Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 7, 2026

Why Asking Serves Us Well

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song, I give thanks to Him.” Psalm 28:7 (ESV)

Asking has never been my go to. Raising my hand in class rarely happened. Unfortunately, I tend to be a figure it out for yourself kind of person, but it doesn’t always serve me well. Time can evaporate quickly when we’re spinning our wheels relying solely on ourselves to get it done. Independence is overrated when we struggle and give up because we’re too afraid, too proud or just don’t want to ask for help.

Asking questions births solutions. Opening the door for wisdom to grow and knowledge to flourish, we gain confidence to accomplish more than we ever imagined. Asking for help resolves overwhelming challenges. Inviting others into our circle and working together, we experience deeper relationships. Asking empowers and liberates us – now that’s inviting. Yes, asking’s benefits far outweigh any misconceptions we have that hold us back from leaning on self alone.

Love the way God is the instigator of questions. Throughout scripture, He asks questions inviting deep thought-provoking introspection. Choosing to answer our questions with questions. Birthing in us a desire to seek His wisdom. God’s questions move us from simply wanting a response to uncovering the beauty of His divine character and the importance of leaning on Him. No question is beyond His reply. No question is too big for our God. No request is criticized, mocked or ignored. God delights in leading us to truth and greater dependence on Him.

So, sweet friends let’s deny our instincts to rely on ourselves. Let’s purposefully choose to seek help and ask tough questions. Let’s resist the urge to discredit the wisdom of those God has strategically placed in our circle. Let’s forego the need to do it all ourselves and forsake the help sitting in front of us. Let’s lay down pride. Let’s release fears. Let’s embrace help and give help. Let’s lean on God’s character and rely on His provision even if it requires welcoming others into our circle.

“Father, You know exactly what we need. You provide help and answers in ways we could never have imagined. Praising You for the beauty of asking that unveils Your divine provision.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

 

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Posted in Hope, Faith, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 6, 2026

End Of Summer Project

“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8 (NLT)
 

Some people ascribe to the practice of spring cleaning. Spring is a time for discarding jackets, scarves, and gloves in order to better enjoy the fresh warmth. Spring is a time for buckling down and finishing schoolwork for the year, so we can enjoy summer vacation the moment final exams are over. Any deep cleaning gets pushed to the back burner for later.

Our family ascribes to the lesser known practice of the week-before-school-starts cleaning. A wave of loathing for all things cluttered or overflowing starts the week off. Working under the pressure of a deadline—before the chaos of a new school year derails any extra projects—usually keeps us motivated. Some years, we lose steam partway through the process, giving up in exhaustion before crossing the finish line. Yet, some years we tackled every drawer, cabinet, and closet trashing, giving away, or selling everything that wasn’t necessary for our daily survival.

Just as we took the time to clean and organize our drawers, cabinets, and closets, so we as believers, must take the time to examine our hearts—every nook and cranny. What does our key verse mean when it refers to a pure heart? A pure heart is one which is free of the guilt of sin, the pollution sin causes. Our hearts and minds relish the purity that comes with living free of the pollution and guilt of sin. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NASB)

Our reward for an organized, clean house is a temporary feeling of satisfaction knowing there is room … for more junk to fill up every space in the coming year. The reward for a clean, pure heart is infinitely better. To “see God” is not just to see Him with our eyes but to perceive Him in all His glory, to truly know Him more than words on a page but with every fiber of our being. More than mere temporary satisfaction, seeing God fills us to bursting.

Is it time for some end of summer cleaning?

“Lord, we bare ourselves before You to be cleansed of our sin. Thank You for Your forgiveness and the clear perception to really see You.”

 

For His Glory

Tammy Randlett (http://staletoast.com)
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 5, 2026

Follow The Leader

“But when Rehoboam was firmly established and strong, he abandoned the Law of the Lord, and all Israel followed him in this sin.”  2 Chronicles 12:1 (NLT)

Our almost 20 month and 4 year old grandsons love to play follow the leader around their kitchen island.  We march, play pretend instruments, skip, walk backward, leapfrog, and dance,  depending on what the leader is showing us to do.  We don’t ask questions, we just follow.  The boys love being the boss and watching us act out the silly things they lead us to do.

This is a fun game for all of us, but it is just a game.  We would never just blindly follow someone in real life…would we?

We have an example in scripture where all of Israel blindly followed their king.

Rehoboam did not just lead himself into a life away from the Lord, he led an entire country to walk away from the Lord.

Rehoboam had everything going for him.  He was the grandson of King David, the son of King Solomon, and he was crowned the new king of all of Israel.  The people were ready and willing to follow his leadership.  Some of the older advisors of King Solomon met with him and suggested that he reduce the workload of the people.  King Solomon had been building the Lord’s Temple, and the people were worn out and exhausted.  Rehoboam was handed a beautiful opportunity to become a humble, wise, and servant driven leader.  He had the opportunity to put the people before himself and lead Israel in the ways of the Lord.  However, Rehoboam also had advisors of his own age, and they did not agree.  They suggested that Rehoboam push the people and make them work harder than ever.

The result?  Rehoboam listened to his peers and soon after, Israel split into the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah). He chose to walk away from the Lord and His laws, and 2 Chronicles 12:1 states, “…and all Israel followed him in this sin.”

Rehoboam’s poor game of follow the leader not only caused pain in his day but for generations to come.  Israel and Judah were so weakened by his lack of leadership that both kingdoms were invaded, taken captive, and destroyed.

Follow the leader may seem like a harmless child’s game, but in reality, the results can last for generations.

Why is this story in scripture?  What can we learn from it?

We can look at the leadership that God grants us and check in to see how we are stewarding it.   Are we allowing Christ to lead us so that we may be strong leaders to others?  Are we making decisions for our best or is it the best for future generations to follow?

We also have to look at who we are following.  This could be on social media-isn’t it interesting we are called followers of others??  Do we follow others more than Christ?  Whose opinion do we seek out first?  Who is the loudest voice in our head?  What are our criteria for making decisions and moving forward with them?

Follow the leader is really what this life is all about.  Who is our leader, and who are we following?

“Father, thank you for the opportunity to honor You with our lives and bring others to You.  Help us to hear Your voice the loudest and follow Your path, no matter how narrow it may be.”

 

For His Glory

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

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Living, Success, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 4, 2026

Exponential Love

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”  1 John 3:1

I’d been warned. My friends who have lived through a time like I had last week tried to tell me, to explain what I was stepping into. I thought, “Yeah, I know…it’s gonna be wonderful.” Oh, but how could I really know? Not even sure my words here could truly capture it if you told me to fill 1000 pages. Some of you reading this may nod with a knowing look. And if you haven’t yet experienced this—or won’t ever for myriad reasons—my hope is that you’ll still understand the spiritual truths purposefully baked in by our Heavenly Father.

See, my son and daughter-in-love had a baby the other day. The moment we walked into the hospital room, and I laid eyes on her, it was all over—tears of joy, gratitude, answered prayers, and overwhelming love for this beautiful little girl. As I held her and gazed into that perfect face, I thought my heart would burst. Just hours old, she has no words, no activity, no attitude. She simply is…and she is immensely loved.

Now, it’s been over two decades since my two boys were babies, when I could hold them in my arms for hours and stare lovingly into their precious faces, my heart bursting with pure momma-adoration. Before the bad decisions, colossal mistakes, lost tempers, and regretted words set in to break the spell…and I’m talking about mine. I was/am not a perfect parent. So, despite my deep love (“to eternity and back”), which was expressed and verbalized to my boys, I know that they doubted my promise that there’s nothing they could ever do to make me love them less. I’m sure, in my failures, they thought, “I better do ______ to earn her love,” or “I messed up, so surely I’m not as loved as I was before.” Oh, how I wish it wasn’t so…because it wasn’t the truth. Did I mention I was far from a perfect parent?

Why this confession now? As I held my tiny, helpless granddaughter, overcome by a new exponential love, the Lord showed me more of Himself. See, when we were born again into God’s family by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ, we were as helpless as my granddaughter emerging from her momma. We did nothing, said nothing to earn His acceptance and love. He loves us because we are His. From that moment of our new birth, we start failing. But since He is the Perfect Parent, as we make those bad decisions and colossal mistakes, when regrettable words fly from our hearts through our open lips, we never have to doubt His love. He’ll never love us any less or more—and He knows our every thought, past, present, and future.

Although I recognize that my “grandmother goggles” will be different than my momma-vision, I know full well that no one will have to teach my sweet grandbaby to lie, bite, and have tantrums when she doesn’t get her way. And, as with my boys, there will be consequences to those actions and attitudes. But my prayer is that she—and each of us, as children of our Heavenly Father—deeply know God’s unchanging love. There is no more for the earning. No loss at our foolishness. Just the unfathomable, unsearchable love of God. In His graciousness to remind me of this, I pray that you’re also washed over by His exponential love for you.

“Lord, thank You that nothing can ever separate me from Your love. I cannot earn Your approval or dampen Your affection for me. When I fail or fall or doubt, remind me of this truth, so I can rest in Your unfathomable love for me.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Love

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 3, 2026

What Remains

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”  Isaiah 43:19 (ESV)

Who doesn’t love new? There’s nothing like new car smell, and a freshly painted new house invites entertaining. Have to admit, I love using new appliances and wearing a new outfit is so special. Traveling to a new destination fills us with awe. All the newness we enjoy.

Hate to admit it, but not all “new” things are initially embraced. New also  denotes  a different direction, unprecedented, never seen before and definitely doesn’t mean the new will be easy. We’ve probably all traveled this journey of new seasons in our lives and struggled through challenging times. Perhaps God redirected all our plans, and we really didn’t want His new; we so loved the comfort of old, familiar. Could it be that new invoked a deep sense of regret. Sometimes new dictates a change in our relationship status. Friends move away. Illness appears unannounced. Marriages break apart. Death rearranges without permission. Sometimes new ushers in financial strains and unwanted hard decisions.

Regardless of how we experience new, God is always present in every welcomed and unwelcomed re-direction. In scripture, wildernesses and deserts are symbolic of testing, spiritual growth, and divine encounters. In these new places in our journey disguised as barren and desolate, God transforms  and shapes us for His purposes. The birthing of new within us spiritually is far more valuable than our comfort.

Absolutely love  this quote from Ruth Schwenk about the newness of change:

“Somethings change you forever. There is something within you that loss cannot steal. Something that disappointment cannot erase. Something that suffering can’t touch. Maybe that’s what resilience really is. Not becoming someone who has never been broken but discovering what remains after the breaking.”

Webster defines resilience in a similar way:  “The capability of a body to recover and/or readjust after compressive stress.”

While none of us would ask for the newness of loss, disappointment, stress or suffering, I love the way God uses it in our lives to build in resilience. Reflecting on Ruth’s quote, loss can’t steal our memories. Disappointment doesn’t erase God’s faithfulness in the journey. Suffering can’t touch the power of our redeemed testimony birthed in dependence on Him.

The word “behold” in our verse reveals a pivotal truth – it functions as a summons rather than a casual glance at the words to follow. Behold in scripture often denotes a request to confront something unanticipated and obscure rather than simply observe. It’s a call to response and in Isaiah 43:19,  it’s an invitation to respond to what God is about to do in our lives with a reassurance He will make a way. We can confidently place our faith and trust in God to turn our wilderness and desert into transformational moments in our lives.

Somethings change us forever, but the choice of resilience or resistance is totally up to us. Where we focus our gaze and our mind will be the determining factor. Nothing “new” is ever wasted when we view it from God’s loving perspective. When we lean into His wisdom, we avoid missing the joys birthed in new even when it was unwanted.

“Jesus how I love the way you work within all things that touch our lives to create resilience and dependence on You. We can trust You to make a way where we see no way.”

 

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Living

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

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