Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 5, 2023

Why Right Living Serves Us Well

“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”  Genesis 6:8 (ESV)

Gotta love a road trip –  I sure do.  Hitting the highway with my fave “trip food” (stuff I normally don’t eat) and ready for an adventure.  While the beach is always my go to place, on Memorial Day weekend I traveled with friends to visit the Ark Encounter in Kentucky.

The path from Virginia to Kentucky was filled with lots of ups, downs and around the curve.  My ears were popping and my lead foot had to ease up around some of those bends in the road.  It was a fast trip, but totally worth it.

Don’t know if you’re like me or not, but those Sunday School flannelgraph stories were mesmerizing.  The ark and all the animals marching in. The huge raindrops falling and the water raging  And then the next scene was the rainbow decorating the sky – the perfect happy ending.

While Noah’s family survived the catastrophic flood along with the animals God instructed him to bring along, all other mankind, animals, trees, etc. were destroyed.  Why?  The people of Noah’s day rejected God and chose to pursue evil.  Every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was continuously evil, which in turn grieved the heart of God.I’m sure there were lots of laughter and ridicule aimed at Noah, yet he persisted in following God’s instructions. And when the first drops of rain began to fall, the stark consequences of the people’s sin became reality.

Kind of makes the flannelgraph look different now, doesn’t it?  Standing in that massive ark takes a Sunday School lesson from a storybook to a new, real life dimension.  A truth, God’s word,  unfolding right before our eyes. Righteousness = living right with God = protection, shielding and positioning us for God’s best. Wickedness = rejecting God’s commands = vulnerability, consequences and eternal death missing God’s best.

Sweet friends, we would be wise to heed the wisdom of God’s word. Those stories we heard as children – Noah’s ark, Joseph’s journey down the pit, Daniel in the lion’s den – were real people.  Reaping always follows sowing.  Noah, Joseph and Daniel sowed right living and reaped God’s miraculous deliverance. The people of Noah’s day reaped devastating consequences because they sowed unrighteousness. A truth told is one worth heeding.

Life will present us with lots of choices.  Some of those will serve us well; others won’t.  Let’s not grieve the heart of our loving God by pursuing whatever seems right in our eyes. Instead let’s choose to do life according to His commands.  Even if we’re standing alone.  Even if we’re the only ones listening to God’s voice.  Even if we are persecuted, ridiculed, or mocked – following after our God is worth it every step of the way.

“Father, how we love the amazing stories of real people who fill the pages of Your word.  Incredible testimonies of what it means to follow hard after You, to reap grace and mercy in those moments when we miss the mark and to cherish the joy of forgiveness.  We are deeply loved.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 2, 2023

You Were The Reason

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)

Not much is said in the Bible about Jesus’ childhood, so when I went to the theatre to watch ‘Young Messiah,’ I was delighted to see that He was depicted as a semi-normal young boy. Semi-normal because He was, after all, the Son of God, who lived some of the same experiences as normal human beings do.

The boy would go out in the street to play with his friends; He was a victim of bullying; He had closer friends and relatives with whom He interacted more regularly. Two things, however, were clear evidence of the fact that the boy wasn’t just “any boy.” First, Jesus never displayed fear against the enemy, who, by the way, was present in almost every scene. Second, even when He still did not understand why some things happened to Him and not to others (like bringing another boy to life), He displayed compassion and love to others to such a great extreme, that He would heal them.

Ah, love so great, so divine, that would drive the Lord God in heaven to forego the pleasure of having His only Son beside Him, to watch Him grow and to help Him when He scraped a knee or was attacked by a band of bullies; to sit proudly as He heard His Son quote His first portions of Scripture in the synagogue, and all those little things that make the bond between Father and Son so special!

Dear sister, it was His love for you! It was God’s desire that you do not perish, but instead, get the opportunity to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. That is why He willingly sent His little boy to this earth to show His power of redemption and healing; to show His love and forgiveness and His comfort. You were the reason. The cross proved it. You are loved by a God with outstretched arms.

“Thank You for being a loving God, Abba. No one else on earth would do what You did for us. Your love is amazing. We magnify Your name, for You are great.”

For His Glory

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Gratitude, Hope, Love, Mercy

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 31, 2023

When Sin Spills Over

“Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” James 1:15 (ESV)

Ever noticed how it’s the adults who tend to be the spillers? To be honest, my fingers have released too many glasses to the floor. And shattered glass is very difficult to get up. No matter how many times you vacuum or sweep there always seems to be a tiny sliver remaining. Bare feet never like to be the recipients of what is left behind – ouch!

Bet we never like to experience the ripple effect of sin either. We can attempt to convince ourselves that what we choose to do only affects us, but nothing is further from the truth. Like tiny sightless slivers of glass, our sinful actions hurt and harm others. You don’t have to look far into scripture to see the impact of sin. Cain killed his brother leaving Adam and Eve separated from both of their children (Genesis 4:11). Jonah purposefully resisted God’s instructions which threatened the life of sailors transporting him to Tarshish (Jonah 1:4). The books of I & II Kings and I & II Chronicles details those kings who embraced idol worship and lead people into evil practices resulting in defeat.

Interesting how much we want to avoid the ripple of others’ sinful actions, but we easily minimize our own. After all, we aren’t hurting anyone but ourselves echoes carelessly from our lips. We easily forget sin’s impact when we are the ones choosing wrong. We even close our eyes to the fallout and relinquish our contribution. But our actions and disobedience affect believers and non-believers. Like a continuous wave of devastation, the fallout of sin doesn’t discriminate. None of us are immune.

Sweet friends, let’s release those excuses when we are tempted to disobey God’s word. Let’s hit pause and remember those moments when we allowed sin to win and the pleasure of the moment evaporated. Pain and heartache quickly followed, and others were impacted by our actions. A tour down memory lane can derail us from moving forward. A gentle tug providing a way of escape can propel us away from regrets.

Love the way our God knows all and yet still extends grace. Sins confessed and repented are covered and forgotten by our loving God. But the aftermath, the ripple and the slivers, still have the propensity to linger.

We each have a choice – resist sin or reap the consequences – let’s determine now to choose well.

“Father, Your word reminds us of the impact of our sinful actions – help us to avoid the pain of hurting ourselves and others.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Freedom, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 30, 2023

Grieving With Peace

 

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15

Through my 25 years of being a Christian, truly surrendered to Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, life has not been a bowl of cherries. There’s been personal loss, betrayal, death, illness—you know, the general brokenness of this fallen world crashing down…just like everyone else. And just like before I was a believer. The difference, however, has been in my response to these situations because of the eternal perspective of God’s providence.

The lens of faith colors every challenge and tragedy (and victory) a bit differently for believers than the view the world sees in these same circumstances. And that can completely bewilder those around us. Sometimes, it even confounds us.

I recently witnessed this truth in a fresh way, as the body of Christ (the Church) demonstrated the love of Jesus—and God’s promises for Christian life came to fruition. A family in my church small group experienced the devastating loss of a child. From the moment our group learned of this, we rallied. We prayed and we texted love and support. One couple immediately went to the hospital to listen, talk, and pray with the family. The next  days, more of us, throughout the hospital stay, visited to be present, provide lighthearted distraction, and offer up more prayer. Once home, our group brought meals daily, again visiting with listening ears and gentle kindness. God’s love in action. Biblical living. We are called to weep with those who weep…and we did.

And as this sweet family continued to grieve, they spoke of the unreasonable and inexplicable peace they were experiencing amid their sorrow. God’s Word calls this “peace that passes understanding” (Philippians 6-7)—and it is His promise to us.

This is not about tossing pillow-stitched verses at someone experiencing loss or difficulties. It’s not even about “saying the right thing.” It is about coming around that person or family with love and prayer and a listening ear—not a talking mouth. It’s about knowing the truth: that we, as believers, don’t grieve like the rest of mankind who have no hope—we have confidence that through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we will see our loved ones in Christ again (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). We hold fast to that eternal perspective. And although there will be times to weep and mourn throughout life (Ecclesiastes 3), God and His people can alter those experiences. There will still be pain, but it’s bathed in something heavenly. It’s altered by the peace of God.

“Heavenly Father, living in this fallen world can be so painful. But You have made promises to those who love You—promises for peace and joy that surpass understanding. Thank you for revealing Your love and truth through the body of Christ in this world.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 29, 2023

When Life Happens

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation.” Psalm 42:5 (ESV)

It was a picture-perfect moment. All the pieces landed in the right place. Couldn’t have imagined a better scenario. If only life could stand still in this moment, we’d be forever grateful. Wouldn’t it be incredible if we could capture the essence of our most exhilarating moments? The place where everything lines up exactly like we thought it would. Totally blessed. Never leaving this place.

And then life happens. The dream job we landed evaporates – a casualty of downsizing. The bigger than life opportunity fades quicker than it arrived. That deal we spent endless hours preparing and brainstorming for achieved accolades and then totally unraveled. The house we settled in, decorated and made the sweetest home ever crumbles in the aftermath of a fire. The spouse who exceeded our expectations walks out with no plans to return. The wellness check unveiling excellent health misses the mark when cancer introduces a new normal.

The unplanned and unexpected pivot shift shredded all we ever dreamed possible. And the most devastating twist – we were doing all the right things, the right way. Entitlement slays us. We deserved perfect. We earned our happily ever after. We followed the rules. We stayed in the lines.

Sound familiar? We’ve probably all landed here. Left in its wake, we question and doubt. We shout words we thought would never grace our lips. We evaluate everyone else who seems to be living the life we thought we had while relinquishing all that’s been taken from us. We cry till our eyes are drained, we scream until our voice is silenced and we stomp tired feet in defiance. And for a while, we close out the rest of our world for fear it will be shaken too – life simply isn’t fair.

What’s a girl to do when happily ever after fades?

Yes, we have to feel and process the deep loss of dreams – excusing or ignoring losses won’t erase them. Yet God can be trusted to take today’s heartache and birth His greatest glory in us. Nothing we experience whether hard or easy is wasted. The psalmist reminds us sweet friends to firmly fix our eyes on God. Rehearse His character. Lean in close to hear His quiet voice whispering. Stretch outside our box of discomfort and glimpse the growth God is orchestrating in us. Hold tight to His promises. Wait expectantly and hope unswervingly.   Watch as He resurrects the deepest joy we’ve ever known. And like the Psalmist, we are confident our songs of praise will be deepened, enlarged and overflowing.

“Father, lift up our heads when life threatens to drown out our praise. Immerse us in Your words. Eliminate our inner cries for fairness. Settle us with Your peace and comfort.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 26, 2023

Duty Vs. Delight

“Delight thyself also in the LORD….” Psalm 37:4a (KJV)

Ever get caught up in mundane cleaning chores at home? I do!  However, once in a while I joyously discover something I felt was in ‘safekeeping’ only realizing it had become misplaced and forgotten.  This recently occurred when I came across a handwritten letter from my only brother.  Words echoed from his heart.   Though struggling as a college student, his needs were never mentioned – only his love for Christ, compassion for the lost, and expressions of complete surrender to kingdom work.  Hopefully, very relevant to any ministry heart today.  Randy has been in heaven for 38 years, and he delighted in serving God with an unrelenting yielding to Him.

Delight desires to please, which greatly prompts an examination of my heart.   Do I serve Christ because I love Him not for what I can acquire from Him?  Am I faithful to honor Him with every aspect of my life?  Does my heart break over what breaks His?

Serving Christ and others should be done delightfully.  We can be made to do many things.  The difference is – obligation says I have to; however, delight says I want to.  My brother understood this principle – do we?  God is very capable of replacing an obligated heart with one willing to please Him and others.  Just think what discoveries await us!!

“Father, help me serve You because I want to not because I have to.”

For His Glory

Patsy Sanders
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 25, 2023

It’s Okay To Not Be Okay

“When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth.  Jesus said to them, “Unbind him and let him go.” (John 11:43-44, ESV)

 “Girl, why are you so down?  You just need to give it to God.  To let go and let God. You just need to rejoice in the Lord.  He’s going to work it all out for you.”

Ever had someone utter those words to you when you’re in a season of darkness and can’t seem to find a way out? I have. Those words while spoken with good intentions, failed to offer me a lot of guidance. Instead, they falsely give the assumption that because you’re saved – everything will always be well in your life.

As Christians, life on this earth is hard. Sometimes we need help getting out of the yoke of our circumstances.

Lazarus is a perfect example of this lesson.  He had been dead in the tomb for four days. Then Jesus spoke his name and called him out of the grave.

Raising him from the dead was instant – like salvation. But when he came out of that grave, he still had remnants of the ordeal he had just experienced.

The linen cloths were wrapped so tightly he could barely walk.  His vision was also hindered. Jesus could have spoken the words and had the grave clothes fall off.  Instead, he told the crowd to “loose him”.

In the same manner, there are remnants of our previous lives that we will need help taking off as we “work out our salvation” (Phil 2:12).  Not everyone grows up in an environment that perfectly models God’s love.  We are not all taught God’s Word correctly.  Salvation forgives us of our sins.  But it doesn’t automatically teach us how to “walk like a Christian.”  It doesn’t instantaneously change negative thought patterns developed over the years. Some things will require a community to “take off.”  Thus, we are urged in Hebrews 10:25 to “not neglect meeting together.”

As we continue to grow in our journey of faith – life will continue to throw obstacles at us.  Salvation doesn’t keep us from experiencing hardships.  Utilizing the resources in your community like Christian counseling and support groups should not be viewed as a negative.  Lazarus was alive but he would have never been able to interact with others in a healthy way because his hands were bound.  He needed assistance getting out of the bondage of death.

It’s okay to not be okay. To admit you need help.

“Jesus, we thank you for raising us from death to life through salvation. As life throws obstacles that cloud our vision and inhibit us from walking in faith, teach us to reach out to the Christian community around us for help.”

For His Glory

 

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

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 23, 2023

Wash Your Face

“So David got up from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped.” 2 Samuel 12:20

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get into these funks of “if only” and “I wish I would have…” Most recently, for me, it was around Mother’s Day when I considered both my mother and my mothering. I imagine that every parent reading this thinks about these things occasionally, especially if their kids are teens, young adults, or older. Maybe we look at how a child is living and the choices they’re making and wonder, “If I’d only done ___________ when he/she was younger…” or “Maybe if I decided to do X instead of Y, things would be different for them.” Or, if you’re like me and have lost one or both parents, it’s easy to list the regrets of how you treated them, or things said—even rehearsing those terrible teen/20s attitudes and interactions with them that shaped years (or decades) of relationship. Oh, to relive those yesterdays with the wisdom and understanding of today. (Or is that just me?)

But friend, we simply cannot. (First, though, let me remind us all that we did the best we could with what we knew—and who we were—at those times we’re looking back to.) We can’t go back and change our decisions to shift trajectories. Plus, we don’t have any clue about whether that revised trajectory would be better or worse! And we certainly can’t change the words and actions of other people, which ultimately set the path for their lives.

As I was meandering through Regretville, I got to 2 Samuel, chapter 12, where the prophet Nathan rebukes David for his sin against the Lord. (I suggest you go back and also read chapter 11—it’s got all the elements of today’s Netflix hits: adultery, deception, murder…). But it was only when Nathan confronted David that David’s eyes were opened to everything he’d done. The man truly had a lot to regret. And although David was “a man after God’s own heart”, a valiant warrior for the Lord, the king of God’s people, and the ancestor of the Greater David to come, Jesus, there were consequences for his grave sin. Sadly, despite David’s fasting, weeping, and praying, the child he conceived in adultery became sick and died. Then came another fascinating part of this event: David got up, washed, put on fresh clothes, and worshipped the Lord (v19-20). He understood the sovereignty of God. While the child was still alive, David prayed for what he wanted the outcome to be. But when God’s outcome came to pass (a painful, horrible outcome in David’s—and our—opinion), David worshipped the Lord for His providence. Moreover, David’s theology was rock solid, knowing that he would see his child again in heaven—what a profoundly encouraging Biblical truth for us. David turned from the “what ifs” and grabbed hold of his now, determined to be more focused on the Lord.

A few days after I read through these Biblical events, I came across this quote from John Piper that beautifully summed up these Old Testament chapters, along with putting a pin in my mental road trip: “Occasionally, weep deeply over the life you hoped would be. Grieve the losses. Then wash your face. Trust God. And embrace the life you have.”

We all are in different seasons of our life—and, for believers, we’re in different sanctification places. Right now, it could be smooth sailing. But maybe it’s rough waters…or even the storm of storms that are beating you senseless. Wherever we are, GOD IS SOVEREIGN. He’s got you—and me. We pray (and plead), and we trust, knowing that He “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). And He intends for good even things and people of this world intending evil (Genesis 50:20). Note here, God doesn’t “use” or “turn” evil situations to good—like, “Oops, I wasn’t expecting that, but I can turn that around.” No, these situations are all in His hands, from the beginning, for His glory. We may be able to look back in time and see that…or we may have to wait until we’re in heaven and look back through eternity to understand. Either way, it’s OK. We are in His hands.

“Lord, as we continue to walk through this dark world—yesterday, today, and tomorrow—remind us to keep our eyes on You, trusting You to bring about our good and Your glory.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 22, 2023

It’s All About The Heart

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24 (ESV)

“You must be a Virginia Tech fan,” flowed from the lips of a sweet lady at the gym.  My maroon shorts and orange tank top were a dead giveaway; however, a Hokie fan I was not (sorry).  I’m not really into college sports so my choice of clothing had nothing to do with devotion to a team, but rather what was clean in my gym bag.  While I definitely looked the part of a Hokie fan, this sweet lady was so wrong.  And, you could see the disappointment on her face as she walked away.

Didn’t take me long to realize a powerful truth tucked away in this moment.  How many times have we assumed someone was a follower of Christ because they looked the part?  Perhaps they faithfully attended our church and sat close to the front.  Maybe they were one of those whose worship was igniting and filled with passion.  Could it be they actually never missed one of our Bible studies? And yes, because they looked the part, we excused ourselves from asking about their relationship with God.

On the flip side, how many times have we assumed someone wasn’t a follower of Christ because they didn’t look the part?  Perhaps lots of tattoos caused us to question their faith.  Maybe the guy’s long hair and ripped jeans created doubt or worse judgment.  Could it be they never attended any of our Bible studies?  And yes, because they didn’t look the part, we assumed they were desperately in need of God’s saving grace.

Wow even listening to both of these scenarios convicts my spirit.  Being a follower of Christ isn’t about tucking our Bibles under our arm and heading to church.  Being a follower of Christ isn’t dictated by how expressive we are during worship or how many church activities we participate in.  Being a follower of Christ doesn’t mean our hair is the perfect length and our jeans aren’t trendy.

Being a follower of Christ is all about one’s personal relationship with Him.  Opening up our hearts and confessing Christ is God’s Son.  Seeking His forgiveness for our sins and surrendering to the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying and transforming work in our lives. Totally falling in love with the One who created us, fashioned us and formed us before we even entered the world.  Actively engaging with Christ through studying His word and authentically pouring out our hearts.  Trusting Christ,  obeying His word and reflecting His character to our world.  Keeping Christ at the center of our lives and wholeheartedly worshipping Him in all that we do. Sharing the love of Christ and the reason for the hope within us. Beautiful reminder – being a follower of Christ is about the heart.

The world will know us by the way we love God and love each other, not because we look the part. And loving others is always the best invitation to ask anyone about their relationship with Christ.

“Father, looking the part won’t get us into Heaven – only a personal relationship with You guarantees our eternal home.  Help us to share the truth of Your saving grace with everyone we meet.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 19, 2023

When Pretend Doesn’t Serve Us Well

“Oh Lord, You have searched me and known me.” Psalm 139:1 (ESV)

As a kid, I loved to pretend.  Great adventures leaping off the page of my latest read transported me into a world of make believe.  Sometimes I would glide across the living room floor like a ballerina.  Other times, I became a teacher and taught a room full of dolls.  Or better yet, I was Billy Graham in our backyard passionately giving the altar call to my siblings and cousins aligned in rows of folding chairs.  Just as I Am never sounded better.

While pretend was fun and uninhibited as a child it doesn’t always serve us well as adults.  It is ever so easy to paste on our smiling faces and pretend our world is fine.  We’ve all probably pretended to not be upset with someone for the sake of peace while our emotions were a raging storm about to explode.  Let’s keep it real here –   at times we’ve pretended happy over someone else’s success while we cringed inside. And how many of us have grabbed the Super Mom cape pretending to have it all together – as chaos surrounded us? Perhaps we’ve pretended for so long we no longer can identify who we really are.

Pretending eventually reverts back to real, and unfortunately, we don’t always get to choose how the reveal unfolds.  The unmasking of what has been hidden or denied may happen when we least expect it.    It’s hard being the real “us.” Buried beneath the pretense of real is where life daily happens. The unfiltered “us” with struggles and challenges.  The organic “us” attempting to manage emotions and weaknesses on the surface.

Releasing our tendencies to pretend opens wide the door to confronting “us.” Facing our emotions, admitting our weaknesses and realizing our desperate need for God peels away the layers of pretense.

In the midst of conflict, we can face issues in a healthy way rather than stuff them.  If jealousy and competitiveness is robbing us of our joy, we can evaluate the motives driving these underlying emotions.  And when pride seeks to convince others we have everything under control when it’s not, we can admit our need for help without losing self-respect.  Until we remove the mask, transformation won’t occur.  However, we can trust God to take the “real us”  and show us how to do life authentically and godly.

“Father, here we land vulnerable and fully exposed “us” out in the light. Best place to land so You can lovingly work in our lives.”

 

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Spiritual Living, Wisdom

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