coffee talk.

I recently read a devotional that talked about how in the Old Testament, what they saw as the Ark of the Covenant, would be what we call today a coffee table. At first I was shocked at how the author could write that way, to demote "The Ark" down to the level of a coffee table. BUT she went on to explain...

"In that room were a gold incense altar and a wooden chest called the Ark of the Covenant, which was covered with gold on all sides. Inside the Ark were a gold jar containing manna, Aaron's staff that sprouted leaves, and the stone tablets of the covenant." Hebrews 9:4 (NLT)

The Ark wasn't just for worship, but it was a place of remembrance. It contained all the beautiful reminders of God's faithfulness in their lives. It symbolized His providing hand, His guidance, His love for us through His law, His miraculous nature, and on and on. The thing I love most about this small scripture is that these components inside the Ark meant something unique and different to each person, much like our coffee tables at home where we try to display "conversation worthy" pieces.

On this rainy Monday, I'm drawn to my heart's coffee table. As I browse through all the trinkets and picture frames I am reminded of His faithfulness, provision, never-ending love, and beautiful reminders that God has allowed for me to hold onto when the days are dark and rainy.

Today my coffee table holds:

• A beautiful picture of my best friend and her fiancee at their surprise engagement party last week, a reminder of true love and God's plan for each of our lives.
• A diploma that I could have never paid for by myself or received with out my amazing mother. And now as the economy is tough for a lot of people, we do not have to worry about a huge loan payment every month, only because she took the time to invest in me... And one day, I will do the same for my children.
  
• A pink pacifier. Yes, we know she is probably to old for it, but at the same time we are so thankful for this opportunity to learn to be good parents, to pray with a sweet and innocent little girl every day, and to give in when she still wants to cuddle on your lap and asks for her "paci".
• Two Denny's coffee mugs. (No, we did not steal them, we actually own them.) Some of my favorite moments are drinking coffee with my best friend and incredible husband. During these conversations we laugh, negotiate, debate, make life decisions, and enjoy the moment together.
• A testimony given two weeks ago at my home church that spoke directly to what I had been dealing with. Here I thought God had forgotten or maybe He had to many other things to deal with, but He took the time to send a simple and beautiful reminder through the testimony of a man that had no idea what I had been going through or how much I needed to hear God say, "I still hear ALL of your prayers."
  

What's on your heart's coffee table today?

I hope you have a wonderful, rainy, memorable Monday...

love,
jill