September 30, 2013

Thank you for all your prayers. I am so grateful when you think of me and pray for me. Jesus said I had to stay here a little longer at the Avenue, that He had something more for me to do here. I trust Him but am disappointed. I really did want to go home. The Dr. said “Two, possibly less, weeks.” I was thinking days so I said, “Bummer!!”, but I will try to stay focused on carrying my light for Him. He has been so good to provide me with a Christian therapist in both of the facilities I have been in. That is a real plus. Also I have made some really nice friends here. Many of them come here from out of town, so I may not see them again, but have really enjoyed being with them at meals and in therapy. I can highly recommend this place for therapy and recovery of all sorts. The most important thing in recovery, I think, is being upbeat and positive. The therapy room is a happy place with much joking and laughter. I loved being in there and usually stayed all morning. The nurses and the aides are also mostly jolly and pleasant. No wonder God wants us to work with a happy heart as if doing it for Him. It is definitely the very best way to conduct your life.

I wrote the above 10 days ago and somehow never got to finish. I worked hard and in one week, not two, I was told I could go home. I have been home since Friday. It was a trial under fire because both Melody, my downstairs live-in, and Jackie, my daughter, were to be out of town for the entire weekend. I was to be truly “home alone”. I was too grateful and also too stubborn to stay at the Avenue even one more day, so home I went. Thankfully, the Lord saw to it that I kept my head and didn’t do one thing without carefully looking to see that I had proper support before I tried to move at all.. Friday many friends stopped in and my home help came in the am and evening for an hour or two. Saturday was the same and on Sunday I even went to church. This morning was the climax of joy. I got up, got my coffee and had two hours with Jesus –no interruptions just perfect time praying and reading my Bible. THIS is what I have truly missed, My Coffee with Jesus.

Coffee jump starts my day. It gets me going every morning. It works on my metabolism and gets my physical body going for the day. I seem to need the caffeine, but I also love the great taste and the aroma. The enjoyment of a warm coffee mug in my hands gives me comfort and a feeling of well-being, the great taste makes my belly happy and the wonderful smell makes it all seem like perfection to my morning. This great treat for me has been missing every single morning for the last 8 weeks. I really missed it.

Having time with Jesus is my spiritual jump start. His presence as I pray assures me that everything will be ok today. The worries of last night about troubles in my family, or my country, or even in my culture; get put into perspective- actually put away on the shelf as I am assured once more that His promises are true and His presence is real. “All things work for the good for those who love Him” (Rom. 8:28) Jesus has my back.

That time in the morning has been missing and so a big lift in my life has also been missing. I need more than just a time in the morning to pray though. I need the continuous infusion of His strength and wisdom. I don’t need coffee all day to keep going, but I do need Jesus. He gives me hope, courage, patience and peace. He has my back but He also is my forerunner leading the way. I am so grateful to be home and back to having coffee with my Lord again

I remember sitting in the cottage looking out across the water. I can imagine Him crossing the water on that sparkling path the sun makes each morning. I never see His back, going away. How about that? I am blessed and grateful for “My Coffee with Jesus!”