Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 28, 2012

With All My Heart

“To him who overcomes, I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”
Revelation 2:7b (NIV)

 First months of marriage are all so exciting! Sure, there are tiny little problems to overcome, but we work through them.  We take rides, go for walks, and do other fun things together.  Then children start coming and hubby’s job gives him longer hours.  Before we know it babies turn into small people who have ball games, piano lessons, or swim meets.  Disciplining children and escalating financial stress starts to take its toll.  Unfortunately,  we often feel like we’ve been treated unfairly and begin losing that loving feeling.

Wonder if we have lost our first love for God?  Do we think He failed us in letting someone die, when we prayed fervently that they would live? Or did we lose a job and cannot let the bitterness die?  Possibly our spouse is not as dedicated as we are, and he is pulling us away from  worship,  church friends, and the group we were close to. God wants our whole heart, soul and a love so faithful that He is on our mind in an exciting way each  morning to see what His will is for the day. He hasn’t gone anywhere, but have we?  Draw near to Him again, James tells us, and let Him draw near to You.  Make that first move back to your first love!

 “Father, we confess we are often unfaithful and let the busyness of our lives distract us from that first love we had for You.  Help us to put You first each morning and to review our day when we lay down at night to see that we have remained in Your perfect will for us!”

 For His Glory

 Sandy Day
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Hope, Love, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 27, 2012

Accepting Best

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.”  (John 14:13 NIV)

The dreaded “no” – a word none of us want to hear, especially my fourteen year old niece. One day she asked for something, and I told her “no.”  Her response: “But Lissa, you never say no to me.”  Now that is not exactly true,  but I was surprised by her bold expectation.    As I considered the way she made her request and argument, my heart leapt with conviction.  How often do I approach God with a request and stubbornly tell Him not to tell me no?

Jesus told his disciples that they could ask for anything.  He even said that when we ask in His name, whatever we ask would be given to us (John 14:11-14).  It wasn’t an open invitation for the will of man to reign, but rather an opportunity to participate in the will of God through prayer.  It’s about asking for things that bring glory to God.  It’s about the will of God being done, not the whim of man.  There are many people who live by the “name-it-and –claim-it” theology.  However, God doesn’t have to answer our prayers in the way we want,  just like I cannot give into every whim of my nieces.  I must pray and ask God for what I want but understand that  His will is always what’s best.  This is a toughie –  No doubt!  But God knows more than we know, and His ways are not like our ways.  So no matter what we pray, we can trust that His answer of “No” or “Yes” is always best.

“Dear Lord, You are my Father and I know that you have a plan for me.  Please bind me to Your will and teach me to desire Your heart above all else.”

For His Glory

Melissa Tucker
TRBC Coffee Break 

 

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 24, 2012

Foundation of Truth

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.”  Matthew 7:24-25 (NKJV)

While the casual vacationer might be tempted to ignore the sign “Keep Off The Dunes” and walk on top of the sand, an avid beach lover knows how vital dunes are to the survival of a beach home.  The higher the sand dune around the home, the less erosion occurs when storms threaten and waves crash closer to shore. But when the dunes are non- existent, the foundation of the structure is compromised.  And the house once built upon the sand will come crumbling down.  I know that story too well. Last Fall, our beach property stood firm and strong during a raging hurricane only to crumble into the ocean five days after the storm hit.  What we thought had survived actually had been weakened over the years as the sand and dunes were ripped away.   Wonder if that ever happens to us?  Do we post “Keep Off The Dunes”  signs in our minds to filter out things that wear down, distort or desensitize vital truths from God’s word?  What are we doing to ensure external influences are not compromising what we believe?  How about the tv we watch, movies we attend, books we read, music we listen to?  Are we creating a vital defense of protection around us that ensures erosion will not occur?  Jesus said it best:  The house founded on the rock (God) will never crumble down.

“Father, teach us to guard our hearts and minds so that Your truths will create a protective barrier around our lives.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Spiritual Living, Success, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 23, 2012

Songs of Joy

“Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy.” Psalm 47:1 (ESV)

Every week I call my 15 month old grandbaby, Natalia. I start singing the song Jesus Loves Me, and she repeats some of the song to me.   Natalia claps her hands then laughs. Just hearing her singing brings great joy. I just want to reach over, squeeze her and kiss her. Can you imagine how much more delighted God gets when we sing songs of praise and hymns to him? As I thought about how much I look forward to hearing my sweet grandbaby’s voice, I began to think how sweet our songs sound in the ears of God.  He wants us to be joyful and have a song in our heart. When we walk in the fruit of the Spirit of joy, we will naturally make a sweet melody unto the Lord. We will clap our hands, begin to praise God and sing.  We will find ourselves filled with joy. Try singing the song, “I’ve Got The Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down In My Heart.” If you add a little clap to it, you will see how it brings your spirit up. Clapping our hands and singing to God with loud songs energizes us and keeps the joy in our hearts. Is any among you afflicted?  Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms (James 5:13).

“Lord, I choose to be joyful in You. I choose to clap my hands and shout loud songs of joy unto You. I choose to keep a song in my heart and bring great delight to You. May my song be a sweet melody to Your ears.”

For His Glory

Linda Reyes Shepherd
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 22, 2012

Divine Protection

“You are my help. Because of your protection, I sing.” Psalm 63:7 (NCV)

Driving thru crazy wind, our family ran into the hotel as the lights flickered.  Deciding to forgo the elevator, we walked up four flights of steps after a HOT day in the amusement park.  Arriving to our room wet, tired and drained, I got a text from my neighbor: “A storm came through and there are large tree branches on your front step. You can’t park in your driveway where you normally do, and we don’t have power.” Another text from a friend: “There is a HUGE storm coming your way and it’s awful.”  Thankfully we were safe, the power never went off and we enjoyed a sweet night of slumber.

God protected our family from firsthand experiencing the storm of 2012 for reasons we don’t know.  What we do know is God is faithful. He knows my son is terrified of storms.  From what I understand about this last storm it now has many terrified.  God’s protection over our minds and our bodies is so incredible. He thinks about the smallest details and provided a time of rest for us before a time to serve.  All I could think about that night was what a blessing from God as He already provided the tickets for the amusement park, the inexpensive hotel and the ability to miss this terrible storm.   I had no idea until we arrived home how blessed we were – we had a hole in our roof above our son’s room and where the branches landed is where my car would have been.  What has God done in your life lately to protect you?  Have you considered it a blessing and thanked him?

 

“Father, thank You for providing for needs for our family before we even realize we need provisions.  You are a God of blessings and we thank you!” 

For His Glory,

Debbie Struble
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 21, 2012

Hope Filled Prayers

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Moving from Florida to Northern Virginia twelve years ago, she was one of the first people I made friends with.  In her mid-twenties, my new friend had been married several years to an angry, verbally abusive husband.  Now almost twenty years later, I have watched her suffer greatly.  There were two ropes that kept her tied to this marriage: the two children (now in their early teens) and her love for the man who did not deserve it.  Often she has called to vent, cry, seek counsel or just talk and I could see no end to her misery.  This morning she called, then asked if I were sitting down.  “You’ve filed for divorce,” I exclaimed.  “Not quite,” she said, “He got saved!”  She was ecstatic!  Her every dream for the marriage had come true, and she had remained constant in praying for this man that I had given up on and written off as hopeless.  She is, she said, married to a new man and last Sunday, they renewed their vows.

Later, I wanted to weep out my shame for not having prayed with faith and for judging that someone was beyond the reach of God. I knew I had not helped one bit through faithful prayer and that I had been too lacking in faith. I pray this lesson never leaves me – no one, no matter how bad, is beyond the saving grace of Christ!

“Father–how much shame I feel that I took Your sovereignty lightly and did not pray with faith! Help me now to encourage all those with unsaved spouses to never give up, even when it seems so hopeless.  You, Lord, are never lacking in power to save anyone! Praise Your holy name!”

For His Glory

Sandy Day
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Gratitude, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 20, 2012

Embracing Our Faith Walk

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

It can be a little confusing trying to grasp something we can’t see, but that’s exactly what God asks us to do – believe in an unseen hope. It starts with a first step of faith when we begin a personal relationship with God.  We have to believe that everything we have tried to do in our own strength is not worth it and even though we can’t see it, what He offers is MUCH better.

While my husband was holding our grandson, he was also holding a cup of lemon sorbet. To a six month old it was bright yellow.  It looked inviting so he went for it, face first. Because it was lemon, his taste buds didn’t really care for it. As he gets exposed to more foods and flavors, he might like the lemon flavor. It just wasn’t the time for it right now.  Such is our experience with faith. It sounds good and inviting, but we really have to step out believing and trusting in God even when the journey isn’t sweet. We can be encouraged by other people’s experiences, but our faith walk is a personal journey. Once we take that first step, God matures us spiritually the more we exercise and embrace the faith walk He has for us.

“Dear Father, Help us to have the courage to take that first step towards faith in You. May we lay the burdens of life at Your feet and trade them for blessings only You can give. Thank You for loving us enough to give us a chance at the unseen hope of eternal life.”

For His Glory

Katrina Redman
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 17, 2012

Living Water

“Jesus answered her, If you knew the gift of God and who it is that ask you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.”  John 4:10 (NIV)

Tiny little feet hovered over the edge.  Desperate and thirsty, she lingered though parched lips tasted nothing.  Peering down, she dipped lower just in case the oasis existed – attempting to dance in the slightest puddle.    Dreaming of the possibility only to greet reality – what she longed for didn’t exist.  And then she flew away.  Didn’t she know I was watching out my window?  Didn’t she hear me open the door and move towards her?  Or maybe it was my closeness that sent her flying away.  Didn’t she know that I had what she longed for?  Even though she was gone, I filled the birdbath and slipped away anticipating her return.  Moments later, I could hear the splash of not one but many.  Looking out my window, I saw the glory – the glory God sees when we are quenched.  When parched lips that have tasted nothing peer over the edge hoping, dreaming, expecting, wanting.  I heard what God hears –the splash of laughter and feet dancing in the sheer joy of being refreshed, drenched in His love.  All we longed for and thought never existed.  All we searched for and attempted to fulfill.  All the wondering if God knew, if God heard, if God would move on our behalf splashes around us.  Living water quenching our thirst –  and God smiles as we bring others to taste His goodness.

“Father, I come to You for I know You satisfy.   I’m thirsty but I know Your love will not run dry – You’re all my heart is living for.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Worship

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 16, 2012

Delivering The Message

“Then Haggai, God’s messenger, preached God’s Message to the people: “I am with you!” God’s Word.” Haggai 1:13 (The Message)

Messages, cards, gifts, and bills  – the mailman delivers them all.  I remember as a child anxiously awaiting the mail to come, and I would run to the box to check it.  Sometimes there was something for me and it was SO exciting.  It is still exciting to get a card or note in the mail.

Recently at a concert, the singer described himself as a mailman delivering God’s message working in the background.  What a great thought to think of ourselves as God’s messenger.  God has much to say and deliver, and we are his hand picked messengers.  What a blessing to be able to work in the background to deliver his messages.  What message does he want us to deliver today?  Spend some time at His feet asking for direction on how to deliver His message.

 “Father, thank You for allowing me to work in the background for You.  What messages can I deliver for You today?  Let me shine Your love!

For His Glory,

Debbie Struble
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 15, 2012

A New Creation

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”  2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

I was at a friend’s house when they pulled out a game that I’ve played a dozen times.  It is the game when you are given a name of a famous person, you tape it to your forehead,  walk around the room and everyone gives you clues of “who you are.”  For example you might hear, “You are the queen of soul.” “You married the very first President.”  “You asked a mirror, Who is the fairest of them all?” The point of the game is to figure out your identity.

Wonder how many times we determine our identity by what others tell us?  For example, “You are so smart.”  “You are a loser.”  “You are so talented.”  “You are ugly because you are different.”  After a while, we might allow those messages to determine who we are, whether they are true or false.  I love the fact that when we accept Christ as Savior, we receive a new identity in Him.  When God touched lives in the Bible, He often changed the person’s name.  For example, Saul became Paul.  Abram became Abraham.  Sarai became Sarah.  Jacob became Israel.  Simon became Peter.  Just like these people, we have a new identity.  We only need to look as far as the Bible to tell us who we are.  We are the “salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13).  We are the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).  We are “a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

“Lord, Thank You that I am a new creation in Christ.  I admit that sometimes I feel just like the old me, but by faith I know I am brand new.  Thank you so much that my identity is based on my identity in Christ.”

For His Glory

Melissa Tucker
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Growth

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