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
0 Comments
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 Wednesday’s Word The messages told me no one would want to hear it, see it or participate in it. As the messenger came close enough to wrap its evil claws around me, I almost chickened out, called it off and said to the heck with it.
Thanks for joining me today for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United. Have you ever gone to church and listened to the message and felt like you were the only one in the room? I’m so thankful for those times, and even more thankful that they happen just at the most divine moments. Last Sunday was one of those times wherein even though I was in the VERY last row, his message be-lined it straight to my soul, did not go left, right, but came right at me and I was so refreshed by it. Just like you, I’ve got a lot of life coming at me; my adopted mama just recently graduated to heaven – I’m crying as I write this – and I’m struggling without her; she was my major cheer leader. In addition to that, I’ve taken two falls, two different times, bruised my ribs, caused a hairline fracture to my elbow, and I was scheduled to begin filming my project the next day that Jesus wrote thru me so many years ago and we’ve been fine-tuning in the trenches for three years. Anyway his message was about focusing on the good helps us to navigate thru the bad. I admit, I still need some work in this area. I’ve had a lot of negative thrown at me lately, which I have no doubt the enemy wants to use to distract me from this project. But thank God for community, corporate worship and the meaning behind the message: Jesus invites me to trust Him in the pain, not to adjust to the pain! And then he had us take off our shoes, so, hey, if you have shoes on, feel free to do this. Write one to three things that are interfering with you trusting Him thru whatever you’re going thru. It was in this exercise I realized that fear was driving my emotional car as it relates to one of the painful situations, which was also spilling over and causing me insecurity about this upcoming filming project. So write those things on your shoes, put them back on…and stomp on them. That’s right! Romans 16:20 says: The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. So since God is not the author of fear and insecurity, but the enemy is, I stomped on fear and insecurity but good and walked out of church ready to film the project He wrote thru me, brought me to and will see me thru. It occurred to me that this lines up with last week’s Wednesday’s Word about David and Goliath, that David did not pay on iota of attention to him and he won the battle…or better said, just showed up…and so did God and the battle was won. Sometimes maybe we need to hush up so we can show up and stop being our own Goliath! Have a wonderful Wednesday Kim-Evinda Tuesday’s Trench Truth Join us at www.facebook.com/trenchclassesunited for more encouragement for the soul Oh, and by the way, need a night out? Join us for A Night of Laughter with Squeaky Clean Comedy…a fundraiser to continue the mission of Trench Classes United, Helping others live transparently, love healthier & laugh more Click on the picture above to buy tickets!!!!
Hope to see you there! Kim-Evinda Monday’s Mantra Welcome to Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Monday’s Mantra with Trench Classes United. You’re in for a treat with Jenn’s thoughts today! Enjoy.
Ants...they have got to be one of nature's most annoying insects. Just when I think I've won the battle, I'll find a new line marching along, mindless to my eyes on them as they continue on with their business. Everywhere I turn, there they are: Cupboards, the sink, the fridge handle, stove top, an opened bag of chips, all things kitchen. But…yes, but, they were even on the bathroom rug. Imagine my dismay when I stepped on it and discovered that it was covered with ants! Strategically and consistently placing ant poison is the only thing that will stop them in their tracks. You have to hand it to them; they are persistent, hard-working, and definitely sneaky. Kind of like those habits that are hard to change: Fear, discouragement, doubt, anger, despair…oh can’t those things behave just like ants, sneaking in when least expected? One day it seems I've won, and the next, there's that familiar line of reactions or negative emotions making their way into my heart. Prayer, praise and meditating on the hope God gives: this is the only defense against these most annoying issues of the heart, daily, hourly, and sometimes by the minute. It's the only thing that stops human nature in its tracks. Learning and unlearning… Jenn 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 THURSDAY’S TRENCH TRUTH AND INVITATION TOO Click on the picture above for your free gift! Lack of communication is not Biblical grounds for divorce; not “feeling” the love is not Biblical grounds for divorce. Illness, financial burdens, and all the other terms we deem irreconcilable are not Biblical grounds for divorce. So how do we reconcile what we deem irreconcilable? This is just one of the touch dilemmas Trench Classes United helps you through! Join us at www.facebook.com/trenchclassesunited for more words of encouragement and to stay tuned for a trench coming near you! In the meantime, set it all aside and join us for A Night of Laughter. I know you will be glad you did! Click on the picture below to buy tickets and see more details about the event! Hope to see you there,
Kim-Evinda WEDNESDAY’S WORD No matter how many times you’ve read a scripture, a portion of scripture with a story in it, or an entire chapter, as long as you invite Him into the reading, you will get something new every single time!
Thanks for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word. I’m so excited to share today’s blog with you. So I have been studying the books of 1st and 2nd Samuel…for quite some time. In fact, our home group has just finished those books after eight months! But I am doing an extra in-depth study on these two books so I asked my husband to join me the other morning during our coffee hour together. Let’s just say that he wanted to read something else as he felt he’d gotten enough out of the many stories within those books. I lovingly reminded him that there was something new for us in it that morning, and then proceeded to confirm that with prayer. I wasn’t disappointed! In 1st Samuel 17, the Philistines were preparing to go into battle with the Children of Israel and literally cremate them, take them all out. They just knew they were going to win because they had what the other side didn’t: a real live giant who stood well over 9.5 feet! His name was Goliath. Not only was he tall, but he was armed to the hilt. I mean, there was nothing that was going to penetrate this guy’s protection on his body. Every day for 40 days, this giant of a dude would come to the edge of the mountain they were camped on and cry out to the army on the other side – a valley separated them – and taunt them, inviting them to choose one man for battle that he could slay and take the Children of Israel to be the servants of the Philistines. Oh, the prideful parading for power that is displayed in the first 16 verses. Well, the Israelite's were terrified, and I do mean terrified. And if you’ve ever been in a panic situation, you know that you don’t always think the most clear when you’re trembling with fear. To make a long story short about how David was chosen as the man to fight Goliath – when he really was a boy – David volunteered! I can just imagine the Israelite's’ first reaction of chocking down laughter in the midst of their terror at the thought of a young shepherd boy volunteering to slay this giant and save them. Well, the fact that they allowed him to go thru with it proves the depth of their terror. They were willing to try anything. Oh, how I would have loved to have been a fly in their heads to know their thoughts. They get David ready for battle by weighing the little guy down with a bunch of armor and garb but he, being wise, said heck no, I’m not used to this, so he took it all off and went and got his sling-shot and five stones. Now they’re really laughing…no, not really. I think they were just so shocked, and at this point, just hoping for a miracle. Imagine Goliath’s response when David is brought forth as the guy he’s going to fight! Wouldn’t you have loved to have seen the look on his face? Goliath proceeds to taunt David, and I mean taunt him with some pretty harsh insults that would truly trouble most of us, even with the strongest of faith. Goliath taunted and taunted and David only had one response: “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied.” Then David proceeds to give a very detailed description of what he was going to do to him, ending with a reminder that the battle belongs to the Lord. It was as if David didn’t even hear the insults of this giant, nor did he look at Goliath’s size, his armor or feed into his attitude. David was focused on his God whom he knew would not fail him and as Goliath came at him, David ran toward him, eager to slay this giant. Friends, sometimes we can be our own Goliath! What “Goliath” is taunting you and whispering in your ear lies of being no good, or lies of giving into your weakness that prevents you from a victorious life? Do you stop to listen, or do you just move forward, one foot at a time, armed with a faith that cannot be broken or taken? That morning with my husband, I was so excited for this different revelation, this truth that all of us go thru periods with a Goliath of sorts and if we are armed with our faith, filled with our portions of scripture, walking with Him, we will slay our giants, no matter how big! Have a Wonderful Wednesday, Love, Kim-Evinda TUESDAY’S TRENCH TRUTH & INVITATION TOO Click on this link to get your free gift just for accepting the invitation to join us for A Night of Laughter, our fundraiser to continue the mission of helping others thrive in life and love Click on the picture to buy tickets for Squeaky Clean Comedy August 24, 2018!
Hope to see you there, Kim-Evinda 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 |
Archives
April 2024
|