Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 12, 2011

Open Channels

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:35 (TNIV)

Have  you ever wondered why some people are just so hard to work with?  Some days you don’t know whether to smile or run for cover.  Had one of those experiences myself.  Couldn’t quite get a handle on it.  My coworker and I had always related well – we were lunch buddies.  Exhausted and trying to continuously meet deadlines left me frustrated. How could my co-worker be so oblivious to my crisis?  Couldn’t she see how much time she was wasting?  Very quickly my list began to pile up against her as my stress increased.  Wasn’t she a team player?  Couldn’t she see how her lack of work was impacting my deadline?

As my spirit rose within me, God quietly whispered – “Remember, she’s not a believer.”  Those words halted my thoughts.  My co-worker didn’t have the same resources I had.  She was operating out of her flesh (sin nature); but I was to operate out of the Spirit (God’s nature). Swallowing my exasperation, I focused on my tasks and kept pressing forward – my lips were silenced.  A few day’s later, I ran into my co-worker in the restroom.  As she turned her face away, I could see that her eyes were red and puffy.  Refraining from nosey questions, I instead  offered a hug and a shoulder to cry on – that was the right prescription.  What an opportunity I almost missed!  Remember, she was the same co-worker who was getting under my skin.  If I had responded to her the way I intended (in my sin nature), she would not have welcomed my help.  God orchestrates divine appointments every day.  Are we leaving the channels for His love to reach others open or are we too busy piling up accusations?

“Father, give us hearts that truly demonstrate Your love and teach us how to be Your hands and feet to a world that is desperately searching.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 12, 2011

Set Up To Win

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

 When teaching a child how to play a game, you make it age appropriate so they have a chance to win. Likewise, God will never put us in a situation that He hasn’t already set up for us to be victorious over. As our Creator, God knows our strengths, weaknesses and exactly what situations we will encounter. Therefore, He knows how to set up our challenges in a way that we can overcome them.

Just as a parent celebrates when their child hits the ball for the first time, God celebrates each time we take a step towards victory. A parent also holds on to the bicycle until the child is steady enough to let go.  However, God holds on and never lets go as we are empowered in His strength and courage. As our Heavenly Father, God loves us and positions us to be successful. We just have to be willing to take that first step towards reliance in Him, so we will be the winner He has set us up to be.

“Dear God, Thank you for wanting us to be successful and for giving us ways to do so. Help us as we take that first step towards victory.”

For His Glory

Katrina Redman
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Success

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 12, 2011

Digging Deeper

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.”  Ezekiel 36:26 (ASV)

I love going home to Kentucky in the Spring.  In our backyard, we have a swing that I love to sit on and read, write or just think.  The last time I was home, I watched my Dad as he plowed the garden.  I love walking through the freshly overturned dirt in the garden.  As a kid, my brother and sister and I would pick up the bigger rocks and throw them out of the garden.  (I didn’t quite enjoy it as much then… as I do now.)  We learned it was important to get those embedded rocks out of the garden so Dad could plant his crops.

As I walked through the garden, I thought about the times rocks played an important role in God’s story of His people.  Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on a rock altar; but God had other plans.   Moses disobeyed and struck a rock numerous times causing his sin to alter God’s divine plan.  A rock was rolled in front of the tomb where Jesus was buried, but God had other plans

Just like my Dad has to prepare the ground before he can plant his garden, God must prepare us.  We must not let sin become embedded in us.  Solid rock formations can occur with bitterness or anger.  God removes those rocks in our lives as long as we let Him.  By embedding our hearts with Biblical truths, God can plant His seeds within us and use our lives

Lord, please prepare my heart so that I can embed Your truth and receive Your love.  Help me throw out those “rocks” of sin, so that I might serve You today!

 
For His Glory

Melissa Tucker
TRBC Coffee Break

 

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Posted in Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 12, 2011

Stop, Look & Listen

“The Israelites tried some of the food, but they did not ask the Lord if He wanted them to make a treaty.”  Joshua 9:14 (CEV)

Joshua and the Israelites had just won a battle with Jericho and Ai.  News spread quickly, and the  Gibeonites sent men to make peace with Joshua to protect their nearby land.  They lied and said they had traveled a long journey to get to Joshua when really they were just around the corner.  God had promised Joshua all the land in front of him; but since the Israelites didn’t ask God’s guidance in their situation, they fell prey to the Gibeonites’ trap of lies.  They lost the land intended for them.

We so many times have people coming to us with sincere burdens.  We want to help, but often we act immediately without praying and seeking God’s wisdom.  We might give away the blessing intended for us, like the Israelites,  if we don’t wait for an answer from God.  God’s plan is always perfect.  Our good intentions sometimes cause extra work for ourselves and those who are burdened because we tried to take the world on our own shoulders.  We think to ourselves, this is no biggie – I can fix it.  God’s work is always best left to Him, and we are always to seek His guidance before we act.  Remember our mother’s advice as a child “Stop, look and listen before crossing.”

“Father, thank You for the reminder that it is always Your plan not mine;  I must always seek Your guidance.”

For His Glory

Debbie Struble
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Prayer, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 10, 2011

Beginning of the End

“Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be earthquakes in various,  places and famines.  These are the beginning of birth pains.”  Mark 13:8 (NIV)

Today, you cannot read a newspaper or watch the news without some kind of natural disaster being reported.  As Christians, we know that these are signs of things to come – the beginning of the end.  The end times are sometimes a far fetched and scary thought.  We’ve read about them in the Bible and watched scenes in movies that predict what it will be like, but many still find it hard to grasp.  While it’s awesome to think that our time on earth may be coming to a close and we will be in Heaven, it’s scary to think of those who may not be ready.

So many people need to be able to “see” God to believe in Him, but it’s that step of faith that makes the relationship with God so important.  Knowing that He is beyond our abilities and is in control of our lives is actually comforting.  While in the midst of the tornadoes and recent disasters, I heard over and over again people praising God and thanking Him for saving their life.  I also heard a lot of materialism disappear as people acknowledged that stuff could be replaced but people couldn’t. Sometimes, God uses those difficult times to give us a new set of eyeglasses (new vision) so we will realize our need for God’s offer of eternal life and salvation.  Amazingly, we begin to see what is really important in life and what matters the most.  By taking the time to see from God’s viewpoint, we will be prepared to respond to any action He leads us to take.  Every second draws us closer to the time on earth coming to an end; we need to make the most of every second God gives us.

“Dear God, Give us Your sight that we might see what work on earth still needs to be done. Give us the courage to move forward and be Your hands and feet to those around us.  May we make each day count for You.

For His Glory

Katrina Redman
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 9, 2011

More Than Meets The Eye

“God sits high above the round ball of earth.  the people look like mere ants.”  Isaiah 40:22 (MSG)

I don’t like bugs.  I’m not sure if that sentence truly conveys how much I don’t like bugs?  I DON’T LIKE BUGS!  But my niece loves them.  One of her favorite activities is sitting on the ground and watching an ant hill for hours.  I can become just as caught up in those ants as my niece.  Have you ever watched them?  There can be one straight line of ants walking, while others run in the opposite direction. They bump into each other, turn around and continue in various directions.  Their lives seem so limited, and they have no idea that the world is much larger than their environment.  I wonder if God thinks the same thing about us?

Like ants, we are busy and on the move in different directions.  When we encounter others, sometimes we get turned around and take a wrong path.  Our busyness and self-centeredness can make us oblivious to anything outside of what we see or experience.  Are we aware of the world around us?  The apostle Paul tells us that life is more than meets the eye.  He wrote that everything in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, was created by God.  Our temporary world that we daily encounter is microscopic compared to what God has created, which we cannot observe.

If we ever see a procession of ants around the yard, we should consider our place and purpose in God’s immense world, and self-evaluate if our chosen path is headed in the right direction.

“Lord make me mindful of the world I cannot see.  Help me remember that there is so much to do and so much more out there than my little section of the world.  But Lord allow me to make the difference for You in my little section.  Allow others to make the difference in their little section so that we can work together and make a huge impact on the world.”

For His Glory

Melissa Tucker
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 9, 2011

Resilient Faith

“So keep up your courage, men for I have faith in God that it will happen just as He told me.” Acts 27:25 (NIV)

Durable, long lasting, resilient – we search for products with staying power.  In this economy, we want to know our money is spent well and we’re getting the best return possible.  We will inspect, study and even verify to make sure we’re not getting a flimsy replica of the real thing.  We will think twice, even four times, before walking out that store with the latest gadget or accessory in our bag.  And we can’t wait to pull it out and put it to use.  Maximizing our dollars can be challenging, and the same is true when it comes to maximizing our faith.  who doesn’t want durable, long lasting resilient faith?  Early in our Christian walk, we learn that it is impossible to please God without faith so we set our aim on staying strong.  Then the inevitable happens, disappointments mount up, comfort zones are ripped away and security rolls right out the window.  Challenges designed to stretch and grow our faith unfortunately find us clamped down with a clinched fist.  Staking our stance, we cower and brace for cover rather than reach towards God.  Durable no.  Long lasting forget it.  Resilient not this time.  The stakes are too high, and we give God and the world a flimsy replica of what real faith is all about.  Unfortunately, He cannot unleash His staying power of faith in us unless we are willing to believe He is who He says He is.  Quite a simple statement yet packed with a gutsy revelation that maximizes our trust in the One True God.  Stretched – yes.  Exhausted and weary – you better believe it.  Durable, long lasting, resilient to the very end – that ‘s the faith walk that pleases God.

“Father, because of Your great name, we can place our faith confidently in You!”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 9, 2011

Sing Out

“Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy.  Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence.” 2 Chronicles 6:19 (NIV)

Praise Him in the morning, afternoon and all throughout the night.  I just love those days that I yearn for Him.  My heart cries out for Him.  It is such a wonderful feeling to cry out to God and tell Him how much I love Him.  I especially enjoy those times sitting at His feet crying Hosanna, Holy One, Savior, Blessed Redeemer, and the list goes on and on.  As we praise God for who He is, He gently reminds us of things we need to work on in our lives, and how we can glorify Him more.  He is so worthy of making time for – it is all about Him anyway right?  Thankfully the Holy Spirit works in our lives and pulls that desire out of us to shout praises to His name.  Gently, He leads us back into the worship mode inspiring us to shine brightly for Him as we listen for His will in our lives.  Sing it out, praise His name, bask in His glory, worship Him with all that is inside you and pour out your praises to the King of Kings.

“Father, You are amazing, You are ABLE, You alone are marvelous and worthy to be praised and worshipped.  Thank you for always being there.”
For His Glory

Debbie Struble
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Worship

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 7, 2011

Unveiling Truth

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” I John 1:8 (NIV)

Funny, how quickly we claim innocence when things go wrong.  Have you ever been there? As a child, I remember my mother drilling us kids to determine which one of us was at fault in the latest escapade.  Often, I would attempt to cast blame on my sisters or brother; however, the truth prevailed and mom was able to uncover the guilty one.  As an adult navigating life, we too can be drawn to our own innocence even when the truth unveils another side of the story.  It’s so easy to point the finger at someone else then to re-examine our own actions and motives.  When things go wrong, we justify and excuse ourselves without a second glance.  Sometimes we will even relish in our victim role convincing others of the injustice and unfairness.  Found myself in that role a few weeks ago.  Difficult circumstances left me vulnerable to someone else’s actions.  The effects sent me to the Father proclaiming I was an innocent bystander who was reeling from consequences beyond my control.  My mind was cluttered with blame pointing rather than self examination.  The event played over and over in my mind without a thought to what I could have done.  Finally, God grew weary of my drama and gently lifted the blinders off my eyes.  While I indirectly hadn’t caused my consequences, God revealed an area of disobedience that may have impacted the results.  Seeing right through my self-proclaimed innocence, God peeled away the layers exposing the truth.  Humbled I made my confession, accepted His grace and removed my pointing finger.

“Father, Your grace is enough  – help us to come boldly before Your throne admitting we are desperate for Your truth to saturate our lives.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 7, 2011

Captivated By His Presence

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.” Psalm 62:1 (NIV)

We live for Friday – you know the moment when the weekend begins.  Work on a major project ceases, emails can wait and just the thought of Saturday morning pushes us through the day.  Destination 5:00 pm, we’re headed to the beach.  I can taste the salt air.  I can feel the cool breezes, and Saturday never looked so good.  There is no place I feel closer to God than watching the sun dance across the ocean or waves breaking on shore.  Just gazing across the water and knowing I can’t define where it starts or stops reminds me of the magnitude of my God. Watching a father lifting up his daughter above the crashing waves reminds me of the times my Heavenly Father has lifted me above my circumstances.  Enjoying an early morning walk as the sunrise quietly appears reminds me that God makes all things new each and every day.  Captivated by dolphins as they glide effortlessly across the waves reminds me that God creates the perfect environment for all of His creation to thrive.  Moonbeams glistening across the dark waters reminds me that God’s light always shines through even in the darkest depths of our soul. Nothing refreshes my spirit more than to bask in the wonder of God’s presence.  Sometimes it’s hard to chill out and just relax allowing our mind to be recharged and our spirit renewed. Satan specializes in stealing away our moments of silence and reflection because he knows we can’t help but linger on the goodness of our God.  His substitutes can be found lurking around any corner. So what or who is refreshing your spirit?

“Father, there are no words to describe how awesome You are, how incredible You are and how much I love the very thought of You!”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Coffee Break

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Living

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