Coffee in Cabo from Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

It’s a new day, a brand new day and His mercies are new for you and me! Thanks for joining me for a little coffee break today. I thought it would be fun to share the highlights of Cabo with you for the next few coffee hours, so grab your coffee and come on in.

Sunday: I came downstairs with my last bag and there in the entryway were our four-legged children Sparky and Baraka, wagging their tails as soon as they saw me, but little Baraka had that look and she didn’t hesitate to direct it right at me. She looked up at me ever so adorably and wagged her tail with obvious anxiety that reached all the way into her eyes. It reminded me of the night before when she had hopped into George’s packed suitcase on the closet floor. She was on to us and pleading with us not to go. Sparky, named this because he’s such a happy dog, also had that look, only his wasn’t a ticked-off look but more of a sad one.

please don’t go…

These dogs definitely don’t make it easy to leave. As George called them both into the hallway, I reminded myself of how attached they have become to Jene’ and the relief of knowing they’d be okay helped me out the front door and into Rodney and Cheryl’s car that was now packed and ready to go.

We arrived at the airport with plenty of time to spare. I so appreciate that about Rodney; he’s always plenty early whereas I can cut it too close at times! My first heart-squeeze happened right at the curb with Omar, the guy who checked us in. He was so full of joy and peace and he had such an infectious smile, I just had to ask him if He was a child of the King! His smile got bigger. “Yes, I most certainly am,” he exclaimed.

While we talked, he began to print our boarding passes and the luggage tags and I reached for the one packed with books and started to put it within his reach but he just continued putting the luggage tags on everything. I asked him, “Aren’t you going to weigh them?” His grin went wider. “Oh, no; I done took care of everything. We’re not doin’ none of that!”

I breathed a sigh of relief. Had God given him a video of my fretting over the possibility of having to pay $50 for any and each over-packed suitcase?

I heard “A Cup of Encouragement,” and I reached down into my carry-on and pulled a copy of my first book out, asked for his wife’s name, signed it and handed it to him. “Thanks for blessing us with such happy service.”

We were on our way with a reminder that He was going ahead of us!

on our way…

The flight was quick and easy, which was another blessing for me as I am still not a fan of flying. After going through customs we headed for the luggage terminal. I was prepared to wait, thinking our luggage was at the bottom of the pile since we were one of the first to check in. Well, we waited about five minutes or so and then I saw the pretty mulit-colored pieces of yarn and there were Rodney’s and Cheryl’s suitcases, too.

George walked over and pulled the first one off the turntable and set it down in a way that made me yelp at him! I was immediately sorry for my sharp tone and apologized. He turned the luggage to steer it toward me and I gasped. There on the side was a huge white mark and then three jinormous cracks. It was obvious that someone either ran it over or dropped it a long way down! Talk about a joy stealer! My brand-new Samsonite large suitcase, destroyed.

I saw an attendant and waved him over and showed him my problem. He took pictures with his cell phones – don’t you just love technology! – and then he asked us to follow him to their office, so we did. While he was getting some info for us, George decided to open it and see whose it was, mine or his.

“It’s yours,” he said. Right after that, a memory collided with an understanding that sent chills running up and down my spine. See, just the day before I actually prayed about whether I should carry my laptop with me and go through all the hassle of taking it out of my carry-on, out of its sleeve, into a plastic tub, through the scanner, back out of the tub, into the sleeve, back into the carry-on . . . blah, blah, blah, blah – just talking about it makes me cranky — or should I just put it in its sleeve and check it in my suitcase as I have done many, many times. I heard “Take it with you,” so I did.

I know that I know that I know that had my laptop had been in that suitcase, it most likely would have been destroyed! Talk about another hear-squeeze from God! I just love when He shows up like that to let us know He is watching us, and watching out for us!

Join me tomorrow for more Cabo highlights!

Evinda

Faith-Filled Friday from Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Happy day to you and thanks for joining me for another Faith-Filled Friday! I know I said we’d share coffee in Cabo this Friday, but I decided to save that until after I was back as a way of savoring the memories created! Grab your coffee and come on in!

Last Friday we acknowledged that even the “bad” things that we do and/or the sin heaped upon us are actually part of our testimony, and this is certainly true of the “elders” acknowledged in the Hall of Faith.

Verse 3 has a lot of yummy meat, some potatoes, and definitely some good-for-you vegetables! Hopefully I can serve all of it to you in one blog! I’ll try.  “By faith we understand –STOP! See, that first part of verse 3 again reiterates what I’ve said from the beginning of this series: faith unlocks the door to understanding. Without it, we are unable to allow the things of God to wrap around our minds, let alone root in our heart. Creation is one of those things that we definitely need faith to understand!

Okay. So, “By faith, we understand that the worlds — oops, sorry, but do you see anything in that word “worlds” that causes your eyebrows to go up into your forehead? Well, I do, so please, bear with me.

Hmm, interesting! It translates to “alon” and means age, or time; always and on, being. Both in the singular and plural, it signifies eternity! Bingo! That’s why it says plural “worlds”!

Okay. Moving on through the verse, and I promise, no more interruptions. “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”

“… framed by the ‘word’ of God” deserves another honorable mention. See, in the beginning, as in Genesis 1:1-31, our invisible God demonstrated all of the senses by first speaking light into the darkness over the surface of the deep.

Those without faith cannot grasp the depth of this truth of creation, but with faith we can celebrate the creativity of our Creator who though invisible experienced the senses of sight, touch, and smell. Read the first chapter and see if your faith helps you see what was/is not seen.

Faith-ing through the journey,

Evinda

Nana Holds from Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Welcome to Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power! By the time you read this, I should be back home from Cabo and ready to write about the moments as well as some fears that were conquered, but that’s for next week! Let me just say thank you so much for allowing me to share this powerfully transforming series with you. I hope you will pass it on, especially to anyone you know who is having to parent their children’s child/children. Grab your coffee and come on in.

So it’s almost Christmastime and this year I didn’t start decorating until the second week of December. In years past, I’ve begun as early as the day after Thanksgiving – I had that much stuff and needed to get an early start! But I’ve received several life-changing revelations about the whole CHRISTmas season and have finally reached a very happy balance as I strive more and more to give and practice the true gifts of the season: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Anyway, Bryden went with his mother and her parents for his monthly two-night visit, and then went to see his grandmother up north, so he was gone a little over a week. While he was gone, George and I had the most fun we’ve ever had decorating the house for the season. There truly is something about having a child to experience this season with that brings out the child in us. George used to dread, and I mean dread decorating the yard, so much so that he pays someone else to do it, and only because he knows how much joy it brings me. Don’t you just love a house all lit up and festive?

At George’s insistence, we got a couple new yard decorations to add to what we already had, purchases that were motivated by the gift of Bryden. It took our guy who does it three different sessions to get them all up in a way that wouldn’t blow all the fuses! But oh, how beautiful it was. We were so excited for Bryden to come home and see the front yard! In fact, we couldn’t wait so we texted a picture to Michelle to show him!

Every tree twinkled and every section of the front yard lit up with animated deer, a bear from the North Pole, signs galore, and finally, snoopy dressed like Santa, placed in the center of the yard inviting joy and peace. I’m giggling as I remember the Facebook posts and messages I received from people who had driven by and been struck with joy by the twinkling scene playing out in our front yard.

The inside looked every bit as magical. The staircase looked ethereal with two types of garland, bows and lights. On the fireplace stood a handmade wooden pole painted with Christmas motif adorned with brass hooks to hold the little boxes with numbers that invited us to count down the days before Christmas.

I spent hours and hours and I don’t think I have enjoyed myself this much in a long, long time. As a matter of fact, I can emphatically, unequivocally say I haven’t enjoyed decorating this much since my son was little. OMG, I just got the goose bumps! Here is another example of restoring what the locust has stolen: precious times of decorating with and/or for my son as he got older and went the wrong way! Whew, that was a good one.

Anyway, we couldn’t wait for Bryden to come home. I will never, ever forget the reward of it all that came bursting from his little heart out to me when he saw it all: “Nana, you did this all for me?”

Oh, the joy of transformation . . .

Evinda

Wednesday’s Word from Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Is it really already Wednesday? Grab your coffee and come on in for our Wednesday’s Word!

It seems as though the revelations are coming at me almost as quickly as time is flying by. It’s like the heat has been turned up on an area of my life that I had no idea was in need of such refining. The hotter the heat, the purer the refinement! In this season of learning to unlearn many nearly innate tendencies rooted and rotted in codependency, I must confess, again, I so understand why people would rather not unpack their junk. This has been one of the most painful seasons I’ve had to endure in the journey, but the bleeding has stopped and the healer is restoring all that the locust has tried to steal from me! And, oh, what a feeling! This is what it must feel like when a baby bird learns to fly, or a caterpillar turns into a butterfly!Exhilarating! Absolutely mind boggling and freeing all at the same time!

So this thought came to me in the midst of a storm, a time where I realized that I could be taken to the ledge again and asked to jump, spiritually speaking, and trust that His plan was not to harm me. I pray that you continually experience the kind of peace that He speaks about in His word:

Peace that transcends all understanding is contentment in uncertainty!

Oh that we would be content in uncertainty, certain of our Father’s love.

Have a beautiful day

Love,

Evinda

Nana Holds from Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Thanks so much for returning for more of Nana Holds. Thanks to a couple of you, I had a major breakthrough regarding yesterday’s post and I need to share it with you. I had no idea until then how a certain issue in this series was coming across and since He’s the giver of the gift of my writing, I will continue to be transparent with you in this transformation process! I so understand the propensity to keep the junk in the trunk but breaking free is a process and my hope and prayer is that what He gives me to write will encourage others in their process of breaking free, not discourage them! Grab your coffee and come on in. 

So I received some more accountability from some dear friends and I’m thankful beyond words to have them kicking my butt with a heart on their toes! My breakthrough has to do with the “bio mom” references, and someone said, I know you don’t mean to be hurtful and maybe you call her that because that’s what you called your mom for all those years, but it’s hurtful. And, no matter what, she’s Bryden’s mom.

OMG, what a revelation! That’s exactly it and I’ve been comparing her or equating her to my own biological mom who up to the last weeks of her life wasn’t a mom to me, and maybe that’s why I came across so strong! Maybe that’s why I sound more harsh than I meant to!  Yikes! Please forgive me and know, each and every one of you who read this, that I NEVER, EVER, stop praying for her and I am continually hanging out with hope, hope for her to have a brighter future and to become the mom that God created her to be and for her and Bryden to have an amazing relationship. That truly has been and continues to be my heart’s desire.

This accountability check is really beating in my heart and I need to be careful about the “ugly” picture I am painting of her with my words. That’s not my intent and I of all people understand that we do have to see the ugly to appreciate the beauty redemption brings and I will continue to share the truths of this story more sensitively. The blessed hope that we can all bask in is God is not done with her story, Bryden’s MOM’s story, and He’s not done with my story within her story! In fact, as I’ve said before, I am not the same person I was in the beginning of this story but I am being transformed because of her story! So, that being said, let’s continue with where we left off!

We left off with the beginning of new beginnings for Bryce, Jene’ and Bryden.

Sundays have become full days, and the depth that Bryce’s new girlfriend brings to the picture is unmistakable divinely added. Watching her interact with Bryden the first couple of times was like rewinding my own beginning with him. She was definitely a bit fearful and uncertain, but a lot more eager than I was. Her trepidation began to lessen with each passing Sunday.

Now looking at it from Bryden’s perspective, I want to say he sort of took to her right away, and yet, children are so

oh, to b inside that little mind!

intuitive! He was somewhat cautious in his beginning interactions as well. In addition to not being sure about her in the beginning was his struggle to vie for daddy’s attention. From the outside looking in, I recognized that right away and was able to share that with both Bryce and Jene’.

There really wasn’t a competition, though, especially considering Jene’ was very respectful of their relationship from the beginning. The first few weeks, she quietly observed and stood in the background.

I giggle as I remember their beginning. She’s such a girl. She hates to get dirty and here we all were running in the muddy grass, chasing Bryden and/or the ball or Frisbee or hiding up in the bushes playing hide-n-seek, and there was Jene’, either standing not too far off, or sitting on the picnic bench, a smile spilling onto her face as she watched us become like little children with Bryden.

By the third or fourth week, she was joining in with our fun and had even worn tennis shoes that she could get dirty! I

Father & Son

swear, they looked brand-new but she swore they were old! If I had to put words to what those first six to eight weeks were, I’d have to say that they were a time of building their friendship, getting reacquainted on more solid ground with the people that they each were becoming, new creatures in Christ. And although we all were thinking about their potential, and the gift of second chances, what we weren’t openly expressing, nor were they, was the direction that friendship was going, on to something deeper, long-lasting and life-changing.

Join me Thursday for more.

Evinda

Nana Holds from Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Thanks so much for joining me today. I was going to put this series on hold, but a couple of signals have urged me forward. Besides, I think I like the idea of savoring the memories created in Cabo by reliving them with you next week! Grab your coffee and come on in.

So since I’ve introduced you to Jene’, I have received several pieces of what I will deem hate mail from what we now know to be one person. Whoever you are, I pray you continue to read this story of redemption, and that you will experience true redemption in your life.

Anyway, in the midst of the vile hatred and anger spewing out of this mail, I was able to pick out a couple of things that deserve an explanation. I’ve pondered and prayed about them and since I have no idea who reads this, let alone when they jump into the story, I now realize I need to explain some things a bit better. The first of which is the term “bio mom.” See, a long time ago, back somewhere in the beginning of this series, I explained that in order to protect her identity, I was going to just call her bio mom. God as my witness I wasn’t being sarcastic in any way by using that name, and only He knows the veracity and depth of my heart, which I try to share with all of you. I never have, nor will I ever, use this platform, or any other for that matter, to gossip and/or slander anyone’s reputation.

Someone said to me, “Why don’t you just call her “mom?” Well, I could, I guess, but this whole experience, as well as what I have endured in my childhood has taught me that being a mom, let alone being called a mom, is a privilege and though I don’t claim to know her heart, her actions have not warranted that privilege; and yet for the sake of healing, I’m going to now refer to her as Bry’s mother. I will never stop praying for her to come into relationship with our heavenly Father who is the only one who can take the pain from her choices and redeem it for something beautiful. For God sent his son to die for her as well, as he did for you and me.

I have to ask myself, “What if she were to read this series? Would she feel shame?” God knows that I so wouldn’t want that. She may have regrets, but that is beyond my control. What is possible for me is to promote healing. It’s no secret that I don’t get along with her; it’s also no secret that I’m trying to learn all that I can and allow Him to correct what is wrong within me, cut away all that needs to go. All the while, my prayer has been and continues to be that my transparency will lead others to truly invite Him into their own unpacking process.

It’s funny when I think about this whole writing journey, the changes that He has brought about through it all, the person I was in the beginning compared to what I am now and still to be. I remember when I was writing my first book thinking He was going to use my writing for the unbeliever! Wow, I can’t help but shake my head in awe at the reality of writing for the saints, to encourage them in the journey to a deeper, more honest relationship with Him. Yes, I know that’s why He has me writing from my heart to yours.

Join me tomorrow for more of Nana Holds

Evinda

Thanks for joining me for our Faith-Filled Friday series. Grab your coffee and come on in.
Last Friday I shared the beauty of answered prayer that was answered in a way that I didn’t recognize at first but when I did, the light went on and let me tell you, I tied another huge knot in my strand of faith. I’m so thankful that He hears me despite me and my whining.
I think I left off with a P.S. so let me get to that and then we can move on to the Biblical Hall of Faith found in Hebrews 11.
“Okay. I believe you had as many hits on your post as Doug and I on ours and you gained us about 60 new subscribers. That is a wonderful testament to your writing and I hope it takes many to your blog. So, are you happy to be put on the list of our guest bloggers? I always give at least three or four days’ notice of when I want copy. Up to you, but I think it would be wonderful.”
I have no idea who or how many on the other side of the world have read what He has given me, but that definitely stirred up my faith. Now, let’s get back to this Hall of Faith! Finally!
So Hebrews 2 says: “For by it” – meaning faith – “the elders obtained a good testimony.” The New American Standard Bible translates that last part as “gained approval.” STOP!
Let’s chew on this for a few. The first thing that catches my eye is the elders, or as the New American Standard translates it, “the men of old.” Does that mean that they were old before they finally got it, the faith-ing (rhymes with bathing and is an Evinda-ism) thing? Or had they been working towards it all along? The latter kind of corresponds to the story I shared with you in the beginning of this series, that my faith didn’t just happened; it was a process. So that will be something for you to keep in mind as we get deeper into this Hall of Faith, because something tells me the answer is right around the corner, not just for those in the Biblical Hall of Faith, but for you and me as well!
Now the second part of that verse is also a bit of a mind bender but proof that faith is a process. They obtained a good testimony, or gained approval. Hmm, a testimony doesn’t just happen; it is the journey of your life and it includes all things, including the bad! That’s right, it includes the mistakes; how else would we be able to see His hand of intervention?
Let’s look that one up in the Greek concordance. We may as well; it’s not like we need to hurry through the Scriptures to get on to something else. Besides, you never know what we’re going to find when we grab our spiritual shovels and dig in the Word of God!
OMG, I found a diamond! So all the forms of this word testimony have a word root that I hope you can recognize: “martur” is one of the Greek translations and then there’s “marturia,” and a couple more. Do you see martyr in there? My hair is standing up on my arms and chills are dancing up and down my spine! I just get so excited when I come across things like this that tie another knot in my string of faith.
Okay, so the definition of this testimony: to bear witness; to be of good report; implying praise or commendation; having good character.
Whew, so does that mean there are no “bad” things that happen within that testimony? No, it simply means a report of a life unmoved away from God by the things of this world!
Okay, so we will move on to Verse 3 in our next Faith-Filled Friday, which will actually be a couple of Fridays from today as you and I will be having Coffee in Cabo next Friday!
Hugs and smiles,
Evinda

Wednesday’s Word from Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Welcome to Wednesday’s Word and thank you very much for choosing to take the time to come take a break with me! I so value you and your time. Grab your coffee and come on in.

This week’s thought came from the irony of having a breakdown followed by a breakthrough. Only God can cause that to happen, where we can experience such profound and priceless clarity after a bout of frustration so volatile you feel like you’re going to burst. It’s like having to endure the extraordinarily sound of a huge firework only to have your breath stolen by its beauty that comes thereafter.

This revelation/realization hit home in my heart like that and I hope it will quietly explode in your heart and thereafter burst into beauty in your life.

The more we talk about our troubles and our fears, the more life we breathe into them.

Oh, that we would take our troubles to the One who can fix them, and leave them there with Him.

Evinda

Wednesday’s Word from Coffee Hour @Chicklit Power

Welcome to our Wednesday’s Word, our midweek series. Grab your coffee and come on in for a quick break.

This power thought definitely stems from my process of breaking free from the viral infection of codependency, which has been like a tree with countless branches. Have you ever seen a tree so large that when you looked up into it, you couldn’t see the sky for all its branches? Well, that’s kind of like what breaking free from this infection that destroys relationships is like.

I’ve been working steadily at it since November of last year, and our Blog Talk Radio show that we do every Monday at 1:00 Pacific time is keeping me accountable in the process.

I am thrilled about the freedom I am experiencing as I stay in the process, treating one symptom at a time and eventually chopping a branch down, and then another and another. Intermittently I can see and the sky is beautiful and so are the stars. I get glimpses through breakthroughs, but they wouldn’t be possible if I didn’t stay in the moments.

We can only experience breakthroughs if we are actively staying in the moments!

May you experience many moments that bring powerful life-changing breakthroughs.

Evinda

Nana Holds from Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Thanks for coming to share your coffee break with me and more of this sweet series. I still can’t help but be amazed with the changes in my heart since I wrote the very first blog of Nana Holds. God is so good, so faithful, working all things to our good and His glory. Grab your coffee and come on in.

I began to look forward to our Sundays which began with church, breakfast, maybe a quick grocery shopping trip before heading off to spend a few hours with Bryce at the Castle in Riverside and in between all of that were many special moments.

We normally park in the same place for church – my husband is such a creature of habit! He likes to park in a place that he won’t get door-dinged so he usually parks on the street. I can hear Bryden’s words as soon as he touches the concrete sidewalk: “Wet’s run, Nana; Wet’s run,” and off we’d go, running down the sidewalk and onto the church property, in the back door and down the hall, right to his little class. And he wouldn’t even stop to collect a hug or a kiss, let alone $200!  He went right in and would always begin to play with the other children.

After church, if we go to breakfast, it’s usually the same place, Gus’s in Redlands. Lo’ and behold, we’d always order the same thing: Bryden loves their pancakes and while we still couldn’t get him to eat eggs, this is where Bryden tried something else besides pancakes: bacon, and he liked it, or as he says, “I wike it!”

Bryden in sugar heaven!

After breakfast, we’d head for Stater Brothers for our weekly grocery shopping. Herein lay some habits that make me smile, like running through the parking lot to the entrance. Part of my maternal instinct is screaming at the child in me raring to join him; and I finally, I quiet the screaming mama and throw caution, not completely to the wind, but enough to enable myself to join him. Don’t panic; of course I stay somewhat ahead of him to protect him from unseen cars.

Once inside, he and papa go to the same place to look for the car shopping cart. He’d much rather ride in a car than in the top little shelf inside the grocery shopping cart. Usually we score, and shopping is a bit easier with him safe and sound in the cab. Don’t tell him, but I like this because he doesn’t seem to see as many things that he has to have, cookies, candy, toys, et cetera.  Speaking of cookies, that’s also become one of our habits; we buy Oreo cookies, yep, uh-huh, a pack every two weeks. I know; someone call the sugar police on me, please!  But, in my defense, I’ve learned to use them to not just our advantage, but his as well.

I hear you thinking, so let me answer your questions before you ask. “Bryden, when” – and I try not to say if – “you eat your dinner, you get two cookies.” Guess who more often than not eats all his dinner, including his veggies? Give up?

Join me Thursday for a journal entry which includes more memories with all three of our grandchildren that make me smile and squeeze my heart.

Evinda

Nana Holds!

Nana Holds from Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Thanks so much for coming back for more of these life-changing moments in this season of Nana Holds.

By now, we are six, almost seven months into this season of parenting/grand-parenting Bryden, and none of us are the same! It’s almost Christmastime; he’s just about potty-trained, both number one and two. Consequently, his piggy-bank is getting full and ours is emptying! Clean pants and a full bank, what a winning combination!

George and I are learning the skill of teamwork – and until this circumstance, I had no idea that we weren’t really functioning as a team and that we had so much to learn in this area. I can’t help but shake my head and chuckle at His sense of humor and how He uses all things for all things! Talk about multi-tasking!

By this time, I definitely am getting used to all the changes that have occurred and I am not harboring any resentment or holding on to bitter waiting for things to get better. I am, as has been the case since the beginning, growing in my circumstance, learning to live outside it instead of it consuming me. But I still had a long way to go in the area of relating instead of just functioning — of course I didn’t realize it; I thought I was doing pretty well but I’ll explain that one later! 

I know I’ve already mentioned in prior coffee hours that Bryden wanted a backpack and a lunch pail for big-boy school, which is the key we used to turn on his little switch from pants to potty. So we knew we were going to get him his

Papa, Bryden and his bawoon!

backpack and lunch pail for Christmas. We kept talking up big boy school, especially after receiving word that we were no longer on the waiting list and he was now officially registered and would begin big boy school January 4th!

So there was that countdown. Thinking about his enthusiasm squeezes my heart with such joy for two reasons: the first being that I can finally recognize his childlike enthusiasm and revel in it, be part of it and appreciate it; and two, I loved and still do love knowing that George and I are part of his enthusiasm; that God chose us to help build his little foundation into something big and strong for his later years moves me so far from myself and to a person I know He is transforming into His likeness every day I share with Bryden.

It has been so many years since I have experienced such a special Christmas. It was like Abba was bringing out the little girl in me by bringing this little boy to us to love and nurture as parents. One of my fondest memories about the whole Christmas season was watching him watch the commercials. Have you ever noticed all the toy commercials they play on T.V. around the holiday season? Actually, the season gets earlier and earlier, but that’s a different blog for a different coffee hour.

I could be in the kitchen preparing dinner or in the laundry room folding clothes and all of a sudden I’d hear the sweetest voice ever say: “Nana, I get one of those for Christmas? Nana, can I have one of those for my birthday?”

Yes, he was already asking for gifts for his birthday because he knew it was shortly after Christmas! No matter where my head was , what I was thinking or feeling, what kind of a day I had had, that innocent voice pleading for a new toy could and would always pull me to him!

Embracing the revelations filled with His love,

Evinda

Nana Holds!

P.S. Don’t forget to join us today, if you are able, for our Blog Talk Radio show airing live at 1:00 Pacific time. If you can’t join us then, simply click on the link and download on your Itunes! www.blogtalkradio.com/Chicklit-Power

Faith-Filled Friday @ Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power

Thanks for joining me for our Faith-Filled Friday! I am looking forward to discovering things from the Hall of Faith that strengthen your faith and mine. Let’s grab our coffee and our faith and begin.

We are finally at the actual recorded Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11! Let me tell you, I hope you are hungry! Grab a big plate and some good utensils to feast with because there is a lot of meat here! I’m sure we’ll find our vegetables and lots of sweetness along the way as well. 

So the very first portion/verse says that “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” And what’s the difference between faith and hope? Hope is innate while faith is His gift to us upon confessing that we are a sinner in need of a savior! Even an atheist has an inclination toward hoping for certain things.

Have you ever witnessed hope come to life in the midst of a tragedy? Recently, a friend of mine who is a sweet sister in the Lord experienced tragedy in her family and it involved her nephew. He had been involved in a serious car accident that left him with extensive brain damage. Death was knocking on his door. While he lay in a coma, many of his family members surrounded him, cemented by his bedside with hope. I don’t know how many or who of those in his family were at that moment in their lives without a relationship with Christ, but when this young man showed signs of actually feeling pain, their hope was renewed that maybe, just maybe death would leave and life would remain intact.

Their hope turned them toward the possibility of faith in Christ. Were they searching more for a miracle than they were for the miracle maker? That’s not for you or me to ascertain; it was just a reminder to me that often, for a nonbeliever, hope stirs up our faith. And for those of us who have been walking with the Author of our Faith for awhile, the reverse is also true: Faith reminds us to hope and in “Whom” to hope!

What is an example of “the evidence of things not seen”? Well, in fact, every example in the Hall of Faith is unseen by us, but our faith accepts each example in the Hall of Faith as true. We know and understand that the common thread in the Hall of Faith is the Author of their faith.

But let’s narrow the lens to things not seen in this life, our here and now. The very first thing that comes to mind is redemption. Another is transformation. Redemption and transformation are not physical things that we can grasp with our physical eyes; but they are the evidence of things seen with the eyes of our heart.

As I shared in the beginning of this series, my faith wasn’t just born full-grown and adult-like. I didn’t have that miraculous introduction where I came to Jesus and immediately had no more junk and was free from myself! No, He’s taken me through an unpacking process, to and through some things to strengthen, refine and purify my faith. And all the while, He remained behind the scenes, unseen.

Just because I can’t physically see Him working, the eyes of my heart are opened to His working all things together for my good and His glory, thus fulfilling His promise: to build me up and not tear me down, to give me a future . . .

What about you; what is He doing for you behind the scenes that can’t be seen with your physical eyes but you know in your heart you see?

Join me next Friday for more of this faith-filled series!

Evinda

Perfected in His Presence (April's Words of Wisdom)

April WOW

Genesis 6:8-9

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God. (NAST)

coffee hour at Chicklit Power

Thanks for joining me today, a special day: the very last day for my very last blog . . . Just kidding; April fools!  Grab your coffee and come on in for our monthly words of wisdom and weapons of warfare, definitely needed to keep us armed and alert.
So I’ve changed the title of this one three times and wasn’t sure what I was supposed to share and then when I stopped thinking, it came to me. Why is that? Because He requires us to be still . . . and that includes our minds.
I’m not sure if it’s menopause or all I’ve been going through since our last event, or a combination thereof, but from the outside looking in, whew, I must say I scare myself. Have you ever walked into a room and smelled a bad odor – I think they used to call it B.O. – only to discover it’s you? :) And if it weren’t for this women’s Bible study I’m participating in right now, I think I’d be tempted to pick up my broom and fly far off so as not to turn people away! I just haven’t been myself lately. Have you ever felt like that?
I’m so glad He sees you and me differently. Want to know how I know? It says so right there in Genesis 6, Verses 8-9. I have skimmed over this portion of scripture in the past and don’t recall this speaking to me like it has recently. I’m sure it’s because of the women’s Bible study I’m in called A Woman’s Heart, God’s Dwelling Place by Beth Moore. It’s a study of the tabernacle, and one of the definitions is “dwelling place.” Now put the “heart” and “dwelling place” together and what do you have? His home! Doesn’t that give you goose bumps? There is so many diamonds to dig for in His Love Letters and Lessons to us and for us, and as we dig, He makes His dwelling place.

Anyway, I can’t just jump right in the middle of the story here, and I certainly don’t mean to play theological hopscotch with you, but our WOW, and a couple of verses preceding it, raise a few questions, at least for me. In order to get them answered accordingly, we need to rewind and get the picture of where we are in scripture. I pray that as we explore together, you and I will find things that speak the reality of His love for us.

Creation beckons us . . .

Come exploring with me back to the beginning of creation, well, not the very beginning, but almost. Creation is alive and so is sin, sin of every kind, utter and complete despicable universal wickedness. In fact, that is what God Himself called it when He looked down upon His creation. Verse 5 says that “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Talk about regrets!
Let’s get our shovels and look at that last statement, about thoughts of the heart. See, one of the definitions in the Hebrew concordance for heart states that the heart is the seat for the mind. In other words, sin begins in the mind, the thought process. Some thought processes are fleeting and incredibly quick, and others are more pre-meditated. I just discovered that the use of the word “wickedness” in verse 5 also refers to thoughts as well as actions.
The reason that’s important in establishing before we move on to our WOW is so you will see the significance of how He sees us as He does and why.
Finish up our time today with remembering when you’ve had a time of intense regret. What did you do with that regret?
Join me tomorrow for the continuation of our words of wisdom.
Evinda