Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 6, 2017

No Great Prize Comes Without Toil

“She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Luke 2:37 (NIV)

I was in the conference room with several other individuals, waiting to hear the defense of my friend Debbie’s dissertation. I was so excited I could hardly sit still in my chair. You see, Debbie and I have been friends ever since we took a course together a couple of years ago, and I would not have missed her special day for anything.

The defense of a dissertation is the culmination of much work, research and sleepless nights. So much goes into getting to that very last, yet, memorable moment: when you get to spend time talking about your research, your findings, recommendations, and answering questions from anyone present in the room. After that one last hour of labor, you get to hear your name preceded by the word “doctor.” These celebratory moments after much arduous work are well worth the time one devotes to them.

I now want to share with you an experience that happened much, much longer ago. The setting was a temple and the event revolved around the fulfillment of the law of the Lord according to Moses, when baby Jesus should be circumcised and consecrated to the Lord. When Mary and Joseph took the baby to the temple, there was a prophet named Anna there, who was depicted as being faithful to the Lord. If you’d like to hear a little more, I will tell you that she was married for seven years in her youth.  After her husband died, Anna remained in the temple praying and devoting herself to the Lord through prayer and fasting.

In my poor mathematical skills, I would estimate that Anna probably stayed in that temple around 60 years, give or take. Now, if she could’ve guessed that one day she would be present at such an amazing moment to meet our Savior as a baby on the day He was being consecrated to the Father, I would say those many years of temple devotion and prayer were well worth the prize. As for my friend Debbie, she did great at her defense, by the way, and left the room with nothing less than the pay of her hard labor.

“Dear Lord, please help us to keep our eyes focused on the final prize.”

 

For His Glory

Luska Suzano
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

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Posted in Prayer, Spiritual Living, Worship

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 5, 2017

Waiting

“For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!” Isaiah 64:4 (NLT)
                                                        

I did not date in college; I went on interviews. I was one of very few females working towards a degree in Religion at Liberty University. Fellow Religion students asked me out, but a romantic evening was not on the agenda. These future pastors were looking for a coworker in the faith, a wife who could minister alongside them. From the moment we ordered our entrees, the interview questions flowed.

“How has God gifted you? Can you sing?” (Every good pastor’s wife can sing, right? Not in my case.)

“Where do you fit on the Armenian to Calvinist side? What is your theology on the 2nd coming of Christ?”

“How many kids do you want? What is your theory on disciplining children properly?”

“Would you be willing to direct children’s ministry if we started a church?” (I haven’t even decided to go out with you again!)

Every date ended with me either failing the interview or deciding I wasn’t interested in this particular job after all. Graduation was looming ever closer. All of my friends were designing their perfect weddings. I felt like the only one who hadn’t snagged a MRS degree along with my BS in Religion.
Then I came across our key verse in a devotional I was studying. I surrendered my future to God, setting aside my dream of a husband and family. I researched job opportunities. I waited on God to show me what to do. That’s when God brought Scott to the office I worked in. I could have fun with this one. I didn’t feel any pressure to measure up to a job application process. We loved spending time together and wanted to extend the date until death do us part.

What is it you desperately want God to do? What have you been asking God to provide, heal, or change? There is no other like our God. He works on our behalf when we choose to wait for Him. Running ahead and making our own plans is so tempting. Do we want our plan or God’s plan? I choose to wait for Him.

“Lord, I choose to wait on You. You alone are God and are worthy of our trust.”

For His Glory

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

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 4, 2017

God Is Our Strength & Prayer Keeps Us Near Him

“Do not be afraid, o man highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” Daniel 10:19 (NIV)

Young man Daniel was devoted to God from very early on. Not only was he a man of faith, but he also carried himself well, looked refined, was well educated, spoke with wisdom and tact, ate healthy foods, had a certain facility to learn new languages, and, to top it off, also had a gift for interpreting dreams and visions.

As with most good things (or people), Satan often manages to try and steal God’s precious treasures, such as Daniel, to put to the use of other gods and himself. So, according to Daniel chapter 1, King Nebuchadnezzar, from Babylon, decided to besiege Jerusalem and take with him valuable possessions to beautify his own kingdom.  He ordered his chief of court officials, a man named Ashpenaz, to gather some of the young men from the royal family and the nobility, “young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace.” So, as you can see, Daniel fit the description almost to the dot!

Despite being taken captive and ordered to serve a king that desecrated his people, Daniel did his best to remain faithful to God, by praying and seeking His face for every decision he had to make. We could say his worth came from his knees.

So, when I found myself in chapter 10, reading about the revelation God gave to Daniel concerning trouble for his people, it was not surprising to me that the angel who appeared to Daniel (perhaps the Lord Himself) addressed him as “man highly esteemed.” The vision left Daniel so weak that he fell down to his knees, and he confessed his inaptitude to stand, speak or even breathe. And the angel of the Lord assured him that his words had been heard since the first day he spoke them in faith (yes, God hears prayer!). At that very moment, I was reminded that when we pray, our words NEVER go in vain. The Lord esteems us, and He hears us, as He heard Daniel. He has your back. Stand firm and pray!
 

“Dear God, give us faith like Daniel’s, unrelenting, trusting, and unshakable.”
 

 

For His Glory

Luska Suzano
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Prayer, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 3, 2017

Unfading Beauty

“…the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” I Peter 3:4 (NIV)

Maneuvering through the crowd, she smiled making eye contact with each person in her path.  Dressed in jeans and a simple t-shirt, her graceful moves were captivating.  I watched her from a distance as her eyes searched out for the One sitting alone.  I glanced her direction as she hugged the One whose weary eyes revealed a burden too heavy to bear.  Instinctively she stooped to hear the words from the One whose chair screamed a loss of freedom. Reaching out her hand, she welcomed the One who stood cautiously inside the door.  With tears coursing down her cheeks, she knelt in prayer beside the One whose child had strayed.

Effortlessly she listened and listened and listened absorbing the heart wrenching stories never distracted or bored.  Simply she spoke in whispers of grace and love.  Softly she answered in quietness of strength.

Who was she?  A famous Bible teacher?  Perhaps a Pastor’s wife?   Perhaps she was a famous celebrity  – everyone seemed to know her.  Her name was not important. Where she sat didn’t really matter.  Her size, color nor age dimmed the unfading beauty that flowed from her gentle and quiet spirit.  She was simply One who was of great worth in the Father’s eyes. She had become God’s hands, His feet and in the silence of those brief moments she radiated His beauty to many.

Life will attempt to still away priceless moments to be One that makes a difference.  Busyness will keep us moving past those who desperately need His touch.  Absorbed in us will move others from center stage to our back shelf.  Too complicated for us to get involved will curb us from reaching out.  Bottom line – we will miss out too when we excuse ourselves from reaching out to others .  The choice is up to us – will we choose to be the One who seizes moments to make a difference and reflect God’s beauty?

“Father, You find great pleasure and delight in those whose lives reflect Your glory.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

 

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 30, 2017

Untangling Lives

“But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.”  Luke 10:33 (NIV)

The crash, the scream – what was happening on my deck?  I ran out of my office and found the most vibrant yellow bird fighting for its life.  I’ll spare you the gory details, but the cat devouring its prey saw no beauty in that sweet bird.  And the sounds of one in pain…well I can still hear that cry echoing in my mind.

Don’t know that I’ve ever witnessed someone struggling so hard only to lose.  Or maybe I have…..the only difference was the shrill of their cry was silent.  Vibrant and beautiful on the outside yet fighting a losing battle inside.  Ever been there …when someone you love draws closer to the edge. They’ve kept it all tucked deep until the suffocating fatigue sets in and victory slips out the door.  Defeat mirroring the pain as the enemy slips in to devour his prey.

Do you hear the cry?  Did you witness the crash?  Did you the leave the comfort of your space to ask what was happening?

Wonder why I’d leave my agenda, my work for the sake of a bird fighting for its life when I’d walk past sweet, hurting ones with eternal souls unmoved?  It’s easier, less messy than entangling our lives, our time, our prayers to those fighting desperately for their lives.   We can dismiss the echo in our ears but not in our hearts.  The sounds of one in pain lingers, and when we see through God’s eyes, then we know why we’re here. We realize that apart from His grace, we’d be there too fighting, struggling and afraid to ask for help.

“Father, help us to reach out, lift up and encourage those whose battle is long and hard.  Give us the right words to say at the right moment to draw then closer to You.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Love, Mercy, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 29, 2017

Let Your Gift Live On

“The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” 2 Kings 2:15 (NIV)

I love to peruse my Bible and mark it with highlighters. Each story, each historical account that makes mention of the power of our Creator (which is basically everywhere in the book) makes me want to go highlighter-happy, so I can easily find it later. It is so exciting to read those passages and imagine the Lord speaking those words right there and then!

One of the prophets of the Lord who spoke with great authority was Elisha. By the way, his mentor was Elijah, the prophet who was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind by chariots of fire! In those times, a prophet’s cloak of authority could get passed on to someone else, like a mentee or protégé, who would then inherit power and authority. If you have time to go on a tour of events that involve Elijah and Elisha, you could do so in the Book of 2 Kings. You will notice that when Elijah got taken up to heaven, his cloak fell behind and Elisha got to keep it. It was soon evident that Elisha  inherited some of the power that Elijah had.

Elisha followed in his mentor’s footsteps, speaking with great authority whenever the Lord had a message for the people. Then, one day Elisha got sick and died (2 Kings 13:20-NIV). Now, why am I telling you all of this? Because I want you to know that the power of God in Elisha’s life did not end with his death. Sometime after his death, an incident occurred when a dead man’s body was thrown in to Elisha’s tomb, with his bones, and when the man’s body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. Wow. Talk about a legacy of power that outlived the prophet!

 

Our actions leave marks on people; they are what people will remember us by. Long after we are gone from this earth, the power of those actions will still live on. May our legacy be one of faith in a God who will break bondages, love, heal, save, and set free.

 

“Lord, equip us according to Your will, so that our legacy leads others to You.”

 

For His Glory

 
Luska Suzano
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 27, 2017

What Kind of Love Is This?

“’For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,’ says the Lord, who has mercy on you.” Isaiah 54:10 (NLT)
 

Faithful. Steadfast (ESV). Unfailing (NIV). These are the words the Bible uses to describe the love God has for us, the love God promises will never end. How can we know what those words even mean?

“BFFs—Best Friends Forever,” we declare to our childhood friend … until she moves away or finds another, better best friend. A father promises his unending love for his daughter … until he abandons the family. A boyfriend proclaims his eternal love … until he becomes bored and rejects his girlfriend. A husband vows his love and devotion to his new bride … until the relationship becomes more work than he anticipated.

With so much rejection and disillusionment, how can we understand God’s faithful, steadfast, unfailing love for us? He stirs it into our very souls. He causes our hearts to hunger for it. He creates a need for love in us that can only be met with His perfect, unconditional love. We may have been let down in our search for love in the past, but God is the only One whose covenant with us will never be broken as our key verse declares.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” Romans 8:38 (NLT) His love is constant. His love is dependable.
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.” Ephesians 3:18 (NLT) His love is boundless.

“For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17 (NLT) God has proved His perfect love for us through the sacrifice of His own Son for our salvation.

“See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is who we are!” 1 John 3:1a (NLT) God has adopted us as His own. He chooses us again and again.

Let’s embrace the Lord’s love for us—a love defined by God’s Word, not by our emotions or past experiences.

“Thank You, Lord, that no matter what today may bring, Your love for us is faithful, steadfast, unfailing. We choose to rest in the certainty of Your unbroken covenant with us.”

For His Glory

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

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Hope, Love

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 26, 2017

Very Good

“Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.” Genesis 11:1a

It was the most beautiful sound. One minute we were praising Jesus in English and the next, we were praising Him in Spanish. Even though the words were foreign to my lips it didn’t negate the power of our voices blending together – the  sweetest praise ever.  There are no barriers when hearts are united as one.

Wonder what it will be like in Heaven?  Differences won’t matter.  Color of our skin won’t be an issue.  Wealth or lack thereof won’t get in the way.   Remnants of sin will be erased. Strife, opinions and preferences gone.  We no longer will be outdoing, out-performing or out speaking over others.  Humbly we will bow and worship with one voice praising our God!

Until that day, we remain. Yes, we remain in a fallen world where differences scream loud and barriers rob us of connection.  We miss the beauty and sweetness of oneness for the sake of being proud, arrogant and superior.  Definitely not God’s design for the “very good” He created.

Flip through the pages of Genesis and you will find oneness gone bad.  Impressed with themselves, the people allowed their “no barriers” to foster pride.  Their agenda was pronounced – let’s make a name for ourselves. Their plan was to build a city and high tower with its top reaching into the heavens.  Their goal – if we do this together, we will not be scattered over the face of the earth.  But God was fully aware of their agenda.  Their oneness had become the beginning of their undoing and scattering so God confused their tongues.

Decades have passed since that pivotal moment when we no longer spoke the same language.  And somewhere in the midst of all that, we harbored preferences and divisions.    God’s purpose was to render us humble; the enemy’s agenda was to use it to keep us prideful.  Why?  Because as long as we are divided, we are weak.  When we prefer us over them, we are missing out.  When we choose to pursue our rights, we overlook their rights. Bottom line, we miss the beauty and power of the “very good” God intended.

United as one isn’t just a voice but a living that happens day in and day out. It’s the building of a bridge that ties us all together – God’s creation in perfect harmony. Wonder what our world would be like if we truly believed that “very good” was intended for us all?

“Sweet Jesus help us to embrace our world with love and grace the way You intended.”

 

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 23, 2017

What About….?

“If I want him (John) to remain until I come, Jesus answered, “what is that to you? As for you (Peter) follow Me.” John 21:22 (HCSB)

The cover was beautiful; the back-story intriguing. The perfect read. An hour later and that “perfect” read was much less than I had expected. The story line was boring, confusing and going nowhere fast. Luckily, I had lots of options filling my shelves so I made a quick switch and this time it delivered.

Ever wished your life story could be traded for a more glamorous, easy, picture perfect re-write? Or better yet, how about leaving our story behind and grabbing someone else’s? I’d have to admit there have been moments, yes days, where those thoughts entertained my mind. Easy to get lost in someone else’s story. Easy to picture perceived perfect lives when we measure them by Facebook posts, tweets, casual encounters and appearances. Easy to view our lives as less than if we’re always looking…desiring what we don’t have. Questions flood where doubts rise.

Love the way Jesus reminds us that “our journey” is priceless. Grateful for the mercy He showed Peter when John’s unknown destiny seemed too enticing. Backtrack just a few moments of Peter’s story and you find him in the presence of the risen Son of God. Fully restored, destined to feed Jesus’ sheep, but it would come at a price. Perhaps John’s story would have a grander, happier, easier ending – what about…..?

Jesus met Peter’s questions not with explanation but with a simple invitation “Follow Me.” “Don’t reach for someone else’s life……..keep your gaze fixed on Me and watch in amazement as your story unfolds.”

What about us? If we chose to “Follow Jesus” our cover will be beautiful; our backstory intriguing – it will be the perfect read.

“Sweet Jesus, the story of our lives unfolds day by day – moments we don’t want to miss because questions occupied our minds or discontent clouded our vision. Teach us to trust You with the unknowns and be fully satisfied.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 22, 2017

He Loves Us Despite Our Differences

“Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Luke:10-38 (NIV)

I am a lover of people. My mom, on the other hand, has always been a lover of nature, especially plants and flowers. She could spend hours unending in a garden, making sure that her plants are getting the proper nourishment they need to survive the different temperatures and seasons of the year.

Recently, mom came to visit me for a few days and I took her with me to Western New York to visit two of my sons and their families. While I was ecstatic to be around my children and grandchildren, it was not hard to see that mom would get tired of human company and get eager to return to our hotel room to read or just chill. Nonetheless, any time we would be riding in the car and she would spot a field of flowers, she would immediately ask me to stop the car, so she could go and get a picture with them.

The Bible mentions two sisters who were very different in spite of being blood related. The first one, Martha, was depicted as a servant, a doer, while the other, Mary, was known to be a lover of the Word, a listener. Both were doing something important, but in the eyes of many, Mary could have come across as lazy and insensitive.  She savored every word spoken by her Master Jesus (Luke 10:38-42), while her sister Martha worked so hard in the kitchen preparing food for all who were there.

The golden years are not easy; those living through them must adjust to going from a life of independence into a life that brings them to be surrounded by people who may not understand their dilemma and may end up being a source of anxiety. My mom may not be the lovey-dovey type of person I probably would have chosen for her to be, but in her own way, she marks her presence. As for our trip together, nothing was more rewarding than watching her big smile as she strategically placed herself among flowers for a quick photo. That is who Mom is. And that is how I will remember her by.

 
“Lord, we are so similar and yet so different, and You love us all the same.”
 

For His Glory

Luska Suzano
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Freedom, Hope, Love

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