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

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 10, 2025

Everyday Teachable Moments

“With many similar parables, Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.” Mark 4:33 (NIV)

I’ve never had an eye for a great picture – in fact, I’m usually the last person asked to capture those special moments. My snapshots typically miss the mark on so many levels. My vacation pictures have more stray ground shots than the beauty of a sunrise. So thankful for friends who capture those memories for me.

While I’m totally okay with my lack of snapshot ability, I love the way God gives me picture-perfect moments of deep truths about Him and His love. There’s absolutely no substitute for personal teachable moments when God uses the normal day to day visuals to show me more of Him, His grace, truth and love.

What’s God’s snapshot look like? Well, to be honest, it’s really hard to put into words. Why? Because each of us are surrounded by everyday moments ready to teach us more about our Creator God and how He longs for us to interact with Him. But it takes an intentional focus to zero in on the lessons unfolding right before our eyes. It requires a lessening of distractions and a quieting of our inner spirit. Where our focus lands could be the perfect lesson worth anchoring our souls to and it could be just the right one to share with others.

As a writer, God beautifully shares these snapshots with me. As a mom, I loved teachable moments when I could explain life principles to my son. Visual illustrations driving home a key aspect of how we are to live out our faith every day. By asking God to show us the story within, we glimpse Biblical principles in a way we never imagined before.

Now, these snapshots aren’t a revolutionary new spin. Jesus used parables (word pictures) to teach His followers, skeptics and even us today. The word “parable” comes from the Greek word “parabolē,” which means “comparison” or “illustration.” Parables typically involve everyday situations and people, making them relatable to a wide audience. By using parables, Jesus enriched the understanding of Biblical teachings and transformed the spiritual journey of his audience. These beautiful illustrations made people think more deeply and glean the moral perspective of the story. The nonvisible became visible as the parable unfolded.

So where’s your gaze these days? Are you looking for God’s snapshots in your everyday life? What pivotal truth catches your focus and invites you to understand Him on a whole new level? How can you use those moments to shed light on someone else’s perspective of God’s amazing love, grace and truth?

“Father, we are truly blessed! Praising You for all those snapshots and parables You use to transform us from the inside out.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 7, 2025

Getting It Right…When The World Has It Wrong

july 25

“Then Peter began to speak, now I really understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, but in every nation, the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him.”  Hebrews 10:34-35 (HCSB)

Different starts at an early age – we see someone and we innocently ask, “Momma why is that lady so fat.”  Those were the words my four year old uttered at the checkout line.  The lady in front of us was different from us and his curious mind wanted an explanation.  Filled with embarrassment, I moved us over to another line and don’t even recall answering that question.

Fast forward many years later and I was the one confronted with someone very different.  Her words rushed out so fast, I couldn’t comprehend much of what she was saying.  The color of her skin matched my tanned summer glow, but her accent was very distinct.  There were lots of differences, but as we turned our eyes off the differences and focused in on God, we watched a beautiful friendship flourish.  I can’t imagine my life without this sweet friend –  so thankful that God maneuvered us past the differences.

Differences can often lead to wrong explanations.  Too often, we lump people into groups that we like or dislike.  We generalize their character and simply assume anyone that looks like or talks like them acts the same.  We judge easily and excuse away our perceptions, but is that how God sees the world? Would I have viewed my friend differently if God had not been a part of the equation?

It’s easy to think our world has changed, evolved and eliminated favoritism or discrimination – but just listen to a newscast and we won’t be so easily fooled.  God, however, has never changed. He created each of us uniquely different. And He loves every single one of us.  God sent His Son to die not for one or many but for all the world.  The invitation is wide open to anyone who chooses to believe, to anyone regardless of their social background, economic status or color of their skin.

God sees the world through the lens of love – wouldn’t we be wise to do the same?

“Father help us to embrace each other’s differences and share the amazing truth of Your love to all our world.”

 

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 6, 2025

Igniting A Fire Of Words

“I said to myself, “I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me.” But as I stood there in silence—not even speaking of good things—the turmoil within me grew worse. The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words:…”      Psalm 39:1-3  NLT

There are few confessions in the Bible more honest and blunt than this confession of King David. My first thought as I read that was, “Been there, done that.”

Haven’t we all promised ourselves to watch our actions and our tongues? When you’re in a stressful situation, don’t you steel yourself and rehearse in your mind how best to make your point?  Your blood pressure rises, and it’s almost like the fight or flight syndrome, except it’s something you’re passionate about and it’s too important to flee. So you take a stand.

It’s easy to walk in under our own power, having the best of intentions. But when you listen to your opponent speak words that sound like complete nonsense to you, or that you believe to be outright lies, the game changes. Like Israel’s greatest king, the more you think about it, the hotter you get. Before you realize it, your mouth has opened and the fire of words has escaped. Or you have typed it into social media and clicked “send.”

Let’s step back for a minute. It would be life-changing if someone could invent a button that, when pushed, words could be unsaid, allowing us a re-do; or something put on social media could be erased back to the moment before it was written. That inventor would be a wealthy person. But no such gizmo exists. The angry tone of voice, the insulting turn of phrase, or the confidence you betrayed hang in the air like a poison cloud. You can’t un-speak it.

Go down to verses 7 and 8 of that same Psalm 39: “And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. Rescue me from my rebellion…” A close relationship with the Lord is our only hope. None of us can consistently hold our tongues under our own power. But the Spirit of the Lord within us is the same Spirit that enabled the Apostle Paul to speak eloquently and persuasively on many occasions when he was in chains. And the same One that can forgive us when we fail.

“Father, we admit to being too human at times in our reactions to stressful situations. We pray that You would help us to stop, listen to You, and speak Your wisdom instead of our foolishness.”

 For His Glory

 

Cherie Harbridge Williams (www.cherieharbridgewilliams.com)
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 5, 2025

Keep Walking

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners,  nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord,   and on His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2 (ESV)

Have you ever been at a party and you heard a conversation that piqued your interest? You were walking by, heard something that made you pause and turn around, and then you stood and slowly became a part of the group. Perhaps the group moved outside to the patio and before you knew it, you were sitting down on the patio chairs with a coffee in your hand, wholeheartedly engaged in the discussion. You are now totally immersed in what is being said and the people around you. You went from being an observer to being fully engaged.

In Psalm 1, David shows us how quickly this can happen to us regarding our faith.

David, the shepherd boy, warns us in Psalm 1 that we can go from being an observer in the things that do not honor our God, to becoming fully engaged in walking away from our faith in Jesus. David may be remembering how the enemies of his sheep would attack. The enemy would never come through the gate, but as John 10:1 tells us, the enemy climbs over the fence to get to the sheep. It is when we are least expecting it or are least aware that the enemy makes his move. It is not when we are walking by, but when we pause and listen and loiter.

David is advising us to keep walking when we hear or see things that do not align with God’s Word. We feel the pull to pause, just for a moment, we tell ourselves, but that moment can quickly extend, and we find ourselves standing there, lingering where we should not.

Proverbs 3:5-6 warns us not to trust our own wisdom.  If we are not discerning, we can begin to accept  worldly wisdom and we will then find ourselves sitting among those who do not believe He is The only Way, The Truth, and The Life. (John 14:6)

We are being reminded to be active participants in our faith, and to willingly decide to follow Jesus and love His law every day and every night. As Psalm 1:2 states, “His delight is on the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night.”

We can go from walking by, to stopping to stand and listen, to sitting comfortably, before we know what has happened if we do not take God’s warning seriously and continue to keep walking past what does not honor Him.

“Lord, help us to seek You in each moment of each day. Prick our hearts when we begin to engage in anything that does not honor You.”

For His Glory

Terrie Tollerson
TRBC Women’s Life

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 4, 2025

Unseen Not Unnoticed

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 6:1

Social media has created look-at-me monsters in our society, birthing the selfie (which was not actually a thing at one point, I promise), as well as this warped need for likes, followers, and digital “communities” that aren’t really communities at all. Whether photos, posts, or shorts, everyone publishes what makes them look good—their highlight reel, so to speak. (Now, in recent years, there’s been a desire to post rants, sobbing sessions, and breakdowns—all with the thought that these are also fabulous ways of making a name for oneself. We won’t go down that road here.)

On our socials, a photo shouts, “Look at my incredible vacation in the tropics!” (With a subtext of “I’m a little better than you.”) And “Don’t my children look perfect and sweet?” (The fact that everyone was screaming at each other moments before the camera clicked is beside the point.) We even want our do-good actions to be recognized—a Thanksgiving at the homeless shelter, a post-hurricane cleanup weekend, even a church mission trip abroad. Humans want to be seen. Acknowledged. Accepted.

I get it, believe me. Although I’ve not had social media for many, many years, a “Look at me!” craving has been a thing in my life. Even though I am the baby of three and only girl of my family of origin, my perception was always that I had to do a little bit more than my brothers to receive accolades (read: love) from my parents. [My parents were amazing, by the way, but we all make decisions through the lens of our own history.] In fact, a huge part of my testimony is me trying to fill a void of identity/acceptance with all kinds of destructive things the world promised me would fill that hole…but it’s the same God-shaped hole we all have, and—praise the Lord—I was able to cease my efforts and accept the grace of Jesus (Ephesians 2:1-10).

Even as a Christ-follower, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that I cannot earn salvation by my good works, there’s still that niggly voice in my ear while I serve during a Sunday service, picking at those old scars created by pre-Jesus destructive habits: “Be sure the staff sees what you’re doing—you’ve got to get those ‘Atta girls’…otherwise, what worth do you have? What good are you?” If you (and I) listen closely, you’ll hear it. It’s a hiss from the enemy. Maybe when tapped to pray aloud in a group, you use big, Christian-y words to impress. Or you give up something during Lent only to bemoan the agonizing lack when given a chance.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus knew we had a propensity for look-at-me attitudes and actions. In Matthew’s gospel (6:1-18), Jesus spoke strongly about doing what is right for God’s accolades alone—not men’s. He calls those who show off their righteousness for men, “hypocrites.” They get what they seek, Jesus says, which is only a meaningless reward of fleeting atta-boys. But when we serve and give and fast and pray, we’re to do so only and always for the Lord—for the reward of pleasing Him. We’re to do good works to glorify God and point others to Him (Matthew 5:16). We love and serve and give because He first loved and served and gave to us (1 John 4:19). In fact, whatever we do—work, eat, drink—we’re to do as unto the Lord with thanks (Colossians 3:17; 23).

Sweet friend, you are seen. You are known—and you are a miracle (Psalm 139). And when you surrender to Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are no longer a slave to sinful desires. You are free, a child of God (Galatians 4:1-7). You do not have to work to earn His love and acceptance—it’s a gift. So, you can drop that heavy burden that weighs you down…trade it for His peace. Yes, we will “do good”—we must! But it’s not to earn the atta-girl or atta-boy. It’s in response to the overwhelming love and ridiculous grace that He has given us.

“Lord, how precious also are Your thoughts for me, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the sand (Psalm 139:17-18). Thank You.”

 

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 3, 2025

Bold & Courageous

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Not sure about you, sweet friend but rarely do I feel “bold and courageous.”  My tendency is to capitalize on my inabilities rather than trust God’s equipping and abundance of abilities. My zeroing in on “me” often robs “me” of the glory God desires to birth if I would simply choose to act and walk in His confidence.

This year, I’m approaching Bible study in totally different ways and one of them was to study women in the Bible. I’ve been using Shannon Bream’s book entitled “The Women of the Bible Speak” which side note would make for a great group study. As I read and studied these women, I found a common theme – they were all bold and courageous and like us they didn’t even realize those traits in themselves. Here’s just a few examples:

Ruth was courageous in leaving her family, culture, and friends to go to a foreign land with her mother-in-law. She boldly and courageously lay at the feet of Boaz her kinsman redeemer. (Ruth 1:16-17, Ruth 3)

Tamar was courageous and bold when she ensured an heir for her family through Judah. Showing Judah the way of righteousness, Tamar proved herself to be one who stands for right when no one else has the courage to do so. (Genesis 38)

Deborah was so closely aligned with God that she didn’t doubt His word when He ensured the people would be victorious in battle. She spoke truth with confidence and didn’t allow the unboldness of one man to deter God’s plan. (Judges 4 – 5)

Jael was quick and clever in driving a tent peg through the skull of a man who had cruelly oppressed God’s people for over twenty years. Acting decisively, she defeated the Israelites’ enemy with one blow and propelled the people into a time of peace. (Judges 4 – 5)

And we can’t forget the boldness and courage of our Savior’s mother, Mary (Luke 1:41-45). Boldly she accepted God’s assignment of carrying the Christ child in her womb. Courageously, she released him to ministry and never left his side when the cross birthed his suffering and death (John 19:26-27)

Wow – in a culture where women were devalued, quieted and ignored, God chose to equip these women for boldness and courage. Perhaps He is asking us to do the same. Our individual stories will look different, but we can do whatever God asks of us in godly boldness and confidence. Even seemingly small choices can carry great impact.  The bold choices of these women caused a chain reaction around them ultimately shaping history.

Where do we need God’s boldness and courage today?

Perhaps it’s facing a work challenge. Could it be sharing our faith with someone? Or is it taking a bold step of obedience which will have an unknown ripple effect? Perhaps it’s answering the call of God to serve others. Could it be walking through a journey of grief and sorrow yet stewarding that season well? Or is it navigating uncharted territory we never imagined? Perhaps it’s learning how to love challenging people. Regardless may we pursue boldness and courage and make 2025 the year we didn’t shrink back but pursued God wholeheartedly.

“Father thank You for planting boldness and courage within all Your children. As we move through this year help us to follow Your lead and not shrink back in doubt or fear.”

 

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | January 31, 2025

When The Answer To Why Isn’t Enough

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 (ESV)

As children “whys” seemed huge as we grasped for a reply. Any answer would do; we just wanted to be heard and understood to know there was some explanation for what our minds couldn’t wrap themselves around. And we would relentlessly ask the same question until someone gave voice to our search.

Not quite so simple as adults. Our whys are really huge, and we won’t settle for just any reply. We want truth even if the depth of it drowns us. And sometimes what we didn’t want to hear does drench us head to toe.

Ever been there when totally comprehending the why just isn’t enough? Believing something else seems better, prettier, softer, and easier to manage. Accepting the illusion is more comforting and less exhausting. We don’t want the truth, yet reality keeps stealing away our dream, and the answered why unveils a darkness we never dreamed.

So what’s a girl to do when the answer to why isn’t enough? Won’t deny there may be tears, frustration or denial; normal responses to hard places. Our God is big enough to handle all our emotions. Yet it won’t excuse away the chaos that may follow. Our God is big enough to handle all the drama. He understands our longing for a different chapter and a happy ending. Yet, despite what we want, He allows the unthinkables to touch our lives.

In those moments when the truth is more than we can take, we learn to treasure deep His abiding presence. We sit in silence knowing that He hears our heartbeat and feels our heartaches. We drench the pages of our worn out Bibles with fresh tears and cling to His promises. We trust what God has allowed and steward what He has entrusted to us. For His glory alone, we release the brokenness and allow God to use it to make us more like Him. And one day, we will meet someone else whose answers to why are more than they can bear. Arm in arm, prayer by prayer, truth by truth we will walk them through reminding them that God’s faithfulness always supersedes the answers to why.

“Father, Your light shines brightest in our darkest moments – teach us to trust in You alone and not our circumstances.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | January 30, 2025

Time Out -The Ego Fight

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18 (NIV)

If you have siblings, you’ve probably engaged in a word fight with them at some point. When children fight, they go back and forth saying things to one another until one of them tires and the fight ends, though sometimes someone will be crying inconsolably because she ended up in the losing end of the fight.

Sometimes, we adults engage in word fights with one another as well. The big difference between children’s arguments and adults’ arguments, however, is that we seem to find strength in digging up dirt that we know will place the other person in a defensive position and often coward away. Imagine two cats fighting and hissing at each other. That is all fine and dandy; until one of them decides to get its claws out and scratch her opponent right in the eye.

Some people will, during an altercation, use the very things they know about, which have caused the other a lot of pain and hurt.  They will vomit them out in a way to make it sound like that person deserved all the suffering she has gone through in life, even knowing it has taken a long while for that person to heal.

Now, that is simply evil, wouldn’t you agree? But that stuff does happen. People do those things out of spite in the heat of the moment and do not even blink between sentences.  When they are done, the other person is broken, depressed and vulnerable all over again.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to guard our mouths and our hearts against hurting someone in such a manner. Words can be tough and once they are out, they cannot be taken back.

It is best, during a heated discussion, to take a “me break” and go find a spot where we can regroup.  Let’s talk to the Holy Father and ask for discernment about how to deal with the situation, hopefully, to encourage and edify instead of tearing down.

 

“Dear Lord, we are human, and we do things we come to regret. Please help us to not hurt others out of spite when our ego feels poked.”

 

For His Glory
 

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | January 29, 2025

Do Our Thoughts Matter?

Here we are at the end of January and so many of us wanted to have a new year, a new you, a new beginning, a new anything…!!!!  We wanted the chance to start over or try again, but we just find ourselves doing the same thing over and over without any real changes. We are a month in, and can you honestly say what has changed?  Can you see what you are doing differently? It is not lost on me that there are only 11 months left of this year, and I need to get moving. But what am I moving toward? I  can get frustrated and overwhelmed and then I end up staying the same and another year goes by. Let’s not allow that to happen in 2025. How can we really change then?

As always, there’s a verse for that:)

Romans 12:2(NIV)  tells us, “ Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but  be transformed by the renewing of your mind…

There it is-the key that we are looking for! We need to allow God to use His power to change us through our thought life. Not only to change it or just use willpower to think positive thoughts, but to truly renew or transform our thoughts.  That we will not think as we did before. Verse 2 continues, “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

This is more than just thinking positive thoughts.

This is a picture of the caterpillar who goes into the cocoon and while he is there, he is changed. Not because of anything the caterpillar did, but because of the way God designed the cocoon. Being transformed is going into our cocoon of prayer, Bible study, worship, meditating on Who He is, and allowing God to change us, to transform us. As our insides are changed, others will notice it from the outside, just as we see the caterpillar is no longer a caterpillar, but a beautiful butterfly. As Moses looked after he spent time with The Almighty, our outside will show it and be a testimony to others to “prove” Who He is. (Exodus 34:29-30)

Whatever area you are wanting to change or move forward in, God can renew our minds when we allow Him to, and we choose to spend our time in the cocoon with Him.

“Lord, help us depend on You and Your strength to renew our minds. Please keep us from falling back into patterns of this world, but let our thoughts align with Yours.”

For His Glory

Terrie Tollerson
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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