Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 8, 2012

God’s World

“For there is no respect of persons with God.” Romans 2:11 (KJV)

I love the fact that God is no respecter of persons even to those who feel unworthy or insignificant.  God loves both the rich and the poor. He has not cast anyone aside, and we should not be intimidated by someone with wealth or the lack of their social standing. God is not impressed by how wealthy one is, what their background is, or has been. He isn’t impressed by our social standing or whether we have an education or not. What He is impressed by is that we love Him and love one another.

Recently, I saw a housekeeper cleaning the bathrooms at church. I noticed how beautifully she was cleaning. It smelled fresh and looked immaculate. She was working hard and being diligent at what she was doing. I took the time to stop and let her know what a wonderful job she was doing and that I appreciated it. She smiled with the most beautiful smile and thanked me.

A doctor or a housekeeper – they are both equally important in the sight of God as they glorify Him by doing their job or ministry.  God has brought all kinds of people from all backgrounds into our path to test us. He wants to see if we walk humbly before Him or walk in pride. As we follow Jesus’ example, we will find it easy to reach out to all kinds of people.

“Father, teach me to love with Your love, to see others through Your eyes and appreciate everyone for who they are.”

For His Glory

Linda Reyes Shepherd
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Love, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 7, 2012

God Sees, Hears & Cares

“Lift the boy up (Hagar) and take him (Ishmael) by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Genesis 21:18 (NIV)

I’ve never forgotten a sermon entitled ‘Don’t Ask God for Something He May Give it to You.’ Seeking God confirms we are in His very capable hands.   Thankfully, He has our best interest in mind even during seasons He seems silent/distant or perhaps purposefully withholding a desire of his child’s heart.   In every situation of our lives He sees… hears… cares….

Eight months ago, our daughter and son-in-law became first time parents.   Our beautiful granddaughter’s birthday was wonderful – full of joy and excitement – a direct result of answered prayer.  Unfortunately, within hours these emotions quickly shifted to survival mode when our daughter experienced unforeseen complications. Over the course of the next few months several surgeries required making some heart-wrenching decisions.   Resigning her job precluded her husband’s job promotion.   This change necessitated a relocation out of town but allowed our daughter to become a ‘stay at home’ mom – her heart’s desire.

One of my favorite stories in God’s word is found in Genesis 21:14-19; the story of Hagar and Ishmael.   God was completely aware Hagar had no control over her circumstances yet through all she endured He saw, heard, and cared for her. Envisioning grand parenting so differently, I found myself reluctant to understand how God was working.  Sadly, the very thing I had fervently prayed for didn’t exactly turn out the way I had anticipated although my heart knew the Lord had seen aching hearts, heard fervent prayers, and cared.   In retrospect, He had given me exactly what I requested in His unique way!

“Please Lord help me to accept answers to my prayers regardless of the outcome.”

For His Glory

Patsy Sanders
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Prayer

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 6, 2012

Are We Really Looking?

“Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.”  Nehemiah 8:3 (NKJ)

Overhearing my son with his tutor study for exams I heard, “Look on the page it is right in front of you.”  I tried not to chuckle as I thought of all the times I was looking for something myself.  It was in plain sight of me, but I just wasn’t really looking.   I was focused on everything but thinking I was really looking.  Ever been in that spot with me?  It’s one of those times you can’t help but laugh.  So many times when we are searching for answers, I know God must be standing there watching and saying, “The answer is right in front of you in My Word, just read it.”  We can read it but not comprehend because we often are just trying to get it off our checklist.  We get so focused elsewhere that we miss the big picture God has laid out right in front of us with the answers. Take the time to stop and focus on what God has in front of you.  Ask Him for the guidance you need and trust His answer.

 

“Father, thank You for providing us with Your wisdom. Help us when we are looking for answers even when we think we already know.”

For His Glory,

Debbie Struble
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Attitude, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 5, 2012

God’s Approval

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10 (NIV)

It glared on my windshield.  It starred me in the eye.  My car got rejected, and I even had the stamp to prove it.  That “X” label meant I failed the inspection.  I had repairs that needed to be done.  My car was checked out and found lacking.  Not a major deal really just minor adjustments, easy fixes for my handy husband.  Problem was he was extremely busy.  Days went by and then weeks.  Next thing I know, my husband went out of town and I was dodging every police car I met on the road to avoid the inevitable – the dreaded – ticket.   While I can’t remove that “X” from my windshield, I can take my repaired car back to the garage and they will rip it off for me.  Ever wish life could be that simple?   We‘ve all felt the sting of rejection.  Broken relationships, missed job opportunities, promotions or perhaps a ministry dream overlooked.  While “X” marks the spot on my windshield, regardless of the things I’ve not experienced,  “X” definitely doesn’t mark the spot on my life.  My sweet Redeemer sealed my future with His nail pierced hands and secured my hope in His empty tomb.  What the world may cast aside or reject, my God would never discard.  He uses every pain, wound, hurt and disappointment to showcase His glory shining through the scars.  Rejection never fits in His vocabulary and the only label we wear is “Forever His.”  So if we find ourselves feeling less than what we expected, just remember God’s seal of approval is the only one we need.

“Father, help me to entrust all my disappointments into Your hands and watch in amazement as You transform them.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Hope, Spiritual Growth, Success

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 4, 2012

Never Forsaken

“For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.” I Samuel 12:22 (KJV)

 How beautiful it is that God promises He will not forsake His people. Even when we are going through a wilderness experience and feel as though God has forsaken us, we can stop and meditate on this verse. He is always there, but there are times when we remove ourselves from the Lord. We could be going through incredible trials and rather than seeking his face we stop praying. But, God never forsakes us. Could it be that we are going by feelings, and get discouraged because we don’t “sense” the presence of the Lord? We have to have a faith walk and believe that He indeed does not forsake us. No matter what we are going through good times or hard times, we must continually seek the face of God, stand on His promises and speak it out loud.

The last part of this verse says it pleased the Lord to make you His people. He loves us so much that it pleased the Lord to make us.  We are His treasure; the apple of His eye. Be encouraged, God has not stopped loving you. Draw nigh to Him, and, He WILL draw nigh to you. Seek Him with all your heart, dig into the scriptures and stand on His promises. You can draw strength from His Word. God loves you so very much.

“Father, Thank You that You remind me that it pleased You to make me.  Help me to draw near You and walk a walk of faith.  Help me not to be moved by feelings.”

For His Glory

Linda Reyes Shepherd
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 1, 2012

Inspiring Sisters

“When his (Joseph’s) brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.”  Genesis 37:4 (NIV)

A simple compliment.  A string of praise.  All innocent accolades of appreciation.  But what happens when we make one person the target of our praise?  How do others feel when we overlook their contributions or ignore their positive qualities?  A trip back to Egypt would quickly reveal the twist and turns within a family overshadowed by favoritism.  Jacob loved his son, Joseph, more than any of his other eleven children.   Unfortunately, the reality of this father’s affection was totally visible to his entire family. Unkind words, hatred and jealousy spiraled out of control as these brothers saw the special way their father treated Joseph.  And if you read the rest of the story, you will find Joseph deep in a pit at the mercy of his siblings.  Sold into slavery and separated from his family for years, I’m sure Joseph would have traded all those favors for a lifetime with those he loved.  So what’s our take away?   Words of praise and compliments encourage us.  Affirmation stirs us to exercise those gifts God has given us.  As spiritually mature Christians, we should find great joy in other’s success and express our appreciation freely.  But when we get unbalanced in giving praise and choose to show favor to one while excluding others, we fail to foster a climate of growth, unity and love that God desires. As a wise farmer fertilizes his entire crop so it will yield a fruitful harvest, we too should spread our praise so no one is tempted to be stunted by roots of bitterness or jealousy.

“Father, our words and actions have the power to inspire, encourage and uplift others. May we intentionally touch the hearts of everyone you bring into our path.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Attitude, Love, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 31, 2012

Walking In Freedom

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1John 1:9 (KJV)

Do you know that nowhere in the Bible does it say anything about forgiving ourselves? It is not possible to say, will you forgive me to ourselves. Instead of saying we need to forgive ourselves, we need to stop condemning ourselves. Did you know that to walk in condemnation is sin? It is not trusting God. The devil wants to keep us bound, but God wants us to walk in liberty and freedom. He is faithful and will forgive us of our sins if we confess them. When we do this, He promises to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It doesn’t matter what sin we have committed; it doesn’t matter if we have done the most heinous crime. God forgives all sin except for blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. As we accept God’s forgiveness, He enables us to forgive whatever trespasses have been done against us. I remember when my husband and I forgave the man that murdered my brother-in-law. My husband speaks to him to this day. God died on the cross to forgive us of every sin that we have committed and will ever commit. We must believe when we repent that God has forgiven us and not allow nagging thoughts to condemn us. We must stand on this scripture and many others.  As we speak them, God will lead us to confession, prayer and personal application of His Words to our lives.

“Lord, thank You for forgiving all my sins. I choose to be in right standing with You. I choose freedom instead of condemnation.”

For His Glory

Linda Reyes Shepherd
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Faith, Freedom, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 30, 2012

Seeking Peace

“Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them inside her camel’s saddle and was sitting on them.  Laban searched through everything in the tent but found nothing.”  Genesis 31:34 (NIV)

Eager to leave her father’s homeland, Rachel clung to one tangible possession – the household gods.  These seemingly insignificant statues speak volumes about the relationship between Rachel and her father, Laban.  Traded off in marriage to Jacob, Rachel was the guarantee Laban needed. Recognizing God’s hand of blessing was upon Jacob, Laban had no desire to relinquish the increase pouring into his household. Regardless of the personal cost or methods of deception, Laban did whatever it took to keep Jacob.  However, family dynamics kicked in and Laban’s jealous sons blamed Jacob for stealing their inheritance.  Rachel and her sister blamed their father for their starring roles as desperate housewives vying for the same husband.  Whoever said the Bible is boring must have missed the drama swirling in this family.  When Jacob fled with his wives, children and possessions, Laban hotly pursued them.  And that’s where we find Rachel hiding away the prized household gods.  Scripture does not unveil why she took them, but I wonder if holding onto her bitterness sent her in pursuit of revenge.  Or perhaps,  she clung to those idols because everything else in her life seemed unstable.  Whatever the reason, if we aren’t careful, we can find ourselves there too.  Clinging and holding onto bitter emotions or false beliefs will always rob us of peace.   Demanding our right to be angry, seeking revenge and hurting others guarantees more drama than we ever envisioned.  But when we humbly surrender our pain into the hands of our righteous Lord, we can realize true freedom in knowing our Healer will act on our behalf.

“Father, when revenge overrides our emotions may we bow our knee to Your wisdom and relinquish justice into Your hands.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 29, 2012

Whispers In The Night

“I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel; my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.” Psalms 16:7 (KJV)

Have you ever had one of those nights when you couldn’t sleep?  You found yourself tossing and turning endlessly.  Perhaps you tried to read a book or wonder why you couldn’t go to sleep.  Unfortunately, this can make us more restless and perhaps worrisome. Does it ever occur to us that perhaps that sleepless night might be because God wants to keep us awake to speak to us? Perhaps He wants us to reach for the Bible instead of a book and hear Him speak to us through His Word? Many a night seasons, God has wakened me to speak to my heart or to have me pray for someone. Sometimes if we can’t sleep, we need to examine our hearts to see if our conscience is clear. If it’s not, we can commune with Him and make it right.  He is always quick to forgive.  God has woken me up many times with a scripture in mind to meditate on or a poem to write. He loves to instruct us in the night season, but the sweetest thing is just to commune with Him. How wonderful is that? God loves us enough to wake us up and speak to us.

“Thank you Father for caring enough to wake me up, commune with me and instruct me in the night seasons.”

For His Glory

Linda Reyes Shepherd
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 28, 2012

God’s Healing Touch

“And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.” Joel 2:13 (KJV)

Have you ever rejected kindness?  Not me, or at least that’s what I thought.  When someone opens a door, I gladly smile and walk in.  If someone offers me a sweet treat, you won’t find me saying no.  When a stranger offers to let me check out my two items ahead of their full cart at the grocery store, I accept with gratitude.   Reject kindness no way, but God would probably have a different answer.  Right in the midst of temptations small or large, God’s kindness speaks tenderly to our spirit.  Wonder how many times, we’ve said no and walked head on into disobedience?   Determined to do things our way or better yet react without considering how Christ would respond puts us at risk.   As believers in Christ, we have the Holy Spirit living within us to guide and convict us before we even step a foot in the direction of sin.  The hand of God’s kindness is the tool that seeks to pull us away from bondages we so carelessly create. And after we make those pivotal sin choices,   shame and condemnation create a huge barrier between ourselves and God.  Yet even in outright disobedience, we still meet His kindness leading us to repentance. Drawing us to Himself, God’s goal is to restore and rebuild our lives so we can once again glorify Him despite the most disobedient past.  So if we never thought we had rejected kindness, we’d better look deeper and make a commitment to receive His kindness above all else.

“Father, when I’ve failed you miserably, I know your loving kindness waits for my confession and draws me close to You.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Attitude, Gratitude, Spiritual Living

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