Coffee Shop Contrast
This morning, I walked into the local coffee shop a little earlier than the friend I was meeting. After getting a cup of coffee, I looked around for a spot. Sitting at a large table were four women. In front of each of them was a beautifully illustrated book that looked very much like an advent study guide or a Bible study. Intrigued by what they were discussing, I sat down at a two-person table nearby.
Sure enough, they were having a Bible study. After listening for a few minutes, I was tempted to join them. However, I had a friend coming soon so I just sat, listened, and observed.
Here are some things I noted:
Where were the Bibles? Maybe the scripture was already in the study, but I didn't see any Bibles.
When the conversation was about the study or about Biblical events, it was a quiet one. A few thoughts were shared, but the women seemed hesitant to speak and unsure of what to say. The study time ended abruptly. It was awkward.
As the topic moved to more worldly things and current events, the conversation was a much louder one. Many thoughts were shared and the women were quick to speak and slow to listen. They were confident of what to say and had no problem spending an extended period of time discussing all facets of life.
I observed and listened to the contrast between their Bible conversation and worldly conversation. And as I did, I began to pray for you, the women at CrossWay, and for those you meet:
Lord, You are the great ‘I Am.” You are unchanging and ever-loving. Lord, would You release Your Spirit and pour out love on Your women? Not just at CrossWay, but in all the churches, in all the community, and beyond. Lord, grant us the desire to dive in and spend time with You; to trust You. Ignite in us a passion to be in Your presence. Through the mighty power of Your Word and Your Spirit help us to hear, follow, and obey You. Lord, I pray that our desire to share what You are teaching us trumps our desire to discuss ourselves and the events of the world. May we be people who love You and others deeply. And may we not be of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have a strong faith. Lord, as we share testimonies, I pray that, like Peter in Acts 10 and 11, the words we share would not be about us but about You, Your faithfulness, and Your character. I pray, Lord, that interactions with one another and with the world around us would be opportunities for hearts to be changed, vessels to be refined, and Your will to be done. Jesus, we want You to be glorified. God, I ask that as You pour out Your love upon us, we, in turn, would not fear, trusting in You at all times and pouring out our hearts before You, our King, and our Salvation. Amen.
So, in the end it was evident that we need to be a group of women who have much more to say about the Lord than about the world. When the conversation is about Biblical things, speak loud! We want many thoughts shared, being quick to listen and slow to speak. We want boldness and confidence to share truth and the love to receive it. We want to spend an extended period of time discussing all the facets of Jesus and share His love with those around us.
“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
💕 Meghan