Knowing what He desires in the spiritual will help us move in the natural EL

Monday’s Mantra 

~Love Letter~

Come closer, My beloved…

Those who are motivated by the flesh only pursue what benefits themselves. But those who live by the prompting of the Holy Spirit are motivated to pursue spiritual realities. And this must be sought after by pursuing Me, by desiring the deep things of the Spirit.

Come, My love, come and spend time with Me. Make it a daily habit that We can spend time together so you learn My voice, My leading and where I'm taking you.

Before you go anywhere in the natural, I desire you to come and know what I desire in the spiritual. I have much to share with you as you make that place of giving to Me. Never let your life become so busy that there's no time for Me, for you lose your sensitivity to Me and then you are doing things in yourself. And then before you know it, My beloved, you are wore down and out. Build yourself up in your most holy faith by singing songs and hymns and spiritual songs. Dance before Me just as I sing and take delight in you. Let your love for Me spill out even as My love for you fills your heart and life.

From God thru…

Debra

A love letter from the One whose love never dies

 Monday’s Mantra

In the day of technology, it’s always nice to get a letter from someone we care about and even better if it’s someone we love.

Welcome to Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Monday’s Message with Trench Classes United and Debra Dolce, our featured blogger Mondays and Fridays. Wow, does she have a letter for you, from His heart, to hers and now yours.

~Love Letter~

Good morning, My Beloved.

What is impossible for people is possible with Me. Meditate on this! My love and all of My abilities are so much stronger than you could ever ask or think.

Beloved, you could never ask for greater than I have! I have store rooms full of things that My children have not asked for and they are available for you and for your family. Why do you not ask? Do you doubt when you pray?

I created the world and everything in it and I took the time to name the stars as I hung them in space; are you not more valuable than they? Oh My beloved child, I have loved you with an everlasting love! My love for you never wanes. I never grow weak or weary. I am your biggest champion, I stand before the Father interceding for you and when you put your faith into action, when you believe My Word and stand on it declaring My promises, I am cheering and whooping and hollering, Yes!

Beloved, My love is so great that it extended from Heaven to the cross and there is no other name given under heaven, for My love is pure, and I will never leave you or forsake you.

May this letter encourage you today in all you do,

Debra

Jesus loves to turn your impossible into possible! EL

Monday’s Mantra

I’m so excited to introduce you to a new writer for us…not new but new to be featured in our blog. I’ve known her for years and let me tell you, God speaks to her and through her so without further ado, come on in for Monday’s Message with Chicklit Power and Trench Classes United, a love letter for YOU!

~Love Letter~ Good morning My chosen one. I have made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. I have also planted eternity, a sense of divine purpose, in your heart, a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except Me - yet man cannot find out, or comprehend or grasp what I have done or My overall plan, from the beginning to the end.

I have no limitations, so I am able to work all things out for your good and My glory.  It is okay that you don't know the "how" I will work all things out, but that I WILL. For I said in My Word that I will never leave you or abandon you, and that I will supply all your needs according to My riches.

Don't be limited by what you think and don't limit Me, but believe what I say and trust in Me.

Beloved, I love a good challenge and I know you think things may be impossible, but nothing is too hard for Me. Believe in Me! Trust in Me! Let go of limitations and let the eyes of your heart see what your physical eyes cannot. See My love; concentrate on My love; be filled with My love and walk in the fullness of My love.

Jesus

Written through Debra Dolce

You can never overeat from the B-I-B-L-E! EL

 Monday’s Mantra

I love when I see such simple but profound truths on social media! Welcome to Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Monday’s Mantra with Trench Classes United! I just know you’re going to enjoy this post from Julie Held.

I believe the Bible has the answers to life. As a mother, it’s so easy to become entangled in finding answers to life in other parenting books, blogs, videos, etc. They have a place but they honestly can’t replace the Bible. The Bible is real, true, a rock to stand upon.

We, as parents are not to hinder the Word of God but share it. Whatever season you may be in —-> littles, tweens, teens, young adults, grandkids  ....don’t hesitate to just read out loud as we are instructed to in Deuteronomy 6:7 “Teach them to your children. Repeat them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working.”

This picture was a funny moment. I was highlighting 2nd Samuel 7 and my baby girl climbed next to me and started doing the “same thing” in a devotional book. I figured she would highlight something that would go with the study. J J J  

The Word of God is never void. The Bible sharpens and shows me what real love is. The Bible is like looking in a mirror and really reflecting my heart. It brings my voice to the Lord to confess my sins; it helps me to thank God for His grace, love, mercy and faithfulness!

I walk away so FULL of His love I can’t wait to share…and you will/can too!

But then the opposite is this.... when I don’t read my Word I am just empty. Anyone relate? There is none like it, the B-I-B-L-E!!! Amen!

Fulfilled,

Julie Held

He’ll meet you @ your mistake! EL

 Monday’s Mantra

^{Have you ever ignored the little gut feeling that tries to warn you not to do something? Well, darn it; I just did that and as the day continued, the warning got louder and louder and louder!
Thanks for joining me today for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Monday’s Mantra with Trench Classes United. Please, come on in and et comfy for a true story, from my heart to yours that actually may take us to Wednesday’s blog as well.}

^{I was pretty tired this particular morning and by the time I was dressed and ready to head to my deposition in Temecula, I had made a decision: beginning in two weeks, I would no longer work more than one day a week; I would trust God to meet us in our financial needs and hunker down as we prepare to launch a program that will truly help others live more transparently, love healthier and laugh more.  Oh, how many times have I said I would do this? I groaned aloud as I loaded my car and got the dogs situated.}

^{But I mean it this time! Sound familiar? Oh, thank you, Abba, for your grace that out-waits our unfulfilled promises to you and to ourselves. I asked Him to help me be a light to someone in that room today.}

^{Looking back on the day, there were actually plenty of warning signs of a tough road ahead. For starters, I’m not sure how it happened, but my GPS sent me on a crazy hunt for my location. I mean it had me going on and off the freeway and what felt completely out of the way and instead of being early enough to be calm, cool and prepared, my equipment set up and a job dictionary built, I arrived with only 10 minutes to accomplish all of that. Talk about hot flashes running down my back! But it doesn’t stop there.}

^{As I’m getting set up, I turned my computer on and it’s telling me “Preparing updates; 30% complete; don’t turn off computer.” WITW? (What in the world?!)  And then just like that, it let me into my court reporting program…and then proceeded to freeze! At this point I had only five minutes to be ready and waiting for counsel and the witness.}

^{To top it off, when I finally took a moment to look at the caption and let it sink in, I groaned – to myself of course, as I realized we had a minor in the witness chair with a claim of molestation by a teacher. L L  As I was frantically trying to get my computer to cooperate – ever have one of those moments? – I invited God into my frustration and literally offered up some honest-to-goodness begging! HE HEARD ME! J}

^{I was ready to go by 10:01, thankful, trying to put the previous warnings behind me and focus, focus, focus! J J}

^{Within the first hour, I could tell that this witness had definitely been molested…but the teacher wasn’t the first person who had molested her. When I hear cases like this, it confirms my knowing that dysfunction is a cycle, whatever flavor, and is cross-cultural, non-denominational and worldwide. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t keep the cases stored up in me, allowing their truth to weigh me down; but I do use this information for others good and His glory.}

^{Several times the witness and her counsel had to confer off the record – which means we stop and they go outside and chat. No big deal; I begin editing my transcript so there’s less to do at the end. There were some questions that you could tell that while she may not have been lying, she was trying to be very careful with her response as it was a tricky question; and then there were others that she just flat-out didn’t get. To top it off, she is an African-American high school student with lots of Ebonics and once fired up, wow, all I can say is my fat fingers were all over that keyboard and my machine was smoking as the speed indicator kept flashing. They actually got up to 310 words per minute!!!}

^{Towards the end of the day, as we tread on the waters of this witness’ promiscuity, her attorney asked to confer with defense counsel outside. I was totally a proponent for this girl, but as the case began to unfold, I began to realize she has been a troubled child since grade school, and the teacher was not the only contributing factor. In fact, when a jury hears her case, her promiscuity may deter them from the facts, from the root of it all, but is really a symptom of it all. Oh what a complicated web of dysfunction that I long for the world to understand.}

^{I’m not sure what came over me but in the first few minutes that both attorneys were out of the room, I took the liberty – I could get in trouble for this – to begin talking with her and at the risk of incriminating myself, let me just say, it was a pretty powerful conversation and as I said the last thing, I returned to my computer screen and the door opened and the attorneys returned; I breathed a sigh of relief, and we went back on the record.}

^{By the time we finished for the day, I was pretty wiped out. I sat in my car for a moment, allowing the air conditioning to cool me from the inside out, shaking off the oppression of the case, and then pressed my destination of home.   I didn’t even give it a second thought, just expecting it to take me home the right way, not the long way.}

^{I began to return phone calls and it wasn’t until I had been on the phone for a while, that I realized I had followed the voice on GPS and gotten off the freeway. But WITW Why? Unbelievable! It took me home the same way we came and I’m still perplexed as to why. So what should have taken about 45 minutes turned into an hour and 45 minutes! Needless to say by the time I got to my next mistake, I was pretty wiped out! Have you ever noticed that one mistake often leads to another?}

^{Join me Wednesday for part two of this blog where I will share something that I am still trembling about, and probably will every time I think about it. What comforts me is I know that I know that He was there at the beginning of my mistake, and He certainly met me in the midst of another one.}

^Love,

^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

To love…even when you don’t feel like it, that’s commitment. EL

 MONDAY’S MANTRA

Wow, it’s August already! Thanks for joining us for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Monday’s Mantra with Trench Classes United. You’re in for a treat today with some thoughts from our friend, Jenn Woolsey.

People love to quote the Bible verse about how God hates divorce. Well guess what, He does. But not for the reason it’s usually used... but because He hates the pain it causes His children and the future generations. 

I was in a co parenting class today… listening to tips on getting along and focusing on the child in a “reorganized family.” I found it helpful and I believe it’s necessary.

But, I can’t get this nagging thought out of my head: what are we doing to prepare people for the fact that marriage is so important; that it can’t be taken lightly? It’s not about the excitement of feeling in love or filling a void, or even creating a family.  It’s about choosing to love even when you don’t “feel” like it.

I listened to the stories of other couples, I know my own story. I was woefully unprepared. I chose unwisely.  How can we prevent this in the first place?

Oh to spend more time on the answer before we are faced with the dilemma of this epidemic of divorce.

Thoughtfully,

Jenn

DARE TO LIVE LIKE HE’S ENOUGH! EL

 Monday’s Mantra

One of my closest friends called me the other day to tell me she sent me an email containing a blog post that she thought would speak to me. She’s really sweet like that…and yet, there are times that I wish she wouldn’t be so sweet, if you know what I mean? She speaks truth into my life, and there are times when that truth just hurts! Are you catching what I’m throwing at you? Well, those types of friends are the best for us, truly, especially if our heart is after God’s heart. Well, hers is and she knows mine is too.

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

This blog post by Rebeka Lyons started with her experiences as a speaker/author, and her striving to get where she thought she should be and how one night in her hotel room after a speaking engagement, that ultimately led her to her knees, a most painfully beautiful place to land. As I read of her experience, I could feel every feeling she was writing, as if I was right there with her, down on my knees! Because when it’s all said and done, I know that there are just those times when we have to bow down in order to get up!

As I read her blog, I nearly stopped breathing as the truth of her words hit a bulls-eye, right smack in the middle of my heart, and conviction began to ooze out and a holy presence filled my space. My eyes filled up, blurring my vision but still I could see: “I don’t live as if You are enough.” Ouch!

I so related to her confession of counting the “likes” or “hearts” on her stuff she puts out there, her heart soaring when there were many, and plummeting when there were few.  Why is it we base our self-worth on how many “likes” or “loves” we get on something we post on social media? Where does our confidence truly come from? It’s a frustrating conundrum truly, because my editor from New York actually told me last week, “Your platform’s too small. You need to get your numbers up because your social media platform has become just as important as what you write”!

So how does one get away from the necessity of social media? Well, maybe we ought to consider why we’re posting what we’re posting. Is it for attention, popularity, to fulfill a need, such as being liked, loved and accepted? Or is it simply to encourage, lift up, inspire and motivate?

We have got to remember who we’re really posting with! See, we can’t do it for Him because if we do anything “for” Him, it’s in our own strength and often for own need or purpose; but to partner “with” Him before we hit that “post” button, well then we’ll never run out of strength…or words, and the “likes” and “loves” won’t matter because our Audience of One loves it and isn’t that all that really counts?

As I finished reading Rebeka’s blog, she cited something that she heard Ann Voskamp speak, and the echo of it is still speaking to me as I write this for you:

“Those who keep score in life just want to know that they count. When you work for an audience of One, you always know that you count.”
My Coffee Hour friend, maybe it’s time to stop counting the “likes” and “loves” and trust that if we’re trying to send a message of encouragement to anyone, He will carry it right to the hearts that need it, and in the process, as it picks up speed in cyber space, the seed will scatter and reach many unseen “likes” and “loves.”
Love,

Kim-Evinda

When concerned turns into consumed, that can be the beginning of compromise! EL

 Monday’s Mantra

Just two days away is the day we celebrate our individual freedom as well as that of our nation lest we never forget the cost. And while this freedom does include freedom of speech, I can’t help but wonder if we’ve become imprisoned by our political prattling. And no, this isn’t going to be any sort of political blog, so please, come on in and stay for a few minutes as I share from my heart to yours.

You can’t turn the T.V. on, or even do a Google search without some words of anger and conflict dancing across our eyes and into our mind, the seat of our soul. There is a fire of rage building in our country inflamed with opinions on every level. When did it stop being okay to agree to disagree without becoming so full of anger and hatred? Why do we have to try and force our opinions onto others and blast them for theirs? Why are we so inclined to return evil for evil?

I was talking just the other day with someone and he was sharing his frustration about all the compromising that’s happening around us, politically and otherwise, and he kept sharing, and sharing and I mean, the more he talked about it, the more frustrated he became.

When I felt it was appropriate to do so, I quietly said, it’s great to be concerned about our world, but are you concerned or consumed?

We know who wins, so what if we were to just live, and not speak, our convictions lest we become guilty of the compromising we see around us?

Thanks so much for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Monday’s Mantra with Trench Classes United. May you find freedom from engaging in the opinions of the world and risking compromising your convictions, and remember, when concerned turns into consumed, that can be the beginning of compromise.

Love,

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