​Monday’s Message

Will You be mad if I give up?
Will You be sad if I break down?
When the world is turning upside down
and shadows are following me all around
Will You be there to pick me up?
Plucking me from my own darkness?
This place filled with dust
With a heart turned to rust
Yet, I look to You
In You I still place my trust
my heart finds breath
my mind finds rest
Because You, Oh Lord, have vowed to never leave me nor forsake me
and for this I do thank Thee
Your hand, it holds me strongly
Leading me on a path I’ve grown to love so fondly
While every day does not come easily
It’s the journey that completes me
I begin to feel my feet move beneath me
I dance to Your praises
Light beaming as sun rays hit
My heart gleaming
My lips singing
I am tasked with a purpose
Your love, it brings me to the surface
And as you pull me out of my murkiness
I vow to show Your world there is so much more to this
Those who feel so mundane
Like every day goes by just the same
Feeling pressure, disregard, and shame
To you I dare say
Wake up and feel the true love that has been freely given to us each and every day
In Him we lose pain
In Him we find no blame
Our sins forgiven
With a gracious freedom in this beautiful world that we live in
So, I say choose wisely
Dark times, they may try me
But I will never let a day go by me that I do not praise His glorious name
Bringing light to everyone else just the same. 

We believe we will never be truly happy
Because we are always wanting

Lacking motivation
Sleep deprivation

Seeking
But not finding
Are we really trying?

Going through the motions
Clinging to a notion
That one day it will come
Our dreams and life as one

This is true if we believe it
Yet depression builds when we cannot see it

Giving up
Letting down
All of those around us
Because our human minds are drowning
Can’t grasp something so astounding

Stand up
Get up
and believe…
Believe in what you cannot see
Keep that dream
Whatever it may be, or how wild it may seem

Your excuses are useless
If you really want it
Then BECOME it
Live it
Breathe it
Scream it!

Your dreams are not dead
It’s those thoughts in your head
That entrap you and entangle your desires
Feeding off of your fire

Plant kindness wherever you go
No matter what the wind may blow
Those seeds when planted are just the beginning
Bringing fruition to the meaning of your dreaming

Don’t give up
Don’t lose hope
This is your story, and it’s your time to write your show.
Abi

If you want to learn how to love and live more healthily, join us for our next series, Learning to Understand and Be Understood…coming to a trench near you. 

Earthly love does not complete us
Even more so we find it can defeat us
Thinking it is the answer we are searching for
When all along He’s been standing there 
arms open wide waiting at our heart’s door
Yet we beg for more…
more love
More life, more money, more time
Why waste what little life we have thinking about things that shall pass                                        
and will never fulfill our hearts, souls, & minds true asks
Give me HIS love
Because He gave me HIS life
Give me His time 
That is more precious than gold
Let me sit in his presence as His story unfolds
I pray my life, love, and worth all come and flee in His time
Not mine
His will be done 
His Kingdom has won
No earthly love can complete us
and I pray no earthly desire come between Us
Only His love can fulfill us
and it’s up to us to 

It’s not always about who’s wrong, or who’s right
It’s the push, the pull, the dirty, ugly fight
We dream of white dresses and sweet, tender caresses
But sometimes this marriage really gets to the best of us


No two people are perfect; yet no love given from God goes unsurfaced
and if we remember the real reason He placed us here, together, forever wedded
There is a true meaning which is not about the butterflies and having the best of times
It’s not about hiding the hard truth beneath mountains of lies
But to be honest, To be real; To tell each other how you truly feel
The good the bad, the ugly and the sad


It may be tough but in the end it makes us, “us”
It’s what makes us tough
That true love; God given, undreamed of love
So open up to that partner you married
Someone you should trust who holds you accountable
And for whom you are to be reliable


It won’t always be easy, but His purpose prevails
Always, and forever, utterly and completely.

This thing called marriage was crafted and made
So two people on earth could love each other
Like Christ loves the church 
Blameless, and forgiving
No scores kept ; No winning


Always there when you trip on your feet
Holding you up when the walk is rough
To be there for one another 
Two bodies, one soul
Showing the world how His perfect love helps us grow

Lord I need you…
All of you
I need your arms around me
To feel your love surrounding
The days may be growing longer
But time seems to wander
 
It wanders away, slipping through my tense grasp
Being consumed by life’s menial tasks
The stress and the worry take over
And my brows begin to furrow
As I sit and worry about a future that I cannot see
Stressing about trivial needs
When people are dying, begging on the streets
I stop myself, admitting my shameful self-pity
realizing the blessing of His bringing me to this city


At just the right time
Not a penny too short; Right on the dime
Yet, I still worry about the cares of this life
When You, oh Lord, already gave me more than enough to suffice
Nevertheless, I persist in worrying about time
When all I should be doing is resting my mind
Resting in your presence
Singing to the heavens


Because this time is a gift
and I will praise you as long as I live
As long as I can write, as long as I can sing, as long as I can draw, paint, and dance
As long as I am here, Lord, I will use my God-given gifts
Worry I may
But at the end of the day
I will quietly pray
To not let a second of this beautiful life slip away

Have you ever tried to make sense of a tragedy? You are going to really enjoy Wednesday’s Word with Jenn. Grab your Bible, a journal and come on in for a little break from it all.
For years now I have been trying to make sense of why trials and tragedies come when the Bible speaks so often of 'no harm shall befall you' or ' My plans are only for good' You know the verses I am talking about.
I have narrowed it down to evil of course, and the free will God has given us. Yet, we humans often blame God for the bad that happens as well as attribute the good. Well, this week, several things happened to cause me to think deeper.
I read this in a study I am doing.. "Life happens on life's terms" In other words, there is so much that is not under anyone's control. There are consequences for actions or choices; there is free will. The devil is out to cause chaos and hurt…and all this is allowed. God isn't a puppeteer, He allows life to be.
What He DOES do, is come into my story if I ask Him. He promises never to leave or forsake me, as well as to work all things to my good if I love Him. This takes faith in Who He is. If I don't know who He is, this is going to be harder for me to understand.
The other day I had an acquaintance, someone I hardly know, call me and tell me she'd like to be a support for me and was wondering how she can do that. She told me she understands my heart and wants to be a friend. There is no blatant reason she should do this...it's purely from God in my opinion.
The Word says that 'every perfect gift is from the Father above". This gift came at a perfect time, when I was being torn down in another area, so how can it not be from a God who knows my need and cares?
I can give God the thanks and the glory for the good that comes into my life ..because He is looking out for me.
Jenn

Turning your day around                                            But you’ve been drifting off to sea
When life has flipped upside down                             drowning in a mind filled with unease
Is much harder than it seems                                     with thoughts that this life is not working
But that heart of yours is stronger than you think       exactly how you were hoping

The knots you’re feeling                                             Just wait and listen
The heart aching                                                         Drown out the noise
Gut wrenching                                                                        The thoughts of negativity
Twisting and reeling                                                    depression, and sorrow stained dreams

It’s reeling you in                                             This life is all that we are given, worth much more
to feel like a failure                                                      than to be driven by self-doubt and fear
leaving you wondering                                                When you realize your time is so very near
where in the world is my Savior…                              Happiness will replace those tears


“Right here”, he whispers                                Remember this, and never forget:
 

Everything you are doing is right 
Keep praying with all of your might
Look to the Light
Your future, darling, is more than bright

When I say “elephant in the room,” what’s your first thought?
This phrase originated in the early ‘50s and is a metaphor for an obvious truth that is either being ignored or going unaddressed. This expression also applies to an obvious problem or risk no one wants to discuss.

​All kidding aside, life wasn’t meant to be walking around elephants in the room!
I hope you’ll join us in one of our locations
Love,
Kim-Evinda

I just love the simplicity of Jenn’s blogs and I know you will too! Come on in and thanks for joining us for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Faith Filled Friday with Trench Classes United.
I saw this bumper sticker: “If you see me on the ground, please drag me across the finish line.”

I am assuming this person was a marathoner. At first, I chuckled because that would be me if I attempted to run a marathon. :) There's a bigger thought here however.

As some of you know, I am big on sharing my journey, the ups and downs, even my struggles with faith. I believe in being real, authentic. I am incredibly grateful for the prayers others send up, for the inspiration I find everywhere, and the family/friends who talk me off the proverbial ledge. I like to think I return that favor when needed.

The Bible says in Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
This is what we are here for. This is what we go through struggles for. So that in turn we can be of help and encouragement to a fellow runner.

Life is like a race; sometimes one of us lags behind, maybe even lays on the ground until another comes along and “pulls us towards or over the finish line.”
I’ll do it for you; will you do it for others?
Thoughtfully,
Jenn