T.N.T BBQ "Taste of Heaven" LLC

Lord, though I struggle to believe it at times, I know You are close to me in my pain. Even when I feel lonely, abandoned or hopeless, You are here. I am not alone. Your Spirit is here. Your presence is here. Your power is here. I entrust every part of my life to You, my good and gracious heavenly Father. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If Someone Has Recently Walked Away From You, Cling to These Three Truths

February 16, 2024

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:25 (CSB)

As we get further into this new year, chances are that you’re adjusting to change in some form.

Maybe one of those changes is that someone you did life with last year is no longer here. And not because they passed away; instead, they chose to walk away.

First of all, I’m so sorry. I don’t have to know the details to know that relationships can be so complicated.

Secondly, I also know the roller coaster of emotions that come after a falling-out. From deep sadness and grief to the aches of loneliness to wondering why they left to anger that grows into resentment and even numbness … it’s all so hard.

Then you have a moment of clarity and come to this realization: Yes, they left. Maybe you know why, or you don’t; it doesn’t really matter. Either way, this moment is not the whole story.

Friend, can I encourage you today? Their leaving is a loss. Loneliness is horribly painful. But there is a God who is with you in the midst of that pain.

I’ve been in your shoes, and I know how tender your heart must feel. But I also want to share these three truths with you:

1. Even when we feel abandoned, we have the never-fleeing presence of the Holy Spirit. The absence of the person who left may be making you feel worthless, but the presence of the Holy Spirit who stays is a reminder to you that you have unsurpassed worth (Psalm 139:7-10).

2. This relationship may have ended, but that doesn’t make you a failure. If no one else has ever said this to you, I want to say it to you: You are not defined by your successes. You are not defined by your failures. Your value and worth come intrinsically from being made in the image and likeness of God. And nothing can shake that.

In case you’re not fully convinced, look at Romans 5:6: “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (ESV). My favorite part of this verse is “while we were still weak.” We aren’t bothering God when we feel weak; He delights in helping us. Through mistakes and regrets, our own sinful choices, and the hurtful decisions of others, we may feel broken, but we aren’t beyond the reach of our Savior.

3. The best is still yet to come. At some point, we have to decide to leave behind what was and embrace what will be. When you are ready to take that step, just know the Spirit of God is with you as your guide, just like Galatians 5:25 says: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”

Though you’re experiencing heartbreak right now, I pray this is a time of closeness with Jesus like never before. You are loved, friend.

Lord, though I struggle to believe it at times, I know You are close to me in my pain. Even when I feel lonely, abandoned or hopeless, You are here. I am not alone. Your Spirit is here. Your presence is here. Your power is here. I entrust every part of my life to You, my good and gracious heavenly Father. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

FOR DEEPER STUDY
Psalm 116:1-2, “I love the LORD because he has heard my appeal for mercy. Because he has turned his ear to me, I will call out to him as long as I live” (CSB).

When was the last time you cried out to the Lord in your loneliness? Today, remember that He is a God who turns His ear to you.

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.
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© 2024 by Dr. Joel Muddamalle. All rights reserved.

Dear Father, help me to keep trusting in You, even in long seasons of waiting. I know Your timing is perfect. I ask that You would fill my heart with faith, peace and joy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

God’s Timing Is Perfect

December 18, 2023

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Luke 1:45 (NIV)

Year after year, my dream opportunity kept passing me by. I did everything I knew to do. I worked hard and prayed. I trusted God, but I was beginning to grow weary.

In Luke 1, we read about a godly couple named Zechariah and Elizabeth. They knew what it was like to be dreaming and praying for something too.

Luke 1:6-7 tells us, “They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years” (ESV).

In my mind, that’s not how those verses should end, especially not for a couple who seemed to do everything right.

But for a long time, that was their story. Then Zechariah got a little visit from an angel with some big news: “Your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John” (Luke 1:13b, ESV).

We’re all happy for Zechariah and Elizabeth, but I wonder if they were thinking, Why now? It would have been nice if this had happened a little sooner. At this point in their lives, they probably pictured themselves pushing a walker, not a stroller.

Elizabeth didn’t ask questions. She simply said, “The Lord has done this for me … In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people” (Luke 1:25, NIV).

If she were anything like me, Elizabeth may have traced back her steps to figure out why God chose to do this now. Had she been a little nicer to Zechariah that week? Was it because she spent less time chatting with the other ladies at the local coffee shop and more time at the temple?

But the birth of John the Baptist was bigger than Zechariah and Elizabeth. In fact, it was bigger than John the Baptist himself.

“But when the right time came, God sent his Son …” (Galatians 4:4, NLT). The timing of Jesus’ arrival was a factor in God’s plan. That means so was the birth of John. After all, Isaiah 40:3 had prophesied that John would prepare the way of the Messiah.

Maybe you are a Christ follower who is doing everything right that you know to do, but like Elizabeth before she had her son, you feel like there is a “but” in your story.

Faithful but … diagnosed. Unemployed. Bankrupt. Waiting for a spouse. Waiting for a child. Carrying unfulfilled dreams.

Elizabeth’s story reminds us that God’s will for us may not be fulfilled how or when we expect, but we should remain submitted to God and His plan.

That was my story. That dream opportunity I had been waiting for finally became a reality. However, as life goes on, I may have different dreams that require waiting … again. It won’t be easy, but I know I can trust God every time. Even if He doesn't always give us what we hope for on earth, He has given us eternal hope in Jesus.

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:45, NIV).

We pray. We wait. We hope. We believe. And in His perfect time, we see His faithful plan unfold.

Dear Father, help me to keep trusting in You, even in long seasons of waiting. I know Your timing is perfect. I ask that You would fill my heart with faith, peace and joy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Ecclesiastes 3:11, “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end” (NLT).

What have you learned from previous waiting seasons in your life?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.
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© 2023 by Anitha Abraham. All rights reserved.

Come out and support. Place orders early !!! Thank you

See ya on Sunday get your orders in🙏🏾🥰

TNT BBQ Taste of Heaven LLC is happy to announce that we are are a participating vendor at the Aug 20th JLC Springfield Community Outreach Pop Up at The L. Will be making juicy smoked Meat Loaf Dinners ! Preorders by 17 of Aug. Please come out to support us and get your Taste of Heaven!!!

Arnitra Howard-Reid

TNT BBQ Taste of Heaven LLC is happy to announce that we are are a participating vendor at the Aug 20th JLC Springfield Community Outreach Pop Up at The L. Will be making juicy smoked Meat Loaf Dinners ! Preorders by 17 of Aug. Please come out to support us and get your Taste of Heaven!!!

Dear Father, thank You for the opportunity and ability to work. Help me glorify You in everything I do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

A Job Well Done

September 2, 2022
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
Colossians 3:23 (NLT)

When I was 16 years old, I had my first job, as an orderly at a hospital. I was entrusted with transporting patients to and from the radiology department. I’m not sure what the patients thought when they saw me coming with the wheelchair or stretcher, but thankfully we all survived.

We may or may not talk about it a lot, but it is a part of our daily lives: WORK. In the United States, there is even a holiday to celebrate the contributions of the workforce — Labor Day.

How we perceive our work varies from person to person. For some, it is all about the paycheck. For a fortunate few, their work is centered around their passion. They get to spend every day doing what they love and get paid for it.

There are also many who work but do not receive a salary, like stay-at-home moms and caregivers or those who are retired from their jobs but still volunteer.

Regardless of the “why” or “what” of our work, one thing should be consistent for the working believer: “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people” (Colossians 3:23).

As someone who has been in the workforce for more than 30 years (yikes, did I type that out loud?), I’ve learned there are several ways we can practically demonstrate “working for the Lord”:

1. Completing our assignments.

We are at work to work, and we should do it well. This means getting our tasks done thoroughly and on time. People should see us, Christians, as the standard of a good employee. Our work ethic can either point people to Christ or away from Him.

The story of Joseph in the Old Testament reflects this idea well. “So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.” (Genesis 39:6a, NIV) If we exchanged “Potiphar” for the names of the people we work for, could we insert our name where Joseph’s is?

2. Constructive feedback.

When we work for someone else, we might be evaluated on an annual basis. Sometimes, we are also given opportunities to provide feedback. In the moment, it’s easy to stay silent out of fear but then complain later about how things are done.

As we continue with Joseph’s story, we see that when he was given the opportunity, Joseph provided Pharaoh with a plan (see Genesis 41). Because of it, many lives were saved. We have the same Spirit of God in us, giving us ideas and insights others won’t have. We can be a blessing to our employers and the people around us if we are willing to share what God puts in us.

Whether we are giving or receiving feedback, we should do so with a humble spirit.

3. Considerate communication.

“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” (Colossians 4:6, NASB1995)

ALWAYS, no matter what our personality type, introvert or extrovert, and no matter what is happening at home or how bad traffic was, we should be respectful and kind to everyone we encounter at work.

Joseph’s transition from the prison to the palace hinged on one question to his fellow prisoners: “Why do you look so sad today?” (Genesis 40:7b, NIV). This question led to him interpreting their dreams and would eventually open the door for him to stand before Pharaoh.

Saying “good morning,” “please” and “thank you” can go a long way! When we look people in the eye and ask them how they are doing, we demonstrate concern on a personal level. Who knows? Maybe, like in Joseph's life, a promotion could happen as a result.

4. Counting our blessings.

The ability to work is a privilege. The job itself serves a purpose, no matter what we do or who recognizes our contributions as important. It may not always feel like it, but our work is a blessing from God. Now, it is up to us to be a blessing to the people we work with.

Dear Father, thank You for the opportunity and ability to work. Help me glorify You in everything I do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

FOR DEEPER STUDY
Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (NKJV)

What’s one thing can you do to be a better worker, whatever work looks like in your life?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.
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© 2022 by Anitha Abraham. All rights reserved.

HOMEMADE PECAN SANDIES 🍪🍪🍪
Ingredients
2 sticks butter, unsalted (1/2 lb., softened)
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar, granulated
1 cup confectioner's sugar (sifted)
2 eggs (large)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups flour, all purpose (500 gr.)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups pecans (chopped)
1/2 cup sugar, granulated (for decoration)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, vegetable oil, 1 cup white sugar and confectioners' sugar until smooth.
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
Combine the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in the pecans.
Roll dough into 1 inch balls and roll each ball in remaining white sugar.
Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto un~greased cookie sheets.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are golden.
Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.