Starbucks

Like clockwork I woke up when my alarm would have gone off at 6:30am. Even on my days off I can’t seem to sleep in. I proceed to get ready for the day. Sitting down to my computer I tiredly check some e-mails and respond, and decide to head to the starbucks near my house for my devotional time today. This week I have been getting more into the word, waking up early and heading to Starbucks by my work to sit and spend time with God. Today, no work, but still the need to spend time with God. My roomie, Erinn, woke up and I invited her along for a venture to Starbucks by our house for some devotional time.

 

 

As I walk into the “bucks”, there is a long line. Of course. It is 8am and people are on their way to work. Not a problem for me. Luckily I am in no rush. I literally have all day. As I glance to my right I see what is the mecca of this chain of coffee shops- oversized cushioned chairs. Not only one, but 3! One is already taken, but two are available and ready for me to overtake them. With a place this busy in the morning those chairs won’t last 5 seconds let alone five minutes. However, I have quite the dilema. Erinn went next door to get a Jamba Juice smoothie so I am a one woman opperation. I must wait. Either I loose my spot, or I loose my chair. I opted to loose the comfty chair.

 

I purchased my iced green tea and see that the two chairs are still available. YES! Just as I get there Erinn comes in and we sit. (Comfortably I might add).

 

 “Are you waiting on a coffee?” Erinn asks.

“No,” I replied, “I am fasting from coffee.”

“Then why did we come here?” she asked.

 

I then I proceeded to tell here, “cause we can come and sit down”, “I have been coming to starbucks for my devo time”, and “sometimes its nice to get out of the house.” She responded with a headshake letting me know that she agreed. With that signal I began to gather everything I needed for my devotional time. I saw that my verse for today was Luke 11:1. “This is perfect”, I thought. We are studing Luke as a squad, so I thought it was very fitting. Just as I am getting ready to read, the woman next to me says, “Excuse me, but you look really familiar. Do you go to church around here?” As I looked her over I realized that we had never met before, but am not suprised by the question cause that happens to me a lot.

 

“I go to the Oasis Christian Center,” I said.

“I go to Mosaic,” she said.

 

I asked her her name and if she knew a former co-worker of mine that I worked with at Starbucks with a few years ago who goes to Mosaic. She did. We came to the conclusion that she had probably seen me at that Starbucks. Then it happened.  Dawn started to cry. She told me that she had been praying for God to send her someone today. Someone who could pray for her. The story oozes forth as though she has no control over her words. She is recently married, and found out just last night that her husband is addicted to pornagraphy. Her heart was broken. I could tell she was questioning her value as a woman, a wife, and a lover.

 

I asked if I could lay hands on her and pray for her. Dawn willingly agreed. I got down on my knees and grabbed her by the hands, and there we prayed. In the midst of starbucks there was no one, but God, me and Dawn. We came together. One who was willing to pray and one who was willing to receive prayer, brought together by none other the God. The Holy Spirit was at work in us. I couldn’t tell you exactly what I prayed. Just that I reaffirmed for her that she is valued by God. We praised God for bringing us together today. The issue that Dawn and her husband are dealing with did not magically go away. We didn’t ask for it to. We asked God to show her how He is at work in this situation. I spoke against the devil’s hold over her husband and over her thoughts of in adequacy. We called for the Holy Spirit to rise up in Dawn and give her strength to endure this battle. That God will continue to put people in her path, and that the love of Christ would give her a peace like no other.

 

Dawn was ready. She was ready to receive prayer and have life spoken into her. She didn’t wait until the problem got bigger to bring it to God, she came as soon as it happened, knowing that nothing and no one else could help her but Jesus. Often times I wait to pray or bring something before God when i have no where else to turn, or all my other options have failed me. Dawn taught me about going first to cross. There is no failure at the cross, only the victory and love of Christ Jesus.

 

Dawn and I hugged and she left for work. We smiled at the thought that we might meet here again one day. As she left I looked at Erinn and said, “This is why we came here today.”

 

In a weird twist of events Luke 11:1, the verse I was getting ready to read when Dawn spoke to me was:

“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

 

The title of my devotion for the day was titled, THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER
God literally allowed me to put His word into life today. I realized that I have been neglecting prayer, and the power the Holy Spirit has to move in it. I love that God provided a place for me and Dawn to act on prayer without question. Then after His child was taken care of, he opened my heart and showed me the importance of what I did in His word. Often we think that the lesson is needed before we can act. Sometimes we need to act in order to learn a lesson. 

 

Thank you Dawn. May God’s peace shower down on you. Your value as a daughter of the King far exceeds what limited value the world gives. You are adopted as God’s own. Dawn, God has given you wisdom to seek Him and His counsel first. God will show you how He is working in this difficult time. Dawn cry out for more of God. He will bless the child that asks for His guidence.