Hope & Feeling Pressed

Let it fuel you.

Hope Matters

Hey, Hope Buddies!

Lately, I’ve been feeling pressed about a couple of things in particular. They’re things I was excited about at some point, like 14 years ago. Because at that time in my life, I had all the time in the world to devote to them. They didn’t scare me as much, and I was ready to do it big and go hard. I had ALL the motivation and was “Ret ta go!”, but that didn’t last long. Now, at a time in my life where my schedule can be full FULL on any given day, I’m feeling pressed — not motivated — to act on these things.

Now, motivation is different from pressing in that my full schedule can override motivation but not a pressing. This pressing is Spirit-led. And I know that, because it won’t let up. Side note: The last time I felt pressed — not motivated — to do something, I started writing Hope & Coffee Matters, and here we are. But I digress.

Hope Buddies, every time my schedule amps up, something happens or someone crosses my path to remind me why I need to continue acting on these things and not give up when they get hard. Or, something happens that comes to distract me. To that point: In a sermon my pastor preached recently, she reminded us that, when we’re on the right path and doing exactly what we’ve been purposed to do, distractions will come to deter us. When I tell y’all, I must surely be on the right trajectory with these ‘cause…whew! 😮‍💨

It’s the pressing that keeps me moving forward. Now, let me help you understand. This is not a Peanuts-comic-strip pressing, where Lucy presses Linus’s head down to keep him from growing. This feels like a small push on my back that guides me forward.

You see, these are not things that make me feel all warm and fuzzy; you know…happy and excited, because I’d much rather be chilling instead of up thinking at 3:00 in the morning or randomly having my thoughts interrupted while completing other tasks and needing to make quick notes. However, they do bring me joy when I imagine them working for others as they were designed.

Hope Buddies, if you’re feeling pressed about something or some things, I encourage you not to ignore them. Let the small push fuel you. Open your mind to imagine what will happen as a result of your forward movement. I guarantee you it will be exponentially more than you could have ever imagined. Join me in making small Spirit-led steps, imagining phenomenal results, and letting God bless them more than you can fathom.

💜,

Parthenia

Coffee Matters

Y’all, I threw out some flavored coffee beans recently. 🤦🏾‍♀️ I never thought I’d do it, but I just couldn’t take it any longer. I won’t be telling you what it was or where I got it to protect the producer and other consumers who might like it. Coffee Buddies, I tried so hard to like it and was going to power my way through the bag. I even tried to give it away, because I thought there was an error in the way I was either preparing it or not dressing it up (Y’all know I drink my coffee black.), and the receivers didn’t like it either. *deep sigh* 🙄 So, I trashed it.

It kind of hurt my heart a little to watch those beans trickle down the inside of the trash can, but nobody I knew was going to drink it. Well, of course, I bought new beans. Actually, another flavored coffee I’d never bought before, and it’s tasty.

Here’s what I learned. If it doesn’t suit your palate, just let it go and be okay with it. You’ll move on and things will be fine. Maybe that flavor was never meant for you, but there is one that’ll be just right.

Praying you all have nothing but good coffee until next time! ☕️

What are you hoping and sipping this week?

I appreciate you taking the time to read this hopeletter about my life and coffee. Please share with a friend who could use a little hope or coffee recommendation.