Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | October 8, 2018

When Intentional Serves Us Well

“For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” 2 Timothy 1:6

I’m not camping material. I’ve went, done that and yes, resolved its just not me. But there is one tiny little detail I fell in love with – the campfire. Sitting around a blazing fire feeling the warmth, captivated by the embers and orangy blaze now that’s doable. Felt so amazing as long as I stayed close to the fire, not so good if the flames died down. Blessed there was plenty of firewood to stoke the flames.

Just like a cozy campfire needs to be stoked, God desires for us to fan the flame of our gift. Love this sweet reminder from Paul to young Timothy. Inspirational words to be stretched and invest in the gift God has freely given to each of His children.

How do we not let the flame die? One word – intentionality.

Being intentional with our gift means we won’t let the passion fade. We will guard our commitments and establish priorities. We will carve in time to learn, practice and discern how to use our gift. We will seek God’s direction and embrace moments when we are stretched out of our comfort zone. We won’t lose our desire to serve, and most of all we will not settle for anything less than offering God our very best.

My Dad taught Sunday School until his health declined in his late 70s. Never once did he think about not showing up for that group of first graders on Sunday morning. Faithfully, he welcomed, hugged and encouraged those little ones. My grandmother was a passionate prayer warrior. Skipping out on prayer wasn’t on her agenda. As long as she had breath in her lungs, she was talking to Jesus out loud. My friend Jane battled cancer for several years – singing in the choir was no longer an option so she worshipped from her hospital bed. Each trip to the hospital offered her an opportunity to brag on her God who was sustaining her daily.

So how are we using our gift? Are we waiting until a more convenient time to do what God has already equipped us to accomplish? Perhaps we are entertaining thoughts of stepping down because God doesn’t really need us anymore. One thing is for certain, God has plenty of room for all of us to use our gift. Yes, there are seasons when life requires we take a break or transition to serving in another way. But like my friend Jane, God sometimes opens up another audience for that gift to bless and it maybe in the most unexpected place. Now that’s a blazing fire.

“Father, help us to honor You with the gift You have freely gift. Create within us a deep desire to never let the flame die out.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | October 5, 2018

When Impossible Bears Down

“But I will hope continually and will praise You yet more and more.” Psalm 71:14 (ESV)

We were looking for the huge thing. The miracle that would end an untimely, unwanted event. Yet nestled right in the middle of all that we wanted and prayed hard for, God was intersecting in the minute details of every moment. Still, silent acts that nudged us to remember that miracles are birthed in small steps just as they are birthed in leaps. And we would have missed them, if “thanks” hadn’t lodged its way right into our conversation.

Another disappointment, a setback and Satan would have us peer into the darkness and wonder if God were even there. Wasn’t He listening when we cried out in the night? Didn’t He see the tears streaming down our tired faces? Could it be this miracle wouldn’t happen? Amazing how quickly Satan rehearses and replays those tapes to invite doubt, disappointment and even anger to rise to the surface. In little spurts, he attempts to drown out the sweetness of God’s truth: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Thankful today for small steps. For edges of gray melting out of darkness reminding us God’s light still shines. For divine interventions God was orchestrating before we even knew what lay ahead. For scribbled down lists of His faithfulness and goodness that would have gone unnoticed or easily forgotten. For unrehearsed conversations that turned our eyes back to the One who is worthy of our praise.

So if you’re looking for the huge thing, the miraculous, the extraordinary don’t get lost in the results. Get lost instead in the love of Jesus and the sweet abiding of His presence. Drink deep of His encouragement and glimpse His touch sprinkled over all our days. Pay close attention to the seemingly insignificant details and watch as He unfolds an amazing story. Gather up praise, thankfulness and gratitude – keep them close and never forget that miracles still happen.

“Father, help us to believe, trust and hold on to the truth of who You really are – the God of all possibilities!”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | October 4, 2018

When The Long Journey Never Seems To End

“Yet I am confident that I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13 (NLT)

You have been tried and tested! You feel like the metal between the anvil and the blacksmith’s hammer. Plunged into the red, hot coals formed by the hammering process and then thrust into a cold bucket of water. Over and over again being shaped and sculpted by the Blacksmith. God has allowed you to travel a long distance through the fiery foundry. Time has been an enemy and a friend. The journey is meant to make us pliable, so in the Lord’s hands, He can mold us into the person He needs us to be. Solid, stable and firm never to return to who or what we once were.

The culprit of time lingers. The hands of the clock seem to be stationary. Dawn turns to dusk, morning to night as the years pile up and accumulate. Waiting, believing and trusting with each passing day the fire, heat and sculpting wasn’t for nothing. You are well aware each loving pang of the Blacksmith’s hammer has purpose. The Craftsman knows the exact minute when His sculpture is ready for display. Once the soot, slag and the black oxide has been polished off, a beautiful masterpiece rises from the flames. A work of extraordinary artistry and workmanship for His glory and His namesake.

When the crucible has been scraped clean and nothing has been left behind; and the casts reveal the likeness of Christ. It is then we realize the steps were well worth the journey. Waiting patiently for the Lord to lay His hammer down because the process is complete. At the appointed time, we are sure God will not allow our pain and suffering to be null and void, but to minister to a lost and dying world. A world yearning to hear of God’s hope and unconditional love. Precious souls are what your pilgrimage has been all about. Count it all joy when the Lord trust you with such a long, arduous mission.

“Thank you Father for when the refining process is complete, Your goodness allows us to reap the aftereffects of our journey here in the land of the living. Our testimonies of Your faithfulness of bringing us through the fire will be an encouragement and example for the ones whose journeys will come after ours. Ensuring them the journey isn’t for nothing.”

For His Glory

Kim Lacey Schock (www.KimLaceySchock.com)
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | October 3, 2018

When Weak Invites Strong

“Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9b-10 (NIV)

Don’t know about you but there are lots of moments in my day when I feel utterly powerless. Life gets crazy, chaotic and overwhelming. We get out of bed ready to conquer our day and within moments it all swirls out of control. Our superwoman cape slips off and the reality of our vulnerable weaknesses hits us square in the face. Emotional eating doesn’t fix it. Crying doesn’t solve it. Outrage only makes it worse. And wallowing in self-pity pretty much stinks. Just keeping it real here – pride would easily slip in if we thought we had it all covered all the time.

So what’s a girl to do when authentic self unveils our weaknesses? We could just keep pressing thru relying on self but eventually burn out will win and exhaustion will seep in. Perhaps we might consider hiding behind our weak spots allowing them to sideline us and cower in intimidation. Shrinking back rather than stretching forward.

Not quite the solution for brave, courageous women of God. Absolutely love these words from the Apostle Paul reminding us that weakness isn’t to be ignored or dreaded. Delight and joy should rise within us when we allow God to transform our weaknesses into strength. He is our true power source, and we can depend on Him to empower us to do what only He can do.

We all have weaknesses and like Paul, those rough spots are what keep us humbly dependent on our mighty, gracious God. We can resist the independence urge and allow His strength to enable us to do more than we dared imagine. So glad, God sets us up to need Him more and more each day – the perfect place for His glory to shine through us. For when we are weak then we are strong in Him alone.

“Father, too often we run from our weaknesses or attempt to outplay our own strength. Teach us the value of viewing our lack from your perspective and reap the benefits of Your strength.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Gratitude, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | October 2, 2018

He Hears When We Call

“When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Mark 10:47 (NIV)

When Jesus walked the earth, He was followed by large crowds of people seeking healing and deliverance. They were intrigued by the Rabi who spoke with them about the kingdom of His Father and was always ready to do good to people He did not even know. Some people who needed His healing touch, however, did not have the means to move around following Him, and it was God’s providence that would bring them in contact with Jesus. And that was the case with a man called Bartimaeus.

Bartimaeus was sitting alongside the road outside Jericho, when he heard Jesus was in the surroundings. Unable to pick up his things and run to the Lord, Bartimaeus did what he could. He shouted, in the hopes that Jesus would hear his cry. And hear, Jesus did. So Jesus told His disciples to bring Bartimaeus to Him. Standing before the Lord, Bartimaeus told Him exactly what he wished for, which was to gain his sight. And that, he did.

A few days ago, my three-year-old grandson, Nio, stubbed his big toe against the corner of a wall while running in the hallway. His dad had already placed a Band-Aid on the toe, but Nio was still inconsolable. A few minutes later, the front door opened and I walked in the house, coming home from work. Before I even had time to set my purse down and kick my heels off, Nio came to me, as he usually does when he gets a “boo-boo,” and waited for me to kiss his toe; and an infinitesimal kind of miracle took place. Shortly after, he was already playing again.

Whether our miracle is something that requires the supernatural intervention of Jesus, or just a kiss by a loving grandparent, we still need to bring our need forward. If you have a need today, trust that your Heavenly Father is listening to your call and He will heal your heart.

“We need You, Father. Hear our cry for help.”

For His Glory

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Mercy

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | October 1, 2018

Sealing Our Destiny


“Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Isaiah 49:16a (ESV)

Ever find yourself reaching in a sea of hands trying to get an autograph? Definitely not me – I have my fave tennis players but you would probably never see me running up to them for an autograph. My husband, on the other hand, loves getting autographs. If he is at a pro event, you can guarantee he will come home with a celebrity’s signature.

When a birthday surprise landed us center court to watch Serena and Venus Williams play tennis getting an autograph never crossed my mind. I was just excited to be at a “real” tennis match within feet of the players. Weather forced the event inside a smaller venue and the stands were packed. No air conditioning….just a lot of people scrunched shoulder to shoulder anticipating an exciting match. My husband, however, had his eye on the autograph and we didn’t leave without one.

Whose did we get? Well it wasn’t Serena or Venus. The coveted signature was Colton’s. This cute little boy with a head full of wavy blond hair loved tennis. In between court changes, my husband carried on a conversation with Colton and learned it was his seventh birthday. Eager to grab that autograph, my husband asked Colton to sign his paper. Colton’s eyes got really big and then he printed his name very carefully. Priceless moment for a seven year old – quite the celeb!

Sweet reminder that our God is a collector of names. If we have accepted Christ as our Savior our name is written down in the Book of Life. A permanent autograph that seals our destiny. Doesn’t matter whether we are rich, poor, famous or a wallflower – God cherishes the name of His children. No preferential treatment – we’re all equal in the eyes of God. No limit on how many pages this book can hold – there’s always room for one more. He’s the collector of names, etched in the palm of His hands. He’s the one who never forgets and never rejects. God is the ultimate keeper of the records of life, and He longs for all to have their name written down.

The unfolding of scripture reveals there is coming a day when Christ when return for His own. And those who have believed in Him, whose names are written down will spend forever in His presence. Don’t leave this world without Him – eternity in Heaven is the coveted prize – one we don’t want to miss.

“Father, praying for those who still are holding on to their way and haven’t accepted You as Savior. Asking You for divine appointments and just the right words to share Your love with others.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Gratitude

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 28, 2018

When We Live Well

“One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor.” Proverbs 12:26a (ESV)

Ever wondered if “right living” makes a difference? It’s so much easier to give in to self. To do what we feel like doing and not what we know we should do. It’s much more inviting to listen to our own justifications rather than seek the best of others first. It’s simply more fun to join the crowd than take a stand.

I think Solomon had something here don’t you? Our right living opens wide the door for us to intentionally impact and guide our neighbors.

Who are our neighbors? They’re the person we pass in the maze of cubicles at the office. They’re the one’s whose driveways edge our own. They’re the soccer moms cheering with us as the team hits the field. They’re the home school co-op groups gathered at the library. They’re the patient waiting for chemo as we breeze through the door.

Our neighbors don’t necessarily have to live within feet of our front door, but they are people who cross our paths in this journey called life. And we have an incredible opportunity to influence, impact, guide and invest when we purposefully choose “right living.” We don’t even have to utter a word; our choices and reactions will speak for us.

I think we all get the picture – right living is huge for others, God and for us. When we choose to obey and live according to God’s commands, we miss out on painful consequences. When we forego the wrong decision, we release our will for His own. When we resist temptation, we avoid the guaranteed hard road. When we thirst and hunger after God’s best then we are truly blessed. When we set the right example then God is honored and glorified.

Don’t know about you but it all adds up. Choose to do things God’s way and even those watching will gain wisdom. No self promotion required. No branding or platform needed. God will use our “right living” to speak volumes, and we have no idea who is watching.

Solomon was the wisest man that lived, yet he too fell prey to bypassing right living to living for self, possessions, wealth, desires, etc. And despite his wealth, it didn’t serve him well. Let’s not make the same mistake. Let’s seek God’s wisdom and choose “right living” even when it means letting go of all we desire.

“Father this world we offer us many things – rights tainted as our own – but You alone are worthy of our devotion. Help us to listen and choose well.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Attitude, Faith, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 27, 2018

Referential Tree

 

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14 (NIV)

I often tell people that I was born “without antennas,” in order to explain my lack of sense of direction. It is not uncommon for me to get lost while driving to areas unknown to me. Over the years, however, I have learned to use landmarks as a reference for places I have visited once or twice. So, when I moved from Lynchburg, Virginia, to Carmel, Indiana, the same process was put in place to keep me from wandering off the path to my son’s house, where I have been living.

The tree is not majestic. It is not very beautiful, to be honest. But its location is what caused us to make an acquaintance and from that day on, I grin each time I pass by it. When I drive to work in the mornings, I see the sun rising right from behind the tree, as if it had the power to hold the sun in its branches. When I return home from work in the evenings, I see the sun setting from behind it. Whenever I spot that tree, I know I am but seven minutes from home. It has become a regular in my life, as there is no way to avoid it when I drive in that area.

I believe that we can be the reference that people need for their surroundings, and to confirm the path will lead to their destination; the tree that holds the sunshine of their day. I believe our presence can be so remarkable, so noticeable, and so important, that no matter who crosses our path, they will know that there is something special about us. When Jesus’ light shines on us, we will, undoubtedly, lead others towards the most important destination: heaven.

No matter where you find yourself, choose to make a difference. Choose to be a reference. Choose to be like that tree I see every day – holding the Son in its branches. You matter to the kingdom of God. Be a difference maker.

“Lord, You have commanded us to be salt and light in this world. We pray that we can always lead people to You.”

For His Glory

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 26, 2018

Wheh Life Sends Us In Panic Mode

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8 (ESV)

Over the past few weeks, we watched in amazement as people devoured grocery stores and lined up at gas stations as though we were going to starve in a few days. Water was a high commodity – none on the shelves. People were buying snack foods and nonperishable items until some of the shelves were bare, empty in anticipation of another Walmart truck coming to fill them back up.

Now I say this as a planner but also as one who doesn’t freak out. If I lived on the eastern coastline, I would have definitely taken precautions: boarded up my home and headed inland. But the very threat of the storm dumping us with rain and high winds sent people into panic mode buying generators, extra food, gasoline, etc.

Reminds me of this quote from Priscilla Shirer: “The enemy’s voice will focus on the past and the future; the voice of our God will focus us on today and will point us confidently toward the future.”

Fear, worry and intimidation never serve us well. The trio blinds us to the One who holds the entire world in the palm of His hands. When we choose to allow Satan to zero our attention to what we can’t change, then we sabotage what God has in store for today. When we allow Satan to control our thinking and ostracize what could happen tomorrow, then we demonstrate our lack of trust in God’s sovereignty for today and become paralyzed.

Don’t get me wrong – preparation and alertness is crucial if you are in close proximity to a storm. But resting and trusting in God, leaning in close so we hear His voice for today – that’s empowerment. And sweet friends that’s exactly why the enemy seeks to cover us up in fear, worry and intimidation. He doesn’t want us to experience the joy of simply following Jesus moment by moment. Depending on self or listening to our inner voice overshadowed by our past or intimidating us by our future definitely steals away God’s best. The One who knows it all, controls it all and fulfills it all longs to bathe us in His peace and trust.

“Father, uncertainty will always attempt to cloud our perspective and rob us of peace. Teach us how to focus on “now” and resist the urge to get lost in our past or future.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 25, 2018

When The Music Fades

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1(ESV)

526 days. That’s how long it had been since I sung in church. 526 days of silence. No humming, no mouthing. 526 days with arms folded and a blank stare toward the front of church. 526 days. Not one word.

Needless to say, this is a problem. Singing to God isn’t just part of the church service each week. It is a necessary component to our relationship with Him. When we sing, we are not just offering up praises to God; His promises are also being sent down to us through the words of the song. Even if we do not feel like we can sing, doing it anyway will bring hearts closer to God. Which is exactly what we need in times of struggle. When David was hiding in the wilderness, he sang to God regularly creating most of the entire book of Psalms.

As I’ve been trying to repair my relationship with God, I wondered why I still felt so distant. On day 527 the realization hit…I still wasn’t singing.

So, on day 527 I opened my mouth.

I know who goes before me, I know who stands behind, The God of angel armies is always by my side.

Even with trembling lips, tears streaking down, I sang out the words.

The one who reigns forever, He is a friend of mine, The God of angel armies is always by my side

It was barely a whisper, but I kept singing.

And nothing formed against me shall stand, You hold the whole world in your hand, I’m holding on to your promises, You are faithful

As the words soaked into my heart, I realized I missed this sweet time of fellowship with God. I understood how much I needed these words as a reminder. I knew by not singing I had made my situation worse. It was a terrible mistake that cost me 526 days of additional suffering.

If you are struggling today and find it impossible to sing in church let me encourage you…Do. It. Anyway. Sing even if you don’t want to. It just might make all the difference.

For His Glory

Jossey Bozzo
Women’s Life Devotional

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

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