Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 10, 2020

A Sure Thing

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  Romans 10:9

Uncertainty. Anxiety. Fear. These thoughts and emotions are among the most prevalent in today’s “unprecedented” times. (Well, they’re not that unprecedented, but that’s another story.)  In fact, the CDC—right or wrong, everyone’s go-to resource these days—recently reported that 25.5% of young American adults between 18 and 24 have considered suicide between May and June due to our nation’s response to COVID-19. This same study also noted that 13.3% of survey respondents claim they had turned to substance abuse, including drugs and alcohol, to cope with stress caused by the pandemic.*

The economic impacts to families, communities, and our nation have also been catastrophic on many levels. And, young children are facing long-term emotional and psychosocial damage from suspended schooling and other mandated actions. The list goes on and on and on as to valid reasons for sustained dread and insecurity.

But there is good—no, great—news! A “sure thing” is available to us all.

There is blessed assurance in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. When we accept what Jesus accomplished on our behalf, we can be absolutely secure in our current standing with God and our eternal destination (John 5:24; 10:28). It’s not about our good-versus-bad tally each day (we’d all fail there, friends). It’s not about our church attendance or donation totals. Salvation (our sinful nature traded for Jesus’ righteousness) is not dependent on what we do—or don’t do. It only requires a decision to trust the Lord and surrender all those efforts to Him and His work alone (Romans 10:9; Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).

And this certainty is not based on our feelings. I’m confident that many Christians (if not all of us) doubt our salvation because we’re not “feeling” close to God. We will have mountaintop experiences and valley seasons. We’ll struggle with our ungodly words and actions. Maintaining “the joy of the Lord” can be a challenge. But we’re in good company—just read David’s Psalms or anything from the Apostle Paul!

So, if you’re reading this, and you’re already a believer, you can rest easy amid today’s tumult. Your security in Christ is a sure thing no one can take away. And, if you haven’t yet placed your faith in Jesus, why not make today the day (2 Corinthians 6:2)? All you have to do is let go of your uncertainty, release the idea that being “good enough” is good enough for an eternity in heaven. Just believe that, on the cross of Calvary, Jesus exchanged His life for yours—your penalty has been paid in full. Just believe and be forgiven—and you’ll be a new creation (1 John 1:9; 2 Cor 5:17).

After all, we could all use a sure thing right now.

“Thank You, Lord, that amid the anxieties and uncertainties of life that I have the blessed assurance of salvation and an eternal home with You.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

* https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm

 

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Mercy

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 9, 2020

When Wait Is The Answer

“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14 (NLT)

Smart phones, fax machines and email make for living in a high-speed society. Handheld gadgets and gizmos allow for no waiting; and with this technology we’ve conformed to little or no patience.

Admittedly, patience was never my virtue. Going anywhere had to be pronto. Tasks were done presto. For years my Christmas shopping was complete and wrapped by July 31st. Wait was not in my vocabulary. However, about seven years ago, I became a reformed “fastaholic” transforming from a jackrabbit to a sloth. Seriously, I can linger for hours never in a hurry. Tasks can lie in wait. Christmas shopping usually takes place around December 23rd. My arch nemesis patience has become “well with my soul.”

So what changed? Why the drastic reformation? Literally, God taught me patience! I would pray and then wait for God to answer. We have “right now” prayers when we need God’s intervention immediately. He is well aware of the severity and time sensitiveness to our prayers, which He answers accordingly. Then there’s the prayers God may answer in a day, week, month or year(s). Those are the prayers God used to teach me patience. God has a special way of making sure there is no way of escape by human efforts. Our rescue will come by His answer and in His timing…period. It’s during these waiting periods, I realized God’s lessons were strengthening my trust, belief and stretching my faith by building “faith muscle.”

We glean encouragement and inspiration from the Bible stories of Joseph, David, Anna, Hannah and Sarah etc. They experienced having no other choice but to wait on the Lord. Also, the events of friends and family; their testimonies of God’s faithfulness. Funny, as we wait on the Lord to answer, when the response comes it’s usually quick and ironically unexpected. It catches us off guard. What took years intentionally to answer comes sudden and instant. Changing the course of our lives in ways we could only dream of.

“Father, with patient hearts, we pray to be brave and courageous as we wait for replies to prayers that seem to linger knowing there is purpose in the expectancy. You’ve heard our cries and haven’t forgotten! Your responses may not be one minute early, but You’ll never be one minute late. Thank you, Your answers are perfect and always on time.”

For His Glory

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

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 8, 2020

Do You Make Others Thirsty?

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Matthew 5:13

Today, people have a love-hate relationship with salt. We love the way it makes our food taste better when it’s added in the right amount—too much, though, and it can ruin a meal. And, for some, overusing salt produces a biological response that raises their blood pressure, creating a health risk.

In Matthew’s gospel account of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus told His disciples that they are the salt of the earth—and the same message is true for His followers today. This lesson has many layers, especially when you study the different uses (and incredible value) of salt in Jesus’ time. There’s the preservation significance of salt, as there was no refrigeration. This equates to how we, as Christians, are to be preservers of God’s Word. There’s the flavor aspect of salt—and our call to flavor our world with the love, mercy, and grace of Jesus.

But I want to look at a different quality of this simple mineral—one we all know for sure (and an aspect restaurants use as a standard profit-maker): Salt makes us thirsty. When we eat something deliciously salty (popcorn, chips, Chinese food, etc.), we want a tall glass of water nearby. Biologically speaking, when our bodily fluids and blood get saltier than the cells, vital water is actually pulled out of the cells. Those cells begin to protest, signaling the brain to tell us, “Hey! We need more water in here!” Hence, we feel thirsty.

So, when it comes to creating thirst for Jesus in others, how are we doing? Are the words we speak—and the tone we use—deliciously salty, inviting others to drink from the Fountain of Living Water (John 7:37-38)? Are our actions kind and grace-motivated, pulling from the other person the desire for more…and the desire to know more? When we interact with others, do we leave them with a pleasant taste? Or, when our paths cross with others, do we leave a nasty bitterness in our wake that merely produces a desire for them to rinse and spit?

Convicted? Yeah, me too.

Friends, let’s make an effort today—and every day—to be the salt of the earth, as Jesus encourages us to be. Let’s be preservers of the Word. Let’s flavor our homes, workplace, and community with grace. And let’s behave in a way that leaves others thirsty for more of what we have…Jesus.

“Lord, may I be salt and light to the world today, especially as Truth evaporates and the darkness deepens. Let me represent You well.”

For His Glory,

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Spiritual Living, Success, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 7, 2020

Known By Our Fruit

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit.” Luke 6:43 (ESV)

One of my fave things about Summer is fresh fruit.  Peaches, strawberries, apples, pineapples – you name it nothing tastes better on a hot day than sweet, cool refreshing fruit.  But this past week, I’ve been digesting a different type of  fruit found in Luke 6:43. A verse we’ve probably read a dozen or more times.  Yet as I began to unpack fruit bearing trees, I learned some incredible truths.

One of those nuggets was the realization that poor pollination can cause a tree to not bear good fruit.  At just the right time bees pollinate the flowering blooms on fruit trees which will result in good fruit. However, if anything (insecticide, wind, rain) interferes with this process, the tree will not produce good fruit and maybe fruitless.

So how does this relate to us?  As followers of Christ we are designed to bear good fruit.  The fruit we will bear is a direct result of God’s word pollinating our hearts and lives – soaking in His truths. Allowing them to penetrate deep so we bear the good fruit of personal application. This sweet friend is good, rich soil thriving and fruitful as we internalize God’s word.

Our enemy’s tactic, however, is to create resistance to those truths – blow them away (wind)  and eliminate (rain) them so they don’t seep in and develop good fruit in us. Matthew 13:22 reminds us that the one who hears the word but allows the cares of the world and deceitfulness of riches to choke out the word will prove to be unfruitful.  Satan’s schemes revolve around keeping us distracted, busy and consumed with other things. Leaving little time in our day for soaking in God’s word. If he can get our focus off of God and onto our world then it won’t be long before we resemble the very things which capture our gaze. Allowing ourselves to dismiss HIs truths and zeroing in on what’s in it for us will never result in fruitfulness.

Don’t know about you but I want my life to be abundantly fruitful for His glory!  I want God to see His child brimming full of the power of His truths transforming a tiny bud into delicious fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) that will taste ever so sweet to those around me.  Absolutely love the consistency and faithfulness of God’s word – His truth penetrating a willing heart to be changed by Him and focused on Him will produce amazing fruit.

“Father, nothing can stand in the way of our fruitfulness except for moments when we choose to resist Your truth. Help us to stand strong against the enemy’s schemes and walk confidently in the power of Your word.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 4, 2020

When Pretend Doesn’t Serve Us Well

“Oh Lord, You have searched me and known me.” Psalm 139:1 (ESV)

As a kid, I loved to pretend.  Great adventures leaping off the page of my latest read transported me into a world of make believe.  Sometimes I would glide across the living room floor like a ballerina.  Other times, I became a teacher and taught a room full of dolls.  Or better yet, I was Billy Graham in our back yard passionately giving the altar call to my siblings and cousins aligned in rows of folding chairs.  Just as I Am never sounded better.

While pretend was fun and uninhibited as a child it doesn’t always serve us well as adults.  It is ever so easy to paste on our smiling faces and pretend our world is fine.  We’ve all probably pretended to not be upset with someone for the sake of peace while our emotions were a raging storm about to explode.  Let’s keep it real here –   at times we’ve pretended happy over someone else’s success while we cringed inside. And how many of us have grabbed the Super Mom cape pretending to have it all together – as chaos surrounded us. Perhaps we’ve pretended for so long we no longer can identify who we really are.

Pretending eventually reverts back to real, and unfortunately, we don’t always get to choose how the reveal unfolds.  The unmasking of what has been hidden or denied may happen when we least expect it.    Its hard being the real “us.” Buried beneath the pretense of real is where life daily happens. The unfiltered “us” with struggles and challenges.  The organic “us” attempting to manage emotions and weaknesses on the surface.

 

Releasing our tendencies to pretend opens wide the door to confronting “us.” Facing our emotions, admitting our weaknesses and realizing our desperate need for God peels away the layers of pretense.

In the midst of conflict, we can face issues in a healthy way rather than stuff them.  If jealousy and competitiveness is robbing us of our joy, we can evaluate the motives driving these underlying emotions.  And when pride seeks to convince others we have everything under control when its not, we can admit our need for help without losing self-respect.  Until we remove the mask, transformation won’t occur.  However, we can trust God to take the “real us”  and show us how to be do life authentically and godly.

“Father, here we land vulnerable and fully exposed “us” out in the light. Best place to land so You can loving work in our lives.”

 

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Attitude, Freedom, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 3, 2020

Stepping In With Mercy

“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7 (NLT)
 

Moms wear lots of hats: chef, chauffeur, housekeeper, personal assistant, cheerleader, tutor, office manager, etc. Of all the hats I wear as a mom, my least favorite is my nurse’s hat. I would like to ditch this hat altogether since it requires mercy. (I am sorely lacking in mercy.)

I prefer natural remedies over doctor visits so the vitamins, juices, and other natural treatments taste nothing like the cotton candy medicine a pharmacy might prepare. I give my children what they need to fight viruses and stomach aches, but stroking a feverish forehead with a cool cloth or rubbing the back of a retching boy is not in my wheelhouse. My philosophy: rest so your body can fight the invader and let me get my work done. It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but there it is.

Our key verse presents a big challenge for me. To be merciful is to care for those who are in agony, distress, or sorrow. Mercy moves beyond compassion, sympathy for another’s unfortunate situation along with a desire to help, to action. Mercy acts on compassion. Mercy steps in and gets her hands dirty. Mercy listens to the grief and makes it her own. Mercy hears the heartache and accepts the sorrow as her own.  Often a virus that latches on to one child eventually makes its way through all the members of our household. When the virus strikes me, mercy floods my heart for those who have been struck before me. “So this is what you were feeling?” I think. I swim in a sea of remorse as I brave the fight my body is waging. If only I had known.

Mercy doesn’t wait to find out what devastation feels like until it strikes her personally. It dives into the devastation along with the wounded, serving in whatever way God directs.

I will dig my nurse’s hat out of the trash bin. I will enter into the suffering of others, ready to offer a cup of cool water.

“Lord, I commit to not only sympathize and desire to help those in misery, but to enter into the suffering. Show me how I can be merciful to those in need of mercy.”

 

For His Glory

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

 

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Mercy, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 1, 2020

When Hypocrite Defines Us

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore, you will receive greater condemnation.”  Matthew 23:13-14

I know you’ve heard it. “Christians are such hypocrites.” In fact, I know you know people who do not go to church, don’t trust the Church, or even refute the existence of God because this statement is true.

And we’ve all heard of or experienced firsthand the tragic fall of believers within the body of Christ. These situations are always sad and disappointing. But when these fallen believers happen to be in the spotlight, the media, along with unbelievers everywhere, are almost giddy as they report (um, attack) the tragedy as it unfolds. But, fellow Christians, I have one request of us before we—with the masses—join in to point and shout, “You hypocrite!”

 

First, go to a mirror, face your own image, point, and shout, “You hypocrite!”

Yes, the Church is hypocritical—it’s full of hypocrites! Its chairs are filled (well, 50% or so filled at present) with people like you and me. Fallen human beings who, although saved by grace, still live in the world. We have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ, so that when we stand before a perfect and holy God, we will be seen as worthy of His presence…but we’re not there yet. We’re here. In this world, in this broken body and depraved mind. Right now, we are not perfect—no one standing on this earth can proclaim otherwise.

That being said, as Christians, we—through the power of the Holy Spirit—still must strive to live an authentic life. We must read the Word and walk in the Word, doing our best not to “turn to the left or to the right” (Proverbs 4:27). And we recognize that we will fail. Like the great Apostle Paul bemoaned, we do the things we don’t want to do, and we don’t do the things we want to do (Romans 7:15-20). But, as we stand firm on God’s Truth, we ask—and receive—forgiveness (from others and from God), and we keep moving ahead.

So, whenever we see or hear of “hypocritical” Christians, stop, turn to the nearest mirror, and pray.

“Lord, thank You for making me a new, perfected creation in Christ. As I await living out that perfection with You in heaven, help me to live authentically, let me seek Your forgiveness when I fail, and help me extend grace to others.”

 

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living, Success, Worship

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 31, 2020

Best Teacher Ever

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”  Luke 6:40 (ESV)

Backpacks are ready.  Lunches fixed and another school year is underway.  While it looks a lot different in 2020, school is either back in session or getting ready to start.  Quite the nerd, I truly loved school.  The art of learning new things, hanging out with friends and football season lured me back into the classroom with excitement.

Interesting how we think graduation ends the learning cycle.  Whether its high school or college, we leave the classroom setting convinced we have attained all necessary learning for life. Wow if only that were true!  Quite the opposite is reality – learning is a lifetime journey.

Don’t know how you feel about learning, but that eagerness to gain new insight has really never left me.  My shelves are covered with books ranging from every topic you can imagine.  My studious mind definitely enjoys a wisdom packed read.

Regardless of my niche for education, I am at the mercy of the one teaching me.  Great reason why we need to carefully select the right teacher.  And the best compliment and guarantee that we have attained their knowledge is when we reflect our teacher.

Love these sweet words from Jesus in Luke 6 reminding us that when we have been fully trained, learned and get it we will reflect the one teaching us.  Best teaching ever is the one we get from God’s Word.  Gaining spiritual discernment and maturity is cultivated when we dig deep and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us to truth.  Now don’t get me wrong, I have gained great insight and understanding from solid Biblical teachers and pastors.  Commentaries are incredible references to assist in clarifying passages.  But as followers of Christ, we need to make a personal investment in our spiritual growth journey.  Studying the scriptures for ourselves may feel awkward at first, but the benefits far outweigh our uncomfortableness.

Knowing God’s word is critical and putting what we have learned into action culminates in true wisdom. Confidently approaching the Bible and relying on the Holy Spirit will equip us to reflect the very image of our God. Seeking His help thru prayer will release any apprehension and enlighten our eyes to truth. While perfection won’t be our label, blamelessness will be our tagline as we seek to glorify Him. So when the enemy discourages us and seeks to confuse us, we can rest secured knowing we know the best Teacher ever.

 

“Father, the beauty of Your words draw us and compel us to be more like You.  Remove any obstacles or distractions seeking to keep us from Your word. Help us to grow daily and walk confidently in Your truths.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 28, 2020

Scattered Thoughts

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV)

All things Fall will soon be decorating our homes.  Three white pumpkins are flourishing in my back yard surprising even me.  Where did they come from?  Late November, I discarded a deteriorating white pumpkin at the end of our yard and never thought anymore about it.   Fast forward to mid-Summer and I noticed a green plant with yellow blooms growing near our fence.  A few weeks later it had birthed a tiny white pumpkin and now triplets. You never know what will grow from what you thought had been discarded.

Perhaps we’ve found ourselves greeting the inevitable return of some thoughts we threw away and never imagined would resurface.  Triggers have a way of digging up what we thought we had conquered and dismissed.  Like flashbacks from the past these seemingly quiet reminders rise up and catch us by surprise.  When we least expect it, when we leave our minds unguarded and when we don’t recall  even the scattering of a seed, we find the blossoming of thinking which never served us well.

“I’m not good enough,” loves to rise to the surface.  “My past is too complicated,” loves to slay our hope of a future.  “We just don’t have what it takes,” loves to sideline us.  “If I only hadn’t,” loves to leave us with regret.   “I should have,” loves to paralyze us with longing. Careless seeds of thought scattering where we thought they’d been discarded long ago.

Don’t know about you, but I don’t want to entertain the sabotaging of God’s best with my endless mind chatter.  Perhaps this is why God warns us to guard our minds, to capture our thoughts and not allow them to run wild entangling us in a web of deceit.  When triggers resurface, we must strategically attack them with the truths of God’s word.  By stopping them in their tracks, we extinguish mindless chatter before it has a chance to take root, bloom and multiply.

So sweet friends, “we are wonderfully made” (Psalm 139).  Let’s not doubt for a moment God’s healing redemption of our past (Psalm 103:4).  Our Creator has given us everything we need to fulfill His purposes – no deficits found in those who put their faith and hope in Him.  Regrets and shame are washed away when we trust in Him to restore our future.  Right thinking based on the truths of His word seal our minds and position us for His best.  Can’t think of a better way to handle the seeds of thoughts running through our mind.  Strategic, consistent and without doubt – now that’s a planting we want to run deep.

“Father, wrong thinking impacts our lives more than we could ever imagine – help us to seize and destroy those thoughts which don’t align with Your words.”

 

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 27, 2020

Yes, There’s Joy After Pain

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Being afflicted by pain and sadness is not something we seek. As I went through some trials over the past few years, I cried a lot before the Lord. I stayed up late praying and reading the Bible. I cried out to Him and yelled in my anguish, because I neglected the fact that He heard me. I was in pain and wanted relief!

Humiliated by those whom He loved so unconditionally, Jesus was hurt and grieved. Later, He endured even greater physical pain and a death reserved for thieves and murderers. Jesus was anguished by the pain afflicted upon Him, and yet He didn’t flee. He knew God’s plan for Him and humanity, so He followed through with the plan.

Knowing what awaited Him, Jesus comforted His disciples with an analogy. Like a woman birthing a child, pain and anguish do not last forever. Jesus reassured them that their grief would turn into joy.

My tears and grief have given way to joy and peace. I delight myself in the Lord, and I am grateful for all that He has done through my time of grief. I kept my focus on Him and learned to persevere. Jesus has promised us that, just as He overcame this world, we, too, will see better days if we remain in Him. If you are experiencing pain and sorrow, I encourage you to trust Him. He will see you through this time and take you into the next, a time of rejoicing.

“Dear Jesus, thank You for being the best example of what perseverance and trust can do in our lives. You walked Your talk on this earth. You are our role model and encourager. Teach us to be more like You.”

For His Glory

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

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