We are more likely to hear His whispers while being vs. doing. EL

Wednesday’s Word

Driving while not knowing where I’m going, aimlessly, until I reach a dead-end and there’s nowhere for me to go but to turn around and look for the turn I missed…

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

There’s something that comes over us when we realize we’re lost, especially in the world of Siri, GPS, and any other navigation system coming from our phones and/or our cars. Some of us may experience frustration, especially if we’re in a hurry; and some of us may be more easy-going about it, and still yet, this feeling of being lost may push the panic button. But eventually, we find our way, right?

What about in life, when we feel unsure with the direction it’s headed, not confident with the last important choice we made, or a turn taken? What do we do when we find ourselves in front of a dead-end, with nowhere else to go, no turn to make, and no moving forward? The only choice we have is to do a complete turnaround…or sit and wait for instructions.

We can either sit in peace trusting while waiting that He’s working everything out for our good, ^{Romans 8:28} that His plan is not to harm us but to build us up, ^{Jer. 29:11} or we can fight it, squirming within ourselves, stressing instead of chilling in the warmth of His love, our anxiety rising louder than the quiet of His whispers, risking the possibility of missing our next instruction.

There is something to be said about a peace that transcends all understanding that guards the heart and mind ^{Phil. 4:7} in a fast-pace world; holding us steady while waiting for a way out of the dead-end, a new direction, all the while enjoying being…versus doing; after all, as Jesus says in Matthew 6:27: Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his/her stature?

Waiting…

Kim-Evinda

When we think of ourselves better than those who serve us, we tend to not be so generous.

Thanks for stopping by for Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Monday’s Mantra with Trench Classes United. Grab your coffee and come on in.

How many times have you sworn you were right only to find out you weren’t? Well, I’m about to share one of those a-has with you!

Just the other day in my own coffee hour with our Father, I was sitting in the Beatitudes – Matthew 5:1-13 and reading about the eight profound principles, each with an eternal reward. What’s cool is if you’ll notice, the first one’s reward is “the kingdom of heaven,” and the very last one, “those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,” is also rewarded with the kingdom of heaven.  

For the sake of time, let’s talk about just the first one; after all, there’s enough in that one to chew on for a while and strengthen your Strand of Faith with more knots. J

Just chewing on this first beatitude, I recognize a misunderstanding I have always had when it comes to “Blessed are the poor in spirit”…STOP!

When I say “Poor in spirit” to you, what do you think it means?

I thought it meant those less fortunate in all aspects…but I was so incorrect. It means humble and charitable!

Humility leads us to generosity!

Now I don’t know about you, but I used to cringe at the mere thought of humility, but I’ve come to welcome it for humility is necessary in the journey of faith. True humility is not thinking we are better than others. For example, have you ever taken a shuttle with a group of friends, or gone to dinner with a group? Well, those are services. I remember one time mentioning how much I wanted to tip someone for their great service they did with such sweet humility while with a group of friends and one of them said “They weren’t that good!”

When we think of ourselves better than those who serve us, we tend to not be so generous.

And did you know that charitable is not just referring to $$$$? Nope, charitable also refers to the generosity of our time, talents and treasures.

So who do you know that could use some of your charitableness today? Maybe a kind compliment, a word of encouragement, or a thoughtful gesture, whatever the deed, practicing this will keep us “poor in spirit,” for we can never out-give when we are relying on the Giver of all good things to sustain us and take us to our reward of the kingdom of heaven.

Love,

Kim-Evinda

P.S. Don’t forget to join me live at 5:45 tonight @ www.facebook.com/trenchclassesunited

We can get so busy being busy that we lose our balance! EL

Wednesday’s Word

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you felt as though you were juggling so many things that your brain would burst and surely something important would fall through the cracks?  And when everything was all said and done, your body collapses but your mind keeps running around like mouse in training for a triathlon?

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

You know, there’s nothing like scripture to rein it all in, mind, body and emotions! And yet, scripture needs to be our first go-to daily in order to accomplish any and all things that we do throughout the day, whether you’re a mom of little ones, teenagers, or someone who has the freedom to enjoy volunteer work for a cause or causes, and then of course, if you’re married, maintaining that marriage in a way that we are called to.

The truth is, we can get so busy being busy that we lose focus and when that happens, it’s time for a three-point balance check:

1.     Why am I doing what I’m doing?

2.     Do I need to be doing as much as I am doing?

3.     What are my motives for doing what I’m doing?

Here’s what we discover when we answer these questions:

What we are doing reveals who/what we are pursuing!

Seek Him first…and all other things will be will be added. (Matthew 6:33); in other words, you will never be last as long as you put Him first!

Love,

Kim-Evinda

We have to look into the pain to see the beauty on the other side -EL

^{Galatians 2:20} I have been crucified with Christ…

I remember when I first read that and thought what in the world? How in the world?

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

Have you ever seen that movie The Passion? I’ll never forget when I did and how I finally understood why all the bad that happened on crucifixion Friday really led to what we celebrate as Good Friday. It is true that we won’t ever endure what He has in all aspects of life; however, we are afforded, on a daily basis, at a minimum, the opportunity to partake in His crucifixion.

How? I’m glad you asked.

Each and every time we die to the desires of our flesh that are not pleasing to Him, in other words, things that we wouldn’t do if He were in front of us, things that we would never do, say or even think if we saw Him looking, we participate in that crucifixion and validate the necessity of all He did on the cross and off!

When we participate in His crucifixion, we can say with joy the rest of this verse: “--and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

May this Good Friday be the beginning of a true understanding of what it is to be crucified with Christ.

Love,

Kim-Evinda

Monday’s Mantra

Your ride is coming to an end.

Please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened.

When the clock hits 12, you will be allowed to exit to the right.

You will then take the first day of this New Year and follow the line to the 2017 track.

As you make your way over to the New Year’s track, please remember to do the following:

    Let go of bitterness and resentment.

•  Leave past failures behind and take only what you learned from them with     you.
•  Drop negativity in the trashcan to your right. And if you didn’t quite get rid of it all, no worries; there will be another trashcan on your left just ahead.
•  Look through old wounds and weaknesses. For some of you, you only need to resolve to dump the old wound or weakness and it will be gone. There will be a dumpster up ahead to throw it in. Remember to not look back. For those of you who have a hard time letting go and require more work than that, we will be exploring that in the new ride.
• Any doctrine that doesn’t line up with His love letters has got to go. If you still have questions, there will be a few tracks to explore the truths in the new ride.
•  Let go of that attitude of poverty and throw it in the burning bush just before you enter the car for the new ride. His monetary and non-monetary blessings await you in and through every new circumstance you will encounter on our ride in the New Year.

Some things you will want to take with you as you enter this new ride:

•  Faith; it only needs to be the size of a mustard seed, but remember, that means “pure” faith with no mixed doctrine!
•  2016’s greatest memories.
•  Any valuable lessons you learned from your previous rides/years
•  Your favorite life verse, and if you don’t have one yet, get one before entering. Ask a friend for help or just open up “the Book!”
•  Resolve realistically. Don’t make resolutions you have no intention on keeping but when you resolve – which is to partner with the Holy Spirit—you will succeed in all you endeavor on this ride through 2017.
•  An attitude of gratitude- it will take you up the impending hills of the new ride.
•  Kindness- you will need this for the strangers you will meet as well as for the people who are unkind.
• Peace is essential and cannot be found on the side of the track but it is within you as you take time to sit and be still in the ride.
• Joy-though it may tend to get a bit buried with the upcoming twists and turns in the New Year, just remember to stir it up with one of His promises and/or your life verse.
•  Grace-there will be many people in this ride with you that will need your unmerited favor, just as it has been given to you. Take plenty of this with you before you get in the ride! There will be grace stations along the way to replenish.
•  Love-this is the greatest and most important virtue to bring with you as we enter into the New Year for to love others is to have accepted His gift of love and grace to you.

Fasten your seat-belts, friends . . . Here we go!

Love and laughter,

Evinda