Most of you know me well enough that coffee is in my hand most days. Andy makes fun of me for getting my Venti Iced Americano that I savor and make last most of the day... that is until my second cup of coffee is in order. :) I love finding my spot at a coffee shop...local or chain, grabbing my coffee and my Bible and sitting and inviting God join me. Many times it's as if he is sitting in front of me opening up scripture and passages that will lead and guide me for the day.
We have had many moments here.
We meet often.
Churches have even caught on to this companion, friend God that meets with you along side your cup of coffee. We have made God accessible to us as our coffee shop friend. He is a great one. But I also have friends that I do the same thing with. I meet, chat, and drink my coffee.
We laugh...we talk....
For a while now I have had some large obstacles in front of me. I went as usual to meet with my God. I got my coffee and positioned my Bible and got situation and for a moment stared in the empty chair on the other side of the table....
All the thoughts of what is ahead felt like a enormous sea of crashing waves that I must cross through. I was afraid. I was unsure and felt out of control of all that was ahead. From my view ahead the crashing waves are fierce it seems there is no way through.
I sat thinking about this empty chair across from me. Remembering all the talks and discoveries I have had with my Coffee Shop God. But I felt like there was something missing...
I opened up that morning to Exodus 14. The story of the Red Sea.
After years of slavery and oppression, the Israelites are lead into freedom by Moses. God is leading them by day and night, showing them each step they must make. He chooses a journey for them and it wasn't the short cut route. It was the scenic route through the dessert. Not only was the journey long, but God even tells Moses, his crazy plan. He says to Moses.... "So I hardened Pharaoh's heart, and well he is coming, and pursuing you with his whole fleet of men."
In that moment I could relate to Moses. Really God? You decided to harden his heart so he would come after me? Thanks for that! I am sure fear and terror flooded Moses with all he had to overcome.
I had God sitting in my coffee shop chair for too long. I realized in that moment I needed the All Powerful God. The God who parted the red sea. I was embarrassed to some degree that I had lowered him to my coffee shop chair.
Coffee Shop God may give me the feel good cozy moments and fill my "cup"...but that is only a part of who he is. Not all.
I realized yes, God's presence and my chats with him over coffee are still a huge part of my relationship with him. My problem is I had "humanized" him. I took away his supernatural and powerful qualities... His LORDSHIP over my life and over the raging sea that stands in front of me.
What I needed to do was to fall on my knees in awe of Him and his presence in my life. I was reminded of that this past Sunday at church, when Pastor Jeff challenged us to abide in Christ. It is by living in the awe of his presence that we are held together.
As I sat and stared at the empty seat across from me, I made a choice.... I decided it was time I remove him from my coffee shop chair and gave him back his rightful throne.
Lord over my life.
He is Eloheem.
Mighty and Powerful God.
It is by his presence and his power that he holds all things together. He is the God that saved David from the Giant, He is the God that kept lions from devouring the faithful, he is the God that overcame death... He is the God that parted the Red Sea.
As I see the crashing waves I know with confidence that he will part the waters... He is powerful, now I must walk in his presence through the crashing waves trusting I will not drown...
We have had many moments here.
We meet often.
Churches have even caught on to this companion, friend God that meets with you along side your cup of coffee. We have made God accessible to us as our coffee shop friend. He is a great one. But I also have friends that I do the same thing with. I meet, chat, and drink my coffee.
We laugh...we talk....
For a while now I have had some large obstacles in front of me. I went as usual to meet with my God. I got my coffee and positioned my Bible and got situation and for a moment stared in the empty chair on the other side of the table....
All the thoughts of what is ahead felt like a enormous sea of crashing waves that I must cross through. I was afraid. I was unsure and felt out of control of all that was ahead. From my view ahead the crashing waves are fierce it seems there is no way through.
I sat thinking about this empty chair across from me. Remembering all the talks and discoveries I have had with my Coffee Shop God. But I felt like there was something missing...
I opened up that morning to Exodus 14. The story of the Red Sea.
After years of slavery and oppression, the Israelites are lead into freedom by Moses. God is leading them by day and night, showing them each step they must make. He chooses a journey for them and it wasn't the short cut route. It was the scenic route through the dessert. Not only was the journey long, but God even tells Moses, his crazy plan. He says to Moses.... "So I hardened Pharaoh's heart, and well he is coming, and pursuing you with his whole fleet of men."
In that moment I could relate to Moses. Really God? You decided to harden his heart so he would come after me? Thanks for that! I am sure fear and terror flooded Moses with all he had to overcome.
8 The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.
I paused.
Here I was... sitting and reflecting on my rescue from oppression but the journey ahead... well that was unknown. I wanted to be like the Israelites, and say at least I knew what to expect as a slave!
Moses responded:
13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
I paused again.
Who was this God that Moses served. Because my empty chair where my Coffee shop God sat felt incomplete.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
I stopped reading for a moment. A thought occurred to me. Though I had enjoyed my Coffee Shop God moments, and lived in His presences as he sat in that chair across from me... I realized I had positioned him all wrong.
I needed the God of Moses. The powerful God who was capable of parting the Red Sea.
I needed Eloheem.
Coffee Shop God may give me the feel good cozy moments and fill my "cup"...but that is only a part of who he is. Not all.
I realized yes, God's presence and my chats with him over coffee are still a huge part of my relationship with him. My problem is I had "humanized" him. I took away his supernatural and powerful qualities... His LORDSHIP over my life and over the raging sea that stands in front of me.
What I needed to do was to fall on my knees in awe of Him and his presence in my life. I was reminded of that this past Sunday at church, when Pastor Jeff challenged us to abide in Christ. It is by living in the awe of his presence that we are held together.
"He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Colossians 1:17
As I sat and stared at the empty seat across from me, I made a choice.... I decided it was time I remove him from my coffee shop chair and gave him back his rightful throne.
Lord over my life.
He is Eloheem.
Mighty and Powerful God.
It is by his presence and his power that he holds all things together. He is the God that saved David from the Giant, He is the God that kept lions from devouring the faithful, he is the God that overcame death... He is the God that parted the Red Sea.
As I see the crashing waves I know with confidence that he will part the waters... He is powerful, now I must walk in his presence through the crashing waves trusting I will not drown...
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. 3"For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
Isaiah 43:3
I am humbled.
The God I serve is more than just my companion and friend.
He is my LORD.
He must remain high and lifted up.
On His throne.
He is all powerful.
He is everything.... and holds everything together.
The God I serve is more than just my companion and friend.
He is my LORD.
He must remain high and lifted up.
On His throne.
He is all powerful.
He is everything.... and holds everything together.
Including ME.
