Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 23, 2026

Why Is Rebuilding So Difficult? Part 3

“The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel…Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work.”  Ezra 4:1,4 (NLT)

After your world has been struck by an unnatural disaster, there must be a time when it is just you and God who assess the damage and make a plan to rebuild.

In the book of Nehemiah, we see a plan for rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. Nehemiah has confessed his sin, the sins of his people, he has grieved, he has made an honest assessment of the damage alone with the Lord, and the rebuilding process has begun. It is not easy-there are enemies trying to trash his reputation, spread rumors, hurt morale, and keep his people from working, but they carry on.

Then you come to Nehemiah 4 and find out the wall is halfway rebuilt. Maybe they felt a little like Bon Jovi, “Woah, we’re halfway there, woah, livin’ on a prayer!”  The workers were working with enthusiasm….Then the enemies appeared again and “were furious” (vs. 7). They decided to fight the workers and confuse them. Nehemiah had them praying and begging God for protection, but he also took the practical step of providing guards day and night around the city.

But we see a shift. The Israelites who had returned and were working with enthusiasm  began to complain and lose morale. They believed the enemy instead of Nehemiah.

We want to be cautious that we do not believe the enemy instead of God. As we are rebuilding our lives from the ruins, the work is long and tedious and exhausting and seemingly never-ending. We may struggle to remember to believe “God can work all things together for good,” “God can redeem the years the locusts have eaten,” and “God can carry our burdens.”  We have to constantly keep our eyes on Him and continuously allow His Truths to permeate every area of our lives.

We may be halfway there, but we may have to change strategies. We are already overwhelmed, but what has been working is not working anymore. It may be a shift in our time with the Lord or it may be a friend that needs to be removed. Somewhere a lie is penetrating the process of our rebuilding, and we have to find it and remove it. We must be diligent about it, or it will keep us from further rebuilding, or even destroy what we have already built.

The thought of having to adjust or shift strategies can be daunting, but it must be done. Take a look at how Nehemiah adjusted.

Nehemiah 4:21-23(NLT)

“We worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men were always on guard. I also told everyone living outside the walls to stay in Jerusalem. That way they and their servants could help with guard duty at night and work during the day. During this time, none of us-not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me-ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.”

No one wants to live like this-working, staying guard, not changing, and carrying weapons. Notice two things-it was for a season, and it was for a purpose. The season was to finish the wall, and the purpose was to keep the people safe. Take note of where you are in your rebuilding process.

Are there changes that need to be made for a season and for a purpose?

Rebuilding is not easy, but it WILL be worth it, and we will get there one brick at a time. Does anything need to change for a season and for a purpose?

“Father, help us to ‘not be weary in well doing’ as we rebuild a life we didn’t ask to be torn down. May we honor You through the process and have the energy and determination to take another step today. Thank you for never leaving us.”

For His Glory

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

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted in Spiritual Living, Faith, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 22, 2026

Wise & Innocent

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” Romans 16:17-20

Although it began with a hissed “did God really say” to the first man and woman in the Garden, deception is still alive and well today. In fact, from “fake news” and bot-driven algorithms to a firehose of social media “experts” and all-too-real-looking AI fabrications, I believe we are being bombarded by Satan’s lies today more than ever. The world system has been meticulously built by our enemy through the millennia for a singular purpose: to kill, steal, and destroy us (John 10:10a; 1 Peter 5:8) Here are just a few of the prevailing hisses:

  • “The plot and character development in that show is really great, so those sex scenes are OK.”
  • “God wants you to be healthy and wealthy, without problems or suffering. If you’re not, you don’t have enough faith.”
  • “You don’t have time to read your Bible.” (Although your phone has clearly logged the 9 hours of screen time.)
  • “The news is so maddening! But you can’t be ignorant to what’s happening, so you have to watch—and hear what your favorite commentators have to say about it all.”
  • “The Bible needs to be applied to modern culture—the teachings from back then on love, sex, abortion, judgment, etc. are outdated.”

Throughout the New Testament, followers of Jesus are warned about the wolves and false prophets coming into (and out of) the Church to deceive believers (Matthew 7:15-19; Acts 20:29-30; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15)—to pull us away from God by dangling enticements and subtle lures that play into the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). They are smooth talkers. They get the podcast airplay and reel replays. And like a magician, they deviously weave together “data” to prove their point, turning our attention where they want it, so we don’t see what’s really going on.

Oh, beloved, as the Apostle Paul exhorts, we must be “wise to what is good and innocent as to what is evil” if we’re to persevere (Romans 16:19). What does this mean practically? From the Greek, being “wise to what is good” is to be skilled, expert at all that is right, honorable, and acceptable to the Lord. How do we know what that is? It’s all in God’s Word for us! Just as we’d put in the time and effort to study for a final exam or train for a marathon, we must put in the time and effort to know Biblical truth. We must read it for ourselves—not just read or listen to what others say. Upon our salvation, believers have the Holy Spirit living in us to help us understand what we read in the Bible. The Bible is our wisdom, and it’s all about Jesus. He is the Way, Truth, and Life—and in Him is true Goodness.

But we also need to be “innocent as to what is evil”…in other words, blameless, pure, free from guile regarding everything that is worthless, harmful, depraved (which sounds like most of our worldly junk right now). How? Turn away, turn off—even run away at full speed—from the things of the world that weigh us down or trap us. These are different for each of us. It might be alcohol, drugs, or pornography…or it could be too much focus on social media, money, or looking young. Friend, if it does not align with God’s Word, it is a deception meant for destruction. If it is not glorifying to our Sovereign God, it is worthless.

I know that sounds a bit radical. Maybe it’s because I’ve been around now for six decades, but I believe (like Paul said in Romans 16:2) that the God of all peace is coming back soon to crush Satan. Time is short (whether my time, or all of time), and I want to be found ready. Won’t you join me in pursuing both wisdom for good and innocent of evil? Let’s keep our eyes, mind, and actions focused on excellent and praiseworthy things (Philippians 4:8-9). And as both citizens and ambassadors of God’s Kingdom (Philippians 3:20-21; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20), let’s stay focused on our heavenly home…and invite as many people as possible to join us.

“Lord, I want to be all in. Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways (Psalm 119:37).”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 21, 2026

When Today Triggers Yesterday

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)

Can honestly say every time I drive past this landmark, I’m reminded of God’s faithfulness to me. Nothing unusual or unique about it – it’s simply a group of picnic tables near a rest area before you get to Charlottesville. A quiet peaceful spot. Perfect for a picnic. Great place to just enjoy the calm and hear the water in the creek trickling by. Soothing to a weary soul.

I was that weary one many years ago. On my way to UVA to meet with specialists, we stopped for a quick break and ate our lunch without a word ever spoken between us. Some moments are like that – dread and exhaustion leave little room for conversation. Got back in our car and headed on our way.

Quietness filled a room occupied with sick women where smiles were scarce as many entertained the shadows of death. UVA would provide little answers and ultimately a major surgery would occur before healing could happen. Definitely difficult and painful days. Ones I will never forget. And nestled right in the midst of them is a clear reckoning of the sweetness of our God. Priceless moments when He drew me closer than I had ever been to Him. Simple reminders of His love, peace and grace overflowing me.

Triggers of the desperation I felt that day resurface when I travel up 29 North evoking those precious memories. Gratitude rises to the surface when I pass by the one spot where peace and quiet settled my chaotic soul.

That my friends was over thirty years ago and the sacredness of life never escapes me. God answered many prayers – some were no’s and some were yes’ – none were out of the scope of His power and might. Countless ways God showed up when I needed Him the most. Memories of His promises spoken to my heart – deep lessons learned in the midst of suffering propelling me forward – flourishing rather than simply surviving.

Maybe you’ve been there too – when landmark’s recall God’s faithfulness. His love story to you unfolding one page at a time. Snapshots of where He’s taken you in this journey and reminders of His protective hand guiding and leading you along the way. Cherish the landmark. Share the story. Encourage someone else whose shadows loom larger than life. Steward what God has entrusted to you, and you’ll be amazed at how He births fresh joy and renewed hope in others who desperately need His touch.

“Father, not a single tear is ever wasted in Your sight. You are ever present in the midst of our storms, and Your faithfulness serves as a constant reminder – Your love is extravagant and beyond comprehension. Praising You for giving us the story of us to share with our world.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Hope, Faith, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 18, 2026

Our Anchor

cb devo july 17

“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” I Chronicles 16:11 (NIV)

Wouldn’t we all love to live the balanced life? Not overdoing one area while minimizing another. Perfectly balanced in our finances, careers, relationships and spiritual depth. I’ve probably read a dozen articles taunting the benefits of keeping our emotional, spiritual, physical and financial spokes rolling smoothly. Yet, there have been times when I’ve just allowed myself to overdo by pure choice and disregard for what’s getting the short end of the stick. Eventually what’s been ignored always catches up with me and it’s not pretty.

Reality check – even when we desire and seek balance – there are some life events that throw us completely off balance. Seasons of rearing small children leave little time for spa moments. Tackling a huge project at work or accomplishing a personal goal minimizes our social calendar. Caring for aging parents or a sick family member can deplete our finances and zap our energy. No matter how committed we are to balance, during some seasons of life it’s all we can do to maneuver through another day.

Spiritual check – when our lives become unbalanced, we can anchor our soul to Jesus Christ. We can cling to His peace right in the midst of chaotic toddlerville or teenage battlegrounds. We can seek His wisdom and creativity for tough, challenging decisions. We can draw from His strength and provision when we don’t have anything else to offer. Even when the nest is empty and loneliness looms large, Jesus offers the sweetest closeness only He can give.

Looking for the balanced life? Sweet friends, we can count on Jesus to hold us steady even when life is unsettled. He is the solid rock we can lean on and stand on.

“Father, when we depend on anyone or anything else, we miss the perfect stability that is found in You alone. You are the sweetest anchor for our souls.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 17, 2026

Swallowed Up By Life

“For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies…but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.”     2 Corinthians 5:1-4  (NLT)

When you were a child, did you ever consider getting old? Did you ever look in the mirror and imagine yourself being fifty, sixty, seventy, or even older? I didn’t, and I’ll bet you didn’t, either. But here I am, a great-grandmother. Would someone tell me how I got so old when I wasn’t paying attention?

Looking back on an active life, even ten years ago, I had plenty of energy to go to work all day, come home and cook dinner, clean the kitchen, do the laundry, and take care of other household chores. In addition, I led a weekly Bible study in my home and studied for that most every evening. Then on Saturdays, we often went boating or camping. Of course, I was tired by day’s end, but I somehow found the strength to keep going as long as I had to.

Now, facing my another birthday, I find that life has turned a corner. I no longer go to work every day and no longer participate in weekend recreational activities. Over the years, I have had some troublesome internal organs removed, and I’ve broken several bones in auto accidents and falls. I long to take an afternoon nap – and sometimes do. This earthly “tent” is wearing out. I’m not the girl I used to be.

So do I consider myself to be dying? Not even close! And neither did Paul when he wrote his second letter to the Corinthians. As he said in an earlier chapter, “Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.” A thumbs-up to that!

Paul, a tentmaker by trade, refers to the human body as an earthly tent, and compares death to the tent being taken down. He knew that the death of the body was the beginning of new life. I love it when he says these dying bodies “will be swallowed up by life.”

Swallowed up by life! What a glorious concept. The leaves on my family tree are getting fewer and fewer. Many of my relatives have gone on to be with Jesus. Several of our acquaintances succumbed to Covid, but we don’t have to think of them as “gone.” Instead, we can think of ourselves as temporarily “left behind,” and they – those who had been saved from the penalty of their sins by the sacrifice of Jesus – have been swallowed up by life!

Praise God!

“Dear Father, thank you for the gift of a forever life! Thank you for preparing a place for us, and for the guarantee of your Spirit, keeping us safe in Your care until we join You at home in heaven.”

For His Glory

Cherie Harbridge Williams
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Gratitude, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 16, 2026

Why Is Rebuilding So Difficult – Part 2

“The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel…Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work.”  Ezra 4:1,4 (NLT)

Has your world been struck by an unnatural disaster?

A betrayal, a trauma, a divorce, a loss, something that you did not expect or could not have prepared for. The massive storm hit  your world, and you are just beginning to assess the damage and look toward recovery.

As any good disaster team will tell you, we have to begin by examining the damage. We have to honestly assess the damage. Where has this hurt us, how has it changed our world, the way we see others, our relationship with God?

Next we have to pray. This may not seem like an active part of rebuilding, but prayer is the key to the next steps we will take. There is no formula or right way that this may look like in your life. We may talk to God, crying as we question our loss, yelling as we pour our emotions on Him, begging Him for relief from the pain, and bowing our heads in defeat that He is God and we are not. Prayer is personal and sustains our relationship with God.

As we move through our grief, we are asking Him to show us the next steps and give us strength for the days to come.

This is the foundation. If God is not the foundation, our rebuilding has nothing firmly to stand on. We have to take the time needed here- it is worth it.

As Robert Frost so eloquently wrote, “…I took the one (road) less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”   God is the difference. His strength, His love, His direction, His protection, and His wisdom is THE difference. We want to do it our own way, and we want to be angry and disappointed and prideful. At the end of the day, however,  it is the bowing of our knees to the King of Kings that makes the difference whether our new foundation will stand firm or crumble in the days to come.

Rebuilding is not for the faint of heart, and it is not easy. God reminds us to “Give our burdens to Him, and He will take care of us.” (Psalm 55:22 NLT)

After Ezra and Nehemiah came back to Jerusalem to rebuild, they had to face these exact choices.

Nehemiah assessed, grieved, and confessed. He didn’t just walk back into the city and rebuild. He took time and then, at the right time, began to make a plan.

We will continue next week, but one last thought for today. When it was time to rebuild, Nehemiah rode into the city at night, by himself to assess the damage. He had sought wise counsel, heard the thoughts and concerns of others, but at the end of the day, it was he and God who honestly assessed the situation and began the plan of rebuilding.

At some point, it has to be each of us and God alone.

“Father, help my sweet sisters to know Your arm is strong enough and long enough to reach us wherever we are, and You love us enough that You won’t leave us in the dirt.”

 

For His Glory

 

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

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 15, 2026

Give It To Me

“As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities.” Isaiah 53:11

My son and his wife just had a baby, and I’m still trying to process the whole, “my baby has a baby” thing. We were recently blessed to stay with them for a week, helping to relieve their collective sleep deprivation. At just 6 weeks old, baby girl is battling beastly gas pains—the cries of anguish are very distinctive. And heartbreaking. Like every parent before him throughout humanity, I overheard my son look into her sweet (yet writhing) face and utter those earnest, often desperate words: “Lord, take her pain and give it to me.”

If you have a child, this same scenario is likely seared in your mind and soul. In our child’s sickness, suffering, and for some of us, impending death, we would have taken whatever it was on ourselves to spare the child. From our deep, inexpressible love pours out this selfless response like water from a broken vessel: “I’ll suffer in her place! Please, God, take her pain, sickness, darkness…I’ll shoulder it myself, so she can be healed and free. Let me make that trade.”

Oh, beloved, can’t you see it? The very Gospel screams out from this parental plea! Separated from God, we are sick, suffering—dead—in our sins. Oftentimes, there is physical, mental, and emotional pain in this world. But it is 100% certain that eternal darkness and suffering await after human death. But God. The Plan was set from the foundation of time (someday we’ll understand this): In the mystery that is Trinitarian communication, Jesus would say of us sinners, “Father, in Our inexpressible love, I will suffer in their place. I will take their pain, sickness, darkness…I will shoulder it Myself, so they can be healed and free. I will make that trade.”

And He did. Jesus came to earth, fully God and fully Man. He lived the perfect life we could never live and died the brutal death we deserved—taking on the very wrath of God meant for us. Jesus traded our sin (and darkness and pain and suffering) for His righteousness, making the way for new life in Him. In Christ we are healed and free (Isaiah 53:5; Colossians 2:14; Galatians 3:13; Romans 5:8-10).

Jesus did this for you, sweet friend. Jesus sees you, and He knows your pain. He’s calling you to “Come.” He’s beseeching you: “Come to Me, and I will take your burdens and give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30).” And it doesn’t cost you anything but surrender (Revelation 22:17). If you haven’t yet allowed Jesus to take your pain, suffering, burdens, do it now. Just confess that you’re a sinner (not perfect), and He will forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

As human parents, we’ve all cried out for this exchange—like my own son looking into his daughter’s eyes—but we’re unable to fulfill it. Jesus did. Won’t you accept this Great Exchange?

“Lord, thank You for trading my sin, pain, and shame for Your perfect righteousness, making the way for eternal glory and joy. If there is just one person reading this who has not accepted this gift of healing and freedom, give them the faith to answer Your call to “Come.”

 

For His Glory

 

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 14, 2026

When Awkward Serves Us Well

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV)

The first time I cooked a meal as a newlywed was quite an event.  Did I mention, I had never prepared a meal before?  Yes, you got it – I never cooked growing up so this was a scary first for me. Didn’t even consult a recipe because I thought I could figure it all out.  I’d watched my mom from a glance and it couldn’t be complicated.  So I cooked chicken and mashed potatoes in about 10 minutes just in time to throw in a salad.  Meal looked amazing…..just one problem.  The perfectly browned chicken was raw inside (yuck) and those potatoes were mashed as a result of a lot of muscle.  Awkward didn’t even describe the moment my husband took his first bite.

Getting over my flopped efforts on my first cooked meal convinced me I needed some help.  Consulting recipes, following instructions explicitly, admitting my need for guidance and lots of practice opened wide the door for awkward to eventually slip away.

Trying something new always seems awkward at first.  Bet you’ve experienced it yourself.  Whether it’s tackling knitting with all those balls of yarn,  hitting the tennis court, grabbing the paint brush….I think you get the picture.  Awkward holds the potential for serving us well if we persist and don’t give up.

Grasped this lesson a few years ago.  Bible study was oh so familiar to me.  Watch the video, answer some questions….repeat.  Now don’t get me wrong, those moments were not wasted. God was teaching me through all those venues.  Problem was, I didn’t have a clue how to study the scriptures for myself.  My reliance on others fostered a weakness in me and stunted my spiritual growth.

Searching the Scriptures by Chuck Swindoll was my first intro into really digging deep into the scriptures.  I learned the importance of comprehension, interpretation and application. Common denominators among a lot of other study guides.  Grabbing my Bible, I began a journey of discovery which felt painfully awkward.  My progress seemed forced, hard and challenging.  However, I didn’t give up.  I kept pressing through and gained some great tools for understanding God’s word better.  My new default is to put into practice the new skills I learned first, then consult commentaries or a study Bible.

Awkward will always serve us well when we choose to embrace new and patiently move forward.  I will never regret gaining insight on how to be a stronger student of God’s word.

Maybe you find yourself there too…wondering how to navigate a different way of studying the scriptures or enlarging your prayer life.  Perhaps you’re tackling journaling and those pages seem ever so empty.  Maybe you’re looking up cross references and it seems so complicated.  Perhaps you’re praying in a group and your words seem to be tangled up and messy.   Sweet friend don’t give up.  Keep pressing through and one day your faithfulness will result in ease and spiritual depth beyond your imagination.

“Father, our desire is to understand Your word with renewed passion and understanding.  Guide us as study and put into practice Your truth.  Remove the stigma of awkward and help us to lean into Your Spirit guiding 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 | September 11, 2026

Words of Life

“I will proclaim the name of the Lord, Oh, praise the greatness of our God!”  Deuteronomy 32:3 (ESV)

Nothing touches the soul quite like music.  The rhythmic beat of joy keeps us on our feet.  Glorious words of adoration and worship propelling lifted hands high in awe and wonder of our God. Lyrics echo from our lips spontaneously after we hit replay over and over again – embedded in our hearts and minds.

While music engages us it can also serve as great teachers reminding us of God’s faithfulness and truths from His word.  And my fave is to hear the story behind a song – what compelled the writer to compose such impactful lyrics.

Deuteronomy 31 invites us into a pivotal backstory when God gave Moses a song to write down for the Children of Israel.  Moses’ death was drawing near, and the words God gave him were to testify against the Israelites. Knowing the hearts of His people, God was fully aware of their tendency to follow after other gods.   He knew once they stepped foot into the abundance of the Promised Land, they would reject the one true God.

Wow, not exactly the song we’d long to hear right?  Yet Moses gathered the people and recited the words from beginning to end.  We can find God’s lyrics in Deuteronomy 32.  The opening stanzas rehearse the faithfulness and glory of God’s character.  However, the preceding verses unpack the heartbreak of a people who would forget their Creator and pursue lesser gods.  The devastation, wounding and utter demise would follow the Israelites if they didn’t forsake all others and return to God.

When Moses concluded God’s song, I would picture a holy hush over the land. I would imagine stillness as Moses spoke, “Take heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law.”  No idle lyrics – just a profound caution  – God’s words of life.

The Israelites beginning as God’s chosen people didn’t prevent them from choosing disobedience and the pricetag God detailed would be high.  The same is true for us today.  God’s character is unchanging.  His holiness can’t excuse sin.  His righteousness demands justice.  Like the Israelites, we often cling to our God in moments of despair and hardship yet abandon Him when our life is full. We seek other pleasures and dismiss the safety of His laws which form a shield of protection around us.

If God were writing a song today, I wonder what His lyrics would convey about our tendencies to slip into sin and lose sight of His glory.  Would we hit replay over and over again so we wouldn’t forget His truths or would we simply switch to another song better suited to what we want to hear?

Sweet friends, we too would be wise to heed the wisdom of God’s song.  Remembering His character and integrity.  Shouting aloud the glories and wonder of His name so our enemies would cower in fear.  There is no god like our God and He longs for us to cherish His words.  Transforming words intended to birth life instead of death.  What will we choose?

“Father, You lovingly instruct us and warn us of the dangers of pursuing lesser gods which will never serve us well.  May the song of Your heart ever remind us of Your deep abiding love which seeks to position us for Your best.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 10, 2026

Expectant Hope

“If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.” Leviticus 26:3- 4

Sapphire sky, soft breeze blowing, flower beds occupied by brilliant colors and even the birds are vocal in their pleasure for such a glorious day.  The gurgling of tea meeting ice would be perfect right now.  Except that I can think of only one thing: winter.  Yep, winter.  I am originally from Canada.  It may be the most spectacular summer day, but I am aware that winter is around the corner.  I have such a dislike for winter that several years ago, my husband and I moved to Georgia.  Georgia experiences one day of winter each year; perfect for me.  Of course the year we moved, an ice-storm shut the city down for a week.  Our Canadian friends were quick to mock.

Many reflect on the changing of the seasons.  Even the air knows it’s spring, as we plant seedlings in anticipation of growth.  Hoping to find time to relax, in our busyness, we wonder what happened to summer and how can it be that the children must return to school already.  In autumn, our yard foliage is mature with leaves falling to the ground.  It seems like the earth is preparing for a long sleep.  And, in fact, it is.  Winter approaches.  The land is quiet, blanketed in white.

We can do nothing to alter the God-designed cycle of nature.  For this cycle too can be seen in our lives.  My children, emerging young men, keep me challenged and engaged.  Parenting is hard work but with it comes immense joy that is indicative of this season of summer.  As many can attest, shortly, a silenced home will point towards an autumn of remembrances.  Winter resides in my days as well.  Giving up what I once loved reminds me of the harsh realities of frigid temperatures when work is done and the land rests.  But may it rest in wait of the next spring.

May we remember that we are given many seasons  – times when we can explore God’s new gifts.  And yes, spring is evident for the young but can be embraced in our later years as well.

“Father, may You remind me that my seasons can be neither rushed nor held onto beyond their prescribed time.  May I trust that You have ordered each perfectly according to Your plan and purposes.”

For His Glory,

Kathryn Hayman
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

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