations from some of the best Christian teachers in the world! Each video presentation can vary, but whatever the topic, you can be certain that it will be informative and Bible-based.

This week, we begin a new study series featuring Bible teacher, author, and speaker Beth Moore.

In this first of four video presentations, Beth walks us through how to yield to the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. 

During the course of this series, seven points about God moving among us, and us learning how to move with Him will be introduced. 

© Living Proof Ministries with Beth Moore

Key Scriptures: Leviticus 26:11-12, 1 Chronicles 17:5a, Exodus 35:26, Ezekiel 36:27, Galatians 5:16-26, Psalm 37:23-24

Without first having a good foundation, we can't get to what we ought to do to get there, and what the process would be to set ourselves in a posture to begin to recognize it, unless we are convinced there is something to go to that trouble for.

Here, in this first lesson, Beth Moore patiently and thoroughly lays out the foundation for this to occur.

I invite you to take a few minutes and watch this inspiring and thought-provoking message from one of the best Christians teachers around!

Enjoy!

~Eve