Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 4, 2019

Glorifying God Through His Design

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin.” – Matthew 6:28b (NKJV)

Walking past a gardenia bush in full bloom, I am overwhelmed by its’ fragrance. Flowers captivate me. So many different varieties intricately formed by their unique petals and known by their colors and scents. Flowers can be used to help us celebrate, mourn, encourage or simply bring beauty. Isaac Watts, in his hymn I Sing the Mighty Power of God says this, “There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known.” Created by God, each flower points to the glory of the Creator by simply being what He created it to be. The daffodil never strives to be any color other than yellow, and the tulip doesn’t try to smell like a rose.

Like the rest of creation, we can bring glory to God and influence others for His kingdom when we trust Him enough to simply be who He created us to be. Charles Stanley writes, “The people who influence us the most are not those who detain us with their continual talk, but those who live their lives like the stars in the sky and “the lilies of the field”— simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mold and shape us.”

What does it look like to live simply and unaffectedly? Isaiah 64:8 (NIV) offers this, “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Live simply and remain unaffected by resting in the purpose and design of the Potter, our Creator. No comparisons, no striving to be like someone else. Never asking the potter, “What are you making?” but simply loving Him and loving others—in our own unique way. Encouraging others and pointing them to the Creator through our distinct design, and our colorful and fragrant gifts.

“Lord, we long to make your glory known. May we trust you enough to live simple and unaffected lives, resting in who you created us to be.”

For His Glory

Ann Skalaski
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Gratitude, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 3, 2019

When Our Abilities Appear Limited

“Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9b (ESV)

Amazing grace – what a sweet sound from a blind father surrounded by his singing family. As he strummed out the tune on his guitar, four little ones and their mama joined in and the beauty of the words captivated us all. Perfect pitch absolutely not. A little out of key at times probably. But when a soul cries out their deepest praise…..we can’t help but be mesmerized.

Losing his sight didn’t quiet the worship of this dad’s soul. Reaching for a chair didn’t seem to embarrass him in front of the congregation. Inabilities or disabilities didn’t squelch his desire to serve God.
Don’t know about you but excuses can definitely loom large when our abilities appear limited. We can stack a long list of whys rationalizing our perceived inadequacies. We tend to accentuate what’s lacking and bow out quietly. Self absorbed, we can survey us and decide our lacking just can’t be used. Better yet we cling to the fear of failing or missing the note and choose the sideline.

Wow – can’t even imagine what we miss when we chose to zero in on us. Just gotta believe this blind one has his eyes aimed at Jesus. So if he can look up and sing out shouldn’t our excuses fade too. Incredible example for those little ones seeing their dad singing and playing freely without intimidation. Eyes witnessing his faith looming large rather than being diminished by life’s obstacles. What we can see – he cannot – worship exploding all around.

Sad to wonder what others miss when we chose to zero in on us rather than trust God with our lack. Encouragement to keep moving forward is forfeited. Hope to never give up evades them. Moments of pure unaltered worship flowing from hearts devoted to serve – we’d miss it all if we decide our excuses outweigh His calling.

Perfection will never be our performance. Everybody misses a beat, skips a note, forgets their message or simply fall flat on faces bowed down. It’s the rhythm of doing life in this world. But God isn’t into our performance – He’s all about our hearts humbly offering ourselves to Him. Accepting His invitations to step out of comfort and rely totally on Him. Amazing grace positioning us to glorify our God despite our weaknesses.

“Father, I can do nothing without You. All I have, I lay at Your feet – take all of me and use me to draw others closer to You.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 31, 2019

Wait – Our Happy Place

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.” Psalm 39:7 (ESV)

The “wait” is rarely our happy place. Quick, convenient, and easy serves us so much better we think. But waiting – well that slows us down. Stops us. Delays us. Prevents us. Frustrates us. Robs us of peace. Leaves us anxious. Amazing how that four letter word can negatively impact our day.

Wonder what would happen if we allowed the “wait” to become our friend? What if we embraced wait rather than run from it? We’d definitely be stretched, but it would serve us well more than we dare think.

Wrapped up in wait are some incredible life lessons ready to be unpacked. Those who persevere, discipline themselves and endure the wait miss out on rushed mistakes. Endurance and patience follows those who learn to wait. Steady preparation is birthed in the midst of wait. Anticipation and faith are enlarged. Hope and trust are deepened.

Like a long lost friend, wait ushers us into the presence of God where reliance on Him takes center stage. We no longer look for the quick fix or the easiest escape. We linger longer and listen more intently. Waiting…leaning into…. abiding….watching….. to see what God will do. Self no longer dictates our choices or manipulates our circumstances. Our hope and peace rest in Him alone.

God paints the picture loud and clear for those who refuse to wait. Moses couldn’t wait for God to deliver His people and ended up in the wilderness. Sarah’s refusal to wait for God’s promises landed her in a sea of regret. Rebekah’s manipulation robbed her of her son’s life. I think we’ve got the picture – trusting God and waiting on Him is far better than taking matters into our own hands.

So the next time wait slides into our life – let’s choose to embrace it and watch in expectation for what God will do – its’ the ultimate happy place.

“Father, You long to teach us deep lessons found only in the brink of waiting. Enable us to place our hope in You alone.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 30, 2019

Reflecting Beauty

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.” Matthew 23:25 (NASB)

Picking up my coffee cup, I decided to reheat it in the microwave. Reaching for the handle, I could see my reflection in the door and I basked in a job well done. But when I opened the microwave, I immediately thought, “Yuck!”

Inside the microwave was splattered with reheated leftovers. I scrubbed and wiped wondering how the inside got so crusty and dirty. Then I realized, I’m usually in such a rush that I clean the outside and decide that’s good enough. We too spend hours making sure that everything looks good from the outside: fancy hair dos, expensive clothes, large beautiful home, and the newest model car. Yet we tend to spend no time at all on the inside, where we carrying around a lot of yuck: anger, bitterness, jealousy, selfishness.

Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites because they worried more about what everyone saw on the outside than the condition of their insides. If their outside looked good, then that was good enough. But when God looks at us, He only sees what’s inside. He isn’t concerned with our hairstyle or perfectly coordinated outfit. What concerns Him is the condition of our heart. And the only way we are able to live a God honoring life is with a clean heart. If we don’t clean up the inside, we’re just a yucky microwave with a shiny door.

“God, forgive me for spending too much time on my outside and not enough on the inside. Help me to remember that what matters is honoring You, and I can only do that when my inside is clean.”

For His Glory

Josey Bozzo
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Attitude, Mercy, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 29, 2019

Victorious Living

“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2 (ESV)

It happened so fast. Didn’t even see it coming. One step in the wrong direction and down I went. The seemingly wet spot on the pavement was actually dangerously icy. Caught off guard in the bitter cold, I went down hard, and it really hurt. I tried getting up but the icy spot was bigger than me so I kept slipping. The intense pain in my knee that didn’t want to bend didn’t help either. Lucky for me, sweet hubby came to my rescue and pulled me back up. Dignity intact, I hobbled to the car – no broken bones just an ache that derailed me for a few days.

Ever stepped in the wrong direction? Didn’t seem so wrong in the moment – rationalizing and excusing. Just a simple indiscretion that happened so fast. Before we knew it what appeared innocent had become dangerous and costly. Caught off guard, we went down fast. Unexpected and unplanned, no one anticipates the pain and consequences of sinful choices. And unfortunately, sin will always take us down quicker than we think.

Solution to stay out of that pit of sin – stay alert! If I had been more aware of my surroundings and the dangerous patch of ice in front of me, I could have avoided my accident. If we are aware of our temptations and our weaknesses, we can seek God’s help to avoid the devastation of sin. With His guidance, we can create an action plan that includes prayer, scripture memorization and accountability. Each component plays a strategic role in creating a defense mechanism that guarantees victory when we rely on His power.

“Father, You have given us everything that we need to resist sin – help us to turn to You in our moments of weakness.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Freedom, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 28, 2019

Undeserved Invitation

“Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” Romans 5:2 (NLT)

Jumbo shrimp cocktail. Broiled sea scallops. Lobster … not just a tail, but the entire baked Maine lobster, dipped in melted butter.I have only dined at Morton’s once in my life, but I think I can still taste the delectable dishes.

Living in South Florida at the time, friends of the family invited my husband and me to dinner at Morton’s. To say we were excited is a vast understatement. Ushered into a private room, we felt like royalty. We stuffed ourselves with delicious food while attempting to make conversation with our hosts. Though I was enjoying every moment of the evening, I couldn’t help thinking, “Why in the world would someone invite us to such a nice dinner? Who are we to deserve this?”

We weren’t anybody to deserve such an extravagant blessing. It was all about the family we had the privilege of calling our own. Members of our family had developed a friendship with the couple who was blessing us. The evening of fine dining came as an extension of the hours spent developing a friendship between our families. We were just grateful to be a part of it.

Our faith in Christ produces a right standing with God, an undeserved privilege. Who are we that God should sacrifice His Son for us? Who are we that Christ should lay down His life on the cross so that we could be made right in God’s sight? Because of His sacrifice, we are invited to the extravagant life (John 10:10). We stand with humble gratitude in a new position of righteousness. We now have the privilege of sharing and reflecting God’s glory.

We may step into moments of blessing that we don’t feel we deserve, but when we place our faith in God through Christ, we step into an eternity of undeserved privilege.

Will we share the hope that can only be found in Christ with others?

“Thank You, Lord, for the undeserved privilege of our new position of righteousness because of the sacrifice of Jesus. May our rejoicing draw others to You.”

For His Glory

Tammy Randlett (http://staletoast.com)
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 24, 2019

Dismissing The Shouts of The Enemy

“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26:4 (ESV)

I would love to say I always have amazing faith and unshakeable trust, but then I wouldn’t be truthful. We all go through moments when our faith and trust are put to the test. Times when the doubts scream louder than the still small voice of God. Experiences that rock us to the core. Challenges that invite fear and independent thinking. Shaky ground that questions all we’ve ever known to be true.

Interesting that in those moments, Satan’s doubts seem to shout loudest. It’s no wonder we often lose sight of God’s voice. God’s sweet assurance whispers. I love that because in order to whisper anything, the whisperer has to draw close to the person. Imagine that – Satan at a distance screaming at us; God close to us gently encouraging, guiding and leading us.

Not a doubt in my mind that we need to hear His still, small whisper right now. Echoing His love and faithfulness to us. Love the closeness of our God who never moves away from us. He is ever present in our lives from now and through all eternity – we will never be out of His sight, reach or whisper.

Don’t know about you, but I am encouraged by the promise that God encircles me and draws me under His wing. I find comfort in knowing that despite all the mess, drama and noise in our lives, God still loves the closeness of relationship with us. Quiet sweet places found when we abide close to Him and linger to hear His voice. Dismissing the shouts of the enemy. Hushing our own voice. Listening..lingering…zeroing in on the words from One who desires our complete trust.

Doubts, fears and questions will always rise to the surface in the face of testing. But sweet friend we can be bold and courageous if we place our trust securely in God. Uncertainties may surround us but we can hold on tight to the One who has it all under control – God alone is our refuge and strong tower – and He doesn’t have to shout to prove it.

“Father, asking You to quiet our souls, still our voices and remove the distractions so we can hear Your still small voice.

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Attitude, Faith, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 23, 2019

Journey of Faith

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

I moved my regular six-week adjustment with my chiropractor ahead due to increased pain. During the examination, he noted I have been under a lot of stress! What an understatement!! While the past weeks had been difficult, I was convinced God is in control and His promises are true. The Holy Spirit drew me to His Word, birthing an assessment of Biblical characters who understood stress. David fled for his life, Paul feared for his, Esther gambled hers, Mary submitted hers, and Jesus offered his.

What carried these individuals through the stressfulness of everyday living?

The answer: faith strengthened by a God who repetitively has proven Himself. They simply believed His promises. Why do we feel our lives are more stressful? We have an awareness of the outcome of their lives through reading the Bible, but somehow, we fail to acknowledge reaching the victorious end required a walk of faith. Appearing to be an easy journey, we cannot disregard the fact that every step of the way involved a confrontation of fear, anxiousness, uncertainty, worry, etc. They were exactly like us. Thankfully, at their weakest moments God’s strength was made perfect and His Word was manifested.

So, the next time stress becomes overwhelming try claiming the promises of God. Pray them out loud. Personalize them. The scriptures will bring comfort, reassurance, encouragement, and strength. Confidence will build in an all caring God. The great news: one day there will be a victorious end to your walk of faith too!

“Lord, please help me to believe your promises. Teach my heart to trust in You during stressful times and claim victory in spite of my circumstances.”

For His Glory

Patsy Sanders
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 22, 2019

When Entitlement Rises To The Surface

“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.” Psalm 37:8 (ESV)

What makes you angry? Ever entertain that thought? We all have things that aggravate and upset us. Someone does something and our frustration rises. Or perhaps many little things irritate us and we stuff them down until we absolutely erupt blowing steam at anyone in our path. Not a pretty sight.

Scriptures reminds us of the dangerous web unchecked anger weaves. Haman held a high position in the land of Susa. His promotion in rank above other officials positioned him at the right hand of the King. And it didn’t take long for Haman to enjoy the royal treatment. The king commanded the royal staff to bow down before Haman, and they complied except for one. Mordecai, the Jew, refused to bow and it ignited Haman’s rage. Didn’t matter that everyone else bowed. Haman’s high position and prestige didn’t ease his frustration. Instead Haman’s unchecked rage resulted in the devising of an evil plan to annihilate the Jews. All done out of anger and pride.

Haman’s scheme eventually unravels when the true nature of his heart lands him on the gallows he had built to hang Mordecai. Not exactly a storybook ending. Definitely not the chapter Haman thought would unfold right before his eyes. (Esther 7). Yet perfectly and divinely orchestrated by our God who placed just the right people in the right place to handle a difficult situation the right way. Wow that’s a lot of right moving in the correct way.

Lesson for us – rage, anger out of control, never serves us well. Pride easily creeps in when we lift ourselves above others. Anger results when entitlement says others must do what we tell them to do. Respect fades quickly when we demand our own way. Haman had position and authority; he could have been a dynamic leader. Problem was he allowed anger over one man’s decision to derail his future.

God’s word speaks loud and clear – He totally understands anger will surface but He warns us about the effects of mishandled anger. Reacting out of anger or dwelling on anger will land us in not good places. Best solution is to pour out our hearts before our God. Tell Him what we are upset about. Ask Him to supernaturally enable us to be Spirit controlled versus self controlled. Trust Him with the things or people that tend to ignite our frustration. Pause, think and pray for God’s wisdom to guide us versus giving in to our emotional storm. And in those moments when our imperfections blow it and steam is spewing, turn to God and learn how to avoid the pitfalls of anger in the future.

“Father, You have perfectly shown us how to be angry and yet avoid sin. Help us to heed the lessons and to rely on You when life gets messy.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Attitude, Spiritual Growth, Success, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 21, 2019

The Way Through

“God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 (NLT)

A young bride loses the life she was carrying along with the dream of birthing a child of her own. A man nearing his retirement loses his brother—his best friend—to a heart attack. Now how will he fill the void during lunchtime every day? A son is left caring for the shell of a man that his father once was. Dementia stripped away all that was Dad. Parents drift through the days seeing the child they lost to a devastating accident in every room of the house, in the expressions on the faces of the child’s siblings, wondering how to cope.

A businessman dresses in a suit and tie he’s worn for the better part of 40 years only to sit on a bench, clueless as to what to do with his days of sudden unemployment. Who will hire him so near to his golden years? A single mom struggles to fill her children’s bellies while her own heart is drained of hope after her husband walked out on the family. How will they survive without a steady income?

No matter what the circumstances, we all have reason to mourn. Our reason to mourn may be caused by an accident or our outright rebellion. “Heaven is the joy of our Lord; a mountain of joy, to which our way is through a vale of tears.” (Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible)

Our source of mourning may be different, but our path is the same—“through a vale of tears.” What does the path through the mourning look like? It is paved in complete dependence on God. The guardrails are constructed of pure repentance and humility. Directional signs on the path remind of His unending mercy and grace.

An ironclad promise: God will comfort us. As we seek God in our mourning, the Holy Spirit guides us on our way, promising the true comfort that comes not from the well-meaning words of friends and family, but the closeness of Christ. Will you seek Him in your mourning?

“Lord, we come to You with our mourning, knowing that You alone offer the comfort we desperately crave.”

For His Glory

Tammy Randlett (http://staletoast.com)
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope

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