Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | October 2, 2014

What Will You Choose?

MP900443258[1]“If you listen to correction to improve your life, you will live among the wise. Proverbs 15:31(NCV)

Do you remember getting caught doing something you weren’t supposed to do? As a teenager, I went with friends to a concert I didn’t have permission to attend. When my friend’s mom picked us up, she told us how she had lied and disobeyed as a child. She also stressed the importance of trusting our authority in their decisions even when we didn’t like them. I can still feel the ache in my heart knowing I had lied. My parents were waiting for me to get back, sitting in their car, disappointed and hurt. They spent a lot of time in prayer that night for guidance. It was a very long quiet ride home. I knew I had messed up, I knew there would be severe consequences for my disobedience. I had the choice to listen, take the punishment and change my ways or continue paying the price.

God’s choice for us is always to obey and listen with the right heart attitude, but it’s so hard some days. Satan makes the temptation seem so appealing. He fools us into thinking that we got caught that time but next time we’ll know what not to do. He says, “You don’t want to lose your friends, status, or whatever right?” God gives us a free will to choose obedience or not, to listen or ignore. God’s promises always hold true – when we listen to correction and change our ways, we will be among the wise.

“Father, open my eyes to the things I’m blinded to, give me the wisdom to hear your correction and change my ways so I may be among the wise.”

For His Glory,

Debbie Struble
TRBC Coffee Break

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

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | October 1, 2014

Illuminating Hope

cb devo sept20“But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you (God) more and more.” Psalm 71:14 (NIV)

Empty cup viewed as full – the way my Dad saw all of life. Regardless of finances, struggles or defeats, he never lost sight of the Hope Giver – confident, trust in God is contagious. When we see and watch others living out their faith day in and day out, we desire what they have. We want the Abraham faith that walks in obedience regardless of the sacrifice. We want the Noah faith that acts in obedience regardless of what other’s think. We want the Sarah faith that despite emotions and doubts reaps the blessing beyond human logic. We want the Rahab faith that believes in the One who redeems and invites despite a record of wrongs.

Confident, trust in God fills every inch of reasoning, and welcomes Him as the Only One who can fill us up. Placing our faith and trust in His abilities spreads beyond our story and unfolds in those who watch remembering what God has already done. Like a raging epidemic, hope realized inspires us to hang on, hold on, cling to, depend in regardless of the circumstances.

Empty cup viewed as full – always when we put our faith and hope in God. Positions us to draw others to the amazing character of our God. Speaks volumes to a world longing/searching for someone to believe in. Encourages obedience even when the price is high. Awakens obedience despite the outcome. Inspires obedience when perceived solutions don’t add up. Desires obedience regardless of our past. Women living out their faith day in and day out – blessings that overflow – hope that surpasses our wildest dreams.

“Father, open our eyes to see all that You have done – infuse us with Your hope that sustains and uplifts.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Gratitude, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 30, 2014

Shifting Sand

cb devo sept30“But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.” Matthew 7:26 (NIV)

There is something unsettling about sand moving out from under your feet. No matter how much you dig your feet into the sand, a strong ocean wave can knock you down. The sand shifts with the ebb of the waves and there is no way you can control it. Trying to make it in this world without Christ as our foundation is as foolish as building a house on the sand. Without a firm, solid foundation unmovable as a rock, the house will fall when a huge storm comes along. While we may be firmly planted in our thoughts and principles, the first wave the world sends will knock us down if we don’t have a strong spiritual foundation. Like shifting sand, the world’s ideas tend to go with the latest thing to make us happy or feel good. Relationships, vices like food, tv shows, or other addictions, and even good things like ministry will only make us happy temporarily. Unless our happiness is rooted in Christ and He is the foundation we base everything else on, nothing will last. If you’ve been standing on shifting sand, God is ready to pull you back on His solid foundation. Just reach out and make that first step.

“Heavenly Father, May we quit going with what the world says is a sure thing and grab on to You and Your word that never changes. Thank you for being the firm foundation we need.”

For His Glory,

Katrina Redman
TRBC Coffee Break

Have you ever invited Christ into your life to be your firm foundation? Reply to this devotional, and we will be happy to help you get your feet on solid ground.

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Posted in Faith, Success, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 29, 2014

Second Thoughts

MP900443687[1]“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14 (NIV)

Cool September morning traveling down the interstate. Heated seats on my side while husband runs air conditioning on his side – figure that one out – no way. Three hours later and the sun beaming down; I’m cutting up the air, rolling down the window. Surely this isn’t a hot flash. Hope I’m not running a fever – never occurred to me to cut off those heated seats. What once made me comfortable was suddenly too much. Didn’t even realize the source.

Sound familiar? We often find comfort in what temporarily satisfies. Feels good in the moment. Works for us today. Solves the immediate need. But when the overheating of our reactions or words hits us head on, our outside world can heat up real fast.

How do we handle those moments when we find ourselves sitting on the hot seat. Unsure of how we got there because forgetting and denial served us well – temporarily. Anxiety reigning high. Thoughts swirling out of control – how can we get out of this mess fast? We seek quick solutions with no regard for the lasting impacts. Good intentions perhaps, but unexpected results always surface when we don’t weigh the cost of our impulses.

Wonder what would happen if we just hit pause. You know like “stop” and “think” before we let life overwhelm us? Wonder what impact that would make on our family, our friends, our co-workers if we committed to “pause” and then responded? I’ve never regretted a second thought. I’ve never regretted praying over a response. I’ve never regretted erring on the side of peace, truth and kindness. Let’s seize the moment to wait and reap the reward of intentional thought.

“Father, right thoughts open the door for right responses. Help us to wait for Your timing and Your wisdom.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 26, 2014

A Fragrant Offering

cb devo sept 26“I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. Philippians 4:18b (NIV)

Fully content with his life, Paul didn’t waste his time in prison by recounting missed opportunities or focusing on his lack of comfort. Instead, he seized those moments to encourage and affirm the lives of those God had entrusted to him. His resources were limited, nonexistent in fact. He was bound by chains, unable to pick up his feet and go. Yet Paul didn’t allow his lack of resources to suspend his giving. There are lots of excuses why we don’t reach out. In today’s economy, we may find ourselves settling in to complacency because our pockets are empty. Hectic lifestyles and preoccupation with self eases us off the mindset of Paul – yet our feet are not bound. We are free to move and free to extend ourselves – but we suspend our giving. Paul preached, ministered and served others – it’s what placed him within those dark prison walls. But outreach when done for the glory of God always comes back full circle. The people Paul continued to pour his heart into were the ones God used to bless his life. A fragrant offering covering the repungent odor of a damp prison. An acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God – an overflow of the encouragement and sacrifice Paul had given to them. So how are we seizing the moments of our life – even the dark , hard places? How are we using our abundance as a fragrant offering, acceptable sacrifice pleasing to God? Authentic outreach isn’t about money or gifts but rather the overflow of God’s love from one heart to another.

“Father, we easily forget the simplicity of loving one another. Help us to reach deep, reach wide and spread your love to all we meet.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 25, 2014

Working For God’s Purposes

cb devo sept 25“All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded:” Exodus 35:10 (NIV)

We all have various jobs, and the skills necessary to do those jobs may come from a natural skill God has given us or skills that we have learned. Either way each person’s job leads to a greater purpose for the company, project, or ministry we are working for. Just like the skilled workers who were called to make items for the tabernacle, we are called to work together for God’s purposes.

Not everyone can sing in the choir but there is someone who can play an instrument, write songs, or even make sure the music is printed on paper. We may not be able to give money to every charity, missionary, or worthy cause but we can volunteer our time and talents to support the greater purpose. It is easy to get discouraged because we feel like we haven’t done or given enough, however, God only asks us to do the one particular part He has given us the skills to do. He places us in the right place at the right time for us to contribute our part to the His greater purpose and plan. We will never be happy trying to do more than God has planned for us to do or trying to complete a task that requires skills He hasn’t equipped us with. We have to be happy with where God has placed us and use the skills He gave us to achieve great things for His glory.

“Dear Lord, Forgive us when we try to do more than You have planned for us to do. Help us focus on the skills and jobs You have specifically created for us. May we seek to achieve great things for You and not glory for ourselves.”

For His Glory

Katrina Redman
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 24, 2014

Missing Peace

CB devo sept 24“…tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you (Daniel) can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.” Daniel 4:18b (NIV)

Contented and prosperous – loving life where he was. No drama in his kingdom. No enemy lurching outside the palace gates. Nebuchadnezzar didn’t have a care in the world. Everything at his fingertips. Wealth beyond our imagination. Ruling with authority, prideful and arrogant. Yet this king found himself missing peace – fearful over a dream. What would cause one who perceived his rule as superior, unquestionable to lack? The smartest, wisest at his disposal – Nebuchadnezzar’s world still lacked truth. And those missing pieces stole his peace and led him straight to Daniel. Why? God’s spirit was upon him.

Where do we turn when life throws us a curve ball? Who do we run to when truth seems distant and wisdom unattainable? Mother, teacher, lawyer, ministry leader, administrator, nurse…….regardless of our title, position or paycheck – we all need God’s wisdom. And if we aren’t positioning ourselves to humbly seek His face each day, fear will steal in and rob us of peace. We might appear like we’ve got it all together. We might be the one in our office who always gets the job done. We might think we don’t need anything or anyone. Amazing how quickly a dream, an interruption, an unsettling can send us questioning, doubting and fearful.

Praying we all have those around us who are filled with God’s spirit to speak into our lives. Praying we all become that person who doesn’t settle for “me wisdom” but reaches deep for “His truth.” Praying others will see His wisdom in us freely given to those who ask.

“Father, there is no substitute for Your words illuminating our way. There is no one like You – the Holy One – who pours out His Spirit to those who humbly seek His Face.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 23, 2014

Do You Know You Are Beautiful

CB Devo Sept 23“The sun has one kind of beauty, the moon has another beauty, and the stars have another. And each star is different in its beauty.” I Corinthians 15:41 (NCV)

Standing outside, I glance up and behold what a breathtaking sight. It’s a beautiful cool crisp night, and the stars are shining brightly. I’m admiring the beauty of the stars twinkling until there it is, just to the left. Quickly, I watch as the shooting star darts down. What beauty, what a rush, and I almost missed it. But God directed my sight right where He wanted, so I could enjoy the moment and beauty He had for me.

God is so amazing in His gifts to us; He has so much to share from the flowers on the ground to the leaves on the trees up to the stars in the sky. We don’t deserve the beauty He places on earth for our enjoyment. Yet He still loves to show off and share the beauty with us. He uses these things to remind us how beautiful we are to Him. He created us in His image so we could honor and glorify Him. He looks at us and sees beauty in all shapes and sizes. Beauty with the scars, beauty with the loss of hair, and beauty with the stretch marks. Are we listening to His reminders of our beauty or are we listening to tv, magazines, and society? God created us each uniquely, and we aren’t made to look like each other. Leave the comparisons behind, and never doubt your beauty in God’s eyes.

“Father, thank You for the reminder of my beauty in Your eyes. Help me to never doubt my worth in You.”
For His Glory,

Debbie Struble
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Gratitude

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 22, 2014

Held Together

Infant Grasping Mother's Finger“Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10 (NIV)

One tiny thread…one gentle pull and it all unraveled. No wonder sewing was never on my list of skills. My one and only project in school was to make a dress. Pattern, scissors, tape, fabric – didn’t seem too hard. Even the sewing machine looked interesting yet complicated. Many hours and days later, I had a maxi dress with matching jacket. Quite the fashion statement – wore it proudly – till I saw that one, annoying thread. I tried to stuff it back into the seam – didn’t work. Then I decided to twist it tight – didn’t work either. Last resort, I pulled that thread out – worked – sort of. By pulling that one loose thread, the whole seam became unraveled. And any good seamstress knows – if it’s unraveling – it’s falling apart. My cute maxi now had a “too” revealing split that sent me running for cover.

Ever felt the gentle pull of unravelling? The tug of one tiny thread that sends us over the edge. Perhaps it was the alarm that didn’t alarm making us late for work. Perhaps it was the sound of drama in the backseat as we pulled into the school parking lot. Perhaps it was spilled coffee on our new blouse right before that job interview. Perhaps it was the silence, the absence of “love you” as hubby headed to work. Perhaps it was the culmination of many little things that unraveled when we needed most to be held.

Life may leave us hanging by a thread, but Jesus will never abandon us. He will never walk out. He will never grow weary, impatient, or forgetful. Instead, Jesus is the thread that weaves our lives tight, strong – held together regardless of the unravelling all around us.

“Sweet Jesus how incredible to know, believe and trust that You are always there – keeping us from falling apart even in the worst of circumstances.

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 19, 2014

Releasing Chains

cb devo sept19“But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.” Romans 6:17 (TNIV)

Are you a morning coffee drinker? Do you get up at the same time each day? Does the sound of your tv lull you to sleep each night? Habits happen without us even realizing they exist. We start doing something one day and weeks later we’re still doing it. Often we don’t even see the pattern our lives are conforming to.

Some habits are worth not breaking. Eating healthy food requires discipline and deliberate thought into our meal choices, but the payoff far exceeds the effort. It’s a habit that yields great results. Some habits stick around much longer than we anticipated. Avoiding housework, procrastinating over laundry, failing to pay bills or just allowing our lives to be consumed with distractions creates a repetitive pattern of chaos for our lives. It’s a habit that yields frustration and hasty reactions. Some habits slip in disguised as justification and quickly swirl into character traits we wish we could shake off. Grumbling slides in when things don’t happen the way we envisioned. We awaken one morning and allow our unmet expectations to saturate our thoughts with all the reasons why we deserve something better. It’s a habit that steals our joy and keeps us bound with chains of disappointment.

While it takes a few weeks for an action to click over to a habit, breaking that behavior requires determination, conscious effort and perseverance. It’s a job too big for us, but one that is tailor made for our God. When we seek His help in daily rising above life-defeating patterns, we will form a habit that is worth not breaking.

“Father, You have already loosed the chains and set us free – help us to create life infusing habits that glorify Your name.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living, Success, Wisdom

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