Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 27, 2024

A New Creation

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

When you meet someone new, how do you describe yourself? By your job? Your hobbies? Perhaps you share some notable personality trait. And what about the people who know you already—how would they portray you?

The most important perception—the only one that matters, really—is that of God. So, how do you think He sees you? Does the thought of answering this question make you cringe? Maybe you immediately begin thinking about where you’ve been in life and what you’ve done…and your head hangs in shame. There are choices you’ve made, whether last week, last year, or several decades ago, that you know weren’t in line with God’s Word. And even if you’ve accepted the grace of Jesus and know you’re forgiven, you can’t forget your past…and you believe God sees all that junk about you as well.

Sisters, here is the truth: When we trust Christ and surrender to Him, our sins are both forgiven and forgotten by our precious Father! “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). They are “cast in the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19) never to be drudged up—so let’s not do any fishing either.

Even more miraculous and wonderful is the fact that we are made new when we accept the gift of salvation. “The old has passed away.” Do you know what that means? When the Lord looks at us, He sees pure righteousness and perfection because of the blood of Jesus. No past errors, no bad habits, no dirty sin. We are made white as snow. New. And if someone were to ask God to describe you—yes, you—He would say this: “Oh, isn’t she beautiful? Because of My Son, she shines like the sun.”

So, think about this next time someone asks you about yourself. Or, better yet, grab onto that truth when the enemy of our souls, Satan, comes at you with all-too-familiar accusations, like, “Don’t forget about all your failures,” and, “You’ll never be good enough.”

Stand firm, sister, and respond with boldness. “I am a daughter of the King, and I am a new creation in Him.”

“Jesus, thank You for creating in me something brand new! Let me always remember who I am because of what You did.”

 

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 26, 2024

Partnering With God

“Answer me, O Lord for Your steadfast love is good; according to Your abundant mercy, turn to me.” Psalm 69:16 (ESV)

Don’t we just love those verses like “Ask and it will be given to you…” (Matthew 7:7).   Or how about the one “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith (Matthew 21:22.) Better yet, “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14).   We pray for it, believe it and we get exactly what we want – sounds like the best conversation ever, right?

Our obsession with getting exactly what we want can definitely take us down the wrong path.  One filled with disillusionment and disappointment.  Just keeping it real here – but we don’t always know what we need, what is best and what honors God’s will.  We view our requests with temporal pleasure in mind – what works for me right now.  But sweet friends, our loving Father responds with eternity in view. He answers yes, no or maybe with a transformative perspective aimed at birthing spiritual growth in us and ultimately glorifying His name.

What’s this birthing look like?  Well, I don’t know about you, but I know how it often looks for me.   You see we entertain prayer as moving God to do and act; we simply sit back and wait.  Experience teaches me that God works in and through me as part of the solution.  It may be an attitude adjustment. It could be I need to take a specific action on my part.  At times it has meant leaning in close and surrendering to the sacrificial role God wants me to play that I intended for others to fulfill.

Wow – that’s like really hard, isn’t it?  While praying strategically over a situation recently, I had no idea that part of the answer was me.  I was ready for God to move heaven and earth on my behalf.  Totally convinced He heard my pleas and cries for His help.  Before the sun began to rise, knees hit floors and scriptures were prayed claiming God’s divine love and mercy.  I had no lack of confidence in His ability to resolve  and intentionally line up all things in my favor.  Reality was, God wanted me to be one of the extenders of mercy.  He desired for me to not just pray but partner with Him.

Love this quote from Tony Evans: “We must have God’s perspective on our situations, not relying on our own. We perceive only the temporary.  God sees the eternal.”  The answer to my prayer was changing me from the inside out because God longs for my heart to align with His. He saw the eternal value in transforming my prayers from simple requests to deep spiritual growth.

How I love God’s deep abiding love for us.  Never settling to leave us the same, rather inviting us to gather at His feet, rely on His wisdom and partner with Him.  Can’t think of a better place to land than fully trusting and leaning on God.

“Father, how tempting it is to resist change in us  and seek our own solutions.  Help us to gather at Your feet and follow Your guidance trusting You completely for the best answer to our prayers.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Mercy, Prayer

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 23, 2024

Without Compromise

“The land we (Joshua and Caleb) passed through and explored is an extremely good land.” Numbers 14:7b (HCSB)

Standing strong, firm and unmovable in the face of opposition requires incredible courage. Delivering a message that contradicts with the crowd in the midst of thousands requires godly boldness. Unwavering in the promises of our God even when others doubt requires holy trust.

Joshua and Caleb met the test without compromising, shrinking back or going with the crowd. When Moses sent them with eight leaders to check out the Promised Land, these two men saw victory where the others saw defeat. The team of ten brought back the fruit of the land proclaiming God’s truth – the land was flowing in abundance. But then the report split with eight leaders filled with fear and warnings to the two who envisioned God’s deliverance. Only Joshua and Caleb were willing to look beyond what they could see. If God’s word was truthful about the good of the land then He was fully capable of handling the bad.

Easy statement to write – hard to digest. How often do we trust God for the good, visible and easy truths, yet abandon His abilities in our challenges? The enemy seemed larger than life to these leaders and often our enemies overwhelm our vision to the point that we minimize the largeness of our God. We shout His praise and faithfulness in the good, but lag and doubt when the battle gets hard.

Glorifying God, even in the face of the enemy, standing firm and strong will be the defining moment in our lives. Let’s be the one who doesn’t cave or give in – let’s prove to our world that we will not waver – God is able to do more than we ever imagined.

“Father, help us to be women who display incredible courage, godly boldness and holy trust – glorifying Your name always!”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 22, 2024

From Strength To Weakness

“God arms me with strength, and He makes my way perfect.” (Psalms 18:32 NLT)

Why would you want to be that? Why would you want to be strong? My, how the Lord had changed my perspective. I remember struggling over the very same issue. Moments of weakness that I wanted to run from drove a need to set aside weak and pick up strong. If only I could.

Barely a teenager, as one parent left and then the other, a teacher declared that one day I would be so strong. I equated that to work, and work I did. Picked up talents that I admired that were never mine to perfect. Studied for career heights that I couldn’t quite grasp. Thought travel, money and title would bring contentment; that didn’t. And with a mess I called my life, behind the façade of strength and accomplishment were disappointment and struggle. Slowly, my empire would tumble. And in the rubble of lost hopes, dreams and plans was my God.

My Bible teaches that God is strong: He is strength in times of trouble; all things are possible; God is the saving refuge of His anointed; vindication is in His strength. As I ran to Him in heart and attitude, I was markedly aware of my weakness. And in time, realized that my weakness was good. Good because it allowed Him to be strong. I was able to set aside my need for strength and rely on His abundant ability to be strength for me. And in His strength was the protection, peace and purpose which was the very place I had longed and searched for so long.

Now, this middle-aged woman sat before me detailing the events of a hard life of lack. She had lost much and found such pride in her strength. But, why would you want to be strong? I knew better. I knew the struggle. I knew the loss. But, I also knew that I am weak. My only strength that is lasting, sure and worthy of mention is the strength of my Creator who knew all about me and still chose to love; love to the point of death. As the world thrust its weaknesses on Him, He chose strength that would last into eternity and be indestructible.

“Father, may I be weak knowing that You are strong. May I let a lost and dying world know the One whose strength is the only answer to sin and selfishness.”

For His Glory

Kathryn Hayman
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 21, 2024

Count It All Joy

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness, have its full effect,  that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 2-4 (ESV)

Many years ago, I had a pastor make a decision concerning me that was hurtful. It was so devastating, there was no way I could stay at that church and sit under his teaching. I left and went to another church. For years I replayed conversations in my head of things I would say to him if I ever saw him again. I had been wronged. I wanted to be vindicated for what he had done. Then one day many years later, I received a phone call from this pastor’s wife. She and her husband both wanted to apologize.

For a year prior to this hurtful thing happening, the Holy Spirit had been prompting me to leave. My husband and sons wanted to leave. We talked, prayed and debated over it for a year. But the hold up was me. Simply because this little church was my “comfort zone.” The people in this church had been more like family to me than my own biological family. This was all I knew. Fear kept me stuck in what was comfortable. Then this thing happened and leaving was the only option. When we started at our new church, my sons and husband fit in immediately. It took me a little longer to adapt. I felt so broken. I didn’t want new relationships I wanted to go back to my old friends and way of doing things

By the time the apology phone call came, I had already made peace with what had been done. An apology wasn’t necessary. While my heart hurt deeply over what had happened, the steadfastness of my walk with Jesus had produced peace in the pain. In time, I found the strength to reach out to others and start over.

I had come to understand what James was saying.

At the time it wasn’t joyful. My heart broke, and I cried for a long time over it. But years later I could see how I could count that trial as joy because it propelled me to move out of my comfort zone. And once I embraced that trial and significant change in my life, my life changed for the better in ways far too numerous to share. It was a catalyst for growth and a whole new life.

When God tells me to do something now, I do not allow fear to hold me back.

“Father, Your Word tells us our trials have a purpose. Help us to expect trials and when they come to not give up. Remind us that it is okay if we don’t know all the answers because You do. Help us to seek You for wisdom to handle the trials that come our way.” 

For His Glory

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

 

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 20, 2024

Toddler Observations

“I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid.” Genesis 3:10

Although I’ve read Genesis many times over at this point in my walk with Christ, a wonderful Lent devotional I’m doing this year included Genesis 3:10, and four words popped out at me as if I’ve never seen them: “and I was afraid.” The devo author also noted (yet not even as his main point) that when sin entered the world, so did fear. He moved on, I did not.

It struck me to the core that there was no fear—and no fear of God—before sin. No shame, no hiding from God. No separation from God. Just a perfect relationship (with God and between Adam and Eve) of unashamed love and unabashed joy.

And then my mind leaped to what seems like a lifetime ago when my two boys were toddlers. Their unashamed love and unabashed joy (before their perspectives were filtered with the dimness of reality). Another toddler observation is this: when they do something wrong, they hide. Somehow (well, not really “somehow”, but because they’re made in God’s image with God’s law written on their heart—Hebrews 8:10; 2 Corinthians 3:3), they know two things: (1) that they did something wrong and (2) that there will likely be consequences/punishment for said thing. Because they are tiny people, the hiding is cute—especially when they think they’re “hidden” because they can’t see you, so in their little minds, you can’t see them (as by simply covering their eyes to become unseen).

Another toddler thing (not so cute) is this: when they want to do what they want to do, they run away from us parents who would say otherwise—or at least they’d try their best to do so. They pull with all their might to free themselves from mom’s hand. They struggle for release from being held in daddy’s arms (usually to keep them from harm or trouble). Oh, toddlers.

Oh…us.

Doesn’t this sound just like us in our relationship with our Father God? It all started in the Garden with our original earthly parents, but nothing’s really changed. We sin (because we’re sinners), and we hide from Him as if, like said toddler and his momma, God doesn’t already know where we are. And when we want to go our own way—to think we have a better plan than God does—we pull away (or run away, as the case may be). We pry our ignorant little hands out of the Father’s to pursue our fleshly desires at the altar of self-worship. Because of the fall in the Garden, this is our propensity as humans: to sin, to hide in shame, to try to be the god of our own life. The result? Fear and separation. Fear of judgment and punishment (even if subconscious), fear of being found out. And we create distance from the Creator who loves us and designed us for a perfect relationship with Him.

So (and this is where the toddler analogy breaks down), we can and must choose to run back to the Father. In confession and repentance—and forgiveness. Sin leads to fear. There’s fear of admitting our sin (confession) and then refusal to repent (turn and go the other direction)—usually because of shame or pride. And, friend, when our sin leads to fear and hiding and separation from God without stopping the cycle, our just Father will judge us. There are consequences for being out of a right relationship with Him. But when sin leads to confession and repentance, our Father is quick to forgive (1 John 1:9; Ephesians 4:32)! In this repentance that leads to forgiveness, fear evaporates (2 Corinthians 7:10; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 34:4)!

As believers made right with God at salvation, we still do the above cycle to lesser and lesser degrees in our sanctification journey. (Until we’re perfected with the Lord, that’s our plight in this fallen world.) However, for those who have not yet surrendered their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, it’s an ongoing lifestyle, this fear and running. But it doesn’t have to be! All it takes is admitting there’s a problem, confessing that only Jesus can make the way of reconciliation, and BAM! Forgiveness and a new life of wanting to please God are yours! Again, there is the battle against the world system, the enemy, and our flesh on the road Home, but this walk can be fearless when we stop fighting Him to go our own way…and simply trust the loving, forgiving arms of our heavenly Father.

“Father, You are Good. And You are Just. But when we are in right standing with You through Jesus, there is no more judgment to fear (1 John 4:18).”

 

For His Glory

 

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Freedom, Hope, Mercy, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 19, 2024

Why Baby Steps Really Matter

“Blessed be the Lord! For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.” Psalm 28:6 (ESV)

I remember the exact moment he took his first steps. We were ringing in the new year when my six month old bundle of joy (Chris) decided to venture across the room. My earth shattering scream of excitement sent him tumbling to the floor. Thankful for soft landings. No one expected him to walk so soon; after all, he never learned to crawl.  And because of Chris’ chunkiness, his journey to walking ended in lots of tumbles, bruises, bumps and trips to the Emergency Room. Those little legs weren’t ready, but Chris was determined. Simply putting one foot in front of the other, he gradually got stronger, braver and moved faster. Every little step really does matter even if we wobble.

Ever found yourself attempting to get back up – to recover after a fall? Perhaps it was a long journey away from God landing us in the pig pen with the prodigal.  Maybe it was a slow leak of character resulting in costly, unwise decisions. Could it be that a crisis reverted us back to lesser gods (alcohol, addiction, immorality, etc.) which never served us well?

Regardless of why or where we landed, releasing the comfort of staying down positions us to get stronger and braver. Easier said than done my sweet friend. Satan loves to whisper shame, failure, and regret when we can’t even find the strength to crawl. And if we entertain his voice, we will zero in on the tumble versus looking up for recovery.

Nothing sounds sweeter to our God than genuine words of confession and repentance. A broken spirit and sorrow-filled heart ushers us into the presence of our healing and restoring God (Psalm 51:17). He stands with open arms waiting for us to return and cover us with His loving kindness, mercy and grace.  And the best part, God doesn’t leave us to fight this battle alone. Just when we thought we couldn’t take another step, God strengthens our weary souls to keep moving forward. Empowered by His might, we transition from defeat to victory one step at a time.

For those who may be attempting recovery never forget:

  • God is patiently waiting for your return
  • God’s love for you is non-negotiable
  • God already knows where you’ve been
  • God will never give up on you

For those who are watching, waiting and praying for one who has fallen:

  • Praying God’s word lightens and transforms our agenda
  • Resist shock when steps forward revert to steps backward
  • Listen with an open, humble heart
  • Recognize we all tumble along the way
  • Exercise tough love bathed in prayer
  • Never forget the significance of even wobbly steps

Despite our determination to recover and/or respond well, we all need God. Life gets messy, we get messy, but God specializes in transforming our ugly into glorious beauty.

“Father, give us the courage to take intentional steps back to You. And if we’re the one waiting for those we love to run back in your arms, help us to lean into Your strength and never give up.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Mercy

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 16, 2024

A Life Well Lived

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.” Romans 1:8 (ESV)

Ordinary that’s probably how most people might describe him.  Extraordinary definitely not.  His height and weight simply average.  Not a standout in a crowd.  Could easily be overlooked or ignored.  Despite these surface descriptive words, I’m in awe of how God used this one person working in a corporate setting to impact the lives of so many.

My co-worker left this world two years ago for his eternal home.  Boldly and courageously battling cancer for many years.  Always positive. Never giving up.  Not allowing challenges and struggles to define him; it propelled him to share his faith and inspire others. What a difference one life lived well can make.

Wonder if we minimize the potential influence we have in our culture, in our circle, in our sphere?

The way we live out our faith speaks volumes to those we don’t even realize are watching.  How we respond under pressure.  How we react when mistreated. How we do our job.  How we interact with or talk about our family.  Who we serve even when others look away. Incredible opportunities to share our Jesus with our world by living out our faith on a daily basis.

As co-workers reflected on the one who was no longer with us, a common thread flowed from person to person – “His faith was real.”

Wow, don’t we all want to leave those imprints on the heart, soul and mind of those we meet?  Isn’t that the ultimate goal of every Christ follower to live their life in an authentic way drawing others to God?

Just keeping it real here, but we miss the mark on so many occasions.  We get caught up in the drama. We allow stress to eliminate kindness and patience.  We lose sight of the words we say and excuse our actions.  We abandon what we believe in the aftermath of suffering, challenges and pain.  We zero in on self and follow what everyone else is doing versus helping those in need.

Yes, we all get this so wrong.  In those moments, Satan our accuser (Revelation 12:10)  seeks to devour us.  Playing those tapes of how our life hasn’t been lived well.  Drenching us in shame and guilt.  Convincing us of all our wrongs clouds the good God wants to birth in and through us.

Sweet friends, we can listen to the enemy’s lies or we can cling to the truths of our God.  No moment is beyond His redemptive power.  Our God is long suffering and full of patience as He completes His good work in us. Blessed by His grace,  we can experience second chances to right our wrongs. Lessons learned along the way so hopefully we won’t miss opportunities to draw others to Jesus.  Reminding those around us “our faith is real.”

We might forget a lot of things about our co-worker, but we will never forget his impact.  Even on his hardest days, he encouraged and inspired us to live out our faith so others will see Jesus in us.

“Father, help us to be bold and courageous living out our faith before a world desperately in need of seeing Your strength, love, power and peace.  Keep our eyes fixed on You and not our circumstances.  Enable us to remain faithful even in our hardest places.”

 

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 15, 2024

Absolutely Fearless

“Remain alert. Keep standing firm in your faith. Keep on being courageous and strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NIV)

Several years ago, I was living in Indiana and sharing a home with my middle son, Andre, and his three boys. The house has a nice backyard with lots of trees, and right in the middle of it sits the biggest and tallest pine tree I have ever seen in my life – a green monster, towering way beyond the height of our house and all other trees in the yard.

When I first moved into this house, I walked to the backyard and wondered how in the world that pine tree had gotten so tall and wide. Yet, not in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that just two days later I would be calling out to two of my grandsons to get down from the top of that tree. I swear those boys are absolutely fearless!

Since the day my grandsons climbed to the top of the pine tree, I have pondered how I sometimes get discouraged to proceed into something that seems too large for me to tackle. Have you ever felt like that in your own life experiences? Perhaps you are fearful of endeavoring in a new venture such as pursuing a degree or perhaps you are frightened by a new job or ministry responsibility. Perhaps you are scared to try to start the family you have always dreamed of having because the cost of having a family extends beyond what your household income would allow.

I often pray and ask the Lord to give me boldness. Yes, boldness, but not just any boldness. I ask that He grants me Holy Ghost boldness, cross-originated boldness, the type of boldness that comes from Him and that can overcome any fear that gets in my way. Child-like boldness, the kind exercised by my 7-and-8-year-old grandsons who looked at the green monster in the backyard and didn’t even waver about being able to reach its top.

Friend, I pray that whatever it is that is keeping you from conquering your fear today will fall down when you believe you can overcome that fear by the name of Jesus, the name above every name, and at Whose name all will bow down, including your fear.

“Heavenly Father, You are our source; You are our refuge, our mighty fortress, our salvation. Nothing can withstand Your command. Calm our fears, oh Lord.”

For His Glory

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 14, 2024

Best Love Ever

“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love is eternal.” Psalm 136:1 (ESV)

Who doesn’t love a warm, sunshiny day right in the midst of winter? Spring and summer are my fave seasons, so I am totally loving it and holding on tight to every ray of sunshine we had last week. But like the flipping of a switch, the tease of Spring faded back to the cold and wet of winter all too soon. While I don’t like the frigid temps and chilling winds of winter, I’d much rather get it over with than endure fluctuating between the two.

Wonder how easy life would be if the weather was the only yo-yo we had to deal with? As women, our emotions can bounce all over the place. Hormonal imbalances and daily challenges can send us over the edge quickly. Our love thermometer can run from hot to cold in record time. Dare I even mention the scales that seem to fluctuate hourly as we age? Let’s just admit it sometimes we are more unstable, unpredictable and sporadic than the weather could ever be.

Love the way our God is never changing. His love is higher, deeper and wider than we dare dream. Steadfast, faithful and full of mercy, we can count on God’s character and love to never fluctuate. We don’t have to wonder if He loves us today, because He has promised to love us forever. God’s love is tough and holy always doing what is in our best interest. He never responds wrongly – forever gently leading us in the direction we should go. No imbalances are found in His redeeming love. No favoritism allowed. Simply more than enough love for all the world – even those who don’t believe.

We can’t read Psalm 136 and not know the depths of His love. Our mighty, Creator God moves with compassion and authority to protect His own. He remembers us, rescues us, provides for us and does awesome wonders on behalf of those He loves. God’s love is eternal, never exhausted or used up. Can’t even imagine a love like that – One who loves passionately even when we often don’t return His love.

Don’t know how you’re spending your Valentine’s Day, but mine will start with praising my God who demonstrates His love over and over again. The perfect read for my morning will be found in Psalm 136 rehearsing His goodness, proclaiming His faithfulness and drinking deep of His love.

“Father, we are so blessed by Your love. Help us to be reflectors of Your love to all we meet.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Love

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