Coffee with Jesus Thoughts for April 19, 2020

GUYS. First of all, I haven’t done one of these in forever, so it’s nice to get back to it! But, here’s what brought me here, ready? A comma, a simple comma that I came across as I was in the scriptures during my “coffee with Jesus” this morning. I started working through a preview version of Lisa Bevere’s “Strong” devotional on my YouVersion app, and the first scripture was Ephesians 6:10-18. Now, I’ve read over this passage time and time again, it’s one of my favorites, and it’s marked up like crazy in my current Bible. BUT, this time it hit differently, and maybe I’m just late to the party here, so just go with me for a minute, even if I am. Look at verse 13 of that passage

“Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

Ephesians 6:13 (NIV)

First of all, when the day of evil comes, not if, when. We’re not immune to evil, we just don’t face it alone. *enter the full armor of God.* But, check out this comma that I was talking about, “…and after you have done everything, to stand.” He not only helps us and gives us the strength to stand our ground and face the enemy in the midst of our battles, but… “…and after you have done everything…” *COMMA* “to stand.” He won’t leave us weak and worn down after we come out of our battles victorious, He gives us enough strength and protection to come out on the other side STILL STANDING, victorious, and worshiping Him in the victory. So, suit up with that full armor, tap into the strength that only comes from pressing into Him, and know, that your strength carries over even after you suit up and stand your ground when you face the day(s) of evil and the devil’s scheme’s on our life. I’ll leave you with this bit from Lisa’s devotional this morning:

“God has a plan for your life and the devil has a scheme. His scheme is to knock you out of God’s plan. The moment you became a daughter (or son, this devotional is geared towards woman) of God, you were marked by God’s Spirit and noted by the enemy. Before your rebirth you were his slave, and now you are a target. But once we are acquainted with our source of true strength, it’s time to rise.”

-Lisa Bevere, Strong

Weary

Even in the deepest valley

I know You walk with me

I feel Your Holy Spirit close

as it brings me to my knees

When faced with trials and heartache

I trust You know what’s best

So I give to You my weary heart

and ease into Your rest.

~Amanda N Sams

September 9, 2018

Paid in Full

Two crisscrossed tree limbs

three sharp nails

that held His body there

 

He shed His blood

on Calvary’s Mount

to show how much He cares

 

The pain He bore

was all for us

He sacrificed His life

 

For our home in Heaven

a life everlasting

He paid the ultimate price

 

~Amanda N. Sams

April 12, 2015

Perfect Love

Perfect Love

 

More than enough

His love for me

He holds me close

Welcomes me back when I flee

 

He cleansed my soul

It’s white like snow

His grace is unending

Like a fountain it flows

 

On the Cross

He bled and died

He gave His life

In exchange for mine

 

A glorious Savior

His perfect love

One day I’ll join Him

In Heaven above

 

~Amanda N. Sams

February 15, 2015

To Seek His Face

A thirsty soul
seemingly hopeless
nowhere to turn
her life was a mess

She turns to a bottle
A temporary relief
she stumbles around
trying to get back on her feet

A hand-me-down Bible
her curious, aching heart
she opens it’s pages
but has no clue where to start

A tug at her heart
She drops to her knees
A calmness sets in
she knows He hears her pleas

Once broken and lost
She found love and grace
in the arms of Jesus
and His sweet, warm embrace.

Amanda N. Sams
January 11, 2015

If Heaven had an Address

(c) Mandi’s Photography

If Heaven had an address

I’d write to you each day

Put my heart on paper

I’d know just what to say

 

If Heaven had an address

You’d never be alone

I’d drive right out to visit you

And make myself at home

 

Though Heaven has no address

We’ll soon be reunited

I’ll make my home in glory, too

Because through Jesus, we’ve all been invited.

 

~Amanda N. Sams

October 4, 2014

 

Cleansed

He’s living water
bread of life,
the perfect, sinless lamb

His cleansing blood
will set you free
you need only call on Him

He’ll take you in
with open arms
He’ll wash your garments white

Your sin erased
a life brand new,
A beacon of His light

~Amanda N. Sams
June 13, 2014

In My Place

A perfect love upon the cross
He bled and died for me
He bore my sin and cleared my name
His suffering set me free

A crown of thorns pressed in His head
Blood running down His face
The punishment that I deserved
He took it in my place

~Amanda N. Sams
April 18, 2014

At Your Feet

At Your feet

I lay my burdens

I drop each trial, fear, and shame

 

At Your feet

My pain is lifted

Peace comes when I speak Your name

 

On the cross

You died for me

You shed Your blood to save my soul

 

So at Your feet

I humbly bow

It’s in Your presence I become whole.

 

~Amanda N. Sams

April 6, 2014

God with Us

An angel came to bring good news

To a virgin girl named Mary,

“Don’t be afraid, you’ve found favor with God,

A baby boy, His son, He’s chosen you to carry.”

 

His name shall be called Jesus,

Emmanuel, God with us,

King of kings, Lord of lords,

In Him we’ll place our trust.

 

Mary and Joseph had a long journey ahead,

The Inn had no room for them to stay,

So Mary gave birth in a stable

And laid Him in a manger filled with hay.

 

The news spread fast through all the land

Of Christ our Savior’s birth

Sent to earth to cleanse our sins,

To give our lives great worth.

 

A single star that lead the way,

Three Wise Men to their King,

A baby boy, His manger bed,

Such joy His birth did bring.

 

A gift to us from God above,

Our Savior born that night,

A virgin birth, the Son of God,

The King of love and light.

 

~Amanda N. Sams

December 16, 2013

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[b] the Son of God.³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”

³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:26-38 (NIV)