Coffee Shop Faith

Woe to you when all men speak well of you.

Luke 6:26

My husband gets embarrassed to even say the words. They feel unnatural and silly falling from his lips. But because of his great love for me, he tosses a mumbled request out the window... 

"Uh can I get a venti caramel (what's the word again...oh yea) frappuccino. Uh, she wants it light, fat free, sugar free and all that stuff." He quickly punctuates the order with his low-maintenance drink, "Oh, and a tall coffee, bold and black."

The over-priced, specialty coffee shop brew doesn't hold the same allure for my husband as it does for me. He grinds the same beans, runs them through a similar coffee pot and each morning produces a near identical cup for pennies. I, however, can not get equivalent satisfaction at home. My pantry isn't stocked with flavorful syrup. My counter isn't adorned with a high-end blender. What I drink at home is a shadow of what I purchase for a price.

Sometimes my life is like that.

I argue with the girls on the way to church but pin a fake smile on just in time for the doors.

I teach a lesson on respecting your husband but make mine feel disrespected in the process with a story I share.

I purchase a spotless reputation but it's at a price. My real at-home brew doesn't come close to the high-dollar one I purchase with false perception. Yesterday we talked about praying bold brew. Today I want us to consider living bold brew. We can't just order a gratitude filled, grumble free life at a drive-thru window. We have to cultivate it one morning, one word, one choice at a time.

It may require organizing Saturday night to let Sunday morning breathe.

It might demand sacrificing a great story no matter how funny the punch line.

It will mean dressing up the cup of my heart with additives like morning whispers with God and afternoon thoughts of His wisdom. 

Then maybe the next time someone notices our coffee shop faith, we can proudly tell them it was home brewed.

Do you ever feel yourself pulled to pretend in public? What's one change you could make today to align your home self with the public one?

Bold Brew Faith

“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, 

you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘

Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Luke 17:6

It was one of those rare moments when I was in the car alone with only one of my four girls. I don't know now where Clara and I were headed, I only know our course was interrupted by crisis. 

"Could one of your older girls watch my other kids? I think I might need to take my son to the hospital." The voice on the other end was pinched with a mother's worry. The object of her worry one of Clara's good friends. I immediately made two more calls to get the babysitting arranged. By the time I hung up, Clara's eyes spilled tears. Worry had come to roost in her own heart.

"Can we pray, Mommy?"

I was thrilled this was her first response. My initial words were full of faith but then doubt bombarded. 

Are you sure you want to pray so boldly?
What if God doesn't come through?
What if her faith is wrecked by God's unresponsiveness?

My fear collided with my faith.

Did I really believe God or would I pray a weak "only if you want to God" kind of prayer? I pushed my doubt aside and pushed forward in faith - mother and daughter together pleading with God for a friend.

Within minutes my phone rang again. 

"How is he?" I eagerly implored.

"Fine. His abdominal pain just...disappeared. One minute he was crying. The next he was ready to go home. We didn't even see the doctor."

I am guilty of praying weak, short on grind prayers. They include lots of escape clauses for God. But what if God doesn't want a trap door? What if He's just waiting on us to push through our doubt and pray with faith? What if we mouthed boldly brewed prayers?

Has your fear recently collided your faith? Do you dare to pray bold?
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Need help with your prayer life? Try these resources available for FREE download: PrePrayed - Preparation for Life's Events and 8 Life Transforming Prayers. Claim your free download at http://www.shannonmilholland.com/free-resources.html.

Lessons Learned on the Road - Running the Race Marked Out for You

Welcome back to our Tuesday Series - Lessons Learned on the Road. Today I have the privilege of welcome Rosann who I met online at Voiceboks.com and am privileged to run alongside in my journey as a Christian communicator. 

Rosann is filled with contagious joy and a zeal for life. Click over and read her blog, Christian SuperMom and you'll see what mean. She also has a unique ministry to the unemployed at Unemployed Faith. Please join me in welcoming Rosann to Jesus & My Orange Juice.
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by Rosann Cunningham

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 

let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily tangles, 

and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 12:1

Few things bring clarity, creativity, and joy to my heart like running. I've had a passion for it since childhood, but it wasn't until a recent particularly turbulent season of life, I actually labeled myself a runner.

When life's circumstances were too overwhelming to face, running became an escape. 

For 3 miles a day I was consumed by God's presence, lost in the worship experience my well-crafted playlist provided. With each stride, whispers from the Spirit reassured me.  I finished with less stress and a renewed outlook.    

Before I knew it, God planted the seed of crazy in my heart.  It was an idea…a challenge…that would stretch me beyond life's current struggles.    

Run a half-marathon? I laughed at the thought.

A 13.1 mile test of faith? My stomach knotted up.

Me? Surely, He must have the wrong person!

But when God calls, the answer needs to be obedience. 

And so it began. 

I became a runner. For real. 

God's lessons in my race were priceless. 

In Life, Be Purposeful

My purpose was an act of obedience, but it was also a mission to regain hope and strengthen my faith. To do so meant approaching it with one goal in mind. To glorify God. 

In Life, Be Equipped

Preparation gives joy a place to settle in, suffocating fear. A training plan, proper gear, and the best nourishment, are all significant factors in equipping ourselves for the journey.

My race wasn't just physically demanding. I had a mess of emotions to deal with. To be an overcomer and effectively equip myself, I learned to do three things.

• Push myself (painfully) out of the mental and physical comfort zone of a 5K.  It was the only way to build endurance. 
• Prepare for unexpected weather or tough terrain. I didn't just shop for gear at the Nike store. I spent hours reading and memorizing the powerful promises in God's word. 
• For  proper nourishment and soul fuel, I met God daily in heartfelt prayer and quiet listening. 

In Life, Be Disciplined

Self-discipline determines victory or defeat.  Our mind is powerful, so eradicating the stream of negative thinking or a poor-me attitude is one of the most complicated tests we face.  

Being purposeful and equipped is the foundation for strong self-discipline.   

Mile four was a common battle zone between body and mind. With knees aching and  heart pounding fast, my mind sputtered lies.

You can't do it.

You're too tired.

You aren't strong enough.

To employ self-discipline, I refocused my mind on God.  I remembered why I was doing it - for His glory. I grasped for His truth - I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. (Phil 4:13)  I closed my eyes, sensing His Holy Spirit. I wasn't alone.   

No matter how rough the road, He is always there carrying me. He'll carry you too.  

What race has God marked out for you? 

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Rosann Cunningham is a Christian Author, wife to the man of her dreams, and stay-at-home mom to two delightful little girls. When she’s not out for a jog or having energy burning dance parties with her daughters, she can be found writing for her blog ChristianSuperMom, and ministering to women whose husbands are in a season of unemployment, at her other website UnEMPLOYED Faith.  Her writing inspiration for both projects comes from a strong desire to glorify God while sharing the heart of her journey through a life of faith.

My Pride and Joy?

My pride and joy.

It's an expression we've all heard and probably used.

I could tie those words around the faces of my daughters (at least on the good days).

My hubby would likely apply them to his cherry-red, studly Corvette.

This Corvette isn't his but those adorable girls sure are!

In fact the expression is appropriate for a myriad of settings - homes, offices, even church buildings. Anything we work hard for and accomplish we tend to take pride in and feel joy about.

Or do we? What do you think?

I invite you today to hop over to my church's online Bible study and think with me a bit about pride and joy... 

Is Your Marriage Worth 15 Seconds?

Today I have the honor of introducing you to Lindsay Hall, better known as The Sweet Christian Bride. There she encourages brides to prepare for their "big day" not just logistically but also spiritually. If you know a bride-to-be, are the mother of an upcoming bride or know one, would you be so kind as to pass her site on to them? It will be a guaranteed blessing!
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by Lindsay Hall

15 seconds.

15. 14. 13. 12. 11. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.

Over in a blip. We all have hoards of 15 second scraps throughout our day when we just let time go. But what if you could take back one of those 15 second scraps and redeem it? Would you try it? 

A friend told me that she and her husband have a 15 second kiss every day. Their schedules are so conflicting that it was becoming easy to miss one another for too many hours in a week. Time was something they didn't have a lot of, but 15 seconds a day they did. So they took it. For 15 seconds every day, they remembered their romance, and it has yielded great reward.

My husband and I have 15 seconds a day to spare, so we added this kiss to our daily repertoire too. I do believe my friend and her husband were on to something. 


Wives especially need non-sexual touches throughout the day to communicate that they are loved. 15 seconds before one of you goes off to work means that you can be deeply passionate in that kiss without it turning into sex. Conversely, if your 15 second kiss is when you are hanging out with your honey, it might just be the catalyst for organic, firework sex.

The kiss is what you make of it. But knowing that 15 seconds each day, no matter how hectic that day might be, is your time to communicate affection to your spouse will keep your mind looking for time to connect romantically. It will keep you in tune with your spouse because you will be searching your day for where it might connect with your spouse's for those 15 precious seconds.

You would be surprised how an intentional kiss every day can revolutionize the intimacy in your marriage. Try it. It only takes 15 seconds.

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Native to Los Angeles, Lindsay Hall has founded and authored a website for Christian brides called The Sweet Christian Bride. The site showcases Lindsay’s wedding expertise as well as A Bride’s Devotional, a complimentary download for brides. Lindsay has also been published in devotionals and discipleship curriculum and is a polished and motivating speaker. By the grace of God and with the ample support of her best friend and husband, Chris, Lindsay has been growing professionally as an author and speaker, helping to strengthen Christian marriages.

How Jesus Became My Everything

This video is a response to an incredible book I recently finished reading by Mary DeMuth called Everything. In this topsy turvy view of the Christian walk, Mary dispels the myth that Christian growth results from a try harder life. To experience radical change we need a relational transformation - of our head, heart and hands. Every person longing for freedom from performance Christianity should read this book.

Her words challenged me. Her question begged an answer. Was Jesus really my Everything? Did I love him with head, heart and hands?

There was a time I could not have responded yes. Although I knew Jesus, I strolled with Him as a casual acquaintance. I knew the right answers at church. I could find all the passages in my Bible. I was faithful to my church and served generously. But my real, walk-around life stayed the same.

In 2002 I introduced my faith to a coworker. God used my shallow faith to deeply penetrate his heart. I witnessed a miracle. Everything about him transformed because Jesus was his everything.

I decided to admit that I was a long-time new believer. It was time to start walking with Jesus as an intimate friend. I gave myself the counsel I'd given countless others - to begin reading the Bible in the book of John.

It didn't take too many days before my eyes fell on John 5. There we find Jesus healing the man by the pool at Bethseda. He simply asks him, "Do you want to be well." I knew with certainty He was asking me too.

I blubbered a yes and began to take daily steps toward intimacy with Jesus. I talked to Him. I listened to Him. I read His word. I thought about His word. I walked around with Him throughout my day. 

My marriage, my parenting, my home were all radically changed by the proximity of my new walking partner. 

Do you want Jesus to be your Everything? Then read Mary's book. Your heart, head and hands will bear the marks of your journey. You can get your own copy here: http://amzn.to/yxEeaz

How would your life look different if you dared to let Jesus be Everything?
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Would you like to join Mary's video challenge? Click here to find out how!

Additional Capacity

It's been seven years.

Seven years of repairmen, loads that took five cycles to dry and rusted appliances.

It's been 2,555 days.

Two thousand five hundred fifty five days of near daily laundry.

When Scott and I combined our households in 2004, I brought a circa 1993 washer/dryer set and he brought 1996. By virtue of age alone his pair won. The next year our family blossomed from 4 to 5. Soon there after it expanded to 6. 

Clara brought an extraordinary supply of excitement and joy to our family but somehow her tiny little body managed to send me over the laundry edge. My several day a week job became daily. Our nearly two decade old washer and dryer just couldn't keep up. It tried for 7 years but recently our dryer's ninth life expired. It was time to send our set to appliance heaven (our church's appliance ministry refurbishes them for use by inner city residents).

My new set isn't just shiny, new and a oh-so-soothing hue of blue. They have mind-blowing capacity. A job I used to do daily now only requires a few hours a couple days a week. Their expanded capacity has given my life additional capacity.

Capacity. I crave it. I long for additional time, energy and strength.

Capacity gives us the freedom to say no to additional commitments and yes to our families.

Capacity gives us the strength to say no to striving and yes to rest.

Capacity gives us the fortitude to say no to lesser things and yes to Jesus.

Do you ever find yourself begging God for capacity? I do and He rarely honors my request. I think it's because He knows I'd squander the gift. A few years ago I realized I didn't need more capacity, I needed more of Him.

Time with Him gave me the freedom, strength and fortitude to live an upside-down life - one which naturally creates capacity.

Is your life stuck on spin cycle? Let time with Him wash over your day and give your life additional capacity.