Morning Coffee

This is why I cherish Lauren Johnson so very much.  Her ability to be there and open my eyes up to something at the right time never ceases to amaze me.  Although, I know that behind all of that, God is the one working through her for me.  

Thank you

WAIT FOR GOD’S VERY BEST

Everyone longs to give himself to another human being, to have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But God says to the Christian:

“Not until you are satisfied and fulfilled and content being loved by me alone…I love you my child. Until you discover that only in me lies your satisfaction, you will not be capable of the perfect human relationship I have planned for you. You will never be united with another until you are united with me, exclusive of anyone else or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or longings. I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow me to give you the most thrilling plan, one that you cannot imagine. I want you to have the best.”

“Please allow me to bring it to you. You must keep watching me, expecting the greatest things, keep experiencing the satisfaction of knowing that I am. Keep learning and listening to the things I tell you. You must wait. Do not be anxious.”

“Don’t look around at the things others have gotten or received from me. You must not keep looking off and away. Look up to me or you will miss the things I want to show you, and then when you are ready, I’ll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than you have ever dreamed of. You see, until you are ready, I am preparing the one I have for you.  I am working even this minute to have you both ready at the same time… Until you are both living exclusively for me and the life I have prepared for you, you won’t be able to experience the love that reflects your relationship with me, Perfect Love. And dear one, I want you to have the most wonderful love. I want you to experience in the flesh a picture of your relationship with me and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty and perfection and love that I offer you through myself.”

“Know that I love you utterly, I am God, the Almighty – believe and be satisfied.”

“The time has come

Separation lost the war to love

Take my hand

Grace has found you where you once began

You’re alive, your alive

In the waking of new life

Take my hand

In the end, there’s only LOVE!”

Excerpt from: Freedom by Run Kid Run

It often surprises me, although it shouldn’t, how God continues to show his perfect timing in many aspects of my life. This morning started out as any other morning would. I got ready for school, drove what seems to be the longest fifteen minutes of every single day, and was sitting outside my first class waiting for the preceding class to let out. As I was sitting there, my phone vibrated, which usually indicates a text message. The first thought that came to mind was, “Seriously, I have to get rid of this Twitter thing. It’s so annoying!” On this morning, though, I was studying for a Psychology midterm. The text message was from L.J., and it contained just a short passage of lyrics from a song: “His promises are true. He’s always closer than we’re far away.” It seems almost instantly, all my thoughts, fears, concerns and problems were rearranged and put back into perspective. I have yet to understand how L.J. continues to contact me at the perfect time. You see, this isn’t the first time that God has laid it on L.J.’s heart to just randomly send me a text message or call me. It could be something as simple as telling me that she prayed for me that day, or as convicting as challenging me to make time for God every single day. Each time this happens, though, I can’t help but drop everything I’m doing, close my eyes, and just genuinely thank the Lord for such an empowering friend and woman of God. Every single time I look at Curtis or L.J. or Jay, I am constantly reminded of how far I have come as well as Curtis and my relationship. It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t a joy-ride. It was convicting and emotional. Every morning that I wake up and every night before I go to bed, I thank God for giving me such a wonderful, caring, spiritual, intense man of God in my life. Curtis, you have been by my side for almost two years now, and I have seen on so many occasions the Lord giving you the ability to be my strength when I was weak. You are always there to convict me if I’m wrong in my thinking, and I could never have imagined a better person to share my life with. And Curtis, you were first to show me what it really means to be so on fire for the Lord, and I thank you so much for that. You seem to have endless ways of showing me how much you love me, and I couldn’t ask for more. I love you, sweetheart.

The day didn’t just stop at the text message, either. When I got to work, I received an email with a note attached from Mitzi Hawley describing what should have been the most unbearable day for her. A year ago, today, her son and a dear friend of mine was killed in a motorcycle accident. As she mentioned in her letter, she was preparing to have a “pity party,” but even more so just a complete breakdown. Instead, she shared of how the exact opposite happened and how God lifted all her burdens off of her shoulders and she rejoiced. Mitzi also mentioned how God sent His angels to her this morning, to take care and watch over her, and it reminded me of the lyrics that L.J. had sent to me earlier this morning. The lyrics had even more relevancy when I looked them up in their entirety. It could not have just been coincidence. After reading her 4-page letter, I had yet another “God moment” for the second time today. It’s so encouraging to see others, with God’s strength working through them, being able to get through such hard times. We, as humans, can’t do it all by ourselves. And until we step back and realize that and put it all in His hands, we will be miserable trying to carry it all on our own.

“All my thoughts and this confusion

Brings me down to this conclusion

That I’m a man of conviction

I’ve wasted time out of window panes

No place to go to recreate

The feelings that I have inside

When I spend time with You

We are never alone

Bringin’ down angels today

His promises are true

He’s always closer than we’re far away…”

Excerpt from: Far Away by By The Tree