Happy 2014 to all of my friends who join me while having Coffee with Jesus.

It is a very cold morning so I am sitting in the sun room with the Eden Pure turned directly on me. My sun room isn’t heated but it is solidly insulated so it heats up quickly and efficiently. I am stubborn, wanting to be in the lightest room I can find—wanting to be there all day, all winter in the light. The Eden Pure is cheap heat and quick heat. I am thankful I have it so I can sit in the sun porch.
It will be two years in April since I started to write the “Coffees”. January seems like a good time to make an assessment of what I have achieved in Coffee with Jesus, January 2, 2014 and where I am going from here.

I started this writing in an effort to get closer in a personal relationship with Christ. I wanted to put Him first, to honor Him, and to feel Him close to me. I had a habit of bringing in my morning paper, getting my coffee, and settling down to a pleasurable time with the news, funnies and crossword puzzle. After that was complete, I had planned to do some Bible reading and praying. I spent a good hour or two before getting to the prayer part. By then the rest of the world was stirring, the phone began ringing, and the interruptions began. If I was to give Jesus quality time, clearly He had to come first. I must start the day with Him. I did that.

It wasn’t easy. The crossword puzzle called. I cancelled the paper. I made it a habit to get my coffee, get comfortable, and then ask Jesus to join me. At first I even asked Him aloud and formally to sit with me while I prayed and read His word. Now I am not so noisy about it.

I have, for nearly two years, followed this format. Ask Jesus to be with me. Read the “Daily Bread.” Read a portion of the Bible. Pray about the people I love, those I don’t love so much but pray for anyway, and then pray for myself: state of mind, state of health, and the progress of the day. This seems to be a good system for me and I get a lot of pleasure from the time I spend this way. I am blessed.

Am I any closer to Jesus than I was? I am certain I am, but still think I have such a long way to go. Jesus has been working on me all the time. I am learning so much and I thought I knew so much! I learned that God works in very small ways. He never seems to be in a hurry like I am. I want it yesterday. God has no time limit. Can you imagine not having any time limits? With God there is eternity—time stretching out forever—no wonder He doesn’t hurry about answering some prayers. The New Year means nothing to Him or any year at all. No pushing against time for Him!

While time doesn’t exist for God, He made the world, put us in it, and then made days, weeks and years for us to go by. He even gave each of us a certain amount of time to live here in His world. Let’s hope He gives us the wisdom to do our best for Him as we use up those years. A big topic for thought there. Anyway, back to my original thought, am I making it? Am I closer to Jesus? Certainly I am closer on a daily basis because I sit here each morning and pray without the previous interruptions. I am closer because I ask Him to be here and He says He is at the door knocking and waiting to be asked in. I am closer because I try to listen and to hear that “still small voice.” I am closer because for two years I have read His word every day and that can’t help but bring me closer to Him. Also, I think I am closer in spirit.

So, as I consider my progress in this new year, I’ve decided I am closer by asking for His presence as I pray and study, but there might just be another and maybe better way to feel close. I have, by necessity, learned to wait. The Lord has taught me patience in big doses. He has also taught me that I have to depend on others to do for me. That is a biggie in humility. He has taught me to graciously accept help and to do that with a smile. He has taught me to ask – maybe the hardest part of all. He’s taught me also that others want and need to give and to help and that I need to be on the receiving end for a change. These are BIG LESSONS for someone who has been very independent all of her life. I have been the one who could do everything.

Jesus has been so faithful. He has sent His people to bring food, run errands, taker me to the doctor, sit with me during chemo, visit while I am shut in here, call on the phone, do my laundry, change my bed sheets, praying and laughing with me —- I could go on and on. Why do they do all of these loving deeds? Because they love Jesus. Every day when someone visits, I see the love of Christ. They bring Him close to me. His love shines from their eyes. I am so sorry that I haven’t done more of that. I never realized how much just a fifteen minute drop-in visit would be appreciated. I can’t change that now that I am not physically able to do what I’d like to do. Nevertheless, I am learning that I am closest to Jesus, when I am with those who love Him. I did not realize how much a visit or small kindness was appreciated. I have come to the conclusion that to really be close to Jesus is to love other people. So, here I am, finding that the “golden rule,” love others as yourself, is the way to be close to Jesus. Didn’t He tell us that in the beginning?

My mornings with Jesus in quiet and thought have definitely not been wasted. I need that too. I am closer through devoting time to Him. Still, He wants us to be together to serve and fellowship because He IS THERE in the love that is shown as we love each other. He is REALLY THERE! Why else are my beautiful friends using their time to stop their busy lives to visit and care for me? They don’t do it because I have anything to give them. They do it because of His love. Get close to Him by loving someone!

I thank you for the love you have shown me in your positive response to these e-mails. This is my way of visiting you when you are lonely. I can’t bring food or take you on errands, but these words are what I can do to show my love for you. I can pray and I can tell you I love you and I know that will bring you close to Jesus too. My prayer is that we all will get close enough to Jesus to feel like we are, indeed, sharing our day and our “coffee with Jesus”.

I wish you a blessed New Year!

Irma Jane Fritz-Zager