Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | November 7, 2012

Hearing God’s Voice

“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.” 1 Samuel 15:22b (KJV)

Many years ago, a father we knew was telling how hard he had tried to instill instant obedience in his children.  One day he was working on the roof and climbed down for a drink.  When he returned, his three-year old had climbed the ladder and was on the rooftop, where he could have fallen to his death any second. Though his heart was racing so hard he thought he could not do it, the father quietly told his little son to stop exactly where he was and stay still.  The child obeyed, and Daddy climbed the ladder and saved him.

I’ve never forgotten the story, nor the spiritual significance of how many times God might have to call me before I respond.  Do I cause myself to fall because I haven’t listened to His voice telling me to stay still?  Am I missing conversations with Him because I want to get on to the next thing?

I pray this lesson on listening for God’s voice does not leave me.  The Holy Spirit nudges our hearts in the right direction, but we have to train ourselves to be sensitive to His prodding.  The more often we obey, the more we will recognize His leading in our lives.  Let us work to get that obedience to instant submission!

“Father, sometimes I feel as though You have to yell at me in order to be heard above my busyness.  Please be patient with me as I strive to learn to obey at the first prompting.  Thank you for Your love, Lord, and thank You for the nail-pierced Hands!

For His Glory

Sandy Day
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | November 6, 2012

Seeing God’s Beauty

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”  Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)

Blazing orange and fiery red – they caught my eye as I drove down the street. My mind was in a million places – ever been there – when you’re not sure how you got from Point A to Point B.  Distracted, yet completely aware of the weight bearing down on your shoulders.  And there they were – despite the dry, hot Fall temperatures. Despite the fact that the big tree out my window turned brown – depleted of its beauty.   Despite the bare limbs that stood beside them.  Lining the leaf covered sidewalks, these young trees displayed the essence of  beauty –  orange, red and gold – surviving even in the midst of ugly.  Amazing how God does the same in our lives.  Dry seasons leave us blown and tossed by uncertainty.   We find the bareness of our souls desperately longing for a ray of hope.  The future looks bleak, and  then right in the midst of our ugly, He reveals the essence of His beauty.  We hear God’s voice clearer.  We see God’s Word illuminated.  We feel God’s love surround us.  All because we kept looking.  We didn’t give up.  We didn’t stop praying.  We pressed through. We kept moving despite the predictions.  We kept our focus off the circumstances and firmly stood in the courts of praise.   And when desperation met our gaze, we claimed the goodness of our God.  When darkness settled in, we clung to His presence.  When happy evaporated, we chose His joy.  Even in the dry seasons, even in the loneliest hour – we can proclaim – It is Well With My Soul.

“Father, help us to hold on tightly to You even when everything else seems to be slipping away. You are the Faithful One.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | November 5, 2012

Storyteller vs. Story Keeper

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Thinking before we speak would alleviate so much in our lives. Oddly, words often presented as a prayer request, ‘helpful’ information shared with your best friend, or sadly, details possibly capable of damaging someone’s character can be described as ‘godly’ gossip.  Depending on the person there is a tendency to have the heart of a storyteller or a story keeper.

God’s Word teaches storytellers are foolish, contentious, untrustworthy, devious, deceitful, destroyers, hypocrites, insecure and prideful – to name a few.   However, a godly story keeper will determine to say what brings forth that which pleases God.  How?

Many scriptures address this subject in God’s Word (Ephesians 5:26, I John 1:9, Proverbs 4:23, 21:23, Philippians 4:8) which highlight several questions we must ask ourselves:

  1. Is it true?
  2. Is it noble & will the reputation of the other person remain in tact?
  3. Is it right – did I add or take away from it?
  4. Is it pure & what motivation made it necessary to be repeated?
  5. Is it loving?
  6. Is it honorable – did I hurt the other person’s character?

Gossip is never healthy.   One guarantee words will not damage:  if something can’t be said edifying say nothing at all.

“Dear Father please help me to think before I speak and always seek to edify not tear others down.”

For His Glory

Patsy Sanders
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Prayer, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | November 2, 2012

Undeniable Love

“Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.” Psalm 85:10 (NIV)

He loves me; He loves me not –swirled in the wind as petals hit the ground.  And when the answer wasn’t to our liking, we just picked another flower and started all over again.  Even from an early age, our hearts wonder if  love will find us. Maybe because we didn’t feel lovable.  Maybe because “love” had been flung carelessly or  withheld.  Whatever the reason, we long to be loved, cherished and adored.  God is no different; His perfect love is undeniable and evidenced in His actions toward us.  And His faithfulness is driven by a deep love that He longs to have returned.

The marriage between faithfulness and love is not easily broken.  We have no trouble being faithful when it comes to what or who we love.  We have no trouble loving when we know someone is faithful to us.  So if we find ourselves feeling less than loved, maybe we need to examine who we are being faithful to.  If we find ourselves being unfaithful to God then maybe we need to check our love meter. True love is actualized not in what we say but in what we do.  Sweet talk and promises are cheap when it’s not backed by actions.  And if we rely on feelings and careless words to dictate our love, we will always end up unfulfilled.  God longs to have a passionate, faithful love relationship with all of His creation; however, He will never force or dictate our response.  Do we love Him or do we love Him not – the choice is up to us.

“Father, we never need to wonder about the depth of Your love –  You are faithful and true, unrelenting in drawing our hearts.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Love

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | November 1, 2012

My Refuge

“But the LORD is my defense; and my God is the rock of my refuge.” Psalm 94:22 (KJV)

Do we ever try to take care of situations that are out of our control? Do we get frustrated, anxious, and worried? Were we trying to control the situation instead of giving it over to God and putting our trust in Him? God will entrust us with trials to see whether we are truly trusting in Him or whether we are going to look to our own worldly wisdom. When we do that, we will fail. God never intended for us to do things in our own strength. He has made his strength and wisdom available to us, and He wants us to place our trust in Him. When we take a situation in our own hands, we will only exhaust ourselves. God is our refuge, our protection, our shelter from danger or hardship. He is our relief and our comfort. We make things messy when we try to straighten them out instead of letting God be our defense. When we try to defend ourselves, we get in the way of letting God help us. Sometimes we just need to leave a situation alone and let God handle it. Some things can be very complicated, but not for God. If we get in there and try to straighten the mess out, we will miss out on God doing a work that only He can do well. Let’s trust Him today. Let us give up trying to control situations or people.

“Lord, thank You that You are my defense and my refuge. I choose to release control. I choose to put my trust in you today. Thank You that You are a very present help in trouble. Thank You for always coming through.”

For His Glory

Linda Reyes Shepherd
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Attitude, Spiritual Growth, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | October 31, 2012

God Moments

“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” Psalm 31:24 (KJV)

My attitude had left me sad and gloomy.   It was one of those lonely, physically under the weather, less than hopeful days.  To make matters worse it was Valentine’s Day!! My confident, aching heart knew the mail would surely deliver that special card.  Retrieving the mail revealed nothing; however, surprisingly I noticed something extraordinary – lying face-up in the gravel a perfectly heart shaped rock.   Beginning to weep, I gently removed the rock from the debris – humbled and joyfully mystified the Lord revealed His tenderness in such a specific way.  How sweet – a personal Valentine to His daughter from His heart to hers.  Immediately, I knew Jesus had passed by – a ‘God moment.’

As unique as it may be, every day thereafter I have received a heart from my heavenly Father in some unusual way.  Frequently it will be obvious, sometimes in odd unexpected ways, other times not so obvious.  However, the important thing  – noticing He is communicating His presence, thoughtfulness, and everlasting love to me.

Displayed in my home, this special rock serves as a reminder of a dreary, hopeless Valentine’s Day many years ago.  I remain determined to notice Jesus passing by.   Every ‘God moment’ provides my heart with courage, strength, and hope to endure whatever I am facing in life by changing my attitude to one that pleases Him.

“Dear Father, please open my eyes and heart to an awareness of You throughout my day.  Allow me to experience God Moments with You.”

For His Glory

Patsy Sanders
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Gratitude, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | October 30, 2012

Releasing Yesterday

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” I Peter 5:10 (NIV)

The only thing I enjoy losing is those extra pounds that sneak up on me as the holiday season approaches.  No matter how hard I try, they return and the struggle starts all over again.   While we have no problem letting unwanted pounds go, navigating seasons of personal loss are quite a different story.  Whether it’s the loss of a dream, a marriage, a child, a job, etc. we need time to grieve and process those deep emotions.  Healing needs to take place, and for each person that time frame is different.   But something transitions in us when we reach that year anniversary of our loss.  When my daughter left this world to live with her Heavenly Father, the days that followed were filled with reflections looking back.  Instinctively, I relived what we did that last year: how we celebrated Christmas, what we did for vacation  and how we celebrated her birthday.  Clinging to each memory, I had no desire to let go for fear I would forget.  Gently God opened my eyes to the reality that I couldn’t live today or press forward for tomorrow if I was still clinging to yesterday.  And what I thought I would forget, He promised to keep fresh. What I feared the most and clung so tightly to was actually smothering out the blessings that God desired to pour out on my life.  Regardless of your loss, God promises to be with you each step of the way, and when it’s time to transition to today and release yesterday, He will carry you.

“Father, You who gave His only Son knows the heart that aches from loss. Teach us to cling to You rather than yesterday.”
For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | October 29, 2012

God’s View

“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 Encouragement, Hope, Worship

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | October 26, 2012

Encountering Jesus

“Now early in the morning, He (Jesus) came again into the temple and all the people came to Him and He sat down and taught them.”  John 8:2 (NKJV)

What does your morning look like?  If you’re like most  of us a lot of unexpected things can occur once our feet hit the floor.  A sick child stands outside our bedroom door.  Homework mysteriously gets lost.  Breakfast lands on someone’s clothes  instead of their mouth.  And just maybe, we make it out of the door and to work on time.  All within the first hours of our waking moments – just another day or an opportunity to encounter Jesus.   An early morning invitation landed twelve ordinary men the job offer of a lifetime – to be fishers of men.  Early in the morning, Jesus came to the temple, sat down and taught the people.  Long before daylight, Jesus went out and departed to a solitary place to pray.  Early in the morning, Mary Magdalene encountered the risen Lord. Early in the morning, Jesus restored weary fisherman and invited them to feast at his table.

Amazing things happen when we invite Jesus into our morning.  The ordinary person is transformed into extraordinary.  Wisdom flows and prayers are answered.  Restoration and contentment accompany those who begin their day at His table.  And even the unexpected unleashes renewed strength when God invades our space before the world creeps in.  Sipping your coffee – read His word.  Packing lunches – breathe a prayer. Dressing for work – put on the armor of God.  Hugging your children – feel His arms holding you close. All within the first hours of our waking moments –incredible opportunities to encounter Jesus.

“Father, how sweet to know that You eagerly awaken me so that we can be together before the morning fades.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living, Worship

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | October 25, 2012

My Deliverer

“They reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.”  Psalm 107:27,28 (ESV)

Have you ever embraced God as your deliverer?  Ten years ago, I cried out to the Lord in desperation and told Him I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I told Him I would serve Him for the rest of my life if He took me out of that dark cloud of depression. He did. I asked the Lord why it took so long and why I had cried out so many times but He didn’t answer. He spoke to my heart and said, “Because I didn’t have all of you.” In other words, I wasn’t totally surrendered to His will. When He saw that I was ready and meant business, He delivered me from a pit of depression. You see I hit rock bottom; I was at the end of me. God wants us to be serious and mean business with Him. Does He have our heart, soul, strength and mind? He wants us to come to a point of complete surrender, then He will deliver us from our distress. He spoke to me through Luke 10:27 letting me know He didn’t have all my heart, all my soul, all my strength, and all my mind. If we are at a place of desperation, then God promises to reach down and set us free. Today, I am full of joy because He has all of me. I find joy in His Word. Does God have all of you?

“Father, I give You my heart, soul, strength, and mind. I surrender all to You.”

For His Glory

Linda Reyes Shepherd
TRBC Mountain Blend

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

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