Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 15, 2020

Don’t Waste The Wasting

“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Whatever your age, one thing is for sure: you are getting older. From young childhood, though, “getting older” was a constant desire. As teenagers, we couldn’t wait to be independent adults. In our early 20s, we looked forward to having that better job, more money, and perhaps a spouse and family. But once there are more than 45 or so candles on the cake, a few shifts happen.

First, time starts flying by—quicker every year. We blink, and another birthday is upon us. Second, if we have kids, those physical demands of parenting young children morph into emotional stressors that seem to grow as they do, remaining even after they leave the house and marry. But beyond the emotional, psychological, familial, and career shifts that occur into our fourth, fifth, or sixth decade of life, one of the biggest is physical.

I don’t know about you, but when I turned 48, everything changed for me. The same workouts I’d been doing at the gym seemed to no longer bring strength—they induced pain. Even as I become more careful with physical activities of every kind, each year (seemingly by the week), I experience more aches and random discomfort. (I heard a comedian say that once we turn 50, we can literally wake up with a sprained ankle. If you’re over 50, you’re probably laughing.)

So, what does this “it hurts to get old” talk have to do with spiritual truth? Well, after herniating a disc a few months ago and now living in consistent back pain, I was comforted to read Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians, chapter 4, acknowledging the fact that our bodies are wasting away (v16). But, praise God, this body is not our permanent residence! As we walk with the Lord, becoming more like Him the longer we travel this world with Him, our spirits are being renewed. We are growing and flourishing inwardly while our exterior is fading. Our pain and aches in this life are indeed “momentary and light” as compared with our eternal glorified bodies.

I know that some days it’s very hard to keep that perspective—Paul knew it too. That’s why he finishes his thought by reminding us to fix our eyes not on what is seen (or physically felt), but on what is unseen—our spiritual existence and eternal home (v18).

Honestly, I think that the slowing down, the aches, and the constant physical reminders of decades gone by are God’s way of keeping our focus on the right thing (Him) and in the right place (Heaven). Perhaps we can, with each twinge of discomfort or shot of outright pain, turn to the Lord in thanksgiving that something so much better awaits us.

“Father, thank You that this world is not our home and this body is not our permanent dwelling. As I ask to be physically strengthened and healthy in this life, please also keep me appreciative of the life to come.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Ministry

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Posted in Encouragement, Gratitude, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 14, 2020

When Discomfort Births Growth

“…and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,” Romans 5:4 (ESV)

What girl doesn’t love a sassy pair of shoes?  My fave for the winter are a brown leather pair of stylish boots.  Only one problem – they are simply not comfortable.  I wore them about a week ago to an event and loved how they looked with my sweater and leggings.  Two days later, my excitement over wearing them ended.  The nerve in my foot was greatly irritated, and I found myself wearing my crocs as I hobbled down the hallway.  The pain and discomfort were not worth it even for this fashionista.

Foregoing the discomfort of a pair of boots was wise; however, there have probably been a lot of discomforts in life I chose to extinguish that would have served me well.  Not all discomforts are the same – some are the ideal platform for launching character building within us.  Excusing ourselves out of the picture when circumstances stretch us will shortage the beauty of growth.

Totally mesmerized by the telling of Hannah’s story who was ridiculed for her barrenness by her husband’s other wife (I Samuel 1).  Can’t imagine the place of discomfort she found herself surrounded by in her own home.  Yet Hannah never retaliated, instead she trusted her God and watched as He fulfilled her dreams and grew her character even in her places of misery.

Absolutely love the story of Joseph – you know the one with the coat of many colors (Genesis 39 – 50). The trajectory of his life yo-yoed between ease and discomfort. From being squished in a tight, mirky pit to living in a luxurious palace and then to a dark prison cell.  Joseph’s character was forged in those pivotal moments of discomfort.

Cherish the unfolding of Paul’s journey – his rise from popularity and brutal martyr of Christians to his humble discomfort as a true follower of Christ.  Afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed (II Corinthians 4:8-9).  Paul’s character was polished in the persecutions and trials as he persevered in daily discomforts.

Where is God using discomforts in our lives as an ideal platform to launch character building? Maybe it’s in the dread of day to day difficulties – attempting to do it all.  Perhaps it’s in the isolation created by COVID.  Maybe it’s in the overwhelmedness of teaching children while attempting to do our job.  Perhaps it’s rooted in the disappointment of what we envisioned our life to look like.  Maybe it’s the overarching pain from the injustices we’ve endured.

Regardless of what our discomfort looks like, we can choose to leave excuses behind. Our God can be trusted to use all things to transform us into radiant women who reflect His glory.

“Father, teach us to walk in the midst of discomfort with Your view of growth.  Help us to resist the urge to give up, to quit and miss out on the beauty You desire to create within us.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 11, 2020

When Covet Defines Us

“And He (Jesus) said to them, “Take care and be on your guard against all covetousness  for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”  Luke 12:15 (ESV)

“Perfect” echoed from my lips as I recalled the Christmas party at a friend’s home.  The tree was breathtaking with dazzling lights, precisely placed ornaments and flawless ribbon strands flowing from the top.  Nestled in the corner of the sunroom, its height barely missed the ceiling. And the glow through the cascade of windows illuminated a warmth dispelling the dark cold outside.  A delish spread of appetizers and decadent desserts lured us into the dining room complete with lavish Christmas florals down the center of the table.  Absolutely gorgeous!

Sliding into a comfy chair visions of “wish I lived here” danced in my head. The moment was surreal, and I was totally taken in.  Perfect never looked so good.

Hours later, I walked through my front door as reality sunk in.  My once cute tree now seemed shabby, lacking and the ornaments out of place.   My favorite chill spot definitely wasn’t as comfy as I had thought.  And the list mushroomed as reminders of my friend’s home loomed in my head.

Sound familiar?  Desiring to have something someone else has leaves us sulking, depressed and jealous.  Craving another’s life and their seemingly “perfect” ultimately lands us in a pit of discontentment.  God spells it out clearly in His word – covetousness is a destructive sin.  And just in case we’re not sure what we are not supposed to covet check out Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house (ouch);  you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that is your neighbor’s.”   I think that just about covers it all – don’t you?

Bottom line coveting is basically a declaration of ingratitude towards God.  We feel His hand of blessing is short towards us and yet abundantly extended to someone else.  One of the great lies of Satan – God is holding out on us.   Nothing could be further from the truth.  Real problem is our gaze is fixed on the wrong things which ultimately moves our heart out of alignment with God’s.

Jesus reminds us in Luke 12 to take care and guard against all covetousness.  When we find our eyes settling and our minds comparing, we need to extinguish those darts immediately.  And the best way to take care in advance is to cultivate a deep well of gratitude.  Continuously praising God for His immense love, sweet forgiveness and our forever home.   When we gaze His direction, we will find everything else pales in comparison.  And for those moments when temptation raises its ugly head, we can fight the good fight with His words hidden away in our hearts.

“Father, You have blessed us beyond anything we could ever imagine – teach us to cultivate genuine gratitude on a daily basis.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Gratitude, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 10, 2020

Full Price

“You were bought at a price.”  1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23

In this time warp that is 2020, it’s astounding to me that Christmas is just around the corner. Wasn’t it just the 4th of July last week? Or, wait, maybe that was 17 years ago. The nation’s response to this virus has turned every day since March into Blursday—can I get a witness?

But it is definitely December and, ready or not, Christmas is here. Some of you have, no doubt, been cranking up the carols since early November. (Dare I say, September?) Others of you (like a certain sister-in-law of mine) have had all your Christmas gifts purchased or handmade by August 1. And although it looked a bit different this year, Black Friday may have been that hallowed day you awaited to get most of your presents purchased.

No matter the Christmas-gifting style, we’re all on the hunt for a bargain—we never want to pay full price. In stores or online, we hit the sales section/tab and assess the markdown amount, getting giddy at the denoted percentage saved. This is especially exciting at Christmas, when there’s a high quantity of items needing to be purchased, so the cheaper, the better!

But, sisters, I want to challenge us this Christmas to focus on another price tag, one paid at the full price—in full.

When we sing carols celebrating Emmanuel, God with us, and how Jesus came to earth to live among us, let’s not stop at the manger scene. He was born to die. That baby, fully human and fully God, grew to make a way—to BE the Way—for our salvation. To take our sins (past, present, and future) and make them His own, taking on the penalty—death—so we could live. His blood, shed on the cross, cleansed us of our unrighteousness (1 John 1:9), so we can stand before God perfectly righteous and holy.

Sin has a hefty price tag, one that cannot be marked down by good works or big church donations. And this great debt has grave consequences if not paid: eternal separation from God, full of suffering. But Jesus Christ, the Baby we celebrate on Christmas, arrived to earth, proverbial pen in hand, to one day pay the bill. And He did. He paid the price on the cross and then defeated death, rising again to finish the purchase on our behalf. He gave us the priceless gift of eternal life in His presence.

So, with every sale price we pursue this Christmas—and all year long—let’s pause to give thanks to the One who paid it all for us.

 

“Lord, thank You doing what I could not, for giving everything—Your life for mine—so I could live in Your presence for eternity.”

 

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Ministry

 

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Posted in Faith, Gratitude, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 8, 2020

Lord Willing

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15

 

I don’t know about you, but I don’t generally like surprises very much—my husband of 26 years can attest to this. In fact, I love making plans. Whether it’s for the day, week, month, or year ahead, I’ve got my sticky notes, lists, and paper planner all reminding me what I will be doing and where I’ll be going when. This way, there are no surprises. Life is made up of expectations to be met and lists to conquer. It’s the perfect scenario for us control freaks—can I get an “Amen”?

 

And that’s all fine and dandy, except for the truth that we’re not in control. Every breath we take is because the Lord has allowed for it. When we wake up in the morning—to new mercies, mind you—it is only due to the grace of God. All those lists and schedules are great, but if our Heavenly Father deems that an unseen “Plan B” is better for us, then that’s what will happen. The Bible tells us clearly, “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

 

Now, I’m not saying that our plans are irrelevant, or that every move each day is made for us, like we’re puppets on strings. Actually, because our amazing God wants us to love Him by our own choice, He has given us free will in all things. We can watch that show or not, cheat on our taxes or not, give cheerfully to the church or not…love God—or not.

 

But wait, aren’t I contradicting myself? Are we in control, or are we not in control? There’s a long, complicated theological discussion in this question that has raged through the centuries, so I’m not even going to try to attempt the solve in this little blog post. But what I will say it this: As Christians, we need to understand and remember who God is. He is Sovereign, He is all-powerful, and He knows what’s best for us. We are called to be self-controlled (Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 1:5-8), but not controlling. And when we stay surrendered to Him and remain obedient to His Word, our actions and choices will be aligned with His will. Because we want to please and glorify Him, His will becomes our will. (When we are adamant to do what we want, He’ll certainly let us…but the ultimate outcome may not be good for us—even if it “feels good” at the time.)

 

So, every morning when our eyes (miraculously) open, let’s give the day to the Lord. With each list made, let’s yield to Him. Since God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9), let’s make our plans—and prayers—with this holy caveat: “Lord willing.”

 

“Father, as I make my lists and plans—for today, tomorrow, and next year—let me do so with the knowledge that it’s Your will that I really want. Not mine.”

 

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Ministry

 

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Posted in Attitude, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 7, 2020

When They Gather


“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:35-36

Glancing out the window, I watched them gather.  Yes, the group of two to three meeting up in their usual place.  Waiting patiently.  Sitting as if they had no where else to go.  And to be totally honest, this was the only place they wanted to be.  Here in this same spot, every day was where they were fed. Yes, you know it girls, the Martins feed the cats who continuously frequent our backyard.  We have no pets; I’m allergic to everything.  Yet these strays gather at the edge of our yard because they know they won’t leave empty.

Wanderers, lost and roaming – we’ve probably all met a few of those who were searching for a place to gather.  Isn’t that what we all long for – a place to belong, to come together and be fed.  Spiritual, emotional and mental hunger can send us seeking relief, desperately waiting for empty to fade.  Sad reality is the gatherers (harvest) is plentiful but the feeders (laborers) are few.  Too many things on our plate to notice those around us who are starving for God’s truth.  Too consumed with self to give a little of us to someone else.  Best excuse ever – we’re empty and have nothing to offer despite all the pretenses we are full.

Love the compassion of our sweet Jesus who never let anyone miss His gaze.  Traveling, teaching, healing and surrounded with crowds.  Jesus saw the gatherers, wanderers and strays.  Like sheep without a shepherd, He met their needs without excuse or neglect.  Those who came hungry left fed.

Wonder who we are feeding?  Are we even aware of the strays who wander into our path?  Deeper question yet is would they gather waiting patiently knowing they wouldn’t leave empty?  Excuses will always rob us of the great joy found in reflecting Jesus to our world.  Failing to fill our souls with His truth will leave us barren and unable to birth hope within someone else.

Our 2020 holiday season may look totally different than we ever imagined.  But if we intentionally keep our gaze on Jesus then He will open our eyes to those who are desiring to be fed.

“Father, help us to not miss divine opportunities orchestrated by You for us to be a light of hope in a world hungry for Your love.  Fill us with Your truth and compassion so we can feed Your sheep.”

 

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 4, 2020

When Things Are Not As They Appear

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

Tis the season to shop, shop and shop. Love looking for great bargains especially at new places. Just spent a Saturday exploring a mall in a neighboring state. Grand tree decked out beautifully invited us in. Icicle lights dancing down from the ceiling – exquisite at dark. And that was just the beginning; Christmas was everywhere.

Right in the midst of calm and bright, I heard voices loud, strong and violent. Approaching the entrance to one of the stores, my view unveiled something I’d never seen before. Two ladies were screaming, kicking, and fighting off cops. From my initial perspective injustice seemed to beckon questions like, “What in the world was going on? Why are they treating these ladies like this?” The struggle was real, the screams penetrating. Handcuffed and taken away, the truth finally surfaced. Backpacks lay scattered on the marbled floor revealing stuff missing, stolen from the store.

Amazing how the truth can get so lost and twisted. What we see first isn’t always the whole story. We get blind sighted by our convinced view and quickly jump to conclusions. We choose sides. We listen to media and draw our circle. We entertain convincing tweets and posts. And all the while, we often miss the total picture.

At first glance, I thought the cops were rude, harsh and wrong. A closer look, and I saw the evidence – the truth of these ladies’ actions surrounded them. Things were not as they seemed. My assumptions were far from the truth.

Wonder how many times we have made decisions based on less than the truth? Happens ever so easily. Perhaps we’ve drawn conclusions that excuse away the digging deep to uncover the facts, Maybe familiarity with the situation or people causes us to lean in a direction that denies reality.

Perfect solution – pause for the facts. Avoid gravitating towards assumptions. Prayerfully ask God to reveal truth to us – He will if we ask Him and then patiently wait for Him to put all the pieces together.

“Father, truth seems to be elusive today – help us to release our preconceived ideas and embrace Your truth which always serves us well.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 3, 2020

They’re Listening

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”   Acts 16:25

 

It’s easy to praise the Lord when things are going smoothly in life—when family, work, health, finances, etc., are all humming along. (Wait, is that even a thing?) And a hearty “hallelujah!” rolls right off the lips when we see God do a miracle in an impossible situation. Or, when we’ve joined others in praying for a stormy situation to be calmed, a prodigal to return, or wisdom to be found, and He shows His amazing power and grace, an outpouring of praise and thanks comes naturally. (In fact, even unbelievers will provide a “Thank God” when circumstances go their way.)

 

Oh, but what about those dark nights when the pain of life is palpable despite our cries to our Heavenly Father? When, even with an army of prayer warriors on our side, our expressed will is not aligned with God’s, so the resulting outcome is harder to humanly bear than the challenge itself—what happens to our prayers then? Or if the Lord, for His timing and eternal reasons, allows us to endure a season of being beaten and bruised even though we’re walking closely with Him…how can we possibly raise a “hallelujah” then?

 

Sisters, we can—we must—continue in faithful praying, praising, and singing even in the darkness. This is when unbelievers around us are watching us most closely to witness what’s going to happen to our “praise God” proclamations. Like Satan (or even Job’s own wife!) observing Job, those around us are just waiting for us to curse God in our suffering and turn away…Will we take back our surrendered life, relying on our own wisdom and wits to get us through? Will we completely abandon Him, with a God’s-not-big-enough conclusion?

 

Like Paul and Silas imprisoned in Philippi (Acts 16:16-40), we have an amazing opportunity to stand firm and demonstrate our faith to unbelievers in dark, difficult times. See, without good cause, these guys were stripped, beaten with rods, and shackled in prison. Then, in the middle of the night (probably not sleeping because of the intense pain), they began praying and singing aloud to God, “and the other prisoners were listening to them” (vs. 25). And when all the doors were miraculously opened, and everyone’s chains unfastened—not just Paul’s and Silas’—something incredible happened. Because of the demonstrated faith of these men, the jailer, and ultimately his whole household, believed in the Lord Jesus and were saved. He even fed Paul and Silas and tended to their wounds.

 

Luke tells us in this chapter that none of the other prisoners escaped, but he doesn’t say why. In my sanctified imagination, though, I think the actions of Paul and Silas made a huge impact on them before the doors blew open—they were listening, after all. They didn’t know a miracle was about to happen. They just saw and heard these two Christians responding to their dire circumstances with prayer and song. So, I like to believe they accepted Jesus as Lord earlier that night. And, in my mind’s eye, I can see them singing harmony with Paul and Silas as their own chains fell off.

 

“Lord, let me use the dark circumstances of my life to shine Your light brighter, demonstrating faithfulness and trust to a doubting world.”

 

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Ministry

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 2, 2020

Comfort & Joy

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 (ESV)

Don’t you just love the feel of soft fabric brushing against your skin? What about the sound of your favorite music playing, the smell of baked goods, the sound of familiar voices, or the sweet memories you savored with people you love?

Amazing how our hearts warm up to the familiarity of things that brought us joy!!! And how comforting it is! We close our eyes and bring those things back in a matter of seconds. Suddenly our hearts start beating faster and it’s like experiencing those special moments all over again. And we are energized each time we remember!

Imagine how Jesus’ heart felt when He saw a sinner repent and be delivered, or a dead person raised up, or someone’s messed-up-life changed. Imagine how seeing people’s faith in Him to change their circumstances in the snap of a finger, or in a short blessing, or even by a little spit mixed with clay was encouraging to Jesus! Wonder if those memories kept Jesus moving from town to town to help more people? Wonder if while He rested and closed His eyes if Jesus remembered those instances when people’s lives were touched by the power of His Father’s love through Him? Wonder if those memories energized and encouraged Jesus to proceed to the next phase?

What about God? Can you imagine how heartwarming it must have been for Him to watch His son doing His will? And how heartwarming it must be for Him to watch us trusting in Him today?

The journey we are on is a fascinating one and is drawn out especially for us, in every intricate detail. Be encouraged today in the fact that the Father rejoices in our faith in Him.

“Dear Lord, thank You for all that You do to bring us joy, even amidst the storm.”

For His Glory

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 1, 2020

Forked Tongue

“…but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”   James 3:8-10

That tiny little muscle in our mouth—how powerful it is. In the New Testament, James compares the tongue to a horse’s bit and a ship’s rudder. What awesome metaphors to visualize its formidable control. Oh, but controlling it is a whole other matter.

As a Christian, I love to praise the Lord with songs and hymns. I lift up my family and friends daily in prayer, professing my hopes but yielding to His will. When I spend time in God’s Word, amazed by how He can speak to me afresh through verses I’ve read time and time again, I give Him thanks for conviction and edification. And I use my written words in an effort to glorify the Lord—not really a tongue-initiated exercise, per se, but the keyboard certainly becomes a tool of my tongue.

Now, before you start rolling your eyes thinking how holier-than-thou I must think I am, keep reading.

This same lil’ tongue of mine lashes out at those I love in frustration and impatience, causing pain not easily assuaged. An unsuspecting customer service person on the other end of the phone line can be the recipient of angry, accusatory words. And, as hard as I try to avoid talking about politics or the current cultural upheaval, when engagement in these topics occurs, my tongue takes on a whole life of its own, spewing words of disgust and hatred. In fact, in these scenarios (and many others, believe you me), should a stranger hear the words flowing from my tongue, “Christ-follower” would probably not be the first label they’d mentally stick on me.

As James writes, no human being can tame the tongue. It is too powerful. And our fallen state—our sin nature—has steeped our tongue with poison, like tea colors every water molecule in a mug. Once surrendered to Jesus, we do use our tongues to give glory to God. It’s a joy and our desire. But, just like the Apostle Paul talked about doing what he doesn’t want to do because of the constant battle with the flesh (Romans 7:15-20), we will struggle with this little muscle as long as it’s in our fallen body.

Thankfully, we’re not in this battle alone. As believers, we have the Holy Spirit to help us tame our tongue. By yielding to Him, He will take control, placing a guard over our mouth when we ask Him to (Psalm 141:3). The more we surrender to the Holy Spirit, the less power our flesh has…and the “fruitier” our lives—and words—become (Galatians 5:2-23).

“Lord, set a guard over my mouth and keep a watch over my lips, so I don’t use my tongue to praise You one minute and curse those You love another.”

 

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Attitude, Spiritual Living

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