Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 13, 2015

Make Memories Today

cb devo aug 13“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:13-14 (NIV)

It’s so easy to get caught up in jobs, family time, and ministry commitments. Busy can be a bad thing when you are focusing more on what’s coming tomorrow and not living in the moment of today. After I was married, I moved away from my immediate family and the budget didn’t allow for many visits back home. We saw each other briefly at major events like a wedding or a funeral. Trust me a funeral is not when you want to finally get together and connect with your family. Add in the fact my family had a tendency to be workaholics, and it was extremely difficult to coordinate a time to get together.

Three years ago my husband and I took the first EVER vacation with my family that included both of my brothers. We enjoyed the time together and promised to not let too much time slip away before the next vacation. Again it took two years before we got together as a family last summer. The time together was great but over too soon. If I knew what was to come I would have planned a longer time together. Within hours of celebrating my birthday last October, my middle brother passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack. In a blink time stopped and our lives were forever changed.

Sadly we have gone out of our way since then to plan times together as family. Gone is the focus on working to make money and in return, we focus on making memories together. God has our life planned from the moment we are conceived; every person, place, and event has a purpose. Seeking God daily will ensure we are in the right place with the right people to live life abundantly as God intended it.

“Dear God Thank You for the family, friends, and coworkers You place in our lives. May we learn to interact with others according to Your will and not waste precious time with the wrong people in the wrong place.

For His Glory,

Katrina Redman
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 12, 2015

A Breath of Fresh Air

cb devo aug 12“The waves of death overwhelmed me; floods of destruction swept over me.” Samuel 22:5 (NLT)

It’s Monday and Friday is coming. Friday is the big deadline for several projects. Monday the pressure is on, the papers are not yet designed or printed. Several on the team are on vacation this week. Another project was just handed over to the team. A mandatory meeting is now scheduled on Wednesday. The phone will not stop ringing and the emails number is growing.

Setting project priorities is a great plan until they are all a 1. Suddenly the water level is up to your nose in your mind. Your head is about to explode. You wonder what you have gotten yourself into.

Take a deep breath, stretch your arms above your head, exhale. Ahh, the situation hasn’t changed, but you have taken a moment to catch your breath. Close your eyes and give it to Jesus. Focusing your attention back on Jesus allows you to conquer the world, or maybe that’s not His plan. His plan is possibly to just free you from the stress. Time will tell, but the pressure doesn’t have to be there. The sweetness of having Jesus standing alongside you can bring an overwhelming flow of fresh air and calmness. He alone is the answer to our prayers. He alone can solve the the dilemma. Will you trust him enough to hand it over?

“Father, I can’t do this, there is so much work to be done. It’s only going to get done with Your help. I trust You with my schedule and to do list. Thank You for the reminder to stop and focus my attention back on You.”

For His Glory,

Debbie Struble
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Gratitude, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 11, 2015

Best Inheritance

cb devo aug 11“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 (NIV)

When Aristotle Onassis, Greek multimillionaire died in 1975, he left his wife Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and his daughter Christina big inheritances translated in large sums of money and lavish homes, cars and boats. Unfortunately, money does not buy happiness or health, nor does it last forever. As a matter of fact, if poorly administered, it can vanish in no time.

I recently watched the movie “Faith of Our Fathers,” which tells the story of two young men, John Paul George and Wayne Adams. The two young men had been raised by their mothers, as both their fathers served during the Vietnam War, where they met. The story of their fathers repeated itself in the lives of their sons. John Paul was a Christian and Wayne played a rough-around-the-edges young man. In a sequence that showed how the two fathers met, interacted and died during the war. John Paul’s father – an aspiring young Christian minister who always prayed and read his Bible – led Wayne’s father to the Lord during their time together in Vietnam.

As the movie plot unfolds, the two young men go on a road trip together and get themselves in some sticky situations (just like their dads during the war). John Paul serves as a witness to Wayne, thus leading him to Christ (just as his dad had done to Wayne’s dad).

Christina Onassis, with all her money and power, lived a very sad life, deep into a depression that culminated with her addiction to the very drugs that were supposed to treat her illness. She died practically alone at the age of 37.

Money can buy material things, but it cannot buy eternity in heaven with the Lord. The best inheritance that a parent could leave behind for his or her children is a legacy of faith, the assurance that when all is said and done, they will be with their Lord in heaven.

“Father, thank You for the promise of life with You, which keeps us focused as we live in a world where nothing is guaranteed and all is temporary.”
For His Glory

Luska Suzano
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 10, 2015

Empowering Others

cb devo aug 10“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

“You have to share with your sister.” Ever heard those words? Childhood evokes lots of memories, and as much as I hate to admit it – I clung to my stuff. It was always my doll, my tennis racket, my dress….mine, mine, and definitely not yours. On the flip side, I had no problem with someone else sharing their stuff with me. Took great pleasure in wearing their clothes or playing with my cousin’s toys. Sounds selfish and one sided from my now adult viewpoint.

Sharing has always been a part of God’s vocabulary. When men were victorious in battle, they shared the rewards. And in the early church, God’s people were united in heart, mind and spirit. They shared everything – no one was lacking.

Ever unpacked what God would have us to share? First thoughts probably centered on possessions, money or food we could give, but what about our gifts and abilities? Each of God’s girls has been entrusted with at least one gift to use for His glory. And there’s nothing that pleases God more than to see the absence of comparing and the presence of sharing.

Got the gift of teaching, writing or singing? God takes great delight in those who pave the way for others to learn the ropes. He enjoys watching the seasoned speaker diffusing the fear of one who has never spoken before a small group. God welcomes the published author who gives away her secrets to a budding writer who is afraid to put words on paper. He is overjoyed when the recording artist harmonizes with the timid alto struggling to just stay on pitch. One accomplished investing in one desiring to simply please Jesus.

The body of Christ never shines brighter than when we uplift, inspire and empower all to glorify God with our gifts.

“Father, there is nothing sweeter than seeing Your girls working together. Thank You for the gifts You have entrusted to us.”
For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 7, 2015

Divinely Transplanted

cb devo aug 7“By faith, Abraham when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8 (NIV)

While I’ve never been guilty of purposely neglecting my family, I have on many occasions excused my plant duty. Having neglected my inside plants, I wasn’t shocked to find them limp. So this weekend, I showered them with water, fresh air and sunshine. Mission accomplished – my plants were once again revived. Two days later, I had to recount that statement. My favorite plant was wilting. Even with some special attention it was no longer thriving. My neglect hadn’t only withered its leaves, but had also stunted its growth. My plant had become root bound, and the confines of its small container left no room for its roots as they twisted around themselves. Easy solution – transplant my dying plant into a bigger container.

Sound familiar – do we every stunt our own growth? Do we ever settle for “this is all there is” instead of following God’s transplanting into “unknown territory?” Finding comfort in our contained world, we often want to stay where we are. The Christian life becomes easy and uncomplicated; we could do life on auto-pilot. But God’s desire is that we flourish, grow and stretch outside ourselves to produce vibrant, transforming growth.

Complacency is the great enemy to business success and it is no different in our spiritual lives. If we want to fulfill God’s calling, then we must be willing to exchange our comfortable surroundings for a divine transplanting.

“Father, the road ahead may be full of surprising twists and turns, but in the end it will yield a life thriving in the midst of your presence.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 6, 2015

Prayer Makes The Difference

cb devo aug 6“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” Nehemiah 1:4(NIV)

When Nehemiah heard about problems in his hometown, the first thing he did was fast and pray. It wasn’t a quick “heaven help me” kind of prayer instead it lasted for days. Nehemiah didn’t just ask for a solution from God, he offered up repentance for the sins that led to the destruction of the walls in Jerusalem and exile of the Israelites.

How many times do we run into problems and instead of admitting our part in creating some of them, we just want quick relief? Even better, we come up with our own plan to “fix” them. A recent sermon by a dear former pastor brought this warning/reminder: “Many times we come up with a plan and then ask God to bless it. Then we wonder why it failed.” Without confession of any sin that may have led to our problems, we are apt to repeat the same thing. It’s a cycle that can only be broken when we are truly repentant and ready to give everything over to God. Like Nehemiah we need to keep praying, waiting for God to reveal the next steps and then act upon it without wavering.

“Father, Help us to get the action plan of identifying the problem, praying for YOUR solution, and then acting upon what you tell us when problems arise. Thank you for giving us the wisdom to get through any situation.”

For His Glory,

Katrina Redman
TRBC Coffee Break

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Prayer

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 5, 2015

Beautiful

cb devo aug5“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)

My grandsons Jayden, 5, and A.J., 4, were shopping with their mom Liz on the day before her birthday. The little lads were informing every person in the store that it was their mama’s birthday and they needed to tell her she was beautiful. Their actions were making Liz blush as complete strangers walked up to her and told her she was beautiful and wished her a happy birthday. At the same time, it made her feel very special, because it was an action started by her children, out of their love for her.

I recently read in TRBC’s Family Time devotional that “friends of God tell their friends about God,” (p. 13). When I read that, I tried to imagine how God must feel when He receives the praise and worship of His children, which originate out of their love for Him!

After God parted the waters for the Israelites to cross the Red Sea, Moses and the Israelites sang to the Lord. Prophetess Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand and led the women in music and dancing (Exodus 15). King David praised God with his harp since the time he was a boy. When he was really excited about a victory, he and the entire company of Israel were in a parade, singing at the top of their lungs, and playing mandolins, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals! (2 Samuel 6)

We mustn’t forget that others are always watching us. Our God is awesome; He is still in the miracle business, and He loves His children. The question for us, then, is, “how are we showing others His love?”

The little incident with Liz and the boys has reminded me of Jesus’ words, “from the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.” (Matthew 21:16). In their own way, my grandsons knew how to brighten their mama’s day. I hope that my words and actions will do the same for my Lord Jesus.

“Lord, You are beautiful and more precious than silver or gold. Your love is unconditional and never-ending. My lips praise Your name.”
For His Glory

Luska Suzano
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Faith, Love, Spiritual Living, Worship

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 4, 2015

Storm Awareness

cb devo aug4“He opened the heavens and came down; dark storm clouds were beneath His feet.” 2 Samuel 22:10 (NLT)

Storm chasing can teach us many things. One of the most important things is the necessity of watching closely so preparations can be made before the storm hits. As a storm chaser, it is necessary to watch the radar looking for storms daily. Once one is viewed it’s important to map out where the storm is expected to hit. Then, they find the perfect viewing angle of the storm while staying in front of the storm for the best viewing and photos.

As a Christian, we have our own storms that pop up to destroy us. Satan comes as a thief in the night hoping to catch us off guard. He knows our weaknesses and plots to find just the right time to use them to hurt us and our faith. We need to be on guard at all times watching for the attacks. It’s important to stand firm in the Word – spending time memorizing scripture to strengthen our faith. It’s also necessary to have a regular time in prayer, so we can recognize God’s voice over the evil Satan wants us to believe. If we have a watchful eye and are listening closely for God’s voice, we can have the wisdom needed to know and prepare for the storm.
“Father, open my eyes and ears to the storms ahead. Give me the armor and wisdom needed to prepare for battle. In your precious name.”

For His Glory,

Debbie Struble
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 31, 2015

Glorifying God

cb devo July 31“Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:3 (NIV)

Home Economics was never my favorite class. In fact, I actually only made it through one semester. For some reason, cooking and sewing were foreign to me in my high school years. Maybe it had to do with the fact that my Mom rarely shared her kitchen. Regardless, I have grown to love cooking, but sewing is still on the back burner. I don’t even like the thought of sewing on a button, and I could never hem a pair of pants. Just the thought of a needle and thread sends me running in the opposite direction. Yet I would be the first to admit, I admire people who pick out fabric, a pattern and create something beautiful.

Amazing how God does the same thing. Created in His image, God picked us out and patterned our lives to convey the beauty of His glory. Like a single thread, He desires to weave all of our actions, words and thoughts into a tapestry of His glory that is beyond our imagination. We might look rough and messy on the flipside, but the One knitting our lives together will shine through for all the world to see. When we yield ourselves to the pattern of His love, our Designer label will draw others to admire His handiwork.

“Father, we magnify Your name, we praise the works of Your hands and we stand in awe of Your creativity. You alone are to be praised; use our lives to show the world how beautiful You truly are!”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Hope, Worship

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 30, 2015

From Spectators to Doers

cb devo july 30“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13 (NIV)

Just as a body has many parts and all the parts work together for the benefit of the whole, the family of God is spurred to encourage and build up one another, so the family lives in harmony.

In an old episode of The Waltons, John Boy (John Walton, Junior) was faced with an emotional crisis. He witnessed a historic disaster; the explosion of the German airship LZ 129 Hindenburg. It was a hard structure aircraft carrying 97 passengers, and as it was preparing to land at the Naval Air Station Lakehurst, near New Jersey in 1937 it exploded. John Boy was an aspiring journalist from a very small town. The fact that he witnessed the catastrophe and would write about it for newspapers around the area turned John Boy into a hometown hero. Everyone was singing his praises for having been present at such a horrid event.
What the townspeople did not know, however, was that John Boy wasn’t excited about what he had seen or experienced. On the contrary, he was tormented by visions of what had taken place, especially one female passenger who was severely burned by the oil from the aircraft. She exited the wreckage in flames screaming at him for help. John Boy did not want to make a name for himself by putting into the written word the chaos and panic that took place in New Jersey on that day.

Sometimes we are numbed to other people’s pain and suffering. Instead of extending a hand and helping, we watch as people get hurt and killed as if that were supposed to be the norm. We really should stop to consider that the same tragedy could happen to someone close to us. A good Samaritan once taught us a lesson of kindness. What did he do? He saw the need, and he reached out to save the life of a man he never once met before. We can, too!

“Father, remind us to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.”
For His Glory

Luska Suzano
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Attitude, Faith, Love, Mercy, Spiritual Living

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