Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 26, 2023

Swashbucklers In The Lord’s Army

“He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge, his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.”  Psalm 91:4 (ESV)

I love that passage of scripture. It speaks of God’s protection for His children. We need that in these uncertain times.  “His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.”  Who needs shields and bucklers but soldiers?  We need armor when He sends us out daily to confront the enemy.

There is a difference between shields and bucklers. A shield in Old Testament times was made of metal or leather, large enough to hide behind and take refuge from the flaming arrows and lances of the enemy.  In the Old Testament books about the kings, you can read about the gold shields of King David and King Solomon.  Imagine an army lined up for battle, standing behind polished gold shields, edge to edge.  The sun’s reflection could have blinded the enemy!  Even better, God’s faithfulness is our shield.

A buckler is much smaller and lighter, usually metal and no more than sixteen to eighteen inches in diameter.  A gold buckler would have weighed about seven and half pounds.  It was held by a strap on the back, leaving the other hand free for hand-to-hand combat.  That’s where the war gets down and dirty.

Did you know that ‘buckler’ is the basis for the word ‘swashbuckler?’ Decades ago, swashbuckler movies were all the rage.  Some recent characters that come to mind are Zorro, Iron Man and Captain Jack Sparrow, colorful characters who fought bravely and even recklessly.  Some of us are called to be swashbucklers for the Lord. Many, like the Apostle Paul and Martin Luther, have been fighting the good fight through the centuries.

Within memory, I can name Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, Sr., and my friend Fred Morrissette, who for decades has traveled quietly to remote places on the globe, risking dangers and disease to set up Bible schools for indigent pastors and lay people. He now has thousands of small, active Bible schools worldwide led by native pastors and lay people.  He now has thousands of small, active Bible schools worldwide led by native pastors who have graduated from his training program.  I think of Fred as the Rambo of missionaries. Thank God there are many like him, working quietly and single-mindedly with the heart of a swashbuckler.

I may never be called to be a swashbuckler, but I have already been called to stand firm in the Lord’s army, protected by His faithfulness.  I’ll bet you have, too.  We can be grateful for the armor He provides.

“Dear Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness which is our protection.  Help us bravely go out as soldiers when You give the call, working under Your shield and buckler.”

For His Glory

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

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 25, 2023

In Significance

“When I see Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have established; What is man that You remember him.  And the son of man that You care for him?  Yet You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You crown him with glory and majesty!”  Psalm 8:3-5

The title of this devotional is a play on words from Psalm 8 – it’s a dichotomy in David’s mind that he shares openly with the Lord in his written prayers.  And it’s so beautiful.

See, all we have to do is open our eyes to Creation to witness God’s glory. The jaws of believers and unbelievers alike drop in awe as the setting sun paints the sky vibrant pinks.  Or, when walking by a jasmine bush or magnolia tree, we’re stopped in our tracks at the magnificent scent suddenly transforming the air around us.  Then there are the stars that fill the universe, and the sun and the moon, which are perfectly situated to bring life to the Earth – the tiniest shift would bring swift devastation to everything.  Even the bees testify in their miraculous hive structure given to them by the Architect of Everything.

And, amid all this amazement and glory, there we stand.  All of humanity. In all our frailty and smallness in comparison to God’s vast Creation. As David writes, “What is man that You (God) remember him and care for him?”

It’s certainly easy to think that way..but, dear friend, it is not so. David quickly follows up his initial observation:  God made man with great glory and significance.  We are created in His very image (Genesis 1:27; Ephesians 4:24) and He put us over all of the rest of Creation (Genesis 1:26). We are fearfully and wonderfully made, knit together in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-16).  You and I live because we have the very breath of God in our lungs (Genesis 2:7)!  And unlike every other created thing, God gave us a conscience, eternity written in our hearts. He also gave us the ability to choose.  We choose good or evil, love or hate, self or God.

Most vital to the proof of our significance to God is this:  God showed His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ – the second Person of God Himself, made Man – died for us, that we may be reconciled with God for eternity.  Adam and Eve initially had a perfect union with God.  In their freedom to choose obedient love, they chose pride instead, severing that idyllic relationship. And so, we, too, are separated.  But God, to restore that union, gave His Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sins and claim victory over death on our behalf.  Even the angels are in awe as they witness salvation – partying it up with every proclamation of surrender (Luke 15:10).

Friend, that is how significant you are to God.  Yes, all of Creation boasts about God, putting His glory on display for everyone to see.  But He is ultimately glorified when you and I acknowledge His amazing love for us, claiming Him as Savior and Lord…and choosing to surrender to His grace and mercy.

“Lord humanity is not equal with the dolphins, owls and birds –we have been created in Your image, to walk and talk with You. I pray for those who need to recognize their significance in You.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Gratitude, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 24, 2023

When Adapting Is Hard

“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”  Isaiah 26:4 (ESV)

The Martin household went from a two-some to an eight-some over the Easter weekend.  We are now the proud parents of six baby chicks.  My sweet man decided to get the chicks from his niece who raises chicks) to give to a friend’s daughter for Easter.  Did I happen to mention he didn’t check with her parents first?  Great idea, right motive and yet, we now have baby chicks.  Did I happen to mention I’m not an indoor pet person?

Lots of adapting over the past week – counting down the days until they go to their permanent home in a few weeks but until then I’m learning how to co-parent baby chicks.  Feeding and watering these chirping little babes.  It’s been interesting watching them interact with each other and how they have now trained me.  A lot of chirping means I will come running with more water or feed.  While I definitely didn’t desire or plan for this, I am embracing it.

Reminds me of how God orchestrates so many things and people in my life.  Not all of them are things I would desire.  A lot of them are unexpected interruptions much like these chicks.  Sometimes, the very things we dread land in our path unannounced and adapting is the furthest thing from our minds. Often we resist the growth God intended simply because it requires us to adapt.

Yet God desires our willingness to embrace whatever He brings into our life.  Interesting aspect of adapting – it doesn’t mean we’re settling, but rather gaining insight on how to flourish.  Webster’s definition hits it head on – to adapt means to make fit for a specific or new situation often by modification.  Our adapting means we may need to stretch outside our comfort zone.  Most of the time adapting requires we release our will and welcome God’s will.  To adapt, learn and grow despite our predetermined preferences positions us to be more like Jesus.  To be willing to be modified (transformed) by our Creator God for our next assignment.  When we exercise unconditional trust to lean into God’s plan instead of our own, we find that adapting is the perfect place to land.

So whether we encounter “chicks” this week or not, I’m sure there will be some adapting.  It may be in our schedule, work dynamics, friends or family. It could be a medical diagnosis, a financial loss or grief which propels us to our knees.  However, it presents itself, God will and can use all adapting to deepen our walk with Him, and that my friends turns all things into a good thing.

“Sweet Jesus adapting is hard but with Your help, we can welcome the transformation You long to make in our lives.  Help us to welcome Your work in us.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 21, 2023

When Wantings Steal Our Joy

“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” I Timothy 6:5-7 (ESV)

Wanting what others have never serves us well. Why? Because wantings left unchecked can easily override our joy. They steal away contentment and leave us with a sense of rejection, unworthiness and emptiness. You don’t have to go far into scripture before you see the devastation of wantings gone bad. Sarai wanted children like the other moms, so she allowed her wantings to led her away from God’s perfect plan. Plan B, giving her handmaid to her husband, seemed good for the taking but quickly backfired.

Leah and Rachel’s wantings drove these two sisters apart. Leah wanted Jacob’s love so birthing children became her cupid’s arrow. Jacob’s profound love for Rachel should have dazzled her eyes, but her gaze was fixed on Leah and envy consumed her. Contentment was nowhere to be found among these competitive sisters who longed for what the other had.

Joseph’s brothers wanted to be their father’s (Jacob) favorite. When those wantings weren’t fulfilled, jealousy convinced them to sell Joseph into slavery. Perceived rejection on their part resulted in deeply embedded family wounds.

The Children of Israel wanted freedom from Egypt but they didn’t want the discomforts found wandering in the wilderness. Complaints freely flowed from their lips because their wantings weren’t being met. Years later we find them wanting what everyone else had – a king – instead of trusting God to be their Deliverer and Redeemer.

We can blame our tendencies to covet others’ things to social media, but God knows it really started the moment we entertained the thought we’d been overlooked. We fixed our gaze on others’ stuff and found ourselves lacking. Or perhaps it wasn’t stuff but better jobs, cuter spouses or perfect children that drew us to reframe our lives in a nonfavorable way. We didn’t really need Facebook or Twitter to enlighten our senses – we just allowed “less than” thoughts to steal away our joy.

Contentment is a beauty worth seeking. It shouts gratitude, fulfillment and peace. It gives voice to trust, confidence and surrender. It embraces total freedom found in God alone. It overflows from the heart of one who is satisfied with the more than enough that God provides.

Nothing serves us better …nothing protects our hearts like the sweetness of contentment.

“Father, our view can easily distort Your goodness leaving us lacking and empty inside. Teach us the power of true contentment found in You alone.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Faith, Gratitude, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 20, 2023

The World Needs Us

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” Isaiah 40:1 (NIV)

As defined by Merriam-Webster, to comfort someone means to give strength and hope, or to ease someone’s grief or trouble.

I believe most people would agree with me if I said that the world is going through much trouble and tribulation these days.  There is an ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine that has lasted well over a year, bringing death and suffering to thousands of adults and children. There have been numerous natural disasters going on around the world and also right here in the United States.  On top of that, in a span of three short months, from January to March of this year, there have been 13 mass shootings around the nation, including killings in schools.

In my native Brazil, a band of corrupt individuals frauded the 2022 Presidential election and took over that office.  They have taken the country into a downward spiral economically, politically and in many other areas, causing so much loss and injustice, also within a period of three months.

World leaders, whose people have trusted them to guard their nations, are instead, too hungry for power and too interested in watching after their own interests. Instead of fulfilling their promises, they go for the jugular of anyone who stands in their way, with all their might, not weighing the consequences of their actions and throwing caution to the wind. And the land suffers, the people perish, and all that once was considered good, becomes corroded by bad politics and a lack of compassion.

There are so many people suffering around us.  The rate at which mental illness is growing is astounding, and unfortunately, it claims too many lives.  We need to  be the arms and hands of Jesus.  We must extend a hand to someone in pain.  We must comfort those who are mourning and desperate for a simple act of kindness.

“Dear Lord, thank You for modeling to us what it means to be kind and compassionate.  Please help us to not get comfortable in not seeing the pain around us.”

For His Glory

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 19, 2023

When Your Reach Isn’t Long Enough

“…with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever…” Psalm 136:12

The other day, my sick little boy asked me, “Mom, can you please get my water because your arm is longer than mine?”

It took my breath away because I immediately understood something from scripture that I’ve spent years trying to comprehend. I’ve always wondered why there are references to God’s “outstretched arm” and “righteous right hand” throughout scripture. I knew it was important, but it didn’t really click as to why. But now I know: we need to know about the outstretched arm and righteous right hand of God because we need to know we can ask Him to reach what we cannot reach, hold what we cannot hold, pay for what we cannot pay, save what we cannot save, and help what we cannot help.

God’s arms are longer than ours and can reach what we cannot reach to give us what we need moment by moment.

He is mighty to save and His righteous right arm can go far beyond our immediate surroundings and supplies to rescue us and sustain us with all His benefits.

As my arms are longer than my son’s, our Heavenly Father’s are longer than ours.

Like my son came to me with a foundation of trust, knowing that I love him, as children of God the Father, we can come to him with a foundation of trust and a knowledge of His enduring, faithful, perfect love.

He knows just what to extend His arms for in order to give us victory in our lives.

And it all comes from the foundation of love and trust that He has demonstrated to us over and over again. He is trustworthy. He knows how to direct us out and through. He has the power to rescue us like no one else ever could. He has the ability to heal our illnesses— both physical and spiritual. He has the comfort to hug us with His perfect peace. He has gentle hands to catch our tears and wipe them away. And of course, Jesus’ outstretched arms upon the cross reached throughout eternity to offer us the gift of salvation. His arms can reach whatever we need because His hands made us and also all the resources we could ever need. His outstretched arms meet the need because HE is our need.

These days, there’s much to bring to the Lord, for which our arms are not long enough. As I bring my needs to Him, I’ve got a fresh way to ask Him to intervene: “Lord, can you please help because your arms are longer than mine.”

His arms are longer than yours, too, friend. Come to Him and ask Him to reach what you cannot reach.

“Lord, thank You that Your arm is mighty to save and that Your steadfast love lasts forever. Will You reach what we cannot reach today?”

 

For His Glory

 

Emily P. Meyer (www.emilypmeyer.com)
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Gratitude, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 18, 2023

Autocorrected Truth

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

I’m confident that every one of us has pressed “send” on a text only to realize after the fact that the phone incorrectly autocorrected a word (or two).  Sometimes, it’s really funny, and both sides of the conversation respond with relevant emojis.  Other times, it creates a huge “yikes” moment requiring a quick apology and clarification.

Then, at times, the phone is truly smart, autocorrecting a word that we mistyped into the correct word.  (This smacks of the whole AI concept, which is frankly terrifying.)  Of course, there are the frustrations of things like consistently typing “fir” instead of “for”, which never seems to be corrected.  But what usual context would someone use “Fir”?  The phone even “helpfully” pops up the tree emjoi, just in case you’d rather substitute it for the oft-used “fir” in our sentences.

But in the days, just after Resurrection Sunday, while I was texting with a sweet sister of mine, she sent me a poignant statement:  “The older I get, the more I love Easter.”  This is beautiful and true!  The longer we walk with the Lord, the experience and understanding of His resurrection become richer, deeper and wider.  And because there is no end to the fullness of that understanding, our experience will grow more awesome annually until we no longer see dimly but see Him face to face (I Corinthians 13:12).

The thing is, she didn’t actually type “The older I get, the more I love Easter.”  The text I received was, “The older I get the more I live Easter.”  Now, I knew what she meant to write..but, friend aren’t these words the greater Truth?  The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the hinge on which all of Christianity hangs.  Without it, there is no victory over sin, no conquered death, no final defeat of Satan..there is no hope for us sinners to be fully reconciled with God.  So, although we celebrate this Sovereign Feat on Easter Sunday, it is this very fact that transforms us at the moment of salvation.  When we accept what Jesus did, we are changed from darkness to light, blind to seeing, dead to alive.

But then the living out of Easter begins. Walking according to His Word each day toward heaven – pursuing His presence, His will and being holy because He is holy.  Will we do this perfectly?  Absolutely not!  But it’s a process (the Bible calls it “sanctification”), and it lasts until we have this fallen world. And just like my sister texted, the older we get – both in our spiritual and physical chronology – the deeper our knowledge of, desire for, and hope in the Lord becomes..the more we LIVE EASTER.

“Jesus on the cross, You paid the penalty for my sin, and through Your resurrection, You conquered sin and death.  May I acknowledge this Truth daily, pursuing you more and more.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 17, 2023

Why Seeking God Serves Us Well

“With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord! I will keep your statues.”  Psalm 119:145 (ESV)

Where do you go for answers?  Most likely we often land on asking Goggle or surfing the net.  Goggle seems to know exactly what we are looking for and it’s totally free.  Thousands of articles on any given subject – some helpful, some not so helpful.  Perhaps you’re more like me and tend to seek out close friends, which can be a great resource if they have godly values and beliefs that line up with ours.  Not such a good choice if they are total opposites.

Best place to go and one that never disappoints is our amazing God.  The One who created our world and formed us in our mother’s womb.  He knows all things and is the greatest source of wisdom we could ever seek.  God alone holds the key to our answers – truth unfolding right before our eyes.

“With my whole heart I cry,” echoes from the psalmist’s lips in Psalm 119.  Makes me wonder what the psalmist was facing.  What desperation resulted in crying out to God with his whole heart?  The word for heart here means more than just feelings or emotions. It’s the entirety of one’s being – thoughts (mind), knowledge of right from wrong (conscience) and emotions. In other words it’s one’s heart, mind and soul desperately crying out for answers that can only be found in God.

Haven’t we all landed there?  Nothings make sense We don’t know what to do. We need divine intervention.  Our world is falling apart right before our eyes, and we have no idea how to respond.  Desperation has landed us flat on our face.  Eagerly we run to our God who has proven Himself to be faithful and true.  The only One who can move us from uncertainty to clarity.  The One whose wisdom is beyond our comprehension.

Yet, sweet friends we don’t have to wait for desperation to drive us to our knees.  God’s word reminds us to seek Him with our whole heart, mind and soul daily – not just on an emergency basis.  Relationship requires intentionality and consistency. As we grow in our faith and draw near to God, we will gain insight, direction and the answers will come in God’s timing.  Some may be yes, some may be no, some we will have to wait until we stand in His presence, but either way He hears our cries and will answer us.

Don’t know about you, but being confident of God’s guiding hand in my life is the sweetest assurance. I don’t have to rely on Goggle to direct my path.  I can wholly trust my God to teach me, lead me, guide me and encourage me every step of the way.  So the next time we’re looking for answers let’s turn to Him first and follow His wisdom – it’s the best solution ever.

“Father, You promise to pour out Your wisdom on those who seek You.  Help us to resist the world’s wisdom and completely lean on You for all we need.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Growth, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 14, 2023

Carried By His Love

“But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.” Psalm 52:8 (NIV)

When life heats up do we go running for cover? Our emotional thermostat soars off the charts, disappointments bombard us and did I happen to mention that conflict has us slipping into a wounded spirit? It’s a three ring circus and not one we want to watch.

Stress, daily frustrations and unmet expectations often lead us to seek a way of escape. We work hard, work long and we make sacrifices – yet underneath all that we accomplish is a person who desperately needs some “me” time to refocus and recharge.

Conflict and unmet expectations comprised most of the Psalmist David’s life. If he wasn’t running for cover, he could be found hiding out in a cave alone. But wherever he went, David learned to seize the moments he had to flourish in God’s presence. Years of tending sheep alone in the fields taught David that he could be with God in the early dawn light or the late evening shadows. God was his constant companion even when the rest of his world walked out. And when disappointments overwhelmed David, he refocused and recharged his soul by trusting in God’s unfailing love.

We too flourish when we run into His arms of rest, reflection and comfort. Pouring out our hearts at His feet does wonders when our souls have been pounded. Don’t you just love the way God already sees, knows and is fully familiar with all that touches our lives? He specializes in transforming our out of control drama into manageable resolve. Filled with mercy, He soothes our wounds and teaches us the power of forgiveness and grace. And the crazy reality is that our flourishing ultimately spills over and touches others. Sweltering conflict has the potential to melt and disappointments can be transformed into gratitude when they are bathed in God’s wisdom. As we surrender our expectations to Him, we can trust in God’s unfailing love to carry us even if our circumstances don’t change.

“Father, how sweet to trust in You, to run to You, to find our refuge with You and know that You are always there.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Gratitude, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | April 11, 2023

Never Too Far

“And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:42-43

My husband recently reconnected with a friend he met 25 years ago. At that time, while living in Colorado Springs, our families spent time together and attended the same church. Although they haven’t seen each other since we moved from Colorado 20 years ago, the guys have stayed in touch, talking every now and then. This man’s wife, he said, still reads her Bible daily and goes to church…sadly, however, he leads a very different life.

During the conversation, this man shared with my husband that smoking weed, popping pills, and doing cocaine are as much a part of his week as eating, sleeping, and going to work. But sadder than all that was his response when my husband asked him about his faith. He simply said, “I’m just too f*#$ed up for God and church—I’m too far gone.”

Friend, please hear me: no one is ever too far from God—or too far gone—to receive the mercy, grace, and love of Jesus.

The proof is in the very words of God, from Genesis to Revelation. From Adam and Eve, who literally walked with God in the cool of the day, yet decided they wanted to do life their way, to the Israelites who witnessed daily miracles, yet saw the pagan world around them as a better way to go…to amazing believers like the Apostle Paul, who did the things he didn’t want to do and didn’t do the things he knew he should…to every single named and unnamed person who pushed the Lord away—until they recognized the Truth and surrendered (or returned) to Jesus. Sometimes it was a physical healing, restoration, or reconciliation. Other times it was simply a spoken truth—a light shined into the darkness of a soul.

But whenever and however, whoever calls out to the Lord Jesus Christ will be rescued (Romans 10:13). You may have grown up in the church and simply stepped away in rebellion for a season. Or maybe you’ve spent your whole life chasing after the things of the world. Maybe, like my husband’s friend, you try desperately to quell your internal pain and quiet your tormenting thoughts with drugs, alcohol, and pills. Regardless of where you may stand (or wallow, as the case may be), Jesus is right there, waiting for you to hand over your burden—and accept the free gift of grace, giving you peace with God.

This prayer to God for reconciliation with Him will always be answered in one way: “Yes” (1 John 1:9). He has great love for you. He is rich in mercy. And He will take your brokenness, loneliness, pain, and deadness in sin to make you alive with Christ—not by doing anything, but by His grace (Ephesians 2:4-5).

So, if you or someone you know is feeling desperate, like whatever they do doesn’t matter because they don’t matter…share with them this incredible truth: They could never, ever, ever be “too much of a mess” or too far from God where Jesus won’t meet them with open arms and outstretched, nail-pierced hands. They just need to fall into His saving embrace.

“Thank You, Lord, that we could never be too lost, too blind, or too broken to be too far from You. Please wrap Your loving arms around those today who are hurting and in need of Your peace.

 

For His Glory

 

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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