No storm is higher than our Resurrected Jesus! EL

What if we were to treat every Friday like Good Friday? In fact, after refreshing my memory of the details of the most horrific crucifixion in history, shouldn’t every day be a good day? Funny thing is our Friday writer obviously thought the same thing.

Welcome to Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Faith-Filled Friday with Trench Classes United and Ashley.

As Easter approached, I began reading in the book of John. It is a very powerful experience to walk down memory lane of what Jesus went through, all so we could have access to His father and the gift of eternal life. As I read, I wrote this from my heart a little recap of what Jesus went through and all that illuminated on that glorious third day. I encourage you to read John chapters17-20.

Father you sent your only son to come and fix an undone world.

You sent Him to show your pure and perfect love. Oh, but few believed and received what your precious son had to bring. He walked the earth fulfilling your will, spreading your righteous and holy love.

Jesus came with a mighty power to heal and save; yet, the world was afraid that the power they held dear to them would be taken away. Oh Lord, you knew their hearts would be hardened and full of pride and self-righteous thoughts.

Jesus came so humbly on Palm Sunday riding a lowly donkey. He came riding in as our humble King to save us all. Many came with palm branches and their precious clothing to lay before our Lord to praise Him with their sacrifices.  However, the men in higher power feared Jesus’ power and plotted on how to get rid of Him.  They took Jesus and had Him beaten…for crimes he didn’t commit.

As He was stripped of His clothes and mocked for all to see, He never gave up on you and me. Jesus full of Gods power could have struck us all dead. Instead, Jesus endured the blows of all of our sins and a crown of thorns was placed upon His head. Thorns are like sins…they taunt, torture, and tear a soul apart.

Why did He do this? So we wouldn’t have to bear our own thorns.

He looked up on the cross and cried out on our behalf “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do!” Oh what love is this, that He bears our cross? As He gave His last breath, it was finished! Until three days later, when after He had died, He rose again! 

 Coffee hour friends, though Easter has come and gone, may I encourage you to always remember what Jesus has done for you and me. As we go through our day to day life, we can tend to forget the details of all that it cost for our eternal freedom.

Perhaps you’re struggling right now with circumstances in your life; can I encourage you to remember the Easter story that you would remember that you are not alone, beloved. Jesus suffered it all and knows exactly where we are and what we are going through. He will provide a way for you no matter how big the storm He awaits you to invite Him into what He’s already calmed!

 HE IS RISEN

Ashley

Name Calling!

Welcome to Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Trench Classes United and our Faith-Filled Friday. I decided to have a little fun with you today and give you an exercise that’s sure to change your perspective. Come on in.

It was a Thursday morning, trench class day, and as I not so springy sprung out of bed, my mind began racing with the ‘to-dos’ for the day, so much so that by the time I made it to the coffee pot, my adrenalin was already running as if I’d had my morning dose of caffeine!  I made my two cups anyway, grabbed my rice cake with almond butter and raspberry jam, and off to my writing room I went.

I sat down, grabbed my little I-Pod, scrolled through the list of music, chose an album and as the music filtered out into my soul I realized I needed my quiet time more than anything. So I just sat, allowing the words to penetrate and thereafter flood my soul, inviting the presence of the very One I was there to worship. As I called out for Him, I began to call Him names…names that had significant meaning to me! Surely you didn’t think I meant naughty names? J Speaking these names of adoration out loud is a form of a powerful creation within us, just like when God spoke creation into existence (Genesis 1:1-5)

This name-calling type of worship not only ushered in His presence, it reassured my soul while reminding me of all that He has become to me, through it all, every single circumstance, life change, trauma, illness, birth, death, and despite having my almost two cups of coffee, my soul began to quiet down and my mind’s focus redirected to the moments with Him. The funny thing about this exercise is if you’re really in it, you don’t want it to end!

So can I encourage you to try and sit through one song, write down the names you have for Him, names that have significance to you, names to describe His love for you, or even names that express your need in certain areas, names that describe how He’s provided for you what He has provided for you. My name calling session went something like this: Abba, because He is my ultimate Daddy! Lover of my soul, because I truly love Him above everything, my Mountain Mover, because He has and will continue to move mountains that rise to block me in any area of my life, Provider, because He does provide for all my needs, Dependable because I can always count on Him to be there, even if I’m not always there.

I could literally go on for hours, but it’s your turn. Spend some time calling Him names, and feel your soul fill with quiet strength and confidence and your spirit lift!

Kim-Evinda

Monday’s Mantra

Humility Brings Victory

1stPeter 5:6-7: Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷casting all your cares on Him for He cares for you

Welcome to Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Trench Classes United. We are off to a great start for a great year. Did you know that 17 is a number that means overcoming and victory? Whew, I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a year of overcoming and victory! Grab your coffee, or whatever you’re having, and your strand of faith and let’s go tie some knots together.

What’s the first thing you think or feel when you read/hear this word, humility? My guess is your first instinct may not be so positive, at least not as beautiful as humility was meant to be. Years ago, I prayed for this virtue…whew, what a season! J J I’ve come to learn that this fruit of the Spirit is one that tries to sneak away…often, and I do mean often!  Why is that? Because we have this house of flesh that consistently needs to be shushed!  It’s not something that you just tweak your nose, snap your fingers, or push a 30-second button and voila, we are humbled! I mean, we can be humbled that quick; but the problem is pushing the pause button so humility stays with us in and through all circumstances. Yes, I have learned, albeit the hard way, that humility is like salt to a tasteless meal; it adds flavor; it makes everything better!

In fact, humility helps me to hang on to my Christianity and prevents me from getting on my broom and rising above others as I take a fast spin around my circumstances.

What does “humbling yourself” look like?

I’ll never forget an experience I had when I read 1stPeter 5:6. The crazy thing is I had read it a year prior, even wrote a blog on it as I was struggling with wondering why my first book wasn’t being picked up by an agent/publisher so I thought He was saying in due time. But months later, when I was brought back to it, He gave me another meaning that spoke much louder than the first one. What He was speaking this time literally rendered me humbled: In due time, through this season of seeking humility, He would lift me up and out of… myself! Yes, the scriptures are God-breathed and useful for teaching and correcting. The only way we can know this is by showing up each day to have our eyes and ears opened, offering up a sacrifice of time.

The Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines humility in this way: “The quality or state of not thinking you are better than others. A couple weeks ago, I shared a painful truth about staying focused on my own agenda on my train ride to work and how I only half-participated in a divine appointment. Because I was not humble, I missed out, and have felt the sting of that since it happened. I can’t wait to share with you the redemption of that humbling mistake.

I have learned firsthand that God will humble us not to hurt us but to help us. He is more concerned about our humility than our happiness… and He will do what He needs to do to achieve this virtue in us. Join me Wednesday for a sort of redemption of my mistake and Him giving me a “retake”!

Humbly,

Evinda