God doesn’t allow a trial without directions to the answer! EL

I couldn’t find my way out of a paper bag, or a cardboard box, which is why I need explicit defining directions and instructions and not just in driving! 

Thanks for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United.

I so appreciate having GPS in my car because it’s proven over and over again it will get me to where I need to go…almost alwaysJ But driving is not the only area of life that I need specific defining directions and instructions in. In my sociology class, we have a Signature project coming up and I’ve been feeling like I’m literally drowning in information. My brain is having a hard time not getting swept away and allowing the information to settle in like the sand of the ocean floor. The first part of the project is due this weekend, and I do not have a starting point! I know what I want to talk about but I have no idea where to start, and I can’t write about it like I write a blog or a book. L It’s like being lost and needing to find my way.

I reached out to my professor, confessing my ignorance while pleading my case of needing a starting point, some sort of direction. I waited…trying not to dwell on feeling lost.

I used to feel that way when I would listen to others share the Word of God with such specificity. I wondered, how in the world do they do that? It’s such a huge book filled with so much information…until I opened it and began by dipping the feet of my heart in, a little at a time and now, just as with anything, there is more of a jumping in with an eagerness to learn and receive what He wants to lovingly teach me.

While waiting for the response from my professor, I read Philippians 4:4-7 and James 1:1-4, which speak to our response to challenges of any kind. Both Paul and James remind us to relax in the trial or trouble because everything’s gonna be all right, (paraphrased) and you and me, well, we’re going to be made stronger for it, stronger in faith, and another benefit, the flame of hope within us will not be blown out.

Paul tells us to not be anxious about anything, but he doesn’t leave it right there. He gives us direction on how to do that: but in everything, our response is to pray, just talk it out with God. Stay there in the conversation; don’t walk away until your heart is filled with the knowledge of hope in Christ.

See, God doesn’t allow a trial without directions to the answer.

Speaking of an answer, the next day, after reading these passages, I received a response from my professor:  Chillax! You will be okay. Try to relax and benefit from the process as opposed to stressing the hell out about it :-)

Hmmm, benefit from the trial, the challenge. I wonder if he had any idea how God used him to confirm the answer to my dilemma!

Anything means everything, including: relationships, finances, health…and my signature assignment.

Oh that we would be able to do as James, Paul and my professor stated: relax and chillax, learning from the journey.

Chillaxing…

Evinda

Prayer is as simple as talking with your BFF!

My husband and I started doing a new exercise. Every Sunday I write a prayer for him and he writes a prayer for me. Then we exchange the prayers we wrote for each other. For the rest of the week he prays the prayer I wrote for him plus the prayer he wrote for me. I do the same for him. Throughout the week we take notice of how God influences us through our prayers. At the end of the week we sit down and share our prayer experiences with each other. The prayer exercise makes us more aware of how God is moving in our individual lives. It also brings a greater intimate relationship with Him into our relationship with each other.

Welcome to Coffee Hour at Chicklit Power and Megan’s Monday Mantra with Trench Classes United.

Sarah Young writes a beautiful daily devotion about prayer in her book “Jesus Always”. She writes it as if Jesus, Himself, is speaking directly to you. It reads …

“Before you begin to take on a task – large or small – take time to pray about it. By doing so, you acknowledge your need for Me and your trust that I will help you. This enables you to go about your work in dependence on Me. There are many benefits to this practice. I can guide your mind as you think things out and make decisions. Just knowing I am involved in what you are doing gives you confidence, reducing stress. It’s wise to thank Me often for My help and to keep asking Me to guide you along the best pathway.”

“Though the Bible instructs you to pray continuingly, at times you ignore this teaching. When you are feeling rushed, you find it hard to slow down enough to seek My perspective on the work at hand. However, diving in and forging ahead on your own is actually counter-productive. When you request My involvement before you begin, I can point you in the right direction – saving precious time and energy. I delight in helping you with everything, even simple tasks, because you are My beloved.”

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” – Psalm 32:8 NLT

“Be joyful always; pray continually: give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Praying to God is as simple as talking to your best friend. Actually, praying to God is talking to your best friend! Pour your heart out to Him, for He is your refuge.

Your comments are always most welcome.

Lovingly in Christ,

Megan

God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called!

Have you ever felt like you weren’t qualified to do a certain job? Do you ever look up and try and convince God you are not the one for the job of parenting, being a wife, a supervisor…the list can go on. We are not alone as you will see in what Ashley shares with us this Faith-Filled Friday!

Good Morning, Beloveds. Come grab a warm cup of coffee and sit with me. Thank you in advance for taking time and joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Faith Filled Friday with Trench Classes United.

 Amos7:14-15 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁴ But Amos replied, “I’m not a professional prophet, and I was never trained to be one; I’m just a shepherd, and I take care of sycamore-fig trees. ¹⁵ But the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to my people in Israel.’

 We see how Amos questioned Gods choice in choosing him to be a prophet. Amos could only see what he thought he was capable of and couldn’t comprehend or understand why God would choose him for something he knew nothing about. However, we see that Amos who tended the flock and the sycamore-fig trees was chosen by God because he had faithfully performed the present task God had called him to.

When God calls us to something new to us, out of our league so to speak, is it really though? The enemy likes to get in between us and God and stir the pot of doubt and insecurity, whispering to us that we aren’t qualified to do what God has called us to.

But as you and I have been faithful to the current task God has called us to now – being a wife, a mom, whatever it may be -- we feel qualified and certain of what we are doing...most of the time, right? J  However, when we first started these tasks, didn’t we question Gods calling? I know I did many times.

Remember coffee hour friends, that when God calls us to something new He doesn’t expect us to face it alone or in our own strength.

Isaiah 41:10 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁰ Don’t  be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

 God will give us all the necessary tools we need day by day. Our God is ever so faithful to us. I pray that when He calls you and I out to new scary tasks, that instead of the questions, we’d faithfully drop to our knees and be still before our God who knows what our tomorrow brings.

Has God has called you to a new task? Can I encourage you, to rejoice, give thanks, and trust and know he will lead the way and bless you through this new and scary journey?

Gripped in His Grace, 

Ashley

He loves us too much to leave us the way we are EL

“God cannot use His power outside of His love…” As I read and re-read that from “Trusting the Shepherd” by Haddon Robinson, my soul became still.

Thanks for joining us for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Thursday’s Trench Truth with Trench Classes United.

In the storms of chaos and trouble, it is comforting to know that everything we are going through passes through His plans of love…not of punishment and that if we allow ourselves to just trust and rest in His love instead of resisting by stressing and worrying, our souls will come out unscathed, filled with strength and joy, ready for the next challenge.

God loves us way too much to leave us the way we are and does what He needs to do out of love for our sake and His glory.

Learning and unlearning truth,

Kim-Evinda

Struggles are our teachers in the classroom of life! EL

My hands shook as if I had palsy of some kind; my fingers going everywhere except to the designated keys to form the words that were being dictated for all of us to take down, verbatim, with 95.5% accuracy. “Why, Lord, why can’t I pass this test?”

Welcome to Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United.

It took me two tries to pass my California Court Reporting test and receive my license and I am so, so glad I didn’t give up. Have you ever been so exasperated, so frustrated you could just scream…or throw something or just give up?

I recently enrolled in an online class, Sociology 101, for several reasons: 1, I needed my CEU credits for my national court reporting license but I have no interest in court reporting education, per say, and 2, I need 12 units to finish my A.S. degree and 3, I truly want to learn more about how to function more effectively in the ministry He has called me to and immersed me in. Honestly, I thought it would be easy, maybe a little challenging, but definitely doable considering my passion to understand people and how their past influences their present and derails them from a fabulous future.

I was WRONG! This class is infuriating and exhilarating all at the same time! I have this sort of love/hate relationship with it. I am extremely challenged, and it is moving at a pace that is putting my brain on supersonic steroids! I am having a hard time keeping up. And when it’s test time, it takes me back to my court reporting days where suddenly everything I’ve absorbed up to that point seems to have fled to hiding places that my brain can’t find!

This season of learning is no different; my first test score was 37 out of 50! I was devastated, beyond frustrated and even infuriated. I really wanted to quit. My brain couldn’t comprehend getting such a low score. After cooling off for a bit, I called my professor sharing my frustration and complaining about the allotted 60 minutes to answer 50 questions. I mean think about it, that’s some pressure there!

He gave me a great study tip and encouraged me to stay in the journey. He let me know he believed I was invested and he was not going to let me fail…or quit. He spoke to me as if I were a friend.

What do we do when we are beyond frustrated, exasperated, and ready to just give up, whether it is from a class that is challenging our minds, or an illness that is draining us of energy, or a relationship that is testing our ability to love?

Treat your struggle like a friend who has something to teach you!

Proverbs 17:17 tells us that a friend loves at all times. Hmmm, think about it: when we need a friend, don’t we go to someone we can trust because we know they will be honest with us? We listen, maybe not always agreeing, but knowing that friend has our best interest at heart. Perhaps your current struggle was sent to be your friend, handpicked from our loving Father to continue to do His will in you that He may work through you.

Thoughtfully,

Kim-Evinda

Life is the classroom but we are not defined by a letter grade! EL

4.0 used to be the “perfect” GPA when I was growing up. Now the educational system has come up with ways to exceed “perfect”!

Thanks for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Tuesday’s Trench Truth with Trench Classes United.

There is nothing, absolutely nothing wrong with working for that A, reaching for that GPA that opens the doors to chosen opportunities, higher learning and otherwise. The problem with so much emphasis on a letter grade is it can easily become too much emphasis for identity.

I am learning, albeit the hard way, that I am not to define myself, nor be defined by a letter grade!

Oh, to be okay with not getting an A!

No matter what challenge we are facing, we need to remind ourselves of who we are in Christ. Just like we are not the car we drive, or the purse we buy, or the clothes we wear, we are not defined by anything but who we are in Him, with Him, and by Him.  

 Learning…and unlearning

Kim-Evinda

We receive only as much as we believe!

I feel like a slacker when I watch the Olympics. The physical exertion and laser focus of an Olympic athlete boggles my mind. I worked toward the dream of becoming an Olympic athlete when I was a competitive diver in high school and college. As I watched the experienced divers flawlessly execute dives from the 10-meter platform, I would think, “Wow, if I could do that!”

Welcome to Coffee Hour at Chicklit Power with Megan’s Monday Mantra and Trench Classes United.

In Mark 9:23 Jesus says, “If you can?” “Everything is possible to the one who believes.”

Had I evoked this scripture back in my diving days, things might have turned out differently, but that is unlikely. The above scripture does not mean if you believe you will win a gold medal, you will. It means through your faith in Jesus Christ, you are empowered to accomplish things you never dreamed possible–IF you can believe all things are possible through Him. 

The amount of God’s grace in our lives is measured by the amount of our faith in Him. We receive the same amount of peace, hope, wisdom, and courage as we have faith.  We are able to receive only as much as we are able to believe.

The Toyota Corporation introduced its new slogan during the 2018 Winter Olympics. I find the Olympics the perfect venue for its release. Their new slogan is:  “Start Your Impossible”

If you can believe all things are possible through Jesus Christ, impossible becomes possible.

Your comments are always most welcome.

Lovingly in Christ,

Megan

FAITH: JUST DO IT!

Happy Friday, Beloveds, come grab a warm cup of coffee and sit with me. Thank you in advance for taking time and joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Faith Filled Friday with Trench Classes United.

¹⁶ “This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that ¹⁷ I will certainly bless you. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. Genesis 22:16-17 (NLT)

Abraham obeyed God when He told him to sacrifice his only son. Oh the spiritual battle that Abraham must have faced, as you and I can’t even imagine such a thing. Abraham had great faith that God would provide another way. Abraham must have recalled God’s promise to him that he would have decedents more than the sand on the shore.

(Continued) ¹⁷ I will multiply your descendants^[a]beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. 

God wants us completely submitted to Him with nothing else in the way, so He will ask us to give up things and/or bring us through storms or droughts. As we struggle through our spiritual battle between the flesh and the Spirit, we can cling to the promises God has left us, just as he left Abraham.  We can choose to cling to these promises and trust and know God will bring us through it or replace what He has asked us to give up with something far greater than we could ever imagine.

What storm or drought are you facing?

Remember what he brings us to He will certainly bring us through. As he tests us and allows the season of a storm or drought, He uses this time to redefine, refine and restore us so we come out even stronger than before.

And what is our response? Give Jesus all the praise and glory for He once again has proven and provided His great strength and love to you, to me, that we may long and hunger for Him even more.

Oh what a good, good Abba….

Oh Jesus, we thank you for the droughts and the storms. Thank you for never leaving or forsaking us.

Love,

Ashley

A little truth goes a long way!

Why did you do that? Because he did this. But why did you say that? Because he said this. And so the crazy cycle continues and soon we don’t even remember where the original conflict began.

Welcome to Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Thursday’s Trench Truth with Trench Classes United.

If we are honest with ourselves, it’s really hard to hear the truth about ourselves, let alone swallow it and allow it to change us.  But why is it so hard to accept, digest and live by? Perhaps it’s the way it’s served.

I was having this very meaningful conversation with someone the other day and I felt like there was an invitation to get in their car so to speak, and all of a sudden, after explaining what I was seeing in their life, they kicked me out with these words: “How did this conversation suddenly shift to everything I’m doing wrong?”

I was stunned at the sudden boot which felt like a bucket of cold water on my face. I held up my arms as if to surrender, my eyes reeling from the quick ejection and just said, “I’m so sorry; that wasn’t my intent, it truly wasn’t.”
Silence followed for what felt like an eternity while we both sat there.

“Maybe it’s just really hard to hear the truth, Kim,” they said, pulling the wall of sad silence down and off to the side.

I sat there.

“It’s like you’re in my head.”
As quick as the wall had shot up dividing us each on our own side, it came down with this confession. But it would have stayed if I had reacted to their sudden outburst, or it could have been thicker if I had kept pounding more truth into them.

I’m so grateful that God wastes nothing and from this conversation I was able to learn that a little truth goes a long way.

Father, help me to know when to begin…and end.

Truthfully,

Evinda

Love is a choice, not a romance!

Oh, how I remember the gamut of emotions that I would ride every year about a week before this commercialized excuse to gush materialism in the form of flowers, chocolates and teddy bears bearing messages of love...as I waited for Him to bring me my Valentine. All the while trying to be happy for my many friends when they got their flowers, or candy, and even happier when he put a ring on their finger!  

Thanks for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United.

12 years into my S0S (season of singleness) God did bring me my Valentine and to insure that He would remain my first love, He did not bring me someone who buys into the materialism of holidays. In fact, my husband is a real pessimist about this holiday and Christmas, too, just because of the materialism they both subscribe to.

See, whether single or significantly involved with another, we all were created to be loved and to love, and in that order because He first loved us we can love others. [John 4:19] But what kind of love do we look for? Holidays like Valentine’s Day send us looking for that romantic love but I have learned that romantic love is not a sustaining love. Yes, I’ll admit we all need a little bit of romance, but romance is one small ingredient in the recipe for lasting love.

ro·mance

“A feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love”

Love is a choice, not just a feeling; and we don’t need a holiday to follow through in our choice to love. Sure, Valentine’s Day can be a celebration of love, but not a reminder to love!

So whether single or situated in love, when we look to Christ as our First Love, we will never have to rely on a holiday for love.

Love,

Evinda

Gossiping in the name of venting…is still gossiping

“Please don’t tell her I said that;” “Between you, me and the fencepost…” “I would never tell them this, but…” What one word comes to your mind when you see these statements?

Thanks so much for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Tuesday’s Trench Truth with Trench Classes United.

What comes to my mind is the word gossip…and truth be told, we all participate in it in one form or another, though it may not be intentional.  I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count the number of times I’ve been in a conversation listening and before I knew it I was swept up in the current and joined in with my two cents.

How do we avoid this slippery slope? The best way to not be swept away is as soon as we feel this current coming toward us we need to move out of the way!

But how, I can hear you ask?

By excusing ourselves, leaving the conversation because even just sitting there listening is a form of participation!

Oh, Coffee Hour Friend, trust me when I say I understand how difficult this can be, especially when I justify it in the name of venting! Let’s dare to be bold by refusing to compromise our own integrity for the sake of feeling part of something we really shouldn’t be part of, trying to fit in, feel accepted...at whose cost?

If we can’t say what we’re saying about someone to that someone, then we shouldn’t say it to anyone!

Truthfully,

Evinda

Are you a wall or a mirror?

When my spouse forgives me and accepts me, I learn to receive God’s forgiveness and acceptance. In that moment my spouse is modeling God to me. Revealing God’s mercy, my spouse is helping me see, with my own eyes, a very real spiritual reality.

(Adapted from Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas)

Welcome to Coffee Hour at Chicklit Power with Megan’s Monday Mantra and Trench Classes United.

Today is my husband’s and my 18-year anniversary.  I look back at the person I was eighteen years ago and I cringe a little … okay, I cringe a lot. J I think God has a sense of humor. He seems to enjoy gifting us with a spouse who is vastly different from us.  In many ways, my husband and I are complete opposites. The concept of “opposites attract” does not feel so attractive when you and your spouse are grinding through your differences. But I have learned to be grateful for them. Through these differences, the Lord sculpted our marriage into the intimate and trusting relationship we share today. Other than God Himself, I love my husband more than anything else in my life.

The marriage relationship was the first human institution established by God. (Genesis 2:24) Marriage mirrors God’s covenant relationship with His people. A covenant is a formal arrangement between two parties that binds them together. Each party has an obligation to the other rooted in mutual loyalty and commitment. The Hebrew word for mirror is “to reflect God.” Chiseling off our selfish human nature, He shapes us into “other-centered” spouses whose marriages reflect a clear picture of Christ’s love.

In Sacred Marriage, Gary Thomas writes, “We need to learn to fall forward. That is, when we are frustrated or angry, instead of pulling back, we must still pursue our partner under God’s mercy and grace.” He goes on to suggest this helpful prayer:

“Lord, how can I love my spouse today like he/she has never been loved before or ever will be.”

I’m pretty sure this is a prayer God is ready to answer.

Your comments are always most welcome.

Lovingly in Christ,

Megan

RELATIONSHIPS NEED NOURISHMENT TOO!

Oh, it’s a great day! Welcome to Coffee Hour & Faith-Filled Fridays with Trench Classes United. You’re in for a treat today. Jennifer gives you great ways to fill that tool-bag with tools to walk in freedom in all areas of life! Grab your coffee and a journal, and your Strand of Faith and let’s go check out those tools for your faith!

Nourishment

Nourish means to provide (someone or something) things that are needed to live, be healthy, to develop or grow stronger.  Often we equate this with food and drink, but I believe that we are to nourish one another.  In a relationship it means to be supportive, encouraging and affirming.  1 Thessalonians 5:11 and Hebrews 3:13 tell us that we are to build each other up every day. 

There are many people in the Bible that nourished and encouraged others.  Moses (Duet. 3:28), Titus (1 Cor. 7:4),Tychicus (Eph. 6:21-22), Judas and Silas (Acts 15:32), Timothy (1 Thess. 3:2) to name a few.

What does it do for us?  Why is it important?

·        It builds up (1 Thess. 5:11)

·        Makes us feel loved and appreciated (2 Cor. 7:13)

·        Strengthens us (2 Thess. 2:16-17;2 Cor. 7:4,7)

·        Helps us remain on our appointed path (Acts 11:23)

·        Gives us courage (2 Chron. 32:6-7; Phil. 1:14)

·        Creates unity and helps fight the temptation to isolate (Rom. 15:5; 1 Thess. 3:6-10)

·        Keeps us true to our calling (Deut. 1:38)

·        Develops perspective and trust in God (2 Chron. 32:6-7)

With all of these amazing reasons, why is it so easy to criticize and tear down?  There are many reasons that come from “woundedness” and bad definitions in our life.  When we don’t love and value ourselves, it is hard to love and value others.  Oftentimes the root of this is because we were never taught how to be encouragers. 

Coffee Hour was designed to encourage you and uplift you on your journey.  We appreciate your time and prayers for this ministry as we encourage others through our blogging.  My freedom challenge for this week is to think of three people you would like to encourage.  Choose one of them to encourage weekly over the next three months.  Then sit back and watch them grow. 

“My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love” (Col. 2:2)

Encouraging you in your journey…

Jennifer

Love is a choice in action! EL

Love…The dictionary defines it as an intense feeling of deep affection, but is that really love?

Thanks for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Thursday’s Trench Truth with Trench Classes United. Come on in for a moment of truth.

The longer I’m married, the more I disagree with the common definitions of love. In fact, the longer I’m married, the more grit I need to stay married, because love is not a feeling, it’s a choice, therefore, love is a different kind of noun, and it is also a verb for love is a choice in action!

Too often we check out when we fall out of love!

Perhaps we need to redefine love as…not a feeling or emotion, but a choice in action that emanates horizontally when nurtured vertically!

I say that it is impossible to love as He calls us to love without first loving Him who loves us!

Truthfully,

Evinda

: Fear screams; faith whispers!

Imagine with me for just a moment; allow your thoughts to go to that person you’ve been hearing about who has been doing all kinds of wrong…in or out of the church. Do you have that person in mind?

Thanks for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United. Grab your coffee and your Strand of Faith and let’s go tie some knots in our faith by applying a small portion of scripture to us.

So do you still have this person in mind? Keep them there as I recount the story of someone we don’t really hear about; he may even be a one-mention wonder in the Word, Ananias. In the book of Acts, which recounts the events that formed the first Christian church, we hear about this crazy man Saul who has been doing all sorts of bad things to the early Christians, including killing them. In this portion of scripture, Ananias was instructed by the Holy Spirit to go and lay hands on this guy! So not only was he told to go near him, but he was instructed to lay hands on him!

Have you ever been asked to do something that you were deathly afraid of doing? Well imagine that feeling times 10! But Ananias didn’t allow his fears to override his obedience. He went to Saul, did and said exactly as he had been inspired to do, and the Word tells us that “¹⁸immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once, and he arose and was baptized.”

Now we could literally stay in this verse feasting for a couple of hours, but let me just share with you three very powerful truths God spoke to my heart this morning as I was hanging out with Him in His love letters to me and you:
What if…I were asked to go and speak to and lay hands upon this one person who I feel has been tripping up the Christians around me? Would I allow my “righteous anger” to rip me off of the blessings that follow obedience?

And then in His loving and gentle way He reminded me of the calling He’s given me, to help remove the scales from people’s eyes through the organization He began almost 8 years ago!

But He didn’t stop there, because God is a God to all, but He reminded me that in some way specific to each one of us, we were all called to be an Ananias, to live a life that helps remove the scales from the eyes of those who have not seen, with their lives and hearts, the love of Jesus Christ!

Oh, Coffee Hour Friend, as we go about our day today, may we all be like Ananias, obedient to the whispers of our faith, living a life that helps remove the scales from the eyes of those who have yet to accept the reality of the necessity of the love and grace of Jesus!
Love,

Evinda

True Love is gritty!

As the top five reasons were revealed on the screen, I couldn’t help but nod my head in agreement. Unfortunately, I wasn’t thinking of my own weaknesses, per se, rather I was agreeing with the cyclone towards destruction!

Thanks for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Tuesday’s Trench Truth with Trench Classes United. Isn’t it so much easier to point out the weaknesses of others and not own our own?

Our pastor was talking about having a gritty marriage -- grit is passion to persevere. He began with a powerful truth that often we just want things to work but we don’t want to do the work!  

Then he listed the top five reasons why they fail and again I nodded in agreement:

1.    Poor communication

2.    Finances

3.    Abuse

4.    No longer “attracted”

5.    Infidelity

Now if you look at the first one, suddenly number 2 becomes more important than it should – meaning when we are not communicating well, we focus on other things, the first of which is finances. Then that can get us acting like we are on the complete opposite team and often that leads to number 3 which takes on many forms – abusive language, insults, shutting down, isolating, abandoning to name a few. When it gets to the fourth stage, the fifth is the most common and logical: we begin looking for the escape route because we want out.

In other words, one leads to the next and so the crazy dance, unhealthy love cycle begins.

It’s time to learn a new dance! It’s not too late to join us for our How to Love Trench Class! Contact us today!

www.trenchclassesunited.com

Truthfully,

Evinda

Praying is as simple as just talking with Him…not at Him!

“Prayer takes on a whole new meaning when we realize that Christianity is a relationship and not a religion.”

Welcome to Coffee Hour at Chicklit Power with Megan’s Monday Mantra and Trench Classes United.

Oftentimes I fear I am not praying correctly. I don’t pray aloud. I don’t pray at the same time every day. I don’t normally get down on my knees and I forget to be quiet and listen. My prayer life is fairly informal. I pray as I go. God is probably relieved when I finally fall asleep because I chatter with Him all day!

Many people don’t pray because they think they don’t know how to pray. There are no specific rules for praying. Praying is as simple as talking to God. Our closest relationships are built by spending time together and so is our relationship with Jesus.  Prayer is having a conversation with Jesus about anything, anywhere at any time.  It doesn’t matter if you know what to say. God hears what is in your heart and mind.

One of the greatest gifts God has given us is the privilege to pray to Him directly. Billy Graham reminds us, “by His death on the cross Jesus paid the penalty for our sins and removed the barrier between us and God.” 

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace confidently, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

Your comments are always most welcome.

Lovingly in Christ,

Megan

Hurry up and wait!

Good morning, friends. Grab a warm cup of coffee and come sit with me. Thank you in advance for taking time and joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Faith Filled Friday with Trench Classes United.

 Last week we talked about waiting and trusting Gods timing for a job, finances, health, or even a relationship to be restored. Today I was reading in my devotion and it reminded me of how Abraham, Jacob, and Elijah prayed. These men presented their causes and their strong reasons for them, and they each saw God work on their behalf.

It made me stop and think am I presenting my cause before the Lord, and I am laying my heart out? Am I believing with great expectations, no matter how long the wait? You see, Elijah prayed for rain and he sat at his watch tower with great expectation that God was bringing the rain, and God did exactly that; He brought the rain in full force. Sure, it took Elijah seven times of going and checking, but he didn’t give up; he continued to believe. [1 Kings 18:41-19:8]

Coffee Hour friends, the wait may seem endless and at times we may lose hope. When you lose hope, present your cause before the Lord again and remember all that He has done for you and will continue to do for you. His timing is perfect, and while we think He is slow to answer, remember that His ways and thoughts are not like ours. Be encouraged; He is making a way for you and me in our circumstances! [Isaiah 55:8-9]

I know this because I’ve waited a really long time for something. Let me share how God answered a prayer of mine that I have been praying for more than five years, and while the prayer hasn’t been completely answered, God showed me by this act of kindness by this person that He is making a way. See, there’s someone I’ve always had a hard time with, a person who has and can bring me great hurt or sorrow at times. I’ve learned to pray for this person that has caused me hurt or sorrow. I pray over this person daily, and God has begun to grow my heart to have a great compassion for this person.

As I have been doing this for many years, I’ve watched God slowly tear down walls that were built by both of us. Through my faithfulness to God, He has showed me the areas where my thinking was wrong. I thought I wasn’t loved or liked by this person, and to my surprise I was absolutely wrong! 

I Praise God for all the trials and pain that was endured, for it was not in vain; nothing He does or allows goes wasted. I can now see this love because I am seeing it through His eyes.

I love knowing that very day I prayed for this person and laid my cause and case before the Lord, He was listening and working behind the scenes.

 Psalm 46:10 Amplified Bible (AMP) reminds us: “Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”

Be encouraged in the waiting…

Ashley