Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 23, 2019

Journey of Faith

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

I moved my regular six-week adjustment with my chiropractor ahead due to increased pain. During the examination, he noted I have been under a lot of stress! What an understatement!! While the past weeks had been difficult, I was convinced God is in control and His promises are true. The Holy Spirit drew me to His Word, birthing an assessment of Biblical characters who understood stress. David fled for his life, Paul feared for his, Esther gambled hers, Mary submitted hers, and Jesus offered his.

What carried these individuals through the stressfulness of everyday living?

The answer: faith strengthened by a God who repetitively has proven Himself. They simply believed His promises. Why do we feel our lives are more stressful? We have an awareness of the outcome of their lives through reading the Bible, but somehow, we fail to acknowledge reaching the victorious end required a walk of faith. Appearing to be an easy journey, we cannot disregard the fact that every step of the way involved a confrontation of fear, anxiousness, uncertainty, worry, etc. They were exactly like us. Thankfully, at their weakest moments God’s strength was made perfect and His Word was manifested.

So, the next time stress becomes overwhelming try claiming the promises of God. Pray them out loud. Personalize them. The scriptures will bring comfort, reassurance, encouragement, and strength. Confidence will build in an all caring God. The great news: one day there will be a victorious end to your walk of faith too!

“Lord, please help me to believe your promises. Teach my heart to trust in You during stressful times and claim victory in spite of my circumstances.”

For His Glory

Patsy Sanders
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 22, 2019

When Entitlement Rises To The Surface

“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.” Psalm 37:8 (ESV)

What makes you angry? Ever entertain that thought? We all have things that aggravate and upset us. Someone does something and our frustration rises. Or perhaps many little things irritate us and we stuff them down until we absolutely erupt blowing steam at anyone in our path. Not a pretty sight.

Scriptures reminds us of the dangerous web unchecked anger weaves. Haman held a high position in the land of Susa. His promotion in rank above other officials positioned him at the right hand of the King. And it didn’t take long for Haman to enjoy the royal treatment. The king commanded the royal staff to bow down before Haman, and they complied except for one. Mordecai, the Jew, refused to bow and it ignited Haman’s rage. Didn’t matter that everyone else bowed. Haman’s high position and prestige didn’t ease his frustration. Instead Haman’s unchecked rage resulted in the devising of an evil plan to annihilate the Jews. All done out of anger and pride.

Haman’s scheme eventually unravels when the true nature of his heart lands him on the gallows he had built to hang Mordecai. Not exactly a storybook ending. Definitely not the chapter Haman thought would unfold right before his eyes. (Esther 7). Yet perfectly and divinely orchestrated by our God who placed just the right people in the right place to handle a difficult situation the right way. Wow that’s a lot of right moving in the correct way.

Lesson for us – rage, anger out of control, never serves us well. Pride easily creeps in when we lift ourselves above others. Anger results when entitlement says others must do what we tell them to do. Respect fades quickly when we demand our own way. Haman had position and authority; he could have been a dynamic leader. Problem was he allowed anger over one man’s decision to derail his future.

God’s word speaks loud and clear – He totally understands anger will surface but He warns us about the effects of mishandled anger. Reacting out of anger or dwelling on anger will land us in not good places. Best solution is to pour out our hearts before our God. Tell Him what we are upset about. Ask Him to supernaturally enable us to be Spirit controlled versus self controlled. Trust Him with the things or people that tend to ignite our frustration. Pause, think and pray for God’s wisdom to guide us versus giving in to our emotional storm. And in those moments when our imperfections blow it and steam is spewing, turn to God and learn how to avoid the pitfalls of anger in the future.

“Father, You have perfectly shown us how to be angry and yet avoid sin. Help us to heed the lessons and to rely on You when life gets messy.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Attitude, Spiritual Growth, Success, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 21, 2019

The Way Through

“God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 (NLT)

A young bride loses the life she was carrying along with the dream of birthing a child of her own. A man nearing his retirement loses his brother—his best friend—to a heart attack. Now how will he fill the void during lunchtime every day? A son is left caring for the shell of a man that his father once was. Dementia stripped away all that was Dad. Parents drift through the days seeing the child they lost to a devastating accident in every room of the house, in the expressions on the faces of the child’s siblings, wondering how to cope.

A businessman dresses in a suit and tie he’s worn for the better part of 40 years only to sit on a bench, clueless as to what to do with his days of sudden unemployment. Who will hire him so near to his golden years? A single mom struggles to fill her children’s bellies while her own heart is drained of hope after her husband walked out on the family. How will they survive without a steady income?

No matter what the circumstances, we all have reason to mourn. Our reason to mourn may be caused by an accident or our outright rebellion. “Heaven is the joy of our Lord; a mountain of joy, to which our way is through a vale of tears.” (Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible)

Our source of mourning may be different, but our path is the same—“through a vale of tears.” What does the path through the mourning look like? It is paved in complete dependence on God. The guardrails are constructed of pure repentance and humility. Directional signs on the path remind of His unending mercy and grace.

An ironclad promise: God will comfort us. As we seek God in our mourning, the Holy Spirit guides us on our way, promising the true comfort that comes not from the well-meaning words of friends and family, but the closeness of Christ. Will you seek Him in your mourning?

“Lord, we come to You with our mourning, knowing that You alone offer the comfort we desperately crave.”

For His Glory

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

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 20, 2019

The One Who Never Gives Up

“Rejoice with me for I (Jesus) have found my sheep that was lost.” Luke 15:6b “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 (ESV)

Pedaling down our street, my son sped around the neighborhood. The feeling of freedom serenading him as his bike went further and further away from our home. It was a defining moment….discovering territory he’d never experienced before. Totally caught up in the moment and unaware of where he and his friends were going.

Standing at my kitchen sink, I assumed the absence of my son in our backyard meant he and his friends were now playing in the front. Never crossed my mind to think otherwise. My sweet little six year old had never wandered beyond our yard without permission. Clueless to the fact he’d sped out the driveway following his friends home.

But then an unsettled feeling swept over me, and I suddenly felt an urge to confirm my thinking. As I walked towards the front yard, my heart raced – no children were in sight. Panic overwhelmed me quickly and this momma went on a hunt for the one missing.

As parents, we’ve probably all lived moments when our child wandered away. Just the thought of our little one being lost gives us chills followed by all kinds of scenarios in our mind. Blessed this search didn’t last too long and my sweet boy was back in my arms.

While I have limited knowledge of how my son got lost and where he was headed, our Heavenly Father knows it all. Simply put, when we chose to wander away, we are never out of His sight. No matter how far we run. No matter how quickly our feet move in the wrong direction. God’s sees all, knows all and is totally aware of where our destination will lead us. Wonder what emotions overwhelm Him when He sees the road we are taking?

Love God’s sweet persistence in coming after us. Never giving up. Diligently searching fully aware of our rebellious heart resisting Him. Humbled to know He is willing to pick us up and carry us. Deeply moved by God’s love rather than judgment of those who wander away. Close our eyes and we can only imagine His joy in finding one who was lost – found by the One who knows all about us and loves us still.

“Father, our wanderings are more than we dare count. Praising You for rescuing, healing and delivering us from ourselves.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Love, Mercy

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 16, 2019

We Need Jesus

“They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:31 (NIV)

When we read Genesis 1, also titled “The Beginning,” we can see how God organized everything He created with much detail, care, love and reflective of Who He is. Nothing created by God was below par. And as He created each one, He was pleased with what He saw. I wonder if when He created mankind He purposely wired us to be a complicated being, but the reality seems to be that mankind is far more complicated than any other species under the sun.

From the beginning of times, there were situations when we clearly could see man’s craftiness, lack of truth, and selfishness. Look at Adam and Eve, for example. Man and woman in a garden plentiful of what they needed and the one thing they were told not to touch or eat from, they could not withhold from leaving alone. Woman listened to serpent, ate fruit and shared it with the man, who blamed his action on the woman; and it was downhill from then. Their offspring, Cain and Abel were supposedly good boys, but when Cain was tested by God for not being recognized as bringing the best of his first fruits to the altar, eaten by jealousy, he tricked and slayed his brother and then pretended not to know what happened to him.

King David’s daughter was raped by her half-brother, who was then killed by their brother for raping her. Joseph, the cocky boy with a coat of many colors, was thrown in a pit and sold by his brothers. Samson, who got tricked by the woman he chose for his wife, Delilah, lost all the power he had been given by God at birth. And on and on it goes.

By now, you are probably wondering what my point in all of this is. Well, I will tell you: we are all faulty and susceptible to sin and to actions that do not glorify God. This, my friends, is reason enough to recognize that we need a Savior. We need redemption. And He is right there, ready to rescue you and me. His name? Jesus Christ.

“Lord Jesus, we need You, we so desperately need You.”

For His Glory

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 15, 2019

When We Entertain The Edge of Falling

“So whoever stands must be careful not to fall.” I Corinthians 10:12 (HCSB)

Ever tried to stand on one foot only to cave quickly? Despite our determination to stand firmly in one place, our weak muscles win out. And that crash to the floor isn’t pretty or fun. Embarrassed, we quickly get back up dismissing our attempt because we just knew we were stronger.

Hard to admit our weakness. Hard to dismiss our failings. Even harder to confess our inability to stand firm. Bet we’ve all been there when we entertained a not so good option totally convinced we wouldn’t cave in. Probably experienced proud moments too confident we were above tipping over the edge of someone else’s tempting moments. Dare we even admit those times judging others puffs us up to a perceived higher status that would “definitely not do the same.”

Weak moments where we count on personal strength never serve us well. We need God’s Spirit empowering us to stay on course, so we won’t give in when personal desires attempt to derail us. We need awareness of our inability to stand firm by ourselves. Smart women guard their hearts and cover their minds with the truth of God’s Word. Wise women invest in strengthening resolve and strategically choose to avoid the potential of sin dragging us down. Humble women admit their weaknesses and avoid leaning on self or pretending they’ve got it all under control.

Bottom line sweet friend, we want to stand. And part of that standing requires awareness of how easy it is to fall and how quickly we can lose our footing. Holding on tight to our God is the only way to journey through life. Resting confidently in His strength to see us through. Perfection we will miss on this earth, but blameless we can achieve if we stay close to Him.

Keeping it real here – let’s tackle that one thing consistently seeking to pull us down. Let’s surrender it at the feet of Jesus and determine to not take it back. Let’s pray daily for protection, wisdom and discernment in weak moments. Let’s not boast but rather admit we need God desperately to keep us standing firm.

“Father, give us your eyes to see the potential of slipping before we entertain the edge and fall. Help us to draw strength, stability and firmness from You and not trust self to get us through.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Freedom, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 14, 2019

The Trap of Comparison

“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” Romans 12:3 (NLT)

There’s a bit of pride going on in my house right now. Comparison weaseled its way in and made itself at home. “I’m almost a head taller than you, little brother,” older brother says as he puffs out his chest and rises to his full height. Lately, my sons have been growing like weeds. Jeans that used to bunch at the ankles now reveal the socks below.

They celebrate every time they grow taller than yet another adult in the family, but no matter how fast little brother grows, he cannot grow taller than his older brother. This makes older brother proud of his height, constantly comparing himself with shorter family members (including me).

Our key verse warns against our pride in thinking better of ourselves than reality. We are to evaluate ourselves, not by measuring ourselves in comparison to other believers, but by measuring ourselves “by the faith God has given us.” This translation of the verse gives an alternate wording: “by the standard of our God-given faith.”

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)

Our faith is based on God’s gift of salvation. God challenges us to evaluate ourselves by the faith He is growing in us as we learn to place our trust in Him.

“Pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense.” (C.S. Lewis)

Just as we undergo surgery to remove cancerous tumors and chemotherapy to eradicate cancer cells, let’s surrender our pride to the knife of honesty. Are you measuring yourself by the right standard?

“Lord, Your grace is such a beautiful gift; thank You. May we be honest in our evaluation as we measure ourselves by the standard of the faith You’ve given us.”

For His Glory

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

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 13, 2019

Beauty Unfolding

“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her works praise her in the gates.” Proverbs 31:29,31 (ESV)

It simply started as a tiny little shoot – actually an infant rose – spreading roots deep into the soil. Now this wasn’t just an ordinary flower beginning to flourish and grow. My mom started the process from her own rose bush and now several years later mine is blooming in abundance. Every time, I come down our sidewalk, I smell the deep aroma and see the beauty of all those buds opening. Sweet reminder of my Mom’s fragrant love for her children and grandchildren. She has the biggest heart ever. Grateful and blessed by the legacy of a godly mother.

Amazing how quickly time evolves, and we find ourselves mothers, grandmothers or spiritual mentors. Whether we have physical children or not, God created us to nurture the lives of others. I have three children: two in Heaven and one on earth. My dreams of a large family looks totally different than I ever imagined. Perhaps yours does too. However, some of the greatest blessings of my life have been the spiritual children God has brought into my path. Hugs, encouragement, prayers and a cherished season of celebrating their growth. Wouldn’t trade a moment with any of them.

Spiritual motherhood is an incredible blessing – a cherished trusting of ones who need guidance, grace and love. An entrusting of dear ones our Lord loves ever so much. An opportunity to sow deep roots of God’s truth and faithfulness encouraging an abundance of growth beyond our comprehension. A chance of a lifetime to pour into those the things God is teaching us. A sweet remembrance of where we have been and how God divinely orchestrated these moments in our life – a fragrant offering.

Who are you nurturing in this season of your life? Maybe little ones gather at your feet and cling tight everywhere you go. Drink deep of those moments. Perhaps your arms are empty longing for just one to hold. Lean into our Savior and realize the beauty of His filling. Regardless of where you are dear friend never forget God desires to use your life in a powerful way to birth His purposes in those who enter our lives.

“Father, You are the Giver of life, the Ordainer of our days and the One who knows exactly what we need. Praising You for transforming empty to full. Praising You for transform lives right before our eyes.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 10, 2019

When Good Runs Out The Door

“He poured out this Spirt (Holy Spirit) on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” Titus 3:6 (HCSB)

Ever had one of those days when good evaporated before 9 am? Really! How can so much happen in such a brief span of time. A perfectly great night of sleep. A delish cup of coffee. A carefree drive to the office. And when you least expected it – good ran right out the door. Unexpected deadlines came out of nowhere. The list of things to do grows and the inbox of your email has too many urgents. Everyone wants it all right now. Did I mention it wasn’t even 9 am yet?

Calm can easily transition into chaos without us even lifting a finger. Those are the precise moments when we tend to lose control. The things we didn’t plan to say slide right off our tongue. The way we never wanted to respond hits us square in the face. The verses we read that morning somehow fade. If we’re honest, we’ve all experienced those times when our spirit overrode His Spirit. And the aftermath wasn’t pretty. As soon as reality sunk in and we replayed the events in our mind, we wanted to run and hide. Good left and our ugly moved right in.

Thankful for His sweet grace that covers me on those “less than days.” Moments when I seize control without even thinking twice. Times when I move into action without even consulting God and the guilt overtakes me. Drinking deep of His mercy those mornings when good walks out and I choose self instead of Him. No one to blame but me, because His Spirit is poured out abundantly in us.

Loving that word in our verse “abundantly.” God has given us more than enough of His Spirit to handle our tough days. He has filled us beyond expectation – a large pouring that exceeds all those moments when self desires to rule. So the next time we are tempted to just let go of Him and embrace self simply don’t. Choose instead to be Spirit controlled even if no one else is. Choose to speak His words despite what we hear all around us. Choose to respond reflecting Him regardless of the actions, demands or urgents of others. And then sweet friend we can stand firm and strong in the power of our God.

“Father, You have empowered us, filled us and equipped us. Help us to embrace Your Spirit regardless of what happens in our day.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 8, 2019

When Overcoming Is Our Only Option

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” I John 5:4

Ever felt the sting of defeat? Ouch – not fun. No one wants to cower in the corner and admit failure. No one wants to proclaim, “I’m a loser!” But often we tie those labels easily to self when we miss the mark. Perfection is elusive in this world…..we just gotta keep getting back up and moving forward. Learning from mistakes while seizing wisdom birthed in hard places. Leaving the past in the past.

Love these power packed words from the Apostle John declaring believers in Jesus Christ as overcomers in this world. Courage, boldness and bravery unfolding from those words. Regardless of the task, regardless of the circumstances – we don’t have to sulk and give up. We can rise above what seeks to hold us back.

Overcoming isn’t for the faint hearted. Life throws a lot of stuff our way. Messy trumps us at every turn. Difficult situations and heartaches attempt to steal away our resilience. But if we keep our eyes firmly planted on Jesus and our faith clings tightly to His word, overcomer will be our name. It will define us and refine us.

The very One who rose from the grave defeating death lives within the heart of His children. Empowering, strengthening and destining us for victory. Try wearing that sweet friend! So the next time despair, defeat and loser threatens to steal our joy, girlfriend just remember who you are. A child of the Mighty God who leads us in victory. With God on our side, we don’t have to worry about threats, injustices or misguided wrongs.

One day the enemy will be defeated. He might reign long and hard attacking us at every turn, but we get the final word. Revelation 22:3 proclaims the best promise ever, “and there will no longer be any curse.” This world as we know will fade away and perfection will at last be ours…..for now, we simply keep believing, trusting and overcoming until we meet our Savior face to face.

“Sweet Jesus there are days when we want to cower and hide the evils of this world are too much to bear. But You have shown us, You have told us – we are more than conquerors – we can overcome this world if we stay in step with You.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

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