trbccoffeebreak

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

What are we passing along about others?  Sometimes, I have found myself guilty of passing along information before I really research and find out if it’s true. It’s not fun when it bounces back our way and we find out we hurt someone by what we said. The tongue can quickly get us in trouble. However, that is when our head and heart have to stand firm and not let the tongue slip away from us.

We need to think about what we are saying –  is it building someone up or bringing them down? It is so easy to go with the flow around the office, church, or even our circle of friends and repeat what was said to others. It’s not only detrimental to the person we are talking about but to our testimony as well. Think about the type of looks the other person would get if we were only spreading praises about them instead of negative reports. We all have our faults in life, but those are between God and ourselves to work out. So the next time we are in a group that is talking about someone else, think of that person and speak up with something positive about them. Also, make a commitment to not spread anything negative about others.

“Dear God, Help me keep my tongue in line with my head and heart. Give me the wisdom to know what positive information I can pass along about others.”

For His Glory

Katrina Redman
TRBC Coffee Break

“In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:6 (NKJV)

My family finds humor in my ability to get lost – even with directions.  Once returning from vacation, my tired husband needed some assistance driving.  Switching places, I drove the car and followed his instructions as he quickly fell asleep.   Two hours later a gut wrenching horror encased me! Remarkably, I had managed to go back in the same direction!! Obviously, loosing my focus was generated by distractions.   My choices were consequential; it took twice the time to arrive home, and my husband wasn’t overjoyed.

Isn’t the Christian life similar?   God’s Word is clear and precise, yet somehow lack of focus and distraction lead us down paths contrary to His Word.  Notably, wrong choices always lead in wrong directions with monumental consequences.   Two wrongs never make a right!!

Distraction is one of Satan’s most effective tools.   How is he distracting you today?  Could it be completing devotions, witnessing, ministering to a hurting friend, or perhaps completing a project at work, carrying out a decision, loosing weight, etc.?   Stop, pray and stay focused.  Giving Christ freedom to direct our path is guaranteed.   He will never lead us in the wrong direction!!

“Lord, help me to see Your guidance and not be distracted throughout my day.   Let me follow Your path outlined in Your Word.”

For His Glory

Patsy Sanders
TRBC Coffee Break

“Be joyful because you have hope.  Be patient when trouble comes and pray at all times.” Romans 12:12  (NCV)

Patience is a tough word for many.  Patience means waiting.  Waiting means not knowing.  Not knowing means trusting.  Trusting means living in God’s timing and will.  When bringing it to those terms, patience should be desired in life. Patience grows our prayer life and relationship with Christ.  Who doesn’t want a closer relationship?  The problem is time.  We live in a microwave society.  When there is a question it is Goggled, and an answer pops up instantly.  Convection ovens and microwaves cook for us in half the time our grandmothers cooked the same meals.  Even with coffee, our mothers brewed a pot; today we have Keurig instant fresh brewed cups in a minute.  Waiting for an answer or waiting for results is foreign to us.

Thinking back, remember a Christmas wish list that was written a month or so before Christmas. There was the great anticipation of waiting until Christmas Day.  Maybe there was a package that looked just like the wish list item under the tree that was looked at, shaken, and left for wonder.  Then the highly awaited day came and there was your wish list item.  A smile came as excitement and anticipation was met with pure joy.  We can have that same response in waiting when we keep our minds focused on the hope of God’s faithfulness in working in our lives.  We too will be filled with excitement and anticipation as God’s will unfolds right before our eyes.

“Father, You know our needs before we do,  and You select the timing. Help us to enjoy the moment and glorify You while we wait.”

For His Glory

Debbie Struble
TRBC Coffee Break

“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:5 (NIV)

The gentle beat of your heart is the sound of life. A doctor can listen to the beat of your heart and know if it’s healthy or not. The heart is small but provides the power to keep us alive. In our spiritual lives, the heart of God is what keeps us going. Our time in prayer allows us to listen to God and hear his heart. Our time reading and studying God’s Word strengthens the heart of God in us. This helps develop a close relationship with God, so that we have the power we need to grow and maintain our spiritual walk. Sometimes we need to check our “spiritual pulse” and evaluate how strong God’s heartbeat is within us. Have we had our prayer time today? Have we been studying God’s Word? It’s easy in the busyness of our lives to let these things slide a bit. The great thing is we can quickly get back into the rhythm of God’s heartbeat by getting back into the Word and praying.

If we haven’t had God’s heart transplanted into our lives, we won’t know to listen for His heartbeat. If you would like to know more of how to have the heart of God, please reply to this email.

“Dear God, Help us to always listen for Your heartbeat in our daily walk. May the heartbeat be strong and healthy within us.”

For His Glory,

Katrina Redman
TRBC Coffee Break