Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 28, 2022

Backseat Driver

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”   (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

 “What are you doing? Do you see what’s happening?”

Just some of the distressed pleas poured out of my heart to the Father, as I try to desperately understand His continued silence in one area of my life. I can see His hand moving in so many things I pray about, but this one burden remains. Taunting doubts try to creep in “He’s ignoring you.”

I recently had to drive my parents somewhere. We were on a two-lane highway and an oncoming truck veered over across the double lines. I saw the vehicle and started getting over onto the shoulder of the road to avoid a head on collision. My dad was in the passenger’s seat. He saw the truck and knew exactly what I was doing. But my mom was in the back seat. Her perspective was different. She couldn’t understand why I was driving off the road. A plethora of emotions ran through us all.

My dad was quick to defend me. Bringing attention to the fact that I was paying attention and responded as quickly as I did to avoid what could have been a fatal accident.

I’ve been driving for over thirty-five years and consider myself a good driver. However, once I had explained my actions to my mom it made me stop and ponder.

“Is that what I’m doing to the Holy Spirit? Am I being a back seat driver?”

I could see what was coming toward us as the driver. But in the back seat she couldn’t. I needed her to trust that I was watching out for her and to relax for the rest of the drive.

When we’re going through a painful season in life – our perspective – plays a huge role. Our feelings (our understanding) can’t be the driver.

If we’re allowing the Holy Spirit to have total control and “drive” the situation – that means we should trust that He sees everything. He sees the dangers all around us. He has a reason why He sometimes guides us to move this way or that. He puts the brakes on a situation when we’re wanting to mash the gas. He yields when our hearts cry out “please answer this prayer now.”

When my heart is heavy with unanswered prayers, I need to take that hurt and lay it at His feet daily – trusting that He sees what I do not. Otherwise, anxiety will overwhelm me into a frantic “back seat driver.”

God continually shows me a beautiful view from the backseat. I need only to sit back and enjoy it.

“Father teach us to trust that You see everything happening in our lives. Our perspective is different from Yours. You are not asleep at the wheel.”

 For His Glory,

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

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 27, 2022

Cheer Squad

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”  Luke 15:7

Were any of you cheerleaders? I was. Just for one year—during my sophomore year in high school. I must say, it was really fun. Shouting rhyming cheers to choreographed moves during crisp, cool Friday night football games…starting chants courtside for the bleachers packed with basketball fans…pounding the mat to support the wrestlers as they grappled for victory. We kept an eye on the game, always yelling to encourage our team. And when there was a score, we’d go crazy—leaping into a herkie, spread eagle, or tuck jump—while we got the crowd to join together in a victory cheer.

That was a long time ago, and I don’t think about it much. But it all came back to me as I studied the first few chapters of Ephesians. You may be thinking, “Cheerleaders in the First Century Church?” Let me explain.

Since God created the angels, they have been around His thrown giving Him glory—glorifying God is one of their main purposes. They circle the Lord’s throne and proclaim His holiness (Isaiah 6:2-3). Angels know God’s sovereignty and power. They are in awe of His creation—they’ve seen it firsthand.

But angels are not omniscient or omnipresent—they only know what has happened and what is happening as they observe it. And although throughout history, as written in the Old Testament, the Lord prophesied about a coming Savior, His death, and His victory, you can just imagine the level of drama that unfolded in front of the angels on Calvary (I picture them howling in despair). But then, three days later, you can almost hear the roar of joy at the Resurrection. They no doubt shouted from every corner of heaven, “Victory! Victory!”

As Paul writes to the Ephesians and other First Century churches, he reveals to these new believers the mysteries of God. In other words, Truths that the OT prophets wrote about but couldn’t comprehend—not until Christ came, died, and ascended, sending the Holy Spirit for understanding (Ephesians 3:10; Colossians 15:51; Colossians 1:27; 1 Timothy 3:16). And the Apostles made these Truths known to the early Christians (and to us). The cool thing is that the angels also came to an understanding of these mysteries right alongside the Church! (Can’t you just see them high-fiving and cheering with each profound Truth?)

And the most Amazing Truth of all, the Gospel of Grace—salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works or the law—was also unveiled to the angels in real time. No doubt, this was like your team winning the world (no, UNIVERSE) championship! The cheers, the jumps, the shouts and hugs! But there’s more (1 Peter 1:12)! The Bible also says that angels rejoice over each sinner who repents and surrenders to Jesus (Luke 15:7-10).

Think about that. When saved, each and every person has myriads of myriads of angels going ballistic—doing angel herkies, shouting, blowing trumpets, probably doing some serious gymnastic moves. An explosion of celebration because it’s the most important event of a person’s existence. So, if you haven’t yet experienced the life-altering transformation of salvation, why not make today the day…your cheer squad is watching intently, waiting to shout over you with unabashed joy.

“Lord, thank You for Your amazing grace, for reconciling us to Yourself through Christ—it is the Ultimate Victory.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 26, 2022

When “Off” Defines Us

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 (ESV)

Who doesn’t love a weekend getaway? The end of a crazy work week welcomes the release of chores and normal routines in exchange for a road trip. And that’s exactly what we did last weekend. Having a change of scenery, splurging on trip food and visiting friends is exactly what we need to recharge our souls. Only problem is – it’s just a weekend trip. The clock ticks fast and before we know it we are headed home. As soon as I opened the door to our house, I was reminded there was a lot I needed to do before Monday morning.

Keeping it real here but starting my week trying to cram and catch up on my weekend list never serves me well. My whole week has felt “off.”  Attempting to recover from just a few days away from home landed me scrambling to stay on top of my schedule. And to add to the list our air conditioning went out Monday as the last days of Summer roared in the upper 80s. Counting down the days until Friday so I can regroup and recoup my “off.” Interesting how being “off” has affected my entire week.

Ever felt “off” not because of a weekend getaway but because of a prolonged getaway from God? Yes, we’ve all probably landed there – moments when we simply excused away our relationship with Him. Busy schedules, disappointments, frustrations, distractions, false truths, unconfessed sin, doubts, bored with our routine – an endless list of ways we get “off” track. Reality is, sometimes we don’t even notice we are out of sync with God until desperation sends us to our knees.

Sweet friends even a slight sense of being “off” in our relationship with God is a wake-up call we should never ignore. It’s those little compromises that land us further away from Him than we ever imagined.

What does “off” look like:

  • Lack of hunger/passion for God’s word
  • No desire to share the gospel
  • Zeroed in on our will vs. God’s will
  • Ignoring self-examination
  • Fellowship with other believers is not important
  • Communing with God in prayer is no longer a priority
  • Settling for the old us vs welcoming God’s transformation

I think we all get the picture….having a heart not centered on the things of God throws us off balance. We easily find ourselves reacting, speaking and thinking in ways that don’t glorify God. And the longer we do life in this mode, the more we miss out on God’s best.

Love the way our God beckons and draws us back into an intimate personal relationship with Him. No matter where we land now, God’s desire is for us to get back on track and enjoy truth satisfaction and joy found only in Him. So if we find ourselves a little “off” right now let’s re-align our hearts with His and reap the blessings of walking daily in His footsteps. It’s a decision we will never regret.

“Father, thank You for welcoming us back with open arms – thank You for your amazing grace that covers all our “off” moments as You patiently wait for our return.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 23, 2022

Trusting During The Fog

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

One of the things I loved the most about living on the mountain is when I drove down to the city; I saw the most magnificent scenery. The Blue Ridge Mountains served as the backdrop to all that lies at the feet of them, including the trees, and – let me not forget to mention, the most beautiful sunsets!

One morning, the fog was so dense that there was very little visibility. I couldn’t even see the building I worked in until I was a couple hundred feet away. Looking out from the balcony, I tried to see the mountains. I was certain, 100% sure that they were exactly where I had seen them over and over again before, but I couldn’t see them. I just had to trust that I knew where they were, and keep on believing that once the fog dissipated, I would be able to see them.

Isn’t this how it happens in life, when our vision gets so cloudy because of the “disturbances” we walk through? Our minds get so crowded with the “fog” of worry, sadness, anxiety, anticipation, agony, sorrow, disappointment, and so many others, that we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. Many times, we can’t even feel that God is right there with us. During those times when the fog of life is so dense, all we can do is TRUST that it will dissipate, that it will melt in the warmth of the sun and show us all those things which our eyes could not see while it was hovering over the path.

“Dear Lord, God Almighty, King of Heaven, we yield our worries to You today. Whatever it is that is clouding our vision and keeping us from seeing that You are there, please remove it, Lord, and let us see You, even through the fog.”

For His Glory

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 22, 2022

Cats or Daughters

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5-6  (NET)

We inherited a long-haired orange tabby cat from the previous owner of our house, who abandoned her when he moved out. Although we didn’t want the responsibility of a pet, there she was, and we couldn’t let her starve. That was five years ago, and Buttercup is still hanging around. Actually, she thinks she owns us.

She is happiest outside where she can scratch trees and roam where she pleases. She also prefers to eat her food outside on the back deck, so like inexperienced fools, we were putting her food dish out for her. Then we had neighborhood dogs coming onto the deck, followed later by a skunk and a big, aggressive raccoon. Our next-door neighbor also says there was a bear “as big as a Volkswagen” wandering through her yard recently, which means he was likely in our yard, too. I hope she was exaggerating his size. Either way, putting cat food outside in a dish is obviously a bad idea, a magnet for all kinds of critters.

Now we are trying to get Buttercup to come into the laundry room to eat, but she refuses until she is practically starving. She doesn’t understand why we have suddenly changed her routine. She is clearly irritated and resisting as hard as she can. But if we give into her and put her food outside where she likes it, animals of all descriptions will be on our back deck.

Buttercup is relying on her own understanding. She doesn’t know what we know, because she isn’t capable of reasoning as we do. We know there are dangers she doesn’t comprehend.

Don’t we act the same way when God changes our circumstances, or when He requires us to take on a new, unwelcomed responsibility? We don’t understand His ways, which are higher than our ways. Our limited human brains can’t comprehend what He knows. We have a choice. We can act like Buttercup and fight the change, or we can trust Him and submit to His will like the daughters we are.

Isn’t our best, wisest option to follow His leading?

“Father, when the unpleasant changes come in our lives, remind us of who You are and who we are. Help us to trust you more perfectly and acknowledge You in all our ways.”

For His Glory

Cherie Harbridge Williams
TRBC Women’s Life

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

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 21, 2022

The Comforter

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:7-8, ESV)

“What do you mean you’re leaving? How can you leave us now? What will we do without you?”

Imagine the conversation taking place as Jesus was trying to prepare the disciples for what was going to happen. He knew his death on the cross was coming. As they enjoyed their last supper together, He spent time reassuring them that they would not be abandoned. They knew what it was like to spend time with Jesus in person. How could a helper take His place?

In the Old Testament God spoke to mankind directly through visible signs (cloud of smoke by day, pillar of fire at night.) He often spoke directly to prophets in an audible voice leaving no doubt about what He wanted His people to do. (Exodus 3)

However, a new way of communicating with believers became prominent after the resurrection of Christ. Each believer would now have access to God through Jesus. Those who had accepted Jesus as their Savior would have the Holy Spirit as their advocate. He would plead their case to the Father.

Unlike before there would no longer be an audible voice of God speaking to prophets. It would be the still small voice of the Spirit speaking to the hearts of individuals. Drawing them to God and urging them to live wisely. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman though. He doesn’t scream to get his voice heard. It takes effort to turn down the “noise” of our lives to hear Him. When bad choices are made – He convicts us. He never abuses his power though. We always have a choice. When we ignore His leading, we grieve the Spirit. (Ephesians 4:30)

Have you ever been praying and had a sense of peace wash over you? You might have even felt a gentle hug in your spirit. That’s the Holy Spirit being our intercessor – sharing our burdens with Jesus in Heaven. And Jesus through the Holy Spirit comforts us with that “peace that passeth all understanding.”  Our prayer has been heard. We are not alone.

Sometimes life devastates us. We may not know what to pray or we’re unable to pray – we just cry or groan in our spirit. In moments of weakness, the Holy Spirit advocates for us. He understands our tears and turns them into words (prayers) offered up to Jesus on our behalf. (Romans 8:26)

“Lord remind us that even though we can’t see You like the disciples did – You are with us. Teach us to call on the Comforter not the world to ease our pain. Illuminate our prayers with wisdom.”

 

For His Glory

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Love

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 20, 2022

Love On Display

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”   Ephesians 2:4-5

Have you ever heard someone say, “Oh, she knows I love her”? Sometimes this concept is also stated as, “I know he loves me—he doesn’t have to say it all the time.” On the flip side of that coin is a person who tells another person (even frequently), “I love you,” but their attitude and actions are neutral (or worse). The fact is, for someone to truly know we love them, words are not enough. We need to demonstrate our love in ways (big and small), by being helpful, extending grace (giving others kindness that they don’t deserve), and showing mercy (not giving others what they do deserve).

God loves us—He is love (1 John 4:8). We can read all about His love for us from Genesis to Revelation—He tells us clearly using His words. We can also see His love expressed to us through Creation. A breathtaking sunset, the intricacies of a flower, the miracle of a newborn baby. And this is truly amazing and breathtaking.

But did you know, friend, that it is not God’s love for us that reconciles us to Him? His love does not make a way for us to spend eternity with Him in heaven. That may sound strange. But it’s true. God does love us—all of us. We can read it; we can see it. But He demonstrated that love for us in that while we were still sinners, He sent His Son—Jesus—to die on our behalf (Romans 5:8). Jesus paid the price for our sin—a price we could never pay—so that we can be righteous, holy, worthy to stand before God. It is this grace and this mercy that saves us from eternal suffering and separation from God. This is God’s love on display.

God does love all of us. And all of us have an opportunity to accept God’s gift of love on display. He loves you. But no matter how much you read about it, see it, or “know” this fact, it’s not enough. If you haven’t said, “Yes” to God’s grace through faith in Jesus, won’t you do that right now?

“Lord, Your love maintains the breath in our lungs and the earth’s rotation…but it’s the demonstration of Your love through Jesus that saves us. Thank You for this gift.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Love

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 19, 2022

The Secret To Thriving

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,”  Psalm 92:12-14 (NIV)

Cruising down I-95, I absolutely love the moment when I see palm trees swaying in the breeze. It’s my cue – the beach and Florida warm weather are getting closer. Despite how tired I am of driving, I’m always mesmerized by the view. Majestic, towering trees welcoming me to my fave place.

What makes those trees thrive? Lots of water, probably the reason why palm trees grow in abundance near the ocean.

What makes us thrive? “The closer our hearts, minds and souls are connected to God, the deeper our relationship grows. Relationship + obedience nourishes our souls in abundance. Living in sync with God’s will allows us to flourish – totally mesmerized by His work in us.

Psalm 92 beautifully illustrates how the righteous (doing life in obedience to God) not only flourish but grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Frequently mentioned in scripture, cedar trees were large, aromatic trees growing in abundance in Palestine. Valued for its durability, cedar was used to build the temple and the palaces of David and Solomon.

Sweet friends if we are growing like a cedar, we will be:

A sweet fragrance of God’s love
Able to withstand wear, pressure or damage
Stable – exhibiting enduring faith
Existing for a long time (eternity)

Wow, I never knew being like trees (palm and cedar) could be so appealing, but it is to God. And it all happens when we are planted firmly in our faith. Drawing strength and guidance from God’s word. Aligning our will with His. Seeking to draw close to the source of everything we need. And the best part, verse 14 reminds us that we will still bear fruit in old age – fresh and flourishing. Now if that doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what will.

Keeping it real here – aging isn’t exactly what I’m looking forward to – wrinkles, aches and pains. We can often discount the value of a life lived well, but God doesn’t. He knows that despite our calendar age, those who maintain connection with Him will bear an abundance of fresh fruit. No sitting on the sidelines allowed sisters, we are destined to flourish on this earth from our first breath to our last. And the benefit of that ever growing, flourishing life is the sweetest reality that we are glorifying our God.

Oswald Chambers states it well, “A life of intimacy with God is characterized by joy.”   Vibrant and passionately devoted to our God all of our days – can’t think of a better way to live.

“Father, I love the plans You have for each of us to flourish and grow all the days of our life.  Help us to stay connected to You and walk faithfully in obedience.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 14, 2022

One Way Only

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, ESV)

 “God is in everything. There are many paths to Him.”

WAIT. What did I just hear? My heart sank a little.

I had looked up to this person. Listened to them teach the Bible for over twenty years. I have dozens of their books in my office. I couldn’t believe that they were now sitting on a TV talk show and saying these words.

This person was talking about the message of inclusion. It started off sounding wonderful. Saying things like we should love everyone and treat everyone the same. But then it took a dangerous turn.

Inclusion has become the new mantra of our time.

But the message of inclusion sweeping across our land has a deeper meaning and a spiritual agenda.

In the book of Revelation, John warns us about how there is coming a time in our history when our society will be pushed into one global government. Inclusion is the message at the forefront of global minded thinking – urging us to be inclusive towards others.

The world would have us believe that if we just love everyone, we can do whatever we want and believe in any type of god – everyone goes to heaven. Inclusion says come as you are and stay as you are.

But let us not be deceived.

Christianity is a message of exclusivity.

We are all God’s creation, but we are not all His children. We become a child of God when we accept Jesus as our Savior. Anyone at any time can come to Jesus, just as they are. Once a person has acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God and confessed their sins – they are saved. Then they begin the process of changing old thinking patterns and walking away from sin.

Christianity isn’t a religion. It is a personal relationship with God.

God doesn’t exclude anyone from having a relationship with Him.

It makes no difference where you are from, what you look like, how much money you make or how many mistakes you have made. Access is open to EVERYONE – this is the only part of the gospel that is inclusive.

God’s Word tells us clearly there is one way only to have a relationship with God and that way is through His Son, Jesus (John 14:6). By simply inviting Jesus into your life, believing He is the Son of God and asking for forgiveness of your sins you too can experience a personal eternal relationship with God. Heaven rejoices every time someone believes. . .there’s still room for one more.

“Father, please help us to not be taken captive by the deception that surrounds us in our society. Help us to hide your Word in our heart so that we can discern the lies of the enemy.”

 

For His Glory,

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

 

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Posted in Faith, Freedom, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 12, 2022

When Hard Seasons Arrive

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

Where did the Summer go? Those are always the words echoing from my lips after Labor Day. I’m a warm weather, sunshiny day girl.  Beaches and anywhere outside are my fave places to be.  And despite the humid, extremely hot weather we had this Summer, I’m dreading the brink of chill that will arrive in a few weeks.

Regardless of whether we love hot or cold weather, despite our longing for snow or sunny beaches; we know the weather in Virginia will change with the season.   That’s one reason so many people love living here.  We get to experience it all.

Navigating our journey on this earth, we will experience lots of transitional seasons.  Seems like yesterday, we were grabbing our backpacks and heading out the door to catch the bus.  Blink and we find ourselves graduating from high school and then college. Flip the calendar and now we are the adults lining up our children for those “first day of school” pictures.  And before we even realize it, we’re the cheering grandparents in the stands at the local football game.

Life on earth is brief….a quick journey with thousands of transitions.  Each one ushering in its own unique lessons.  Birthdays, graduations, weddings and career accomplishments – glorious celebrations.  Seasons of life we love and enjoy.  But rarely do we envision the hard transitional spaces – places we never dreamed would be ours.

Just like the final leaf drifting from bare branches, our vulnerable self is fully on display when we find ourselves in desperate places.  The diagnosis we dreaded.  The loss of a loved one.  The emptying of our financial resources.  The exhaustion of caring for a family member.  The aching heart for our prodigal.  The haunting awareness of personal or spiritual failure.

Transitions and seasons we navigate in life could easily steal our breath away and silence our voice.  But God.  Yes that phrase, but God, reminds us who we belong to. It champions who is on our side.  We have never lived a day or experienced a second unknown to our God. Before we took our first breath, God saw us. While we were being formed in the womb of our sweet Moms, God fashioned every single day of our lives (Psalm 139:16).

So sweet friends when those hard seasons arrive, we can find strength and courage in the heart of our Creator.  The one who formed us will never leave or forsake us.  Even in the burst of ugliness spewing from our lips, overcome with sorrows birthed in hard places, our God is greater than our emotions. His love is inexhaustible.  He is wiser than our best laid plans. He is all sufficient to pick us up and carry us until we can once again stand.  God will see us through each step of those seasons and shine His greatest glory when we least expect it.

Love this reminder from Charles Spurgeon: “Nothing teaches us about the preciousness of our Creator as much as when we learn the emptiness of everything else.”  Oh how sweet to trust in our Creator – to call upon His Name in the darkest of our nights. To know beyond a shadow of a doubt, we are never out of His sight.

“Father, You are the only One who knows our every thought and loves us still.  You meet us where we are and teach us valuable lessons in every season.  Thank You for never giving up on us, even when give up on You.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

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