Coffee and God…

As the hot coffee flows down the back of my throat, I feel myself melting on the inside, as it is literally warming my cold veins. As it quenches my thirst, it’s calmness floats to parts unreachable, it’s peace fills my soul, it distributes life to my aching and tired body. I don’t think there is any coincidence here.

As I sip and read my devotionals, I think, coffee and reading God’s Word are all too similar. No fooling anyone here, coffee is one of my favorite things.

There isn’t much better in the still of the morning. That aroma, that warmth, before everyone wakes up, gazing out the window, soaking in the sun, watching on as it brings life to everything around it, dreaming of the day to come. If only time stood still.

Much like my coffee.

Much like God’s Word.

Every morning I read a handful of devotionals. Some resonate more than others, some so on point, it’s hard to use the word relevancy.

His timing.

His message.

Beyond relevancy.

Trust is a beautiful word when used correctly, when upheld, when executed, when respected.

Trust.

It can also become like soap in our mouths, leaving a bad taste, especially when it is spoiled, broken, abused, forgotten, misused, or misplaced.

Trust.

I must say, personally I’m at both ends of this spectrum, trusting way too much or simply not enough. I tend to believe people are good and trustworthy or I’m way over here on the other end. No trust in sight, anxious, trying my hardest to control outcomes, situations and relationships. Somewhere in the middle, I dance with both feet, tapping here, sliding over there, dancing circles and spinning out of control.

Funny, one of my devotionals this morning was Nehemiah 9:17 You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Thank God for that. Somehow, that brings to my attention, my own lack of trust when it comes to believing that God could possibly be for me. Little ol’ me. My anxious, fearful, controlling self. Why does He want what is best for me? Why doesn’t that line up with my own plan for my life? Oh, me and control. If I give that up, what is left, right? If I surrender my fear of what is next, then what do I cling to?

I need another sip of coffee to swallow that one…

Ha…

As I cling to my coffee cup, it’s warmth on my hands, it’s liquid life pumping through my veins, it becomes obvious.

This is how I feel when I read God’s Word.

It pumps life into my being. It soothes my soul. It restores my spirit. It warms my heart. It kickstarts my day, just like my coffee. It puts me in position to trust Him with the day, the plans, the path.

Not my day or my plans or my path.

But His.

Wow, He knew what He was doing when I finally acquired a taste for coffee.

I haven’t always liked coffee.

I haven’t always been in God’s word either.

Hmmmmmmmm…

Onto another cup of life.

Some days I drink too much. I’m telling you, if I were to give blood, as they stick me, they would probably question as to why all of sudden it was like they were transported to Starbucks.

Just as much as I thirst for coffee, there really isn’t a time where I don’t thirst for God’s plan on my life.

His love being poured over me has brought life to parts of me that I thought would never breathe again.

It has shown me forgiveness I thought I would never know. It has covered me in grace through mistakes and heartbreak and pride and excuses.

It has picked me up from the bottom of bottoms and gave me hope to go on.

When it seemed to others like I had everything, on the inside of my cup, it was dry and empty.

I needed a refill.

I needed that cup of life His word can provide.

That is, as long as I trust in Him. As long as let Him work in my life. As long as I surrender to His will.

Every morning, I get up, trusting that coffee will bring me the life and energy I need to start the day.

Every morning, I get up, trusting that spending time in God’s word and presence, will bring me the life and energy and patience and love and courage and hope I need to start the day.

I’m positive coffee has let me down.

I’m positive there have been days when I drank a whole pot and still drug my butt through the day, half awake, tired and irritable.

I’m positive there have been days when I’ve skipped being in God’s Word or skipped praying or just spending time alone with Him. Same effect.

Tired, irritable, anxious, half awake.

I’m positive when I start my day with Him, I am not let down.

I’m positive, that while challenging, walking with God has never let me down. It has only helped me to see life again. It has only led me to forgiveness and healing and love.

And right now as I drink from His cup of life, and at the same time, sip from the the other liquid life I call coffee,

I am warmed.

I am whole.

I am coming to understand the bold truth of the power of love.

I am applying grace to move forward.

I am moving forward.

Coffee in one hand.

Jesus in the other.

Devil, you have no chance.

Thank you God for Your saving grace.

It is by grace alone I have been saved.

Give grace.

Give Grace A Hug…