Faith Filled Friday I got the phone call while I was at a filming conference with my co-author/friend. I looked down to see who it was, at the same time frustrated I hadn’t remembered to put it on vibrate. Dr. Mheta’s name filled my screen. What in the world…
Thanks for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Faith-filled Friday with Trench Classes United. Come on in as I share for the first time on social media one of the biggest scares of my adult life. “My doctor never calls me so let me see who this is, Steve.” “Sure, sure,” he smiled. “Kim, this is Heather from Dr. Mheta’s” Silence “How are you?” she asked “I’m good; how are you?” She got right to the point, sounding as positive as one can when they have not-so-good news to share with a patient. “We received your mammogram back and they want you to go in for further testing.” She hurriedly reassured me it was probably nothing and told me she’d be sending the order in and the imaging facility should call me sometime that day. I hung up in a bit of a dazed shock, but I do remember seeing faces of others whom I’ve known went thru breast cancer fights and/or just scares, and I felt this sort of compassion for them that I had never known before. I shared the news with Steve. Both of us shook our heads in disbelief and reminded each other of Who is in control. I had just been recounting the story of almost getting hit by a train the day before, and knowing that God had completely intervened in that scenario served as a fresh reminder that He’d get me through whatever this was going to be. We talked for a few minutes and then I left, purposely switching my thoughts to my next task, though fear knocked on the door of my mind and heart, at times sounding like it was going to bang the door down. Apparently there was a bit of confusion combined with miscommunication between the original imaging center, my follow-up imaging center and the doctor’s office but finally a week later, I went in for the follow-up test. Oh, Mylanta, I had no idea that an itty-bitty thing could be tugged on, twisted, turned and tortured so much. The pain combined with the fear was just too much and I let the tears fall, all the what-ifs flooding my soul. I did combat the continued threats of fear knocking me down and filling me up with scripture, prayer and sharing with a few my news. My husband comforted me with his adamant opinion that it was nothing; there was nothing to worry about. Imagine his surprise when I called to tell him that there was something and the next step was a biopsy. He actually was angry, his first response, “Why, Lord, why are you doing this?” I realized in that moment he was going to have his own experience thru this, whatever happens. I gently reminded him that if I’m going to walk thru this, whatever “this” is, like I believe, then I need to trust His promises of working all things together for His glory, my good (Romans 8:28), knowing that His plan is not to harm me, tear me down, but to lift me up (Jer. 29:11) Please join me Monday for more of this life-changing story that I am trusting will increase the territory He’s already given me to comfort others with the comfort I’ve been given. Faith-ing thru Kim-Evinda
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Join us to learn how to have healthy relational expectations and live a life fueled by hope!9/13/2018 Thursday’s Trench Truth What do you do when others let you down? Do you fall down or rise above the disappointment? Join us to learn how to have healthy relational expectations and live a life fueled by hope! Monday: Yucaipa/ Beaumont
Tuesday: Yucaipa Wednesday: Redlands Thursday: Redlands/ San Bernardino/ Upland Let us know which location you’re interested in and we’ll contact you with all the trench info Let’s do this! Kim-Evinda Wednesday’s Word Welcome to Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United! You’re in for a treat today with a heartfelt blog from Julie.
When “time hop” pops on your profile FB and reminds you all God has done 🙌 😭 Seriously, I had no idea I would be taking a photo six years later of our five children at the same spot! Children did not come “automatically” for us as my Uncle told us. We walked the road of infertility and bringing our “wants” to the Lord and exchanging them for his beauty. Honestly, it has felt like God pouring children into our lap at one point. 😭 🙌 Anyone out there praying and knocking and feeling hopeless like God is not answering? Don’t lose hope; instead pray, seek, knock and keep knocking. Remember the story in the Bible how the disciples had fished all night and caught nothing and then …“When he had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.” (Luke 5:4-6) Notice Jesus spoke to go into the DEEP waters, put down your nets, not just one net, and Simon said “we worked hard all night…” it was beyond their “works”. God was requiring FAITH in that moment in their lives. They were about to partake in a tremendous miracle of the His faithfulness, of His authority, and of His word. Imagine they threw the net down and said “not today Lord, we are tired!” They would have missed a blessing, a gift, a miracle, and not just for themselves but for all the others too, and us as well. So when you feel tired and you want to scream “forget this!” dig deeper in the Word of God and listen for His voice. He may be speaking in the still of the night. When Nathan and I went back to foster/adopt, we had basically the bare essentials. Honestly it didn’t really seem “like the right time” in our eyes... but God showed up unexpectedly!” Is God asking you to walk by faith and not by sight? Throw your net again?! Maybe He has a miracle ahead...remember our “works” will never be enough; we will always come back exhausted but when God speaks, He brings the Harvest AND you will glorify Him! Thanks for joining me…. Casting my nets, Julie Tuesday’s Trench Truth Join us to learn how to live fueled by hope, experience a comeback when you have a setback. Coming to a trench near you…
Monday: Yucaipa/ Beaumont Tuesday: Yucaipa Wednesday: Redlands Thursday: Redlands/ San Bernardino/ Upland Let us know which location you’re interested in and we’ll contact you with all the trench info Looking forward to seeing you… Kim-Evinda Monday’s Mantra I’m so excited to feature Julie Held this week! You’re in for a treat today and Wednesday, too! Come on in and thanks for Joining us for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Monday’s Mantra with Trench Classes United.
Do you remember being a kid and drinking out of the hose? There was such sheer delight and excitement! This moment with my son drinking from the hose reminded me that we all thirst in life. And somewhere along the road of life we start to “grow-up” and the simple starts to fade out and we begin to thirst beyond the simple things. We become aware of all that the world offers us and it begins to entice us: egos, pride, admiration, money, status, good works, education, you name it. But God tells us in his Word to hunger and thirst for righteousness. But what does righteousness mean? It means acting in accord with divine or moral law: Free from guilt or sin. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.” {Matthew 5:6 NIV} God wants us to hunger and thirst for a life free of guilt and sin and then we will be satisfied! Think on that: has your sin and guilt ever satisfied? Never! We are only made righteous through Christ alone, not by any good works. If your heart feels empty maybe you need to take a step back, confess your sin and ask God to bring you a thirst for Him again. Drink of the living water and you will be satisfied. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, “ts {Acts 3:19}. “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” {Psalm 34:8} Thanks for joining me, Julie Faith-Filled Friday My Mother instructed me to always make eye contact with my teachers so they would think I was interested in what they were saying …
Welcome to Coffee Hour at Chicklit Power and Faith-Filled Friday with Trench Classes United & Megan Pilarik. My Mother was a teacher, so undoubtedly she knew what it took to make a teacher feel valued. Making eye contact is an important component of active listening, but active listening is not the art of making others think you are interested in what they have to say. Active listening is the ability to be authentically interested in what someone is communicating to you. My husband and I attended a family wedding this weekend. I thought this would be a good opportunity to practice active listening skills. I should have known better. My novice listening skills and I failed miserably. I was constantly distracted. Being a good listener takes a lot of commitment and focus! The only thing I accomplished was recognizing I was not being a very good listener. Jesus listened. He was fully present with everyone He encountered. He gave people His full attention and permitted them to tell their story. He first listened - and then ministered to their needs. The Christ-centered, Christian care Stephen Ministry teaches its caregivers the importance of listening before responding. People going through sickness, grief, and hard times need someone to share it with. Being heard helps them feel valued and understood. God works through our listening to accomplish healing. God works through our listening to inspire others to do what they know they must do. James 1:19 (NKJV) “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” Be swift to listen … it just may be your greatest gift. Your comments are always most welcome. Lovingly in Christ, Megan Thursday’s Trench Truth If you were awarded a two-week vacation to the trip of your dreams, where would you go and who would you take?
Join me for Easy-chat via Facebook Live where we will embrace dreams, share laughter and build solid ground for those times when we need each other the most. Coming mid September…stay tuned! Love, Kim-Evinda Wednesday’s Word Do you ever feel uncomfortable sharing your faith with someone you fear won’t be as receptive as you’d like them to be? Do you feel reluctant to even approach the subject sometimes? I know I do. Thank the good Lord for those who don’t!
This is a reposting of a blog by Megan, one of our Coffee Hour writers. This blog though written last year is so relevant today and a truth that never gets old. I am confident you will agree. Welcome to Coffee Hour at Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United. Some time ago, I volunteered for the Women’s Bible Study sign-up table at church. As I assisted with registration, I could not help but overhear the conversation a woman was having with another volunteer at the table. She was lamenting how, once again, she had asked her friend to attend the bible study – and how, once again, her friend had declined. I remember attending my first Bible Study. I did not know the first thing about the Word of God. Over the period of three years, a faithful Christian friend called me every time her Bible Study group started a new study, and every time I answered with a “No.” Even though I believed in God, I felt nothing I did was good enough for Him. I felt all of my failures were indicative of my unworthiness of Him. I definitely had a tumultuous relationship with God, and the point at which my life began to mirror my relationship with Him, I despairingly responded with a “Yes!” When I told my husband I was going to attend a Bible Study, he asked, “What made you change your mind?” I told him I needed to find out why God did not love me. I attended my first Bible Study because I believed God did not love me. Why was I convinced He did not love me? Because, I did not know the first thing about the Word of God! By the end of the first month, I knew how wrong I had been. I momentarily stopped filling out a registration form and shared this story with the disheartened woman whose friend, once again, had turned down her invitation to Bible Study. I encouraged her to please... DON’T STOP ASKING! Perseverance like my friend’s, changes lives. I know - it changed mine. Your comments are always most welcome. Lovingly in Christ, Megan Tuesday’s Trench Truth If you could change one thing in your most significant relationship, what would it be?
Join me for Easy-chat via Facebook Live where we will embrace dreams, share laughter and build solid ground for those times when we need each other the most. Coming mid September…stay tuned! Love, Kim-Evinda Monday’s Mantra God –“The one Supreme Being, the omnipotent, omniscient creator and ruler of the universe.”
Wink – “To open and close one eye deliberately, as to convey a message, signal, or suggestion.” God Wink – “A uniquely personal experience or event, often mistakenly identified as a coincidence” … L This week we are so excited to feature Megan Pilarik for our Monday/Wednesday/Friday blogs. Plan on joining us for each of them! Welcome to Coffee Hour at Chicklit Power and Megan’s Monday Mantra with Trench Classes United. I am not a believer in coincidences. Oftentimes, when I am in need of direction, reassurance, or a solution, it unexpectedly comes through a radio broadcast, a stranger’s comment, or a turn of events. I get so excited when I “catch” one of these moments, because for me it means God really cares and He is hearing me! I was blessed with one such moment last week … I’ve learned asking the Lord for help is the best way to tackle any dog-training challenge. Since He is the one who created the dog, I’m sure no one knows better than He how to train one. I am currently training my young, enthusiastic Boxer for competition obedience. Competition obedience demands an exorbitant amount of focus from the dog. Requiring my highly distractible Boxer to keep his undivided attention, solely upon me, is proving to be an arduous task. After a particularly frustrating day of training, I came home and opened up Sarah Young’s daily devotional, “Jesus Calling”. It read: “I am intimately involved in all of your moments, and I am training you to be aware of me at all times. Your assignment is to collaborate with me in this training process.” I stared at the devotion in disbelief. “WOW”, I blurted out loud, “The Lord is teaching me the exact same thing I am teaching my dog!” A mere coincidence – what are the odds of that? I shared this experience with my friend and workout instructor, Cheryl. She told me her family calls these special moments “God-Winks.” I am not familiar with the expression, but the visual it represents is powerful. Whether through a thoughtful observation or a moment of recognition, we have access to God’s guidance. All He asks of us is to be aware of Him at all times. Imagine the countless blessings - the gift of peace, once fear is dispelled, the clarity of mind, once doubt is negated, the certainty of love, once faith is restored … all in the wink of an eye – God’s eye! Are you aware of God’s winks in your life? Has God winked at you today? Dear God, let us have the eyes to see… Your comments are always most welcome. Lovingly in Christ, Megan |
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