Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 15, 2021

Where Our Conversation Begins

“Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy.” Matthew 6:9b (HCSB)

There’s just nothing sweeter to me than the mental picture of my Dad sitting in his favorite chair doing what he always did on his day off – reading God’s word. It’s a memory which sustains me especially in this crazy world. Sometimes I can close my eyes and hear his soft voice praying over us – best gift ever.

While the frame of my Dad is warm and fuzzy, I totally realize there are many who never knew their Dad. And for some even worse is the reminder of who their Dad wasn’t or who they wish he had been. The picture of protector, provider, and defender fade in the recognition of reality.

We can easily get lost in our world if we regulate to our Heavenly Father the attributes we witnessed from our earthly Dad. We will miss much if we choose to ignore the truth that our Heavenly Father is the perfect Daddy not one caught up in a sinful world just like us. One who is caring, approachable, honest, trustworthy, faithful, merciful……the list goes on and on. The One who formed us in our mother’s womb is ever present, all knowing and divinely holy. Words can’t even come close to expressing the glories of our Heavenly Father.

Love the way Jesus teaches His disciples to pray…..reminding them who they are praying to….our Father in heaven. The ideal place where our conversation with God should begin. Simple, heart felt words demonstrating affection and reverence. Acknowledging the closeness of a Father and the vastness of His majestic name. A relationship guaranteed by the death of His Son. A deep soulful worship of the powerful name of our God. Indescribable, yet fully approachable. Accessible, yet beautiful perfection beyond our comprehension.

Still yourself away for a moment and quiet your spirit. Come confidently and boldly into His presence. Praise the amazing name of our Father – the One who is the same yesterday, today and forever. Unchanging. Untouched by the sinfulness of our world. Pure and unblemished. God’s character seals our conversation with love and mercy. Desiring to reveal to us the riches of His holiness. Let those words settle in us…we have an audience with the Creator of the universe who whispers, “Come to me, rest your soul and welcome the wonder of who I am.” Best gift ever to relish sweet moments with our Father while praising His holy name.

“Father, Your name exemplifies Your character. The very essence of Your name touches even the darkest soul. The perfect conversation starter acknowledging Your holiness.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Prayer

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 12, 2021

When Love Is Real

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” Rom. 12:9&10 (NLT)

Who would ever conceive of pretending to care about others? Absolutely not me – those were the first words out of my mouth. But you know honesty is the key to growth and if I’m leaning towards the truth zone, I’d better rethink those words. It’s too easy to say we care when deep down we really don’t. How many times have we listened to prayer requests, even prayed over names and then later shared the tidbits of yes, gossip, adding our own judgements? What about those moments when we’re sharing the love because everyone and all things are going our way? Our love is strictly dependent on how well they treat us, agree with us and sing our praises.

A friend sent me this verse, and God unpacked it all week long. Each day I prayed these words and asked God to help me delight in honoring others. Monday and Tuesday were victories – goal achieved. Easy going until the chaos of a deadline Wednesday arrived. Those words “really love them” haunted me. Between computer issues, various challenging personalities and the endless growing list, I had very little love in my heart. Biting my lips, yet allowing dislike to penetrate my soul.

The Apostle Paul wrote these words in Romans 12 and I couldn’t help but think how they must have penetrated his heart. He was a persecutor of Christians – one who showed no honor, respect or love towards those who disagreed with his beliefs. Until Paul met Christ on the road to Damascus, his life dripped of pretense and legalism. The shining light blinding his eyes truly removed the scales from his heart. Paul’s mission from that point on was to share the good news of Jesus Christ with anyone he met. Even in his dying moments, Paul didn’t judge or ridicule his accusers.

Wow talk about transformation and yet if we have accepted Christ as our Savior, our love should be just as real. Too many excuses. Too many exceptions. Too many denials. Too many – too manys. We’ve all got reasons to let ourselves slide on who we chose to love. But is that what God intended – absolutely not! Take it from one (Paul) who knows the power of love and harness the joy of truly delighting in honoring others.

“Father, our paths will always cross with those we find hard to love – help us to not excuse away your commands to really love them and hold on tightly to what is good.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Love

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 11, 2021

Focusing On God Guarantees Clear Vision

“I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help” . Psalm 121:1 (KJV)

Some time ago, I was on a Whatsapp call with a good friend, and I started to blink and squint to clear my eyes, because I was seeing her face very blurred. She noticed something was wrong and asked me what was going on. I immediately answered her by saying, “I think I need to go see an eye doctor, because my vision is very blurred,” and she asked, “have you cleaned the camera on your phone?”

I had obviously jumped to a conclusion that my eyes were bad because I had not first checked the lens on my camera, which, once wiped clean, made my friend’s face very clear to me. It was a matter of foggy lens and not foggy vision.

My daddy used to say that in order to see how different people’s perspectives are, we should put 3-4 people in a room, seated in different parts of the room and then ask them to report what they see. They will be likely to report different things because of the way they are seeing those things and even each other.

Like I jumped to a conclusion about my eyesight before first checking the lens of my iPhone camera, we, oftentimes, jump to conclusions about situations and about people before we take time to weed out the possibility that something else is causing the issue with which we are dealing. Is it a matter of foggy lenses? Is it because of where we are at the time the situation arises and the perspective we are given? And what type of reaction/s are we receiving from or passing to others because of how we are dealing with the situation?

People don’t care about what we say to them nowadays, because there are too many opinions being given through social media channels; but people will care about how we react to them when something unexpected happens. Our focus should be on the One who can adjust our vision and keep it clear from the clutters of life.

 “Dear Lord, thank You for giving us clarity when things aren’t clear.”

 For His Glory

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Attitude, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 10, 2021

Pressing On

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13 (NIV)

In January, we celebrated the start of a new year.  One thing I always loved about a new year was getting organized.  I developed a habit many years ago of using the down time from Christmas to New Year’s to sit down with my calendar and plan out my year.  Anxiously awaiting all the wonderful things that year would bring.

Twelve years ago when our son died, I felt like the calendar became an enemy of mine.  What at one time documented so much hope, now only held sorrow. A canvas I would have filled with their activities. Yet now the silence overwhelmed me and paralyzed me with fear.  It was a painful reminder of 365 days of emptiness ahead of me.

Paul writes in Philippians 3:13-14 “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

When we lose a loved one, moving forward in life seems an unsurmountable task. Fear tells us that if we move forward, we are letting them go. That we will forget them.  There’s this feeling of guilt that we have let them down by continuing to live. Fear says there’s no way you can live without them.

But fear is a liar.

There were many days of overwhelming sadness and years of sleepless nights.  There were numerous occasions where I felt the pain would certainly kill me. But by the grace of God it didn’t.

I made a conscious decision to continue to press on towards Christ.  In pressing on I had to let go of the fear that kept me paralyzed.  In the beginning it was a moment -by-moment process.

I also had to let go of my plans that once filled the calendar and surrender my future days to His plans.  Pressing on means that we are picking up our cross daily.

Twelve years later and my calendar is quite full of life these days – even in a pandemic. Down time happens when I intentionally put some it on the calendar.  All because of the wonderful opportunities God has blessed me with.

If you are facing a season of loss, I want to encourage you to press on toward Jesus.  Allow him to bring life into those empty days.  Letting go of the fear and pressing on toward Christ is not letting go of your loved one.

“Father, remind us that until you call us home we are here to reach others for the Kingdom.  The only way we can do that is my pressing on heavenward into Christ.  Help us not be paralyzed by our fear.”

For His Glory,

Laura Holmes (www.ephraimministries.org)
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Growth, Success

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 9, 2021

But Even If He Doesn’t….

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.” Daniel 3: 17-18

 

God is able—do you believe that? When you are worried about a child or a parent or finances, He is able to exchange your heavy burden for His light one (Matthew 11:29-30). When you’re in the midst of a storm, He is able to pull you out of the tumult and mire to place your feet on solid ground (Psalm 40:2). When you are sick or struggling physically, He is able to heal you perfectly—with or without the help of physicians and medicine (Mark 10:52).

 

But although He is able to do these amazing things (He is Almighty God, after all), He may not. Your prodigal child may reach the depths of the proverbial pigsty, despite your desperate prayers. The storm may rage around you, rain pelting your face and lodging your feet in the muddy depths. Your pain may not cease, but only increase, despite years of doctors and countless medications.

 

God is able. But His ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). (He is Almighty God, after all.) The question becomes whether or not we trust Him to do what’s best for us. Can we relinquish control of what we think should happen and surrender to God’s will? Can we, like Daniel’s friends, like the Apostle Paul, and like Jesus Himself, cry out to our Father with what we want and hope…but do so with open hearts and hands, ultimately relinquishing our lives to His will?

 

Perhaps the only way for that prodigal to be saved is by hitting the bottom with nowhere else to run but to the Father. As we’re tossed about in the midst of the storm, maybe we need to rest in the Lord, washed over with His peace and held safe in His arms. And maybe, just maybe, there is purpose in the pain—to focus our eyes on Jesus, when we would otherwise turn our gaze to some golden statue.

 

Sisters, God is able to rescue us from whatever fiery furnace is upon us. But even if He does not, let’s stand firm and worship Him anyway. Let’s show others through our faith that God is trustworthy. When we encounter persecution for the name of Christ, let’s not deny Him for the sake of safety or comfort. Because whether we escape or burn, He will be with us in the fire.

 

Lord, You are able. I stand on that truth and worship You—both in and out of the furnace.

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 8, 2021

God’s Touch

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2 (ESV)

A fresh blanket of snow is covering everything, and Baby is it cold outside!  The view out of my office window unveils a Christmas card in the making.  The fence posts stacked with drifts, pines bent heavy and the white open field remind me Winter is just beginning – the time of year I really don’t like. Maybe that’s why my husband went to the grocery store this morning and brought back beautiful pink hyacinths. He definitely knows his woman is not a Winter person.  Even on a cold, wintry morning, I can still have a touch of Spring  – a beautiful aroma filling up our home – a promise of what is to come.

Don’t know about you but Winter isn’t the only thing I don’t like  – there are plenty of chapters in my life I would have loved to omit.  Some were hard, sad, exhausting, frustrating and plain not pretty.  And yet even in those unwanted seasons, God always cultivated the sweet aroma of His presence.  No matter how dark or disappointing the day, He was always there right beside me – a God touch I so desperately needed.

What’s a God touch look like?  Sometimes it’s the timely phone call from a friend letting us know they’re praying for us. Often it’s an embrace reminding us we haven’t been forgotten. Many times it’s the remembrance of His word which soothes the soul. Countless days it’s the hum of His praises, a familiar song on our lips we can’t refrain from singing. On occasion it’s the one helping us clean house or watch our children.  And during the darkest days of our lives, it’s the one who comes, sits, cries, prays, encourages and challenges us to not lose faith.  Intentional moments when God’s love walks in and leaves the sweetest fragrance ever.

 

Who could ever resist such love?

As believers, we are instructed to walk – live out – this sweet love of God in our lives.  It’s the very imitating of God’s love which draw others to Him. Wonder how many times we have sacrificially resisted self for the sake of others?  Got to admit its incredible to be on the receiving end, but the real sweetness is giving God’s love to those we meet. Imitating His love which has no limits.

“Father, show us how to conduct our lives filled with Your love.  Help us to be gracious receivers and generous givers following in Your footsteps.”

For His Glory

 

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Love, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 5, 2021

Zeroed In On Results

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

Don’t know if you are results driven, but when I do something I really want to see the culmination of my hard work and sacrifice.  Immediate gratification might better define it.  If I’m starting a healthy lifestyle and giving up my fave food then I want to see the numbers on my scale drop.  If I’m carving in time for exercise then I want see some tightening and toning.  If I’m decluttering then I want to quickly see some empty space.

One problem here – results aren’t usually instantaneously visible.  Exact reason why we so easily give up.  The lack of immediate trumps hard work and sacrifice.  We’re not evolving like we planned.  The scale seems stuck, broccoli loses its appeal and those muscles well let’s just say it’s slow going. The pile we moved yesterday seems to reappear and grow. Progress appears to be lacking.

Sweet friends, I hate to admit it but this need for immediate gratification spills over into our spiritual lives as well.  We tackle memorizing scripture yet we can’t recall the verse we thought we learned two weeks ago so we give up.  We devote time to studying God’s word yet we seem to continue to struggle to comprehend what we just read so we give up.  We pray fervently for a divine miracle and nothing happens so we give up.  And we land exactly where our enemy planned – discouraged and defeated.

If only we had just kept pressing through, we would have been amazed at how God multiplied the progress we couldn’t see in the moment. Underneath the surface of all our doing results are accumulating.  We are making progress – it’s just not visible in the moment.

Those verses we thought we didn’t retain, He brings to our mind at just the right moment to encourage us.  All those days of wrestling through passages, God pulls it altogether giving us clarity and discernment when we need it the most.  And those tear stained pillows and sleepless nights when we cried out for help, God heard and answered at just the right time.

Never late – no delays – just sovereignly orchestrated moments when God reveals what He was doing underneath the surface.  Where we thought growth was stalled, He unveils a faithful believer maturing and being transformed moment by moment. Where challenges appear out of control, He is not caught surprised – its all in His capable hands.

Immediate gratification may slay us, but our God will bring it all together if we simply keep pressing through.

“Father, giving up is far easier than digging in and pressing through.  Strengthen and empower us to stay on track despite delays.”

 

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 4, 2021

On Mission With God

“This is my request. I will ask one of them for a drink. If she says, “Yes, certainly, and I will water your camels, too!” – Let her be the one you have appointed as Isaac’s wife…” Genesis 24:14 (NLT)

What an important mission! Abraham’s servant was given the authority of selecting just the right woman to be Isaac’s wife. Imagine choosing the spouse for your children? Even though it’s customary in some cultures around the world, I personally would never want the responsibility of such a major assignment. Envision the marriage going awry and the blame is directed towards you…what a liability! Instead, I’ll keep praying for the Lord to bring the right person for my last child to marry; and that is exactly what Abraham’s servant did…he prayed.

The servant was aware the future of a whole nation populated with Abraham’s descendants was at stake. He prayed asking the Lord for success, kindness and accomplishment. Then he devised a plan to stand near the spring where the young women of the village came to draw water. His request of the Lord was not only would the right woman give him a drink but offer to water his camels too. Then he would know which lady the Lord had chosen to be Isaac’s wife.

Have you ever wondered why the servant put a clause in his request about watering both him and his camels?

By Abraham servant’s request, he wasn’t looking for just any girl. He was looking for a kind, giving, caring and compassionate woman. A lady who puts others before herself. Most of the girls would have offered the servant a drink, but which girl would realize the camels need to drink too. Because Rebekah put others needs before herself the servant knew she would make a wonderful helpmate for Isaac.

“Father, like Rebekah, we pray to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of others; always being compassionate and understanding with a heart that mimics Your loving kindness.”

For His Glory

Kim Lacey Schock (www.KimLaceySchock.com)
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Attitude, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 3, 2021

No Going Back

“The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.” Job 17:9 (NLT)

The Israelites spent over 400 years in Egypt before the Exodus.  They started out welcomed as family of Joseph. But as government rulers changed, so did their status.  Once free men, they became slaves with no control of any aspect of their lives. Everything was dictated to them.  Their children could be taken from them in a moment and sold and they could do nothing about it.  It was the “normal” that they lived with.

Understanding that makes it even harder to fathom how only two months after gaining their freedom they started complaining to Moses. They wanted to go back to Egypt – back to their normal. They were so far out of their comfort zones that they missed the bigger picture of what God was doing in their lives.

Despite the fact they were beaten, half-starved and made to endure inhumane work and life conditions, they had developed a routine of “normalcy” to adapt to the abuse over the generations.  When they were taken out of their comfort zone – the fear of the unknown was too much for them.  They didn’t want change – even though that change meant a new way of life for them and their children.

In my profession, I spend a lot of time talking with people.  One common theme I hear a lot is the desire “to go back to normal.”  A wish to return to pre-pandemic life. No masks. No social distancing. I’m an extrovert – I love people and I’m a hugger.  I can relate to their sentiments.

While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be able to connect with friends and family without fear of a virus – the truth is nowhere in the Bible do we ever read that going backwards resulted in something good.

There is a purpose for every season in our lives. And my own personal experience has taught me that when God moves us into another season; He very seldom lets us go back and pick and choose the things we want to take with us. This world is not our home.  And until we either leave this life through rapture or the grave – things will continue to change.

In Job 17:9 we read that “the righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.” (NLT)

Our lives before the pandemic might not have been as horrific as the Israelites.  But perhaps God was trying to get our attention – to get us out of our “comfort zones.”  To get us out of the “normal” of full schedules overloaded with no time to read the Word of God or pray.

“Father help us to not be like the Israelites and miss the bigger picture. Open our eyes to see that we must keep moving forward adapting to the changes of the season – fully trusting in the fact that you are our El Shaddai.”

 

For His Glory

Laura Holmes (www.ephraimministries.org)
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 2, 2021

Think Before You Speak (or Post or Text of Email….)

“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Colossians 4:6

“Speech” today is a hot topic, for sure. In fact, freedom to speak our minds—one of the key foundations of our great nation—is under fire and, as Christians, we must be in prayer for the preservation of this God-given right. And “speech” is no longer relegated to what comes out of the mouth (or to words written in the form of a letter—for all you over-40 girls who actually wrote letters with pen and paper). Much of today’s “speech” (too much, in truth) is thrown about like arrows through various social media platforms.

Let me ask this: How careful are we with our words?

Are they salty (Col 4:6)—in other words, do they serve to preserve the Truth and enhance good flavor in life? Salt was very valuable back in Jesus’ day, often used to pay salaries. (That’s where the phrase, “He’s worth his salt” came from.) So, are we vigilant to not be careless with what we say, considering the value of our words? And is our speech seasoned with grace? Do we reflect on the grace extended to us daily (let alone the miracle of saving grace) as we wag our tongue, type a post, text a response?

The Word has a lot to say about what we say—see 1 Peter 3:10, Proverbs 12:18, James 3:10; Proverbs 21:23; Psalm 34:13, and list goes on and on. With that, here is a simple acrostic to help us ensure our words (spoken, written, and digitally created) stay aligned with God’s will: THINK.

 

TRUE—Is it true, honest, and factual?

Helpful—Is it edifying and uplifting, helpful and not hurtful?

Inspiring—Does it serve to make people or situations better, not worse?

Necessary—Does it really matter if that point “gets across”? Will it make a positive impact?

Kind—Will it bring a smile (or reduce a grimace), calm a tumultuous soul, or ease a burden?

 

Jesus taught that our words are actually a reflection of what’s in our heart—ouch (Luke 6:45; Matthew 12:35). So, the best thing to do is fill our heart (and mind) with God’s Word and His Truths. This way, whatever form our speech takes, it will overflow with salt, grace, and glory to God.

“Father God, let my words—spoken or written—be a reflection of You, for the good of others and for Your glory.”

 

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Spiritual Living

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