Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | November 13, 2014

Empowered By His Strength

cb devo nov 13“She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.” Proverbs 31:17 (NIV)

Every day, I have my “to do list” ready to go so my day will be productive. I can even hear the cheering of the crowd in my head as I put that check mark next to an accomplished task. I want to be a productive person! I want my work to matter. No matter how much planning or preparation, I will still have those days where things do not go quite as efficiently.

Overwhelmed by our to do list, we face constant demands that vie for our attention. We sift through the essentials and then we go to bed overwhelmed and exhausted. Next morning, we do it all over again. I’m so glad we don’t have to face our life lists alone! God offers to come along side of us giving us strength, perspective, and wisdom as we need it. That Proverbs 31 woman shows us that we need to face each of our tasks with God-power and a Godly-perspective. Once you read verse 17 and keep on reading it just gets better. Verse 31 shows us that she “…fears the Lord…” Her source of strength is rooted in faith and her dependence on God.

Your life list looks different from mine. We all have unique ministries, friendships, jobs, and responsibilities. No matter what you do, God can and will give you strength for each task when you prioritize Him and fear Him.

“Lord, I was created by You and for You. Please remind me on a daily basis that You are my strength and that everything that I do is for your honor and glory. Help me prioritize my life list today so I will glorify You!”

For His Glory

Melissa Tucker
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Success, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | November 12, 2014

Illuminating the Truth

Young Woman Facing the Sky“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:6 (NLT)

What do you do when someone is getting under your skin? Like they’re driving you crazy, and yet you sit there with your smile pasted on while your body is cringing in their presence. Usually it happens with someone you have to connect with – a co-worker, family member or perhaps a close friend. Whether they realize it or not, they’re pushing your buttons. Desperately trying to avoid an emotional outburst, we find ourselves hiding behind our feelings. And the closer the person is to us, the quicker we start stirring up our mind with negativity – building a list of all their wrongs. We see them in a different light or shall I say a different darkness. When my thinking chooses to maximize someone’s weakness, I lose sight of their strengths and my actions start to follow my thinking. Patience and grace slip under the table when I encounter this person. Responses spur out of my mouth and reactions follow leaving little for God to find pleasure in. Wonder what would have happened if instead of scrutinizing them, I got down on my knees and began to pray? Wonder if my patience level would have increased or better yet I might have gained wisdom in uncovering why they were getting under my skin? Prayer has an incredible way of illuminating the truth and supplying us with God’s grace. When we bring all our relationships to Him, He reveals the true value of their soul. Gently, He reminds us that this one was worthy of the cross – shouldn’t we see them that way too?

“Father, help me to love others by choosing to focus on their strengths while leaving their weaknesses in Your hands.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | November 11, 2014

Watch Out For Those Fruit Flies

MP900444313[1]“Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25 (NIV)

A co-worker recently stated he was experiencing a fruit fly problem at home and didn’t know how to get rid of the nuisance. The problem, however, was not finding a way to kill the little critters, which were multiplying by the minute, but to find the source of the problem.

A few days later, he shared what happened to the annoying fruit flies. When he got home, he noticed a dark cloud of them in a corner of his kitchen. He proceeded to see what was going on, and voilá, he found an entire bag of spoiled potatoes in the bin attracting the flies. Mystery solved he took the potato bin outside, disposed of the rotten potatoes, and scrubbed the bin before bringing it back into his home.

Bad habits can be a nuisance just like rotted potatoes and fruit flies. They start off in a subtle, almost non-perceptible way, and before we know it, we are acting just like a rotten potato. They look and smell bad, but beyond that, they’re unfit to be used for nutritive reasons: it is only good to be thrown out of the bin where good potatoes will replace it.

Unlike potatoes, we have the Holy Spirit, who can speak to us and give us conviction about the things we do that are harmful to our being. If we feel like He is telling us something, we should be still and listen. He may be telling us to watch out for those fruit flies that could be a sign we’re turning into a rotten potato.

“Dear God, sometimes our attitude may be rotten and may distance us from You. Please Lord, nudge us through Your Spirit and show us how to turn ourselves around, walk in step with Your Spirit, and avoid the nuisance of the fruit flies in our lives.”

For His Glory

Luska Suzano
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Attitude, Hope, Mercy, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | November 10, 2014

Where Fear Resides

cb devo nov 10“So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground.” Matthew 25:25 (NIV)

An entrusting of a great potential. A giving of an undeserved privilege. An excitement of a new challenge. A believing in a sweet promise. Sweet gifts left unwrapped. Fear stealing away ecstatic joy and pure peace in knowing we’re living in a place God ordained. Wonder why we settle for so less when He loves to give us so much more. Wonder when we will trust Him enough to cling, grasp hold of the awesome gifts within our reach. Wonder if we will miss out, because we thought we would mess up.

Satan’s lies greet each daughter of Jesus – “You’re not worthy enough, beautiful enough, smart enough to be used for His glory. Leave those giftings buried deep – the world offers so much more, the easier, simpler life.” And we buy in and sell out because fear overrides trust and unwrapped gifts line our shelves. Pretty ribboned packages longing to be released, used – a chance to shine for the One who reminds us “fear not.”

What gift has God entrusted to you sweet friend? Is there a lie of Satan that keeps drowning out your attempts to faithfully use your gift? What are you willing to do to experience the extraordinary pleasure of knowing you are pleasing God?

Fear will always keep us sidelined, but courage will thrust us out of our comfort zone. Fear will attempt to steal, kill and destroy. Courage will give us joy, purpose and everlasting fruit. Fear will always exist in this world, but courage will triumph if we make sure we are listening to the right voice.

“Father, help us to uncover, dig up and use the gifts You have entrusted to us . Equip us to be faithful stewards that produce everlasting fruit.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living, Success, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | November 7, 2014

Altar of Grace

cb devo nov 7“In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7 (NIV)

Have you ever wondered why there were so many shepherds in scripture? Maybe it was because lambs were in high demand. Innocent creatures lain bleeding upon an altar because of our need to be cleansed. I’ve often wondered what church would look like today if we had no mediator – no advocate. What if we had to purchase a lamb and walk down that aisle entrusting our pastor to intercede on our behalf. As the blood would spill on the ground would we finally realize the price tag of our sin? Would it be enough to transform our hearts and quicken our spirits? Unfortunately, some of us would find ourselves piling up credit card debt to the shepherds to cover the price of our sin. Desperately lost and in need of a Savior, we would walk that path too often. Eclipsing the pain of the cross, Christ saw the bigger picture in His suffering – redemption to the world. Was His death justified? No. Did He deserve it? No. Was it fair? No. Was it God’s divine plan? Yes. Was God glorified through it? Yes. Without pain, suffering and anguish we would not have free access to the Father; the gap between God and man would still exist. Our malls aren’t bombarded with shepherds making a quick sale on Saturday night. Our sin debt has been paid in full, and we can gather at His feet without the intervention of anyone else. We’re privileged, treasured and welcomed – maybe it’s time we realized He is enough to transform our hearts.

“Father, Your gift of salvation is freely available to all who come seeking forgiveness.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Faith, Gratitude, Hope, Mercy, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | November 6, 2014

In His Hands

cb devo nov 6“I am the Lord your God who takes you by your right hand and says to you, do not fear, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13

Ever longed to believe – to grasp hold of hope? I bought a small trinket inscribed on it a hope I dared to believe. How could I be so presumptuous to purchase something with such a bold statement? Something within me or shall I say Someone inside me compelled me so I did…in faith and had the trinket wrapped in pink.

On Sunday, I pressed the pink package into my friend’s hands requesting she keep this symbol of my faith until the time was right. I was halfway through 6 cycles of chemo for stage 2c ovarian cancer. My body was worn; I was tired. To believe I could survive took too much energy. But I kept putting one foot in front of the other relying on God.
Fast forward three months and chemo was finished…for now. The doctor reported a clean scan. My friend and sister-in-law were crying. I, however, was still back in the chemo chair in my mind. At a celebration dinner, my friend pressed the pink package back into my hands. I unwrapped it and read on the wings of a silver butterfly “I am a survivor. Bless this day.” Still struggling to believe, I held it in my hand and cried.

Despite the anxiety and tears, something amazing started happening. I saw butterflies everywhere. Multiple butterflies a day. One butterfly rose and circled me several times after brushing across my cheek; a kiss from heaven. Do I put my faith in butterflies? No, but they are a beautiful picture of transformation out of a dying process. God is using them at very unexpected and scary times to remind me He is there, He loves me, and He’s holding me by my right hand.

“Father, thank you for reminding me that You will bring beauty from ashes as long as I look to You.”

For His Glory

Jane Abernathy
TRBC Coffee Break

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Gratitude, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | November 5, 2014

Unstirred

cb devo nov 5“He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Luke 11:28 (NIV)

Pumpkin, eggs, oil, sugar and now to add in the flour, spices, baking powder and salt. Phone rings and my batter is left sitting on the counter. Moments later I return and pour it into the pan for baking.
Nothing brings on Fall like the smell of pumpkin muffins straight out the oven – yummy!

One bite – not quite what I expected. Two bites an d something definitely wasn’t right. Rechecking my recipe, I confirmed all the ingredients. So what went wrong? Retracing my steps revealed the culprit. When I returned from my phone call, I forgot to stir the batter. What looked like well mixed ingredients were actually lumping clumps that left a bad taste in my mouth when unstirred.

Don’t we just love it when God stirs our heart? We’re sitting in church and the pastor’s words stick . Or perhaps, we hear a song and the lyrics penetrate provoking deep emotion. Maybe we’re sitting with friends enjoying a pumpkin spice latte and God’s intervention in their life challenges us. Perhaps we’re curled up with His Word or praying and conviction stirs deep within us. All reminders that something needs to be changed.

Ever felt God’s stirring and walked away unchanged? Our intentions were good, but our actions were lacking. A distraction pulled us away. The moment slipped through our fingers, and God’s stirring in us didn’t produce His desired results. Unmixed stirrings left clumped yield undesirable results. Change only occurs when we allow His stirrings to be complete, thorough, totally mixed until our yucky is transformed into His beauty. The life that truly glorifies God is the one that welcomes and invites His holiness to penetrate us from the inside out.

“Sweet Jesus, gently You speak, compel, and invite us to partake of Your righteousness – help us to respond without delay.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living, Success, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | November 4, 2014

My Hope – His Mercy

cb devo nov 4“When the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud that it made the ground shake!” 1 Samuel 4:5 (NLT)

When my mother was a little girl she was given a Lane cedar chest. A hope chest where she stored her childhood memorabilia. When my daughter was born, I painted it white to match her nursery décor and used it as a toy chest. Twenty-five years later, that beloved chest has a new paint design in John Deere colors and my daughter uses it as a toy chest for her son. To say the least, that cedar chest is a cherished family heirloom.

I believe there was a “hope chest” mentioned for the first time in Exodus. The Ark of the Covenant. The ark served as a symbol of the presence of God and as the throne of God. Inside the ark was manna, Aaron’s staff and the Ten Commandments. These three articles were preserved in the ark throughout Israel’s history reminding them of God’s provision, sovereignty and holiness. Everywhere they carried the ark, the Israelites were victorious; yet when they turned away from His presence, they were helplessly defeated.

The ark of the covenant was the base of God’s mercy seat. The mercy seat was a covering to remind us of our need for a Savior. Aaron was the first high priest that offered blood sacrifices of bulls and goats. But Jesus our last High Priest shed His blood upon the mercy seat to cleanse us once and for all. A Savior full of mercy and grace. God sits upon His mercy seat and shows us forgiveness after forgiveness time and time again.

“Father, You are full of loving kindness and your mercy covers all our iniquities. Thank You for the shed blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all our sins.”

For His Glory

Kim Lacey Schock
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Mercy

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | November 3, 2014

Authentic Faith

cb devo nov 3“They said, “Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man (Jesus) was true.” John 10:41b(NIV)

The tangible, the visible – always looking for a sign. Isn’t that where we often find ourselves? Longing for confirmation. Waiting it out to see what takes place. Questioning, analyzing – even attempting to discredit. So how does believing what we can’t see (faith) fit into our agenda?

Enter John the Baptist – the forerunner of Christ – preparing the way. Preaching repentance. And then as quickly as he came on the scene, he fades in the distance. Amazing that John was remembered not because of what he did but because he spoke the truth. Incredible how John could fade, pull away from the crowds because Jesus was the One they should follow. Everything John had said about Jesus was trustworthy and true. Without a moment’s hesitation, he quietly and graciously moved to second and Jesus became first.

Wonder if we’ve been looking for tangible proof? Wonder if we’ve exchanged authentic faith for a cheap visible replica? It’s so easy to base what we believe on what we see rather than what we have heard. It’s challenging to trust what we can’t see rather than believe what others tell us. Satan loves to swirl our thoughts, curiosity and insecurities into doubts. He loves to discredit the reality of God’s presence. But he, the evil one, does not speak truth. His lies may paralyze and discourage, but the truth of God exposes all Satan’s tricks.

Still looking for the tangible, the visible – the beauty of creation cries out the truth of our amazing Creator. Longing for confirmation – search deep into His Words, and we will find God to be faithful and true!

“Father, help us to believe, speak and live out the truth of who You are – our incredible God!”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | October 31, 2014

Changing Seasons

cb devo oct31“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Ecclesiastes 3:11a (NIV)

Love standing in the warm rays of sunshine on a cool Fall day. Clinging to every glimpse of color – admiring the morning sky painted in hues of pink and dark midnight. And when evening’s heavy fog settles in, awe reminds me that the edge of winter is before me. I smile at God’s grace letting me relish in one more day. It’s a fading away – a moving to another place another season. Love greets us at every transition even those we’d rather not embrace. Mercy follows us when the road is hard and the chilling cold settles deep in our soul. Grace covers us in the early dawn as we converse with God disagreeing and struggling through disappointment. Peace surrounds us when our heart still aches for yesterday. Worship overwhelms us. Seasons He allows – seasons we choose to question. Moments we endure; moments treasured by a loving God. Growth that blossoms adorned in pain moving us closer to the breath of God. Life fertilized in His wisdom producing fragrant, everlasting beauty. An opportunity to reflect God’s image mirrored to a hungry world while our world is emptied out. Yet we often long for the easy life, the calm season – the tranquil path. Simple, undisturbed seasons resonate within our souls. Choosing the deeper places rather brings Him the highest glory. God welcomes each season of our lives; His signature etched on each one. He dances in the raindrops of our laughter. He collects our tears in the sleepless nights. He jumps for joy in our victories, and He stoops to make us great in our defeats; our awesome God whispering I love you in every season.

“Our everlasting God, we cherish Your presence in all the moments of our lives.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Hope, Love, Worship

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