Jesus and coffee

By CHERYL CRUCE

I like the early mornings, the quietness of the house, and the scent of coffee as it drifts from the kitchen and down the hallway. The aroma is inviting as I stumble out of bed for that first cup of a morning pick-me-up. I usually reach for the white cup with an olive branch emblem and a simple phrase, “Jesus and Coffee,” etched in gold. It is one of my favorites. The cup was a Mother’s Day gift from my daughter Tiffany. It is a simple reminder to begin my day with the Lord.
Today, with all the blessings in my life, I wonder why I need to be prompted to seek the presence of God, for God is always present with me. Nevertheless, the element of time is a force of life that constantly moves forward. I often find myself planning the start of tomorrow before my current day has ended. However, there are days when I linger a little longer with that first cup of coffee and wonder, why the rush? This morning it is Jesus and Coffee.
C. S. Lewis once said, “Sin, both of men and of angels, was rendered possible by the fact that God gave each free will.”
Being present with the Lord is a decision I make because of free will. Regardless of my choice, the omnipresence of God is always with me. Proverbs 15:3 teaches that the eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. There are no hiding places from God (Jeremiah 23:24), for He sees and knows everything. The Lord is present in all my choices. My life becomes much more manageable when I choose Him early in the morning.
Making my first choice of the morning to enter His presence guides me throughout my day. A morning devotion gives calmness to my spirit and helps me through the challenges of work and relationships. When I start my day with Jesus, I discover a greater awareness of the Lord’s presence and His grace within my spirit, allowing me to be a greater witness for Him. This awareness helps me maintain old relationships and form healthy new ones. When it comes to daily challenges, I am encouraged by knowing I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
It is Christ who strengthens me; it is Christ who teaches me. Jesus understood the need for morning devotions. In Mark1:35-39 we read that Jesus woke up very early in the morning. The others were asleep in the house, and Jesus slipped away while it was still dark. He found a quiet place where He prayed to the Father. We do not know what the Lord prayed. However, Jesus found strength in prayer as He entered the villages healing the sick and casting out demons.
If Jesus found it essential to begin His day with the Father, how can we do any less? We can do all things through the Lord who strengthens us. We can do all things good in the love of the Father who created us. We can improve the world if we humble ourselves before God and begin our day with Him. We can be the people He has called us to be, but it starts with our choice early in the morning. Let us begin our day with “Jesus and Coffee,” inviting Him into our lives.
Psalm 143:8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you, I entrust my life.

Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.