Brewed GRIT

Hi! I'm Robyn, and I love coffee! ​I also find it fascinating how coffee is made. As I was reading how the coffee plants are grown, the beans harvested, and the process of roasting the coffee beans, I couldn't help but be reminded of how similar it is to God working within us and in our lives. When the coffee bean is roasted, all the sugars, fats, and starches are emulsified, caramelized, and released. ​This creates a delicate coffee oil, which is the substance that gives coffee its flavor. It is the roasting process that produces the characteristic flavor of coffee! Now, in life, we all face various kinds of situations. However, it is through our own "roasting" process that our own characteristic flavor begins to form as we allow God to guide us in the process. ​ Without God, we either never make it to the point in life we need in order to begin the forming of our identity in Him, or we get burned out and have no flavor left. So, the next time you are feeling a bit "roasted", allow God to take charge, guide you in the process, and think of how good coffee beans smell after being well-roasted to their intended flavor! Have you ever been so eager to have coffee that you poured yourself a cup before the batch finished brewing? Or were at least tempted to? When I was at home with my parents, in year 2013, I was going to pour myself a nice, fresh cup of coffee as soon as I could. The coffee machine function stopped the flow, allowing a cup to be poured premature, so why not? My dad stopped me before I could! ​He went, "No, no, no! Don't do that!" I responded, "Why not? It stops the flow. That's why it's there." He simply said, "That doesn't matter." Then he continued, "When you stop the flow before the full batch is brewed, you don't get the full flavor of the batch in the entire pot of coffee. The beginning of the flow, the flavor is stronger, at the end of the flow, the coffee is weaker. You need to wait for the full brew, so the entire batch is evened out and brought to completion." When he said that, it made sense to me, and I certainly wanted the full batch to be a good brew! It also reminded me of what God wants for us in life, and our relationship with Him. Oftentimes, we are so eager to have something, or to do something, that we act prematurely and do not have the full experience, plan, or blessing God has for us. Whether it comes from impatience, lack of faith, or any other human notion, it stumps fullness and completion. These values touch anywhere from small areas in our lives, to huge areas in our lives. If you want a full-flavored, "life brew", I hope this little letter helps remind and encourage you of that. Think, "Coffee". Better yet...think, "Brewed GRIT™"! ;) - Robyn