Break Blog #5 “Peace”

This morning was a bit of a rough start, I had purposed in my heart to get up and spend some extra time with God before work, but when I went to get my backpack with my books and journal and bible, I could not find it anywhere. If you know me this is very strange because I have had a black backpack glued to my back since high school and I always have one eye on it. Needless to say, by the time I was done searching for it, I had lost most of my time to get alone with God. And I have still not found it as of my break that I am now on.

In the big picture of eternity, it’s not a big deal, but enough to throw my morning off a bit. What a perfect morning to write about peace because the peace of God should be resident in our hearts despite our circumstances. Paul wrote in Philippians that he had learned the secret of facing good times and bad. In other words, his secret life in God was so strong, the dangers of prosperity and the hardships of poverty did not rule his life; he did all things through Christ who strengthened him!

I want that in my life! I get so easily shaken from my circumstances! Jesus endured the cross standing silent before Pilot becuse he was not ruled by his circumstances but by the will of His Father, and the joy set before him: you and I!

I want to have such a deep obedience and God-given vision that nothing can distract or discourage me!

I have heard it said, “you can tell the size of a man by the size of the hardship it takes to discourage him.”

Jesus slept through storms. Then, when awakened by his frightened disciples, Jesus simply released his peace over the storm and the wind and waves ceased! Common! That’s awesome!

Ask God to fill you with that peace that surpasses understanding. That peace that crushes satan under our feet. That peace that brings the little frustrations into perspective. Now I wonder where I put that backpack…. Break is over!

Break Blog #4 “joy”

4:00am came like a freight truck, WHAM!! Time to get up!! I quickly got myself together and drove off to work enjoying the quiet balmy Hawaii morning. I broke the silence singing worship songs on the way to work to call my soul in line with heaven.

I am now on my first break with my short drip coffee, my signature drink. So simple. Until I add all my cream and sugar that is…

One of the Clearest testimonies that some one is a friend of God is the atmosphere of joy and perspective that seems to follow them everywhere. When they enter the room, they don’t succome to any other perspective except the one they are carrying! Then, what is so resident in their hearts begins to be resident in the room. This is not a short term pleasure, or a gitty happiness, this is a trade mark thankfulness and contentment that resides in those who love God.

Joy is strenght and everybody is longing for it and need it to survive. We were created to live lives in the presence of God, and in His presence is the fullness of joy! We were never designed to live with out it!  You may have no clue how weak someone around you is feeling because of the lack of joy and significance they feel constantly.

We can live our lives in such a way that our countenance shouts “Dont be drunk with wine! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” Just by being around us and by observing our attitudes despite circumstances people can tell that there is a real and authentic joy that they have been searching for.

Never forget those around you and how they may be feeling. So often we are so absorbed with ourselves that we forget others around us are hurting, even if their face does not show it. If a friend or coworker does not  live thier lives in love with God, than most likely they feel a nagging emptyness and are weak to the attacks of the enemy. Be that carrier of joy, impart strength to those around you, be that voice of hope! You may just change someones life. Break is over!!

Break Blog!! #3 “love”

Ahh, The sweetened black tea lemonade is quickly becoming a favorite… well, better get writing!

Every time we face a hard circumstance and we choose the way of love we are inviting Love into the room. God is love. The lost will know we are Christians by our love. Love is the litmus test of being filled with the spirit. I enjoy watching the impact it has on my coworkers when they see my wife come in with my beautiful twin girls,and they see our family love eachother. Then after they watch and see how we interact they find things out like, the fact I didnt kiss Natalie till we got married. Witness’s like this causes amazing stirring questions in our surrounding relationships. They see us living out love in a different way than TV/ popular culture and it is appealing because it is what we were created for!! Love can’t help but change the atmosphere. Recently I went to Haiti to help 5 days after the earth quake and all my coworkers wondered why I would and how I could do this, leaving my income and such, and it left an imprint on their hearts seeing that faith, love, and confidence.

If I can make the best Venti Quad Soy Toffee Nut Coffee Misto on earth but have not love, my work is worthless! haha! (1 corinthians 13:1 in the new revised Starbucks edition, (scary thought))

Lets face it if we are succeeding in the work place or in climbing the corporate latter but have not love, we are failing at our highest calling.

Love is long suffering, love is kind, it does not envy or boast, it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong doing, but it rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things,  hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails!

I find myself really wanting to grow in an authentic love, the same love that caused sinners to Love Jesus. He was not “holier than thou.” He was authentic, safe, and full of kindness. Everyone but the religious loved him!  Purpose with me to love deeply in our workplaces and in our relationships. The impact will be rich and lasting! Oh Shoots! Break is over!

Break blog!! #2

So, when my alarm went off at 3:30am this morning I thought I was having a nightmare. I fumbled for my phone, got into my work clothes and sped off to work praying in the car to invite the Lord with me to open starbucks at 4:00. We were slammed all morning, my feet are sore and I haven’t had a break until now!

I have chosen a double tall vanilla latte today for my free break drink not to sweet not to bitter, just nice.
Today, my thoughts steer toward the effect we have on our coworkers when we are consistent in our confidence, with our attitude because of our unshakeable center on the indwelling presence of God. We really should have a much higher tolerance to frustration and anxiety than our unsaved friends. They notice it too. Insecurity is so obvious that a first grade class can pick it up in the substitute teacher but confidense is obvious too, and it really changes the atmosphere. I want to be consistent in my witness as a man full of the Spirit and with the fruit of it in my confidence and solid availability to others to bring peace and counsel at all times. Just making a stand for righteousness is loud enough but to pair that with authentic love and consistency is a powerful witness! Whether you are in the work place, ministry, or just in your social network, I want to encourage your consistency and confidence. I want to say, Your consistent influence is having an effect!! Be that source of peace for those around you because you have the peace that surpasses understanding inside of you! Ok! I am going to be going over the fruit of the spirit in my next few break blogs! Break is over!

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Break Blog #1

I am going to start blogging from work! During my breaks of course…

What ever I can blast out in a couple 10 minute breaks I will post each time I am at work!

These posts will be about our identity before the Lord, hearing his voice, and how to be salt and light in the workplace!

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After being in YWAM for 6 years and loving it the Lord clearly spoke to my wife and I in a variety of ways about me stepping out of full time ministry for a short season before our Harrisburg Fire and Fragrance launch to really focus on my heart before the Lord and providing for our finances. So here I am just chillen at my little wooden table on my “10″ working at Starbucks! As I have been working At starbucks I have had a lot of my churchy culture exposed! Being a believer, I have a world view that all my friends agree with. We are all on the same page when it comes to the big picture questions of life and morality. This sets a platform for authentic relationship and deep community!! Alot of times we forget about this beautiful common ground! I find now in this new environment I have to remind myself that these beautiful coworkers do not share those same paradigms! This makes navigating representing jesus that much more amazing! I find that it is in this environment that you can really see how much of the fruit of the spirit you have cultivated in your life! Your light really shines in a place that is not filled with a bunch of other lights!!

I like to see and feel the atmosphere shift when I come on the floor at work! People talk about different stories and joke different jokes when I am around because they know that I am not about that. There I am puttering around brewing a batch of pikes place and singing worship songs under my breath, blasting whip cream on a Venti caramel Frappuccino quietly praying in the spirit… I can feel the presence of God being invited into the store. ha ha ha! Come Holy Spirit! If you are working in the market place I want to remind you of who you are! Keep burning in your inner man, practicing the presence of God, praying without ceasing! Never forget that you are truly changing the atmosphere! Ask the Lord for fresh hope for your coworkers and close friends. you are having more impact than you know! Oops got to go! Check back! I have some cool stories of ministry and prayer as well as a healing that all happened right in my store! Drop a comment!

Break is over!