Stirring Coffee and Conversations

When the first crisp, cool nip in the air arrives, I know fall is almost in full swing. I love waking up in our 60-something degree house, slipping on a sweatshirt over my pjs and meandering into the kitchen to fix my morning cup of bliss. A mug of piping, hot coffee.

I love all the things fall brings:
football games, the State Fair, Halloween costumes, mums and pumpkins, scarecrows, the brilliance of color and marshmallow roasting over a toasty fire.


These simple pleasures of fall are as anticipated as my morning routine of coffee and Jesus.

Along with stirring up coffee, I'm looking forward to a new simple pleasure - Living Real Magazine's Out & About events.

Our first one kicks off tonight with the sound of jazz flowing through the street along with the aroma of fresh brewed coffee, pumpkin bread, and other desserts wafting through the The Haven Coffee Shop in downtown Lexington, SC. The evening is designed to stir a sweet blend of grace and love into Jesus-centered conversations about how real faith affects real life.

The art of conversation is a simple pleasure quickly becoming a lost art. 

No matter how technology seems to better connect us, the fact is, it is disconnecting us from human contact. Since the creation of man, conversation has proven to be the best form of communication and relationship building. 

Isn't this what Jesus did? Didn't He engage people in conversation to reveal His Father's redemptive message? God knew face to face contact was imperative for His story of redemption to move forward, so before the beginning of time, He planned to send His Son into the world to unveil Himself in human form. He touched people. He healed people. He cried with people. He loved people. The plan to restore our broken relationship with God continued to unfold as He stepped down from heaven into a sin-full world to show His undying love for all people and break the stronghold of sin through His life, death, burial and resurrection.

Jesus used every opportunity while wrapped in flesh to engage people in the eternal conversation through large and intimate gatherings.

Those eternal conversations transformed many lives forever and are still changing lives today.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, every day should be about intentionally stirring up eternal conversations to impact lives for Jesus' sake. Conversations can ignite around the breakfast table, at work, over lunch, at school, in a check-out line, the car pool line, walking the dog, and at the dinner table.

Carving out space in our day to dialogue with people about what really matters is what we are called to do - make disciples and to be salt and light in the world.

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples... (Matthew 28:18-20). You are the salt of the earth; (Matthew 5:13a). You are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14a). 

This is why Living Real Magazine exists and why our Out & About events are so important. God is stirring a fire in the hearts of His people to ignite eternal conversations filled with the truth of Jesus Christ.

Personal stories of how real faith affects real life speak louder than most preachers on Sunday. 

Since discipleship is our calling, it just makes sense to talk to each other about our journeys, encouraging one another to stay the course, and hopefully bringing a non-believer along to begin their journey with Christ.

Conversations can lead to eternal transformation.

With whom will you start a conversation today?

My Pleasure,
Melanie