Wednesday’s Word Have you ever received a message that you know that you know it was from God? Did you know He talks to you in your own language?
Thanks for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United. Last week I shared some unexpected news I received after a 3D mammogram and another very specific mammogram to reveal the need for a biopsy but what I didn’t share with you is a very specific message I received in the most unexpected place and time. We were making our way back to the boating dock after a great day on the lake. For the most part, I had left my news at home, but every now and then, it would weigh in on my thoughts like an anchor holding a boat in one place while bouncing up and down, side to side in response to the passing boaters. I was up front with one of my friends, and I remember sharing my fears about the biopsy, still in disbelief that I have to have it done but then again, I didn’t linger there long. I relaxed in the bow of the boat, listening to the steady sound of the engine on the water, the music of the waves splashing as we crashed over them, and Pandora blaring Country music which had been playing the entire time…until all of a sudden, I’m singing the words to a Christian song, and at the same time, sort of puzzled by the change in genre but nevertheless I kept singing. When the solid ground is falling out from underneath my feet Between the black skies, and my red eyes, I can barely see When I realize I've been sold out by my friends and my family I can feel the rain reminding me In the eye of the storm, You remain in control In the middle of the war, You guard my soul You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn Your love surrounds me In the eye of the storm As the words came out of my mouth, their meaning warmed my soul and tears ran down my face, the wind drying them almost as fast as they fell. I continued to sing along to this song I hadn’t heard in a very long time When my hopes and dreams are far from me And I'm runnin' out of faith I see the future I picture slowly fade away And when the tears of pain and heartache Are pouring… In the eye of the storm, You remain in control In the middle of the war, You guard my soul You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn Your love surrounds me In the eye of the storm As soon as the song finished, Pandora returned to the Country genre and my girlfriend looked at me, I looked at her, and I’ll never, ever forget her affirmation: If that wasn’t God talking to you, girl, I don’t know what was! My hope is that I’ll have only one more blog to write about this storm, sharing how I get thru the biopsy and thereafter receive positive results…but only He knows when my next storm will come and He promises to be there with me. I pray that you take time to listen to God speaking to you, for you and about you Love, Kim-Evinda
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Monday’s Mantra I’m so excited to feature one of my favorite bloggers this week, Jenn Woosley, and I know you will enjoy her blogs today and Friday as well. Thanks for joining us for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Monday’s Mantra with Trench Classes United.
The other morning I was sitting on my couch, as I do nearly every morning. In the quiet, I read inspirational things, talk to God, and think. My thoughts are all over the place…and often there are tears. Today was no different... I was thinking about the people I love most, and the loneliness that comes from their absence. Then, I read something, the gist of which is that God is thinking of ME every single moment, and that I am in His thoughts constantly. Now, supposedly I know this; it's in the Bible, how God cares for me, but for some reason, it stood out to me today in a different way. Suddenly, I pictured Him wishing to be with me the way I was wishing to be with my loved ones. Does He wish to be next to me, give me a hug, hear about my day, my thoughts? Is He lonely without me? What if He is? In church, the sermon was on Romans 8:16-17. In The Message Bible it says: "God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who He is and we know who we are: Father and children." The tears came but this time because it hit me how beautiful this is. God gives us relationship with others to help us understand Him. It's true that He longs to be with those He loves, me and you. And the warmth of this truth, knowing we're never really alone washed over me and filled me to overflowing! May you always know you are never alone! Jenn Wednesday’s Word Have you ever thought something was something else because you were too far away to see what it actually is? The older I get, the harder it is to see things accurately and it can not only be frustrating but embarrassing, too!
Thank for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United. Sometimes I need a magnifying glass to see the fine print! Why in the world doe they print so small? J J Physically speaking, they say as you approach the “Fs” in age, your vision begins to deteriorate…but I try not to “focus” – pardon the pun – on that and instead seek to see things even more from a spiritual/eternal perspective. For example, when we hold a magnifying glass over fine print one way, we may be able to see it somewhat better but then if you turn it and use the other side, the print becomes bigger…legible…readable…because it’s magnified a hundred times! When we keep our spiritual eyes on the not-so-positive things that are happening in life that tends to magnify them! And the more we share our problems, the more insurmountable they seem. Our “focus” needs to switch from the mountain to the mountain mover, from the ailment to the healer, from the problem to the problem solver that we may boast in Him and not on whatever is messing with our vision! 2nd Corinthians 12:9-10 Refocusing Kim-Evinda Faith-filled Friday James 1:12 (NLT): 12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Ah, patiently enduring testing…what does that even look like? Welcome to Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Faith-filled Friday with Trench Classes United. Come on in for a picture of patiently enduring… Suffering well and with a thankful heart, this is easier said than done. Last week, I found myself completely overwhelmed. I had been suppressing my workload; however, I wasn't aware that I was doing this. A few mornings later, it all came gushing out with babbling tears. I was a complete mess. Immediately I realized my plate was too full. I began to seek the Lord with this question: What load could I take off my plate? "Lord show me your way," I cried. I went to church the next day, and the message was on suffering well. Some may say a coincidence, I say not! The message got me to thinking: Jesus suffered the greatest of all, and He suffered well. He knew His purpose on this earth was to solely spread Gods love. He could have chosen not to suffer, but He loved us so that he paid the highest price so that when we suffer, He could be there to hold our hand and pour His love out on us, even if the suffering is at times self-inflicted. I pray that I could suffer as well as He did; that during times of trials and tribulations I'd remember to seek His face and to be thankful that He is right beside me every step of the way. Each trail builds us into stronger warriors for Jesus, so that we will be able to sympathize, encourage, and love on someone else who is going through a trail we have already endured. Oh, and by the way, it was revealed to me what thing I needed to take off my plate. God does hear, listen and answer! Take courage Coffee Hour friends; He is with us. Let us remember to count our blessings every step of the way. Love, Ashley Wednesday’s Word Have you ever done something and then thought, oh no, I shouldn’t have done that? Oh, have I got a big uh-oh to share with you today.
Thanks for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United. So picking up where we left off on Monday, I’m on my way home and discover that my GPS must have been in the mood for my company because it took me the long/wrong way home and by the time I realized it, there was no going back so I just settled in and continued making phone calls until I finally reached my off ramp, and wanted to drive the rest of the way home listening to some uplifting music and unwinding as much as one can in the car after an emotionally draining day. As I made my way to San Timateo Canyon Road and turned left, I pulled up alongside and eventually passed a slow-going train. I thought, oh, I may have to stop up ahead when I make my right on Live Canyon. But I didn’t. There were a couple cars ahead of me that turned right and went over the railroad tracks, and I looked at the railroad crossing bars to make sure they weren’t coming down or that the lights weren’t on yet. They weren’t, so I proceeded forward. I looked to the right, quickly, and I saw the slow-moving train about 1.5 football fields down the track. No problem. I turned and as I landed on the tracks, the railroad crossing bar was coming down! Instinctively, and quickly, I tried to back up. Nope! The one behind me was coming down on me!! By this time, the train was about a football field down the track. I slammed the car back into gear and pushed the pedal to the medal. My car lunged forward so fast and I escaped as the rear crossing bar came down on the roof of my car. I drove in utter and complete shock for about a half mile and dared to look out my back window. I saw a piece of something hanging so I pulled over and got out. It was a rubber piece that encased the antennae on the roof of the car. The little red wing that covered the piece that encased the antennae was gone, but at that moment I didn’t see any other damage…until I got home. By the time I did get home, the reality of what had just happened had washed all through me and I was near hysterics. I went back and forth between thanking God for his provision of protection and beating myself up for not stopping and just waiting for the frapping train to pass. Why had I taken such a risk? I couldn’t sit still for hours; I was really wound up like an angry robot swimming between thankfulness, disbelief and trying not to drown in it all. I kept seeing the train coming and the forward and rear crossing guards coming down on my car, as if to trap me…but why didn’t they? There’s no other explanation other than to say: God met me in the midst of my problem and He rescued me, despite me! See, in my heart, I know that I am not supposed to be working more than ONE day a week; and I keep pushing the envelope. From the drive to get to work, to the computer problems trying to prevent me from working to the long drive to make it home to a near-death experience, God was there…despite my choices. Coffee Hour Friend, in what area of your life do you need rescuing? Can I encourage you that no matter where you are in any mistake you may have made that God is ready, willing and able to meet you there! Love, Kim-Evinda Monday’s Mantra Have you ever ignored the little gut feeling that tries to warn you not to do something? Well, darn it; I just did that and as the day continued, the warning got louder and louder and louder!
Thanks for joining me today for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Monday’s Mantra with Trench Classes United. Please, come on in and get comfy for a true story, from my heart to yours that actually may take us to Wednesday’s blog as well. I was pretty tired this particular morning and by the time I was dressed and ready to head to my deposition in Temecula, I had made a decision: beginning in two weeks, I would no longer work more than one day a week; I would trust God to meet us in our financial needs and hunker down as we prepare to launch a program that will truly help others live more transparently, love healthier and laugh more. Oh, how many times have I said I would do this? I groaned aloud as I loaded my car and got the dogs situated. But I mean it this time! Sound familiar? Oh, thank you, Abba, for your grace that out-waits our unfulfilled promises to you and to ourselves. I asked Him to help me be a light to someone in that room today. Looking back on the day, there were actually plenty of warning signs of a tough road ahead. For starters, I’m not sure how it happened, but my GPS sent me on a crazy hunt for my location. I mean it had me going on and off the freeway and what felt completely out of the way and instead of being early enough to be calm, cool and prepared, my equipment set up and a job dictionary built, I arrived with only 10 minutes to accomplish all of that. Talk about hot flashes running down my back! But it doesn’t stop there. As I’m getting set up, I turned my computer on and it’s telling me “Preparing updates; 30% complete; don’t turn off computer.” WITW? (What in the world?!) And then just like that, it let me into my court reporting program…and then proceeded to freeze! At this point I had only five minutes to be ready and waiting for counsel and the witness. To top it off, when I finally took a moment to look at the caption and let it sink in, I groaned – to myself of course, as I realized we had a minor in the witness chair with a claim of molestation by a teacher. As I was frantically trying to get my computer to cooperate – ever have one of those moments? – I invited God into my frustration and literally offered up some honest-to-goodness begging! HE HEARD ME! I was ready to go by 10:01, thankful, trying to put the previous warnings behind me and focus, focus, focus! Within the first hour, I could tell that this witness had definitely been molested…but the teacher wasn’t the first person who had molested her. When I hear cases like this, it confirms my knowing that dysfunction is a cycle, whatever flavor, and is cross-cultural, non-denominational and worldwide. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t keep the cases stored up in me, allowing their truth to weigh me down; but I do use this information for others good and His glory. Several times the witness and her counsel had to confer off the record – which means we stop and they go outside and chat. No big deal; I begin editing my transcript so there’s less to do at the end. There were some questions that you could tell that while she may not have been lying, she was trying to be very careful with her response as it was a tricky question; and then there were others that she just flat-out didn’t get. To top it off, she is an African-American high school student with lots of Ebonics and once fired up, wow, all I can say is my fat fingers were all over that keyboard and my machine was smoking as the speed indicator kept flashing. They actually got up to 310 words per minute!!! Towards the end of the day, as we tread on the waters of this witness’ promiscuity, her attorney asked to confer with defense counsel outside. I was totally a proponent for this girl, but as the case began to unfold, I began to realize she has been a troubled child since grade school, and the teacher was not the only contributing factor. In fact, when a jury hears her case, her promiscuity may deter them from the facts, from the root of it all, but is really a symptom of it all. Oh what a complicated web of dysfunction that I long for the world to understand. I’m not sure what came over me but in the first few minutes that both attorneys were out of the room, I took the liberty – I could get in trouble for this – to begin talking with her and at the risk of incriminating myself, let me just say, it was a pretty powerful conversation and as I said the last thing, I returned to my computer screen and the door opened and the attorneys returned; I breathed a sigh of relief, and we went back on the record. By the time we finished for the day, I was pretty wiped out. I sat in my car for a moment, allowing the air conditioning to cool me from the inside out, shaking off the oppression of the case, and then pressed my destination of home. I didn’t even give it a second thought, just expecting it to take me home the right way, not the long way. I began to return phone calls and it wasn’t until I had been on the phone for a while, that I realized I had followed the voice on GPS and gotten off the freeway. But WITW Why? Unbelievable! It took me home the same way we came and I’m still perplexed as to why. So what should have taken about 45 minutes turned into an hour and 45 minutes! Needless to say by the time I got to my next mistake, I was pretty wiped out! Have you ever noticed that one mistake often leads to another? Join me Wednesday for part two of this blog where I will share something that I am still trembling about, and probably will every time I think about it. What comforts me is I know that I know that He was there at the beginning of my mistake, and He certainly met me in the midst of another one. Love, Kim-Evinda Faith Filled Friday Thanks for joining us for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Faith Filled Friday with Trench Classes United. Have you ever stopped to examine your heart and your time you spend with Abba? Are you thirsting for more of the Lord? How great it is that we are thirsting for Him because we know He is the only one who can quench our thirst. Oh, Be Still, My Soul!
Psalm 63:1 (NLT): “Oh, God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.” Do you find yourself like me, where days fly by and it’s the end of the week before you know it? When I looked back at my week, I found myself in somewhat of a desert as a result of not taking time to be still before the Lord. Sometimes setting that time aside is more difficult than other times. Do you take the time to be still before the Lord? It’s a difficult task in our fast-paced world. I’m so grateful for the knocks and whispers from the Lord, gentle reminders and requests telling me He wants to spend time with me. But my flesh has been so tired these past few weeks, so much so that my need for more sleep has been canceling my appointments with my Abba. Recently I saw this question: "Am I allowing myself to be interrupted by God?" Dietrich Bonhoffer WOW! This quote spoke volumes to my heart. I cried out to the Lord, “Oh, please, interrupt me. Interrupt me that I might spend time at Your feet, quietly sitting and letting all my days, plans, and list of things to do fall away. This is what refreshes the soul and it is when I am refreshed that I can dare to research my soul: Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT) Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Can you relate to what I’ve shared? If so, please take this time to pray with me, that we may refresh our souls: Jesus, forgive us for getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of our lives. Help us to set aside time just for You so that we can be refreshed and revived by You daily. Show us the areas in our heart that we need to repent for and fix our eyes on you. Jesus, discipline us to set aside time with you. Oh Lord, help us to put you before ourselves. Thank you for hearing our prayer and being ever so faithful to forgive us. Oh what a gracious God we serve. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Have a great weekend, Ashley Thursday’s Trench Truth Thought to ponder: You are as close to God as YOU choose to be! Join us for more encouragement for your soul at www.facebook.com/trenchclassesunited Need a break away from the seriousness of life? Join us for a fundraiser to continue the mission of Trench Classes United, Helping others live transparently, love healthier & laugh more Click on the image below to buy Tickets NOW! Hope to see you there!
Kim-Evinda FAITH FILLED FRIDAY It’s Faith-Filled Friday with special guest Jennifer Wyatt! Grab your coffee and your strand of faith for some great knot-tying in and for your faith! Jennifer has a thought-provoking question to ask us…and an answer, her answer to that same question! Come on in for a few!
How would it change your mindset if you suddenly realized that you were born to solve a problem? When I was young I would read history books or stories of people who did great things and marvel at what they were able to accomplish. If only I could do great things. If only I had a special purpose in life. That hope was tossed aside by the realities of my life: Parents who often worked late and weren’t home, bullies at school, an abusive husband. I have often felt unworthy, not good enough and that having a purpose in life was for someone else and not me. Then one day I heard… “You are a solution to a God problem.” It wasn’t a voice from on high but from the pulpit. I had just moved to Florida and it was the second or third time attending this church. The pastor went on to explain that all of us were created to solve a “God problem.” Every hard situation, every joy was meant to fulfill that purpose. Every person is born with purpose, to solve a God problem. “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” (Proverbs 20:5) All people are made in the image of God. Each of us are born with a purpose and calling that we can discover… or completely miss. The influence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers gives us insight to His purposes for us. I have an assignment from God specifically for me. Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This truth opened up a world of hope and a resolve to discover that plan and achieve it. I no longer feel like someone tossed about by my experiences. I feel free to walk out what God has called me to do. How about you? Do you feel bound up by the past and/or how you view yourself? Do you believe God has a special assignment for you? He does, and He is waiting for you to accept it. Jennifer MONDAY’S MANTRA Wow, it’s August already! Thanks for joining us for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Monday’s Mantra with Trench Classes United. You’re in for a treat today with some thoughts from our friend, Jenn Woolsey.
People love to quote the Bible verse about how God hates divorce. Well guess what, He does. But not for the reason it’s usually used... but because He hates the pain it causes His children and the future generations. I was in a co parenting class today… listening to tips on getting along and focusing on the child in a “reorganized family.” I found it helpful and I believe it’s necessary. But, I can’t get this nagging thought out of my head: what are we doing to prepare people for the fact that marriage is so important; that it can’t be taken lightly? It’s not about the excitement of feeling in love or filling a void, or even creating a family. It’s about choosing to love even when you don’t “feel” like it. I listened to the stories of other couples, I know my own story. I was woefully unprepared. I chose unwisely. How can we prevent this in the first place? Oh to spend more time on the answer before we are faced with the dilemma of this epidemic of divorce. Thoughtfully, Jenn |
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