January 10

SHARING A VANILLA LATTE WITH JESUS

Father, thank You for bringing me to this place and this time today. I ask You to speak to me right now, and to let Your Word breathe life into my heart. Please use these next few moments to bring me to more of a fullness of You and to learn more of Your Glory and how to leave the footprints of Jesus everywhere I go today. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen!

Read Isaiah 7:14

Immanuel! God with us! Such a beautiful name! So meaningful, it changed the course of history, and time itself.

I decided to get out of the house to write today. It is a beautiful, early winter day, temperature in the low 60’s, not a cloud in the sky. I am sitting beside a window at a Starbucks in Richardson, TX watching cars pass by. From my position in the corner of the coffee shop, I can see at least five face-to-face conversations and one text message conversation currently taking place. Directly behind me is one of the busiest highways in Texas, if you follow it south for a few miles you will run into one of the most congested highway interchanges in the nation. There are hundreds (possibly thousands) of other Starbucks just like this one in this metropolis of some 6 million people. Right now, there are countless conversations taking place within their walls, as the various persons mull over lattes, fraps, or tea. One gigantic thought comes to my mind as I watch this unfold: we need each other! Life was never meant to be lived alone.

I am one of few people sitting alone in my Starbucks, and the other isolated individuals I can see appear to be waiting on someone. Why is it that we crave connection with people so much? I have a strong suspicion that God created us just this way. If you go back and read the first part of Genesis, you will only find one instance where God says something is not good. When He looks upon Adam’s aloneness He knows it is not good, because He made us to live, interact, and connect with other people. It is ok to not like to be alone. Contrary to popular belief in certain ultra-conservative circles, wanting to be around people is not a sign of spiritual immaturity.

I am blessed beyond measure with close and deep friends. They make life better and more enjoyable. God understands that. He sent His son because of that. He sent Him to be with us and walk among us. He sent Him so we could connect to Him as we do our friends. That is why, out of all the names for Jesus, I love Immanuel the most. It reminds me that Jesus lived and walked among us. He understands that need for connection and wants to interact with me.

As you go about your day today and talk to those in your life, remember to give time to connect with God as well, whether while enjoying a vanilla latte or passion tea, on a long bike ride, or on your commute to and from work. Spend time with Him!

Leave His footprints as you walk today!