Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 18, 2013

His Words

Woman Reading a Book at Home“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8 (KJV)

 

Reading God’s Word is easy but allowing it to change us that’s another story. We must keep the Word of God hidden in our heart by memorizing His Word.  If we continually meditate on God’s Word then it will eventually start flowing out of our mouths. His Words will also naturally impact our actions.  God promises us prosperity and good success. Spiritual prosperity is not based on material goods, but rather obedience to His Words. When we chose to meditate on his Word day and night,  then we are positioning ourselves to receive from the Lord.  The Word of God is a great treasure. God promises us success also. Whatever we do, if we stay grounded in God’s Word and obey His commandments, we will be sure to succeed. When we lay a hold of this truth, we will be so excited to meditate on His Word, and the application of His Words will make us more and more like Him each day.


“Father, Help your Word not to depart out of my mouth. Help me to meditate on Your Holy Scriptures day and night. Help me to observe and obey Your commandments.”

 

For His Glory

 

Linda Reyes Shepherd
TRBC Mountain Blend　

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Living, Success

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 17, 2013

Ready, Set, Go!

cb devo july 17“…..Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”  Hebrews 12:1b (ASV)

My hubby and I were enjoying some relaxing time at his parents’ house when my mother-in-law looked out the window and cried, “Look! A turtle!”  Next to the big tree in their front yard was a little turtle crawling around.  Wow, talk about perseverance!  Where in the world this little guy came from, we don’t know! We have never seen turtles in their yard before.   But wherever he came from, he got to the big tree in the front yard by continuing to put one foot in front of the other.  He kept moving, kept trying, took a rest when needed, but didn’t give up!

Wonder if we could do the same – persevere and press through one step at a time, one foot in front of the other?  How are we doing with our goals?  Have we given up, because that big tree was just too far away?  Have we told ourselves we’re never going to reach our goals? Well, set those lies aside, we CAN do it!  Just stick with it, and work at it each day! It’s never too late to do the right thing!  Start today, and don’t look back!

“Father, how quickly we give up instead of moving forward. Help  us to keep our eyes fixed on You and enjoy the journey one step at a time.”

For His Glory

Julia Forystek Bergstrom

TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Growth, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 16, 2013

God Means What He Says

cb devo july 16“If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”  2 Timothy 2:13 (NASB)

You can sometimes learn a lot from a simple children’s story. Dr. Seuss’ Horton “Horton Hears a Who” is such a lovely example of faithfulness.

In the story, Horton the elephant can hear voices coming from a speck of dust on a flower. It turns out, that tiny speck, is home to the Whos of Whoville. Horton, knowing their home is vulnerable and fragile, willingly takes on the responsibility to protect them and find a place where they can live safely.  He risks ridicule from the other animals and even his own safety in the process. But nothing deters him, and despite the doubts and lack of support from those around him, Horton stands by his famous motto, “I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful one hundred percent.”

Although we may not be as tiny and defenseless as the Whos, it can sometimes feel like we are completely alone. No matter what we think or feel, God is faithful, steady and unwavering in His commitment to us. It is His nature to remain faithful and keep His word to those He created, even when we turn away from Him. From the dawn of time, when He laid the foundation of this earth, it was never part of His plan to leave us alone to fend for ourselves. He will always be there for us, to protect, guide, comfort and love.  God is always 100% faithful. Nothing and no one will ever make Him otherwise.

“Lord, thank You for never wavering in Your faithfulness to us. Forgive us for our lack of faith. Help us to remember the truth of  who You are.”

 

For His Glory,

Josey Bozzo
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Attitude, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 15, 2013

God’s Answer

cb devo july 15“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer……” 1 Peter 3:12a (NIV)

 

Ever have one of those moments when you knew God just taught you a lesson?  Recently some friends and I went out to eat at a restaurant and were told we would have up to a 2 1/2 hour wait. That seemed crazy, but we were okay to just sit and chat. The entire time, I kept a little prayer going through my head, “Please God let us get a table sooner.” However, the impatient part of me decided to busy myself with answering my own prayer. I “stalked” a section of tables that were first come, first serve and after only an hour wait one opened up. I claimed the table with the waitress, and as I went to turn in my pager for the table, the buzzer went off. Immediately I knew God was saying, “I had this the whole time; you just need to be patient.”

 

My prayer was only for something simple as a table in a restaurant, but how many times have we given up on bigger requests?  How many times have we created the answer to our prayer not knowing that God’s answer was right around the corner? Waiting is not a strong suit for many of us, but when we have faith in God He has it under control. Pray your request and then go on with life. I missed a few minutes of precious conversation with a new friend because I was impatient and didn’t wait on God. What else have we missed out on by being busy seeking our own answers?

 

“Dear God, How thankful we are that You care about the biggest and silliest prayer requests. Help us to have the faith to pray our request and let You be in control of the time frame they are answered. May we enjoy life while waiting for Your answer instead of answering for You”

 

For His Glory

 

Katrina Redman
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Faith, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 12, 2013

What Has He Done For Me Lately?

CB Devo july 12“I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me.”  Psalm 13:6 (NIV)


What has he done for me lately?  A worldly thought that pops in our heads.  A thought that is about me not Jesus, yet we can turn this around and ask this with sincere hearts looking to praise the Lord for His blessings.  Are we singing praises to the Lord for His blessings in our life?  What has he done for us lately?  Take a few moments and reflect on God’s goodness and praise His Holy name.  Give thanks for the hot shower we had today; the soap to wash our body, a clean towel to dry off.  A hair dryer, electricity, a brush and hair products to fix our hair, moisturizer, makeup, freshly washed clothes to put on – the list is endless.  All this even probably before breakfast where the coffee may have been set on auto and waiting for us.  Yes, maybe we are going through a tough season in our life or there is a challenge we are facing – God is there.  He has given us so many reasons to thank Him, praise Him, and love Him.  Let’s focus on praising the Lord and have less time of focusing on what could be. 

 “Father, thank you for the many provisions you have given to me.  I am so blessed because of you.  I want to specifically praise you today for _____________.” 

 

For His Glory,

 Debbie Struble
TRBC Coffee Break

 

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Posted in Gratitude, Worship

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 10, 2013

A Leap of Faith

MP900438733[1]“So the spies questioned him: ‘Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.’”  Luke 20:21 (NIV)

Chasing our pig through the woods, I was close enough to lunge for him! Throwing my weight toward him, my shoe caught on a root, the pig fled, and I landed face down in the mud. I was so focused on my target that I didn’t see my path clearly. There’s always something ready to trip us, isn’t there? Busyness, tiredness, endless questions—and all the while the world is watching our actions to see if we fall on our face as a Christian. Knowing this, we have to be ever alert, constant in prayer and vigilant.

Jesus was in the same position; the Pharisees dogged His steps continually, hoping to catch Him in a situation or giving an answer that would provide them with more reason to hate Him. Yet—like my chasing the pig—we can see in this verse how very close to the truth they actually were! They acknowledged that He teaches the “way” – so close, but not able to grasp!

Do you know someone like that? They know the story of Jesus and believe there is a God, but seem unable to make that last leap of faith.   Tripped by the pleasures of the world and the desires of the flesh (1 John 2:16). So close, yet so far! Can we make a difference in their lives, leading them to the Savior? Your prayer for them may be the tool God uses to bring them to Himself!

“Father, please help us to not tire of lifting up loved ones or friends to You, praying for the day when they are able to grasp the firm belief that You are the One Whom they have been searching for! Use us, dear Lord, to help some soul reach You! Thank You for Your love.”

 

For His Glory

Sandy Day
TRBC Mountain Blend

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Prayer

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 9, 2013

Perfectly Imperfect

cb devo jul9“But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9a (NIV)

Years ago, I started a crochet afghan using scraps of leftover yarn.  It  ended up a hodgepodge of different types of yarns and mismatched colors. Recently, I noticed a few places where the stitches are unraveling, creating these big holes.  There are also a few loose strings hanging that I’ve neglected to tuck in and hide. When you hold it up, it is anything but beautiful and it doesn’t look like it would be worth trying to use. But you know what? When I lay on the couch covered in that afghan, I am as warm as I could be with any other blanket. It is just as useful in its current state as if it were perfect.

Do you long to be used by God, but feel worthless? Like you have too many issues, or “holes” to ever be used for anything?

Consider this list:

            Jacob was a cheater

            Peter had a temper

            David had an affair

            Noah got drunk

            Jonah ran from God

            Gideon was insecure

            Miriam was a gossip

            Martha was a worrier

            Thomas was a doubter

            Sara was impatient

            Rahab was a prostitute

 

Every one of these people from the Bible had issues, flaws, and holes. And every one of these people have their place in the greatest story ever told. You can be right there with them. Jesus came to this earth for the imperfect, the broken, filled with holes and “loose strings” kind of people. We don’t need to be perfect, just willing. God will do the rest. Our job is to let Him.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for working within us and with us no matter how imperfect we are.  Help us to remember that You are all we need to be sufficient for the task. Your power is greater than any weakness.”

For His Glory,

Josey Bozzo
TRBC Coffee Break

 

 

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 8, 2013

Forever Changing

Young Woman Standing with Arms Stretched Out“Always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.”  2 Timothy 3:7 (NIV)

 Just getting it done – I remember that well when I was in high school. Homework was a chore – a thing to mark off my list.  Cleaning my room gave me freedom on the weekend.  And reading the Word well that kept me on God’s favor list or so I thought.    But did I really benefit by “just getting it done?”  Choosing to slide by will always reveal our weakest link.  And when it comes to God’s classroom, we can’t afford to settle for less.  Mentored by the Apostle Paul, Timothy was taught powerful lessons.  Reminders to hold fast to the truths of God’s word that he had been taught from early childhood.  Encouragement to have a clear conscience.  Warnings to flee even the slightest presence of evil.  Challenged to be ready, prepared and willing to share the gospel that transformed his life. “Just getting it done”  never entered Timothy or Paul’s mind.

 Do we ever entertain those thoughts?  Doubt that we would admit it, since we often pride ourselves on being in the know.  But knowing and acknowledging are distinctly different.  Anyone can take in but only the brave, courageous, and humble recognize that acting on what we know leads to transformation.  God longs for us to not only hear the Word, but to be empowered by the Word.  I don’t want to just slide into Heaven’s gates. I want to take others with me. I want to leave an imprint on this world that catapult’s others to hold on tight to what they have learned at the feet of Jesus.  Won’t you join me?  Always learning – forever changing.

“Father, it is too easy to sit, listen and read – spurred in the moment – but discarded in a second.  Help us to hold on tight to the truths of Your Word that position our lives to act, impact and reflect Your heart.”

For His Glory

 Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Success, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 5, 2013

God’s Timing Is Always Best

time speeding on“I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Ecclesiastes 3:10-11a (NIV)

 Po, the Panda, a.k.a. the Dragon Warrior, is up near the ceiling, located 10 feet from the ground, where he had climbed to find his weakness: cookies. When discovered by his Kung Fu master and trainer, Shifu, he is asked to explain how he got way up there. His response: “This, this is an accident.” Master Shifu corrects Po by saying, “There are no accidents.”

 Have you ever found yourself in a situation that when you think about it, you ask yourself, “How in the world did I get here?” I believe you will be pleased to know that you are not alone. Everything happens for a reason.

 It is not uncommon for us to find inexplicable strength in our weaknesses. Po climbed 10 feet off the floor for a cookie when his anxiety level soared (he calmed down when he ate). Likewise, we sometimes find strength in the least expected things, such as a devotional, a book, an e-mail message forwarded from a friend, a card received in the mail, a Facebook posting, a photograph, just to name a few.   There is a time and a purpose for everything. You are where you need to be for such a time as this. Keep on keeping on!

 “Sweet Lord Jesus, we thank you for who we are and for who You have made us to be. You have a purpose for each of us and we pray that we stay the course as You prune us and work Your will in our lives. ”

 

For His Glory
Luska Suzano

TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 4, 2013

Faithfully His

A Middle Eastern woman lying down reading “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8 (NKJV)

Anniversaries! They can be great, or they can bring back memories that we would like to forget, don’t they? It’s been a year since our city endured a wind storm so bad that thousands of homes and possessions were destroyed! Recently a smaller wind storm came through, and beside our driveway we now have a large tree off its stump, leaning into the branches of another. The tree man has been called, but meanwhile we know another high wind could bring the tree down. In both cases we never saw the wind—only the effects of it!

Jesus told Nicodemus that our Christian life is likened to the wind: if we look for the Holy Spirit, Who is residing in us, we will not see Him with our eyes. However, everyone who watches us should be able to tell that we belong to God just by observing the path we leave behind. Are we leaving peace, joy, love and service in our path or is it destruction from jealousy, anger and harsh words? We must constantly remind ourselves that we may be the ‘only Bible some people read!’ God instructs us to strive for the “fruits of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22) as we walk through this life, so that, as the song recorded by Steve Green says, “May all who come behind us find us faithful!”

“Father, thank You for Your guidance during the tough times of our lives, and for the protection You always give. Help us to be mindful of the example we set for others as we go through our days. Thank You for Your love, Lord!”

 

For His Glory

 

Sandy Day
TRBC Mountain Blend

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

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