Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 31, 2026

When Hopelessness Settles In

“I called to the Lord in my distress and He answered me.” Jonah 2:2a (HCSB)

Jonah and the big fish was probably one of my fave Bible stories growing up. The adventure, danger and the spewing out of Jonah kept me sitting on the edge of my seat. What was it like to be in the belly of a fish? Would Jonah survive and if he did would he smelly fishy? All important questions to little minds captivated by this adventure, but Jonah was far from being simply a story. Deep truths erupt in the pages of Jonah’s life.

A prophet on the run, Jonah starts his journey attempting to escape God’s instructions. Haven’t we all been there? Definitely spent my time running away from words I didn’t want to hear. Funny how we think fleeing will solve everything yet it eventually creates new challenges. Jonah finds himself in the midst of a stormy sea jeopardizing innocent bystanders. Best solution – jump ship or better yet have someone throw you overboard. Now I don’t know about you but Jonah could have easily thrown himself into the waters. Wonder if the brave soul once defiant before God faded quickly when confronted with the impact of his sinful choices?

Drama intensified when a huge fish arrives on the scene and swallows Jonah. End of story we might think – who could survive such a tragedy? Yet wallowing around in the belly of a big fish, Jonah finally comes to his senses or shall I say he had plenty of time to pray. Three days and nights must have seemed like an eternity – it always does when the reality of our disobedience rises to the surface. I dare imagine God had Jonah’s full attention. Been there myself too. Amazing how quickly we turn to God when fear accelerates and hopelessness settles in.

“As my life was fading away I remembered Yahweh. My prayer came to You to Your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols forsake faithful love,” cries Jonah. In other words, Jonah’s desperate attempt to shut out, dismiss and ignore God’s words had brought him full circle. Nothing like a little time in a dark pit to cause our eyes to be lifted up in recognition of His holiness and our lack thereof.

Lovingly, God spews Jonah out of the fish and grace lands him on dry ground. Wish I could tell you that Jonah learned his lesson …..but scripture reminds us that even the revived Jonah struggled with God’s grace for others. What was good for him, what worked in his favor didn’t seem to apply to others. We’ve probably all landed there too – easily forgetting the grace lavished on us and quick to exercise judgment.

Note to self: we can’t outrun our God. We can attempt to hide but wherever we go He goes. The consequences of disobedience far out weight the uncomfortableness of obeying God’s voice. And finally never forget without grace we’d still be the one in the pit.

“Father, You are our Rescuer,, Restorer and Redeemer but You can’t turn a blind eye to our disobedience. May we never forget the amazing grace that covers us on a daily basis.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 30, 2026

Kudzu Theology

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”  Isaiah 59:2 (KJV)

Consider the kudzu, the beautiful vine with three-lobed leaves and sprawling roots.” In the United States, kudzu grows mostly in the southeast but may be seen in other areas. Now that it’s summer, you’ll see plenty of it draping itself over the rolling landscape, creeping over acres of trees like a thick, green blanket. You might even spot its sweet purple flowers. The sight of it is quite pleasing to the eye. Stand back and take a long look. The view is peaceful and serene.

But there is a serious downside. It has a well-deserved reputation as the “vine that ate the South.” As an invasive species, kudzu grows up to a foot per day. With leaves that can be as long as eight inches, it smothers everything in its path. It can spread over a large wooded area in a shockingly short time. When the vines shrivel and die in the winter, their absence often reveals dead trees where the kudzu used to be. Why? Because kudzu completely blocks the sunlight and consumes root space that the native trees need to thrive.

Isn’t that like sin? Sin can be very attractive. It can allure you—even convince you it will improve your life—but don’t look too deep. If you peel back the outer layer and take a good look, you can see it choking everything it covers. Once sin gets a toehold, it’s practically impossible to eradicate by yourself; it just keeps growing.

And grow it does. When you are first tempted to sin, you think just a tiny bit won’t hurt. Just a little lie; just slipping that little thing that isn’t yours into your pocket; just flirting a little with someone you know you shouldn’t. You think you can keep it under control. But, like kudzu, it takes off with an energy of its own and spirals out of control faster than you could imagine.

Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

So, remember the lesson of the kudzu. Choose life.

“Heavenly Father, we give You thanks and praise for Your amazing love and faithfulness. You have warned us to stay away from sin, lest You turn Your face from us and stop hearing our prayers. When we are enticed by sin and think just a little won’t hurt, give us wisdom and strength to keep our lives pure and holy in Your sight.”

For His Glory

Cherie Harbridge Williams
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 29, 2026

Sin’s Sink Hole

“Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, He instructs sinners in His ways.  He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.”  Psalm 25: 8&9 NIV

Another one!  Several years ago upon turning on the nightly news, we heard another report of a sinkhole.  Sinkholes are nothing to mess with.  Have the misfortune of finding your house within the sphere of a sink hole and it has been most likely gobbled up like a toppling monopoly piece.  A neighbor in its path – gone into the massive dark abyss as well.  Recently right here in my hometown, a sinkhole appeared on one of our major streets.  Passersby crept in their cars as schedules were delayed and plenty were late to start their workday wondering what happened there.

Isn’t sin much like a sinkhole?  A sinkhole started with a crack; a faulty supporting structure.  No one noticed it.  And if they did, likely nothing was done or repair was deferred for another day.  Slowly the crack grew until the breaking point.  Likely didn’t take much.  And, total ruination followed.  Similarly, a lack of God’s Word, communion with Him and accountability from other believers allow fissures of sin that can grow to damaging dimensions.  If another is in the vicinity of the sin, she possibly is affected or overtaken by the sin of choice, almost as though there was no choice at all.  And the passersby?  We’ll likely not know if they noticed the cracks in the road before the sinkhole appeared.  But they slowly pass by, recognizing the sin that entangled, maybe grumbling something to another out of the reach of the sinner’s ear and slowly move on to go about their day.

Praying we see the cracks in our road.  May our hearts be humbled to deal with the cracks as God reveals them to us.  May we immediately go to His throne room and repent, ask for forgiveness, receive His mercy and have our character refined so that our sin would not become a sinkhole and envelope those for whom we care.  May those who pass by be brave enough to show us the cracks in our walk with God and may we be open to their correction and see it as their love and concern for our wellbeing.

“Father, with gentle compassion, may I show the same care for my sisters in Christ that You show me.  Lord, may I love Your process of refinement as I seek to become more like Jesus in thought, deed and action.”

For His Glory,

Kathryn Hayman
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Hope, Mercy, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 28, 2026

Godmaxxing

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

So, I recently discovered something that is culturally a thing now, especially being bought into by younger generations—women and men. It’s called “Looksmaxxing.” Let me explain in a nutshell: It’s all about optimizing (or maximizing) yourself physically—your body, facial alignment, height, skin, hair, etc.—to be, well, “optimal” in the world’s eyes. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not ignorant. People (women, in particular) have been making efforts to “improve their looks” per the latest cultural norms for generations, whether through makeup, hair dye, or attaining whatever their contemporary “ideal weight” is (from affluently obese during the Renaissance to Ozempic skeletal thinness today). But after nearly two decades of incessant social media’s mythological “A-roll” (only showing the best of your best) and misleading beauty filters, new standards have normalized. I noticed the trend starting several years ago for women to strive for real-life-filter looks: duck or fish lips by way of fillers, as well as flat, smooth, zero-expressive foreheads, eyes, and mouths.

Where am I going with all this? Well, Looksmaxxing has become so pervasive for both genders that the bend is to normalize not just working out and eating well (good things), but also multiple facial surgeries, drugs—both pharma and street—and even using visual tricks to look taller and alter perception. Why? To get more—more money, more sex, more clicks, more satisfaction. It begs some questions, though: When does it end? How much is enough? And can real satisfaction truly be attained? It smacks a bit of that hissing lie in the Garden…”You can be like God.” Only instead of pursuing perfect wisdom, they are pursuing perfect looks.

Oh beloved, the world’s ways are tempting. But we must know the truth and stand firm in it.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are not of this world. If we were, the world would love us. But, as Jesus promised, just as the world hated (and still hates) Him, His followers will be hated by the world too (John 15:18-25). We’re warned not to love the things of this world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (sounds a lot like all-things-Looksmaxxing). These things are not from God, but from the world…and they will all pass away (1 John 2:15-17). So, striving to be loved by the world, to be lustfully perceived by others and be puffed up in the process, is antithetical to the Christian life.

Plus, even when the outside looks pristine and perfect to others, this inside—character—can remain filthy or empty. Jesus clearly made this point while teaching: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence…Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:25-28).

Friend, our attractiveness (beauty) must be in our heart—our character, inner man, spirit—which is imperishable and precious in God’s sight (1 Peter 3:3-4). The fact of the matter is that our outer self is wasting away. Despite all the shots, drugs, or surgeries, we are aging out of this world. And whether a person believes it or not, with our last breath on earth, it’s the start of our eternity. As Christ followers—praise the Lord—our inner self is being renewed day by day in preparation for heaven (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Are you falling for the hissing lies of social media? That attaining a certain look is what matters most, and that you won’t be otherwise satisfied? Sweet friend, nothing in this life will fully and finally satisfy you but Jesus—the One who is better than life. If you’re tempted by the noise of this world, turn off your phone, and turn to God’s Word. Listen to who He says you are—God’s child, Jesus’ friend, a new creation, chosen, forgiven, free. Let’s “maxx” on knowing Him.

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world (all the likes, all the sex, all the money) and forfeits his soul” (Matthew 16:26)?

“Lord, the lies of the enemy are getting louder and louder. May I keep my eyes on You and eternal things, striving for internal beauty that ultimately glorifies You.”

 

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 27, 2026

Why Leaning On Me Is Overrated

“Surely God is my help, the Lord is the One who sustains me.”  Psalm 54:4 (ESV)

Ever felt like you just couldn’t learn something else new?  Every time I need a new phone, it’s a big learning curve.  If I bank online, website updates can make it challenging.  It’s a given in this technological world we live in – nothing stays the same – there’s always new and more improved.

Exactly where I landed a few weeks ago.  An “easy to learn” software program I used at work was no longer available.  Instead a complicated graphics and publishing software was the best option to go. Only problem, I had never used this program and it was anything but “easy.”  As a project deadline approached, I found myself struggling daily to work through all the kinks.  Out of options and resources, I turned to the One I knew could help me.  Each day I prayed and prayed for God to give me the creativity and wisdom to accomplish the task.  And when all my efforts failed, I finally got down on my knees and begged God to help me figure it out – I was desperate.  Releasing the stress, I got up off the floor and trusted in God’s ability to help me versus my own limited knowledge.  And the end result, a few days later my project was finally completed.

What pivotal lessons did I learn through this process?

  1. God is always available to help me with any task – small or large. If you’re like me, we can often bring only the really big things to God and then rely on self for everything else.  God is just as interested in my day to day as He is interested in  what I consider the “big and really important” challenges.
  1. Nothing is too big or too small to catch the eye of our God. He is fully aware of all things impacting our day, and God delights in His children coming to Him for all our needs. Yes, even the ones we think we can handle.
  1. The best stress reliever is dependent on who we are trusting in – self or God. Releasing deadlines, challenges and burdens to God frees our minds to refocus on solutions instead of panic.  Creativity is greatly hindered when desperation dictates our actions.
  1. Nothing is new to God. While technology is ever-changing, our God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  His wisdom is not limited or stunted by the latest apps or website updates.
  1. God is relational and while He delights in helping us manage our day, He is more interested in us cultivating a deep, abiding relationship with Him.
  1. Some challenges require a lowering of knee to demonstrate a humble spirit desperate for our God instead of a simple resolve of our situation. God is not a vending machine or drive thru God; He longs for us to enjoy conversation with Him in the good and hard places.

I think you get the point here – God’s love for us far exceeds our everyday demands and joys.  He delights in closeness with His beloved and that means you and me. Whatever touches our lives, touches His heart; our God is always available for a conversation with His children

“Father, teach us to release the urge to depend on self.  Help us to come to you with all our needs and trust You to guide us each step of the way.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 24, 2026

Spilled Tea Leaves A Sticky Mess

“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” James 3:5-6 (ESV)

Writing requires a lot of discipline, so I got up early one morning, ate, showered and glued myself to that chair. By late afternoon, I had finished my project and decided to clean up a very messy desk.  One pile moved to another so I could work on the pile sitting right before my eyes. As I twirled my chair around to work on the back of my desk, I hit my stack of piles on the other corner and graciously tipped my tea glass over my computer. I quickly moved into recovery mode, but my tea saturated laptop was hopeless. The motor powered up and then shut the computer down never to come alive again. Tea and laptops don’t mix, and did I mention it was sweet tea. Sticky over my desk, pouring out of my laptop and on the floor.

Saddest moment! How could the perfect writing day end in such a disaster?

We can’t control spilled tea once it’s out of the glass. So true in life when our “spilled tea” saturates others. Those words we shouldn’t have spoken. The actions we took in haste. The right word for the right moment which we chose to ignore. The thoughts sabotaging our relationships with others.

Words to consider as we begin each day –  make sure we guard our tongue, mind and actions. Damage control is overrated. I tried hard to rescue my drenched laptop – turning it over and shaking the tea out, but my efforts were futile. There is no guarantee for recovery when we carelessly allow our “spilled tea” to impact others.

I love the grace of our God who doesn’t get bogged down by our “spilled tea” and offers forgiveness in abundance. We can secure peace and comfort to move forward without shame. But a word of caution; forgiveness and grace doesn’t guarantee restoration with others. Wounds run deep and our testimony is at stake. Let’s choose to intentionally be wise women who exercise control and discernment over our words, thoughts and actions. No recovery required when the tea is still in the glass.

“Father, how many times have I allowed the unsweetness of my lips to spill over on others. Amazed by Your grace that still covers all of me.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Attitude, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 23, 2026

The Very Best Invitation

may 11

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28 (HCSB)

I just love getting invitations in the mail!  I am thrilled by the words, “Please come.”  Doesn’t matter if it’s an invitation to a wedding, shower, birthday party or some other occasion…it is always a privilege to be invited to celebrate milestones with friends and family.  Even the invitation to join friends for casual fellowship is cause for celebration. The time we invest in relationships with others, is a blessing to us and to them.  And, usually there are some yummy refreshments involved too!

Each and every morning, we awaken to an invitation from Jesus.  “Please come.”  He invites us to spend time with Him so that we can get to know Him better, celebrate milestones in our relationship with Him, and so that He can provide spiritual refreshment for our weary souls.

What invitation could possibly be better than that?  We have all had to turn down invitations that we truly wanted to accept.  Jesus understands the demands on our time… and, He loves us even when we don’t accept His gracious invitation.  But, we miss out on so much when we don’t spend time with Him…especially when we are weary and burdened.  I love that when I accept His invitation, He always shows up with nourishment for my weary soul.

“Jesus, thank You for inviting me to spend time with You every day.  Help me to make this a priority occasion on my calendar. Thank You for the nourishment that You provide as I read Your Word and fellowship with You.”

 

For His Glory,

Ann Skalaski
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 22, 2026

Even Kings Need The King

“You must never return to Egypt.” Deuteronomy 17:16 (NLT)

Have you ever wished God would speak to you directly? Many times we believe if we could just hear from Him, we would make different choices and our lives would be so much better off.

God did just that-without even being asked! Solomon had the opportunity of having the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, and he had the crazy privilege of having God appear to him two times. Two times God Himself directly spoke to Solomon!

WOW! How amazing is that? If God would speak to us like that we would forever choose to follow Him and honor Him, right? I mean, what more could we ask for?

1 Chronicles tells the story of Solomon’s first acts as king. He offered one thousand offerings on the bronze altar before the Lord. He spoke with God the first night of his reign, acknowledged God Himself had made him king, and asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern God’s people. Not only did God answer Him, but God added wealth, possessions, and honor like no other king will ever have!

God finished speaking to Solomon in verse twelve and verse fourteen states, “Solomon accumulated chariots and horses….” and by verse sixteen goes on to say, “Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt…”

That may seem like an insignificant detail, but if we go back to Deuteronomy 17, God gave explicit instructions to the nation of Israel, in particular to the king.

 “The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself

or send his people to Egypt to buy horses, for the Lord has

told you, ‘You must never return to Egypt.’ The king must not

take many wives for himself because they will turn his heart

away from the Lord. And he must not accumulate large amounts

of wealth in silver and gold for himself.”  Deuteronomy 17:16-17

Solomon could have bought his horses from other countries,  but he defiantly sent his merchants back to Egypt to buy horses there.

Why? Why did Solomon do what he wanted and not what God asked? Even with God speaking directly to him. Even with God adding multitudes of extra blessings on him. King Solomon, the wisest man who has ever lived, still decided what he wanted was greater than what God wanted.

Why do we do the same?

Sometimes we forget what God wants and asks. When we are not spending time in His Word, we can become like the people in Judges where everyone just, “did what was right in his own sight.”

We may also assume we know what God wants. God answered our prayer yesterday, so we neglect consulting Him today.

We second guess God or try to justify our actions. Surely God didn’t mean ________. Fill in the blank.

Our lack of humility also rears its ugly head. We are sure we know best. Sadly, we just do our thing for so long, we can be used to being the one calling the shots and not include God in our lives.

Seems as if we are not that different from King Solomon.

When we realize we are making our decisions on our own, we need to repent and change directions or we will continue walking away from Him.

Solomon continued on, and he violated all three of the instructions God gave in Deuteronomy. He did get his horses from Egypt, he took many wives for himself, and he accumulated large amounts of wealth for himself, over and above what God blessed him with. It was not until the end of his life, when he wrote Ecclesiastes, that he realized the waste of not allowing God to be the Driver of his life and bow his heart to our King.

While we still have today, let us humble ourselves to Him, acknowledge Who He is, and actively decide to follow Him each day.

We will never regret choosing Jesus and giving our lives to Him.

“Father, help us to follow You and allow You to be our God.”

For His Glory

Terrie Tollerson (www.TerrieTollerson.com)
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

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Posted in Spiritual Living, Success, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 21, 2026

Do You Have 30 Seconds?

“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15

Remember those good ol’ pre-COVID days when people ran real errands, interacted naturally, and actually chatted in waiting rooms and on airplanes? (But the real, “don’t you miss those days” was prior to the “smartphone” and “social” media era commenced, cultural norms that are producing much dumber and antisocial/isolated people…I know, I know…I digress. Again.) And while digital distraction has kept our heads in the cloud (the one where all-information-ever floats awaiting retrieval), division and vitriol has been increasing over the past couple of decades to replace common goodwill. So, it seems that sparking conversations with strangers through a simple observation or commonality—just to make a pleasant connection—seems to sadly have ended with us Gen-Xers.

But no matter our age, we believers are called to do this very thing—with great purpose: Through simple observation or commonality, make a pleasant connection through conversation with others. The purpose? To share the good news of the Lord’s salvation and tell of His glory and wonderful deeds (Psalm 96:2-3). This can be a daunting task, for sure! But it doesn’t have to be hard.

First, it’s vital to know how to speak out the gospel message simply. Here’s one way: God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live a perfect life, die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and rise from the dead in victory, offering forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and eternal life to all who believe. This truth is vital to proclaim, for sure, but it’s also imperative to be able to share your testimony—your personal miraculous story of salvation. Although someone might quickly reject what the Bible has to say, it is much harder for them to dispute or deny how the gospel has impacted your life. See, whether you were saved at age 7 during VBS or the Lord rescued you last week from some vile darkness and brought you into His glorious light, you have an amazing story to tell. You are a walking miracle! So, you—and I—need to be prepared to speak our story in a quick, conversational way. We need to be ready to make an account for our hope without intimidation (1 Peter 3:14-16).

So, I’m giving you some homework, sweet friend: Create a 30-second testimony. Your transformation story, expressed simply and clearly. Step 1: Pray to the Lord to reveal to you what He wants you to share.

Step 2: Take some time to write out what He shares about (a) your life before Jesus, (b) how you encountered/surrendered to Jesus, and (c) your life in relationship with Jesus. Here’s a simple tool to help, and there are many online. Step 3: Whittle down your testimony to a 30-second version. This could be as simple as, “There was a time in my life that (insert struggle here). I realized (insert need to trust Him here). Since giving my life to Jesus (insert the difference He’s made here).” Here’s an example, which happens to be my story:

“There was a time in my life when I was searching for satisfaction, trying to please God and negotiate with Him—it was exhausting. Then God revealed His grace to me, that Jesus did for me what I could never do—all I had to do was trust Him. Now, in Christ, I am free from running after the things of this world—I have peace and purpose. Do you have a story like that?”

Remember, beloved, we’re called to be witnesses—not the judge, jury, or defense attorney. We just need to be able to tell others what we’ve seen and heard (Acts 4:20; Acts 22:15). Then, let’s keep our eyes open for connection opportunities. At the gym, in the waiting room, at the airport. Look up from your phone or computer and look around at the lost and broken people. They need Jesus! And how are they to believe on Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without someone opening their mouth (Romans 10:11-15)?

“Lord, give me the boldness to share the Truth of Your Word and the miracle of my testimony, opening a door to Your miraculous saving grace.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | July 20, 2026

Why “Keep” Is Crucial

“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart.” Psalm 119:2 (ESV)

What’s your inspiration for the day, the week or a year?  Are you a goals kind of girl?  Perhaps you’re one who selects a special word as your focal point.  Statistics reveal that halfway through the first month of a new year is the time when people are tempted to let their yearly inspiration deflate.  Why?  Because it takes courage, discipline, hard work and consistency to row forward day by day.

Ushering in new habits isn’t easy.  We’re so accustomed to “same” us that the possibility of “new” us derails us.  Far easier to slip back into our norm than press forward.  But if we are keeping it real here, settling for anything less than our inspiration leaves us facing regret.

Several years ago, I wasn’t even thinking of or considering a special word for the year.  Can’t say the same for God. He knew exactly where I needed to focus. He’d seen my list because we’d had a long prayer session, and it wasn’t that God didn’t approve – He just had something better in mind.

What was my word?  “Keep.”  You got it. Right in the midst of decluttering and throwing things away, God redirected my attention to “Keep.”  Confusion was definitely written across my face until I remembered where my Bible study had taken me.  Settling into Psalm 119 for the previous few weeks, I’d read the word “Keep”  twenty-six times (ESV).

When I think of “Keep,” I naturally default to saving, holding on to and definitely not throwing away.  Webster even gives us a look into the depth of “Keep” such as retain, take notice of, faithful, maintain, preserve, stay in accord and watch over – the list was endless.  All great descriptions especially since Psalm 119 zeros in on the importance of God’s word.

As much as I love Webster’s thoughts, the Hebrew for “Keep” is what mesmerized me.  “Keep” means simply to conform.  The Psalmist’s references to “Keep” were strategically placed to compel us to be doers of the word and not just hearers.  To allow God’s words to shape, mold and transform us.  Yes, we should cling to, memorize and meditate on His words, but all of that is in vain if we don’t let them change us.

The real question is do we want just another day, month or year of old me or a new season of a changed me?

I think God’s best far outweighs any goals I could ever attain.  He knows that when my ways align with His ways then everything else will fit together.  When my heart and soul reflect His then the changing of me will be absolutely beautiful.

“Father, as each day unfolds it offers us glorious opportunities to seize those moments to treasure, know and keep (conform to) Your words. Praising You for teaching us to welcome Your transforming work in our lives.”

 

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

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