Hello, my name is...

Hello. My name is Nicole, and I am a recovering coffeeaholic. It has been one year and five months since my last cup-o-joe, but every day I still long for a cup. Each day, when I crack open the can of Folgers for my hubby, I sit there for a moment and just take in the smell of those lovely ground coffee beans. And I must say, it was especially hard today when I headed out to my garden with a huge bag of used Starbucks coffee grounds and dug my hand deep down into the black loveliness to sprinkle it onto the ground around my plants. The smell was strong and inviting. And when I got down on my hands and knees to pull weeds, those same coffee grounds were right there giving off their aroma.

It is so hard when there is something in your life that you love so greatly and long for so deeply that it takes hold of you and puts roots way down deep into your soul. That's called "making an idol". Idols don't come only in the form of little fat half-naked bald men, you know. They come in all shapes, sizes, and forms. For some people, television becomes their idol. For others, money. And still others, something as simple as food or books. It is pride, gluttony, self-centeredness, greed, a love of possessions, and just plain rebellion toward God. In whatever form you like to take your idol, the Bible says it is still SIN. And God hates sin!

So even though many people tell me all the time, "It's only coffee. It's not going to hurt if you have a cup now and then," I still know in my heart that I am not ready to pick it back up again. When something still calls to me the way that idol does, I know the devil is just sitting there waiting for me to give in so he can grab hold of me again. And I refuse to let anything, besides God Almighty, have control over my life. Period.

Whew! I'm glad to get that off of my chest. I feel better now.