Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 12, 2015

You Are His Child & He Loves You

cb devo june12“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” Isaiah 49:15 (NIV)

“A baby born without a nose” was the headliner that caught my attention while watching tv. The news reporter started talking to a young couple whose first-born son was actually born without a nose. The parents were completely surprised when the baby handed to them had something missing in his facial structure. They spoke of the mixture of shock and disbelief they experienced, yet the undeniable, unconditional love they felt for their tiny, helpless baby.

Extensive medical intervention was required to ensure he could go home and survive with just the help of his parents. In order to properly breathe and eat, the little bean had to undergo a tracheotomy, which, places a hole in the front of the neck of the individual. Mom and dad had to clean the baby’s neck constantly, to avoid blockages. Also, the baby required 24/7 monitoring, as he could stop breathing at any given moment.

Despite the challenges they faced, not once did either of them speak negatively about their child. When told that their baby pictures on Facebook could scare people, their response was, “you know, the fact he does not have a nose makes him unique, different and somewhat cute. This is our son and we love him.”

Have you thought of the many times God may have thought these very same words about us, His children? We are all His workmanship, His creation, and He treats each of us in a special way. We are not like defective toasters or other pieces of equipment that can be shipped back to the manufacturer for a better one. We are special to Him. You are special to God. Never forget that.

“Oh Lord, how reassuring it is to know that in Your eyes we are perfect and that Your love will always cover us.”

For His Glory

Luska Suzano
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Gratitude, Hope, Worship

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 11, 2015

Leaving Safe

cb devo june11“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3 (ESV)

I can still remember the moment my bat and that ball collided. The sound was awesome to a sports loving girl. I dug in deep and ran as fast as I could to first and then rounded second barely making it – but I was safe. Next batter up, my coach enticed me to steal third base, but I was glued to second. My feet were firmly planted on that white plastic base. His hand motions on the sidelines didn’t even phase me. However, no matter how much I wanted to stay, I couldn’t stay there forever. Winning the game meant I would have to leave second head to third and then home. Reality check – safe was a temporary place.

Feeling safe is definitely a non-negotiable for us girls. We hover over those we love attempting to protect them from moving vehicles, unhealthy friendships and every conceivable germ. Good safe reminds us to lock our doors, guard our hearts and choose close friends carefully. But sometimes our natural bend toward safe can keep us from God ordained faith steps – moving toward what we cannot see.

Abraham could have played it safe and stayed when God told him to leave his homeland. Esther could have played it safe and ignored the call to stand up for her people. David could have played it safe and resisted defending His God before the intimidating Goliath. Samuel could have played it safe and ignored the voice of God calling out to him in the dark of night.

Yes, we could all play it safe and dig our feet in deep right where we are, but we might miss the adventure of a lifetime. God is cheering us on from the sidelines, inviting us to let go of safe and trust Him. Let’s choose to win the race He has set before us and experience the joy of full obedience.

“Father, we are never alone in risking it all for Your glory – help us to release safe and trust You with the rest.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Spiritual Growth, Success

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 10, 2015

Glory Shining

cb devo june10“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is shining upon you.” Isaiah 60:1 (NLT)

We all have “something(s)” just between God and ourselves. That very personal one-on-one encounter with Jesus that no one else would understand. A sign you just know is from the Lord and all you can say is “thank you Jesus!”

A couple weeks ago, my neighbor was scheduled to have quadruple by-pass surgery. A dear friend and I agreed to join together in prayer over the phone to pray for my neighbor, which also happens to be her son-in-law. The morning of the surgery, early before the sun was up, my alarm went off. I called my friend and we prayed at the exact time of surgery. After praying, I looked at my e-mail. The very first e-mail I read was Isaiah 60:1. Remembering this verse means something, I smiled and told God thank you.

Dawn was breaking, but I still had time to lay on the sofa and within seconds rays of sunlight came through the window. Sunrays so vivid, so bright there was no way I could open my eyes for fear of being blinded…it was that intense! As I was basking in this wonderful light, I was analyzing how could the sun be coming in the window like it was because my house is situated in a heavily dense canopy of trees. The rays got brighter and brighter as they shone on my face, and I could feel their warming sensation. I knew this was one of those moments God was revealing Himself and just like the verse says, I knew the glory of the Lord was shining on me and no trees were going to stop Him.

“Thank you Jesus for revealing yourself in ways that are so personal meant for a one-on-one relationship with each and every one of Your children.”

For His Glory

Kim Lacey Schock
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Gratitude, Hope, Love, Worship

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 9, 2015

With All My Heart

cb devo june 9“To him who overcomes, I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7b (NIV)

First months of marriage are all so exciting! Sure, there are tiny little problems to overcome, but we work through them. We take rides, go for walks, and do other fun things together. Then children start coming and hubby’s job gives him longer hours. Before we know it babies turn into small people who have ball games, piano lessons, or swim meets. Disciplining children and escalating financial stress starts to take its toll. Unfortunately, we often feel like we’ve been treated unfairly and begin losing that loving feeling.

Wonder if we have lost our first love for God? Do we think He failed us in letting someone die, when we prayed fervently that they would live? Or did we lose a job and cannot let the bitterness die? Possibly our spouse is not as dedicated as we are, and he is pulling us away from worship, church friends, and the group we were close to. God wants our whole heart, soul and a love so faithful that He is on our mind in an exciting way each morning to see what His will is for the day. He hasn’t gone anywhere, but have we? Draw near to Him again, James tells us, and let Him draw near to You. Make that first move back to your first love!

“Father, we confess we are often unfaithful and let the busyness of our lives distract us from that first love we had for You. Help us to put You first each morning and to review our day when we lay down at night to see that we have remained in Your perfect will for us!”

For His Glory

Sandy Day
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Worship

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 8, 2015

Trusting God’s Provision

cb devo june 8“But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14 (ESV)

I watched them from my kitchen window. Birds searching through our grass for something to eat. So, I found some leftover bread and filled up our dry birdbath with a whole loaf. It was right within their reach or flight, but not where they expected to find it. My sweet feathered creatures were still searching on the ground not even glancing up. Incredible how some birds flew up to the edge expecting water and flew away leaving the bread as if I’d made a mistake. Eventually, they gave up and flew away – my bread crumbs still intact, overflowing – a filled basin.

A gentle whisper in my spirit asked, “How many times have I provided exactly what you need, but you’re still searching somewhere else?” Amazing how loud a whisper can be when we’re desperate to ignore it. Incredible how we try to drown out what God is patiently attempting to teach because we don’t want to see ourselves.

Too many times, our souls hunger for what we want. We continue searching for our ideal while dismissing God’s provision. Right within our reach, God is giving exactly what we need. Problem is, it doesn’t always look like what we envisioned. We’re convinced what we need is much better than what we see right before our eyes.

God will never force His children to receive what He has provided. He will never force feed us or demand that we accept what we really need. Instead, He lovingly gives us the freedom to choose to receive or fly away leaving sweet abundance and overflow behind. Let’s not miss the blessing.

“Sweet Jesus, You are our great provider – the One who promises to give us more than enough for all that we need – help us to trust in You completely.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Spiritual Living, Success, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 5, 2015

Where I Belong

cb devo june5“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control; will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” Philippians 3:20-21 (NIV)

After living in Moscow for two years, I thought I was pretty good at understanding the Russian language. One time, I was visiting a different city where the dialect was a bit different. While staying there, a neighbor frantically tried to tell me something; however, I couldn’t understand what she was saying. We played the usual charades, but she and I both walked away very defeated because I was still in foreign territory.

Sometimes I even feel like a foreigner in the United States. I don’t understand the cruelty I hear on the news. I am confused listening to parents scream obscenities at their children. I shrug my shoulders while reading news articles. I walk away feeling defeated, but God reminds me I will never feel at home on earth because I am an alien – a foreigner. The Bible tells us that we are citizens of heaven. Our lives may be grand on earth, but there will always be a longing that goes unmet while our feet are on this ground. One day we will be completely at home, at rest and at peace. Until then, just remember, we are aliens and strangers in this world, because we were made for heaven.

“Dear Lord: I long for heaven! I love my life here, and I am so thankful for all the blessings You provide every day. My life is but a breath, and I am thankful that my true citizenship is in heaven with You!”

For His Glory

Melissa Tucker
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Gratitude, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 4, 2015

Love One Another

cb devo june4“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 (NIV)

While studying this passage recently, I was struck by a few things. First, this was table talk following the Last Supper after Judas had left. So Jesus was talking specifically to the disciples that would start His church. He was talking to us, the church.

Secondly, He said that this was a new commandment. What made it new and different from the first of the Ten Commandments? Jesus went on to say, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” That’s a tall order. Jesus was always kind, patient, forgiving and always thinking about the needs of His disciples.

Lastly, Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples.” We are identified as Christ-followers not by attending Bible studies, sharing the gospel, feeding the poor…but by the way we love one another within the church.

So how are we doing? How am I doing? If we really love one another, as Christ loves us, the church would look radically different than the world. The world is fraught with strife; filled with self-ambition, gossip, deceit, envy and greed. If we let love overcome strife within our hearts and within the church, the church will become a powerful magnet. A magnet that draws those who are battle-weary from the strife of the world to Christ, our loving head.

“Jesus, thank you for loving us. Sometimes loving others, even within the church, is hard. Help us, in increasing measure, to love one another as you have loved us.”

For His Glory,

Ann Skalaski
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Love, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 3, 2015

Creating Space

cb devo june3“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.” Hebrews 4:9-10 (ESV)

Us Martins are terrible packers. Going on a road trip looks more like we are leaving home forever. By the time we pack for every conceivable weather condition, the car is begging for relief. Then we squeeze one more little thing in that tiny little space and slam the trunk shut before something falls out. Now we’re ready to go and attempt to enjoy our vacation.

Some days feel like a road trip even if we’re still at home. We load up our schedules with every possible event. We attempt to accomplish everything on our list. Prioritizing goes out the window as distractions surface. And at the end of the work day, we squeeze in just one more thing and pray we don’t have a heart attack. Exhaustion and anxiousness follows closely behind us. The important things we really needed to do somehow got shuffled to the bottom of our list. And as we sit around the dinner table irritability, frustration and weariness spill over into our plate. The edge of night finds us laying across the bed still dressed and makeup on drifting off to sleep.

Tomorrow always arrives sooner than we think. And the repeat of yesterday’s cramming will eventually zap us of wisdom, patience and peace. Juggling priorities isn’t an easy task. Saying no takes courage and sacrifice. Laying down our burdens and accepting what God wants us to accomplish requires discipline and submission. But the reward far outweighs the thrill and challenge of busy.

Instead of squeezing one more thing into our day, perhaps we could release some things and enjoy the space. Our souls would be refreshed and those around us would be blessed in the absence of our weary.

“Father, show us what is truly important and help us release our schedules into Your hands.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Attitude, Freedom, Spiritual Living, Success, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 2, 2015

Blessed Obedience

cb devo june2“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do, says the Lord Almighty, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you!” Malachi 3:10 (NLT)

God is a gracious God and if you are not a tither it is never too late to begin. Phew! Thank goodness God does not look at our arrearages, He meets us right where we are in our first steps of obedience. So let’s not miss the blessings specifically attached to tithing. At the same time, He is a God of justice, order and principle. God has a special blessing in store for the tither.

Ten percent of increase no matter the amount is equal at the feet of Jesus. If you make $10 a week than your tithe is $1. If your neighbor makes $1000 a week than their tithe is $100. The tithe may be more or less than your neighbor, but the obedience of giving the tithe is the same. I learned many years ago that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and He doesn’t need our money; He wants our obedience.

God says, “I WILL open the windows of heaven for YOU”. “I will” is a promise. He continues and says, “I WILL (another promise) pour out a great blessing.” “A” blessing…meaning it’s only going to take “one blessing” to overtake you. The King James version of the Bible has 31,102 verses and this is the only verse that God specifically says to test Him (exclamation point)! Meaning God feels strongly about His statement. Then He says, “let me prove it to you (exclamation point)!” Another feel strongly statement.

God tells us to test Him! and try Him! because He wants to prove! His promise to us. Be a tither and put God to the test.

“Father, we can never out give your love and blessings – teach us to be cheerful, obedient givers.”

For His Glory

Kim Lacey Schock
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 1, 2015

Revealing Beauty

cb devo june1“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” I Corinthians 3:6 (ESV)

Helping Mother Nature along never really works does it? An early Spring with warm temps made me anxious for flowering blooms on my house plant. And some fresh air was just what I thought would do the trick. A relocation to our patio for a few hours couldn’t possibly hurt. Only problem – I forgot beloved plant and left it out until the next day. Did I mention that the temps dropped drastically to the 40’s that night? Needless to say, there are no flowering blooms – just stunted growth and drooping discolored leaves.

Impatience rarely reveals beauty. And while my plant may bloom again someday it definitely won’t this Summer. My desire to rush and force growth hindered the beauty that would have been revealed if I had only waited.

Wonder if that applies to people? How often do we get impatient with others? Our time table says growth should be evident. They shouldn’t be stumbling with the same old sins, habits and temptations. Haven’t we shown them the truth, the light, the way? What about all those discussions we’ve had in our life group? Were they simply not listening?

It’s so easy to judge from the outside looking in. Because all we see is the outward. God, however, looks deep beyond the surface. He searches our inner most being and only He sees the little sprouts of growth taking place. What we impatiently view as immaturity and laziness – God may see as baby steps attempting to move in the right direction. And with a lot of grace and just the right encouragement those feet are destined to land firmly on solid ground.

So let’s leave impatience behind – because God’s beauty within the soul of His child is worth the wait.

“Father, help us to pray, encourage and share lovingly with others. Remind us daily where we have been and how You lifted us up and restored beauty beyond our dreams.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Attitude, Mercy, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

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