Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 19, 2025

Pray, Then Speak

“Then the king said to me, “What would you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. Then I said…” Nehemiah 2:4-5a

Not sure about any of you all, but I’m a talk-thinker—I guess the official term is “verbal processor.” Often, when a question is asked of me (whether at work or with friends or family), I just open my mouth and the words start flowing. Sometimes, by the time I get to the end of said wordflow, the conclusion does not resemble the beginning all that much. In fact, with my clients, I frequently find myself saying, “Now, bear with me, I’m processing as I’m speaking…”

Most of the time, everything turns out just fine in this verbal-thinking mode of mine. But not always. Sometimes (way too often), when I open my mouth without first head-thinking, I hear words of judgment or complaining or defensive rebuttal roll off my treacherous tongue (Proverbs 21:23; James 3:1-18; . (And, sadly, this is usually with my husband.) Or, when I’m attempting to give godly, Bible-aligned wisdom to a sister in Christ, I lead with what I think or feel. This advice is usually based on seasons the Lord has led me through or from the years I’ve spent in His Word. But—and it’s a great big but—how often do I stop first to “pray to the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 2:4) for wisdom? Ouch.

So, what a great reminder it was in diving into the first few chapters of Nehemiah. Eight little words (in the NASB), innocently stuck within the amazing story of this brave cupbearer to the king. Like Ezra, Daniel, and Esther, Nehemiah had been elevated to a place of honor even in Jewish bondage. As cupbearer, Nehemiah had a daily audience with the king. Now, he knew the promises of God—and the unfaithfulness of God’s people, which led to their mass exodus out of Jerusalem. The book of Nehemiah is an awesome testament to God’s Providence, so I recommend you delve in yourself. But the context here is that in Nehemiah’s sadness about his people and Promised Land, the king noticed and actually cared enough to ask Nehemiah what burdened him. After Nehemiah shared the reason for his sorrow, the king asked, “What would you request?”

Wow. This is a big deal. But instead of Nehemiah rambling on about the woes of the Jews or rehashing past wrongs to eventually get to a request, we read those eight words: “So I prayed to the God of heaven.” Even the presumptive “so” is astounding! It’s like he’s saying, “Well, duh, the obvious first thing to do is pray to God before I think or say or do anything.” [Spoiler alert: What came out of Nehemiah’s mouth was a succinct request (cushioned with a compliment), as well as a definitive plan of action.]

What a great lesson for us all—simple, yet not easy. These eight little words must become our “so” habit. And habits take effort. And repetition. So, will you join me in pausing to pray before speaking? Before we share, advise, judge, ask, or even “observe aloud,” let’s ask the Sovereign One for guidance. In fact, we have the third Person of the Trinity living in us for such wisdom—the Holy Spirit is our Counselor just waiting to be tapped in before our tongue takes over.

“Lord, may we search Your Word for the countless truths of how to use (and not use) our words. And may we daily (moment-by-moment) pray to You before speaking.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 18, 2025

Why God Focused Prayer Changes Everything

“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness.”  Acts 4:29 (ESV)

Conflict  and opposition are often something we avoid. I’m totally not a fan unless its healthy conflict zeroed in on working together to reach a compromise. However, we can’t get through life without conflict because we’re all fallen people living in a fallen world. And it’s interesting how most of the conflict we endure comes from those we’d least expect to oppose us.

Talk about opposition, the early church in Acts was characterized by religious leaders who desperately wanted to silence these Jesus followers. However, Peter and John courageously and boldly continued to  proclaim the good news of the gospel – Jesus was  alive – the resurrection was indeed reality. Yet the religious leaders didn’t like the evidence staring them in the face. A lame beggar who couldn’t walk for 40 years was now healed. God added about 5,000 more believers to the early church; the message of the gospel (birth, death and resurrection of Jesus) was spreading.

Sound familiar? This was the same group that wanted to destroy Jesus because their religious authority was being challenged. The Jesus followers were growing in number (sounds a little like the Israelites in Egypt). They couldn’t silence or alter the work of God no matter how hard they tried. Greatly annoyed, the religious leaders arrested Peter and John.

Totally love the way Peter and John didn’t cave to the demands of these leaders. With no legal grounds for charges against them, the leaders released them with specific instructions to stop teaching and speaking about Jesus. However, this dynamic duo stood their ground;  “We cannot deny the truth,” echoed from their lips.

Don’t know about you sweet friends, but my heart is challenged in reading Acts 4: 24 -28. Peter and John went to their friends telling them exactly what had happened and instead of the followers running for cover, they lifted their voices to God. Prayer was their first line of offense.

Now, just keeping it real here, I would have prayed too in the face of persecution and opposition but not the way they prayed. I would have asked God to destroy those leaders attempting to silence them. I would have asked God to silence the leaders instead. I would have cried out for protection and deliverance. The focus of my prayer would have been all about me, yet these courageous followers sought only to continue to speak God’s word with boldness – hearts and minds devoted and focused on spreading the gospel. And God indeed granted their request. Powerful prayers zeroed in on God’s sovereign plan and not our own agenda for ease and comfort.

No persecution knocking at our door. No perceived threat on our life for sharing the gospel. In this country, we enjoy the privilege of the right to worship freely and the freedom of expression and speech. Yet all too often we choose silence because we fear offending someone with the glorious lifesaving news of Jesus’ love and forgiveness. We pass up opportunities to share His truth in love due to pride – zeroing in on what people will think of us.

Peter and John’s actions speak loud and clear – no one would silence their voice when it came to speaking the word of God. They wouldn’t shrink back or cower – pleasing God was more important than seeking accolades from man.

Sweet friends let’s all  pray for boldness and courage when God opens doors for us to share His amazing truths. Let’s pray for open hearts and seeds planted to take deep roots and produce a harvest glorifying His name  – boldness and courage are ours for the taking if we truly ask.

“Father thank You for filling us with Your boldness and courage in the face of opposition. Show us how to lovingly share Your truth even when others oppose us and rejoice in knowing we are pleasing You with our faithfulness.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 15, 2025

Trusting God More

jan4“I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the lookout tower. I will watch to see what He (God) will say to me and what I should reply about my complaint.” Habakkuk 2:1 (HCSB)

Ever find yourself in complaint overload? Once we start down that path, we can’t seem to see anything else. Unfortunately, we love pulling out that violin and playing our sad or frustrated song to anyone who will listen. Doesn’t matter if they can change our situation, we just want someone on our side or at least someone who entertains our viewpoint. While it’s therapeutic to unload rather than keeping everything bottled up inside, it’s critical that we unload to the right person.

Habakkuk was a prophet who knew exactly where to go with his complaint. His people had turned away from God and seemed to be doing just fine. And it appeared as though God wasn’t doing anything about it either. From Habakkuk’s perspective evil and sin was winning out, despite his constant attempt to get God’s attention. But he didn’t give up. His persistence and deep convictions landed him an audience with the only One who could transform his situation.

God intervened in Habakkuk’s world, but it would be on His timetable and His plan. Why? Because God is longsuffering, righteous and full of compassion; He alone sees the whole picture. He longed for the tribe of Judah to bypass the devastation their sin would birth. Unfortunately, their road back would be marked with persecution and bondage at the hand of their enemy. Not exactly the storybook ending Habakkuk envisioned, but one that would accomplish God’s purposes.

Regardless of what’s going on in our lives, we can always come to God with our questions and yes, even our doubts. Habakkuk knew God intimately and felt totally comfortable unloading his complaint. He was secure in God’s love for him and learned through the process to trust God even more. So where will we go the next time we move into complaint mode? If we’re wise, we will seek out God first.

“Father, You welcome us into Your presence and promise to give us Your wisdom – help us to trust You with all the details of our lives.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 14, 2025

Empowered By His Grace

cb devo nov 5But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV)

I love this verse! The quest for self-sufficiency is such a stumbling block for me. Paul’s words remind me why I must rely instead on the sufficiency of God’s grace. When I am weak. When I am wounded by the insults of a friend. When hardship comes and circumstances are out of my control. When I feel persecuted for my beliefs. When my life feels like a calamity. In all these things, I can be more than a conqueror when I admit my weakness, and rely on the power of His grace.

I long to be like Paul and boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses. Boasting of my weaknesses allows me to share the reality of the power of Christ with others. Self-sufficiency seeks glory for myself; dependency on Christ gives Him the glory. But all too often, I choose self-sufficiency over grace. I choose my weakness over His power. I want the transforming power of His grace, but sometimes allow my independence and pride to get in the way. When I try to do things in my strength, my weaknesses are magnified. When I acknowledge my weaknesses and rely on His grace, then I am strong.

Like Paul, I repeatedly ask God to remove hardships from my life. But, because of His grace He allows the hardships to remain so that, in increasing measure, I can grow to trust Him. His grace is sufficient.

“Lord, thank you that your grace is sufficient for me. Help me to overcome the pride and self-sufficiency in my heart that keeps me from accessing your power.”

For His Glory

Ann Skalaski
TRBC Women’s Life

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 13, 2025

Laser Focused

“And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” Hebrews 12:1b-2a(NLT-italics mine)

This is my second year not being involved in the new school year rush. I am a mom of 6 grown adults, and I was a teacher for many years, so I still catch my breath when I walk by the school supplies! I have to remind myself this is not part of my life anymore! It was such an important and special time for me in so many ways, and I treasure the memories and the blessings those years brought.

It would be easy to stand at Target bins and feel sad. I miss my teacher friends and the school world that I knew and loved for so long. Yet, God showed me my teaching leg of the journey was done, and I had to hand off the baton. He did not call me to stay in teaching elementary school, but He did call me to stay in His race.

When I left, I was not completely sure what the next lap entailed. Slowly, He has been showing me. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is to stay laser focused. To keep my eyes on Him, our Champion, who reveals things to us one step at a time. To not get caught up in the “everythings” but to wait on Him and keep the main thing the main thing. Even on the days when it feels like I am not moving forward, time spent with Him is building endurance and reminding me to keep my eyes on Him.

August and back to school bring so many opportunities, and our time begins to get filled for us. As we are shuffling kiddos, adapting to new teachers and schedules, or settling in for summer’s end, may we be intentional, laser focused on keeping our eyes on Jesus. That may look like the audio Bible while you put on your mascara, an encouraging playlist in the car to worship as you go, scripture notes in lunch boxes-theirs or yours, memorizing verses by yourself or as a family over breakfast, or pausing ten minutes early before bed to read scripture.  Whatever it looks like for you and yours, He is worth it. Stay laser focused on Him.

By the way-isn’t it cool that the picture above shows the laser as a cross?! I did not even plan that:)!

“Father, may we keep you front and center each day. Help us to build our lives around You and not just fit You in.”

For His Glory

Terrie Tollerson
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

 

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 12, 2025

Make A Way For Escape

“The Lord’s bondservant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, skillful in teaching, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26

Friend, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, I want to ask you a simple question: Do you always remember from where you came? Whether you gave your life to Christ at VBS when you were age 7 or the Lord called your name to salvation at 70, the fact is that you used to be an enemy of God in need of reconciliation with Him. It’s so easy, especially the longer we walk with the Lord down the path of sanctification, to forget.

If you’re like me and surrendered to Jesus later in life, your previous lostness may be more top of mind, so to speak—especially if you share your testimony as a witness of the transforming power of Christ. But even then, the longer we’re “church people,” the more likely we are to experience a bit of “sanctification pride”…in other words, a kind of forgetfulness of our own journey, with an attitude of, “Oh, I can’t believe he/she is ‘still’ doing this/that—I’m glad I’m not like that!” Really? First of all—yeah, we were once like that. Second of all, we still are. It may not be the exact same snare as our brother or sister, but we still fight against sin daily. (And if you don’t think so, well, a study on the sin of pride might be something to consider.)

And when it comes to looking upon unbelievers, we must absolutely reach back and recall our life as—not just in–darkness (Ephesians 5:8). Regardless of whether you never left the Father’s porch or you ended up in the pigsty (like me), you and I were once lost. Blind. Enslaved. An enemy (Ephesians 2:1-3). This is what Paul is exhorting Timothy about in 2 Timothy 2:24-26. Christians must battle that internal dialogue of judgement against the lost…in fact, it actually sounds an awful lot like Christ’s condemnation of the Pharisee’s prayer, “God, thank you that I am not like that guy…” (Luke 18:9-14).

So, how do we follow Paul’s advice? There are three words in those verses in 2 Timothy that seem to pop out: “all” and “if perhaps.” All means all, and that’s all all means—as a former pastor of mine used to say. Every person you encounter is either alive in Christ or dead. We may not know who’s who, but we can know that all need Jesus. So we need to act that way. And if they are dead (blind, lost, enslaved to sin), there is the promise of “IF PERHAPS”—the potential that the Lord will call them to Himself—and He may use YOU or ME to do it! Because of our gentle words of truth and actions of love, the Lord may open their eyes to the knowledge of Him. They may come to their senses (like that pigsty moment) and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will (v 26).

Beloved, as we walk through this world, remember that we have been rescued by the grace of God through faith in Christ Jesus! Now it is our calling, our responsibility, to show others the way of escape…that they don’t have to be held captive by the lust of the flesh, this fallen world, or the hissing lies of the accuser (Satan). Every day, we must first remind ourselves that through Christ’s victorious death and resurrection, we’re no longer captives to the enemy as we once were (Galatians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 8:36)…then, let’s go make a way of escape for others.

“Lord, thank You for the freedom won on my behalf in Christ. As one rescued, may I open my eyes to the walking dead around me who desperately need a way of escape—and use me to show them the way.”

 

For His Glory

 

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 11, 2025

Unmoveable

“Therefore, brothers in all our distress and persecution, we were encouraged about you through your faith.” I Thessalonians 3:7 (HCSB)

His agenda was loud and clear to threaten and murder the disciples. His goal was to silence them, imprison them and do whatever it would take to extinguish their voice. Standing in the midst of Stephen’s stoning, Paul’s desire to ravage the church grew with intensity – nothing would stop him or at least that’s what he thought.

Traveling the road to Damascus, Paul was wasting no time in reaching his destination. He was on a mission to imprison believers, but God had other plans. Blinded by the Light, Paul was confronted by the very one He sought to silence. “Why are you persecuting Me,” Jesus asked. Now that’s enough to stop anyone in their tracks. Blinded by the Light, Paul followed Jesus’ instructions and headed into the city led by those whose agenda was just derailed.

The dramatic conversion of Paul turned a persecutor into a passionate believer who would spend the rest of his life proclaiming the gospel. Paul would endure shipwreck, beatings, stoning, sleepless nights, hunger, thirst – an endless list of suffering and persecution (2 Corinthians 11:24-27). And because of the depth of Paul’s persecution, he knew how vital it was to encourage others facing the same. His second missionary journey landed him in Thessalonica; a bustling seaport. The perfect place for the gospel to spread yet Paul’s time there was brief.

Severe persecution would follow those who courageously believed in Jesus. Their faith, love and endurance encouraged Paul in the midst of his own suffering. Powerful truth for us all – when suffering comes keeping the faith speaks volumes to those watching.

Can honestly say I’ve never been persecuted for my faith – maybe laughed at or talked about – but never suffered the way these believers endured. I can freely hold God’s word in my hands and read it whenever I like. I can talk openly about the gospel and not fear for my life or the lives of my family. But if I ventured outside our country, I would find my faith tested in ways I’d never imagined on many foreign lands. I pray I would stay firm, strong and unmoveable if I were faced with persecution and yet in the same breath, the ease of my life softens my resolve.

Across our world today, believers are suffering greatly for their faith. Beaten, murdered, tortured, hungry and thirsty – may we never forget to pray for those who boldly proclaim His name regardless of the price.

“Father, the courage of those persecuted for their faith convicts my soul on so many levels. We fear sharing the truth because of self and Your children in other countries fearlessly defend their faith because of their devotion to You. Move us from complacency and excuse to action surrendering all at Your feet.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 8, 2025

Swept Away

sept-14“I understand more than the elders because I obey Your precepts.”  Psalm 119:100 (HCSB)

Ever written a paper and desperately tried to meet the word count?  I remember doing a report in high school that was nothing more than pure “fluff.” Despite the fact this report and paper were a major portion of my grade, I tried to persuasively impress my audience of uninterested students.  My teacher definitely was not impressed with my oral presentation, nor did she enjoy my endless overuse of words typed on white paper just to fill space.

Unlike me, God doesn’t have any “fluff” in His word – it’s simply truth.  Psalm 119 is packed full of reminders and instructions about His words.  Despite the fact that this is the longest chapter in the Bible (176 verses), you won’t find boredom filling up His pages.  The sticky note – the take away – is crystal clear – reverence God’s words.  No hidden messages, no funny illustrations.  The psalmist’s passion for the word of God is felt in every verse.  The answer to defeating the enemy, the solution for living a pure life, the key to happiness, the quest for knowledge – we don’t have to look far to find what we need to thrive in this life.

Active verbs remind us that it’s not enough to just read or memorize these verses. Understanding is birthed in the pursuit of God.  Strength is wrapped up in the words we choose to sustain us.  Courage is found in the overflowing promises.  Confidence is unleashed in the presence of God’s love.  Hope is awakened when the weary lean into His whispers.  Abundant peace follows those who cherish God’s words.  Praise overflows when the heart is filled with gratitude for the giving of all we need.

Don’t know about you but chill bumps cover me when I allow my heart to be swept away with the awesomeness of One who pours out all so that I can drink deep of His wisdom and love. It’s the greatest read – the best version of me yet – to be drawn in and transformed by obeying God’s words.

“Father how blessed we are to have Your words before our eyes.  To pick up our Bible, our phone or turn on our computer and see Your words surrounding us.  Help us to never neglect or dismiss the power of Your words.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 7, 2025

Building An Ark

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (Proverbs 9:10, ESV)

It’s so hot out here.  My back hurts. Maybe I heard him wrong. My wife’s mad at me. My friends are laughing at me behind my back. Why am I still working on this thing every day? 

Imagine the conversation going through Noah’s mind as he faithfully worked on building the ark. God had given Noah specific instructions on how to build it. Noah immediately obeyed. But over a hundred years passed before the floodwaters came on the earth. Noah probably looked foolish to a lot of people during that time.

Many years ago, I felt the Holy Spirit telling me to do something very specific. It seemed just as crazy as Noah building that ark. It made me look a little radical – like Noah. At times I felt like giving up, wondering if I had heard the Lord correctly.

Then I went through a devastating season.

Just like Noah, in one quick moment, the entire landscape of my life completely changed.

God knew the flood was coming and he was preparing Noah. He also knew there was a catastrophe coming my way. He was preparing me. I had no idea what I was building. I just knew that I was being obedient to what the Lord told me to do. All the while being criticized and ridiculed for my foolish faith.

If Noah had not been obedient during those years of looking foolish to others; he wouldn’t have had the provision of an ark to carry his family through the flood.

In the aftermath of my devastating season, I come to understand that all those years God was teaching me to build an ark of faith. Teaching me to listen to His voice over family, friends.

Why was that so important?

When that season hit my life, I struggled. My feelings pulled me down into the current of devastation and hopelessness.

That season should have killed me. But wisdom taught me I could trust Jesus. And I kept holding on, one breath at a time. My ark of faith sustained me.

Once Noah’s family was on the ark, they probably felt relieved that he had listened to the wisdom of God. Noah had shown a reverent respect (fear) of God and chose to listen to His voice over man. In doing so, God gave Noah great wisdom and insight.

Before the tsunami hit my life, I looked foolish also.

Proverbs 9:10 tells us “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

To gain wisdom we need to seek out the Lord’s will for our lives, above others. Only God knows our future.

“Father help us to build a strong foundation in our lives that begins with fearing you and obeying your Word.”

For His Glory

 

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

 

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | August 6, 2025

Taste Testing For The Win

“In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!”   Psalm 34:6-8 (NLT)

My beautiful daughter was married a few years back and there were so many things we were excited about and cake sampling and food sampling were at the top of the list! Trying out yummy food for free and in small samples so we could justify the calories??  Who came up with this idea??  Yes! Sign us up-it was a win-win situation!!  And we did! We oohed and aahed and tasted yummy treats that we would not normally eat on a day to day basis. We moved forward with the menu and the cake. We received many compliments on how fresh and savory the food was at her wedding. We graciously responded, but in reality, all we did was sample it. We ultimately did not make the food, and we were not even present when the food was being bought, prepared, or served.

This is what God asks us to do in Psalm 34:8.  He tells us to “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”  He invites us to sample His goodness out. Try Him. He is so confident that if we really understand Who He is and how much He loves us, we will choose Him! Taste, not eat, not scarf down, not listen to someone else tell us how ‘delicious’ He is, taste Him for yourself. He will do the rest!

After we have that first bite of kindness, comfort, and unimaginable love, we will “taste” God’s goodness. He tells us not only can we hide in Him as our refuge, but that He will bless us and give us joy!

I was not intending to move forward in Psalm 34, but WOW! God keeps pulling me back to it, so let’s look at where we’ve come so far in Psalm 34:6-8.

When we are desperate, the Lord will listen, and He will answer.

When we recognize Who He is, He will guard us and defend us, even from ourselves.

While we are in the midst of these desperate situations, God tells us to taste His character and hide in Him and He can even give us joy. Not joy because of the painful circumstances but joy because of Who He is.

Don’t you love that when we are desperate, God gets it. He knows us and He knows we are weary and discouraged and confused and every cell in our body aches. I actually tend to lose my appetite when life hits hard. God does not call us to the table for a big meal, He does not tell us to rise and run to Me, He simply says, “Taste.”  He knows our desperation, and He asks us to talk to Him, remember He is the King of Kings, and to try Him out with just a little bite. He knows that if we do that others will see His kindness to us and how He has carried us. We are sharing Him without words.

I would encourage you to read Psalm 34 today. We can try anything to get rid of the pain and move forward, but God reminds us just a taste of Him is enough to see His goodness and find our safety in Him.

“Father, please show us today how we can have a ‘taste’ of You when we are struggling to see You in our most desperate situations.”

For His Glory

Terrie Tollerson
TRBC Women’s Ministry

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