Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee!


Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Six-thirty Sunday morning.  In a sleepy stupor, I roll out of bed, shove my feet into my slippers, and shuffle down the hallway to the kitchen.  Gotta make the coffee . . .

As I filled the coffee maker with water the night before, all I have to do is insert the filter, add the coffee, and press the "on" switch.  Good thing.  Because, my mind is still somewhere back in dreamland.  I'm barely conscious.

No light appears when I press "on."  What???  In a fog, I push it again.  Nothing!  I unplug and re-plug the machine.  Still, nothing!!!

I can't believe this!  Of all times for the coffee pot to go south, it would have to be on Sunday when we are hustling to get ready for church and have no time to stop at Starbucks.

With my face reflecting the expression of Grumpy Cat and my temper soaring, I yank a pot from the rack, fill it with water, and set it to boil on the stove.  It seems like an eternity before the water is bubbling and I can try to pour it through the filter, hoping that this will produce a semblance of the rich beverage I'm used to.  Spoiled by.

Because, at the Orlando house, coffee is not a casual, pick-me-up drink.  It's a major food group!

Awakened by my mumbling and grumbling and rumbling around the kitchen, Danny appears around the corner.

"What's this about the coffee maker?"  he asks.

"It's broken!"  I lament as I watch the hot water seep slowly through the grounds.  "I'm trying to make some this way."

Danny reaches up into a cabinet.  "Didn't you know we have this?"


I stare in disbelief.  It's a one-cup brewing system!  How I didn't know we had it on hand is beyond me, but the day is saved!

That very afternoon, Danny goes out to purchase a new coffee maker.  When he brings it home, I can't help but worry that the coffee won't be as good as what we had with the old one.  But, when we brew an afternoon pot, I am pleasantly surprised.


Not only is the coffee as good, if not better, but also, this coffee maker brews faster than the other, is quiet as a whisper, and only beeps once, not five irritating times, to let you know it's ready.

And, I find myself reflecting upon how the morning of adversity has been turned on its ear.  That good things and opportunities often arise when the plans we've made fall through.  Because, when we can face those times of struggles or setbacks, knowing God has the real future plan for us, we can have hope.  We can bounce back.

We can wake up and smell the coffee!

~
Is coffee one of your "must-haves" in the morning?

Will you pray with me?
When the going gets tough, Father, help us to have hope and to trust in Your plan for our lives.  Assure us that You are right there with us, to lead and guide us into the future, and to give us the confidence to face each day with joy.  Amen.

10 comments:

  1. My husband was once a contestant on Win Ben Stein's Money. He didn't win Ben Stein's money, but we did get a sweet coffee maker out of it. It's been over 10 years now, but it still makes a great cup of coffee.

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    Replies
    1. Wow! Your coffee maker is still going after all those years? I'm amazed! Glad it does the job for you and hope it continues!
      Thanks for coming by, Cairn!
      Blessings and love!

      Delete
  2. Oh! My! God, Martha!
    I NEED NEED my two cups. I take it one step further, though. I brew my coffee days before and put it in the fridge. I can't drink hot coffee anymore

    I typically have one when I wake up, then my 2nd cup when I get downtown before work.
    --
    Chris

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chris, you're in my Coffee Club! :) So glad to know someone else is as serious about coffee as I am.
      Thanks for coming by, my friend!
      Blessings to you!

      Delete
  3. Not having coffee in the morning is a serious situation.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed, it is, Joyce! The most serious! :)
      Thanks so much for stopping by!
      Blessings to you!

      Delete
  4. Ahahaha...it's so unusual for me esp. that we don't drink much coffee in the house. It's not what I smell but what I see that matters in the morning ~ I love waking up and seeing my mom's face. And another thing is hearing my friend's voice early in the morning. It's so 'different' when the pattern gets broken or disrupted...but I do believe that the Lord plans greater things for us more than we could imagine. And taking away some pleasantries even on an Easter is something I should tune in...perhaps, God is saying more...

    I pray with you...perhaps, it's time to smell something fresh(er)? Lots of love always!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for visiting, Melissa!
      We all have our expectations when we start the day and love to have everything in place, just as we would like. But, as you said, the Lord has bigger and better plans which sometimes collide or conflict with ours. We need to keep our hearts and minds open to His will.
      Thank you, as always, for praying with me!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  5. Oh, would you believe that coffee is like water to me? I have at least two cups a day. Well, that's when I started to taper down my coffee intake. In the past, I'd have as much as seven cups a day lol If I don't drink coffee, I'd be a zombie, even if I slept well the night before!

    I've been grumbling about some things since yesterday because they have been delaying the things I planned to do... oops! There are just so many things, big and small, that are beyond our control. Good thing I read your post because it serves as another reminder to me. <3

    Take care and God bless, Martha! <3 :-)

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    Replies
    1. Seven cups??? Wow! Don't think I've ever pushed it that hard, but I do like two cups in the morning (full) and usually about a cup and a half in the afternoons, especially if it's been a busy day.
      Glad, too, the post served as a reminder to you that when things aren't turning out the way we think they should, we can simply remember that God knows best!
      Thanks for coming by, Irene!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete

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