Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 12, 2015

Seeing With Your Heart

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”  Matthew 5:8 (NIV)

What we feel in our heart reflects what we see around us. If our heart is cold and bitter, then we will see the negative around us. If our heart is full of Christ, we will see the blessings around us. What starts in the heart also comes out in our actions and attitudes. While we may not actually verbalize how we are feeling inside, in some way those feelings will come out and be seen by others. That’s why the Bible tells us it is blessed to have a pure heart. A pure heart is more compassionate, loving and responsive. When our heart is tainted with sin, lust or hate then we are more likely to be moody, depressed, angry and withdrawn. None of those are pleasant to deal with or be around. Opening up our heart to God ensures we are living the abundant and full life God wants us to have.

“Dear God, Help us to check our heart and make sure it is pure in Your eyes. Reveal to us any areas that may be keeping us from having a pure heart and abundant life in You.”

For His Glory,

Katrina Redman
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Attitude

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 11, 2015

Captivated By His Peace

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.”  Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

It’s Thursday night and you could hear a pin drop at my friend’s house.  Stopping by to leave some cookies, I found her children studying for the dreaded Friday tests.  While I was looking forward to my last day at work that week, these children were dreading the “big test” day.  As I deposited my cookies and left, I whispered a prayer –  “Father, help them remember the things they have learned and allow them to rest knowing You are there to help them.”  A simple prayer that moments later captivated my attention.  While I wasn’t facing a “big test” on Friday, I was facing some major challenges.  And just as these children were studying and preparing, God had been preparing and beckoning me to His Word in preparation for another “big test” in my life.  The only problem –  my focus was locked in on the dread of the outcome rather than on my Rescurer.  Encouraging scripture would fill my mind one minute, and then within seconds overwhelming thoughts would drown them out.  Desperately waging this battle, I cried out “Father help me remember the things you have taught me.”  As I whirled those thoughts back onto my God and His awesome faithfulness, I found my spirit lift as I rested in His presence.  And as I continued this practice, God captivated my attention with His peace as my mind stayed focused on Him.

“Father, just the thought of You rescues my life from swirling anxious moments.  How blessed we are to rest in Your presence!”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 10, 2015

Tough Love

“The Lord corrects those he loves just as a parent corrects the child they delight in.”   Proverbs 3:12 (NCV)

Ever feel blind sighted?  Our children are precious miracle gifts from God who we adore, yet we can get blind sighted by them.  Growing up I heard, “Be careful what you do, because your children will grow up to be just like you.”  As children we often find that funny; how can that be true?  Then children come along in our own lives.  They look like us, talk like us, act like, and sometimes despise studying and school like us.  Oh the agony of that warning echoing in our heads.    School and studying are very important in our lives, but it takes some of us to be in our 30’s or 40’s to recognize it.  God is such a merciful God and like us sometimes takes humor in watching our lives play out.  As I’m here writing devotionals, I am reminded how much I hated grammar, spelling, reading, and English.  Who would have ever thought I would be writing; this is all very much God ordained and prompted.  How many times does God have to ask us to do something before we say, “Yes, Lord, here am I?”  We may stomp our feet, run the other direction like Jonah, or just say “NO!”  God then has to remind us that He loves us. And because He loves us, we must go thru a time of correction so He can get our attention. Sometimes our correction has humor; sometimes it is painful, but always full of love.   It is all part of growing up so we can be more like Him and show others His goodness.

 

“Father, help me to learn to obey the first time so I can avoid duplicate lessons and grow closer to You.”

For His Glory

Debbie Struble
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Love, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 9, 2015

Jesus Life Coach Extraordinare

“Teach me to do Your will for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” Psalm 143:10 (NIV)

Looking for the next best career move?  What about the second fastest growing industry in the world?  Promising to get us out of the rut, unstuck and propelled forward to reach our potential, life coaching is quickly becoming the buzz word of the century.  Trained professionals help clients put their plans into motion, tackle challenges and develop strategies to maximize their results.  Sounds like the perfect way to awaken our deepest passions and achieve the best life ever!  While life coaching may be a new and flourishing profession, it’s a concept created by God Himself.  Empowerment, wisdom, direction and guidance all compose facets of God’s divine connection to the heart of His creation.  From the moment we breathed our first breath, God has been our personal coach inviting us to join His team.  And for those who accept Christ as Savior, we get the privilege of His daily inspiration and leading as we run the race of a lifetime.  No matter what our challenge – professional, personal, spiritual, financial, relational – our life coach has all the answers.  He specializes in moving us out of the rut and positioning us for the best life ever!  Guaranteed to deliver on His promises, God – our life coach – extends this invitation to each of us.  Stuck in a rut – reach for His outstretched nail pierced hands.  Looking for clear direction – fall down at His feet.  Frustrated by unfulfilled dreams – climb up in His lap.  Unsettled about tomorrow – trust His Spirit to lead you.

“Father, You are my God, my teacher and my life coach – how sweet it is to follow Your voice.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 6, 2015

Intentional Connections

cb devo feb6“For ye were as sheep going astray….” I Peter 2:25 (KJV)

 

Slowly, gradually without direction or purpose…that’s how relationships fade. Most times, we don’t even see it coming – the lag between closeness and distance. One minute we’re sipping cappuccinos, laughing and sharing every detail of our lives. We remember birthdays and celebrate victories. Intentionally, we carve in time for face to face. And then ….well you know what happens… we get busy, distracted and covered up with commitments. Days go by and we wave through the crowd promising to call next week. Before we know it….next week becomes next month…..distance creeps, and we wonder what happened.

 

Now that wouldn’t happen to us would it? Whether it’s our fav shopping buddy, best friend, sweet sister or wonderful spouse – relationships will fade if we neglect them. It’s not like we plan to dismiss, ignore or disconnect from the people in our lives. It’s just that other things get in the way, and we know they will understand. Happens even in the most important relationship – our connection with God. Innocently we move further and further away – skipping pivotal moments in His word – shortchanging conversations at His feet for our list of increasing demands.

 

God has shown us the perfect formula for successful relationships. And it all starts with intentional connection. It involves investment, sacrifice and a genuine passion to know the people in our lives. It requires an ongoing dialogue with our God and not just a quick urgent plea when life gets messy. It means being in the moment with whoever we are with at the moment. Making them a priority in our disconnected world. Yes, even grace covers our pulling aways – but God’s ideal is for us to reap the pleasure of being totally connected to Him and the people He brings into our life.

 

“Father, we are so prone to wander…hopelessly drifting… and then our Shepherd finds us, calls us and brings us back – thank You Sweet Jesus.”

 

For His Glory

 

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 5, 2015

God’s View

cb devo feb5“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed, it was very good!” Genesis 1:31a (NKJV)

 

Looking out an airplane window, I saw blue skies and the sun shining. Down below, however, there was nothing except thick, white, billowy clouds. They looked like huge piles of Cool Whip.  It was awe-inspiring to realize that God is so personal in our individual lives. His amazing power to create the entire universe does not hinder Him from seeing through the “clouds” into our very hearts and actions!  With my human eyes nothing on earth was visible: with His Omnipotent eyes, nothing is invisible!

 

The white was almost too bright for my eyes, and it reminded me of when Moses had been in the presence of God so long the Israelites could not look at his face! And the beauty of the Lamb of God is likened to the white such as no “dry cleaner” on earth can attain!  The beautiful sight of white clouds reminded me that God sees me clothed, not with my filthiness, but the robe of Christ encompassing my human form.  Someday, that robe will have a crown and rewards added to it, so that they may be laid at the feet of Jesus!  How incredible that is!

 

 

Such a gorgeous creation God has made for us to enjoy, even if we do have to fly above the clouds to see some of it!  He’s so incredible, so magnificent, and we take Him so lightly!  Oh, that we would have a holy reverence for Him as we walk here on His earth!

 

“Lord God, we honor and praise You for the glory and majesty of Your creation!  Help us, God, to always look at the things of life as representing You, as we long for the day when we look upon Your face!”

 

For His Glory

 

Sandy Day

TRBC Mountain Blend

 

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Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 4, 2015

Sharing His Amazing Story

cb devo feb4“So is my (God’s) word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)

We were sitting on the edge of our seats. Captivated by the story line in a movie and then….the unthinkable happened. A power surge at the mall resulted in an evacuation, and we missed the ending. Remember it’s the one that kept us sitting on the edge of our seats – caught up in a story that now we don’t know what happened next. Two days later, I’m still wondering but not enough to go buy the book and read the rest of the story.

Wonder how many times we leave others hanging without the whole story of Jesus? Do we give them a watered down version of the truth – what we think they will understand? Perhaps we leave out some really important details like grace, mercy and forgiveness. Could it be the story we’re telling focuses on rules, don’ts and warnings rather than sharing about the woman at the well, Jonah in the belly of the fish, the thief hanging next to Jesus, etc. Maybe we don’t share at all because we’re not really captivated by His message. Our enthusiasm and passion have faded. Or maybe we don’t even have an audience to hear what we have to say because they didn’t even know we knew Jesus.

Let’s give them something to talk about. Let’s share the whole truth – the amazing message of God’s love. Let’s keep them sitting on the edge of their seat captivated rather than bored or skeptical. Let’s lead them to His Book – the rest of the story.

“Father, give us a hunger to know every detail of Your story – help us to share the whole truth – knowing that You Word does not return void.”

 

For His Glory

 

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Faith, Gratitude, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 3, 2015

Clearing Out The Clutter

cb devo feb3“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21 (HCSB)

I was a bit fearful as we began the study, Breathe: Making Room for Sabbath…if you saw my closets and calendar, you would understand why. I was certain God would use this study to call me to get serious about clearing out the clutter and ordering my priorities.

Would he ask me to tackle the closets first, or would He be more concerned about the overcrowding which had crept into my schedule? As I leaned in to hear Him, He startled me with His loving whisper. Clear out the clutter in your heart. Seriously, God? Have you seen my closets? Do you see how busy I have become? I have some real work to do…

Unconvinced my heart was the project God wanted us to tackle, I set aside Breathe and turned to my daily devotional, New Morning Mercies. Running to something else when confronted with something uncomfortable. Surprisingly my breath was taken away by these words: “You and I don’t need to be rescued from the idols around us, we need to be rescued from our idolatrous hearts.” The scripture reference was Ezekiel 20, where the word Sabbath is used six times. Thank you, Lord, for your gentle confirmation.

Opening my heart to Him, God began showing me what needed to go. Hurts I was holding on to, fear of rejection and failure that was holding me back, good things—friendships, work, marriage, the perfect pair of shoes—that I had made in to ultimate things (idols); wanting them to meet needs that only Jesus can meet. Lesser things taking up space in my heart. Space I want to reclaim so that I can love Him and others better.

So, I will work at this…cleaning out the clutter of my heart. Maybe I’ll get to the closets, too…

 

“Thank you, Lord, that you know us better than we know ourselves. Give us the wisdom and courage to get rid of everything that cannot be used to bring You glory.”

 

For His Glory

Ann Skalaski
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Spiritual Growth, Success, Wisdom, Worship

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 2, 2015

Navigating Non-Negotiables

cb devo feb2“Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you.” Psalm 86:2 (NIV)

Wonder if we have any non-negotiables in our lives? You know like things we just won’t change. Or maybe its things we just won’t do. Perhaps it’s a standard we won’t compromise or a discipline we’re not willing to cast aside.

Non-negotiables can be bad or they can be good. Being stubborn and demanding our own way will definitely make us a friend to be avoided. Being prideful and choosing only certain tasks will eventually limit our possibilities to grow. Standing firm in our convictions will absolutely set us apart from the crowd. And maintaining our priorities will position us for the best rather than just good enough.

So, where are we hovering in our non-negotiables? Do we do things the same way we always did or are we adventurous and willing to follow God’s lead? Change invites growth and flexibility. Learning to approach a situation differently takes courage. Accepting another view of a situation can enable us to extend grace rather than cast judgment.

Are we resisting some non-negotiables because we would have to leave the gray areas for the pursuit of holiness? Might it involve choosing to look different instead of blending into the crowd? Respect is earned even if others don’t agree when we choose to stick to our values. Maintaining integrity is crucial if we want to be influencers in a world where instability reigns.

Flip through the pages of scripture and we will find people who chose their non-negotiables carefully. Joseph’s guarded heart, Job’s protected eyes and Esther’s brave convictions positioned them to reap the rewards of good non-negotiables. Praying Jesus finds us there too – unashamed of what we believe.

“Father, You have given us the gift of choice – help us to lean into Your wisdom and reap the rewards of a life lived with integrity.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | January 30, 2015

Trusting God With The Unfixables

cb devo jan 30“So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered our prayer.” Ezra 8:23 (NIV)

 

When there’s nothing we can do to help, solve, or fix – it’s excruciating to just let go. As women, we are natural nurturers. If someone is sick, we drop off chicken soup. If a friend needs a ride, we don’t mind being their taxi. If a neighbor dies, we organize meals for the family and our casserole shows up the next day. The list goes on and on….from bandaging our children’s knees to treating our discouraged teenager with a trip to Starbucks. Sorrow, drama, and challenges thrust us into action – help mode.

 

But what happens when we can’t help, solve or fix? Found myself there last year. Sweet friend was battling cancer 3+ hours away. Chicken soup doesn’t ship well. Distance prevented taxi rides to chemo. All I could do was wait for updates. Helplessness wasn’t my friend – I so wanted to be a part of her solution. And then God whispered exactly what he wanted me to do – pray.

 

While my friend was beginning chemo, I was praying. It seemed so insignificant compared to what everyone else that lived close by was doing.     I felt confined, hands tied because I longed to “do” so much more. I didn’t want to let go of my human nature and allow God to work supernaturally. And that’s where prayer walked in. Every day, I wrote out my prayers in a journal for my friend. Praying unceasingly as God showed me how to release my nurturing desires into His capable hands – accepting the role He designed for me. Not only was my friend encouraged by those words God gave to me in prayer, but I learned the power of prayers entrusted to One who can do so much more than we could ever imagine.

 

“Father, thank You for the gift of prayer; teach us to trust You with the ones we love.”

 

For His Glory

 

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

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