I Need Jesus More Than Coffee

My daughter-in-law Caroline and I travel together, and when we’re in the airport, we’ll do about anything to make it to Starbucks during our layovers. As you can imagine, we can be quite the pair with all our luggage and coffee – not to mention the fact that I’m blind!

The other day she mentioned something that stood out to me. She said “I need Jesus more than coffee.” So simple, yet so true. She wrote this post when she was in graduate school last year, and I thought you all would love it.

I need Jesus

Waiting for my coffee to finish brewing made me late to class. I did a clumsy dance all the way there as I attempted to hold all my books along with the piping hot (and dangerous) cup of coffee; the price was darn high to get that cup of coffee into my 8 AM class.  

But, it was worth it. No doubt. I knew that if I didn’t have it, I’d stumble through the day, a cloud would hang low over my day.

Coffee starts my day; I offer it to friends when they come over. I treat myself to coffee when I study or simply when I want a treat.  I need it; I enjoy it. It’s a faithful friend.

But, I need Jesus more than coffee.

Am I Praying to God or Worrying to God?

Hello my friends! Today I’m sharing a special post from Caroline Rothschild, my daughter-in-law. She’s an incredibly wise young woman with tons of charm and insight. She married our oldest son, Clayton, last year. They now live in Houston, TX. She and Clayton met at Baylor University, where she graduated with a Professional Writing degree. She went on to receive a masters degree in Theology from Truett Seminary. She has a great blog with a growing following and I know you will love her as much as I do! Today she’s talking about how she’s learning the value of true intimacy with God through prayer. Can you relate to her story?

I start.

“Dear God …”

It starts so pure. My intentions are genuine. I start so eager to submit to what He has for me.

I pray.

I want to know what He has for me; where He is taking me in the life; what He’s up to with all these bumps I seem to be bouncing along.

I start to think about some of the bumps that seem to be piling up, and all of the sudden, all the bumps have formed into a mountain. The mountain is rocky – insurmountable. I stare at it awhile, dwelling on how ill-equipped I am to climb it. How will I ever make something of all this?

I think I’m praying, but though I start with “Dear God,” I’m not praying.

I’m worrying.

My Husband Doesn’t Fulfill Me

Hello my friends! Today I want to introduce to you Caroline Rothschild – my daughter-in-law. She’s an incredibly wise young woman with tons of charm and insight. She married our oldest son, Clayton, last year. They now live in Houston, TX. Fun little tidbit about her: when we were expecting our second baby (15 years ago), Dr. Phil and I were planning to name the baby “Caroline” if she were a girl … well, the baby was a boy who we ended up naming Connor, BUT now we finally have our very own daugther named Caroline! Cool, huh?

She and our son met at Baylor University, where she graduated with a Professional Writing degree. She went on to receive a masters degree in Theology from Truett Seminary. She has a great blog with a growing following and I am just so happy you will get to know her. I know you will love her as much as I do!

Today she’s talking about marriage – a truth that rings true whether you’re single, a newly wed, or married for 27 years like my Dr. Phil and me!

“My Husband Doesn’t Fulfill Me”

Now don’t get me wrong, my husband is my favorite person in the world. He’s my best friend, and I love him with all of myself. He makes me laugh harder than anyone else, and we can go on adventures or sit at home and have a blast. He reminds me to dream and reminds me that I am capable, intelligent, and can really make a difference in this world.

Yet, if I’m really honest, I still get lonely. I get insecure, weary, and I doubt myself. It would be so simple if I could just sit next to him on the couch and have the painful empty places that loneliness and security create filled up by him. I know I’d be the happiest wife if he could do that for me. But, even though I wish he did, he doesn’t fulfill me.

He doesn’t give me value.

He doesn’t make me important.

He doesn’t make me smart.

He doesn’t give me confidence.

He doesn’t make me pretty.

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My husband doesn’t fulfill me because he can’t fulfill me. He’s not able. He’s not supposed to. The pure love of my husband was never intended to fulfill me.