Bitter sweet taste of coffee.
I am a coffee addict. I love the taste, smell, and texture of coffee. I have research coffee, and how to prepare a GOOD cup of coffee. If I could have coffee put intravenously into my body I would. With that said, I wanted to share a bit that I have learned from my beloved friend coffee.
There are many different kinds of coffee. You can have any flavor of bean you can think of. You can also add many things to your coffee too. Basically you can have a very smooth cup of coffee, to a very bitter cup of coffee depending on what you do or not do with your coffee.
I have gone to some coffeehouses and enjoyed a smooth cup of coffee. I never have to add a thing to it. It just rolls down your throat nice and easily. But other coffee houses I have gone to I have to add a bit of this and a bit of that to make it palatable to drink. And then there is the occasion when I have gotten a cup of bitter coffee. The kind of coffee that nothing helps it, it just tastes bitter.
I don't like bitter coffee, like so many others. If you have tasted bitter coffee you won't ever forget that moment. The taste sits in your mouth, almost as if you can feel it invading all of your senses. There are some that I have talked to if they have one bitter cup of coffee at a coffeehouse they won't go back. Coffee can be a serious business.
As should other things in our lives, like relationships.
Have you ever had that one friend who is your boss-um buddy? You know the kind, the one that will go to the mall and help you pick out the right out fit. The friend who when your down and out will come over to help pick your spirits up. Or the friend who you can vent all of your problems to and all they do is listen. The good smooth cup of coffee that just satisfies the soul. But there are others that you have to add a bit to make it easier to drink.
Have your ever had that one friend that you just dread the call? The kind of friend that your willing to hang out with, but you need a moment to prep for. Or the kind of friend when you go to answer the phone you know it is going to be an hour of conversation, mostly on their woes. That kind of friend is fun to hang out with, but can be a lot of work to be around. It's like a good cup of coffee but you have had to work at it by adding this and that to help make the cup taste smooth going down. And there is one last kind, one that brings a bitter taste in your mouth.
Have you ever had a friend or foe who said the wrong thing or done the wrong thing? Maybe someone who you thought you could share your confidences with and then they spewed your life story to everyone they knew. Or maybe it was someone who went behind your back to talk about you or betrayed you by spreading lies. Or better yet they are nice to your face but when you leave the room they laugh about you. All of these kind of "friends" and many more are what gives us a bitter taste in our mouth. Kind of like coffee that sits to long. A real gut wrench-er.
Let me ask you this, what kind of friend are you? Are you the one that sits and listens, not dominating the conversation? Or are you the one that might just leave a bit of bitterness in the heart? Myself I know I can be all three.
I have been a smooth cup of coffee, and a bitter mess. I have some friends that I am able to be there for them. I can listen for hours on end, not putting in a bit of advice, just listening and letting them vent. But others I know I talk to much, basically dominating the time and energy of our time together. And unfortunately, I know there are some friends in my past and present I have left a big bit of bitterness in their heart.
I know that it is a constant struggle of my humanness. I know that there is a part of me that just wants to whine, and be the center of conversation. Dominating the situation with whom ever I am around. In fact, there have been times (in my mind, mind you) that I have thought "I know better" or "I can do better then that friend". Am I proud of those moments? No, those and many other selfish moments are my humanness coming out.
To be able to find the balance of a great cup of coffee took me time, and research. To be a really good friend will take me time, and research. To develop the willingness to support someone as Jesus did takes prayer and living in His word. To silence the words in my head I need the self control of the Holy Spirit within me. And the only way I can develop that self control is through prayer, and living in His word.
There are many different kinds of coffee. You can have any flavor of bean you can think of. You can also add many things to your coffee too. Basically you can have a very smooth cup of coffee, to a very bitter cup of coffee depending on what you do or not do with your coffee.
I have gone to some coffeehouses and enjoyed a smooth cup of coffee. I never have to add a thing to it. It just rolls down your throat nice and easily. But other coffee houses I have gone to I have to add a bit of this and a bit of that to make it palatable to drink. And then there is the occasion when I have gotten a cup of bitter coffee. The kind of coffee that nothing helps it, it just tastes bitter.
I don't like bitter coffee, like so many others. If you have tasted bitter coffee you won't ever forget that moment. The taste sits in your mouth, almost as if you can feel it invading all of your senses. There are some that I have talked to if they have one bitter cup of coffee at a coffeehouse they won't go back. Coffee can be a serious business.
As should other things in our lives, like relationships.
Have you ever had that one friend who is your boss-um buddy? You know the kind, the one that will go to the mall and help you pick out the right out fit. The friend who when your down and out will come over to help pick your spirits up. Or the friend who you can vent all of your problems to and all they do is listen. The good smooth cup of coffee that just satisfies the soul. But there are others that you have to add a bit to make it easier to drink.
Have your ever had that one friend that you just dread the call? The kind of friend that your willing to hang out with, but you need a moment to prep for. Or the kind of friend when you go to answer the phone you know it is going to be an hour of conversation, mostly on their woes. That kind of friend is fun to hang out with, but can be a lot of work to be around. It's like a good cup of coffee but you have had to work at it by adding this and that to help make the cup taste smooth going down. And there is one last kind, one that brings a bitter taste in your mouth.
Have you ever had a friend or foe who said the wrong thing or done the wrong thing? Maybe someone who you thought you could share your confidences with and then they spewed your life story to everyone they knew. Or maybe it was someone who went behind your back to talk about you or betrayed you by spreading lies. Or better yet they are nice to your face but when you leave the room they laugh about you. All of these kind of "friends" and many more are what gives us a bitter taste in our mouth. Kind of like coffee that sits to long. A real gut wrench-er.
Let me ask you this, what kind of friend are you? Are you the one that sits and listens, not dominating the conversation? Or are you the one that might just leave a bit of bitterness in the heart? Myself I know I can be all three.
I have been a smooth cup of coffee, and a bitter mess. I have some friends that I am able to be there for them. I can listen for hours on end, not putting in a bit of advice, just listening and letting them vent. But others I know I talk to much, basically dominating the time and energy of our time together. And unfortunately, I know there are some friends in my past and present I have left a big bit of bitterness in their heart.
I know that it is a constant struggle of my humanness. I know that there is a part of me that just wants to whine, and be the center of conversation. Dominating the situation with whom ever I am around. In fact, there have been times (in my mind, mind you) that I have thought "I know better" or "I can do better then that friend". Am I proud of those moments? No, those and many other selfish moments are my humanness coming out.
To be able to find the balance of a great cup of coffee took me time, and research. To be a really good friend will take me time, and research. To develop the willingness to support someone as Jesus did takes prayer and living in His word. To silence the words in my head I need the self control of the Holy Spirit within me. And the only way I can develop that self control is through prayer, and living in His word.
James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
God desires for us to be that good cup of coffee, to be that friend that supports those around us. Sharing ourselves with others gives us the chance to share Jesus in their lives, like sharing a really good cup of coffee.
So I have to ask myself, what kind of friend will I be? Am I going to take the time it takes to allow God to grow with me so I can become Christ to others? Or am I going to continue to sit on a burner and brew to the point of creating bitterness in others lives? It is totally my choice, just like making a REALLY good cup of coffee.
So I have to ask myself, what kind of friend will I be? Am I going to take the time it takes to allow God to grow with me so I can become Christ to others? Or am I going to continue to sit on a burner and brew to the point of creating bitterness in others lives? It is totally my choice, just like making a REALLY good cup of coffee.
Romans 12:10
Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor