Coffee With Jesus: A Collection of Moments with My Heavenly Father

Throughout the year, I share a lot on my social media blog pages about random moments when God just stops me and asks, “Got a second? I need to talk to you about something today…” Sometimes it’s when I’m grabbing my morning coffee. Other times it’s while I’m out and about in nature. Car rides seem to be a good place for Him to catch me too. I laugh a little as I write this because my relationship with Jesus sounds a lot like two best friends… and that’s exactly what it feels like too. (Thank you, Jesus, for showing us how real you are and how much you love us!) Over time, I feel like I have learned the value of leaning in and really listening because even when the lessons are difficult, there’s always a blessing. He is truly a best friend that wants the best for us. If we open our hearts, minds, eyes and ears, He will show us the way. So, here’s just a small collection of some of my favorite chats with my Heavenly Father. I like to add to it occasionally, so you can always check back for updates, but I hope it touches you right where you need it most today. Blessings!

Bent, But Not Broken

While on a beautiful hike with my family yesterday, I came across this tree and God spoke into my heart.

“Life may bend you. You may never look the same. Forever changed. But, I won’t let it break you. You will not be lost. I am there in the bend. I am with you always. And, I will make something beautiful out of this. I will make something unique, exquisite, and perfectly imperfect! I will see you through and my promise is that you will find your song. You will dance again.”

Great is His faithfulness, my friends!

“The Lord gives me strength and a song. He has saved me.” (Psalm 118:14)

The Father’s Hand

I took my son to the dentist today. While he’s normally very brave and confident at the dentist’s office, today he seemed unsure and a bit nervous.

I placed my hand on his leg and I reassured him that I would be right there. If he felt afraid, he would be able to feel my hand on him and know that he is safe. I am right there with him. I will not leave him.

When we left the clinic, I started to think of how wonderful it would be if our Heavenly Father could place his hand on us in our moments of fear, anxiety, worry, and pain and just reassure us of the fact that He’s there, we are safe, and He will never leave us.

As the thought passed through my mind, I heard Him speak into my heart, “I am.”

My eyes filled with tears. My Father never leaves me. He holds me, just as I hold my son. And just as my hand brings comfort to my little boy in a time of fear and insecurity, so does my Father’s words bring peace to my heart when I face the same.

What a loving and mighty God we serve.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

The Crippled Heart

Merriam-Webster defines a cripple as “being lame, flawed, or imperfect.” I don’t know about you, but I can definitely identify with that. I have battled things in my heart that have left me feeling hurt, hopeless, overwhelmed, defeated… crippled.

I have often longed to accept this defeat because each time I try to stand on my own, I fall flat on my face. But the Bible tells us that “it was faith in Jesus that made this crippled man well… He was made completely well because of trust in Jesus.” (Acts 3:16)

We talk a lot about the healing of the blind, the deaf, and the lame, but Jesus didn’t come to only heal those who are physically “flawed or imperfect.” He came to heal those of us that are crippled in our hearts too. He sees our pain, just as He saw this crippled man’s legs, and He desires to heal us so that we may walk, dance, jump, and praise Him. We need only to have faith.

The lame man did not stand up and walk because he had faith in his abilities to do so. He stood and walked because he had faith in Jesus. If we anchor our healing in ourselves and what we have the power to overcome, we will be tossed around like a small sailboat in a raging storm. But, if we anchor our healing in Him, then even when the storm rages, our hearts will find peace and we will not only praise Him, but we will become a witness to others because they will see His goodness.

Thank you, Jesus, for your goodness, your mercy, your love, your forgiveness, and your grace.

He Moves

The Spirit of God poured out so strong over me in traffic today that I rolled down my window and legitimately expected to look over and see people in the cars next to me begin to weep and dance. It may sound crazy, but I was experiencing this powerful, life-altering, indescribable settling of His presence and it was hard to imagine that it wasn’t spreading like fire over the entire intersection.

What’s Your Story?

I walked by the magazine rack at my local grocery store and as I passed this front page cover, I remember flippantly thinking, “don’t we all?” And like a bolt of lightning, God stopped me in my tracks with his response… “What’s your story?”

Whoa.

As I processed His question, my heart began to respond…

My story is still being written, but I definitely don’t want it to stop there.

Sometimes I feel a bit tossed around and bruised as I find my way, but you always scoop me up and remind me who I am and Whose I am.

Sometimes the fear and anxiety that come knocking can absolutely be justified by painful experiences and I start to hide myself away, but you always remind me that my hope and peace is safe with you.

Sometimes I feel like a yo-yo as I learn to trust you and let go of my own misguided sense of control (and then let it go yet again), but you never fail to meet me there with your gentle Fatherly touch, reminding me how loved I am.

You see, we’ve all experienced betrayal and trauma in some form. We’ve all been through painful life experiences. We’ve all had external storms that were completely out of our control affect us deeply. That’s why you can identify with this headline just much as I can. But God does not want your story to end there.

He wants to bring you out of the soul crushing pain and cycle of depression, fear and anxiety. He wants to calm your heart in the middle of the storm. He wants to move you towards His promises of joy and peace, even if it’s one small step at a time. He is our freedom.

Hear this… Your life and your story WILL NOT be defined by this season.

You will come out of this. There is hope and His name is Jesus. Just keep leaning in, over and over, as many times as it takes. He will always be there. That’s His promise to you and you can rest in it today.

I am praying for you today, my friends. Be loved. Be blessed. Be hopeful. Be ready. Joy is coming.

I Will Be Healed

When our world is shaken and we find ourselves indescribably broken with pieces of our heart shattered and scattered, sometimes it’s difficult to believe that we can ever be made whole again.

But my friend, if I can give you any promise, it’s this… He will reach into the rubble and He will carry you out.

He will hold you as you fall apart. And He will pour His love into you, bringing healing to your heart and slowly piecing you back together.

He will make a way out of this wilderness. He will guide you. You are not lost. This is not the end of your story. And you are never alone.

Some days are so hard, my friends. I know. Sometimes the only thing we can do is speak this truth over our journey and allow Him to carry the rest. And that’s ok. He is there. And He is faithful. He will see you through… this moment. This day. And this season.

He will weave something beautiful from this devastation. He will transform your heart and bring you to a place of joy and peace. He will never leave you. Those are His promises.

Lean into Him today and know that *you will be healed.* There is hope for a better tomorrow. Cling to Him and speak life into your healing with the words of His promises. I am praying for you, friend.

Blessings

xo Shannon

Join the Fight by Lifting Your Voice: Pray through it until you Break through it!

His promises for your life can weather any storm. You. are. safe. But more than just safe, you are with power. So lift your voice. Lift it in faith and perseverance. Join the fight. Run the race. Lift it to the One who brings breakthroughs. Lift it to the One who is the same today as yesterday, and the same tomorrow still. Lift it and know that you are His child – Protected, loved, heard, and poured over. Lift it. Pray it. Claim it. Chase it. Pray through it until you break through it, my friend!!! He is with you and He is GOOD!