Abbie Coffey

Luke 6:48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock.  When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. As I read this verse today, it reminds me of something my dad always says, "You better have something bigger in your life than your circumstance."  Here Jesus spoke to that very thought.  Jesus is talking about living out his word.  When done, you will have someONE in your life who is bigger than your circumstance and you will not be shaken.  What were Jesus' words?  "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6  "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33  "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth.  The world ...

Romans 9:16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. I take comfort in this verse.  I realize that for some it may seem a little unsettling.  For me it is about the fact that nothing I say, do, or think will have an effect on God's mercy.  He is constant in His truth. I don't have to work hard to get something from him, he just loves on me because he does.  This is the beauty of God's sovereignty.  This verse gives me peace about God's will for my life.  I realize I do not always want what I think I want, especially after I get it.  My will squelches His.  God knows my needs and He supplies for me based on those needs.  His will is accomplished.  What I find fascinating is that I don't always know what I need.  Is this just my humanity?  I know what I want, but not what I need?  Praise be to God that He is my Sovereign!  This part of the journey is about being close enough to God...

Nehemiah 8: 11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve." I am going to be honest.  This verse spoke to me today, but I'm taking it a little out of its context.  My mind, of course, is on my mom.  I have been struggling with not knowing what the next steps for her will be.  And after waiting for two weeks and then knowing we will likely have to wait at least through the end of this week, I was frustrated until I read this verse.  I now see today as sacred and I will not grieve because I do not know what is to come.  The beauty is that I do not need to know what is to come because I have no control over that part anyway.  The One who is in control already knows what is to come and His plan is perfect.  He is who makes this day sacred.  He is the reason I do not grieve.  His glory will be revealed.  So, what's next?  "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among ...

Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemns?  Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans chapter 8 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible.  This verse paints a beautiful picture in my mind of Jesus praying for us.  I need this vision today.  I need to see Jesus praying for his broken people. I don't have a lot to say for this one, I just want you to know that Jesus is alive, he sits at the right hand of God in Heaven, and he is praying for you.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. This verse reminds me of Job, for some reason.  I feel as though this verse is somehow indicative of the life of Job.  Yes, God allowed Satan to have will with Job's life and even his body, but Job was always protected in his soul from Satan.  God didn't allow Satan to attack him deep within.  I believe this is true with us as well.  As our earthly bodies lose their youth and as we lose our support system around us as we age, the Lord is faithful, strengthening us and protecting us from the evil one.  God is bigger than our circumstances, if we believe that He is, in our soul.  Our souls have been bought and paid for with the blood of Christ, and therefore Satan will never get a foothold there.  As I think of Mom and Dad today at Mayo getting tests and conversing about Mom's earthly body, I am confident that the Lord is faithful and He is prot...

Thank you for...  ...Jesus. ...love. ...family. ...your omnipotence. ...the Spirit. ...peace within. ...hope. ...grace. ...life everlasting. 

Philippians 3:10-11  I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain the resurrection from the dead. This verse caught me today as I read Philippians.  I am trying to wrap my mind around sharing in the sufferings and death of Christ.  I can understand knowing Christ and the power of the resurrection, that's the feel good part.  But the fellowship of sharing his sufferings? That doesn't sound enjoyable.  The anguish and pain of being ridiculed and beaten, hung on a cross, and forsaken by God,  why in the world would I want to share that?   If I live my life for myself, then I will always try to avoid the pain and agony.  Jesus, the Son of God, didn't avoid the pain and agony, then why should I?  I must share in the suffering in order to understand how Jesus' sacrifice changes my life on earth when I live for Him.  So, can'...

Psalm 138:8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever--do not abandon the works of your hands. Today I am bogged down by all of the little things that I am waiting for in my life.  I am disappointed in the way some things have gone and I am looking for a word of hope in what I know about God's will.  This verse is a good reminder for me that God is in the midst of the trial and that there is purpose in the struggle.  The soul growth that comes from the struggle is deeper than any other.  We must come to God in those times and it forces us to look at Him directly.  We can waste our time trying to find ways that we can step in and make God's will happen,  but if we make it happen, then it truly isn't God's will.  It very quickly becomes our will.  I must be reminded of God's plan and purpose for my life and then ask God not to abandon me when I take over.  I must surrender in the struggle.  It is God's ...

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. What a beautiful picture of faith this is!  I'm looking at this verse in two pieces today.  First, hope. Hope is a sticky word because it has a fluffy meaning in our language and current vernacular.  We tend to think of hope as in something we "hope" will happen, more of a desire of occurrence.  However, hope with God comes with an element  of trust, not just a dream of what could be.  We have word and prior experience from God that He will be faithful in what He says He will do.  We can strengthen our hope through trust.  And the second piece, being certain of what we do not see.  Being certain is believing with no doubt.  A personal relationship with Jesus allows certainty because your experience provides assurance.  Even though society would say "seeing is believing, it is not in sight that we believe when it comes to faith.  I thin...

2 Kings 20: 2-3 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, "Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. God didn't give me a specific verse today, but instead prompted me to read about Hezekiah.  Hezekiah is an example of strong faith and provides hope in prayer.  Just prior to this prayer, Hezekiah was given the word that he was going to die because of an illness that had come upon him.  He then prays and God delivers him from illness and delivers his city from the king of Assyria.  All I have today is a question.  Why did God answer this prayer?  Hezekiah didn't even ask for anything.  He simply invites God to remember their relationship.  Interesting.  And God's response was simple, "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears."  Okay, I have done that plenty of times, prayed to God and cried about it...

Ezra 3:11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: "He is good; his love to Israel endures forever." And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. The temple in Jerusalem was being rebuilt.  The focus verse comes after the new foundation had been laid.  Following this praise there were those who remember the original temple, Solomon's temple, and are sad and weep because their focus was on what the old temple was to them.  I found myself asking, "Which side would I be on? Would I be excited to build a new temple, or would I weep for the old?"  This got me to thinking in a figurative way with the old and new covenants.  There were those who did not want to give up the old covenant once Jesus made the new covenant complete.  However, Paul was very clear about how we are to handle this. "By calling this covenant 'new,' he (God) has made the first one obsolete; and wha...

John 16: 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away.  Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. Today has been a day of loneliness for me.  I don't always understand why those days come and go.  I take comfort  in this verse from Jesus.  Why is it that even though I live close to God and am doing His will in my life, I still have days of loneliness?  I need to think about what I know.  I believe that sometimes God is silent.  I believe that sometimes He sits in quiet to allow us the opportunity to look for ourselves at our journey to gain wisdom.  Just as I spend quiet time with God where I don't say anything, He does the same with me.  He just wants to be with me, like I want to be with Him.   For some reason, those are days when I want to fill the silence, especially in times like now with the news of Mom.  I don't want God to be silent.  I want...

Father, I pray that today you would hold close those who are experiencing unfathomable pain.  Father bring together families in their time of need.  Bind the evil one that he will not tempt or sway anyone.  Father may the truth be known and may you provide a goodness that can only come from your mighty hand.  May we rest in the assurance that you are in the muck and the mire, and that you are watching over each and every one of us with the greatest care.  Jesus may we feel the strength in your empathy as you wrap your loving arms around us in our time of great need.  May your sacrifice be ever in our hearts that we may live a life for you and in you.  Spirit walk ahead of us and prepare the way for we are unsure of our path, but you know the exact steps we will take.  Work through us today to grant us peace and bring others into the presence of Christ Jesus.  May you perform miraculous signs of healing for which only You can receive the glor...

Genesis 21:6 Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about his will laugh with me," Abraham and Sarah's story is a great example of waiting for God's timing.  For me, I am sometimes impatient with God's timing, not because I don't think He'll do what He said, but more because I worry about the worldly circumstances that He has to overcome.  What a silly worry I have!  God, the creator of the universe, not being able to overcome the circumstances of the world.  When we have to wait for God to act in His time, those acts are generally miraculous in nature and He is able to receive even more glory.  I often pray that I don't miss the glory.  What I love about God is that, in my world, He makes it nearly impossible for me to miss the glory because He does these enormous miraculous acts that I can't miss.  It's pretty awesome.  And, boy oh boy, am I ready for the next one!  For what are you waiting and what glory is God ...

Ephesians 3:17-19 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. This is my favorite Bible verse because it resonates in my soul.  God's love is the only love that one must have in order to be complete because His love infiltrates the heart, soul, and mind.  In these verses, Paul describes God's unconditional love in a conditional way so that our finite brains can understand it.  We can put thoughts to these descriptors that help us grasp the unconditional love of Christ.  Let me explain.  Grasping unconditional love is nearly impossible when we explain it as love without condition.  However, when we use descriptors/conditions, such as wide, long, high and deep, we can put examples to that to deepen our understanding. ...

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. The song "New York Minute" by The Eagles has been running in my head continually this week.  More specifically just the line, "In a New York minute…ooo…everything can change."  (If you know the song, I'm hoping you sang it out loud. :-D)  This has been a very real statement for me this week, so I asked God what he was wanting to tell me, since I can't seem to stop singing this in my head.  He then gave me the focus verse.  Ah, what a refreshing word.  Yes, this life is quick to change sometimes, for the good or the bad.  It is comforting to know that no matter what this life throws at us, Jesus Christ will always remain the same.  He is who He is.  He is the one constant in an ever-changing world.  We can rest in His steadiness.  What is your favorite name for Jesus? Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Lord of Life, Christ, Savior, Friend, Comforter, Redeem...

James 5:11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered.  You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.  The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. This verse being given to me today made me smile, especially after Dad's series on Job.  (If you haven't heard it, you should click my 'church home' link and listen.)  On to my thoughts for this one.  Perseverance has been my word for the year.  Every time I ask God what He wants to tell me, I am prompted to read a verse that references perseverance.  Here it is again.  We can be assured by what we know about God from the Old Testament story of Job that God was full of compassion and mercy the entire time Job was in agony.  God stepped back and granted Satan permission to do his worst.  Satan definitely did his best to do his worst to Job, but he still, in all of the ick he caused for Job, he was still not able to overcome the compassio...

Psalm 6:9 The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer. This entire Psalm encompasses my feelings today.  My family received some unhappy news in regards to Mom's fight with pancreatic cancer.  The marker numbers they check were up considerably, so another scan has been ordered.  At this point, the next level of chemo is probably necessary.  I do not want my mother to have to go through this.  My soul is screaming for God to have mercy on her as she fights this battle.  This is a crazy place to be.  I am completely at peace about Mom's life and her death.  Facing the possibility of my mother's death is not what drives me to cry out for mercy for her.  It is quite simply the fact that I don't want her (or my dad) to have to do continuous battle anymore.  I know they are filled to the fullest in these times, but selfishly, I am weary from the battle.  I pray for God's mercy in this time and that the Spirit would w...

Isaiah 35:8 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness.  The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. Isaiah 34 is about the judgement God will have on the nations.  This part of God's nature is a little unsettling for me.  I realize that God is perfect and must hold his people to a high standard.  It's just hard for me to think of a loving God having such harsh judgment.  However, I know for many people it is completely the opposite.  They can see God as the judge, but cannot see Him as loving.  So how can we combine these two parts of God's nature.  For me, it is necessary to look at the Trinity in order to truly understand the nature of who God is.  I see God as the Father who must hold me accountable for my actions.  For the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)  We cannot be in His holy presence in our sinful self.  Therefore I...

Let Jesus speak to you today… Matthew 5:3-10 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Which verse stands out to you?  What has God revealed to you today through Jesus' words?  What is He telling you through this verse about yourself…about others?  Throughout today, ponder in your heart the verse God has given you and see what else he shows you.

Colossians 3:9b-10 ...since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. I feel like the verse earlier in Colossians 2 gets my attention. (2:20) "Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules:"(2:23) "Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence."  Christians are not robots following rules or self-controlled do-gooders who obey God because they're supposed to.  However, sometimes we do act this way, we just do it with "Christian" things so we don't recognize it or we think that somehow, because we are being "Christian" that makes it okay.  (**Don't misunderstand me, the following practices...

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Liz, my sister, sent me this verse earlier this week and I have had some new learning about trusting today.  As I have been in this waiting period in my life, I have been given ample opportunities to spend time in the presence of God.  We have had lots of conversations about what He has planned for the future and when those plans will come to fruition.  Some of the timing I have been told and other parts I am having to trust in His perfect timing.  What I find interesting is that which God chooses to reveal and that which He chooses to let me anticipate.  I recognize that He is building my trust by giving me knowledge (for me it's specifically in regards to others) to show how faithful He is in His promises.  Then when He is faithful in what He's revealed to me, I deepen my trust for that which has not b...

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.  We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Today I am mindful of the amazing people I have the opportunity to come into contact with on a daily/weekly basis.  I am blessed by the people I get to work alongside, present and past.  I know that many of them will never even read this, but I am prompted to write about how thankful I am for each and every one of them.  They are all a part of this verse for me because I know that so many of them are in education because they consider a calling.  It is incredible to get to work people who have a mind and heart for others.  I know that many of them pray for their students and families and work to provide support in ways that only God can provide through them.  I also recognize that they cannot sp...

Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it.  God does it so that men will revere him. Ecclesiastes 2:17 up to the focus verse were exactly my feelings today.  I'm feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and anxious with the toil of the job.  I'm in a position where I do not know what next year will bring and that is controlling my thoughts right now.  As Solomon says, there is a time for every activity under the sun.  I feel like I am currently in a time of verse 4, "a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance".  I'm ready for the latter of each of these phrases.  I feel as though I have been stuck in a funk the last few weeks and it is starting to take its toll.  I spend time with people I love and see God working in amazing ways, yet I am still drudged down by the toil under the sun.  So I must remember Solomon's words that God is the onl...

Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. This is speaking volumes to me today.  The verses prior to this refer to the fact that Jesus suffered and was tempted in every way and was without sin.  He is able to empathize with us, not just sympathize.  Today I need that.  I find myself in a time of need, asking many questions.  Why? What? Who? When? None of these are simple and at this point in time, I don't know that my heart is ready for the answers.  However, I do not stop praying, nor do I stop asking.  I am reminded of Job.  He cried out to God in great need and God eventually spoke.  I know that God will eventually speak in response to my questions.  I realize today that He is providing me with grace in my time of need.  I have a strange peace about all of my questions, even though they are unanswered. I'm awaiting a respons...

Be mindful of the Little things that make life Enjoyable. Say a prayer for those who hurt you and Speak kind words to those who hurt. In all things be thankful Never taking loved ones for granted. Give generously as you've been given Showing compassion and mercy.

John 10:17-18 "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.  I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my father." Today's verses make me want to shout, "AMEN!"  I have read this verse with tears in my eyes.  The love of Jesus as He says these words is overwhelming and the power and authority He possesses is life giving.  It's a spiritual booster shot.  This verse encapsulates salvation, sanctification, and glorification for me.  The salvation is Jesus laying His life down because he chooses to do so out of his love for his sheep, not because he has to but because he is compelled to.  This is who He is.  The sanctification lies in His authority to "take it up again".  The power that resurrected Jesus is living in us to change our lives and working through us to change the lives of th...