Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 28, 2013

Enjoying The Rain

cb devo june 28“I will shout for joy when I sing praises to you. You have saved me.” Psalm 71:23 (NCV)

  What happens when it rains?  Do you pull out the umbrella, an upside down smile and just be blah since it is raining?  What if when it rains it brings a smile and a song to your heart?  Is that even possible?  Personally, I love the rain.  No, let me rephrase that I absolutely LOVE the rain.  Ok, not a hard torrential down pour, but a gentle steady rain.  Years ago, I was at an outdoor concert of Michael W. Smith’s, and he shared with the audience a new song he wanted to play for us.  Just when he started singing and playing that song a soft gentle rain started falling on us. Michael told us to enjoy the rain and listen to the song – it was “Healing Rain.”  He told us to feel the rain, bask in God’s goodness and feel the healing drops from God.  It’s all in perspective, how we react to something.  I have chosen to enjoy the rain and bask in it since that day.  I walk into the rain, stand, raise my hands and just spin and bask in it – I take that time to praise the Lord.  Did you know if a raindrop lands on your smart phone screen, then you walk under florescent lights and when you look at the drop of water it will sparkle like a diamond?  One of those precious gifts God has given me for having joy in the rain.  Next time it rains, raise your hands and enjoy the healing raindrops God is choosing to give you as a blessing, and shout a praise to Him for the gift.


“Father, thank You for the rain, and the healing drops to remind us of Your love and healing power.  I pray I never grow out of my love of the healing raindrops and spinning in the rain with childlike love.” 

 

For His Glory,

 

Debbie Struble
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 27, 2013

Releasing My Expectations

MP900443495[1]“My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.” Psalm 62:5 (NIV)

Expectations….we all have them. Recently, I met mine face to face. My Mom and I traveled to the Charlotte Airport to see my son and his wife between lay overs on their way back to Phoenix.  When we got to the airport (3 1/2 hours of drive time) at 4:45 pm,  we anxiously stood by the international gate waiting. At 6:45 pm, they finally made it through customs and we met face to face. Our visit was 20 minutes long because their rescheduled flight was taking off and they had to get to their gate plus get food….what a saga. So we hugged, spent 20 minutes trying to get back to our car and headed home (3 ½ hours)  – not at all what we expected.

When expectations don’t pan out discouragement loves to walk in. All the way home, I festered over wasting my whole day. I looked back and wondered if all this was worth it. A phone call from my son, who I saw for 20 minutes and drove round trip 7 hours to see, answered that question. Over and over, he talked about how glad he was to see us. Was the trip worth it….yes even if it didn’t meet my expectations. Is your journey worth it? Yes even when it doesn’t meet your expectations. Maybe it’s time to thank God for the journey and lay our expectations on Him. After all, I’m sure He would say, “sweet girl of mine – it’s been worth it all along the way just trust me and place your expectations in Me – you won’t be disappointed.”


“Father, so many times we derive a plan, we put action into place and still end up not where we intended. I am so glad that our expectations can be firmly planted in the One who exceeds expectations.”

 

For His Glory

 

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 26, 2013

Jesus – The Only Way

Sunbeams Backlighting Cross “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  John 10:10 (KJV)

Is there a “thief” in your life?  Stealing your joy? Killing your happiness? Destroying your relationships? Causing your mind to be distracted and focused on negativity?  Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  Nothing will shock God – He forgives all.  He will set you free and begin to restore what has been stolen by the enemy. Whether you’re struggling with an eating disorder, your past, insecurities, or simply holding onto a lifestyle that you know you should let go of, Jesus is the way.  He is the first decision in your life that will empower the change you are so desperately looking for.  You might know about Him or learned some stories involving Him.  You might have Him  in your head,  but truly search your heart. Is Jesus there?  He promises many things to us in His Word, we must believe and trust Him – taking Him at His Word and accepting His promises.

John 10 reminds us that Jesus is the good Shepherd giving His life for His sheep.  He is the only door that leads us to eternal life.  He is the only one that gave His life for that one lost sheep to be redeemed.  Jesus has proven His love for us, and in Him there is true peace and contentment for our soul. He is knocking, won’t you let him in?

“Father help us to open our hearts so that You can restore and redeem our lives.”

For His Glory,

Julia Forystek Bergstrom

TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Freedom, Hope, Spiritual Living, Success

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 25, 2013

The Best Protection

 cb devo june 25“No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” Hebrews 12:11 (NLT)

 

Recently, I suffered one of the worst sunburns of my entire life. For four days I couldn’t have anything touching the affected areas. I took ibuprofen around the clock and slathered on aloe gel to ease the pain.  Normally I wear sunblock, but that day I had been in a hurry before heading out to my son’s baseball game and decided to take my chances.  Most of my life, I have been blessed with skin that rarely burned and tanned easily.  Turns out, the medication I was taking had a side effect – sensitivity to sun. Coupled with skin that hadn’t yet been exposed to the sun this season equaled one painful lesson I won’t easily forget.

 

Wonder how many life lessons I’ve forgotten because I focused on the discipline I didn’t enjoy rather than embracing the potential for growth? God has given us instructions about our lives, and He expects us to listen and obey Him.  When we don’t, we risk troublesome, inconvenient, even painful consequences. He doesn’t do this to harm us or to get even; it’s for our own good.  It’s about learning to see that disobedience in any form is destructive.  Out of love for us, He sets boundaries and allows us to learn to stay within them. The safest place for us to be, always, in any situation is with the One whose love for us is the best protection we could ever have. Following God will always keep us from getting burned.

 

“Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much that You take time to teach and instruct us on how we are to live our lives. Forgive us for stepping out of those boundaries and trying to go our own way. Help us to see that Your ways are always better and safer than ours.

 

For His Glory,

 

Josey Bozzo
TRBC Coffee Break

 

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 24, 2013

Giver Of All Things

devo mar 18“And I say unto you, ask and it shall be given unto you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.” Luke 11:9 (KJV)

 

Threatened by collectors, a widow was told to pay her debts or they would take her two sons and sell them into slavery. The drama unfolds in 2 Kings Chapter four, as the woman runs to the prophet Elisha desperate for his help. Elisha asked,   “What can I do for you. What do you have in your house?” Her response – a small pot of oil. He tells her to gather up a lot of pots and then pour the oil into the pots. Now here is where her faith is tested. She was in control of how many pots she brought home. Can you imagine knocking on people’s doors asking to borrow their pots?  Did she go to strangers or just stick with the people she knew? Next the widow took her two sons home and poured the oil into the pots. The oil flowed until there were no more pots left. The widow goes back to the prophet, and he tells her to pay off the debt and live off the rest. Now she had money left over to provide for the future.

 

Sometimes we doubt that God has great things waiting for us. We think that God will only give us just enough to get by. Yet, we can see by this story that God wants to give us all that we need and more! So don’t be afraid to ask our Father for what you need. You may be surprised at how much He wants to give you.

 

“Father help us never to be afraid to come to You for You are a gracious and loving Father who wants to meet our needs and bless us with all good things. We love You and praise You for all You have planned for us.”

 

For His Glory

 

Anice Pruitt
TRBC Coffee Break

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 21, 2013

Faith Drenched Prayers

Young Woman Facing the Sky“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”  James 1:6-7 (KJV)

 

Don’t you just love getting your prayers answered?  If we expect to receive from the Lord, then we need to please Him with our faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. When I have my devotions, I love to read and meditate on the Word of God before I go into prayer. This way I know I am praying in the will of God. My faith rises, and I can pray with confidence. I want God to hear my prayers, and I want him to answer them. To stay balanced it is good not only to pray but to also read and meditate on God’s Word.   When we read His promises, we can stand on them as we pray and soon we will be full of faith.   Take it a step  further and visualize what faith can do. See those things that aren’t as though they were. In other words see what you are praying for with a spiritual eye. For example if you are praying for a lost soul, visualize them going to church, reading their Bible, being on fire for God. Don’t wonder if God is going to save them or not. Pray boldly knowing that the prayer of faith is bathed in the confidence of who God is and trust Him to do the impossible.

 

“Father, I choose to be single-minded full of faith, and stand on Your promises. Thank You that You hear and answer my prayers.”

 

For His Glory

 

Linda Reyes Shepherd
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 20, 2013

The God of Daniel – He Is Our God too!

devo feb 18]“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”Daniel 6:10 (NIV).

 Daniel was doing fine in Jerusalem until king Nebuchadnezzar besieged it and took everyone into exile, including him.   Then Daniel  and some others were trained to serve the king in his court. While there, Daniel’s three friends were thrown into a fiery furnace. And what happened? They prayed to their God, the Lord Almighty, and nothing happened to them!!! They came out without wounds or burns.

 Daniel kept his allegiance to the Lord, and he developed a gift for interpreting dreams. In all the troubles Daniel faced, God honored His faithfulness.  Because the people were envious about his gifts and the fact that the king liked Daniel, some guys plotted against him. What’s next… right? He got sent to the lion’s den.  All night long Daniel was shut in the den with those lions and not one of them harmed him. Daniel came out without scratches or bruises.

 Get the picture? Daniel remained faithful to the Lord, and God honored him. He got into trouble, and God saw that he came out unharmed. Trials will always come, but if we remain faithful, God will see us through. Let’s look to Him; let’s seek Him; let’s be like Daniel, and not be ashamed to get down on our knees when trouble comes.

 

“Lord, sometimes we just get too scared about the lions and forget that You can shut their mouths and make them look like small kittens. Help us to trust in You like Daniel did and to not be afraid of fire or beasts, because we serve a God for whom nothing is impossible.”

 For His Glory

 Luska Suzano
TRBC Coffee Break

 

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Faith, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 19, 2013

Surrender All

devo jun19 “But I was given mercy so that in me, the worst of all sinners, Christ Jesus could show that he has patience without limit. His patience with me made me an example for those who would believe in him and have life forever.”  1 Timothy 1:16 (NCV)

 I think back on my childhood, the days of testing and strong will; I’m thankful for I Timothy 1:16.  God was so patient with me.  I came to know him at the young age of eight and was on fire for Him until I found other things that wanted my attention.  He was so faithful.  He waited, He blessed, He gave, He corrected, and He loved, and waited some more.  Then finally, I said Yes, Lord I surrender all. Not just a little bit, not just Sundays and Wednesdays – I surrendered all.  Maybe you have a story like mine and You gave Your life to the Lord as a child but then You strayed.  Now you may be feeling it’s too late to say Yes Lord here am I.  Can I plead with you that the time is now?  There is no greater time than today.  God is waiting with open arms to take your burdens, to take your pain and walk thru the trials of life with you.  Will you surrender all?  Give Him a call.  He has a place in heaven He wants to prepare for you.  And we would love to help you reconnect or introduce you to the One who loves you more than you ever imagine.

 “Father, I praise You for Your salvation.  The gift You freely give, thank You for Your patience in my trying days.”

For His Glory,

Debbie Struble
TRBC Coffee Break

 

 

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Posted in Hope, Spiritual Living, Success, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 18, 2013

Sweet Deliverance

devo katria july“He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.  He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.”  Psalm 18:17, 19 (NKJV)

 In my rearview mirror, I could see the tractor trailer rig bearing down on me at a speed that indicated the driver was unaware of my car.  It was so big, so wide and so fast that I had no time to react except prepare to die!  At the last second, its brakes began screaming and I watched as the back of the semi did a full 180◦ turn, spinning crazily just inches from my driver’s side door.  I could have reached out and touched it!  Deliverance!  We both pulled over and wept.

 Outside of the Christian camp, we don’t often use the word deliverance.  But throughout Scripture this is one of God’s favorite words:  He has delivered us from the ‘sting of death,’ from the ‘enemy’ from ‘all (our) fears,’ ‘from the deceitful man,’ and so many more!  A beautiful one is in Psalm 32:7:  “You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.”  Sometime take a half hour and comfort yourself with the many times God promises deliverance; it is something we should take to heart, for our God delights in us. He watches over us, just as we watch over our babies and toddlers, protecting, nurturing and guiding them – and often delivering them just before they would be hurt.  How marvelous are His ways!

 “Father, You are so good to us!  Thank You for always watching out for us, even when we are the least aware of it.  You protect us from people, situations, and obstacles that could hurt us so badly!  Help us to remember to thank You for Your protection.  Thank You for the cross, Lord.”

 For His Glory

 Sandy Day
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Encouragement, Freedom, Gratitude, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 17, 2013

Authentic Faith

Infant Grasping Mother's Finger“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and right so because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.”  2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV)

Tiny little fingers entangled around mine – sweet baby’s breath near my face.  Giggles and coos  that make a parent proud.  Cuddling that little one, so innocent, pure and perfect – a taste of heaven on earth.    And the list of firsts begins to grow…first night of good sleep, first teeth, first steps….first day of school…first friends.  The proverbial clock spins and right before our eyes we get to watch them evolve. Isn’t that the way faith works?  We wrap our tiny fingers around the hand of God embracing the gift of salvation.  And the list of firsts begins…first time we read His word…first experience sharing with others…first steps of faith awkward and clumsy.  The beauty of growth is found in the moment one chooses to move and act with trust at their side.  We wobble, we crawl and eventually we rise as God watches the transformation evolve.  Faith stretches and grows, reaches and grows – producing an abundance of fruit in the life of the believer. And the greatest evidence of our faith is found in the all-consuming love we have for one another. Faith transforms, energizes and challenges us to leave familiar behind and embrace the journey that glorifies God.  Even when life is laced with trials and challenges, faith perseveres, presses on and chooses to remember the One we want to make proud.  Authentic faith tested in the burst of firsts, proven in the fiery trials and applauded in the very presence of God.

“Father, how I long to make You proud – to know that my faith is growing stronger every moment – trusting fully in Your faithful love.”

For His Glory

 Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth

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