Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 5, 2018

Worth The Investment

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:35 (NIV)

I saw her recently.  A quick hug combined with a beautiful smile assured me she was well.  Verbal confirmation quickly followed.  Spiritually I ask? “Yes, I am,” she answered.  My heart rejoiced.

Why?  Because our first acquaintance was in a one on one mentoring program where a troubled teenager, insecure in her identity was introduced.  Little did she know her life would be radically transformed.  Sadly, no one had taken time to teach her commonsensical things a young teenage girl should have known; therefore, those months were filled with a multitude of questions, practical and spiritual.  Most importantly she was spiritually lost and quite open about it.

Gratefully, behind the scenes God was working and answering many prayers!  About halfway through our journey, I had the privilege of leading her to Christ.  The investment paid off! Over time she’s learned to walk independently, make godly decisions, find a job, finish high school and grow in her walk with Christ.

Jesus was the greatest example of investing in others.  He personally chose twelve men to pour spiritual truth into over a three-year period.  Mentoring at it’s finest.  They had setbacks and didn’t always listen, yet he continued to devote Himself confident they were worth the investment.

What about that neighbor you have been meaning to visit but haven’t?  Or the co-worker whose life is falling apart?  Or that teen without a role model?  Who do you see that is worth the investment?

Someone saw value in you. Investments take time. Ask God to bring someone into your life that will benefit from time well spent.  It will be worth it; it may even determine their eternal destiny.  It did with mine!

“Lord please allow me to see the importance of investing in others.”

For His Glory

Patsy Sanders
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 4, 2018

For Our Good

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28 (NIV)

It brings me much hope and peace to know that my God cares enough about little ole me.  He ensures that I am okay and that the things that happen to me, especially the ones that are hard to handle, somehow end up working together for my good.

The more I think about the circumstances I have endured throughout my life space, the more I believe that God loves and cares for me, and that He has a purpose for my life. If He didn’t, I would probably no longer be standing in the land of the living to tell the story, but would rather have succumbed to the dark rings of depression, doubt and hopelessness.

Among my list of disappointments, I have had a failed long-time marriage, have lost beloved family members, have endured ostracism and prejudice by professional colleagues. I have been lied to and lied about, have been cheated from what was rightfully mine, have felt abandoned, unloved and unqualified to be loved, just to list a few.  Yet, while navigating those troubled waters in my life, I never once doubted situations that caused me grief would be turned into something good that would ultimately bring me closer to Him and bring  me supernatural peace.

In John Chapter 16, the Lord Jesus said to His disciple that they would suffer while in this world, but they should take heart because He had overcome the world.  If the waters of  life had made your boat ride rocky lately, do not fear, because the Lord will be right there with you, helping you steep it to safety.  He cares about you and you will be okay if you trust Him.

“Father God, thank You for always making certain that all things, good or bad, work together for our good.”

For His Glory

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 3, 2018

My Dwelling Place

“I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  Psalm 91:2 (NIV)

I had waited so long for this gift.  It represented coming of age, so to speak.  A mark of confidence.  The wait was long as was the struggle. I veered off course more than a few times. But now, the package had arrived. I eagerly pulled back the bows as the lid of the box popped open.  I dug into the tissue paper.  The colors surrounding my prize were as vibrant as the blue sky following a rain’s downpour.  Even my sense of smell was awakened. And as I examined my long awaited reward, I realized this wasn’t the gift I’d ordered.

This wasn’t what I was told it would be. Not what I had planned for. Certainly not what I sacrificed to get. I took the longest road to get here.  Gave up more than most would.  Overlooked. Forgotten. Placed on hold.  And now.  The gift-giver would not accept a return.  Not even an exchange.  I was asked to do the inconceivable. I was asked to accept the misplaced order, change my entire approach and continue on.

I had no idea that it’s not the gift that makes the person but rather how the gift is used.  “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).  As much as I love an afternoon nap, rest during my trial had nothing to do with reviving one’s energy.  My rest was active.  I needed to actively grip my Savior’s hand and allow Him to lead.  To lead the change, to lead my heart, to lead where I could not go.  What would most glorify Christ?  No bitterness became my prayer.  Oh, how I appreciated my godly sisters who had perspective I did not and who encouraged me to stay the course.

Days of this journey turned to weeks and eventually my sojourn did end.  Looking back, I realize that the greater gift was in the unexpected.  Glorifying Christ at each turn, acting on His principles, focusing on His love produced a work I could never have on my own. Nothing was left undone. His fingerprint was on everything. Rather than hurt, He healed.  The end result was more love, more trust and preparedness to move on.

“May we trust You, Lord. May Your gifts draw us closer to You.  May we more clearly reflect Your glory within a world of division and decay.”

For His Glory

Kathryn Hayman
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 2, 2018

Exhilarating Faith

“So, the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy and ran to tall His disciples.”  Matthew 28:8 (NIV)

Fear blended with an edge of joy or was it joy blended with an edge of fear?  We’ve all been there when we walk the tightrope of exhilarating faith only to greet piercing doubt.  Our heart flutters at the concept that all we dreamed, hoped for and believed was true.  And then a silver of doubt courses in bursting our bubble with a sharp needle of fear.  It’s a balancing act that requires careful precision or we cave in to fears and doubts missing the joy and faith.

Early in the dawn light, two women toggle on the edge of joy and fear as they seek their crucified Lord.  Heavy grieving hearts meet the revelation of an empty tomb. Can you see the shimmer of hope in their eyes as they peeked inside?  Can you sense the tremble in their footsteps as they hurried away?  Fearful from what they had seen, yet filled with joy – He is alive!  And within moments they find themselves worshipping at His feet.  Not fully understanding, yet totally overwhelmed.

I’ve been there – how about you?  When we exchange the dead places in our lives for a resurrected new birth, we find ourselves on the edge of joy and fear.  Excited and clinging to hope yet fearful of the events unfolding before our eyes.  We’ve never felt so close to God and yet so unsure of ourselves.  We dangle on the tightrope of faith and doubt.  Yet when we cling to His name, His character and His promises, we find ourselves completely balanced.  And within moments we’re worshipping at His feet – all fear erased.

Father, the empty tomb unveils the glory of Your resurrected body living, breathing in the heart of Your children.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

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Posted in Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | March 30, 2018

His Precious Blood

“…Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.” 1 Cor. 5:7 (NLT)

In Exodus chapter 12, God promised when He saw the blood of the lamb on the doorframes of a home; He would pass over sparing that family the plague of killing the firstborn sons and firstborn male animals in the land of Egypt. This disaster would be the LAST and FINAL plague needed for Pharaoh to surrender to the demand of God to let His people go. After 430 years of slavery, God’s people would finally know what it was like to be delivered from bondage, released from long days of unrealistic, hard manual labor and to experience freedom from the chains that had them bound.

In the original Passover, those Israelite’s sacrificing a lamb signified they would be spared God’s judgment…His promise in verse 13, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you…”

Some 1,500 years after the Israelite’s liberation from Pharaoh’s captivity, Paul used the same term to describe Christ as the sacrificial Passover Lamb. He knew the events in Exodus foreshadowed the coming sacrifice of Jesus when he penned “…Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us” in 1 Corinthians.

The Israelites needed a lamb without blemish to cover their homes to save them from death. Both stories parallel, nothing has changed, even now 2000 years later, humanity still needs a spotless Lamb to save us from the grave. Jesus became the spotless sacrificial Lamb. He took the place of the blood from bulls, goats and fowl. He became the LAST and FINAL sacrifice good for all time.

Passover recognizes the defeat over death, the empty tomb and the victorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior. Easter celebrates the new covenant; the better, perfect promise not chiseled in stone, but written with the precious blood of the Lamb.

Father, it’s Your unselfish love that freed Your people in Exodus and the same love throughout the span of time that continues saving us in 2017. Your shed blood is still covering our sins, freeing the captives and saving the lost.

For His Glory

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

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Posted in Faith, Gratitude, Hope, Love

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | March 28, 2018

Best Conversation Ever

“I (Jesus) have made You known to them and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17:26 (NIV)

My sweet hubby, Jay, has the knack for conversation. I don’t think he has ever met a stranger. Regardless of where we are, he will know the people around us before we leave. How does he do it? Jay simply introduces himself and then switches the focus and conversation to revolve around the other person. Me, I’m more like an quiet observer enduring a wait in line missing out on a chance to know someone new.

Know who else was great at conversation? Jesus was great at instigating pivotal conversations that drew one’s heart to the Father. It would have been easy and perhaps even normal if He had zeroed in on His own greatness. After all Jesus was the Son of God. He turned water into wine. He healed the sick. He walked on water. He fed the multitudes. Jesus spoke and the storms calmed. He rose Lazarus from the grave. Told the Samaritan woman everything she ever did. Emptied the temple of moneychangers. Healed the blind and lame. And the gospel of John reminds us that if every one of Jesus’ miracles were written down the world would have no place to hold the books (John 21:25). Yet not a word out of Jesus’ mouth proclaimed His glory. Not even a simple pat on the back or a rhetorical listing of His accomplishments.

Why? Because Jesus was not focused on self. Instead He proclaimed over and over again that He was here to do His Father’s business. Fulfilling God’s will was at the top of Jesus’ list. All of His actions, words and thoughts centered on the Father. Everything about His life reflected the heart of the God.

Wonder what would happen if instead of focusing on our achievements, successes and inspiring deeds, we proclaimed the true source of our inner strength? What if we made God known to those who encounter us? And what if we allowed our conversations to weave an open door to God’s greatness? Inviting others to know God rather than focus on self.

Best conversations ever are centered on giving Him glory – and it begins with you and me.

“Father, let the words of our mouth and the mediation of our heart bring you glory.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Love

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | March 27, 2018

An Assignment From Jesus

“They were completely amazed and said again and again, “Everything He does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak.” (Mark 7:37 NIV)

Biblical accounts of miracles. Loved since childhood. Jesus heals a man of leprosy and the man was quick to spread the news. Jesus asked the man with a shriveled hand to stand in front of the crowd. Jesus healed so all could see. The man possessed by demons was told to tell his family what the Lord had done. And Bartimaeus, not ashamed to cry out to Jesus, receives his sight. Freedom restored. Health made whole. Acceptance regained. Ready to follow Jesus.

In some manner, some fashion, each of us has an area of life that has been wounded. Unavoidable in a world of fallen condition. Perhaps healed in quiet. Perhaps waiting for healing fully aware of the fragile state of our condition. Wondering if people can see the scar our soul carries. From time to time the hurt that causes more hurt. The good news today is that Jesus heals.

And when Jesus heals, or when we’re expectantly waiting for the healing, what do we do? I’ve heard from others the exact same agony that I’ve heard in my own mind: God can’t use me. Each time I hear this phrase, something inside cringes. I’ve learned it’s a lie. It’s a lie told to me and it’s a lie told to my brothers and sisters in Christ. I know where it comes from: Satan. Our adversary. The prince of death and destruction. He wants to stop the very thing the Lord has commissioned. The telling of the miracle of freedom, restoration and grace paid for by Jesus, the King of kings. Dear one, God can use you. We need not remain quiet about what He has and can do, but we must readily tell. Tell the wonder of the Lord.

This is how He will use us. Our story. Our healing. Our hope. A hope that never fails and never forsakes. Righteousness revealed from the beginning of time. As the clock moves forward to the global revealing of the one true Savior, we must refuse to be quiet.

“Father, may I acknowledge the miracles that Jesus has done in my life. May I see the opportunities that You provide to declare my amazement to those around. May my words glorify You and be used to draw others to Christ.”

For His Glory

Kathryn Hayman
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Freedom, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | March 26, 2018

When The Answer To Why Isn’t Enough

  “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 (ESV)

As children “whys” seemed huge as we grasped for a reply. Any answer would do; we just wanted to be heard and understood to know there was some explanation for what our minds couldn’t wrap itself around. And we would relentlessly ask the same question until someone gave voice to our search.

Not quite so simple as adults. Our whys are really huge, and we won’t settle for just any reply. We want truth even if the depth of it drowns us. And sometimes what we didn’t want to hear does drench us head to toe.

Ever been there when totally comprehending the why just isn’t enough? Believing something else seems better, prettier, softer, easier to manage. Accepting the illusion is more comforting and less exhausting. We don’t want the truth, yet reality keeps stealing away our dream and the answered why unveils a darkness we never dreamed.

So what’s a girl to do when the answer to why isn’t enough? Won’t deny there may be tears, frustration or denial; normal responses to hard places. Our God is big enough to handle all our emotions. Won’t excuse away the chaos that may follow. Our God is big enough to handle all the drama. He understands our longing for a different chapter and the happy ending. Yet, despite what we want, He allows the unthinkables to touch our lives.

In those moments when the truth is more than we can take, we learn to treasure deep His abiding presence. We sit in silence knowing that He hears our heartbeat and feels our heartaches. We drench the pages of our worn out Bibles with fresh tears and cling to His promises. We trust what God has allowed and steward what He has entrusted to us. For His glory alone, we release the brokenness and allow God to use it to make us more like Him. And one day, we will meet someone else whose answers to why are more than they can bear. Arm in arm, prayer by prayer, truth by truth we will walk them through reminding them that God’s faithfulness always supersedes the answers to why.

“Father, Your light shines brightest in our darkest moments – teach us to trust in You alone and not our circumstances.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | March 23, 2018

A 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 am 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 Attitude, Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | March 22, 2018

A Sweet Aroma

“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)

One day, I was driving down a road when suddenly a foul smell enveloped the air. Even though my car windows were closed, I had to roll them down, because the air inside my car became almost unbreathable. I looked to both sides of the road, wondering what could cause such an awful stench, when I spotted a landfill. A giant pile of spoils, garbage, things that were disposed of by people from the area were sent to that remote area of town to be destroyed.

Many times in life, we find ourselves in rotten situations, pretty much like a landfill. It may be gossip at work, or a broken relationship, something we said and can’t take back, and so on. Sometimes we long for good counsel and all we get is bad advice that makes our situation much worse and in some instances, unsolvable.

This is why we must fill our minds and hearts with the word of God and surround ourselves with good people. People who will pray for us, encourage us, and lift us up when we can’t get up on our own. Good friends are like treasures and having good friends can make our lives so much better, because they become our accountability partners. When garbage around us begins to fill our minds, they let us know and they help us to get rid of it.

Garbage and filth do not belong in our hearts. When we let God in and allow Him to push the garbage out, the smell that will fill the air around us will be a sweet aroma of praise and worship to Him. The windows of our hearts can be swung right open because His Name will keep the garbage out.

“Lord, thank You for transforming the garbage in our life and the baggage that we once carried into a sweet aroma of praise to You.

For His Glory

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Attitude, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

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