Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | January 27, 2012

Focused On His Best

“To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens!”   Psalm 123:1 (ESV)

I heard the story of an engineer who was asked to solve a problem, when all other efforts to troubleshoot the issue failed.  After a few hours of looking at the machinery and contemplating what might be wrong, the engineer took a piece of chalk out of his pocket and placed an X on a large machine.  The baffled corporate leaders were amazed at how quickly and effortlessly this man identified the issue.  They were equally surprised when they looked over his itemized bill of service which said: $1 for chalk to write the letter X  and $,9999 for knowing where to put the X.

Obviously, there is something to be said for knowing WHERE to focus one’s efforts and attention in life!  As we contemplate the new year it may be helpful to consider whether or not we have placed our focus and efforts in the “right” areas of life.  Are we focused and committed to the BEST?  Have our good intentions and right focus been derailed by distractions and temptations?

For Christians, if ever there was an X which “marked the spot” on which we should be focused and committed, it is the cross.   As this Psalm reminds us, the BEST place for our fixed attention and focus is always the Lord Himself.  When we live from a posture of setting our gaze upon the Lord and abiding in Him, then not only can we trust that we are rightly focused, but we can also trust that He will make an indelible mark on us!

“Lord, please draw our gaze to You and Your cross.  Help us fix our eyes on You so that we are not distracted and lured away by the temptations and distractions of the world.  We love You Lord!”

For His Glory

Claudia Dempsey
TRBC Mountain Blend

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Posted in Spiritual Living, Success, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | January 26, 2012

How Is Your Ministry Reflected?

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in Heaven.” Matthew 6:1 (NKJV)

If someone could hold a mirror up to our ministry or acts of service what would be reflected? Would it be an image of ourselves basking in the glory or an image of someone who was blessed by us? The “mission of ministry” is to bring people to God by reflecting Christ’s love. When we get caught up in doing good because it makes us “feel good” or “look good,” we slip away from our mission. People see Christ through our actions and sometimes those actions speak louder than words.

On my desk, I keep a photo of a lovely 90 year old lady named Luella. I was approached by friends of hers to get a donation of sermon DVDs and worship CDs so she could see her Pastor Jonathan preach from her nursing home. I gladly gathered up the items (affectionately named Luella’s Library) for Luella’s friends but God had other plans in mind; He wanted Luella home with Him.  While Luella never got the CDs, they are in circulation in nursing homes, homes of shut ins, and anyone else that wants to listen to the Word of God but can’t get to church.  I get calls and letters occasionally from Luella’s friends updating me on Luella’s Library and their latest visits to bless others. Luella’s picture is my reflection of ministry, and it is there to always remind me to never see myself but someone that has been blessed by my actions.

“Dear God, Help us to minister in Your name and only seek to honor and glorify You in all we do. Show us opportunities to reach out to others through acts of service that will draw them close to You. ”

 

For His Glory,

Katrina Redman
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Love, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | January 25, 2012

Remaining In God

“There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband of seven years after her marriage and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Luke 2:36-37 (NIV).

Many times, we lose sight of God’s promises for us and seem to forget that He never forsakes us. We cry and we whine; we throw our hands up in despair. Sadly, we seem to negate the core of our faith (Hebrews 11:1).  Then we read about Anna – a woman who lost her husband and never remarried; she also never ceased to worship her God. She could have given up, but she didn’t. What was her reward? She was privileged to be present when the infant Jesus was brought to the temple to be circumcised. She saw God in flesh in the form of a baby. There are many distractions in today’s world to take our sight from what God has for us.  If we are not careful, we will succumb to the way the world handles things, instead of placing our lives at the altar and allowing the Lord to work His will in us. Anna remained faithful even when life didn’t give her reasons to be thankful. If we remain in God and choose to praise and worship Him, He will bestow His favor upon us.

“Lord, thank You for all that You do for us.  You are a caring God, and You honor our faith.  Please continue Your work in our lives, so that we will continue to bring glory to Your name.”



For His Glory


Luska Suzano

TRBC Coffee Break

					

					

						
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					Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | January 24, 2012 
					
Open My Eyes

				

				

					

					
“Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.” I Corinthians 16:13-14  (MSG)


Ever sit and just people watch?  All kinds of people walking by: some alone, some in groups, others as couples, etc.  Some happy, sad, mad, hurt, arguing, or smiling as they gaze upon each other.  Everyone should take time out each month to sit in a coffee shop, the mall, or on Main Street and spend time in prayer over those people passing by.  What would life look like if we took time out to pray for strangers?   Time to sit and be available in a fast paced world.  Is that even possible?  What difference would we make by our obedience to love and pray for strangers and those we love?  What if our conviction to follow our church mission statement (to change our world by developing Christ followers who love God and love people) was put into practice?  We would have to be available and spend time preparing our lives to serve, share, and pray.  Let’s join together and designate a time each month to sit, observe, be available, and pray for those around us.


“Father, open our hearts to pray for those who pass us by. Open our eyes to the things you see. Use me to glorify and reach others for you.”


For His Glory,


Debbie Struble

TRBC Coffee Break

					

					

						
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					Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | January 23, 2012 
					
God of Wonders

				

				

					

					
“I will mediate on all Your works and consider all Your mighty deeds.” Psalm 77:12 (NIV)


Memories are the snapshots that tag along with us as we journey through life. Have you ever felt as though a memory was slipping away?  My daughter has lived in the presence of Jesus since the age of two.   Months after she left this world, I found myself overwhelmed with the fear that I might forget her.  After all, we only had enough memories from those two short years.  What if I didn’t remember what her voice sounded like or I forgot the smile that graced her face?  Pictures helped, but I longed for the remembrance of her real, daily presence in my life.  So I asked God to keep those snapshots of her fresh in my memory bank.  Recalling her first steps, her laughter and joy rather than focusing on what I lost.  Remembrance is an incredible treasure – one that soothes the ache of loss and invigorates steps of faith.  It’s the crucial element that deepens our relationship with God.  Like the Psalmist, we can intentionally purpose in our minds to recall God’s faithful deeds –  His miracles and mighty works on our behalf.  If not, we will allow those moments to fade away like a distant memory blowing in the wind.  And when life gets hard, our mind will not reflect on the awesome deeds of our mighty God.  We will have no memory bank to draw from if we have failed to fill our minds with the goodness and loving character of our God.  Unveiled in scripture and in the lives of each of His children are the incredible memories of God’s faithfulness – choose today to keep Him fresh in your thoughts.


“Father, how awesome to know that Your works are unfolding in my life creating a scrapbook of memories we will one day share for eternity.”


For His Glory


Janet Martin

TRBC Coffee Break

					

					

						
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Posted in Faith, Gratitude, Hope 

					

				

			


		
			

				

					Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | January 20, 2012 
					
God’s Comfort

				

				

					

					
“As one whom his mother comforted, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 66:13 (NKJV)


When I was young and nursed both of my babies, I remember how they looked at my face and made cooing noises. They stared into my eyes and seemed so serene and safe in my presence. I was so attentive to them and held them with such tender love just like God holds us next to his bosom. We too need to be still before God looking into His face and remembering He loves us with an everlasting love. He is always there to comfort us if only we allow Him. Are we running to others to find the comfort that only God can give? When we go through hurt and disappointment, God is always there to comfort us.  Sometimes we resist Him and refuse His comfort. One of the ways we refuse His comfort is by not receiving His Word. In His Word, we will find much comfort. Also when we pray we need to be still enough so that we can hear Him speak to us. Praying is not just talking all the time but also listening. As we hear His voice, He will comfort us. Are we being still enough to hear His voice? Are we in the scriptures receiving His comfort?  God wants to comfort us. Are we allowing Him to do so?


“Father, thank You that You love me with an everlasting love and You are always there to comfort me. Thank You for Your word that brings so much comfort to me.”


For His Glory


Linda Reyes Shepherd

TRBC Mountain Blend

					

					

						
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					Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | January 19, 2012 
					
Embracing God’s Spirit

				

				

					

					
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26 (NIV)


Do you ever find yourself caught up in a web of urgency? You know like everything has to be done right now.  All the children have to be in different directions right now.  Your boss needs that project completed yesterday.  We head out the door, speed down the driveway always in pursuit of the most urgent need.  Funny thing is – we often find ourselves reacting urgently to things that aren’t urgent.  Rushing down the expressway one day, I saw a cop flash those pretty lights in my direction.  He pulled me over and wanted to know where I was headed in such a hurry.  Sad truth, I wasn’t really in a rush to get anywhere – a mode of urgency had become my pattern of reacting.    We often find ourselves facing every decision or circumstance in life the same way.  There’s no time to pray about the situation or if we do, a short pray is ushered to God’s throne and we disconnect before He has a chance to speak.  Or we text a friend for advice instead.  Either way, we short circuit wise counsel when we insist on making urgent decisions. Only when we embrace God’s divine wisdom giver, the Holy Spirit, and slow ourselves down will we reap the lessons He so longs to teach us. He promised us a friend, a comforter, a counselor would come, and Jesus left this world knowing we were in good hands.


“Father, You know all the details of our lives and You are readily available 24/7 to lead us in the right direction.  Thank you for the incredible gift of your Spirit living within us.”


For His Glory


Janet Martin

TRBC Coffee Break

					

					

						
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					Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | January 18, 2012 
					
Sparkle Time

				

				

					

					
“The LORD their God will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.”  Zechariah 9:16 (TNIV)


Up early to walk our sweet Princess Shih Tzu, we stepped out the door and quickly discovered the cool brisk air and first frost.   The grass glistened with beautiful sparkles as we walked.  Couldn’t help but ponder the sparkle of the streets of gold in Heaven.   Wondering just how wide will they be, will they shine and sparkle or just shine brightly?   Makes one dream about Heaven and the beauty that we can’t even grasp in our mind.  We think about the colors of Fall, the colors of Spring and beauty that they hold; however, it pales in comparison to what we will one day experience in Heaven.


What an encouragement to know we have a shepherd who is anxiously awaiting our arrival and preparing a place for us.  Have you ever thought about the fact that God looks at us as a sparkle in His land like jewels in a crown?   What a thought to ponder.  We are a sparkle in God’s life.  Now that brings a smile to my thoughts and heart.  A precious thought to ponder when we are tough on ourselves, feeling down and out, having a bad day, or even as the New Year has come upon us and we have made the resolution to lose that 10 pounds again this year.  We can be reminded that we are more than beautiful in God’s eyes, we sparkle.


“Father, thank you for the reminder that I am more than beautiful; I am a sparkle in your land.  Help me to shine brightly for you.”


For His Glory,


Debbie Struble

TRBC Coffee Break

					

					

						
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					Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | January 17, 2012 
					
Bread of Life

				

				

					

					
 “In the sweat of your face, you will eat your bread.”  Genesis 3:19a “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.” Mark 14:22 (NKJV)


When my son was about two, our pastor visited our home. After asking a really dumb question about Jesus, I realized I couldn’t introduce my son to a God I barely knew?  That motivated me to read my Bible through each year (sometimes twice) and memorize scripture which was very hard.   One day while correcting my children, my son shouted, “You have a verse for everything we do!” (I assure you it was not meant as a compliment!)


As a new year dawns, what better time to make a decision to read your Bible through.  The two verses above are so applicable to true Bible study:  Jesus referred to Himself as the Bread of Life. In Genesis, God told Adam and Eve that they would eat their bread by the sweat of their brow.  Reading your Bible and praying are NEVER true habits; they are disciplines.  Let a phone call come or visitors, etc., and how do we start our day? Seldom do we say, “Please excuse me while I read my Bible and pray.”  It will indeed be by the sweat of our brow that this year we eat of the Bread of Life every day, and for 2012 have a goal to read our Bible completely through.  The rewards will be amazing!


“Father, please strengthen us in our inner self as we make a decision to read your Word and talk to You every day this year.  Grow us in our faith so we become a well-watered plant that we may in turn bless others who need to eat of the Bread of Life and drink the Living Water.”


 


For His Glory


 Sandy Day

TRBC Mountain Blend

					

					

						
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					Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | January 16, 2012 
					
Great Expectations

				

				

					

					
“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. “ Psalm 5:3 (NIV)


From the moment we wake up, we set expectations.  We expect a busy morning, lots of traffic on the way to work, we expect to be busy at work, and we expect to spend time with our family in the evening.  We also have expectations of how people will treat us and expectations of the future.   Expectations are usually based on our past experiences whether good or bad; unfortunately, some expectations can be unrealistic.  We expect to make a low grade, expect not to receive the promotion, expect this diet to help us lose 10 pounds in a week.   Our expectations can lead us to develop patterns of thinking which can weaken our faith or block our goals.  However, expectations can also help us to be hopeful, accepting, secure, and optimistic.


For all of our expectations, we need to look to God to lead us.  The path God chooses or leads us down might not be what we expect, but it will be for the best.  It will be better than we can ask, think, or expect.  We are so fortunate to serve a God who knows the desires of our heart.  So as we are going through our day, expect God to bless us and fill us with His love, peace, and joy.  Our expectations won’t be disappointed when we anchor them in God.


“Lord, I am so glad that You are in control of my life; I just need to sit back and let you control it.  I expect today that You will bless me and guide me throughout my day!  I praise You that You are the God of hope!


For His Glory


Melissa Tucker

TRBC Coffee Break

					

					

						
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Posted in Attitude, Gratitude, Hope 

					

				

			


					

				
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