Thursday’s Trench Truth

Thursday’s Trench Truth

Have you ever been pretty annoyed or irritated by an issue and you’re pretty sure that no one around you is comfortable either, but you all suppress the urge to address it? The more you suppress it the more it bugs you and consumes your thoughts, especially if you’re anywhere near it and the people involved… almost like there’s an elephant in the room.

There’s still time to join us in a location near you!
Love,

Kim-Evinda

When fear comes knocking, send your faith to answer. EL

Monday’s Mantra

I went in there ready to get it done. I was looking forward to seeing Renee, the manager of the imaging department, and I just knew she was going to be as ready as I was to accomplish what the tech was unable to the week prior.

Welcome to Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Monday’s Mantra with Trench Classes United. Have you ever noticed that when we don’t know how something’s going to go, or how something’s going to feel, or why something is happening the way that it is, that anxiety rises up in you, especially if it’s about something serious?

I’m not going to lie and say I wasn’t anxious at all, but there was definitely a difference this time in that I knew a more about what to expect…at least I thought I did until they put me in a different room with a different mammography machine. “I don’t have to go on the table?”

“No, there’s an angle I forgot to try last week that Renee’s going to try.”
Just then Renee walked in and we hugged like we were old friends. Immediately I was at ease.  There is something to be said about experience, and hers was definitely apparent when after getting me and my itty-bitty all situated…albeit painfully, she got the image she needed on the second try. “I got it! Stay right there while I go show the doctor.”

“Uh, it’s not like I can go anywhere,” and we both laughed.

The tech from the week before came over to me and placed her phone close by, proud of herself for remembering what genre of music I liked…Christian worship.

Renee came back with the doctor: “Okay, we’re going to get started.”

Again I was embraced and held by a song and suddenly the unknown didn’t seem so bad. The name of the song is “Oh, my soul” but these words sang at the beginning really calmed me: “There’s a place where fear has to face the God you know.”

I was once again blown away by the appropriateness of not just the powerful words of the song, but the timing it. I was definitely in that place, my itty-bitty squished and compressed, waiting for the needle that would numb just the top layer, and totally unprepared for the pain that came with the insertion as it went deeper, twisting and pulling, shooting a pain that brought immediate tears to my eyes.

This moment catapulted me into His comforting grace as I stared into the sweet face of Renee and she talked me thru it. Within moments the actual biopsy part of this procedure was finished. It was after that, while Renee applied compression to the wound that we sat and had the sweetest fellowship, exchanging mini testimonies and professing our love for God and His infinite grace displayed thru important people in our lives. I mean it was the sweetest relief after such a painful procedure that it truly made me move on from the pain faster than I ever have from any pain.

In recovery, Renee explained she would walk the sample over herself to the hospital and that I should hear something in 3-5 days. We hugged and I couldn’t help but smile as I left the imaging center that day because though my itty-bitty was bittier and minus some tissue for sure, my heart was full of gratitude.

Grateful,

Kim-Evinda

Thursday’s Trench Truth

Letting others know you’re not okay is not a reflection of your faith! Could this be why we hide what we’re really feeling?

Join us to learn how to live transparently, fueled by hope to love healthier…coming to a trench near you!

Monday mornings: Yucaipa

Monday evenings: Beaumont; Yucaipa

Wednesday evenings: Redlands/Loma Linda

Thursday evenings: Redlands, San Bernardino

Click on the picture below for more information

Looking forward to meeting you

Kim-Evinda

Tuesday’s Trench Truth

“If you are depressed, you are living in the past; if you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present,” or as I say, in your moment! ^{Lao Tzu}

Join us to learn how to live in the moments and love healthier…coming to a trench near you!

Monday mornings: Yucaipa

Monday evenings: Beaumont; Yucaipa

Wednesday evenings: Redlands/Loma Linda

Thursday evenings: Redlands, San Bernardino

Click on the picture below for more information

Looking forward to meeting you

Kim-Evinda

Life is a race which includes helping others finish! EL

Faith Filled Friday

I just love the simplicity of Jenn’s blogs and I know you will too! Come on in and thanks for joining us for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Faith Filled Friday with Trench Classes United.

I saw this bumper sticker: “If you see me on the ground, please drag me across the finish line.”

I am assuming this person was a marathoner. At first, I chuckled because that would be me if I attempted to run a marathon. :) There's a bigger thought here however.

As some of you know, I am big on sharing my journey, the ups and downs, even my struggles with faith. I believe in being real, authentic. I am incredibly grateful for the prayers others send up, for the inspiration I find everywhere, and the family/friends who talk me off the proverbial ledge. I like to think I return that favor when needed.

The Bible says in Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

This is what we are here for. This is what we go through struggles for. So that in turn we can be of help and encouragement to a fellow runner.

Life is like a race; sometimes one of us lags behind, maybe even lays on the ground until another comes along and “pulls us towards or over the finish line.”

I’ll do it for you; will you do it for others?

Thoughtfully,

Jenn

Join us to learn how to have healthy relational expectations and live a life fueled by hope!

Thursday’s Trench Truth

What do you do when others let you down? Do you fall down or rise above the disappointment? Join us to learn how to have healthy relational expectations and live a life fueled by hope!

Monday: Yucaipa/ Beaumont

Tuesday: Yucaipa

Wednesday: Redlands

Thursday: Redlands/ San Bernardino/ Upland

Let us know which location you’re interested in and we’ll contact you with all the trench info

Let’s do this!
Kim-Evinda

Oh, His principles and promises are as refreshing as cold water on a hot day! EL

Monday’s Mantra

                     

I’m so excited to feature Julie Held this week! You’re in for a treat today and Wednesday, too! Come on in and thanks for Joining us for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Monday’s Mantra with Trench Classes United.

Do you remember being a kid and drinking out of the hose? There was such sheer delight and excitement!

This moment with my son drinking from the hose reminded me that we all thirst in life. And somewhere along the road of life we start to “grow-up” and the simple starts to fade out and we begin to thirst beyond the simple things. We become aware of all that the world offers us and it begins to entice us: egos, pride, admiration, money, status, good works, education, you name it. But God tells us in his Word to hunger and thirst for righteousness.

But what does righteousness mean? It means acting in accord with divine or moral law: Free from guilt or sin. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.” {Matthew 5:6 NIV}

God wants us to hunger and thirst for a life free of guilt and sin and then we will be satisfied! Think on that: has your sin and guilt ever satisfied? Never!

We are only made righteous through Christ alone, not by any good works. If your heart feels empty maybe you need to take a step back, confess your sin and ask God to bring you a thirst for Him again. Drink of the living water and you will be satisfied.

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, “{Acts 3:19}. “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” {Psalm 34:8}

Thanks for joining me,

Julie

Perseverance changes lives…yours and those whom you’re preserving for and with. EL

Wednesday’s Word

Do you ever feel uncomfortable sharing your faith with someone you fear won’t be as receptive as you’d like them to be? Do you feel reluctant to even approach the subject sometimes? I know I do. Thank the good Lord for those who don’t!

This is a reposting of a blog by Megan, one of our Coffee Hour writers. This blog though written last year is so relevant today and a truth that never gets old. I am confident you will agree.

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

Some time ago, I volunteered for the Women’s Bible Study sign-up table at church. As I assisted with registration, I could not help but overhear the conversation a woman was having with another volunteer at the table. She was lamenting how, once again, she had asked her friend to attend the bible study – and how, once again, her friend had declined.

I remember attending my first Bible Study. I did not know the first thing about the Word of God. Over the period of three years, a faithful Christian friend called me every time her Bible Study group started a new study, and every time I answered with a “No.” Even though I believed in God, I felt nothing I did was good enough for Him. I felt all of my failures were indicative of my unworthiness of Him. I definitely had a tumultuous relationship with God, and the point at which my life began to mirror my relationship with Him, I despairingly responded with a “Yes!”

When I told my husband I was going to attend a Bible Study, he asked, “What made you change your mind?” I told him I needed to find out why God did not love me.

I attended my first Bible Study because I believed God did not love me. Why was I convinced He did not love me? Because, I did not know the first thing about the Word of God! By the end of the first month, I knew how wrong I had been.

I momentarily stopped filling out a registration form and shared this story with the disheartened woman whose friend, once again, had turned down her invitation to Bible Study. I encouraged her to please...

DON’T STOP ASKING!

Perseverance like my friend’s, changes lives.

I know - it changed mine.

Your comments are always most welcome.

Lovingly in Christ,

Megan

To know God is to experience His goodness with our Soul EL

Power Friday

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it; if I had a penny for every time I’ve said that to confirm I understood what was being said, I’d be a billionaire!

Thanks for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Power Friday with Trench Classes United.

Some of us have heard the term yada before, yada, yada, yada…and we’ve laughed at ourselves and with others about that term…BUT we probably didn’t really “know” what it meant. See in Hebrew, that word yada translates to “know,” and one of the definitions for this translation is: to experience with your inner being.

Well that puts knowing on a whole different level, huh! So with that understanding here’s today’s power thought:
We can’t really trust God unless we “know” Him, experience Him with our soul!

May you press in and get to know the One who loves you more than anyone or anything that you may experience Him with and in your soul!
Love,

Kim-Evinda

We choose what we believe or disbelieve

 Tuesday’s Trench Truth

If this is true, who has the power over your thoughts?

Join our community of Transformers on Facebook for more encouragement in the journey www.facebook.com/trenchclassesunited

Love,

Kim-Evinda

Are you in a soul desert? Time for refreshing.

 Faith Filled Friday

Thanks for joining us for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Faith Filled Friday with Trench Classes United. Have you ever stopped to examine your heart and your time you spend with Abba? Are you thirsting for more of the Lord?  How great it is that we are thirsting for Him because we know He is the only one who can quench our thirst. Oh, Be Still, My Soul!

Psalm 63:1 (NLT):  “Oh, God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you;  my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.”

Do you find yourself like me, where days fly by and it’s the end of the week before you know it? When I looked back at my week, I found myself in somewhat of a desert as a result of not taking time to be still before the Lord. Sometimes setting that time aside is more difficult than other times.

 Do you take the time to be still before the Lord? It’s a difficult task in our fast-paced world. I’m so grateful for the knocks and whispers from the Lord, gentle reminders and requests telling me He wants to spend time with me. But my flesh has been so tired these past few weeks, so much so that my need for more sleep has been canceling my appointments with my Abba.

Recently I saw this question: "Am I allowing myself to be interrupted by God?" ^{Dietrich Bonhoffer}

WOW! This quote spoke volumes to my heart. I cried out to the Lord, “Oh, please, interrupt me.

Interrupt me that I might spend time at Your feet, quietly sitting and letting all my days, plans, and list of things to do fall away. This is what refreshes the soul and it is when I am refreshed that I can dare to research my soul:

Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT) Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

 Can you relate to what I’ve shared? If so, please take this time to pray with me, that we may refresh our souls:

Jesus, forgive us for getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of our lives.  Help us to set aside time just for You so that we can be refreshed and revived by You daily. Show us the areas in our heart that we need to repent for and fix our eyes on you. Jesus, discipline us to set aside time with you. Oh Lord, help us to put you before ourselves. Thank you for hearing our prayer and being ever so faithful to forgive us.  Oh what a gracious God we serve. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have a great weekend,

Ashley

Are U your own Goliath?

Wednesday’s Word

The messages told me no one would want to hear it, see it or participate in it. As the messenger came close enough to wrap its evil claws around me, I almost chickened out, called it off and said to the heck with it.

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

Have you ever gone to church and listened to the message and felt like you were the only one in the room? I’m so thankful for those times, and even more thankful that they happen just at the most divine moments. Last Sunday was one of those times wherein even though I was in the VERY last row, his message be-lined it straight to my soul, did not go left, right, but came right at me and I was so refreshed by it.

Just like you, I’ve got a lot of life coming at me; my adopted mama just recently graduated to heaven – I’m crying as I write this – and I’m struggling without her; she was my major cheer leader. In addition to that, I’ve taken two falls, two different times, bruised my ribs, caused a hairline fracture to my elbow, and I was scheduled to begin filming my project the next day that Jesus wrote thru me so many years ago and we’ve been fine-tuning in the trenches for three years.

Anyway his message was about focusing on the good helps us to navigate thru the bad. I admit, I still need some work in this area. I’ve had a lot of negative thrown at me lately, which I have no doubt the enemy wants to use to distract me from this project. But thank God for community, corporate worship and the meaning behind the message: Jesus invites me to trust Him in the pain, not to adjust to the pain!
And then he had us take off our shoes, so, hey, if you have shoes on, feel free to do this. Write one to three things that are interfering with you trusting Him thru whatever you’re going thru. It was in this exercise I realized that fear was driving my emotional car as it relates to one of the painful situations, which was also spilling over and causing me insecurity about this upcoming filming project.

So write those things on your shoes, put them back on…and stomp on them. That’s right! Romans 16:20 says: The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

So since God is not the author of fear and insecurity, but the enemy is, I stomped on fear and insecurity but good and walked out of church ready to film the project He wrote thru me, brought me to and will see me thru.

It occurred to me that this lines up with last week’s Wednesday’s Word about David and Goliath, that David did not pay on iota of attention to him and he won the battle…or better said, just showed up…and so did God and the battle was won. Sometimes maybe we need to hush up so we can show up and stop being our own Goliath!

Have a wonderful Wednesday

Kim-Evinda

Hungry for approval, acceptance & accolades? Return to the Bread of life!

Tuesday’s Trench Truth

Join us at www.facebook.com/trenchclassesunited for more encouragement for the soul

Oh, and by the way, need a night out? Join us for A Night of Laughter with Squeaky Clean Comedy…a fundraiser to continue the mission of Trench Classes United, Helping others live transparently, love healthier & laugh more

click the picture above to buy tickets now!

Hope to see you there!

Kim-Evinda

Negative habits & emotions have a lot in common with ants

Monday’s Mantra

Welcome to Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Monday’s Mantra with Trench Classes United. You’re in for a treat with Jenn’s thoughts today! Enjoy.

Ants...they have got to be one of nature's most annoying insects. J L J  Just when I think I've won the battle, I'll find a new line marching along, mindless to my eyes on them as they continue on with their business. Everywhere I turn, there they are: Cupboards, the sink, the fridge handle, stove top, an opened bag of chips, all things kitchen. But…yes, but, they were even on the bathroom rug. Imagine my dismay when I stepped on it and discovered that it was covered with ants!

Strategically and consistently placing ant poison is the only thing that will stop them in their tracks.

You have to hand it to them; they are persistent, hard-working, and definitely sneaky.

Kind of like those habits that are hard to change: Fear, discouragement, doubt, anger, despair…oh can’t those things behave just like ants, sneaking in when least expected? One day it seems I've won, and the next, there's that familiar line of reactions or negative emotions making their way into my heart. 

Prayer, praise and meditating on the hope God gives: this is the only defense against these most annoying issues of the heart, daily, hourly, and sometimes by the minute. It's the only thing that stops human nature in its tracks.

Learning and unlearning…

Jenn

Not understanding ‘why’ something is happening is not permission to despair! EL

Tuesday’s Trench Truth

Looking for a fun filled night full of laughter and GOOD times? Come and join us as we laugh the night away!

August 24, 2018 Doors open at 7 PM, check in by 7:40 PM. Show Starts at 8 PM.

Funds raised will go towards supporting the mission of Trench Classes United: Helping others thrive in life and love through exploring and understanding past and present experiences for a transformed future.

Join us at www.facebook.com/trenchclassesunited for consistent encouragement in your journey!

Kim-Evinda

Trust feeds our faith and fuels our hope. EL

 Monday’s Mantra

Have you ever watched a child jump off of something and into the arms of their parent? Perhaps you’ve actually been the recipient of that innocent, uninhibited and untainted ability to trust.

Welcome to Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Monday’s Mantra with Trench Classes United. I’m so happy you joined me today.

Every time I see a child unabashedly jump it just squeezes my heart with such a beautiful word picture of how our Father wants us to trust Him. Perhaps you are a person who has a hard time trusting…

No matter where you are in your journey, spiritual or otherwise, there are four things that we can trust about God which will feed our faith and fuel our hope; these attributes are nonnegotiable and are never, ever going to change. Nothing or no one can change them.

1.      His steadfast love; it never changes; never grows weary or irritable! You can’t earn it, burn it so learn itJ
2.    His provision – and this is in every area of your life: love life, financial life, parenting life, and His provision is also a form of protection.
3.     His promises: there are over 5,000 of them for you and me.
4.    His teaching and correcting: We must remain teachable to be taught the truth that trials and hardships are things He uses to refine us and bring us joy.

So Coffee Hour Friend, what circumstance or situation is pushing you to the edge of the ledge, bringing you face to face with the opportunity to just jump, like a child, into the arms of God and trust Him for?

Thoughtfully,

Kim-Evinda

You have a direct line to Christ; He’s waiting for your call. EL

Tuesday’s Trench Truth

And isn’t it great to know He won’t have voicemail on! He is concerned about all that concerns you!
Join us at www.facebook.com/trenchclassesunited for a cup of daily encouragement

Looking for a fun filled night full of laughter and GOOD times? Come and join us as we laugh the night away!Doors open at 7 PM, check in by 7:40 PM. Show Starts at 8 PM.  August 24, 2018. Food is available for purchase.
Funds raised will go towards supporting the mission of Trench Classes United: Helping others thrive in life and love through exploring and understanding past and present experiences for a transformed future.  

God loves us too much to leave us the way we are! el

 Wednesday’s Word

I love writing about the relentless refining of God in my life that the searing of my soul may be poured to you in a way that encourages you in your journey. Thanks so much for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United.

Just the other day, my grandson and I were driving and someone cut me off pretty abruptly and it was scary. I let out an exasperated “Are you kidding me?” and my grandson asked me what was wrong.

“Nothing,” I exhaled…”that guy just cut me off.”

He stretched himself as far up as he could go without leaving his seat or seatbelt and asked “Which guy?” and I pointed. The next thing he said drove home the point I’m trying to make today: “So are you going to cut him off?” he very innocently asked.

I shook my head, No, B, I’m not going to cut him off because two wrongs never equal a right. 

I let the words of my own conviction sit there for a few seconds and could literally see him thinking. And then I continued.

Besides, it wouldn’t make anything better in the long run.

Those words to my grandson came chanting back to me just a couple of days later when someone whom I’ve been trying to show love despite her incredible meanness let it out that she couldn’t stand me!

The pain and struggle were real, and I inhaled God’s promise and exhaled the pain and anger.

I don’t want to use this blog to bash anyone so I can’t get into any of the details, but for whatever reason, this person really despises me, and I have been trying to understand it for a very long time. I am so grateful for His love letters to us replete with assurance, guidance and promises such as this one that has been echoing in the hallway of my heart all week because of this person:

1stPeter 3:9 “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”

I am choosing to rise to His standard and repay evil with love instead of falling beneath those who lift themselves up by knocking others down. I can do all things thru Him who strengthens me, include love those who don’t love me.

I pray if you are experiencing anything like this that you too will be encouraged by His promises that will give you the strength to repay evil with good, to love those who don’t love you, because that’s when real growth kicks in!

Have a wonderful Wednesday and a beautiful 4^th!
Love,

Kim-Evinda

Bitterness and truth cannot coexist! el

Faith-filled Friday

James 3:14 Kings James 

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

I find when I get focused on a situation and my feelings have been hurt and my hurt turns to strife, it usually escalates in my mind. I find I began to play out a scene in my mind that’s never happened. Yet, in my mind I'm predicting it to fruition. Have you found yourself doing this? Thanks for joining me today for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Faith-Filled Friday with Trench Classes United.

James 3:14 instructs us on what to do with our strife or bitterness that seems to go straight to our heart. We aren’t to cover up. We are to address it, and I believe God is instructing us to place it before Him because out of bitterness stems actions that do not bring glory to our Lord.

I've realized that by allowing this strife, bitterness, and/or jealously to take hold of my mind, it opens the door to a downward spiral, and a mall issue becomes far greater in my mind and heart than it really is. Could it be that each situation occurs, He wants to use it to help build our endurance, keep us looking to our Abba? These trails build our character in in Him.

Romans 5:3-5 New Living Translation (NLT)

³ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. ⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Without these trials of hurt, strife, and jealousy we would never see that there's still so much in us that needs to change. It humbles us, brings us to our knees, helpless for our Abba’s help, for we are helpless without Him.

Be encouraged through these trials, knowing that God will never give us more than we can handle. Praise God for His new grace, mercy, and forgiveness for our sins every second of the day. Take courage, beloveds; He is making warriors of us so He can use us for far greater things.

Humbled,

Ashley

When problems are minimized, not maximized, faith is exercised! el

Wednesday’s Word

Proverbs26:20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;

And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.

Have you ever said you’ve forgiven someone for an offense only to find that the next time that anything that even remotely reminds you of it, resentment re-ignites the flame of un-forgiveness? Thanks for joining me today for Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United.

If there’s one lesson I seem to be forgetting more than I’m getting, especially lately, is that the more I talk about a problem, the bigger it gets and before you know it, I’ve overwhelmed myself! Or what about when someone offends us; do you ever notice that the more you talk about it the more resentful you are? Oh, but this truth reveals the need for some scriptural sanitization of the mind!

Look at the words in this verse. They are certainly more quiet and gentle than my resentments that can build as fast as a freight train headed to its destination!

What a beautiful way of saying let go, let God, and of gently but quite firmly reminding me that I don’t need to keep adding wood to my tough circumstances by talking about them – in the name of venting – and I definitely don’t need to participate in a disagreement by continuing to disagree! That only makes resentment rise and our spirits fall.

Let’s have some fun with the NIV version of this verse:

Without wood a fire goes out – think about it; can a fire burn without wood? Of course not! This part of this instruction is telling me to minimize what I tend to maximize, and it can be applied to relationships and circumstances!

Let’s look at the second part of the verse: without a gossip a quarrel dies down. Ah, can a person fight all by themselves? What a funny picture, right, to leave a person standing there arguing by themselves because we refuse to participate. J J  But this verse is also telling me that many disagreements happen because of un-truths, aka, gossip! If you can’t say it to the person, you shouldn’t say it about the person! OUCH!

Maybe it’s time to minimize what I maximize, and let Him make it go away!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve tied me a few knots to remind me of these truths in the journey! I pray you’ve been able to do the same!
Much love,

Kim-Evinda