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“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

The age of technology is somewhat fascinating.

Because of technology, people who otherwise would never socialize with others seem to suddenly feel free to post pictures of themselves and give advice online on topics that they may not even know much about. The arena of technology has acquired millions of “experts” on anything and everything that can be discussed online for others to see.

The downside to having so much information online at the touch of digital keys, is the fact that one won’t always know what is accurate and what is fake, unless one does research on the subject.

We are presently living through a worldwide pandemic, and the world’s population seems to be divided on whether one should get vaccinated against the virus that has claimed millions of lives around the globe. While some swear by the security provided by being vaccinated, others argue that the very vaccine they are provided is killing people who take them. Who, then, should we believe?

The craziness does not end with the pandemic. There is politics, who is doing their job right and who isn’t; there is gossip about famous (and not so famous) people, because, after all, no one is safe from the rumor mill, whether it is vocal or virtual. There are busy bodies all over the search engines, providing information to whoever is willing to read it.

And then, last but not least, there is the online Bible. So many people no longer peruse their paper Bibles, and instead, use their smart phones and laptops to find the Holy book, but often between reading or posting an article on the internet.

As our lives become more and more virtual and most of our affairs are performed online, my melancholy self longs for the days when the closest thing to a virtual conversation was watching The Jetsons on television, wondering if some day we would really call home on a video call. Life, indeed, is like a breath. May we use that breath well.

“Father, thank You for giving us the smarts with our brains. Help us to use it.”

For His Glory

Luska Natali

TRBC Women’s Life

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”  Philippians 4:8-9

I love lists. My desk and kitchen counter are littered with sticky notes filled with them. There are lists that accumulate items that need to be purchased at the next Walmart trip. Others remind me of project due dates for various clients. And other lists are general to-do prompts containing tasks that I get to cross off with giddy satisfaction. (If I accomplish something that is not on said list, I will immediately write it on there just to put a definitive line through it. Can I get an “Amen!”?)

These verses from the letter of Paul to the Philippians are some of my favorites! Although I could probably say that same thing about verses from almost every one of the 66 books of the Bible, this practical exhortation is pretty special. Here, Paul provides a very specific to-do list…and he follows it up with a promise. (This section of Paul’s to-dos-with-a-promise actually starts in verse 4, so take some time to dive into this whole chapter.)

First, he tells us what to dwell on (think about). This is awesome, because it’s so easy to occupy our minds on the negatives, whether it’s our own faults and failings—or the world’s. Instead, we’re given a clear list of what we ought to be thinking, pondering, and meditating about. And it’s a tall (and challenging) order! We’re to dwell on things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, and praiseworthy. I don’t know about you, but my mind does not naturally go to these kinds of things. Rather, keeping my thoughts here takes a lot of intentionality.

Next, Paul urges us to practice (do) what we learn from his letters, his actions, and the whole of God’s Word. Much like those thought-life instructions, these behavioral directives require deliberate effort. First, we need to know what the Word says—we must read and study it. Every day. When we know what’s required of us, we can take steps in the direction of obedience. We won’t be perfect, of course, but the more we learn and understand, the easier it is to do.

Finally, verse 9 ends with a promise: The God of peace will be with you. Similar to the promise in verse 7, which tells us the “peace of God” will guard our hearts, Paul is saying that when we practice the things, we will have peace. The more we learn and do, the closer our walk with God. Sister, God is peace, and He makes peace with us through Jesus. And He will give us perfect peace—peace that is incomprehensible to the natural mind—when we choose to follow His to-do list.

“Thank You, Lord, for giving me clear instructions in Your Word for walking through this dark world and walking closer to You. May I dwell daily on Your Truth.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith

TRBC Women’s Ministry

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,  against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,  against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 ( ESV)

I was caught up in the beauty of the crashing waves coming at me, completely lost in the moment.  So caught up that I forgot about the undertow.  Causing me to lose my footing and left me struggling to recover.

An undertow is when waves break along the ocean shore. Once that occurs, gravity pulls backwards and the water (and sand beneath your feet) is sucked right back into the ocean.

An undertow can be dangerous. If the water going back into the ocean is strong it can knock you down with another wave swooping in before you can recover.

I was so focused on what I could see, I forgot about what was going on underneath the surface. 

That is what Paul was trying to teach the church in Ephesus that their adversary is not the people in their lives -it’s not what they can see on the surface.  It’s what is happening underneath (in the spiritual realm). 

In other words, your enemy isn’t the woman from church who doesn’t speak to you in passing or smile at you the way you think she should. Most likely, that lady has her own troubles on her mind.

Our adversary is Satan and the spiritual forces of evil that do his bidding.

But to the woman who has heard messages of rejection and struggles with insecurity – the enemy knowing that is your area of weakness; will hit you harder there hoping to get a reaction.

Meaning he will feed you messages of insecurity from the past that will trigger feelings that will cause you to react in the present based on a past feeling.  Essentially pulling you backwards into a dangerous emotional undertow.

Your enemy can’t read your thoughts ladies, but he’s been studying you for years; and he knows which feelings to push to reduce you to a fit of tears and rage.

By knowing who your adversary is – you will know how to battle him. 

And ladies, we are in a spiritual battle for our souls and the souls of those we love. 

The best weapon against our adversary is the word of God – “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul”. (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

We must know the Word and speak its’ truth back to ourselves when the enemy attacks.  Understanding that feelings and behaviors are a direct result of the thoughts going through our minds. 

The more you speak truth to yourself, the stronger you’ll become in managing the emotional undertows of life.

“Father thank you for the weapons of warfare you’ve given us to battle our adversary.  Teach us to use the Word to cut through the lies the enemy feeds us.”

For His Glory

Laura Holmes  ( www.ephraimministries.org)

TRBC Women’s Life

“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13 (NASB)

As I sit to write this, there’s certainly a lot going on in our nation and world to anguish about. Cultural upheaval, vitriolic divisiveness, fearmongering—and a global pandemic (about which there is much cultural upheaval, vitriolic divisiveness, and fearmongering). Prices are going up, and product availability is going down. Evil is being called good, and good evil; darkness is being put forth as light, and light for darkness (Isaiah 5:20). When I scan the mess around me, it is easy to hang my head in despair (even though the Bible is very clear that all this is to be expected).

But God. Those words are so amazing, aren’t they? A quick search brought up 43 accounts of “But God” in the Bible—and that’s just in one translation!

The Psalms are always a great place to land when distress and sorrow start creeping into our mind and heart. David, in particular, is so authentic as he cries out to the Lord in desperation, fear, anger, or frustration. However, he always comes back around to “but God” and how the Lord’s immutable attributes are a safe harbor for his soul. Let’s look at Psalm 27. In this single song, David confidently proclaims that the Lord is his light and salvation, and that there’s no reason to fear his enemies and evildoers. He goes right from that certainty to crying out for God not to abandon or forsake him. He then leans in to ask the Lord to guide his steps in Truth, especially as others falsely accuse him and breathe out violence against him.

But then it’s as if David looks in a proverbial mirror to remind himself of the main thing: He knows the goodness of the Lord—His grace, mercy, and salvation—so there is no reason to despair.

Sister, both the Old and New Testaments are filled with reminders to keep our eyes on God, whatever our circumstances. So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed today—due to health issues, grief, financial woes, or relationship challenges—know that He is the lifter of your head (Psalm 3:3). Like David, gaze into the mirror of your soul and take to heart these reminders from God’s Word:

• When I am anxious, He gives me peace (Isaiah 26:3; John 14:27).
• When I am weak, He strengthens me (Isaiah 41:10).
• When I am afraid, He frees me from all my fears (Psalm 34:4).
• When I am weary, He takes my burdens (Matthew 11:28-30).
• When I am hopeless, He is my hope (Jonah 2:7).
• When I’m not sure which way to turn, He’ll guide my steps (Proverbs 16:3).
• When I am in distress, He will comfort me (Psalm 91:14-15).

“Lord, let me never forget that You are my refuge and strength—a very present help in times of trouble. There is no reason to despair as long as I keep my hope in You.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith

TRBC Women’s Life

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 (ESV)

Broken – that’s how my week went down. Everything I touched broke. Two pairs of sunglasses broke; one was my fave pair. Couple days later and my readers, which I absolutely must have, hit the floor and broke. Halloween night a gusty wind slammed a car door shut on my tiny purse. Normally not a big issue but my cell phone was in that thin purse and the glass was crushed. Weekend rolls around and Sunday morning, I’m reaching to adjust the shower head – yes, you know it girlfriends – the whole shower thing broke. Needless to say, I’m rolling into this week a little more cautious and totally frustrated from all that broke.

While all my breakables were fixable some of them were definitely more costly than others. Sunglasses and readers can easily be replaced. My cell phone drama is thankfully under warranty. But that last repair took more than self to restore water to my shower.

Same truth rings loud and clear in life. We’ve probably all experienced moments of brokenness – a crushing of our spirit. Some we endured and recovered quickly. Others took the very breath out of us and left us wounded for years. And then there were those repeat performances we initiated ourselves which led to a brokenness requiring divine intervention. Just the very thought of our weak, vulnerable and bankrupt places recreates images we’d rather not visit. This girl totally gets it.

Only God can usher lasting healing to all our shattered places. Whether we were innocent victims or instigators of our own misery, God welcomes our broken and fractured souls. He strategically uses those moments when He is all we have to showcase He is more than enough for all we need. Incredible truths rise to the surface when God has our full, undivided attention. He delights in binding up our wounds and healing our brokenhearts (Psalm 147:3).

Brokenness released into God’s hands will never disappoint. What has been stolen from us, He will restore. What we chose to confess, He promises to redeem. What has left us brittle, pruned and cut off, He declares has the potential to produce more fruit than we dared dream. We can fully trust our God to draw near and near leave.

“Father, You are our divine Healer – the One who specializes in birthing beauty from broken, crushed places. Praising You for being our Restorer, Rebuilder, Redeemer and Everlasting Father.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life