Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 26, 2024

A Little Help From My Friends

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV)

Us independent people, you know like me, usually have no problem doing life solo. We press though when times get tough, we anchor down when storms rage and we coast through the mundane. From a distance, we appear to be ideal – never missing the mark.

Couldn’t be further from the truth. Despite our picture of doing it well, we’re really a snapshot of those who cheer us on and keep us real. Solo may steer us, but the real driving force is found in those we do life with.

Reminded of this today when a sweet friend texted about studying God’s word together. We’re in different cities, hours apart, but that has never stopped us. While she thinks she is the one who needs the discipline and structure, I thrive in our conversations over God’s word. She asks big, deep questions, ones I usually don’t have the answers to. But knowing we will be wrestling it through keeps me disciplined, focused and dependent on God’s wisdom.

While one might feel they are the benefactor of our insight, real truth is we both bring a lot to the table. We all need a little help from our friends – iron sharpening iron. Whether you are a mentor or mentee, God polishes us all in the realities of life. God’s word and the Holy Spirit’s leading enables us to gain personal revelation. And when we lock arms with another, the potential for growth is multiplied.

Desiring to flourish in 2024 – who will you personally invest in? Who will you seek out to invest in you? We need to pour out and we need to receive. God is great at orchestrating the right person we need and uses us to simultaneously meet a need for them. Best win – win ever!

Life is simply too hard to imagine solo. My sweet friend and I have been doing Bible study together for years. We don’t always agree, we don’t always get our reading done in time for discussion. Sometimes the urgency of life totally redirects our conversation. Grace covers us and love binds us. Nothing sweeter than a little help from our friends.

“Father, thank You for the gift of friendship which sharpens us, encourages and spurs us on to be more like You.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 25, 2024

Being Intentional

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV)

I was going through a season with numerous health challenges. Several things going wrong at one time. I was constantly in a doctor’s office followed by a visit to the pharmacy. Constant physical pain and not sleeping along with unwanted side effects of medications usually do not leave a person in a great mood. I was grumpy and less than social at my doctor’s visits.

At the same time, a new women’s Bible study was getting ready to start, and we were encouraged to invite new women.

One day as I was praying about my health, I felt convicted by the Holy Spirit about my attitude concerning my health –

This season in my life had a purpose and I should be intentional with it.

On my next trip to the pharmacy, I heeded the voice of the Holy Spirit. I was intentional about making small talk with the pharmacist and the pharmacy technician. Each time I came in, I made a point to try to connect with them in some way. In time, I invited two ladies from the pharmacy to Bible study and they came.

A few months after the women started attending Bible study, they shared with me that they both attended the same church I do. It’s a large church with several services so it’s not unusual that we hadn’t met before. My curiosity was piqued. What had kept them from coming to Bible study? The response was simple “no one has ever invited us before.”

Are you in a season of endless diaper changes, the days and nights are running together? Maybe you’re stressed trying to figure out ways to juggle your child’s school days versus school online. We all have seasons that we wished we didn’t have to go through. Seasons that seem to drain us. We may even tell ourselves that “this season is so bad, nothing good can come from it.”  Yet every season gives us an opportunity to witness for Christ.

Knowing this we must be intentional with everything we do – the mundane as well as the important.

Years later, I’m not only friends with those two ladies but everyone in the pharmacy knows my husband and me now. There are times I go into the store and don’t need anything from the pharmacy, but I’ll stop by just to check on them.

I gained friends and sisters in Christ all because I was intentional with my attitude and my time -while I was having a very unpleasant season.

Being intentional is the only way we will complete our assignment on this earth – spreading the gospel of Jesus to the world.

What opportunities are you missing to share hope with others?

“Father help us to be intentional with the opportunities presented to us throughout the day to witness for your Kingdom.”

 

For His Glory

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

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 23, 2024

Dress For Success

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” Colossians 3:12-14

Showing my Gen X colors here, but there was a time when “dress for success” was a thing. Going to work meant putting on a suit and tie or fitted skirt and crisp blouse. The idea was that you dressed sharp to display a positive attitude of competence and ambition. We dressed for the position we wanted, staying goal-focused in thought, word, and action. You could say that, generally, the workforce dressed to reflect their professional calling and personal aspirations.

As the Apostle Paul exhorts believers, he’s very adamant that we dress for success—taking off the offensive clothes that reek of our old sin-loving self and former ways to put on ones that reflect our new identity in Christ. See, we’re made new in our salvation, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:17-24), so we can’t possibly put on Christ (Galatians 3:27) when we’re still wrapped up in filthiness.

What clothing items do we need to remove, exactly? According to Paul’s respective letters to the Colossians (chapter 3) and Ephesians (chapter 4), these include: lying, stealing, obscene talk, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice. (Um, ouch.) Once we put those clothes in the trash (don’t even think about donating them!), what is Paul’s “what-to-wear” wardrobe advice?

We are to put on truth, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, forgiveness, patience. And you know how every outfit needs that one element that pulls it all together—a great jacket, for instance? Paul has similar instructions for our Christlike ensemble: “And above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:14).

Friend, this wardrobe transformation can be tough, as those old familiar clothes can be really comfy (even though they offend others). And it’s tempting to pull an item or two out of the garbage. But when we surrender our lives to Jesus, we get our own personal shopper, so to speak—the Holy Spirit residing in us, who gladly empowers us to dress in accordance with who we are in Christ (not were). Will we be perfect this side of heaven? Nope. But we can clothe ourselves in a way that reflects our true calling, our ultimate glorious ambition. Every single day let’s wake up and dress for success.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for making me new in Christ, holy and beloved! May I daily put on a wardrobe that reflects Your love, forgiveness, and grace.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 22, 2024

Words of Life

“I will proclaim the name of the Lord, Oh, praise the greatness of our God!”  Deuteronomy 32:3 (ESV)

Nothing touches the soul quite like music.  The rhythmic beat of joy keeps us on our feet.  Glorious words of adoration and worship propelling lifted hands high in awe and wonder of our God. Lyrics echo from our lips spontaneously after we hit replay over and over again – embedded in our hearts and minds.

While music engages us it can also serve as great teachers reminding us of God’s faithfulness and truths from His word.  And my fave is to hear the story behind a song – what compelled the writer to compose such impactful lyrics.

Deuteronomy 31 invites us into a pivotal backstory when God gave Moses a song to write down for the Children of Israel.  Moses’ death was drawing near, and the words God gave him were to testify against the Israelites. Knowing the hearts of His people, God was fully aware of their tendency to follow after other gods.   He knew once they stepped foot into the abundance of the Promised Land, they would reject the one true God.

Wow, not exactly the song we’d long to hear right?  Yet Moses gathered the people and recited the words from beginning to end.  We can find God’s lyrics in Deuteronomy 32.  The opening stanzas rehearse the faithfulness and glory of God’s character.  However, the preceding verses unpack the heartbreak of a people who would forget their Creator and pursue lesser gods.  The devastation, wounding and utter demise would follow the Israelites if they didn’t forsake all others and return to God.

When Moses concluded God’s song, I would picture a holy hush over the land. I would imagine stillness as Moses spoke, “Take heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law.”  No idle lyrics – just a profound caution  – God’s words of life.

The Israelites beginning as God’s chosen people didn’t prevent them from choosing disobedience and the pricetag God detailed would be high.  The same is true for us today.  God’s character is unchanging.  His holiness can’t excuse sin.  His righteousness demands justice.  Like the Israelites, we often cling to our God in moments of despair and hardship yet abandon Him when our life is full. We seek other pleasures and dismiss the safety of His laws which form a shield of protection around us.

If God were writing a song today, I wonder what His lyrics would convey about our tendencies to slip into sin and lose sight of His glory.  Would we hit replay over and over again so we wouldn’t forget His truths or would we simply switch to another song better suited to what we want to hear?

Sweet friends, we too would be wise to heed the wisdom of God’s song.  Remembering His character and integrity.  Shouting aloud the glories and wonder of His name so our enemies would cower in fear.  There is no god like our God and He longs for us to cherish His words.  Transforming words intended to birth life instead of death.  What will we choose?

“Father, You lovingly instruct us and warn us of the dangers of pursuing lesser gods which will never serve us well.  May the song of Your heart ever remind us of Your deep abiding love which seeks to position us for Your best.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 19, 2024

Why Just A Sliver Really Matters

“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! Psalm 51:2 (ESV)

Just one step out of the shower and I felt extreme pain in my heel. Immediately lifting my right foot off the floor, the pain ceased. So I attempted to walk again, but the pain returned the exact moment I placed my foot on the floor. Maneuvering to the edge of the tub, I examined my heel and felt a sliver of something sharp penetrating my heel. It was so tiny; I couldn’t even get a grasp on it to pull it out.

My first thought was, I need to wake up my husband (who had gotten home early morning from traveling). He could definitely help me, so I could finish getting ready for work. But I just didn’t have the heart to do that so I came up with Plan B.  Hobbling over to the sink, I brushed my teeth, dried my hair and put on my face – all while balancing on one foot. While this was quite an accomplishment let me just say it was tricky.  My balance was off as I swayed back and forth, and my one foot on the floor was tired of carrying all my weight. Plan B wasn’t working out too well in the long term.

As a last resort, I sat back down and tried once again to pull this shiny sliver of something out of my heel.  With breathless prayers and determination, I finally pulled out a sharp piece of metal. How could something so tiny create so much pain?

Ignoring even a sliver of a foreign substance can create devastating consequences. My imbalance could have caused me to fall. I definitely couldn’t have managed my entire day hobbling on one foot. Enduring the pain would have caused the metal to lodge further into my heel which could have led to an infection.

Sweet friends isn’t this the way of sin – just a tiny sliver of wrong creates a lot of pain and regret. Our choices big or small carry consequences and it’s not just regulated to us. Those we love are greatly impacted by our indulgence of even a sliver of compromises left unchecked. And the more we hobble around bearing the weight of our sin, the higher the consequences and the easier it is to give in to temptation.

Reality is no Plan B will work – we have to default to God’s Plan A:  Confess, Repent & Turn. Our God full of love, grace and mercy longs for us to pluck out the sliver quickly. To dislodge what is hindering our walk – the real walk revealing our actions and not just our talk. He wants us to examine our hearts and then seek His examination to reveal even a sliver of wrong thinking. Unchecked and undetected sin never resolves itself. We have to be intentional because even a sliver really matters.

Simply put, we get to choose – you and I can quickly pluck out the sliver or reap the consequences.

Don’t know about you, but I would much rather avoid pain than nurse it. I’d rather avoid the consequences than endure the fruit of my poor choices. And when it comes to those I love, I’d much rather honor God than create heartache for others.

“Father, search our hearts and show us if even a sliver of sin is sitting at our door. Helping us to confession, repent and turn quickly so we can walk in Your grace and forgiveness.”

 

For His Glory

 

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

Join us for In Beauty and Glory Conference this Friday (April 19) night at TRBC. No registration fee – just click on the link so we know you are coming. Excited to share this night with each of you – feel free to tell your friends – you don’t want to miss it.
Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 18, 2024

Loves Warning

“I (Jesus) have told you these things to keep you from stumbling.” John 16:1 (CSB)

At a resort that I managed in the tourist area of Central Florida, there was a large common area bordered by timeshare condominiums. We had a large pool, a shuffleboard court, and a children’s playground area. There was also a grassy area under a spreading oak tree with two picnic tables. The head of maintenance was skilled at construction, so I asked him to build a brick barbecue pit with a gas grill. It was a big, beautiful grill where families could have outdoor picnics, and it was popular with the guests. To be safe, I had a red plastic sign attached with instructions for using the grill, should someone inexperienced not know how to use it properly.

It was a big hit until the day a guest came into my office with very pink skin and his eyebrows singed off. I was horrified. It was hard to make out his explanation since he couldn’t emphasize enough that it was all my fault. He had gone outside to the grill to cook his burgers the evening before. He had trouble getting it lit, so he left the gas on while he walked back to his apartment, got a newspaper (the gas was still on), rolled it up, walked back to the grill, and lit a match to the paper. There was a huge WHOOSH. His eyebrows were gone, and his skin looked sunburned.

If you know anything about gas grills, you know enough not to leave the gas on for several minutes while you go do something else. The gas hangs in the air until it dissipates or ignites out of control. It was a blessing that no other guests were injured.

So now the guest was blaming me and the resort. I asked if he had seen the sign with written instructions. He said yes, but it didn’t say “Warning” at the top. He told me if it had said “Warning,” he would have read it.

Is that how some of us treat the Bible? It doesn’t say “Warning” in big letters, so we don’t take it seriously. We think it’s a book of suggestions. What a tragedy when we ignore the truths inside and our lives suffer. What a tragedy when we ignore the truths inside and create suffering in the lives of those around us. Singed eyebrows are nothing in comparison to the grief we create.

The Bible is much more than a list of “Thou shalt nots.” It contains warnings, certainly, but it is more. It is also a message from a faithful God who loves us and wants the very best for us. The warnings, wisdom, and guidance inside are ignored at our peril.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your written Word, which You crafted perfectly over centuries to show us the way to You. Help us to delve into it seriously and, through its words, keep from stumbling.

For His Glory

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

Join us for In Beauty and Glory Conference this Friday (April 19) night at TRBC. No registration fee – just click on the link so we know you are coming. Excited to share this night with each of you – feel free to tell your friends – you don’t want to miss it.

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 15, 2024

Sweet Relief

“…having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Colossians 2:14

Ah, tax season. Fun times. How do you play the tax game all year? Do you keep everything you can each payday in hopes of breaking even (or not owing too much) on April 15? Or do you let the government take bigger chunks with each check in anticipation of a fat return each Spring? (Well, not so much this year, I’m afraid.) Some of us just put our heads down and pay what we’re told, not thinking much about taxes (it’s just something that’s sure…like death, right?). Others of us know a lot, keeping up with our accountants—maybe even having thoughts about what a better/fairer plan for the IRS might be…like a flat tax for all. No matter what you pay or how you pay (from paychecks, purchases, or property), the fact of the matter is that we all owe.

Shifting from fiscal to spiritual, it’s also a fact that we all owe.

And friend, spiritually speaking, it’s a flat tax, so to speak: Everyone has the same debt and penalty coming—the debt of sin with a penalty of death (Romans 6:23). And no matter what games we play through our lives, we can’t decrease what is owed. Not by good works, big giving, or spotless church attendance. The balance sheet will never be in our favor—we cannot eradicate our debt by our own efforts.

Praise be to God, our debt has been canceled—paid in full when it was nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14)! Jesus lived the perfect life we could not, dying the death we deserve as a penalty, and defeating death by rising from the dead three days later. If you’ve ever paid off a huge financial debt, you’ve experienced the relief and freedom that results…this is like that, only infinitely better! Because our spiritual debt is removed, it no longer impedes our life or sets the path to a bleak eternal future.

To take our (slightly flawed) tax analogy further…think about those years that you finished prepping your taxes to find out that not only is there nothing due from you, but you’re getting a huge refund! It feels like a lavish gift, doesn’t it (even though it’s your own money, sigh)? Believing that Jesus’ work on the cross counted for you and surrendering to Him as Savior and Lord not only pays the full debt you owe, but you are also given an inheritance in God’s kingdom (Colossians 1:12, 22; 1 Peter 1:3-4). The righteousness of Christ—His perfection and holiness—is credited to you (Romans 3:21-22, 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9). Think about this…not only is your debt paid in full, you walk away infinitely wealthy, inheriting the eternal riches and glory of heaven! It’s kind of like your tax refund being a blank government check—giving you access to the US Treasury printing presses.

The weight of our sin debt is heavy. In fact, we cannot carry it, and we’ll never, ever be able to pay it. But God made a way. Jesus can take away your heavy burden of sin—and its penalty. It costs you nothing because it is a lavish gift of grace. So, this tax season, if you have not done it, hand over your certificate of debt to the Lord Jesus Christ. Be free of the penalty and bask in a glorious eternal inheritance.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to live the life I cannot and pay the debt I owe. Thank You that through Jesus I have been set free, not having to be weighed down by my sin any longer (Galatians 5:1; John 8:36; 2 Corinthians 3:17).”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

 

Join us for In Beauty and Glory Conference this Friday (April 19) night at TRBC. No registration fee – just click on the link so we know you are coming. Excited to share this night with each of you – feel free to tell your friends – you don’t want to miss it.
Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 12, 2024

When The Enemy Strikes

“Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18 (HCSB)

Never been fond of a fight- I‘ve always been a peacekeeper. Never enjoyed a confrontation or argument; I’d much rather settle. I’m a go with the flow kinda girl. But there are some things you just can’t give up.

When the enemy strikes, he comes with a raging force and we can’t give up the fight. Brave girls push through, cling to and raise their sword (God’s word). Wise women recognize that the real enemy is not the one stirring up trouble. Satan loves to divide and conquer. If he can get a wedge of discontent in the mix he will use it, grow it, nurture it and enlarge it.

God’s word reminds us that Satan is the great deceiver and father of lies (John 8:48), so wonder why we buy into and get led astray so easily.

Perhaps our exhaustion and busyness pull us away from our defense line (prayer) and opens us up to attack. Perhaps we slowly drift away from the truth (God’s word)– little compromises along the way. Maybe we just simply allow our emotions and thoughts to run freely without guarding our minds. Could it be that we lose sight of all that God has done, His power, strength and faithfulness? Whatever leaves us vulnerable, exposed and unprotected will not serve us well.

Let’s not give up the fight. When the enemy sneaks in, let’s partner together in prayer. Let’s cling to God’s truths and remind each other of who He is – our mighty warrior! Let’s forego the visible battle and determine to eliminate the invisible enemy. Let’s stay alert to Satan’s tactics and persevere in taking our stand against him. And in all things let’s praise the name of Jesus and we will watch the enemy slither away.

“Father, You have equipped us for battle. You have given us everything we need to be victorious. Help us to be ready to defeat the enemy in Your strength at all times.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 11, 2024

United In Our Diversity

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1 (NIV)

Today I watched a video that someone had forwarded to me via social media, and it warmed my soul. The song played in the background was a song by a famous Brazilian singer, Roberto Carlos, whose words spoke of things that he wished he could do (basically, speaking of impossible, wishful things) and the video was a collage of photos of animals spending time together, snuggling one another.

The interesting detail about this photo collage was the fact that the animals were not animals of the same kind. There were baby birds being cuddled by cats, zebras being hugged by elephants, puppies being snuggled by horses, and so on. The vast collection of photos displayed great diversity and unity intertwined in each shot. Those animals, however big or small, did not look at one another’s size, color, shape or communication sound; they simply displayed their loved for them.

As I looked at each photo, I smiled and thought to myself, “Wow, what if we, humans, could be kind and loving towards others as these animals, by loving unconditionally, in spite of one another’s differences?”

The scenes in the video I mentioned were scenes that we often only enjoy in the pages of a book, in stories written by authors who wished for those things when they penned the stories for their reading audiences. Stories of love, peace and unity!

The great Author of Life, the Sovereign Lord, had similar wishes for His creation. When God created humanity, He hoped that there would be unity amidst the diversity that He had created. I believe the best way for us to show God that what He created is worth the praises of a best seller, is to live our lives practicing love and kindness towards our fellow man.

“Dear Lord, thank You for creating us and for modeling love to us. Because You love us, we, too, can love others.”

 

For His Glory

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life

 

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 9, 2024

The Gospel According To Pirates

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:8-10

You probably looked at the title of this devo and thought, “What the what?” But bear with me while I explain. Recently, my husband and I rewatched Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the first movie in that series starring Johnny Depp—haven’t seen it in probably a decade. (Hold onto your hats…that movie is currently 21 years old.) Basically, Jack Sparrow, former captain of the Black Pearl, was trying to get “his” ship back. Meanwhile, the current captain and crew, who were all cursed (think zombie-like or dead-undead), were trying to collect all the cursed Aztec gold pieces they had stolen 10 years prior in order to break the curse and be made alive again. But in addition to needing all 882 gold pieces, they needed one other thing: the blood of another crew member who had sent one of the gold coins to his son. (They drowned that guy, “Bootstrap Bill”, so they actually needed his child’s blood.) It’s an entertaining, action-packed film that’s amazingly void of the cultural offenses of today’s films.

So, what’s with the whole “Pirate gospel” thing? Well, given my love (um, obsession) for Ephesians 2:1-10, my mind is always thinking about how one moment we’re dead in our transgressions…but upon surrendering to Jesus as Savior and Lord—BAM!—we’re alive in Christ! It’s a miracle in my life and others that never ceases to astound me (and I hope you feel the same).

During the scene where Jack Sparrow, after he also becomes a cursed undead, is sword fighting with the undead Captain Barbossa of the Black Pearl, I’m watching them move around the setting as clothed skeletons when the moon shines on them…when they’re out of the moonlight, they look alive. The bout takes them, visually, from alive to dead to alive to dead in moments. See where I’m going? What a great visual for salvation! Dead one moment, alive the next!

But what’s really cool about this unlikely gospel analogy is how the curse is permanently broken for the sailors: A blood sacrifice is needed…the blood of Bootstrap Bill’s son, William Turner.

The blood of the son breaks the curse of death. Getting those goosebumps yet? Friend, this is the gospel! We are cursed—dead to and in our sin, bound for eternal suffering. But, with the blood of the Son—Jesus—we are made alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10). By grace through faith, not by our works. No need to collect gold coins—or gold stars, as many of us chase down in our works-based efforts. Through His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus satisfied the debt we owe but could never pay, and He broke the curse of death. By His victory, we are made new (2 Corinthians 5:17), delivered from darkness to light (Ephesians 5:8; Colossians 1:13).

See, the gospel of grace—the miracle of transformation—is echoed all around us. We just need to be on the lookout, and be ready to give a reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15)…even if it’s by means of a swashbuckling pirate movie.

“Heavenly Father, thank You. Thank You that Jesus broke the curse of sin and death. For me. May I look for every opportunity to share this very good news with those around me.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

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