Tuesday’s Trench Lessons 4 Life

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Welcome back to our Tuesday’s Trench Lessons with Lea! Grab your coffee and your Strand of Faith and let’s go see what she has for us today!

What would the movie of your life look like? What would it be rated? Would it be a romance, comedy, or horror flick? Who would be your “target audience”?

I wonder how we would feel, what we would do, how we would live, if others could actually see how we live and behave in our own homes; in other words, could I even sit thru the movie of my life? As I was thinking this I thought about every time I lost my temper, ate the wrong thing, or made the wrong choice. I was embarrassed to think about that “movie.” That led me to this thought: Why doesn't this same behavior embarrass me in front of my own family? The answer that I have come to realize is this: Unconditional Love. If my husband tells a lie, or my kids break my favorite collectible, I still love them without hesitation. I believe the same applies to me. My husband and children love me, in spite of my weaknesses.

During this whole thought process, I began to think about those movies that show the people passing away, and a big movie projector showing them their life. I know I’ve been to memorial services where there was a sort of movie made of their life…of course only the good times.

We know that the scriptures tell us we will all be judged at the last day. So will my projector be showing all the times I yelled at the kids, or had anger toward my husband? Will it show all the bad words that fly out of my mouth when I am at the end of my rope with all the inconsiderate drivers? Will it show the hundreds of thousands of times in my life when I have committed a sin? If it did, I don't think there would be much hope for me!

Before we all just throw our hands up in the air with despair, let us turn to the scriptures. Isaiah 43:25 which states: I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Isn't that such a beautiful thing? Not only did Jesus die to forgive us, but He goes a step farther by forgetting them as well. It is truly like they never happened! Isn't that thought so freeing?

Don’t get me wrong; this does not give us a free pass to just do whatever we want, and then ask for forgiveness. He knows what is in our hearts. But because He loves us unconditionally, we are freed!

When the reel of my life plays, it will just be my greatest hits! It will show all the people I loved, and all the times I decided to choose the right! My movie will be beautiful, because my life is beautiful. I hold on to that knowledge, and have hope for the future. Please join me in this knowledge and hope!

Until next week...I love you

Lea

Jenn’s Journey from Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Good morning! Once again, I am glad to be here with you, sharing some thoughts and perhaps a cup of coffee or tea. I am enjoying the quiet of a summer morning right now; in fact, I am the only one awake here in my house. I find I look forward to times like this, how about you??

I was not always this way…craving alone time. In fact, it used to be that if I was alone, I felt I was missing out. In my younger days, it was of utmost importance to be with friends, doing something. Being alone meant there was something wrong with me.  Back then, I couldn't wait to be at the gym working out with friends, having weekends filled with plans and of course, looking for that special someone to spend my life with.

My how things change! Perhaps it is age, but now, I long for alone time and quiet. It is my time to be alone with my thoughts, to talk to God and to recharge. If I don't have some of that each day, I find that I have less patience and more anxiety. Being in noisy situations, or with a lot of people, drains me and I need my time even more.

After seeing a friend post on Facebook about getting more comfortable in being alone, my thoughts were sparked. We humans were made to be social; we need one another for friendship, love, support and growth. It's okay to want those things and to fill our days with them. It is also good, and I believe necessary, to be comfortable alone. Sometimes we fear being alone, and worse, lonely. I believe this is where I was in the past. I 'needed' others and plans that included others in order to feel okay about myself. This was unhealthy, at least for me.

The many experiences I have been through, a lonely marriage, divorce and single motherhood, taught me that I need to be comfortable in my own skin. I learned that I could be more lonely living in a house with someone than I had ever imagined. This taught me that I have to depend on Someone bigger than me, and other people. Someone who is always there, available anytime of the day or night. He made us to need His friendship and companionship too. If we ignore this need, I believe we will never feel completely satisfied. We'll always be searching for the 'thing' that will fill the emptiness.

Deuteronomy 31:6 says "... the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." Another, and this has always been one of my favorites, says:"and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’" Hebrews 13:5

My friends, no matter where you are in life…happy, alone, or too lonely, there is One who longs to fill the blank spaces. He's teaching me this, and He can show you too. I pray that no matter what your day brings, you feel His presence today!

Until next week, be blessed.

Jenn

Faith Filled Fridays From Croley’s Corner of Chicklit Power

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Hi, Coffee Hour friends. I’m so glad its Friday. Got a word about standing just by watching some birds in our yard the other day, so grab your favorite beverage, journal and see what He has for us today.

We have a company of wild parrots in our neighborhood and at daybreak, as my husband and I are out walking, you can, without doubt, hear their chirpy screeching! They are in fact the nosiest birds I’ve ever heard. They’ve somehow taken to a flight pattern over our home and at the end of the day, you can see as many as a dozen lined up precariously on the wires just above out driveway.

On this particular day I stood, as they were not disturbed by my presence, watching them as a few would flip upside down squawking to another and I could only imagine what they might be saying, “hey look at me I’m upside down and I’m still hanging on!” Within a few minutes of hanging, it would resume itself to an upright position and continue on to another destination of refuge. Ok. So that may have been a bit dramatic, but my point is how can a bird stand on those skinny little legs, hang upside down on such a tiny little wire or for that matter  stand or even sleep on one leg alone with such control and balance? It truly was an entertaining experience.

The answer: study has shown that within the structure of the bird’s legs there are many bones that are hollow with crisscrossing supports or trusses like ties for structural strength.  Also the bird’s skeleton is extremely lightweight for flight but strong enough to withstand the stresses of taking off, flying, and landing. Wow, this should encourage us that even in the smallest of animals God created structure in their bodies to be able to hold on and to stand with power and strength…it’s already built inside them.

As a believer we’ve often heard in a sermon or teaching “to stand on His word” thus meaning standing on the promises of God for something you are praying for either in a crises, sickness  or maybe for direction in ones lives.  God’s word speaks to us about standing on His Word and His Word alone. The word stand found in the Greek is called meno pronounced men'-o, “a primary verb; to stay in a given place, dwell, endure, remain, stand or tarry, to remain motionless or steady on the feet.”

There have been times in my life when great difficulty came, whether it was with doctors with conflicting reports or when our finances were in shambles, and the world told me to run. When my natural strength seemed to be gone and my faith looked like those birds teeny tiny legs which looked as though they couldn’t hold up to any kind of storm, I knew in God I had to stand on His word.

Paul tells us  in Ephesians 6:10 -17 to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, not our own, to put on the WHOLE armor of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the enemy and thus and having done all, to stand.

Today, stand and trust in His control and the balance of His word, for your life. Hang on with determination saying:”Hey, look at me! I may be upside down but I’m still hanging on!!” We are to stand and have confidence in His word; this is where our faith coupled with the power of His word becomes strength to our bones. Proverbs 3:8

Thanks for stopping by Faith Filled Friday...and remember to keep Him close to your heart!

  

Love,

Deb

June’s WOW Life in the Fast Lane and the Narrow Road

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Matthew 7:14 “For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Thanks so much for joining me today for our Coffee Hour and more of our WOW for June. Can you believe it; June’s about gone! Whew, talk about the fast lane! Grab your coffee and your strand of faith, and let’s get back to my car situation where I had completely blown by a dummy light, which turned out to be a real warning sign!

There is a double edged sword to being in ministry because what I teach, I must live and as I write from my heart to yours, I have to tell you, I have told/taught my trench students over and over again to pay attention to the emotional dashboard, analogizing it to the dashboard in our cars! Well, hello! My car was trying to tell me something and I was too busy to listen! Really!?!  Yes, because I was too busy, and didn’t make the time to take the time, I blew right by the warning signs.

A few days after telling my husband the first time, I got in my car…in a hurry, and saw the light again. Hey, at least I was slowing down enough to see it! I dug into my memory bank, deeper … farther … oh, yeah, there it is! I remembered! This light was trying to tell me something about my tire; that’s right. I breathed a sigh of relief and pushed it back, though not as far down, but still down the hallway of my mind, moving on to my next destination. It could wait for later, I thought. Besides, the car felt fine. I didn’t feel anything different.

Well, later didn’t come until a week later, and only after my husband had asked me, for the “inth” time, if I had gotten it taken care of and got tired of hearing me say, “I haven’t had time,” did he take it to our local tire place. When he came home, he was a tiny bit irritated with me, letting me know that, unbeknownst to me, my tire was screaming for help and what apparently started as a little hole, became a bigger one and had to be replaced!

How in the world did my car even know that? As I realized the possible ramifications and just how many angels He must have had watching over me as I went here and there and everywhere on the crazy freeways of California, and how wonderful my husband is to take care of things I just don’t make the time to take the time for…my heart squeezed with humble joy, knowing I am loved that much. Oh, how I take so many things for granted.

I hugged my honey, and thanked him for taking care of it for me, for making me feel taken care of as well, and didn’t think too much more about it…until the next day when I got in the car to go to a meeting that required some freeway driving.

I don’t even remember where it was I was going; all I remembered noticing a difference in how the car drove! It was ever so slight, but I noticed that the ride was smoother and there wasn’t this pull … to the right.

That made me think; wow, life can be like that, right? Little by little, day by day, if we don’t do our tune-ups, do our maintenance, meet with our Maker, aka the Tour Guide, life can tend to pull us off track, off the narrow road and onto a path more traveled, and before we know it, we are going with the flow and against God’s will. When that happens, Coffee Hour Friend, stop, right where you are and allow yourself to be guided back to the narrow road!

Love from above,

Evinda

June’s WOW Life in the Fast Lane and the Narrow Road

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Matthew 7:14 “For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Welcome to Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and thanks for joining us for this special time of the month, our Words of Wisdom and Weapons of Warfare. Oh, how awesome it is when something in our lives collides with a circumstance and fills it with wonder, with hope, widening our knowledge while narrowing the road in our journey. Come on; grab your coffee and let’s go talk about the narrow road.

As I read this verse, and did a little research on it, I was reminded of something that actually brought it to life for me. Before I tell you how and why, I have to ask you this: did you know that gate and road are analogous to “way” and that “life” is used in this context as eternal life? So let’s rewrite it just to wrap our hearts around it: For the way is narrow and the way is hard that leads to eternal life!

Wow, in other words, the high way to heaven is the hard way, a narrow way but the good news is that the closer we stick to our Travel Guide through this life, the more we’ll hear and see the warning signs and the less we’ll detour. I must admit, there are times when I’m moving so fast I forget to acknowledge He’s even there.

As I was driving along the other day, I noticed one of my, what I refer to as, dummy lights on the dashboard … “what is that telling me?” I wondered aloud. Well that thought was fleeting, as I pulled off the freeway headed towards my first to-do of the day, thinking about the rest of the day’s appointments and things I needed to get done at the office … until I got back in the car several hours later and there it was again.

Later on, I told my husband that the light was on, thought it was something to do with the tire, but I wasn’t sure. His response: “You should take it by Good Year tomorrow.” Again I pushed it into the crevices of my brain!

Oh, how many times have we done that when temptation of any kind strikes? You know what I mean, when we ignore that little still voice of the soul that warns us not to do something? I know I have my hands raised and anything else I can to admit: I’m guilty! Those warnings are there for a reason: to keep us from danger and/or harm!

Our bodies give us signals; for example: I know my body doesn’t do well with too much sugar, especially the chocolate kind, but it’s even more dangerous for me right before bed. Why? I’m so glad you asked: Because I wind up in a full-blown hormonal panic attack! Do you think that has stopped me from doing it again? Uh, well, no. I have repeated it but not very often. I try to pay attention to that warning within.

But what about those life-altering warnings that had we heeded, just maybe things would be different; for example, a not-so-healthy relationship choice, or a temptation to return to an old not-so-healthy habit/behavior because, what the heck, everyone else does it?

When we are so busy living life in the fast lane, we can tend to lose our way, wind up on the wider road, go in a direction we shouldn’t…but the good news is that God can right the wrong turn, the wrong choice, the wrong road taken…if we slow down enough to take the time to make the time to seek Him in all things. The farther we stray from His Spirit, the more we’ll miss those warning signs and the wider the road comes. The wider the road, the faster life goes. I know this because in ministry, though I know what I believe and am confident of my relationship with Him, life can get very fast and though the road is still narrow, I can tend to lose my way if I get even just a step ahead.

Join me tomorrow for the conclusion to this month’s WOW! And remember, keep your eyes and ears open for the warning signs that try and keep you away from the road less traveled…and try to avoid the fast lane!

Love from above,

Evinda

Tuesday’s Trench Lessons 4 Life

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Welcome to our new Tuesday series: Tuesday’s Trench Lessons! I am so excited about this series which will be written by one of my Transformers…and there may be a couple other Trenchers who join this blog, but I’m super excited about how this series came to be. To make that long story short, let me just say, it’s been a year-long process, and this came about by Divine ordination! I am incredibly proud to introduce you to one of my original Transformers whom God is truly transforming, Lea Province. You’re going to love her writing!

When will my life begin….By Lea Provence

I have always been a Disney fan. During summer vacations, my dad would take us to Disneyland…every year. We had Disney books, Disney toys and a whole collection of Disney movies. Do you remember those movies? Dick VanDyke and Mary Poppins and Hayley Mills in Pollyanna! Don’t get me started! And of course being a “girl,” I enjoyed the princess movies.

As I grew and started a family, I must confess, I still have all things “Disney!” More and more movies are being released and we naturally have seen them many, many times. Once is never enough. I can literally quote about 90% of the movies…word for word!

I wanted to give you that background to share with you that little nugget of truth and light I was given recently. I was listening to our “Princess Songs” CD when a song from “Tangled” sang by Mandy Moore played. It is called “When will my life begin.” The song starts with Rapunzel listing off all the tasks that she does throughout the day: chores and other things such as: reading, sewing, games, crafts, cooking and backing to name a few. As she goes about her day, she wonders to herself, when will my life begin? She feels as though she’s stuck in the same place she has always been. Would it be like to embark outside of her little world?

Now I have heard and sang this song numerous times. It wasn’t until a month ago that the words of this song literally pierced my heart and I began to cry. I then realized that this is exactly how I have been living my life: I’m on the shampoo lifestyle, rinse and repeat, wondering when will my life begin?

When I was younger, I used to think I’d make some money and buy a house, and that’s when my life would begin. Or, after I lose weight, I’d be more comfortable and that’s when my life would really start. Oh, and the best, after my husband finishes his medical treatment, his attitude will improve and our life will begin and be great! Merely existing is what I have been doing for 35 years, waiting for my life to begin. But I’m realizing that while I’ve been waiting, life has been passing me by!

My oldest baby, my daughter, will graduate next year! Before I know it, it will be here. I could possibly be a grandmother within the next five years! Oh, my goodness, I’m getting ahead of life while wondering when it will begin! How can that be? In a little over a decade all of my children will be adults. Why is it I can imagine life… and not get in it and allow it to pass me by?

If I continue to give my life conditions, you know, the shampoo, rinse, condition cycle, and demand perfection from myself, I will never enjoy life, nor will I truly grow and move forward with and in my life. Romans 3:23 reminds us for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God! We will never reach perfection in this world. In my case, I cannot even see where perfection resides. I’ve decided to stop looking at my life as a finite thing. When I look at my existence eternally, I can see that my conditions are just stepping stones on my journey of progression to perfection.

Oh, the lessons I’m learning in the trench …

Lea

Jenn’s Journey from Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Good morning, friends, here's hoping you had a nice weekend and were able to stay cool in this heat! Summer is really here, isn't it? This weekend we celebrated dads and all they do for us. I am blessed with a great dad and I am thankful for him. I know not everyone can say that, for often our earthly fathers let us down. Thank goodness we can turn to our Heavenly Father anytime!!!

A few months back I made a decision to leave a dental office I had worked in for many years. I'd seen a lot changes and some of those were not a good fit for me. This was not an easy decision as I loved my patients, many of whom had become friends. I knew I had a job waiting for me in a few months, but I had to look very carefully at my finances before taking this step.

I was a bit nervous, because even though I'd carefully considered most things in this decision, there is always the unexpected. Through prayer and talking with a few of my wise and trusted friends, I knew God was leading me to go this way.  He has blessed me in the past and I felt He'd continue doing so. He has given me the opportunity to be an almost-always stay-at-home mom, which was a dream of mine. I've been able to spend more quiet time with Him as well, and that is definitely something that money cannot buy!

My new job begins in August so I decided that I would just enjoy the summer with my daughter. Once school begins again, I'd get serious about finding more hours. In the meantime, I was called to do some temp hours for a friend, a confirmation that God was watching out for me. I have to admit that sometimes I started to feel worried…my mind filled with questions: How will I find work that allows me to still be present for V? Will I have to look further from home again? What if I can't find more hours?

Then...the other day, I was driving home from the store and I got a call. It was the office where I am to start working in August…long story short, the office manager was calling to offer me more hours! Would you believe that they are dream hours? Hours that allow me to drop my daughter off at school as well as be available to pick her up shortly after school gets out? I got chills! I knew, once again, that God has worked out an answer to prayer, and I am amazed. Why am I amazed? He's done this for me before. How quickly I forget all the good He does.

There's a verse that I was reminded of; it's found in Philippians 4:19: "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

What do you need? Is there something that you need God to do for you?  Because my “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8

Until next week, be blessed,

Jenn

Faith Filled Fridays From Croley’s Corner of Chicklit Power

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Welcome and glad we could spend a few moments together. Grab your favorite beverage and journal in hopes that today’s blog will create a “new meaning” as we head into this weekend.

For many years we used to get our paychecks at the end of the week, for some, you may receive it every two weeks. Yet no matter how you received it, you went after work to the bank and made a deposit. You physically handed the teller your weeks’ pay to put into your personal account. Gone are those days for most! Now everything is electronically deposited.  No worries of ever losing or misplacing your check, such a convenience.  However this is where my story ends and another picks up; about deposits.

On several occasions I have chosen not to blog on a holiday that usually follows our Friday Coffee Hour but today is going to be different. Yes, Sunday is Father’s Day, as if you didn’t already know; and just in case you didn’t, well, you do now.  I want to paint a picture of a few fathers who have made deposits into lives all through scripture and how it correlates with making those deposits into our lives, today.

When we reflect on a father, we often picture them as our hero, a strong and sturdy, steadfast image. Down through the ages we have heard of many fathers whose works have been noble and inspiring and for some not so noble or inspiring. However we will find that even through those not so great examples, God’s sovereignty still looked beyond their faults and ahead into each of our lives.

So I figured I’d find some examples though God’s word, and of course, the first earthly Father was Adam. Genesis 1:26.

He had no example to follow except God. Although Adam weakened and sin entered this world he did suffer the significance of his actions. God named him the first of all fathers and he certainly has much to teach today's fathers about the consequences of our actions and the absolute necessity of obeying God.

Next on my list was Noah, a righteous man in spite of all the wickedness that surrounded him. He was far from perfect, but he was humble and protective of his family. He courageously accepted the task which God assigned to him, and carried it through, the building of the Ark. Then I see Abraham who was the Father of the Jewish nation yet in his vulnerability was asked to face a difficult test. Yes, Abraham had weaknesses of impatience, fear, and a tendency to lie under pressure.  But Abraham demonstrated extraordinary faith, trust and obedience to the will of God.

Another father is one that ...well, I think was underrated as far as fathers go. His name is Joseph the foster father of Jesus. Joseph had a noble quality and was a righteous man. God honored Joseph's integrity by entrusting him with a great responsibility to raise the Son of God.

I’ve saved the best for last, God the Father.  When we see God as our heavenly Father He is the perfect example for all earthly fathers He is our provider and protector, and when we see Him as such it puts our life into a whole new perspective. He is holy, just and fair, but above all His most outstanding quality is love and His love motivates everything He does. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8

He is personal Father who knows our ever every need. Jesus said God knows us so well he has numbered every hair on our head. Luke 12:7

I love the strengths of God the Father: He is omnipotent (all powerful)…omniscient (all knowing)…and omnipresent (everywhere).

Yes the thought did occur to me that there are those who did not have a father’s image...however just as Joseph was a foster father to Jesus, God has in His omnipotent way allowed Himself to deposit into your life. That’s the love of our Father…there’s not one of us that would be overlooked.

There are many fathers who will be celebrated this weekend and for some they will reflect those who have entered into their eternal home. Nevertheless they were a source of strength and wisdom.

Today or whenever you gather together, take time to pause and reflect on their many attributes and qualities and maybe even their shortcomings and thank them for their gifts that have been deposited into your own life. We truly are the image of our own Father’s. John 14:8-11

Embrace and acknowledge that which has been given to you... just as my own father is, on a personal note, an inspiration to me, I dedicate this blog to him: Happy Blessed Father’s Day… until next week, hold Him close to your heart...

Deb

Seven Sacrifices to Joy

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

It’s great to be with you for Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power. Thank you so much for joining me for the conclusion of one of the longest series in my blogging history! Grab your Red Strand of Faith and let’s return to where we left off, comparing the Old Testament sacrifice of a body to the New Testament sacrifice of our body. I’m hoping we will tie several more knots in the conclusion of this series, the Sacrifice of the Body.

We’ve learned that whenever an Old Testament sacrifice was offered, it couldn’t be reclaimed. It became holy and dedicated, or sanctified unto the Lord. Sanctified means to be set apart, so that paints a vivid picture when we put ourselves on/in the canvas of it, aka, the altar of life!

See, our bodies have been sanctified unto the Lord when He purchased us with His own blood. Sounds a bit gory, and many of us don’t like to think of the great lengths He went through to pay for our junk, but the shedding of His blood as an atonement for our sins is a reality that must be brought to the forefront of our souls, a tool, if you will, to help us surrender and render our bodies as His, as He did for us.

His sacrifice is what purchased us and He thereafter quick-claimed the deed of ownership to us in hopes that we would willingly and whole-heartedly sign the title back to Him! This is confirmed in 1st Corinthians 6:19-20 which tells us, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God and you are not your own”!

The difference between the Old Testament offering and the offering of our bodies is that the Old Testament offering was dead and could not jump down off of the altar when the fire became hot, but we can! Oh, how difficult it is when the heat of living for Christ and taking a stand begins to be turned up, right? Do we, a living sacrifice, jump down off the altar of consecration to God and reclaim ourselves as our own or do we cling to Him so as to become like Him, surrendered and available?

To offer or present our bodies as a living sacrifice unto God means we are to be available for His use at His discretion. Our flesh may really struggle with that truth, to show up and shut up, wondering where and when, questioning the how of it all. Often it is the undesired, the unlovely, and the unglamorous places, times, and persons that our loving God, who loves us too much to leave us how we are, will use to bless us with the richest of life's lessons in preparation for the future.

Yes, this sacrifice requires life, not death, and that surrendered, sacrificial life brings glory to God. Heat is part of being on the altar for God and His glory is the result. Oh, Father, may I be a living sacrifice, one hour, one day at a time on my way to You!

That’s a wrap! Join us tomorrow for Faith Filled Fridays @ Croley’s Corner of Chicklit Power.

Love,

Evinda

Seven Sacrifices to Joy

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Thanks so much for taking time out of your day to come and share Coffee Hour with me and take in more of this series, The Seven Sacrifices to Joy.” The good news is we are headed toward the finish line of this series and the series to follow will have you giggling from the inside out for sure! Grab your SOF (strand of faith) and your coffee, hot or cold, and let’s go tie some knots in our faith as we learn more about what it means to offer up our bodies as a sacrifice.

Another definition for bodies, (soma) from the Greek concordance reads: “it is translated ‘slaves.’ In its figurative uses the essential idea is preserved, the complete man.”  Here’s my summation of that translation: I choose to be a slave… to freedom in Christ or to bondage of my flesh. Does that make sense?

Let’s paint a verbal picture of a tug of war. On one side is your physical self, your flesh, and on the other side is your spiritual self, your soul. You may be wondering, well, where’s the mind? Right in the middle and it will follow whatever pulls the hardest! So when the flesh screams for something not so good and contradictory to the spirit, that’s the first tug. And trust me when I say that what the flesh wants, it usually screams for if not given right away and the spirit, well that can tend to be drowned out by the screaming of the flesh if we are not still and listening to its whisper.

Now, the spirit will tug back, and the more it has been nourished, the harder it can pull, allowing your spiritual self to win over the flesh, thereby becoming a slave to Christ. Each victory intensifies the next tug…and the next, and then next, and so on and so on; the good news is that the intensity of each victory increases too and increases our awareness of the next tug, and sometimes before it even happens, because His Spirit within you has increased your awareness, wisdom and discernment.

But then there will be a different tug-of-war, and so on and so forth. Life is full of tug-of-wars, the flesh over the spirit. As soon as we have figured out how to let our flesh win over the body in one air, He moves us into another area that needs refining, pruning, sharpening. Sometimes it feels as though our hands, and hearts, are full of blisters from all the tugging, but can I assure you that staying in the fight to learn how to offer up our bodies as a living sacrifice will help us finish the race!

The next thing I discern from this one verse, this sacrifice of our body, is to be available… and not just on Sundays, or whenever your Sabbath is. This scripture is saying that we are to render to God the use of our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. Unfortunately, we can be living externally but actually dead…internally and therefore eternally.

In the Old Testament, when the offering was placed upon the altar, it was not to be reclaimed; it was to be consumed before the Lord. In other words, there was no taking it back, no Indian-giving! :-)

Now, while our bodies are not laid upon an altar as was done in the Old Testament, they are still to be a sacrifice offered to God for consumption in the gospel ministry and never to be reclaimed as our own again. I keep hearing that song, “I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back”!

What if we faced each temptation to give into flesh and allowed His Spirit to tug us through and over the victory line? Each victory will lessen the chances of turning back and increase the propensity to offer up our body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the One who joins us in the tug-of-wars of this life, welcoming us into the next…

Join me tomorrow for the CONCLUSION of this series!

Love,

Evinda

Seven Sacrifices to Joy

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Hello and happy day to you! Thanks for joining me for our Coffee Hour and more of this series The Seven Sacrifices to Joy as I write from my heart to yours the road to joy. I had no idea it would have so many twists, turns and tumultuous obstacles to get to and through! Grab your coffee and your Strand of Faith and let’s go to the seventh sacrifice…. Finally!

The seventh sacrifice is our body.  Now, I’m not speaking about becoming like the animals that were put upon the altar as a sacrifice in the Old Testament… ugh, that’s a bit gory. No, I’m talking about something completely different, a different sacrifice that we can offer because of the gift of grace. Let’s take a look at Romans 12:1 and begin to see why/how our bodies are deemed to be a sacrifice.

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your spiritual worship." (Romans 12.1: Harper Collins Study Bible.)

So we see that our bodies are deemed a “living sacrifice,” and that doesn’t mean the walking dead! Then what in the world… how in the world… first of all, “bodies” in this context refers to total self, aka, mind, body and soul/heart! Whew, but there’s probably a seven-course meal in that one verse… but don’t panic; we won’t park here for too long, just what is necessary to really grasp what this sacrifice is all about.

The word “bodies” translates in the Greek to “soma” and means “the body as a whole, the instrument of life.”  So this confirms the principle of mind, body and soul. But how many of us get up in the morning physically and emotionally, perhaps even with an emotional hangover, and begin our day without our spiritual selves? When and if we do that, we would perpetuate that emotional hangover because we are functioning out of balance!

Oh, how I remember the days of my feet hitting the floor and running through my to-do list like a marathon runner desperately yearning to cross the finish line! See, going through the day like that is like riding the oceans of life in a boat without a captain, or attending and learning the lessons in the classroom of life without a teacher, or traveling the globe in a plane without a captain: DANGEROUS!

What would our lives look like if we put our whole self in and incorporated the spiritual component into our days, our agendas, our families … instead of playing Hokey Pokey and turning ourselves around in the same circle, over and over and over again?

So could it be that one way our bodies are a sacrifice is when we live with all three components, mind, body and soul/spirit so as to avoid crashing when the waves of life hit us?

Join me tomorrow for more on this sacrifice!

Evinda

Jenn’s Journey from Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

A blessed and happy Monday to you my friends. As I sit and write, I am sipping on some coffee, and it's nice to think you will be joining me. Summer is moving right along. In our house we're enjoying the more relaxed schedule, and the fun times we are having with family and friends.

Last week, I talked about my recovering perfectionism. Funny how God keeps sending me little messages along this line! I never know what He is going to use to speak into my heart and mind, so I try to keep listening for that still small voice.

Last weekend my daughter and I were getting ready to go to church. She is exercising new independence and wants to dress herself. Well, she came out of her room wearing a leopard print tank top and some of her “gently worn” black shorts. I was taken aback. I said to her "Oh no, honey, you need to find a dress; we're going to church, remember?" I could feel my stomach seize a bit, you know, the feeling "What will people think?"

Instantly, conditioning from years past rushed into my head just as she answered: "Mom, I've decided trusting God is more important than looking pretty!"

Now what does a mother say to that? I tried to answer with "Well, when we go to church we dress our best to honor God" but you know what? It sounded empty and hollow. My daughter had hit the nail on the head with her remark and there was nothing I could say. Everything I've been teaching her was up front and in my face. :-) I was immediately humbled.

We went to church, just as she was. I have to admit to spending just a wee bit of time wondering what other parents were thinking, but I let it go. LOL!

I could not help but ponder this scenario for days after. I thought again of how caught up I/we are in looking perfect, and how that seeps into every aspect of our lives. How many times have I gone to church with the perfect outfit but with something seething inside? Worry, anger, resentment...all things that God wishes to erase with His perfect love. In fact, THAT is what church should be, a place where we can take those imperfections and meet with God, to be reminded of what He does for us, and trust Him to keep doing it.

"But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’" 1 Samuel 16:7

There it is. In black and white! The Lord looks at what is in our hearts. He's been working in mine now for quite some time and I am so grateful He promises to keep doing that until the day He comes. All around us we see the emphasis on looks, yet it is not God's way. True beauty comes from the inside out.

I pray that as He continues to free me of my perfectionism, I can be like a little child and say "Trusting God is more important than how I look!"

Until next week, be blessed,

Jenn