Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 24, 2025

Why The Ripple Effect Of Sowing Matters

“And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” Genesis 29:25 (ESV)

I simply couldn’t resist when my fave tennis shoes were on sale. The Facebook post was for a limited half-price offer and my old ones were in desperate need of replacing, so I bought two pairs.  Browsing through some emails the next day, I noticed a receipt of payment from a utility company. Further investigation revealed the payment on the utilities was the same amount as my new shoes. No brainer here – the offer was a scam, and I had been deceived into thinking I got the best deal ever.

We see the reaping of deception scattered and taking root within Jacob’s family. His mother, Rebekah, told Jacob to disguise himself and deceive his father  (Genesis 27), and in today’s passage, Rebekah’s brother Laban deceives Jacob.

Laban knew Jacob loved his daughter Rachel. Yet on the day of their wedding, he presented his older daughter Leah instead. According to the customs of their day, Leah would have been veiled until she was finally alone with her husband in the honeymoon suite. With all the wedding festivities going late into the night it was easy to see how the truth was unknown until the morning dawned. Jacob, the deceiver, had been deceived and was reaping what he had sown.

Pastor Charles Stanley states, “You reap what you sow, more than you sow and later than you sow.” This principle of sowing (speiro)  and reaping (therizo) was an agricultural term understood by those in ancient times.   Speiro in the Greek indicates a scattering for future growth while therizo culminates in the harvest. Paul, however, uses this powerful imagery as a spiritual principle about our choices and actions – whatever we sow, we will also reap (Galatians 6:7).

We see this play out in the lives of Laban and Jacob. After the wedding deception, Laban agreed to also give Rachel to Jacob if he worked an additional seven years. Deceit began to cultivate a crop neither of them could have envisioned. Rachel was the love of Jacob’s life yet barren for years;  Leah was the fertile one bearing many sons yet unloved. Manipulation, envy and comparison would pit these two sisters in fierce competition against each other reaping a harvest of drama within their families.

Despite all the conflict, God graciously continued to bless Jacob’s life. He became exceedingly prosperous with large flocks, servants, camels and donkeys. The children born from Leah and Rachel would one day become the great nation of Israel – God’s chosen people.

God has given each of us the freedom to choose what we sow with our thoughts, words and actions. We never know the ripple effect our choices will have on the lives of others. If we sow to please ourselves and manipulate circumstances to fit our agenda, we’ll reap devastating, complicated consequences. However, if we sow to please God and obey His word then we will reap the abundance of His blessings. It’s the best deal ever to glorify God by sowing obedience and loving others.

I would be the first to admit, I don’t often think about the impact of my daily sowing. My mind tends to default to what serves me well at the moment versus considering others. God has been teaching me to pause,  pray and praise before I act. Pause to seek His wisdom and settle my emotions. Pray so my  motives are pure and then Praise the One who will give me the strength to sow well. What we sow on a daily basis can impact others in a negative or positive way. Let’s ensure our choices serve us and others well.

“Father, we are so thankful for Your grace in those moments when we fail to align our thoughts, words and actions with Yours. Teach us the importance of sowing well so the ripple effects we create will honor You.”

 

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 21, 2025

The Greater Joy

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”  Philippians 4:4 (ESV)

The book of Philippians has often been known for its repetitive use of the term joy.  There are numerous references (at least 10) to rejoicing or joy, so we would naturally assume Paul is in his happy place.  However, while writing Philippians, Paul is in prison for preaching the gospel. Definitely not my idea of a happy place – physically constrained. Yet Paul isn’t zeroed in on his circumstances or suffering.

As he opens up in Chapter 3, Paul unpacks the source of His joy – “Finally my brothers rejoice in the Lord.”  If we look up the word rejoice it references a feeling, happiness or great delight.  But when we put the word rejoice connected to the word “in” it takes on a deeper meaning. Rejoice in means to possess joy.  What’s that look like?  Simply put it’s moving from a feeling to a life controlled by the fruit of the Spirit which encompasses joy.  And the source of that joy is the Lord not our feelings or circumstances.

In a given day (or year) lots of things and/or people attempt to steal our happy.  We can start a day off great and within 5 seconds or 5 minutes, happy can quickly evaporate.  But real joy is eternal…joy is fruit….joy is evidence of God’s Spirit ruling over our emotions, circumstances and life.  The secret difference is “in”, we must take possession of the joy which is fully available to us as believers.  Even in the midst of life’s worst scenarios, we can experience and exhibit the joy found in the Lord – fully aware of His sovereignty and divine intervention in the story of our lives.

“Don’t let your happiness depend on something you might lose,” is how C.S. Lewis unpacks joy. We are securely His and nothing can take us away from God – not even our most strategic enemy. Money, careers, relationships, etc. may dissolve but God is forever by our side. Despite suffering and heartache, we can choose to rest joyfully in Him knowing He’s working through all things touching our lives.

In a given day there are many reasons to miss happy. Frustration, fear, stress, uncertainty; the list is endless. Yet, we can have true joy if we choose to actively possess what is already ours.  By yielding to the fruit of the Spirit, we like Paul can rise above happy stealers and encourage others along the way.

“Father, our eyes can easily get locked into temporary pleasures and when they fade discouragement can settle in. Help us to rejoice in You regardless of what is happening around us.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 20, 2025

God’s Power In Us

“Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think….”   Ephesians 3:20  NET   

Funny how we can read something over and over, maybe even memorize it, but the only meaning that comes through is the meaning we expect. Perhaps you’re like me — for years reading Ephesians 3:20.  All I saw was that God could do far beyond all we ask or think. Thank God for that, but it goes further.

What about that other part, “by the power that is working within us”?

Think about instances in Scripture where God’s power came through people. Remember when Jesus spoke to five thousand hungry men and their families? All they had were five donated loaves of bread and two fish.  He said to the disciples, “You feed them.”  God used the weak and uncertain disciples as instruments of His power.

Or what about when the angel of the Lord approached Gideon, who was threshing wheat while hiding from the enemy? The angel greeted him by saying, “Hail, mighty warrior.”  Gideon felt anything but mighty, yet as a willing instrument of God, he went out and conquered the enemy.

Or when the children of Israel were battling the Amalekites in the desert? The Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, prevailed as long as Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ arms. It was not the power of Moses, his staff, or Joshua’s military expertise that made the battle successful. It was the power of God working through all of them.

Or Daniel, when King Nebuchadnezzar had his frightening dreams? Daniel could never have told the king his dreams or interpreted them accurately. But by the power of God working within Daniel, he knew exactly what the king had dreamed and what it meant.

So as you go through your day, and your week, and your year . . . bear in mind that those things you think you can’t do—you’re probably right if you try them on your own. But by “the power that is working within us,” we can be God’s instruments. Knowing that should give us courage when God says, “Go and do,” and we don’t see any way to do it.

“Father, we are weak and powerless on our own. Help us to be willing instruments so that when you say, “Go and do,” your purposes can be accomplished through us.”

For His Glory

Cherie Harbridge Williams
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 19, 2025

The Woman Caught In Adultery

“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. John 8:3-4(NIV)

This story from John 8 has always intrigued me and scared me. The shame and humiliation of being caught in sin, right in front of Jesus and everyone, scared me. Yet, if I’m being real, when I sin, it is right in front of Jesus. This woman is not so far from where you and I stand. The sin may be different and have different consequences, but our sin is never hidden from Him.

One of the things that has always intrigued me about this story is that Jesus did not acknowledge or call out her sin until everyone else was gone. She knew what she had done, and she waited. She could have run while Jesus was writing on the ground. She did not. She faced her Lord, as she called Him, and waited for His direction, “Go and sin no more,” He told her. That was it!

I cannot wait to get to Heaven and hear what the rest of the story was. Did she talk with Jesus and ask forgiveness? Did she fall at His feet and cling to Him? Where did she go after what we can only imagine was the very worst moment in her life? Did she have a friend or a mom or a sister to cry with and celebrate with?  Did the man ever contact her or was he just someone the religious leaders used to set her up? Oh, the questions and the wonders. Oh, the pain and the shame. But, oh, the love and the forgiveness.

There are so many ways to look at this story and to feel it in our gut.  My heart breaks for this woman who was drug out “in the very act.”  When you sit on that for just a moment, the raw humiliation is gut wrenching. As the story continues, we find out she was yanked out with the worst of intentions, in a frenzied act, and without understanding as to what was going on. As soon as Jesus got involved, the intentions of others did not matter anymore, there was calm in the air, and the woman understood exactly what was going on. We do not know her emotional state at the moment, but we do know she waited for Jesus after the others had drifted away.

It may seem so unfair that she was treated this way, and the man was not brought out in the public square. And it is. So wrong every way you look at it. Yet, as only Jesus can do, He can make something beautiful out of the wreckage of our life. He gave this woman freedom, a glimpse of His unconditional love, and the opportunity to have a new life.

That is Who He is and what He does.

“Lord, thank You for loving us enough not to let us live in our sin, but overwhelming us with Your grace and making all things new.  You are AMAZING!”

For His Glory

Terrie Tollerson
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Mercy

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 18, 2025

Making Calves

“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we do not know what happened to him.” Exodus 32:1

The events of the Israeli Exodus are amazing. The Lord rescues them out of slavery in Egypt through inflicting plague after plague on their captors. Then, after completely pillaging their neighbors’ gold, clothes, etc., these millions of men, women, and children get to waltz right out of the country toward the Promised Land. Then, there’s the whole walking-through-the-sea-on-dry-land thing. And the miraculous daily bread and water from a rock. Did I mention the very presence of God leading them? But then…Moses goes up the mountain to meet with God. The Israelites even saw the glory of the Lord on the mountaintop as Moses went up.

Oh, those silly Israelites. It didn’t take them very long at all to forget and freak out. Despite everything they’d seen and experienced, they decided to turn to a worldly “god” to take over their trek. In fact, Moses’ brother, Aaron, (who he’d left in charge) took the lead in the idol-making, idol worship, and plain old debauchery. He had all the people bring their gold, he melted it, then he made a calf for them to sacrifice to and worship. Like little kids whose parents leave the room for a few minutes, they figured they knew best…they’d do things their way. It’s a fascinating read, chapter 24, with all the features of a Netflix drama. My favorite part is when Aaron claims innocence by saying that after the people gave him their gold, he simply threw it in the fire—“The calf just kinda popped out, Moses, I swear!” (Insert eye roll here.)

And honestly, much of the desert journey is like this. God’s people—again, despite being led by a pillar of smoke by day and fire by night, as well as having never-ending food from heaven and clothes that don’t wear out—gripe and complain. They look back with longing for the “delicious food” in Egypt…while putting on blinders to, I don’t know, that whole slavery thing. They literally are walking miracles, yet they pine for the used-to-be. The golden calf is a vivid example of their panic-turned-doubt. Instead of standing firm on God’s faithfulness, they turned to what the world had to offer.

Feeling the ouch yet? If you are a Christian, the scenario above can seem all too familiar. Upon surrendering to Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are freed from the slavery to sin. We are given the Bread of Life (and the daily bread of God’s Word), as well as Living Water. We have the very presence of God in us. We are literally walking miracles: we once were dead, and now we’re alive in Christ. Oh, but we get so silly…

We’ve experienced the miracle of new life in ourselves and others, we witness the glory of the Lord through answered prayers, healed bodies, changed lives. But then, like Moses’ absence from the people, we suddenly feel abandoned and alone. We ask ourselves, “Where’s God?” The doubts and questions flood and we panic. So, we build a proverbial golden calf…we “go back” to our old way of living, our familiar sin that feels so good (at least, we tell ourselves that when viewing them through rose-colored shades). We don’t recall that those things (our idols, lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life—1 John 2:15-17) only lead to destruction and death.

Friend, your very life and mine are a miracle. We must stand firm on God’s faithfulness—He is ever-faithful. Nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:31-37). Even if we “feel” otherwise, know that the Lord is always with us and will never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Let’s take a lesson from the Israelites and not follow their lead. Let’s trust in God…and stop making calves.

“Father God, you are faithful—even when I’m faithless. Help me stand firm on the Truth of who You are…and who I am in You.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 17, 2025

Why Confirmation Is Tricky

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to you.”  James 1:5 (ESV)

“How have you been doing?”  Those are the words I hear each year as I go in for my annual physical. My nurse practitioner wants the scoop on what’s happening with my health. And if I’m smart, I won’t dismiss this important opportunity to unload my questions and concerns while I have her undivided attention. But if I paint for my nurse a false reality, then her ability to guide and help me will definitely be hindered. We can’t leave out details and expect a correct diagnosis.

Sound familiar? Sweet friends, we often follow suit when it comes to not only issues with our health but issues in our lives. How many times have we invited a friend to coffee with the intent to gain insight into a challenge we are facing? We purposely select our wisdom givers. We collect our thoughts and know exactly what we are sharing. And, we actually know how to sway their response in our favor.  After said conversation ends, we walk away with total confirmation of how we thought we should handle the situation.

One big problem here ladies – if we selectively picked our audience and if we selectively shared details in order to confirm our pre-determined decision – we have totally missed the benefits of wisdom. Wisdom gleaned from godly friends should always be aligned with the word of God. By setting the stage, we have robbed ourselves of godly insights from those who can speak His truth and love into our lives.

If we genuinely desire wisdom, then God’s word is very clear. He is the source of all wisdom and with God, we can’t camouflage details or omit critical facts. There is nothing hidden from God’s view. He knows it all including our past, present and future. God sees every angle. He knows any self-serving agendas to achieve our desired results. And He knows our tendency to seek confirmation from those in our circle who can be deceived by  our “so called partial factual evidence.”

Sweet friends, the pursuit of wisdom started in the garden (Genesis 3:6) and it continues today. Eve desired the wisdom of God, yet she entertained conversations with the enemy. Rather than look to God as her source, she allowed the serpent to zero her focus on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The forbidden fruit once consumed resulted in disobedience and the birth of sin entered our world. When we choose to disregard God’s wisdom, we too land in a spiral of consequences we never imagined.

God alone knows what will serve us best, yet the seeking of His wisdom is totally up to us. If we humble ourselves, if we are honest with the godly people He brings into our lives, if we seek Him in prayer and in His word then God’s best will rise up to the surface. God’s wisdom may not look or feel the way we want, but ultimately it will lead us in the right direction – the one that glorifies and honor’s God.

“Father, You graciously give us the choice of choosing Your wisdom. Help us to resist the temptation to seek confirmations that align with what we desire. Teach us to know Your word, trust Your heart and welcome godly counsel.”

 

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Hope, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 14, 2025

Happy Valentine’s Day

The Valentine season is upon us! It is estimated that 27.5 billion dollars will be spent on this day in the US alone. That averages to about $188 per person, if you’re interested!

Yet, it is a day that merged two unloving occasions together-the day at least one martyr, Valentinus, was executed for his faith in Christ, and a day that celebrated a lewd Roman festival on February 15th. Over the years these two have been recognized as one day, Valentine’s Day. Many think it became a day remembered for love due to Geoffrey Chaucer’s and Shakespeare’s references in their writing, but the first Valentine in America was made and sold in 1847 by Esther Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts. And so it began….

Now, I love wearing red and pink and heart earrings and reminding my favorite people how much I love them, so I am not insinuating we shouldn’t celebrate this day.  What I want to remind us is that Valentine’s Day was not started as a measure of how loved we are-whether we receive a dozen roses or whether our heart is breaking or if we are anywhere in between.

I want to remind each of us that we are loved every single day of the year, regardless of where we are on this day.

The King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, says you are unique, you are loved, and you are special to Him. He designed you and He thought about you before the world was created, while He was hanging on the cross, and every single moment since. God’s Word tells us He showed us the greatest love of all, “There is no greater love than that a man would lay down His life for His friends.” (John 15:13 NLT) He showed the ultimate love. Believe it, accept it, and double check your emotions with it.

If this season doesn’t meet your worldly expectations, remember that your Father in Heaven adores you. You are desired, you are wanted, you are cherished and you belong. If this season meets all your worldly expectations, remember that your Father in Heaven adores you. You are desired, you are wanted, you are cherished, and you belong.

Take a quick internal check this Valentine’s Day and make sure these truths have sunk deep into your heart. We want to make it a habit to not measure ourselves by what this world screams at us-on a day that began with nothing to do with love-and know we are deeply loved by the One who created it all. Spend time with God and tell Him how much you love Him!

“Lord, thank you for loving me unconditionally, holding me close when life is hard, and never leaving me. I love You.”

For His Glory

Terrie Tollerson
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Love

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 13, 2025

One Way…One Truth…One Life

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NIV)

“Where do we go when we die?” asked young 11-year-old Gunner of his ailing mother, who responded with a chuckle, “To the Cheesecake Factory!” This dialogue happened in a movie I recently watched, titled The Water Man, and it was meant to bring ease into a situation that is difficult for a young boy to handle, such as watching his mother fight an incurable disease. Nonetheless, it made me think about the seriousness of the matter.

It seems like the vast array of information being disseminated through the internet nowadays is making unbelievers everywhere. People have too many “gods” from which to choose. Some idolize their bodies, while others idolize their careers. Some idolize their kids, their pets, famous artists or even their dead. Oftentimes salvation and heaven are subject to joke and ridicule.

The abundance of sects and false religions dangerously place souls at stake, doubting the sovereignty of the Almighty King of the Universe, as meditation and other practices gain millions of adepts everywhere.

Matthew 5:13-16 tells us that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world; we are instructed to help the people who are perishing without knowing the Lord as their Savior. Yet, many times we embark on the wagon of doubt and misbelief ourselves, either because we are facing tough times or because we are engaging in relationships that take us far from the Lord.

Now is as good a time as ever to reroute our path and seek the Lord, as He is the source for our redemption and comfort; He is the sunshine amidst the darkness; our shelter amidst the storm. There is one way, one truth and one life and His name is Jesus. And His home is not called The Cheesecake Factory; it is called heaven.

“Dear Lord, we need You. We need the help that only You can give. Please help our belief and hold us steady.”

 For His Glory

 

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 12, 2025

Echos of Faith

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” Hebrews 13:7 (ESV)

History has never been my fave subject. All those dates, events and people were way too much for me to keep up with in school. And to be honest, history was one of those subjects I just didn’t get why I needed to take it. When would I ever have to recite the Gettysburg address? Would I ever need to know when the American Revolution was fought or who started the Boston Tea Party? In my immature mind, I squeaked by history with a passing grade and moved on.

Fast forward to middle age and I’m walking the streets of Colonial Williamsburg taking in all the sites. Amazed at the way the history of our nation has been preserved and celebrated. Horse drawn carriages, reenactments, children fascinated with wooden sticks and street games without an electronic device in hand. Beautiful day to experience the culture, food and intrigue of how our nation was established. And now that I’ve walked those streets myself, I regret my lack of enthusiasm and desire to learn about our nation’s history.

Whether we are a history buff or not, we can learn a lot from the past. Significant events recorded, shared and remembered long after those people left this world. Seemingly unimportant journeys now but when we look back and examine the path, we can find inspiration, wisdom, motivation and courage. We can learn how to avoid mistakes. We can choose to step back rather than run ahead when we calculate the cost of other’s actions and their consequences. We can unfold the pages of hard decisions and sacrifices and realize the benefit of pressing on despite difficult challenges. We can glean from their history while at the same time writing our own for future generations.

Fast forward 100 years from now – what will be the impact of our lives? Who are those people who will hear about the history of us and our faith walk? Will our legacy continue to be passed on from one generation to the next? Godly influence is not a given it is earned by those who are intentional in following after God. I want to be one of those whose authentic, real struggle with faith propels others to keep holding on to Jesus and never letting go.

“Father, I love the sweet words of Hebrews echoing the story of real people whose faith walk inspires us to trust You completely.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 11, 2025

Who’s Your Hur?

“Joshua did just as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. So it came about, when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed; but when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. And Moses’ hands were heavy. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. So his hands were steady until the sun set. And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” Exodus 17:10-13

If you’re not already doing so, please spend time daily in the Bible. God’s Word is so amazing—and every book and chapter, from Genesis to Revelation, points to and reveals Jesus. It’s living and active (Hebrews 4:12), and the Holy Spirit will consistently show you things you never saw before…even from verses you’ve read seemingly a thousand times. Don’t know where to start? The book of 1 John is a wonderful launchpad to a Biblical view of the Christian life. I say all that to say this: In reading Exodus 17 the other day, I came upon the Israelites’ first battle post-Egyptian-escape and smiled at the beautiful scene in verses 10-13 that struck me afresh.

See, the millions of Israelites who Moses led out of slavery were not fighters—they were brickmakers/layers. But to enter into the land that God promised them, they had to defeat and conquer the enemies currently in the areas they needed to go. These were God’s enemies too, by the way. Enemies He promised to help His people overcome by fighting for and with them. This journey to the Promised Land is full of the Israelites grumbling, doubting, complaining, and disobeying—but that’s way too much to go into now. Suffice it say that in this, their first battle, they went in faithfully. Moses went up a hill overlooking the battlefield, taking Aaron (his brother) and Hur with him, along with the staff of God. As he held the staff high, the Israelites prevailed. But when he lowered it, they would start losing. According to my favorite commentary, the staff symbolized God’s personal and powerful involvement. Moses’ uplifted arms represented his appeal to the Lord. And the upholding/lowering of the staff demonstrated the people’s dependence upon God for victory—not their own strength and zeal (per John MacArthur’s Study Bible).

All wonderful insights. But what the Holy Spirit reminded me of in reading this familiar scene is this: We all need Aaron and Hurs in our walk with the Lord. To uphold our arms as we grow weary of our own fight. To remind us of our own dependence on the Lord. To encourage us with words and actions.

Friend, who supports your hands (and heart, mind and spirit) in your battles? If you have an Aaron and Hur in your life, praise the Lord! Cultivate those mat-carrying friendships (Luke 5:17-26) through consistent time, authenticity, and intentionality. But you may be thinking, “Huh, I’m not sure who I could call on to walk up a mountain with me and support my arms toward a victorious outcome.” Beloved, please make this a priority in your life. We are not meant to walk through this world alone—the Lord made us for community.

So, if you need to find your Hur (her), let’s get practical.

First, if you don’t attend a local church, GO! The post-Covid online opportunities for worship have made many Christians lazy. The Bible is clear that we’re not to give up meeting together (Hebrews 10:24-25). So, get out of your pajamas on Sunday and go to church! If you go, but don’t know anyone there beyond facial recognition and a weak, “Good morning” greeting, SERVE! By joining a serve team (greeting, pouring coffee, holding babies), you’ll get to know your church family members and start fostering friendships. Bonus, you’ll be filled with the joy of the Lord in the service of others (Acts 20:35). Feeling lost amid the big Sunday crowd? JOIN! I’m certain that within whatever kind of church you attend there are small groups (aka, life groups, family groups, disciple groups, etc.). This is how we forge strong bonds—meeting weekly in small community to dive deeper into God’s Word, share struggles and wins, and pray for one another.

Girls, your Hurs are out there. Go. Serve. Join. And enjoy the victory.

“Lord, You made us for community—to be a reflection of the inherent community within the Trinity. May I vigorously pursue and intentionally cultivate relationships that bring me closer to my sisters…and to You.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

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