Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 17, 2022

Aiming For The Prize

“Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.” 2 John 1:8(ESV)

Years of practice…hard work…dedication…. sacrifice and it all culminates within a two week period. I’ve always enjoyed watching the Olympics –  sitting on edge to see how our fave athletes will do – cheering the USA Team on to victory in pursuit of the gold. We love the inside story of those who have beat the odds, overcome obstacles and tragedies. And with today’s technology, we can read posts, tweets and replays instantly. We know who won the medals without even watching the event.

In this thing called life – we put in a lot of hard work, dedication and sacrifice. We give it our best shot. And as children of God, we press on for a far greater prize than the gold. But it doesn’t usually culminate within a two week period – it’s a lifetime, a journey from our first cry to our final breath. All the gaps in between – extraordinary moments to beat the odds, overcome obstacles and tragedies.

Aiming for the reward? How’s your prayer life? The Father rewards those who pray authentic prayers from a genuinely humble heart. Not for show but for relationship. Ever fasted? The Father rewards those who don’t draw attention to their sacrifices, yet quietly cleanse their hearts and seek His face in secret. Ever given to the poor or served the broken-hearted? The Father rewards those whose service to Him isn’t motivated by the praise of man.

Doubt that any of the athletes competing in an Olympics aim for second place or strive to fail? The same should be true of us – our settling for less will never reap the reward God delights in giving. We must diligently seek Him, faithfully serve Him and humbly walk after our God. Like the Olympic athletes it will require some no’s in order to seek the “greater yes” that positions for victory. It will require denial of self, discipline, perseverance and empty praise. But when we stand before our Father and lay our crowns down at His feet it will be worth it all.

“Father, the things of this world will fade away but only what is done in Your name will last. Help us to remain faithful to the high calling of serving You.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 16, 2022

Avoiding Quarrels

“Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.”  2 Timothy 2:23

Had any quarrels lately? I have…and they leave me feeling tied up in knots. Entangled. Caught in a net of feelings and emotions.

God’s Word speaks to the heart of every problem. 2 Timothy 2:4 tells us that, “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”  I don’t think this means that we don’t engage with the world, but rather we remember that God is our authority, and we aim to please Him. He is the one who enlisted us, and we should march to His orders.

Our marching orders in 2 Timothy 2:23 caution us to “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies.”  Clearly, some things don’t merit discourse. When there is an issue worthy of discussion, 2 Timothy 2:24-25 provides instructions telling us: “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.”

How often am I more focused on making my point than on gently communicating in a way that aligns with God’s heart to grant repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth? Sadly, I know the answer to that question. When I take my eyes off my commanding officer, I am all too easily swept up in civilian concerns forgetting that through grace I have been enlisted to represent Jesus. Forgetting that I was forgiven so that I could be salt and light…not so that I could be always right!

“Lord, forgive me when I focus on winning arguments rather than serving You. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to You. May this be truer tomorrow than it was yesterday.”

For His Glory,

Ann Skalaski
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Love, Mercy, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 15, 2022

No Going Back

“The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.” Job 17:9 (NLT)

The Israelites spent over 400 years in Egypt before the Exodus.  They started out welcomed as the family of Joseph. But as government rulers changed, so did their status. Once free men, they became slaves with no control of any aspect of their lives. Everything was dictated to them. Their children could be taken from them in a moment and sold and they could do nothing about it. It was the “normal” that they lived with.

Understanding that makes it even harder to fathom how only two months after gaining their freedom they started complaining to Moses. They wanted to go back to Egypt – back to their normal. They were so far out of their comfort zones that they missed the bigger picture of what God was doing in their lives.

Despite the fact they were beaten, half-starved and made to endure inhumane work and life conditions, they had developed a routine of “normalcy” to adapt to the abuse over the generations. When they were taken out of their comfort zone – the fear of the unknown was too much for them. They didn’t want change – even though that change meant a new way of life for them and their children.

In my profession, I spend a lot of time talking with people. One common theme I hear a lot is the desire “to go back to normal.”  A wish to return to pre-pandemic life. No masks. No social distancing. I’m an extrovert – I love people and I’m a hugger. I can relate to their sentiments.

While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be able to connect with friends and family without fear of a virus – the truth is nowhere in the Bible do we ever read that going backward resulted in something good.

There is a purpose for every season in our lives. And my own experience has taught me that when God moves us into another season; He very seldom lets us go back and pick and choose the things we want to take with us. This world is not our home. And until we either leave this life through rapture or the grave – things will continue to change.

In Job 17:9 we read that “the righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.” (NLT)

Our lives before the pandemic might not have been as horrific as the Israelites. But perhaps God was trying to get our attention – to get us out of our “comfort zones.”  To get us out of the “normal” of full schedules overloaded with no time to read the Word of God or pray.

“Father help us to not be like the Israelites and miss the bigger picture. Open our eyes to see that we must keep moving forward adapting to the changes of the season – fully trusting in the fact that you are our El Shaddai.”

 

For His Glory

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

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 13, 2022

The View

“For how great is His goodness, and how great His beauty!” Zechariah 9:17a

We had this like really big, yellowish green bush that for the past few years had grown into an even bigger ugly bush. There were two of them actually located on each end of our garage building. For years, I’ve wanted these monstrous bushes gone. Why? They were overtaking my other flowers and towered all the way up to the gutters on our garage. We did absolutely nothing to foster this growth, yet these bushes thrived all on their own.

Memorial Day weekend, my sweet husband got out the power saw (yes it took the power saw) to finally cut them down. The pile of branches and debris was huge, heavy and messy. Most amazing thing is now I have a totally unobstructed view of my coral bells in full bloom right out of my kitchen window. Never knew that view was possible, but I love it.

Lots of things can obstruct our view of the beauty lying all around us. Challenges often cloud our view.  Consuming our thoughts and draining our energy. Disappointments can extinguish our view. Zeroing us in on regrets, missed opportunities and eliminating the possibilities. Busyness can attempt to dismiss our view. Creativity doesn’t even get a chance to bloom in the whirlwind of continuous activity.  And the longer we entertain those challenges, disappointments and busyness, the bigger they get and the smaller our view gets. Only when we intentionally determine to move what’s obstructing our view can we see the beauty that was already there – God’s daily provisions to encourage our souls.

Flip through the pages of the Old Testament, and we’ll find the Children of Israel released from slavery – freed at last from the bondage of Egypt. Yet ever so quickly their eyes were consumed with what they lacked to the point they couldn’t see all God was providing for them. Hadn’t He already guaranteed their deliverance? Didn’t He bypass their homes when the infants were slaughtered? And then there’s the miraculous parting of the Red Sea – every one of them marched through dry as the waves stood back.  The challenge of going through the wilderness obstructed their view of all God had done and was continuing to do on their behalf. All they needed was provided for them and the beauty of the Lord surrounded them to ensure their safety. Yet complaining and accusations quickly echoed from their lips. This is exactly where we can land if we allow challenges, disappointments and busy to obstruct our view.

Life will never be challenge free, disappointment free or busy free – it’s the normal occurrence in our everyday world. But when we choose to not allow things and situations to obstruct our view then we can maneuver through them while enjoying the daily beauty lying all around us. Simple pleasures we would have otherwise overlooked. God’s protection. God’s presence. God’s breathtaking creation rising up to praise Him even when our voices are silenced.  Best view in the house is the view that chooses to embrace God’s beauty in everyday life regardless of our circumstances.

“Father, how blessed we would truly be if we chose to see Your beauty rather than zero in on our everchanging world. Help us to remove the obstacles and strategically chose to open our eyes to the beauty You have orchestrated all around us.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 10, 2022

A Forever Invitation

“How long O Lord will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” Psalm 13:1 (ESV)

We don’t have to endure anything uncomfortable for long before the words “How long Lord?” echoes from our lips. We love comfort and ease, so when hard and waiting rise to the surface we want relief and a quick resolve.

The Psalmist David in Psalm 13 opens up with a huge lament; “How long O Lord will you forget me forever?” Scholars don’t attribute this Psalm to any specific period of David’s life although we know he spent a lot of time running and hiding from King Saul who sought his life. David’s desperate plea for resolution resonated, “I need You Lord to intervene on my behalf.” I’m sure we’ve all found ourselves there eager for God to come to our rescue.

During challenging periods in our lives, I wonder if God is asking us to remember Him rather than zeroing in on our relief. Throughout the Bible God allowed devastating circumstances in the lives of His children to draw their hearts back to Him. The challenges we face today are no different. It’s so easy to desire a solution versus press into the Solution Giver. It’s simpler to focus on what we want and need versus zero in on what He may want to accomplish in us. It’s often our default response to forget relationship with God trumps ease, comfort and resolve.

So the deep question I ask myself is how long will we continue to forget God? Am I pursuing Him and waiting to hear and know Him more? Am I hiding His word away in my heart and reciting it back to Him in full confidence that He is in control? Am I missing out on a chance to zero my focus and attention on Him?

Out of His steadfast and enduring love God is calling the world to engage intimately with Him. The choice is up to us – He is patiently waiting eager to welcome us into His presence. Let’s not forget Him!

“Sweet Jesus I confess our world seeks comfort and pleasure and when it evaporates, we still don’t turn our hearts back to You. Help us to not get absorbed in doing or simply wasting precious moments You have ordained for us. Help us each to evaluate how our hearts are remembering and focusing on You. Give us consistency and intentionality in redeeming the time You have given us.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 9, 2022

Next Appointment: ME Time

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

There is so much going on in the world these days. There seems to be a need for us to be busy all the time. People cram their schedules with so many appointments, that they often spend almost every waking hour in meetings. Oh, yes, and the so-called cell phones have become babysitters to children and bosses of adults.

We seem to always be racing against the clock, running from one appointment to another, reminding ourselves we are going to be late if we do not rush. And then, once the day is over and we get to bed, we lie down pre-planning what will be on our schedule for the next day. It is a vicious cycle, like a hamster wheel, and most of us are guilty of it.

Have you noticed how everything needs a resting time, though? Babies need naps; machines need to be oiled and turned off from time to time to not overheat; and even the land needs to rest between harvests. If you take a historical voyage through the Bible, you will find that REST was something ordained by God, so that man would not feel exhausted and struggle to function. God Himself took a day off after He spent six days working on His creation. On that seventh day, He rested.

There are a few accounts of the word Sabbath in the Bible. Sabbath means to rest, to pull away, to unplug from one’s responsibilities, so body, mind and soul can be renewed. Research proves that rest does wonders for our physical and emotional health.

Are you feeling tired and struggling to get from one day to another? Perhaps this is a good time for you to put aside all your gadgets and busy schedule, and plan some “me time” for yourself – a time to just let your body recover from all the busyness you submit it through daily. Remember how precious you are to God and that He wants the best for you. In turn, when you are fully rested, you will also be able to give Him your best by offering Him praise and worship with a clear mind: your utmost for His glory. Sometimes, our best comes out of our rest.

“Dear Lord, we want to offer You our very best. Help us to rest in You.”

 

For His Glory

 
Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 7, 2022

Girl Power

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

Those outside the Christian faith (especially those hostile toward it) are often heard saying that the Bible holds women in an inferior view, which plays into the “patriarchy” that currently holds women under the thumbs of men. But this is pure ignorance, as nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, God makes it clear from Genesis to Revelation, women are valuable and valued. The Bible is filled with strong heroines. And, contrary to the norms of society back then—and no doubt shocking to the original readers and hearers—God’s Words elevate women, show them as positive examples, and give their words and actions credence. This topic could (and does) fill volumes of study material. But here’s just a handful of Biblical truths to remind us how much our amazing God loves us all.

  • Men and women are both created in God’s image. See Genesis 1:27.
  • The Old Testament tells the amazing story of two different women—neither of whom are Jews, and one who was a prostitute—to beautifully illustrate God’s redemptive plan for all people. Not only that, but both these women are listed in the New Testament as being in the direct genealogy of Jesus. That’s pretty astounding. Check out Joshua 2-6 and the book of Ruth.
  • Twice the Bible tells of women who fully understood who Jesus was (even when His closest buddies were still clueless), each one anointing Him with oil and tears of appreciation of His forgiveness, grace, and mercy. Read of the unnamed sinful woman in Luke 7:36-50, as well as Mary of Bethany in Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8.
  • Jesus was close friends with Mary and Martha, and their faith is given as an example to us, which you can read about in Luke 10:38-42 and John 11.
  • The Bible tells us that women were part of Jesus’ closest circle, supporting and taking care of Him and His 12 disciples during Jesus’ earthly ministry. See Luke 8:1-3.
  • The Bible records that the women who loved Jesus stayed for his execution when His disciples fled. See Matthew 27:55-56.
  • It was a group of faithful women who first arrived at the tomb of Jesus and were the first to be witnesses to His resurrection. In and of itself, this gives historicity and veracity to this account, because at that time, women were not considered credible witnesses in court—so if someone wanted to fabricate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, they certainly would not have recorded women as the first witnesses. See Luke 24:1-12; Mark 16:1-11; John 20:1-18.

Sadly, some religions view women as less than men and of little more value than cattle. The world’s narrative about God’s view of women is pervasive and damaging. But it is based on lies, because Satan is the god of this world—and he is the father of lies. The True and Living God, however, loves and values men and women, having sacrificed His Son to redeem us all.

 

“Lord, thank You that I am precious in Your sight. I am made in Your image and have been made heir to Your kingdom by the blood of Jesus.

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

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Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 6, 2022

Why Slippage Doesn’t Serve Us Well

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:8a(ESV)

Exercising is one of those things I just love to do. Rarely do I miss a beat. Lunchtime at the gym has been my norm for years and energizes my afternoon. So one would think I never miss a workout. Not the case. I ended 2021 with covid and exercise was definitely not doable. While I had a very mild case, tiredness kept me out of the gym for six weeks.

When our bodies are used to exercising there is this weird dynamic that takes place when we halt. It takes about two – three  weeks (depending on your fitness level) of no use for our muscles to atrophy – in other words, they start to shrink. Lack of use causes our bodies to break the muscles down decreasing them in size and strength. Malnutrition, a sedentary lifestyle or sitting at a desk all day can fuel this process. Not exactly where we want to land. Good news is we can recover by resuming exercise and eating a healthy diet. It may take a little longer to rebuild those muscles, but it is absolutely doable.

Sound familiar –  whether you exercise or not, we all can easily get off track with what’s truly important for our physical and spiritual health. Warm weather, fun activities, weekends traveling – I’m sure we’ve all been there when prioritizing time with God slid to the bottom of the list. And if we’re keeping it real here, we’ve even allowed God to not make the list at all.  Crazy thing is slippage happens without a lot of effort and maybe that’s the real point – our efforts took a short break which slowly evolved into a prolonged absence. Not exactly where we planned to land.

What happens when those spiritual muscles are weakened?

  • We are vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks
  • Our tendency is to rely on self versus turning to God
  • Self-control quickly slides out the window
  • Doubts resurface
  • Excuses multiply

I think we all get the picture – dismissing our connection with God never serves us well.  It leaves us feeling empty even if our life is swirling with the fullness of distractions and activity. We simply can’t satisfy the longing in our souls with anything except God. Good news is we can recover by simply drawing our hearts back to God.

Even if life is totally out of control, we can avoid the disconnect by:

 

  • Seizing moments to focus our thoughts on God
  • Breathing prayers throughout our day
  • Meditating on one verse – allowing God’s Word to saturate our thoughts
  • Listening to worship music as we clean, work, travel, etc.
  • Listening to an inspirational podcast while doing dishes, laundry or waiting in the carpool line

Simple little ways to ensure slippage in this season doesn’t create disconnect in the future. God is always near, eager and ready to connect with us. The daily choice is up to us.

“Father, even in the midst of crazy busy and lots of challenges help us to keep our hearts connected and aligned with Yours.”

 

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | June 1, 2022

Genuine Versus Knock-Off

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” Romans 12:9-10 (NLT)

We didn’t have much money when I was growing up. Instead of Trix, we ate Circus Balls cereal. Instead of Rice Krispies, we ate Crispy Rice. Instead of Apple Jacks, we ate Apple O’s. When we visited my aunt and uncle, they served us name-brand soda, cereal, chips … even real Oreos, not Hydrox. On those trips, I was confronted with the truth: genuine beats knock-off every time.

Our key verse delivers the same truth. As believers in Christ, Paul tells us to “really love” others, not just fake it. Easy to talk about, but tricky to live out. In this upcoming season of holiday parties and get-togethers, what are some practical ways we can “really love” others?

Show interest: How did you meet your husband? What led you to your current job? What do you like to do for fun? When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up? If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be? Asking an open-ended question (not a yes or no answer) is a great way to show others we care.

Listen: We’ve all been there. Someone asks you a question but their attention wanders before you can fully answer the question. In that moment, do you feel loved? Let’s make the effort to listen without preparing the next comment or question in our heads.

Pray: How can I pray for you? The ultimate act of service is bringing another’s requests before the Lord. Praying for others may lead us to action, but the service of prayer is so valuable all on its own. Just as a seed planted in the ground—watered and soaking up the sun—grows, so prayer offered on behalf of another grows a seed of love for that person in us.

Remember: The next time you see that person you have shown an interest in, listened to, and prayed for, ask about something they shared with you. Committing something of the previous conversation to memory speaks volumes of the honor and value you place on that person.

Putting these principles into action will not be easy, but genuine beats knock-off every time. Are you ready to challenge yourself to “really love” others?

“Especially during the holidays when we are surrounded by friends, family, and coworkers at parties and get-togethers, Lord, guide us in how we can “really love” others.”

For His Glory

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

 

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 31, 2022

Preparing For The Prince

“Wash yourself, therefore, and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor.” Ruth 3:3

As I continue to study the book of Ruth in the Old Testament, this inspiring and dramatic love story never ceases to amaze me. As the writer shares the true account of how King David’s grandparents met and were married, we are also shown several parallels to our own relationship with Jesus Christ. Like a real Prince Charming, Boaz rescues Ruth (and her mother-in-law, Naomi), from poverty and sorrow. Per a somewhat strange Jewish law, Ruth could propose to Boaz, a close relative of her late husband, and he would redeem her (pay the owed family debt), forever changing her future.

This is the primary parallel in the story: Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer, coming to our rescue and paying the impossible debt we owe in order to redeem us…forever changing our future.

But there are a handful of verses in chapter 3 of Ruth that describe the pre-proposal interaction between Ruth and her mother-in-law that are a bit comical on the surface. Because Ruth is a foreigner and probably doesn’t know this odd kinsman-redeemer law, Naomi has to give her a little push to go get her man. (This is where Naomi’s Cinderella character parallel goes from a wicked stepsister to those cute, enlivened animals that get Cindy ready for the ball. But I digress.) To help ensure the plan will work, Naomi gives Ruth four instructions (v3): (1) Wash yourself, (2) anoint yourself, (3) put on your best clothes, and (4) go (tell him). When you’re in the midst of the saga, it’s funny to picture this because Naomi is telling Ruth to get ready as if for a fancy ball, and then she sends her to the threshing floor—think dirty, smelly, crowded-with-sweaty-guys factory floor.

The really cool aspect of these four steps that Naomi gave Ruth is how they correspond to the steps taken for our own rescue and redemption in Jesus.

  • Wash yourself: We have to recognize that we are filthy and stinky in our sin (Isaiah 64:6). But the precious blood of Jesus washes us as white as snow, cleansing us of all unrighteousness (Isaiah 1:18; 1 John 1:9; Revelation 1:5).
  • Anoint yourself: The moment we accept the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, we are anointed with the Holy Spirit, who seals us as a child of God and abides in us so we can understand the things of God.
  • Put on your best clothes: Amazingly, when we surrender to Jesus, He takes our raggedy, nasty clothes and gives us His robe of righteousness to wear (Isaiah 61:10; 2 Corinthians 5:21), so when the Father looks at us, He only sees the righteousness of Christ.
  • Go (and tell him): Like Boaz, the Great Redeemer will not force Himself on us. We must take action. Like Ruth, we must tell Jesus that we need Him, want Him, and trust Him for our rescue.

Friend, are you in need of rescue today? Are you sitting in the poverty and sorrow of your sin? There is a Redeemer—the Prince of Peace—who will sweep you up in His arms…and change your future, both in this world and for eternity. All you have to do is tell Him.

 

“Lord, if there is just one reading these words right now who has not run into the loving arms of our Savior Jesus Christ, let today be the day of their rescue.”

 

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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

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