Daily Struggles - Starbucks

So I don’t know if you are aware of this, but I work at Starbucks. That’s the high paying coffee company that’s on every street corner in America. Working at Starbucks is a lot of fun – I’ll give it that. But it’s still Starbucks. I get coffee, I get great benefits but I still go into work and throw on a green apron and my black hat and say Welcome to Starbucks…

What 25 year old with a college degree in finance works at Starbucks?
It’s not like it’s my second job or it’s helping me pay bills as I get my master’s degree.

It is my job.

It is what pays my bills.

It’s what I have to answer, when people ask where do you work?
Yea I work at Starbucks.
Are you in school?
No, I graduated and I have a degree.
Then you always get that fun look that comes across their face. They look at you like you’re crazy or messed up - like you aren’t good enough to be in the big time corporate world like they are. Little do they know that I’ve been there and I know what it’s like. I’ve seen millions of dollars passing from one person to another. I’ve been in the meetings where a person’s retirement was on the line. I’ve seen it.

But it’s not for me. There are bigger and better things for me. I tried it and now I’m back at square one - Starbucks. Right now, I’m one of those guys that I despised in high school. The older guy that had the job that the high schooler needed and deserved.

I am very grateful and thankful for the job and life that I have but it’s a DAILY STRUGGLE that I go through. On those mornings that I have to roll out of my bed at 4 or even 6, the first thought in my head is always what are you doing, Mitchell? You can do so much more than this. And that is exactly what I am going to do.

I have been placed at Starbucks for a reason.
I know that I can fall into a worldly mindset and get frustrated with my job and my current situation – OR – I can see it as God does.

A time of focus -
A time of study -
A time of growth -

I’ve been placed there for a reason and each day can be a struggle if I choose to see it through the world’s eyes but I choose to see it through His eyes.

Lord, continue to grow me in this time. I know that this isnt what I want to be doing but I trust in your plan for my life and I trust that you will continue to pave the way. Lead me one step at a time and I will follow...

Hold Your Horses Buddy

As a kid when my parents asked if I wanted to go to the toy store, I lit up just like any kid does. That is a kid’s paradise. So many toys that I don’t have, that I need and that I want.

What stops me from getting the new remote control car or video game system?
Money
So what do I do?
I ask Mom and Dad to buy it for me.

Obviously Mom and Dad are going to say no but every once in awhile for some reason they say yes. It’s usually after report cards or near my birthday or Christmas. Sometimes you even have to sweet talk them into it which works pretty well.

However, God does not work this way. There is no sweet talking God.

If you give me this now, God, I will be good for the rest of the month. I’ll be at church whenever the doors open, I’ll tithe every week and I’ll even read my Bible every morning. That’s all riding on if you give me what I want first.

Sometimes when we ask things of God, He does say yes and He give us what we want.

Psalm 37:4

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

I John 5:13-14

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Matthew 7:7

“Ask and it will be given to you..”

Sometimes, like with our parents, we get the no. What we ask for, we don’t get which is never fun. When we ask for something like in the toy store, we are hoping to get it. We want it but God for some reason doesn’t give it to us.

Romans 8:28

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Genesis 50:21

“So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.”

With our parents, we get a yes or no. God works on the same answer system but He adds one – WAIT.

How would you feel if you asked your parents for the toy and they said wait?
Wait!
How about a yes or no?!
I don’t want to wait.
I can’t wait.
How long do I have to wait?
Why am I waiting?

God loves to make us wait. Not because He is trying to hurt us or because He wants to torment us. He does it because He wants to see our faith and trust in Him.
Can you wait on God to deliver?
Do you trust that He is going to give you what you want at the right time?

He knows what you want and He knows what you need. He also knows the best time for you to get what you want. Our job is to be persistent in praise and thanksgiving followed with requests like it says in Philippians.

Phil. 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Will you wait on God who waited a long time on you?

Tried and True

I tend to think that I am a pretty smart person. Some people are just born really smart and that’s great for them - others have to learn. People learn things in three different ways: visually, auditory or kinesthetically. I can learn by reading the new Erwin McManus book, Wide Awake, or by reading through the book of Romans. I can also learn by listening to a professor or listening to my pastor. Both ways are great ways but I learn more from actually getting my hands dirty and getting put into action. I can do all the watching of football games that I want but it isn’t until I am thrown into the game that I begin to see the areas that need improvements or the areas where I am strong.

As many of you know, I have the opportunity to go overseas for 2 years with hopes of turning it into a career thing. The goal of a missionary is to connect with people and then share the Good News of Jesus Christ. It is an amazing opportunity but I cant help but be selfish in thinking about it. As awesome as it would be to see lost people come to know the Lord, I am also excited about my own personal growth that will happen during these times. The verses in James are always on my mind:

James 1:2-4: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of any kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may by mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

I know that without a doubt that it is going to be really tough to be halfway around the world - away from family, away from friends, away from my sports teams, away from comfort. If I could, I would bring everyone and everything with me but unfortunately I cannot do that.

On the flipside, I can’t wait to get thrown into the game.
I want to be tossed into a world of lost souls.
I want to see God move through towns and villages.
I want to see lives changed and only be able to attribute it to the Living God.
I want to be tried.
I want to have no idea what to say or what I am supposed to do.
I want to be scared of what is going to happen.
I want to be tested because I know that will grow my faith and trust in the Lord.
I want to be refined and purified.

I Peter 1:6-7: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Through this experience, I hope to become mature in my faith and see a whole new God – the God that created me and desires a true and deep relationship with me. The God that I have come to know is amazing but there is so much more to find. Like it says in Matthew – “Seek and you shall find.”

The journey will be tough. It will have its ups and downs – its times of laughing and its times of tears. I know that in those rough times, I can rest in His promises.

Isaiah 41:9-10:
“I took you from the ends of the earth,
From its farthest corners I called you.
I said, “You are my servant;”
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Blah Blah Blah

This is going to be short and I am just going to start it off and say it – I don’t like deep friendships - I like the surface relationships. The ones that involve, “Hi, how are you today,” and “What have you been up to lately?” The conversations that when you leave you don’t have to remember anything because there was nothing to it. It may sound shallow but that is what I like.

I don’t know what is so appealing about an arms distance relationship but it is much more enjoyable to me. I do like to talk and have conversations but I hate having to talk about myself. I would rather talk about the Florida Marlins or the Presidential race or Barbie than have to talk about myself. I don’t like to sit around a dinner table and talk about me or what’s on my mind. I don’t mind listening to others but have a real hard time talking about myself.

In order to begin a deep and meaningful relationship, you have to talk about yourself. Why can’t we just hit the basics like how your day was, what your plans are for tomorrow and talk sports and end it at that? Wouldn’t that just be easier? Why start a deep friendship when it will all fade away at some point anyway? Let’s be real – somebody will get married or move away and everything won’t be the same anymore. You may say that you’ll talk or email all the time but we all know that isn’t going to happen. Now your deep relationship has turned into an arms distance one, so why not just start it that way and keep it that way? That’s how it will turn out anyways….

(just to clear it up, I would rather listen to someone talk about themselves than have to talk about myself)

CrazyLove

Have you ever sat in amazement at just how everything works? I have no idea how the computer in front of me or the tv Im watching works. I turn it on and I expect it to operate and it usually does. We have expectations on these things and if they are not met, we become quite frustrated and even mad.

But what about expectations of ourselves? What are we supposed to do in this life? If someone were to turn on the channel of our life, what would they expect to see? If we call ourselves Christians, would they be expecting pure, holy, sinless people? or would they be expecting the person that goes to church, reads his Bible, prays but still messes up? I bet your thinking the second one but why is that ok? Why are we allowed to mess up? Why is our mindset stuck in sin? Like its alright to sin because we have God's grace. Or the excuse that we are just humans. Jesus came to this earth for a purpose. He went to the cross to bear our sins and made us a new creation so that we wouldnt have to be in sin anymore. Why is it still ok?

I for one know the grace of God. I still sin but it comes down to a daily renewal of the mind and spirit. Its about standing your ground when the temptations start and then continuing to stand on the Rock who will never fail. Its about a relationship with the Father who created you and has always and will always love you. I know it sounds crazy but if you truly love someone you wont want to hurt them.


Fall in love with your Maker. And make it a crazy kind of love.

101%

What equals 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been in situations where someone wants to give over 100%. How about achieving 101%? What equals 100% in life?

Here’s a mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Z Y is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then,

HARDWORK = 8+1+18=4+23+15+18+11= 98% AND

KNOWLEDGE = 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5= 96% BUT,

ATTITUDE = 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5= 100% AND,

Look how far the LOVE OF GOD will take you,

LOVE OF GOD = 12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4= 101%

THEREFORE, ONE CAN CONCLUDE WITH MATHEMATICAL CERTAINTY THAT: WHILE HARDWORK AND KNOWLEDGE WILL GET YOU CLOSE, AND ATTITUDE WILL GET YOU THERE, IT’S THE LOVE OF GOD THAT WILL PUT YOU OVER THE TOP!

I am a cheater...

My name is pride. I am a cheater.
I cheat you of your God- given destiny...bc you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment...bc you deserve better than this.
I cheat you of knowledge...bc you already know it all.
I cheat you of healing...bc you are too full of me to forgive.
I cheat you of holiness...bc you refuse to admit when you are wrong.
I cheat you of vision...bc you'd rather look in the mirror.
I cheat you of a friendship...bc nobody's going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love...bc real romance demands sacrifice.
I cheat you greatness in heaven...bc you refuse to wash another's feet.
I cheat you God's glory...bc I convince you to seek your own.
My name is pride. I am a cheater.
You like me bc you think I am always looking out for you.
Untrue.
I am looking to make a fool of you.
God has so much for you, I admit, but dont worry.
If you stick with me, you will never know.