Little Bit of Coffee and a Whole Lot of Jesus!

Taking a break from Coffee Chats the next few weeks as we get ready to welcome Baby! Stay tuned for some lovely guest writers, revisiting posts from last fall, interspersed with some new posts here and there. Want to stay up to date with what is happening in our lives? Follow me on IG at "livingthelifeoferika"

This week as we headed out for our evening small group, I faithfully stood by our Keurig and waited for my coffee to fill my travel mug. Staring at my husband's and I's Bibles stacked on the counter, I thought "I have had a cup of coffee as I studied God's word more often than not." I giggled at this revelation and said "well, I guess that's why you have a blog called coffee chats."

The more I pondered this connection between my caffeine addiction and spending time in God's word, I smiled, because it is about more than the cup of coffee I am holding. It is about the fellowship that surrounds it and the feelings that it evokes.

Anyone who knows me for more than five minutes, quickly learns how Gilmore Girls level obsessed I am with coffee. In college I was recognizable by my tumbler of coffee in classes. As a youth group leader, fellow leaders got concerned about my well being if I didn't arrive with a cup of coffee. In fact, in high school my date for prom took me to Starbucks on the way to the dance. The barista even took our picture and we were featured on their Facebook page.

My love for this dark, delicious beverage goes back a long ways. I drank my mom's granita in Hawaii when I was one, she didn't even know that I knew how to use a straw. Later when I was much older I remember she let me try some of her coffee. I spewed it out immediately. I am not sure how old I was when I started drinking coffee consistently, but by high school I was drinking it every morning. Some of my favorite memories are meeting friends for coffee and sipping coffee on the porch with my mom. Coffee and fellowship have always gone hand in hand.

I am pretty sure that for me coffee is a love language. My small group is college was lead by a wonderfully kind couple, who became my honorary grandparents. Their home was truly my home away from home during my college years. I would comfortably walk through their front door and they would say "coffee is ready for you." I would go pick out a fun mug and cozy up on my spot on the couch and enjoy an evening of fellowship. That group will forever hold such a dear spot in my heart, I grew up so much in that season.

Now in my current stage of life, most mornings are spent curled up in my living room with my first cup of coffee and my bible. There is something comforting and peaceful about a cup of coffee that makes me love it. In the same way, spending time in God's word or growing in deeper relationship with fellow believers brings comfort and peace to my life that makes me love God and His people more.

During our small group last night, we looked at the relationship between Paul and Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter three. As we studied through this scripture and discussed it amongst us, we highlighted how discipleship is intimacy. Paul and Timothy did life together. It was more than just a "hi, how are you doing?" On a Sunday morning, they lived together, there were doing ministry together, they traveled together. The culture of their day is much different than the one we find ourselves in today. We pride ourselves in being a independent people and we don't want to burden others with our struggles when we know everyone is facing their own.

However, I feel that scripture is clear. We were not made to traverse through this life alone. We were created for community and relationships. From the beginning God knew that it was not good for man to be alone. Even Jesus the one person who could have done this life on his own chose to surround himself with people and close friends. Our father in heaven who is Lord over the entire earth seeks a relationship with us.

So why write a blog called coffee chats?

Because I needed community, moving away from my home state, I was met with an incredible sense of loss. I missed my family and my people. I desired to be back on that couch at my honorary grandparents living room. I desired to be back with the people who knew me deeply and walked so much life with me. I wanted a person to go get coffee with. Talking with some of best friends I realized that I was not alone in this desire. Many of us are searching for that too. There may be many reasons as to why we don't have those intimate relationships at this moment and this blog will not replace in person connection. But my hope and desire is that this weekly blog to your email can help you feel less alone. To know that you are not the only one desiring a sweet conversation with a friend.

Even as I see our community growing here and rest in the blessings that God has placed in our lives, I find myself wanting for close knit relationships. If you are on a journey to finding this, I will caution you there is a cost. You have to be vulnerable. To get those relationships you have to be authentic. You have to go deeper than the standard "I'm fine" answer. It requires humbleness and being willing to listen to the other person. For some of this we can find it difficult or past experience make it hard for us to want to share. I am not suggesting you go spill your guts to the next person you meet at church...but maybe eventually.

I am far from being an expert on this subject. I am just a girl trying to figure life out right alongside you. I do know that community building takes effort and you might need to be brave in taking the first step. Be the one that invites, even as the new girl or the outsider. Bring people into your space, jump into where God has placed you. Make a pot of coffee and see who shows up.

Lastly, let me leave you with a reminder that I have needed so, so often in my life. You are never truly alone. Our God desires and is equipped to walk alongside us in life. He is strong enough to tells us to shape up and pull us kicking and screaming to what is best for us. He is attentive enough to listen to our tear-filled prayers in the middle of the night. He is eager to hear about that amazing opportunity that was placed in front of you. Maybe this is your nudge to make that coffee in your favorite mug and have a coffee chat with Jesus in the mornings. I promise you won't regret it.

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. ~ Deuteronomy 31:6

If you have made it this far in the post leave a comment with any thoughts or tell me your current favorite coffee drink or both.

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