Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 23, 2022

Tracing His Story

“And Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah.” Mathew 1:16 (HCSB)

Oil painting was ever my fave in high school, but that sweet friends was decades ago. Not too many occasions to grab a brush and let my creative side emerge in this adult life. So when a chance to gather with friends for a paint night was an option, I seized the moment. And let me just say it didn’t disappoint – I absolutely loved it. We painted on wood pallets -a first for me – totally fun. My masterpiece was Frosty surrounded with fluffy snowflakes on a golden brown backdrop. Ever so pretty and the best part was the white lights shining through my snowflakes making them twinkle bright. Now before you become too impressed and think I’m quite the artist, the real trick was the stencils we used to trace the outline before a drop of paint hit the pallet. Painting was a whole easier than freestyling it.

Reminds me of the way we can trace Christ’s entrance into this world. From the very moment when sin was birthed in the garden, Christ’s redemptive story began. A long awaited Messiah. The One anticipated to come and set His people free. The very Son of God walking and talking with us. Isaiah 9 foretells His coming most beautifully. A child will be born, and He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Matthew & Luke perfectly trace His genealogy through the imperfect people, like us, to His arrival on earth in the manger. Eye witness accounts – not mere speculation. Makes believing a whole lot easier.

We are blessed with the Word of God which gives us an inside look at Christ’s birth and life. And as believers, we can trace His entrance into our life as well. Christmas is a wonderful time to reflect and trace the moment we accepted Christ and how that one tracing has birthed change in us. It’s also an incredible time to remember the greatest gift we can give Him is to share His story with others. Someone really needs to hear and see the masterpiece God has been painting in our lives. Makes this little light of ours shine the brightest when we are sharing His story in us.

“Father, You willingly gave Your Son to us – a babe born in a manger – a Savior for all people. May this Christmas be a time when we seize open doors and share Your story.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Gratitude, Hope, Worship

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 22, 2022

What Really Matters

“And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” Luke 2:6-7 (NLT)

We investigated options. We researched available amenities at each facility. We took tours before making a final decision. We filled out the paperwork. We planned a date for admittance. None of that mattered in the end.

The hospital was beautiful with spacious rooms, kind nurses, and pampering services for new moms. The doctor planned to deliver our baby the next afternoon whether he was ready or not. My bag for the hospital was packed. Our three-year-old was headed for a sleepover at Grammy and Poppy’s house.

Until our baby decided he was ready to make his appearance six hours early. The beautiful hospital had no rooms available. We grudgingly checked into the hospital we had decided against. The room was stark and cold. The nurses were efficient but not very friendly. The birth did not go at all like we planned. Then we met our second son. The room no longer mattered. We suddenly appreciated how the nurses cared for us but allowed us the privacy to bond with our new bundle of joy. Ultimately, all that mattered was Kaden.

Mary gave birth to the Son of God in a manger—no beautiful room. She was surrounded by animals and hay—no doting nurses. The gospels do not record specifics, but I imagine pampering services were not part of the birthing package.

How did Mary handle the less than ideal circumstances for the birth of the Messiah? “She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger.” The surroundings didn’t matter; the birth is what matters. Looking into the eyes of the Son of the Most High, Mary was holding the One who would be the salvation of all mankind. Before she even met her bundle of joy, she praised the Lord for him: “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!” Luke 1:46b-47 (NLT)
As we approach Christmas, may we see what really matters—not the gifts, decorations, or parties. Ultimately, the birth of our Savior is all that matters.

“Thank You, Lord, for working in the life of a humble girl to provide the way of salvation. May we not be distracted by our surroundings but focus on the gift that is Your Son as we celebrate Christmas.”

For His Glory

 

Tammy Randlett (http://staletoast.com)
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 21, 2022

The Wondrous Gift Of Salvation

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

The pressure of Christmas is reaching a peak in these few days before December 25th. Time is short. Last-minute shopping is being done; the necessity of wrapping all of those gifts is nagging at us. And in between, we take time to watch iconic Christmas movies. Depending on your generation, it’s not really Christmas without “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Home Alone,” “A Christmas Story,” “Elf,” or “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” You may also be planning to carve out time to enjoy a Christmas party with friends or travel to see relatives for the holiday.

A lot of hullabaloos, isn’t it? Yet at the center of it is a quiet, vulnerable baby in a feeding trough, having given up the glory of heaven to seek and save that which was lost. Did He know in advance that He would temporarily give up the knowledge of why He had come in order to occupy the body of a helpless infant? Surely the knowledge of His divine purpose didn’t occur to Him until He was old enough to understand. Can you imagine the boy’s shock when He realized He was here for a special purpose, unlike like other boys – unlike his brothers, or any of His friends? Can you imagine the shock of realizing He was going to die a painful death to save from sin those who believed on Him? Don’t you know He had to struggle with human emotions before He could accept His Father’s sovereignty in the matter?

We have so much to be grateful for, much more than we can fully grasp until He comes for us again. During the madness of this final week before Christmas, we need to take time to reflect on the wondrous miracle of salvation, and the gift that was given to us, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

“Father, thank you for that incredible gift of salvation, which cost You so much. We ask that You help us quiet our spirits to worship You.”

For His Glory

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

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Gratitude, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 20, 2022

Carol Theology

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.” Luke 2:14

I can say with confidence that everyone who loves Christmas also loves Christmas carols. Don’t get me wrong, there are different levels of carol loving. Some of my friends literally start cranking holiday tunes in October. (These are the same friends who are ecstatic when carols start playing at Home Depot and Big Lots around the same time, while the rest of us roll our eyes.) My dad would, without fail, start every day after Thanksgiving with classic carols beckoning us out of bed for tree trimming. Others don’t care to hear these familiar tunes until Christmas Day is a just few days away—you know when they’re scrambling to “get into the Christmas spirit” with last-minute shopping and decorating.

And when thinking of those classic carols, who doesn’t love “Hark! The herald angels sing?” Written by Charles Wesley in 1739 and becoming a standard carol about 100 years later (1857), this popular carol is featured in “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” No matter your age, its triumphant melody is one of the prevailing undercurrents of this season.

But, friend, did you realize that this song is more than its familiar tune and well-known verses? “Hark! The herald angels sing” is rock-solid theological truth—it is prophecy revealed, from Genesis to Revelation. It is the Biblically sound description of the Person and work of Jesus Christ, and clearly lays out the why behind His birth. If you want to know the real reason for the season, all you have to do is study this amazing hymn. Although I could spend thousands of words underscoring Biblical theology in each turn of phrase, I’ll just give some overview—but I hope it piques your interest to dive into your Bible and drink in the amazing truths in this song. (You’ll see “homework” Scripture for you to reference with each verse!)

The overarching theme of Wesley’s “Hymn for Christmas Day” (its original name) is simple: The redemption of mankind to glorify God. In the Garden, from Genesis 3, God declared His plan to reconcile us back to Him through a God-Man who would declare victory over Satan and death. God gave us clues (prophecy) throughout the Old Testament pointing to Jesus’s birth, life, sacrificial death, and saving resurrection…and Wesley points to many of these while he praises God for it all—and bids us to join along.

Again, there’s so much packed in each verse! But here are some highlights:

  • Verse 1: Praise God with all of heaven—everyone—because Christ has been born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) to reconcile God and sinners! (Luke 2:14)
  • Verse 2: Jesus came to earth, fully God and fully Man, to dwell with us. He was, as Isaiah prophesied, born to a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14; John 1:14)
  • Verse 3: Jesus, the Prince of Peace, was born to remove the curse of death, to raise us to new life in Him, to transform and renew us. (Isaiah 9:6; Malachi 4:2; John 1:4; Psalm 27:1; Philippians 2:7; Romans 6:4)
  • Verse 4: This verse combines Garden prophesy of Christ’s birth (Gen 3:15) with Isaiah-to-Revelation prophecy when the time comes for all nations to bow, every tongue to confess, and the fallen world/nature to be perfected. (Haggai 2:7; John 14:23; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 3:17; Isaiah 65:25; Revelation 21-22; 2 Peter 3:13; Galatians 2:20; 1 John 4:13)
  • Verse 5: We are all born into sin, but through Jesus we are transformed—from glory to glory—into the image of Christ. We are lost but are found in Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15:45; Romans 5:12-18; John 3:16)

And, of course, there is every refrain that is shouted with joy between each verse—a beckoning for us to join all of heaven in celebrating God with us, the King of kings, our Savior: “Hark! The herald angels sing! Glory to the newborn King!”

“Father God, may we never cease to focus on You this Christmas, giving glory and praise for the way of reconciliation You made through Jesus Christ—our Emmanuel.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 19, 2022

Unexplainable Joy

“And He (Jesus) will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6b (NIV)

Brokenhearted over a lost love, young Ebenezer Scrooge allowed bitterness to penetrate deep.  A Christmas Carol details Scrooge’s struggle from Christmas Past, Christmas Present and the Christmas Yet To Be.   He not only extinguished joy in his own life, but Scrooge was determined to do the same to those around him.   As he sees his life unfold, Scrooge realizes that he allowed the loss of one love to rob him of the love of many people.

Wonder if we unpacked our lives if we would find the same?

Broken relationships can often close our hearts to loving others.  Our disappointments can mount and especially during the holidays, we can find ourselves avoiding another Christmas season. Excusing ourselves from gatherings.  Allowing our wounds to take center stage.

From the age of six, my son’s holidays were spent being transported from one parent to the other. An empty parking lot was often the meet and drop off spot. While his friends played with their toys, he left his gifts behind and headed to the other parent’s house.  I’m sure there were moments when he was greatly disappointed and brokenhearted over his “imperfect family,” yet I never saw his joy escape him.  There were no complaints or grumbling, instead he’d give me a hug and say, “Merry Christmas Mom.”

Amazing how resilient we were when our bodies were small and our hearts were large. We didn’t seem to hold grudges as long, and we definitely found it easier to forgive.   Instead of letting broken relationships extinguish our joy this holiday season, let’s seize the moment to bless the people God has brought into our lives.  Let’s share the reason for the joy residing within us.  Even if we are the only ones, let’s intentionally choose His peace over our feelings.

“Father, You are the keeper of our hearts – help us to love large and extend grace reflecting Your heart to our world.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 16, 2022

Best Gift Ever

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

Ever sneaked around looking for your Christmas present? Hate to admit it but I was a nosey little girl. Regardless of whether or not that package had my name on it or not, I was determined to shake it. I’ve even been known to unwrap and then rewrap and act totally surprised on Christmas Day. Have to admit the second surprise wasn’t as much fun, and the first surprise was overrated – I was the only one enjoying it. Sounds silly to recount my nosiness now. I’d much rather wait and experience the surprise on Christmas morning.

Ever searched through scripture seeking God’s amazing Christmas gift? His arrival was anticipated, His birth expected yet the way He came was totally surprising. No one had any idea Mary would be the virgin mother of Jesus, especially Joseph. Who would have thought that the babe would be born in a stable and sleep in a manger filled with straw? Not exactly a royal birth. And what about that starry sky that led others to Bethlehem….shepherds and Wise Men were clueless to where it would lead.

The gift, the promise, the presence of God living among us. Experiencing the good, the bad and yes, the ugly. Totally undeterred and unencumbered by temporary pleasures of this world. Jesus, the very Son of God came, healed, rescued, delivered and redeemed. Fulfilling every promise.

I remember as a child unwrapping the gift of the Savior. Sweetest moment ever – totally unsure of the significance this gift would make in my life. Tiny little mind couldn’t even grasp the magnitude of His presence living and breathing in me. Amazing how a simple prayer began an incredible work within me. While doubts and wonderings may have followed, Jesus never left me and kept reminding me of His ever presence. Always surprising me with His love and grace.

Sweet friend, if you have never opened His gift there is no better time than now. Can’t think of a better present this Christmas than to experience the fullness of God. When we simply confess our sins and believe He is the Christ child, God promises to welcome us as His own. We are His forever and life will never be the same. Difficulties will still emerge. Struggles will challenge us. But we can endure them all filled with His joy living and breathing within us – Best gift ever!

“Father, the depth of Your love cannot be measured. You gave Your only Son so we could experience eternity with You – what more could we ever want.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 15, 2022

Actions Speaker Louder Than Words

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” I John 3:18 (NIV)

Remember the ‘ole saying, ‘actions speak louder than words?’ There are special people who fall into a silent category when actions do speak louder than words – caregivers. Any normal day would consist of routines, financial decisions, doctor office visits, tried patience, long lonely days, and physical and emotional exhaustion. Describe anyone you may know?

Ever consider Mary was Jesus’ caregiver during his short earthly existence? She was present at his birth, death, and multiple times in between. Do you think she became irritated, drained physically, and at times ready to throw in the towel? Of course she did, but she also knew it was all for a purpose – far exceeding her ability to comprehend.

Caregivers, you are not alone. For over eleven years, my personal life evolved around caring for my 95 year old mother. She was blind, confined to her bed or wheelchair, had severely impaired hearing, and dementia. When this journey began a really good friend offered an important word of wisdom: find humor. For example, on mother’s 95th birthday, she informed me she was 25 and sang happy birthday to herself. Laughing and having a good time there was no need to correct her – she was happy! I felt God kissing me on the cheek – His sweet way of encouraging my heart; He is with me every step of the way. God was with Mary every step of her journey, and Jesus became the Savior of the world.

Perhaps this Christmas bless an unnoticed caregiver – your actions will speak louder than any words – because all too often none are adequate. Blessings are adorned in varied ornate packaging – all they need are to be unwrapped!

“Dear Father, please bless those who unselfishly care for others and use me to bless them.”

For His Glory

Patsy Sanders
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Love, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 14, 2022

Faithful Despite The Culture

“In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.”  Luke 1:5-6

The news has been shocking this Christmas season, hasn’t it? As we go about our business putting up our trees and decorating our homes, choosing gifts for loved ones, and making travel plans, laws are being passed that shake a fist in the face of God. Wrong is being called right, and right is being called wrong. Sometimes we despair of how to teach our children. How will they embrace the truth when wrong has become normalized, even celebrated? It would be so easy to bend to the culture and fit in.

We have strong examples in the scriptures. Let’s take a look at the culture at the time of Jesus’ birth, the first Christmas. God hadn’t spoken through the prophets for four hundred years. The Romans had forced their rule on the Jews. Major forces within the temple were distorting the scriptures. The Pharisees, who considered themselves above the others, drilled their attention on religious law, laying strict rules on the people that they couldn’t possibly keep. On the other hand, the Sadducees, though honoring the law, taught that angels, demons, heaven, and hell did not exist. Both groups were represented on the Sanhedrin, the Jewish tribunal. Satan was surely gloating. How were people to stay true to their God with all of that going on?

Now look at Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist. The scripture says they were righteous before God. Look at young Mary and her beloved Joseph, who each made a decision to allow the Lord to work in their lives according to His will, even if it would cause them pain and probably embarrassment. Although they were living in an evil culture, they did not bend. They were all righteous before God, worthy tools in His hand to play a part in the greatest event of history.

There is a spiritual war being fought in our culture, but we are promised to win it. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus himself said, “…I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” What a promise! We will not be stuck in this unholy situation forever. There is a war, and we’re on the winning side. So, dear saint, put on the whole armor of God and take your stand boldly, and having done all, stand firm.

Blessings to you, and Merry Christmas!

Dear Father, You know what we are up against in our human frailties. We pray for this nation, that You would turn it around, and we pray for ourselves, that You will give us strength to stand firm until the end.

For His Glory

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

 

 

 

 

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

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 12, 2022

Simply Believe

“But behold, you (Zacharias) will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my (Gabriel) words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”  Luke 1:20b(ESV)

A woman’s life was definitely different in Biblical times especially when it came to motherhood. If a woman couldn’t bear children, it was considered the most severe punishment. To experience the utter reproach of barrenness when others’ arms were full was excruciating.  But with God nothing is impossible. Throughout the pages of the Old Testament scriptures, we see how God divinely intervened in the lives of Sarah, Rachel and Hannah. Barren women who God graciously birthed forth nations and strong leaders at precisely the right moment.

Fast forward to Luke 1 and we witness the promise of a son to Zacharias and Elizabeth in their old age. Years of empty arms. Long days watching other children play.  Dreams shattered year after year. Prayers answered with a resounding no.

Despite their disappointments and the reproach Elizabeth experienced, Zacharias and his wife remained righteous – living rightly before God. Obeying His commands blamelessly without even a hint of the miracle awaiting them.

Sweet friends don’t you just love the way our God loves to fulfill the desires of our heart and unveil His plans even in the face of certain impossibilities? Putting His divine redemption story into motion, God sent Gabriel to visit Zacharias at the temple. A baby was on the way for these faithful seniors and the sudden, unexpected news from God caught Zacharias wondering. Logic ushered in doubts as disbelief questioned Gabriel’s words.

I’m sure Zacharias would have loved to shout to the rooftops, “I’m going to be a Daddy – we’re having a baby.”  I can envision him running down the streets, laughter and tears intermingled. But instead, his disbelief landed him speechless unable to celebrate fully the miracle unfolding before his eyes.

Wow haven’t we all landed there? We pray. We hope. We trust. And when God answers, we allow our human reasoning to convince us His plan is too good to be true. Our perceived reality trumps divine intervention, and we find ourselves afraid to believe God’s words. What a regret filled place to land. We cultivate limitless questions and scenarios rather than cling to His words.  We miss out on the joyful anticipation of watching Him work.

Blessed to be reminded of God’s opening of Zacharias’ mouth the very moment he wrote down the baby’s name – John. His son was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy -the one who would prepare the way for The Messiah. The one who would draw men’s hearts to God. The one who would be lifted up and chose to decrease in the presence of His Savior. Only God could conceive of such a marvelous plan.

Where do we land this holiday season? Are we filled with endless questions and doubts which rob us of the joy and peace found only in Jesus? Perhaps we find ourselves wondering in the silence – confused by our perceived reality of life. We, too, sweet friends can trust all of our impossibilities to the One who simply asks that we believe – He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

“Father, You are the answer to all our questions – help us to simply believe and place our trust in You.”

For His Glory

 

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | December 8, 2022

Enjoying Family Time At The Holidays

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)

Sometimes dealing with family over the holidays can be stressful. So, what can we do to enjoy the holiday season? Here are a few ideas:

1)     Plan well. If we’re traveling to visit family or if they are traveling to us, make sure we know who is staying where. Don’t be afraid to set boundaries. Be fair, but be firm. Make sure it is clear what the expectations are. Will we need to bring an air mattress? Is there a “lights out” time? These may sound silly, but they can help avoid problems between us and our loved ones.

2)     Avoid controversial topics. I am not saying that we shouldn’t share our faith with the people we care about the most; however, this precious time together should be spent enjoying and sharing life. That doesn’t mean we can’t have heart-to-heart convos…quite the opposite; face-to-face is the best way to have those. We should choose our words carefully. Don’t debate. Don’t argue.

3)     Be flexible. Instead of wanting to do everything our way, allow the family to choose the restaurant, activity, or movie. Be forgiving. If our loved one gets irritable try not to take it personally. Remember, we may not get to spend much time with them. Focus on being together rather than what we are doing together.

 Even if we won’t get to see our family during these holidays, we can apply these tips for any family events or visits.

“Dear Lord, thank You for the opportunity to spend time with family. Please help my heart to stay in the right place during this special time of year.”

For His Glory

Laurel Shaler (www.drlaurelshaler.com)
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

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