Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 10, 2012

Eternal Difference

“Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.”  Exodus 33:13 (ESV)

 
 Broken, searching, wondering if  this is all there is?  That is the status of many in our society.  Lost, looking for something in all the wrong places, feeling neglected and abandoned.  Is all this pain all there is, they wonder?  Sometimes the smile you give is all the love they feel in a day.  An outstretched hand offering a hug means volumes to them.  The outreach of an invitation to join us at church, Bible study, or just for a cup of coffee is more than they have received in a month.  Ever thought about the impact we have on those around us?

Some days it’s a heavy burden to bear, as our lives are full.  Then we stop and think what eternal significance this has over that.  God has been working on my own heart about eternal values verses earthly values.  What if each morning we chose our tasks based on making eternal values –  what would life look like?

“Father, I want to make an eternal value for You.   I’m tired of spinning just to benefit today; I want to make an eternal difference.  Show me your way.”

For His Glory,

Debbie Struble
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 9, 2012

Sharing Your Faith

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God;  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:1,4 & 5 (NKJV)

Ever become discouraged when sharing your faith with a friend?  We witness through our actions and words with no apparent results; let’s face it–we often get discouraged!  Yet if we enter a room filled with light with a sealed box in our hands, the box is filled with darkness.  When we open the lid it does not affect the light at all!  But if we enter a completely dark room and have a sealed box in our hands with a brilliant light turned on inside it’s a completely different story. When we open that lid, the darkness flees and although the room may not be bright as day, the light makes a great impact!  So it is with our witnessing: we may not see the results we are hoping for, but we are leaving small “boxes of light” in that person.  One day, God will enter and they will realize “he that follows Him shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life!”  Don’t ever give up instead exchange your discouragement for His patience and press through leaving the results in His hands.

“Father, people are so precious in Your sight, even with their imperfections. Help us to see them with compassion as You do, and never get weary of lifting them to You each day, interceding for their salvation.”

 

For His Glory

Sandy Day
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 8, 2012

His Presence

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;”  Psalm 84:10a (NIV)

Silence bounced against the walls.  Stray laundry no longer carpeted my floor.  An uncluttered sink was spotless.  Did I really live here?  Everything was in the right place, untouched and unmoved.  HG-TV would have been proud!  Martha Stewart would have sung my praises.   My world seemed perfect, flawless yet something was missing.  Actually someone was missing.  The quiet solitude I often longed for seemed louder than I remembered.  The perfection, well it was too perfect.  And the empty sink was a reminder my husband was out of town.  It didn’t take long for my heart to miss his sweet presence. Wonder how long it would take for us to notice if God was missing in our lives?  We rarely entertain solitude so maybe we wouldn’t miss His voice.  We’re usually so busy cleaning up other people’s lives that we don’t have the energy to rid ourselves of the dirty laundry that litters our path.    And that spotless perfection we model definitely wouldn’t make God proud.  Untouched and unmoved, we coast through life consistently managing our day totally unaware that someone is missing.    And the sad reality, God really isn’t missing –  we just pretend He isn’t  there. Like a silent partner desperate to have a voice – God longs for us to thirst, hunger, and seek His presence.  He’s counting down the days, eagerly waiting until we run into His open arms.

“Father, how perfect our world could be if we took the time to welcome Your presence, to sit at Your feet and curl up in your lap.  You are the true lover of our souls!”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Growth, Worship

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 7, 2012

Victorious Living

“Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour.”  1Peter 5:8 (KJV)

Do you remember the last time you played checkers? Today, I was playing checkers with my friend and studied her every move. I even had some strategies in mind.   When she wasn’t careful, I jumped her on the checkerboard. When she got distracted, I took advantage of the situation. I began laughing because I was beating her and she was losing – not nice. My friend reminded me that she got distracted, discouraged, and didn’t try hard to win at the end. Is that true in our Christian lives? Satan laughs at us when he tricks us and we stumble. We must be alert at all times with a sound mind so the enemy does not deceive or take advantage of us. We must be ahead of his game and ready to defeat him through prayer and the Word of God. By putting on the full armor of God, we can win and the enemy will flee. He cannot stand in the presence of a praiser, a prayer warrior, or a person that knows how to use the Word against him. Be ready with these strategies. He is clever, but we can outsmart him and be victorious with God’s help.

“Father, give me the wisdom to deal with the enemy. Teach me how to pray effectively. Teach me to use the Word of God against Satan. Thank you Lord for empowering and equipping me for battle.”

For His Glory

Linda Reyes Shepherd
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Freedom, Spiritual Growth, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 6, 2012

Are You A Risk Taker?

“You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.” Psalm 18:35 (NIV)

Are you a risk taker?   Going from brown hair to brown hair with highlights is about as risky as I like to be!  But what about our faith? Have we settled into a status quo Christianity that uses others around us as a gauge for spiritual maturity and what God may or may not want for our lives?

In the book of Ezra, Cyrus king of Persia decreed that all Jews could return to their homeland.  You might think that every Jew would jump at this opportunity to leave a land of captivity and go home, but out of a population of hundreds of thousands only 49,897 responded to the offer.  The ones who did return gave up a life of comfort and familiarity to pursue a life of rebuilding.  A risk like this is tough!

Most people take the path of least resistance and migrate toward comfort zones.  Instead of turning to the Bible and seeking God in prayer, some might ask for advice from those in their small group or look for answers to life’s biggest questions on Christian blogs or websites.   As Christian women, we must pay attention to those things that God asks us to do and when He speaks we need to move and step out of our comfort zones.  He is there to lead us…guide us….protect us!

“O Lord, when I am looking to the future and don’t know what is to come or where to turn, help me to lean on You for strength to forge ahead and take those risks You want me to take.”

For His Glory

Melissa Tucker
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 3, 2012

Drenched In His Words

“The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130 (NIV)

“Can’t do it – there is no way.”  Those were the words flying off my tongue when challenged to memorize the book of James.  For years, I struggled to memorize one verse a week – not a huge undertaking, but still one I had failed to do.  So my response was quick and to the point, and God equally wasn’t slow in reprimanding my spirit of resistance.  Conviction brought me full circle as I typed out James Chapter 1.  Seeking God’s help, I carried my paper into the gym and opted to tune out the noise for solitude with the Almighty while exercising.  Amazing how easily that was accomplished when I disciplined my heart and mind to be in agreement with God.  I’ve only memorized the first eight verses, but I’ve realized some incredible truths about me and the God who plunged me forward.  With God’s help, we really can do anything.  We often say that but then don’t put discipline, hard work and faith into action. Taking the initial step to move toward God’s leading requires that we take action.  I had to type the chapter, carry it with me and attempt to memorize those words.  Nothing would have happened if I continued to convince myself I couldn’t do it.  Refusal has a weird way of locking us into a corner of disbelief that paralyzes the life transforming  blessings of our God.  I’m trusting Him, not myself, for the multitude of remaining verses; but I am learning that a mind drenched in His word has little time to wander somewhere else.

“Lord, how quick we are to object when the price is high.  Enable us to be true followers who forsake all else for the glory of knowing and serving You.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 2, 2012

Do You Know You Are Beautiful?

“The sun has one kind of beauty, the moon has another beauty, and the stars have another. And each star is different in its beauty.”  I Corinthians 15:41 (NCV)

Standing outside, I glance up and behold what a breathtaking sight.  It’s a beautiful cool crisp night, and the stars are shining brightly.  I’m admiring the beauty of the stars twinkling until there it is, just to the left.   Quickly, I watch as the shooting star darts down.  What beauty, what a rush,  and  I almost missed it.  But  God directed my sight right where He wanted,  so I could enjoy the moment and beauty He had for me.

God is so amazing in His gifts to us; He has so much to share from the flowers on the ground  to the leaves on the trees up to the stars in the sky.  We don’t deserve the beauty He places on earth for our enjoyment.  Yet He still loves to show off and share the beauty with us. He uses these things to remind us how beautiful we are to Him.  He created us in His image so we could honor and glorify Him.  He looks at us and sees beauty in all shapes and sizes.  Beauty with the scars, beauty with the loss of hair, and beauty with the stretch marks.  Are we listening to His reminders of our beauty or are we listening to tv, magazines, and society?  God created us each uniquely, and we aren’t made to look like each other.  Leave the comparisons behind, and never doubt your beauty in God’s eyes.

“Father, thank You for the reminder of my beauty in Your eyes.  Help me to never doubt my worth in You.”

For His Glory,

Debbie Struble
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 1, 2012

God’s Special Treasure

“Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him.  “They will be my people,” says the LORD Almighty. “On the day when I act, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient and dutiful child.”  Malachi 3:16-17 (NLT)

Do you know that God records our every words, idle words as well as when we talk about the Lord? It pleases Him for us to bring honor and glory to His name. When we reverence God, we will speak about the great and mighty things He is doing in our lives. This pleases God. He will write the names of those that feared Him and loved to think of Him. Not only will He write the names on a scroll of those who feared and loved Him, but those also who loved to think about Him. God says these people will be His own SPECIAL treasure. This is exciting. It challenges us to walk in His presence and put on the mind of Christ. Whom are we talking about, whom are we thinking about?  Do our conversations bring glory to God? Are we lifting the name of Christ? God is listening to what we say.

“Father, help me to think with the mind of Christ and speak only that which brings glory to You. May I be consumed with Your presence so that what comes out of my mouth will bring honor to You. Lord help me to keep declaring Your name and speak of the wonderful things You are doing and have done in my life.”

For His Glory

Linda Reyes Shepherd
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Spiritual Growth, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | January 31, 2012

Never Alone

 “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast” Psalm 139: 7-10 (NIV)

My little niece loves for me to play hide and seek with her.  When it is her turn to hide, I make sure and count real slow and actually not look too hard to find her.  She will crawl out of her hiding place just giggling and saying, “Lissa, I’m the best hider!”  When it is my turn, she counts really fast and I hide so I can instantly be spotted. (There is not many places a 6’3 person can hide and not be seen!) She loves it, and we can play for hours.

I am so glad that God never hides and we don’t have to play, “hide and seek” to find Him!  He is always with us and can always see us.  No matter where we are in life, God can see us.  Have you ever felt hidden from God?  I can assure you, that you are not!  He sees you.  No matter where you are!  God loves you and He has never moved.  If we can’t “see” God, we are the ones who have moved, not God.

“Heavenly Father, It is so comforting to know that You are constantly with me!  You know exactly where I am and what I face.  Thank You for never hiding from me, always loving and protecting me.  Hold me fast with Your right hand and guide me each moment of this day!”

For His Glory

Melissa Tucker
TRBC Coffee Break

 

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Posted in Hope, Love, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | January 30, 2012

Conversations With God

“Rejoice evermore; pray without ceasing; in every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (KJV)

As a young bride many years ago, I dreaded meetings where the ladies would separate into groups to pray.  I was so afraid to pray aloud in front of older women: what do I say? What if I say something stupid? What if I sound immature? Other than at church, the only prayer I had heard at home was for the meal – always the same prayer, day after day.  As I have grown and understood that God wants to hear from me, prayers have become so very different! I know it does not have to be with big words, nor cover every subject, nor be generic. I’ve learned to talk to Him as my best friend–as indeed, He is!  Realize He already knows your needs and you don’t have to explain every detail to Him.  I love the book of Nehemiah.  He was so “down home” and honest in his prayers. He hid nothing from God. In front of the King, when his life was in the hand of the king because of his sadness over Jerusalem, his prayer to God was so very specific: “HELP!”  He knew he needed God’s wisdom immediately, he didn’t need long words, or to tell God the situation he was in, or get God’s attention.  “Help!”  What a magnificent heart-felt prayer! How often I need to call out to the Savior in today’s world, “Help!”

“My God, please “increase my faith” as I talk to You, knowing You are there, that You care for me with all my faults, and that my greatest desire is for my life to be a reflection of the conversations I have with You. I love you, Lord.”

For His Glory

Sandy  Day
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Encouragement, Prayer

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