Sometimes we’re so focused on what’s wrong we can’t see all that’s right! EL

 Faith-Filled Friday

Philippians 4:8: Finally, ________, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.

Welcome to Coffee Hour with Chicklitpower and Faith-Filled Fridays with Trench Classes United! Grab whatever drink you have for your break, a journal for notes and your strand of faith and hopefully you’ll leave with a couple knots tied and your faith that much stronger.

Have you ever caught yourself focusing on what’s wrong in your life, or in someone else’s for that matter, or what’s wrong about another person and their actions, especially as they pertain to you, instead of all that is right? Why does it seem to be so much easier to focus on the wrong instead of the right? 

I don’t know about you but sometimes I can really be a negative Nelly. Funny, just writing about this is taking me back to when my mom used to call me Pollyanna! There were times she said it sarcastically – that was in our time of Exodus which was when I was 12 all the way to 49 -- but I’ll never forget the time she said it while she was in the hospital and I was coming to see her every day.

I was telling her she had to get better so we could spend time together when she got out, and she smiled the sweetest smile – something I had rarely seen – and said, “You are such a Pollyanna.” 

It caused me to stop what I was doing and look at her to confirm she was really being sweet…she was.

It wasn’t until later that I looked it up and it made me weep and I do mean weep. My tears turned on like a faucet full blast and humility washed me clean of all the years where I had misunderstood her. See, the definition for a Pollyanna is “an excessively cheerful or optimistic person”!

I never did get to discuss that with her because she never did make it out of the hospital, but, oh, how happy I was to be sad…for God had finally made right what was wrong all those years.

See, all those years I thought she was focusing on something negative about me which kept her from me and it wasn’t that at all.

How many times have we thought incredibly negative thoughts of someone just because of what we think they’re thinking of us?

 Coffee Hour Friend, God calls us to get our focus on what is right about any of our circumstances, or about that person we’re in conflict with, and get it off of what’s wrong. He calls us to meditate on things that are true, noble and just – which may not describe the situation or the difficult person you are dealing with but there is ONE who is all of these things. He calls us to mediate on anything that is praiseworthy, on things of any virtue.

This God-breathed command spoken to us through Paul reminds us to quit picking apart and looking for all that is wrong, for when we do focus on what is right, the guarantee we have is we will be changed!

When we are focusing on what’s wrong, we rarely have eyes to realize what’s right…and what’s right usually far out-weighs what’s wrong, especially when we let go of what’s wrong and let Him make it right!

Thoughtfully,

Kim-Evinda

Waves of life can leave us lost but truth will lead us home EL

 Faith Filled Friday 

John 8:32-33 And Jesus said to those Jews who believed, if you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.

Have you ever gotten lost on your way home? I realize that in today’s era, with all of our technology available, any sort of directions at our fingertips just by asking Google or Navigation or our factory-installed GPS equipment in our cars, it’s a little more difficult to get lost. And yet, I have found myself lost a time or two as I don’t always remember to rely on technology! I’ve even been known to go to the wrong law office for a deposition before, having put in the wrong number or even worse, getting the wrong information! Wow, is that ever embarrassing! J

Welcome to Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and faith-filled Friday with Trench Classes United.

Getting lost is a horrible feeling, and I don’t just mean physically lost. I run into so many hurting people who are not lost, per say, overwhelmed with suffering of some sort. The waves of life have tossed them to and fro, and they have lost their way, their hope.

Talk to the wife who has just discovered her husband’s having an affair…either with another woman or with an addiction of some sort, and then there’s the parent(s) hurting over the choices their child is making, choices that surely are going to cause so many unfavorable consequences. It’s like being lost in a sea of hopelessness for there is nothing to do but watch the unfortunate consequences come and do whatever they’re going to do. And what about the one just given a life sentence via a medical diagnosis with a prognosis revealing the end is around the corner?

Friends, life is happening all around us and if it’s not happening to us, it’s happening to those close to us. What are we doing for them? What kind of directions are we giving when they reach out for help? Where do we send them or do we even stop to notice they’re a bit lost in their sea of life and the circumstances swimming around them threatening to overwhelm them, toss them to and fro that they may lose their way?

See, no matter the circumstance, there is a place to abide where we will never get lost, a place that will shed new light, a fresh perspective, a location that is filled with peace and hope, a foundation built with grace, a place that if we would only turn to, land in, abide in, we would find freedom from all that has us overwhelmed: His Love Letters to you and me!

It’s time to stop being one of those who don’t ask for directions and abide in that place that we will be found, never to get lost again because when we abide in His Word, and invite others to join us there, it is there we are found, and freed!

Abiding in His promises and principles,

Kim-Evinda

Words are like a Lego set; they should be constructed one at a time! EL

Faith-Filled Fridays

Question: Have you ever said something and then immediately wished you could take it back?

Answer: Absodarnlutely!

Welcome to Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Faith-filled Fridays with Trench Classes United. Come on in for a word picture built with a Lego set.

I love rewinding memories with my favorite little people. This particular memory is as powerful today as it was then. My granddaughter Tyler had some Lego sets for us to build, and one of them looked quite daunting. I suggested we start with the small one, especially since I’d never, ever played with Legos before, but this precious little giggle-maker wanted to start with the big one, so we did.

Oh, my goodness, I had no idea it would/could be so much fun. As we built the castle from the ground up, I was amazed at all the detail Lego thought of, from tables and chairs, to doorposts, to decorations for the outside. It was absolutely amazing. And the crazy thing for me was the time just flew! I sat still, being and building with my granddaughter for three+ hours!

Putting this Lego set together with Ty-Ty was unbelievably therapeutic for me. As we built it together, one Lego at a time – we literally took turns, each of us getting to place one Lego at a time -- it made me think of our words, how every last word that comes out of our mouth has some power, some significance, either to build up or to tear down. The longer we wait to choose our words/pieces carefully, the more accurate we can be, and maybe we’d even say less!

Each Lego piece had such significance, and had to be placed just right because if we tried to put the wrong Lego in, often we wouldn’t know it until we had laid many more so we would have to tear it apart and rebuild it.

I couldn’t help but think what if we were to carefully build one another up with our words, such that when we walked away, we had a sense of accomplishment knowing that what we had planted could/would help them with any other negative messaging they may be receiving from others? See, unlike Lego building, we don’t get to take our words back, and once they leave our mouths, well, there are consequences: building up or tearing down.

Ephesians 4:29 tells us not to let any corrupt word proceed out of our mouths but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearer.

Oh, Abba, help me, one word at a time, to build others up, and not tear them down. Help me to be mindful of the things that I say so that whatever I say, when I walk away, I know that You will use each word to build them up, to remind them that they are precious in your sight. Help me to remember when I want to tear down and inflict pain with my words that the real enemy is not them, but the Enemy of this world just using them to get to me!

Love,

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

When fear comes knocking, let your faith answer! EL

 Faith Filled Friday

I got the phone call while I was at a filming conference with my co-author/friend. I looked down to see who it was, at the same time frustrated I hadn’t remembered to put it on vibrate. Dr. Mheta’s name filled my screen. What in the world…

Thanks for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Faith-filled Friday with Trench Classes United. Come on in as I share for the first time on social media one of the biggest scares of my adult life.

“My doctor never calls me so let me see who this is, Steve.”
“Sure, sure,” he smiled.

“Kim, this is Heather from Dr. Mheta’s”

Silence

“How are you?” she asked

“I’m good; how are you?”

She got right to the point, sounding as positive as one can when they have not-so-good news to share with a patient. “We received your mammogram back and they want you to go in for further testing.” She hurriedly reassured me it was probably nothing and told me she’d be sending the order in and the imaging facility should call me sometime that day.

I hung up in a bit of a dazed shock, but I do remember seeing faces of others whom I’ve known went thru breast cancer fights and/or just scares, and I felt this sort of compassion for them that I had never known before.

I shared the news with Steve. Both of us shook our heads in disbelief and reminded each other of Who is in control. I had just been recounting the story of almost getting hit by a train the day before, and knowing that God had completely intervened in that scenario served as a fresh reminder that He’d get me through whatever this was going to be.

We talked for a few minutes and then I left, purposely switching my thoughts to my next task, though fear knocked on the door of my mind and heart, at times sounding like it was going to bang the door down.

Apparently there was a bit of confusion combined with miscommunication between the original imaging center, my follow-up imaging center and the doctor’s office but finally a week later, I went in for the follow-up test. Oh, Mylanta, I had no idea that an itty-bitty thing could be tugged on, twisted, turned and tortured so much. The pain combined with the fear was just too much and I let the tears fall, all the what-ifs flooding my soul.

I did combat the continued threats of fear knocking me down and filling me up with scripture, prayer and sharing with a few my news. My husband comforted me with his adamant opinion that it was nothing; there was nothing to worry about.

Imagine his surprise when I called to tell him that there was something and the next step was a biopsy. He actually was angry, his first response, “Why, Lord, why are you doing this?”

I realized in that moment he was going to have his own experience thru this, whatever happens. I gently reminded him that if I’m going to walk thru this, whatever “this” is, like I believe, then I need to trust His promises of working all things together for His glory, my good (Romans 8:28), knowing that His plan is not to harm me, tear me down, but to lift me up (Jer.29:11)

Please join me Monday for more of this life-changing story that I am trusting will increase the territory He’s already given me to comfort others with the comfort I’ve been given.

Faith-ing thru

Kim-Evinda

Active listening is authentically listening! MP

 Faith-Filled Friday

My Mother instructed me to always make eye contact with my teachers so they would think I was interested in what they were saying …

Welcome to Coffee Hour at Chicklit Power and Faith-Filled Friday with Trench Classes United & Megan Pilarik.

My Mother was a teacher, so undoubtedly she knew what it took to make a teacher feel valued. Making eye contact is an important component of active listening, but active listening is not the art of making others think you are interested in what they have to say. Active listening is the ability to be authentically interested in what someone is communicating to you.

My husband and I attended a family wedding this weekend. I thought this would be a good opportunity to practice active listening skills. I should have known better. My novice listening skills and I failed miserably. I was constantly distracted. Being a good listener takes a lot of commitment and focus! The only thing I accomplished was recognizing I was not being a very good listener.

Jesus listened. He was fully present with everyone He encountered. He gave people His full attention and permitted them to tell their story. He first listened - and then ministered to their needs.

The Christ-centered, Christian care Stephen Ministry teaches its caregivers the importance of listening before responding. People going through sickness, grief, and hard times need someone to share it with. Being heard helps them feel valued and understood.

God works through our listening to accomplish healing. God works through our listening to inspire others to do what they know they must do. 

James 1:19 (NKJV) “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

                                                                                                                                

Be swift to listen … it just may be your greatest gift.

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

When feeling overwhelmed, get under the shelter of His love.

 Faith-filled Friday

James 1:12 (NLT): ¹² God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Ah, patiently enduring testing…what does that even look like? Welcome to Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Faith-filled Friday with Trench Classes United. Come on in for a picture of patiently enduring…

Suffering well and with a thankful heart, this is easier said than done. Last week, I found myself completely overwhelmed. I had been suppressing my workload; however, I wasn't aware that I was doing this.  A few mornings later, it all came gushing out with babbling tears. I was a complete mess.

Immediately I realized my plate was too full. I began to seek the Lord with this question: What load could I take off my plate? "Lord show me your way," I cried. 

I went to church the next day, and the message was on suffering well. Some may say a coincidence, I say not!  The message got me to thinking: Jesus suffered the greatest of all, and He suffered well. He knew His purpose on this earth was to solely spread Gods love.  He could have chosen not to suffer, but He loved us so that he paid the highest price so that when we suffer, He could be there to hold our hand and pour His love out on us, even if the suffering is at times self-inflicted.

 I pray that I could suffer as well as He did; that during times of trials and tribulations I'd remember to seek His face and to be thankful that He is right beside me every step of the way.  

 Each trail builds us into stronger warriors for Jesus, so that we will be able to sympathize, encourage, and love on someone else who is going through a trail we have already endured.

Oh, and by the way, it was revealed to me what thing I needed to take off my plate. God does hear, listen and answer!

Take courage Coffee Hour friends; He is with us. Let us remember to count our blessings every step of the way.

Love,

Ashley

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

“You are a solution to a God problem.”

FAITH FILLED FRIDAY

It’s Faith-Filled Friday with special guest Jennifer Wyatt! Grab your coffee and your strand of faith for some great knot-tying in and for your faith! Jennifer has a thought-provoking question to ask us…and an answer, her answer to that same question! Come on in for a few!

How would it change your mindset if you suddenly realized that you were born to solve a problem? 

When I was young I would read history books or stories of people who did great things and marvel at what they were able to accomplish.  If only I could do great things.  If only I had a special purpose in life.  That hope was tossed aside by the realities of my life: Parents who often worked late and weren’t home, bullies at school, an abusive husband.  I have often felt unworthy, not good enough and that having a purpose in life was for someone else and not me. 

Then one day I heard… “You are a solution to a God problem.”  It wasn’t a voice from on high but from the pulpit. I had just moved to Florida and it was the second or third time attending this church.  The pastor went on to explain that all of us were created to solve a “God problem.”  Every hard situation, every joy was meant to fulfill that purpose. 

Every person is born with purpose, to solve a God problem.

“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” (Proverbs 20:5)

All people are made in the image of God. Each of us are born with a purpose and calling that we can discover… or completely miss. The influence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers gives us insight to His purposes for us.

I have an assignment from God specifically for me.  Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

This truth opened up a world of hope and a resolve to discover that plan and achieve it.   I no longer feel like someone tossed about by my experiences.  I feel free to walk out what God has called me to do.

How about you?  Do you feel bound up by the past and/or how you view yourself?  Do you believe God has a special assignment for you?  He does, and He is waiting for you to accept it.

Jennifer 

When you look in the mirror what do you see?

 Faith Filled Friday

Good Morning Coffee hour friends. Today we will be talking about resembling Jesus. What a blessing it is that we are able to strive for this every day. We will be looking at Melchizedek and how He was said to resemble Jesus.

I love reading about prophets like Melchizedek, a man, yet he resembled our precious Savior. What hope we have when diving into God’s word and anchoring our hearts so that we can aspire to be like Melchizedek, a man who lived and died resembling Christ. 

Psalm 110:4  (NLT) says: ⁴ The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Could you imagine begin compared to Jesus as Melchizedek? Though we don't know all about his life, we do know that he was king of the city of Salem and a priest of God most high. 

Hebrews 7:15-21 tells us what the Bible says about how and why Melchizedek resembles Jesus and I encourage you to read it.

This Coffee Hour, I’d like to encourage you in the journey of resembling Jesus, which is easier when we journey with our Prince of Peace. Remember that Satan is sure to point out our every flaw in the journey, just like he did to the people in the Old Testament when they broke the law that was impossible to keep. God knew that man could not keep this Old Testament law which was put in place to help us see our need for a Savior. He knew we needed rescuing and He set His plan in motion to send His perfect Son to free us from ourselves. Jesus came as a babe and grew in our destructive world, and He suffered every type of suffering, yet He never sinned. 

Each day we fall short of the resemblance of God. Oh, how I am thankful that we are able to come before Jesus and be washed clean every day and start again. Praise Jesus for He is Mighty to save. Pray this prayer with me:

Heavenly Father, 

 Help us to remember your old law and to use it as a guide to be more and more like you each day. Thank you for freeing us from our sinful ways. We praise you, our God Most High. Fill us afresh with a new Spirit and forgive us, Lord, of all of our sins. Continue to do a great work on and in our hearts that would fill us with more of you and less of us. Oh, how we love you and praise you. For it’s in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Ashley 

Faith in a fiery trial stirs His power and prevents us from getting burned. EL

 Faith Filled Friday

Good morning coffee hour friends, today we will be looking at one of my favorite Bible stories in Daniel 3: 14-30.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not submit to King Nebuchadnezzar’s orders to serve and worship his gods. This made King Nebuchadnezzar furious and so outraged that he ordered his men to heat the fiery furnace seven times more than it had been. The furnace’s heat was so intense that it burned and killed the men who were told to put Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace.

This, however, did not frighten either of the three or convince them to change their minds. Read with me.... 

Daniel3:16-17(ESV) ¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

These men had great faith in our God. They believed without a shadow of a doubt that they would be delivered; they didn't know how, but the trusted God nonetheless to deliver them. WOW!

As we read on, we see that they were put into the fierce fire and that King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished to see four men walking in the fire and not three. He even had to question his men; we threw three men into the fire, right? In awe and amazement, he called them to come out of the fire.

Read with me....

Daniel 3:26 (ESV) ²⁶ Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.

Look at what King Nebuchadnezzar said,  “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!

These three men had abounding faith in their God Most High, and by their faith, they showed this wretched king how great their God was.

I look at their great faith and pray that I to could have this great faith in my small circumstances. Their great circumstance is something we are unable to relate to, but their faith is something we can inspire to obtain. I know that we face tiny, small, medium, and large circumstances that require us to have great faith that God is for us and that no matter how tiny or how large the circumstance He will show up the same and with same great power no matter the size of our circumstance.

Remember beloveds, Satan is going to put many fires in front of us to discourage us from moving forward up the narrow and steep path God has set before us.  Let us stand tall as these three men did and soak in Gods truth and believe with great faith that God will pull us up from the pit we find ourselves stuck in. We are precious to Him; He knows our thoughts before we think them, He knows the number of hairs on our head, and He cherishes us and is desperately jealous for us. 

If you find yourself discouraged this week, then let us stand together in faith and confirm our faith by facing the fire in front us. God is with us in the fire and we will NOT get burned.

Love,

Ashley