AWAKE COFFEE COMMUNITY
DEVOTIONAL
Page 2 MAY 2018
AWAKE COFFEE COMMUNITY
STIRRING RELATIONSHIPS AND BREWING IDEAS
Christina Moon Coffee House Leader Awake Coffee Co .
The summer I turned sixteen , I found my first job . After scrambling to fill out applications , I snagged a position as the crop of summer-job college students migrated back to their respective schools . I was interviewed and hired at a nearby Starbucks . Thus began a journey that did not appear significant until recently . Now I find myself as the manager and Coffee House leader at Awake Coffee Community , and with various barista positions in the Atlanta area in my repertoire , I have pondered where the genesis of this passion for coffee began .
In many respects , I attribute the seeds of this calling to my mother . She honestly had no idea of the subtle influence she carried in this area of my life , but it was instrumental . You see , the beauty of coffee is in the creativity and conversations that have become inherent to its culture . No longer is it just a “ cup of joe .” My mother would almost always start each morning with a cup of coffee before she began homeschooling my sister and I for the day ( and no wonder )! What was left over from the pot she would chill in a mason jar inside the fridge until the afternoon , at which point she would concoct something for all of us to share . Sometimes iced , sometimes blended , always sweet and delicious .
She taught me that coffee can be more than a beverage . Coffee is fun . Coffee is creative . Most importantly , my mother taught me that coffee is a communal affair . It is shared together outside on a hot day , chilled and creamy , after hours of laborious school lessons . It is always freshly brewed for guests , both regular and decaf , to pair with whatever dessert she had thoughtfully prepared for the evening . From an early age , I began to associate coffee with some of my happiest memories , thanks to her . In turn , this led me into the industry that I passionately work in today . I am so grateful for her multi-faceted influence in my life . So this mother ’ s day , I encourage you to have a cup of coffee with your mom ( or any mother figure in your life ) and reminisce on the beautiful and positive effects that she has had on your journey .
DEVOTIONAL
PRESSING THROUGH THE PROCESS
There I sat with tears in my eyes , looking down at my sweet fivemonth-old baby boy , feeling numb . As someone with a bubbly personality and a wealth of positivity , I knew something was wrong . I wanted so desperately to enjoy my first experience as a mother , but I couldn ’ t muster up the happiness that I once felt . Most would say that I had Postpartum Depression . I believe it was something more profound .
The backstory is that after I gave birth to my son , my husband and I moved away from our friends and family to pursue an opportunity that was presented to us . He was working a fulltime job , and I was alone a lot of the time . Before this , a lot of unfortunate events happened in my life , and I pushed it all down so I wouldn ’ t have to deal with it . I shoved things in places inside of me , hoping they would never come to the surface ever again . God spoke to me shortly before we moved that I was about to go through a hard time . He did not give me any specifics . He just said it would be hard . I shook it off and decided not to pay attention . I was terrified of another “ tough time .” When we moved , there I was , alone . Just me and God .
I was alone with God , and we hashed it out . Everything under the surface that I hadn ’ t dealt with came up , and I felt like God was my counselor . What a Wonderful Counselor He truly is . There were many days and nights when God and I just wrestled . Some mornings I would wake up with a lie from the enemy , and by the time I went to bed , I was thinking about the truth that He taught me that day . I had to fight through a lot of anxiety and depression , but I always felt God ’ s sweet presence everywhere I went . Even on my worst nights when I could barely close my eyes because of the intense anxiety I felt , He never left my side . God gently and graciously helped me deal with a lot of emotional stuff , and at the end , He blessed me with immeasurably more than I could ever imagine . After the birth of our newest addition , my seven-month-old daughter , I was terrified of developing “ Postpartum Depression .” I haven ’ t had the slightest decline in my emotions . I have enjoyed this postpartum period with my daughter , and I feel so healthy and free . I understand that the process is sometimes excruciating but the result of the process if you lean into Jesus , is always beautiful .
In Mark 1 , After Jesus ’ baptism , verse 12 says that the Spirit took Jesus out into the wilderness . He was there for 40 days , being tempted by Satan . He was encountered by wild beasts . However , angels attended to Him . We make a lifelong commitment to follow Jesus , and we end up in the wilderness . He doesn ’ t send us to the wilderness because He wants to punish us . The wilderness is a part of the process . The wilderness is hard , but it ’ s worth pressing through because even though we are encountering “ wild beasts ,” an angelic host is protecting us as God so gently ministers healing to us . We press into Him and push through . I think of surgery sometimes . Surgery is not easy , and it ’ s painful . However , the outcome is meant to be better than before . Consider God as the great surgeon when you are going through an exhausting process because you will come out on the other side , better than before . Hope does not disappoint ( Romans 5:5 ). There is always hope .
“ Immediately after this , he was compelled by the Holy Spirit to go into an uninhabited desert region . He remained there in the wilderness for forty days , enduring the ordeals of Satan ’ s tests . He encountered wild animals , but also angels who appeared and ministered to his needs .”
-Mark 1:12 & 13
Father , thank You for the process that you take us through , though it may be hard . You bring us through the hard things to bring us to a place of wholeness and freedom . May we press on through the battle to reach this place . We know that You promise that you will always be with us . Amen .
Lauren Roberts Editor