Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 27, 2016

It’s Just A Snapshot

dec-27“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under Heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)

Our lives change constantly. Even things that used to be pretty stable such as where we live, where we work, and where we worship change more frequently than they used to. And just think about all the other details that can change at the drop of a hat. Styles of shoes, styles of dresses or styles of hair. How about favorite colors, favorite foods or favorite flowers?

But, what about friends?

Yes, even friends change. What used to be a vibrant friendship may have dwindled for no reason other than the fact that two people grew apart. And that’s okay. Or maybe the friendship is not healthy and the change is good for you. Yes, these changes can be painful. And we may even doubt ourselves with defeating questions such as “What did I do wrong?”, “What is wrong with me?” or “Why doesn’t she want to be my friend?” But, ultimately, it may very well be that the season for that friendship is complete.

Ladies, the next time we start to feel down about a friendship that we no longer have, let’s try and reflect on the verse for today: Ecclesiastes 3:1. Yes, there is a time for everything. A season for every activity. Times, and seasons, change. So do friends. We can trust in God to help us face these changes and the upsetting thoughts and feelings that come along as a result.

 “Dear Lord, Thank You for the gift of friendship. Thank You for the different seasons in my life and for being there for me during these changing times.”

For His Glory,

Laurel Shaler
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 26, 2016

Hope of Christ

dec-26“Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1:36-37 (NKJV)

God didn’t choose a season of newness and life to send the hope of the Savior. He chose the darkest, coldest season, winter. Winter is a time of great loneliness and sadness, and we need a light in the darkness. This is what Christ was born into. The light of the world came during the harshest season in the humblest of terms. No kingly fanfare, no warm welcome, just rejection at the inn and birth in a stable. Christ walked the hard paths on earth as we do. He knows human suffering, loneliness, betrayal, but knows the way to overcome them.

Just like God gave Mary the example of Elizabeth of how he can do the impossible, God gives us the resurrection to show the hope that overcomes the darkness of sin and death. This Christmas and New Year may the hope that was born in a manager give you light in the darkest days.

“Father God, Thank you for the gift of Christ and the hope that was born into the world. May we accept this gift with open hearts and let

For His Glory

Katrina Redman
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 23, 2016

Love’s Common Thread

dec-23“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21 (NIV)

Love Christmas traditions and memories etched in our minds from childhood.  Gathering with friends, I listened as each person shared their memory of Christmas’ past.   From the special gifts they received to the best desserts from Mom’s kitchen – each memory was unique and special.

We could see it in their eyes. Like the wide eyed wonder when tiny feet dance across the floor to reach gifts under the tree Christmas morn.  We could hear it in the depth of their voice – like the telling of the Christmas story.   We could feel it deep pulling at our heart strings.   Like a Christmas carol filling the silent night air.  And the common thread – well it really wasn’t about the presents, food or shopping.  Woven together in each story was a bond of love with family and friends.  Just like the very first Christmas when Jesus entered this world – love was the common thread.

Wonder what God’s favorite Christmas memory would be?  Would it be the moment Jesus took His first breaths?  Perhaps it was when the angels sang or the wisemen came.  Maybe, just maybe His favorite Christmas memory was wrapped up in us the moment we welcomed Jesus to be a part of our lives.

For the One who gave His all, for the One who spared nothing – the ultimate gift ushered in a chance for us to be redeemed.  Gifts that leave us wide eyed in wonder dancing through our days.  Gifts that leave us breathless and captivated.  Gifts that reach deep into our secret places and weave our hearts forever with His.

“Father, the gift of Your Son has changed my world  – best present ever.  Your endless love has captured my heart and I am forever yours.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

cpicWishing you and your family a

Merry Christmas as we

celebrate the birth of our Savior.

 

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Posted in Faith, Gratitude, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 22, 2016

Whose Party Is This?

dec-22“And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”  Luke 2:7 (NIV)

Christmas time is a celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is His birthday and He is the “star of the show.”  To a lot of people, however, Christmas usually means buying lots of presents to exchange with family and friends, and opening their homes for parties, which entail lots of eating.  I am not bothered by the gift exchanging, which is a reminder of the gifts that were brought before Jesus in that stable on the day He was born. I am not bothered by the eating, as fellowship with others usually involves breaking bread together. I am saddened, however, to see how our minds can be so enthralled in the gifts and partying that we forget the main reason for the celebration: the birthday of Jesus.

We all know the story too well. An angel announced to a young virgin that she would give birth even though she had never been intimate with a man. She accepted the assignment and praised God for choosing her. She and her fiancé travelled far to comply with the first census to be taken in their land and ended up in a very poor predicament: having doors shut in their faces with no room to accommodate her labor and delivery needs. Then, as a last resource, she lies in straw amongst animals in a stable and delivers her baby boy, the One sent by God to redeem humanity. His name: Jesus.

Fast forward, and here we are…. It’s Christmas. It is the birthday of our Savior. The question that I pose for all of us is this: Are we making room for the special birthday person?  Or are we, in our shopping mania and self-pleasing actions simply replicating the day when He was born, by closing the doors of our hearts with a “there is no room” message that keeps Him out of His very birthday celebration?

“Lord God, You do so much for us and we often do so little to deserve Your love. Please help us to proclaim the good news and to make room for the One who redeemed us!”

For His Glory

Luska Suzano
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 21, 2016

Perfect Gift

dec-21“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17 (NKJV)

Are you in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season and looking for the perfect gift?  Perhaps we should look closer to home and we may find it. I say this as I look down at a simple piece of candy, a cow tail. My husband whenever he is at the store and sees one he thinks of me and brings one home. It’s not the most expensive thing in the world but it’s full of love. To me that thought is the greatest gift. Another gift I get from my husband that doesn’t cost a thing is safety. Every morning that I am home and he has to head to work, he makes sure the door is locked. Again, it doesn’t cost a thing but that little action shows so much love and how he cares for me.

Every day little actions, a smile, kind word, or even a simple treat can be the perfect gift to someone. God sent us the perfect gift in the manager many years ago. That gift set off a chain of events that would lead to the gift of eternal life. Things of this world will pass away but the gift of love will last forever.

“Father God, help us to not get caught up in the “stuff” of life and focus on love. May we accept the gift of eternal life that was so freely given out of sacrificial love.”

For His Glory

Katrina Redman
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Love, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 20, 2016

A Recipe For Joy

dec-20“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”  James 1:2-3 NIV

During this time of year many of us are either cooking and baking or enjoying the delicious treats and delicacies from our family and friends.  We hear the Christmas songs, telling of tidings of comfort and joy, peace on earth, the most wonderful time of the year, and the list goes on.

It’s also during this time of year that many people are faced with circumstances beyond their control.  There are many of us going through “real” trials. We’re praying and praying and waiting on answers.  For some of us, it’s not the most joyous of times.  And it’s during these moments that God’s word reminds us to “…Consider it pure joy, …. whenever you face trials of many kinds.”  Consider it Joy? In the midst of a trial? Really?  Yes, really!

God’s word is filled with promise after promise to help us through our rough times.  He also sends encouragement our way through godly family members and friends.

If you find yourself feeling down during this holiday season, follow this simple 3-ingredient recipe for Joy.  Measure sparingly as the situation or circumstances call for. Bake as often as needed and remember to share with others who need to experience the Joy of the Lord.

Just a little talk with Jesus. Jesus implores us to cast our cares upon Him.  Talk to Him, He listens to us, He cares for us.  And the best part about it, He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Open God’s word, read it and meditate on it.  His word gives us understanding, it reveals His will for our lives.  His word will comfort and encourage us during those difficult times.

Yearn for the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, for the Prince of Peace came to seek and to save, to comfort the brokenhearted, and to give us joy, unspeakable joy.

“Father, we love You and we thank You for coming into the world so that we could experience true love, joy, and peace – not as the world gives but, that which only You can give.  Help us to share the gift of You to others this season, for You alone are the reason we live.

For His Glory

Cynthia J. McCoy
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 19, 2016

Broken For His Glory

dec-19“Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebody’s?”  Corinthians 1:27 (MSG)

I wonder this Christmas how many broke, tarnished and cracked ornaments we hung on our Christmas trees? Do we dare blemish our trees with unattractive trinkets?

Many years ago, my son’s first Christmas ornament from his Nana was an ostrich egg with an image of Pooh Bear. Fast forward several Christmases later, our tree fell and that ostrich egg was broken. I did not realize how much these ornaments meant to him until that moment. He was heartbroken to tears.

The next Christmas, the tree had been decorated for days. However, I noticed an ornament was hiding on the backside of the tree. Hanging out of sight where no one could see it. It was my son’s broken ostrich egg. That’s when it occurred to me, I wonder how many family members we treat like broken and tarnished ornaments? Loved ones we keep hidden from public view because for whatever reason are living broken, tarnished and cracked lives.

God makes heroes out of what the world may think are zeros! We all have a family tree and we can look at people on our family trees as ornaments. Even Jesus had an earthly family tree. One lady in particular on His tree was Rahab. She was the harlot of Jericho. Nevertheless, God used Rahab in a mighty way. She became a believer (Heb.11:31 & James 2:25) then saved her whole family when the walls of Jericho fell. Plus, she helped God’s people in the fight against Jericho.

Rahab went from zero to hero! Who would have thought this cracked ornament would find a prominent place on Jesus’ family tree? I’m happy to say Rahab reformed her ways. Settled down…married…had a son named Boaz and she became the great, great grandmother of King David.

Although we too are cracked ornaments and don’t deserve a place on Jesus’ family tree, He takes our shards of brokenness and uses it for His glory. God hangs us in plain sight for all the world to see. He displays us there because through his shed blood, we have been washed clean of our sins. Our sharp, jagged edges have been refined by His love and grace.

“Father, thank You for adopting us into Your family and taking us from zeros and making us into Your heroes.”

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 | December 16, 2016

Overshadowed By Us

dec-16“Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness  the mystery of the gospel.  For this I am an ambassador  in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.” Ephesians 6:19-20 (NIV)

Confident, bold, eloquent in speech – isn’t that what we’d love.  However, sweaty palms and quaking voice accompany us before speaking to a group or on stage.  Butterflies flipping in our tummy send us racing to the ladies’ room.   And after a few bouts of this, we decide we just can’t do it.  Our message, our testimony,  gets overshadowed by “us.”

The self- absorption we sweetly call the fear of speaking in public consumes us squishing away His message.  Yes, it’s our focus on “us” that steals away those moments of sharing our God story.  We throw out our bag of excuses in the presence of even a small audience and chose to silence our voice.  What if we say the wrong thing?  What if they remember our past and discount what we’re saying about God now?  And we didn’t even touch the lack of the right outfit or latest hairstyle to clinch the speaking in front of others deal.

Don’t you just love the way Paul left “us” out of his prayer to God.  His focus wasn’t on how he looked or his past.  Instead, the former arrogant persecutor of Christ followers simply asked for boldness in sharing the life changing gospel – the birth, life, death and resurrection of His Lord.  Wouldn’t we be wise to do the same and release the chains holding us back from speaking boldly in His name?

“Father, help us to eliminate the “us” and focus our hearts on being ambassadors of your life transforming gospel.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Spiritual Living, Success, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 15, 2016

And Let There Be Light

dec-15“And God said, ‘Let there be light!’ And there was light.”  Genesis 1:3 (NIV)

I am a lover of light. If I am at home, I like to enjoy the brightness of those light bulbs. But there is nothing better than sitting and enjoying the light of the sun touching my skin, or watching the sun setting over the Blue Ridge Mountains. And then, at night, savor the splendor and shine of the moon and the stars. I often jokingly greet the light with the famous, legendary Biblical phrase, as spoken by God in the book of Genesis, “Let there be light!”

Light brings out the shapes and sizes of what lies ahead of us. It illuminates the path, so we can see what dangers may be imminent, such as a cliff or precipice, or what hurdles may be impending. the presence of light exposes anything or anyone which may be hiding or concealed from sight, awaiting to prey on us, taking advantage of the darkness.

Jesus said in John 12:35, “whoever walks in the dark does not know where he is going.” Now, at the time He spoke those words, Jesus was speaking to the crowd that was attending the festival of tabernacles, and He was trying to prepare them for his eminent death. Jesus wanted the people to have a chance to choose between light and darkness, life and death, Him and the ruler of this world.

I was the first member of my household to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in June 1982. During my growing years, however, I witnessed my parents seeking God in all the wrong places, which involved my mother becoming a practicing medium in Spiritism. The meetings they attended took place in the dark, otherwise the “spirits” would not show up. As you can probably imagine, those practices infused terrible fear of the dark in my heart. I could never stay alone at home unless every single light bulb was lit; that was how badly I was afraid of the dark.

On the day I chose to publicly profess the Lord Jesus as my Lord and Savior all that changed. He filled the areas where fear indwelled in my life and gave me the assurance that even if physical light bulbs were turned off, He would be there in the dark with me. From that day forward I learned that the power that comes with the name of Jesus is way more powerful than anything else in the world and that if I want to be in light, I can simply call out His name, because He is light (John 8:12).

“Father, thank You for extinguishing darkness in our lives.”

For His Glory

Luska Suzano
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 14, 2016

Inspired To Love

dec-14“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God!” 2 Timothy 3:16a (KJV)

Have you ever questioned how deep your love for God really is?  I do!  I ask myself, “Am I loving Him with my WHOLE heart, soul, mind and spirit?”  What am I, that He would want fellowship with me?  And what can I do to give Him anything except a life full of past mistakes?

In my own devotions, I was getting to the middle of the Psalms when I read my own thoughts (Psalm 116:12, 13 NKJV) “What shall I render to the LORD, for all His benefits toward me?  I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD!”  There was my question and my answer!

What can I do for Him for all the things He does for me moment by moment? I can honor Him by accepting His gift of salvation and talk to Him!  This is so beautifully sung in the hymn by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir: “What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring Him a lamb….If I were a wise man, I’d sure do my part; so what can I give Him? I’ll give Him my heart!”

We can all do this–nothing is stopping us from interrupting our day at this moment and praying:  “Lord, here is my heart.  I offer it to You with all of its flaws, and I accept Your salvation.”

“O God, my Father, You give and give, while I seem to ask, to take, and to ask more.  Here is my heart, Lord; make it Yours, and Yours alone.  In love I pray.”

For His Glory

Sandy Day
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Prayer, Worship

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