Twas the Night before Thanksgiving

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Welcome to Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power. I just love this time of year; as a matter of fact, it’s my favorite season, though we don’t need a season to be thankful. Last year was the first Thanksgiving apart from our son, daughter-in-love and grandkids, and so I needed a bit of humor to remind myself that there was still much to be thankful for. I’d like to share that with you now, and from my heart to yours, say to you and yours…Happy Thanksgiving!

Twas the night before Thanksgiving and all through the house

Every creature was stirring, including the mouse

Everyone was working on all of the fixings

The noise and smells were coming from the kitchen

The children were busy with their tablets and toys

Captured in their games, they made not a noise

While the adults laughed and worked all collectively

What a beautiful sight it was for any heart to see

When all of a sudden there arose such a clatter

Mom ran to the kitchen to see what was the matter

She looked to the left and she looked to the right

She couldn’t believe what was in plain sight

There was broken glass from a favorite platter

And at first glance, she knew it didn’t matter

Everyone was frozen, waiting for her reaction

But she didn’t give the devil that satisfaction

The counters were a mess, preparations everywhere

It looked as though a tornado had just gone thru there

The turkey had flown from the platter to the floor

The poor thing looked like it just couldn’t take no more

The stove was a disaster waiting to happen,

Filled with pots and pans, handles overlapping

The old mom would have immediately gotten on her broom

And painted the atmosphere with a bit of doom and gloom

But the new and improved mom was no longer that way

For she had learned the true meaning of Thanksgiving Day

She stared at each of them and the mess they surrounded

Knowing her response would leave each one of them astounded

Now sons, now daughters, in-laws and friends like family

Is this ever a sight for the eyes of my heart to see?

More than the chaos, the mess on the floor

The memories we’re making are worth so much more

So grab a rag and a dishtowel too

Here’s one for each and every one of you

Let’s work together in cleaning up this mess

It will only take a few minutes or less

Pick up the turkey, and we’ll wash him off

We’ll stuff him but good and put him in the trough

We’ll baste him all over, and get him ready to eat

No one will ever know we stepped on his feet

And when the morrow comes and we gather for the meal

We’ll be able to discern what matters and what’s real

Faith, family, friends, love and laughter

Help to bring us all the happily ever after

I looked to each of them with tears in my eyes

And said something I had just realized

Oh, why can’t it be Thanksgiving every day?

Loving each other in a Christ-like way

Patience, self-control, love and joy too

Are there for the asking for each of you

We don’t have to wait for a holiday to see

That Christ’s greatest gift is that of family

Praying you enjoy your Thanksgiving, no matter what circumstances you are in, no matter who you are with … or not with!

Thankfully,

Evinda

Tuesday’s Trench Lesson

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Thanks for stopping by for Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Tuesday’s Trench Lesson. This is my favorite time of year, my most favorite season: Thanksgiving; although we shouldn’t need a specific season to be thankful, if you know what I mean. In keeping with the holiday, though, I thought it would be good to continue with this subject of despair for its opposite is hope…and when we have hope, there’s always something to be thankful for. Grab your coffee and jump with me into this trench for just a few minutes.

If you have a faith-based relationship with our living God, you may think that this particular trench lesson doesn’t apply to you in any way, that you don’t ever really feel a sense of despair, which in and of itself is a lack of hope, but stay with us anyway as I go over the five things that we tend to put our hope in, subconsciously, unconsciously or consciously.

Most of us desire pretty much the same things, though some of us may not recognize and/or acknowledge them: somebody to love, somebody who loves us in return…and this need leads us to the first thing we tend to put our hope in: in others, especially if our childhood was interrupted or interfered with in any negative way. Here’s a cool truth about that one from my friend Steve Atkinson: “The degree of neglect or the absence of nurture historically leaves us vulnerable to the need of having someone ‘fill in those blanks,’ even in the face of a great deal of pain.”

The second thing we tend to put our hope in is money! Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve learned, and of course the hard way, that money doesn’t buy happiness…but – yes, I said BUT – it does make life a bit more comfortable! But the truth is that while money can buy comfort, it can’t buy peace, but we often chase it, believing that it can fix more of what’s broken, or right what’s wrong. I love how Timothy puts it in 1^st Timothy 6:10: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Do you see what I see? It’s not money that is evil…but the love of money that causes problems which send us right back to the pit of despair. See, putting our hope in money is trying to fill an internal need with an external object…and there’s no eternal value in that!

We can finish up this trench lesson next week, but let me leave you with this thought: That which we put our hope in we come to love!

Hoping in the Author of Hope,

Evinda

Seven Sacrifices to Joy

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Happy day to you, and thanks so much for joining me for more of the Seven Sacrifices to Joy! Can you believe it; we are on sacrifice number six! Grab your coffee and your Strand of Faith and let’s go talk about an attitude of gratitude, aka, thanksgiving!

The sixth sacrifice is thanksgiving and kind of works like the sacrifice of joy. What I mean by that is thanksgiving, an attitude of gratitude works like joy in that it can pull us up and out of the murky pits of sadness, depression, frustration and even anger. Much like joy, a sacrifice of thanksgiving is made easier when we stay in touch -- and pardon the pun -- with our five senses. I have learned, finally, that there is always something to be thankful for, truly! Psalm 107:1 tells us to give thanks to God for His steadfast love endures forever … that’s a promise in and through any circumstance which challenges your faith, your joy, your ability to give thanks!

My leadership team and I planned something really thought-and thankful-provoking for the last class of Transform I and I gave it the title of problem swapping. Here’s how it worked: First, in their group times, they were asked what their perspective was on trusting God. Then they were each given an index card to write their current problem that they were going through. I encouraged them that if there were more than one, to write the biggest one, the one really making life difficult for them. Then, on the backside, they were to write how they were going to trust God in that problem for the solution to that problem, based on their perspective of what it means to trust God. At the end of the class, everyone had to put their problem on the table and then we formed a circle. One by one, they came forward, grabbed a card/problem and read aloud the problem, thus sharing it with the group, which means we were learning how to share our burdens. Then they were to turn the card over for the perspective on how to trust God in the problem for the solution to the problem.

There were many “problems” revealed that helped each one of us to not only empathize with the person going thru what they were, but give us an attitude of gratitude for our own problem that may have seemed a bit easier. While the problems were anonymous, I encouraged everyone to take the card/problem home and pray for that person with that problem. It was incredibly powerful, and helped each one of us find something to be thankful about/for. It was such an amazingly powerful moment…made sweeter by each offer of thanksgiving.

We can change our attitude with a dose of gratitude! When we exchange complaining for gratitude, He changes our perspective and increases our faith. When a sacrifice of thanksgiving becomes an accompaniment to any of the sacrifices, its power is doubled, granting us smooth sailing through chaotic storms. Oh, what a feeling, to have peace in chaos! And just think, we have that ability within us to change the power of the storm … by offering up a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving.

Thanking Him while in the storm will enable us to thank Him for the storm! After all, He’s the ultimate Captain of our ship as we go through the waves of change and challenge. Will we let Him drive, thus experience peace and ensuring our safe arrival, or will we try and take the wheel al the while white-knuckling it through the changes and challenges, wondering whether we will land or capsize?

His grace and mercy are increased by our offering up a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving. The worst thing that can happen is your faith will increase, and your entire outlook on this journey of life will change as you learn to be content in all circumstances! And who doesn’t enjoy being around a content person? After all, the price paid for yours and my contentment … whew, well that’s something to be thankful for!

Join me next week as we go to and through the seventh sacrifice and be sure and join us tomorrow for Croley’s Corner @ Chicklit Power for Faith-Filled Friday!

Evinda

Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving ... from Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving … from Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power…

Thanks for stopping by for our Coffee Hour! I know you may be extra busy today, getting ready for Thanksgiving and all, so I won’t keep you long. I just got to thinking about this holiday, my favorite one, and got a little sad as I won’t have my kids to share it with this year so I dug within my soul for past memories and reminders of what really matters, Thanksgiving Day and every day! I hope you enjoy my Thanksgiving rendition of Twas the Night Before Christmas … grab your coffee and come on in.

Twas the night before Thanksgiving and all through the house

Every creature was stirring, including the mouse

Everyone was working on all of the fixings

The noise and smells were coming from the kitchen

The children were busy with their tablets and toys
Captured in their games, they made not a noise
While the adults laughed and worked all collectively
What a beautiful sight it was for any heart to see

When all of a sudden there arose such a clatter
Mom ran to the kitchen to see what was the matter
She looked to the left and she looked to the right
She couldn’t believe what was in plain sight

There was broken glass from a favorite platter
And at first glance, she knew it didn’t matter
Everyone was frozen, waiting for her reaction
But she didn’t give the devil that satisfaction

The counters were a mess, preparations everywhere;
It looked as though a tornado had just gone thru there
The turkey had flown from the platter to the floor
The poor thing looked like it just couldn’t take no more

The stove was a disaster waiting to happen,
full of pots and pans, handles overlapping
The old mom would have immediately gotten on her broom
And painted the atmosphere with a bit of doom and gloom

But the new and improved mom was no longer that way
For she had learned the true meaning of Thanksgiving Day
She stared at each of them and the mess they surrounded
Knowing her response would leave each one of them astounded

Now sons, now daughters, in-laws, friends like family
This is ever a sight for the eyes of my heart to see
More than the chaos, the mess on the floor
The memories we’re making are worth so much more

So grab a rag, and a dishtowel too
Here’s one for each and every one of you
Let’s work together in cleaning up this mess
It will only take a few minutes or less
Pick up the turkey, and we’ll wash him off
We’ll stuff him but good and put him in a trough
We’ll baste him all over, and get him ready to eat
No one will ever know we stepped on his feet

And when the morrow comes and we gather for the meal
We’ll be able to discern what matters and what’s real
Faith, family, friends, love and laughter
Help to bring us all that happily ever after

I looked to each of them with tears in my eyes
And said something I had just realized
Oh, why can’t it be Thanksgiving every day?
Loving each other in a Christ-like way
Patience, self-control, love and joy too
Are there for the asking for each of you
We don’t have to wait for a holiday to see
That Christ’s greatest gift is that of family

Praying you enjoy your Thanksgiving, no matter what circumstances you are in, no matter who you are with … or not with!
Thankfully,

Evinda

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Power Friday from Croley's Corner of Chicklit Power

Jesus has a Table Spread

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Good morning… Super glad that today’s Friday, and the weekend will soon be upon us…. Oh yes, Thanksgiving is right around the corner and for many they’re virtually into full swing. Like most, we‘ll be busy scurrying around purchasing all our Thanksgiving dinners and no doubt with excitement as we’re visualizing the end results of all our preparations and the satisfying looks on each face when they finally push away from the table with the guise of gratefulness and full belly’s….whew…. that was a mouth full!!

I had a hard time writing this particular blog. I sat for a few days writing, deleting, writing and praying that the Lord would give me a clear vision of what needed to be written. Oh I had a great depiction of my own family Thanksgiving but I believe the Lord wanted something else from me. I squabbled a bit with Him but as you will soon read, it wasn’t me who won. I pray you read with an open heart and please know it’s not to bring scolding or to make you change your plans as a family; it’s just another perspective on Thanksgiving.
So here goes…..

In my mental thoughts of my preparedness of cooking Thanksgiving dinner, it occurred to me how many dinners I have prepared over the years. And for the most part it’s been 43 years of which I have prepared, not that I’m complaining; I’m thankful that I’ve been able to do so…. Besides, it’s not always about preparing everything myself, even though I am a person of order and…. okay…control…but not in a bad way. I do however have in my mind how it’s supposed to look and the way it should flow. I really don’t want it to be...”I gotta have it my way” kinda feeling....however,

I’m learning in my older years that I really need to release and let go of what I think is important to me and in doing so, it has given freedom for my girls to step into their own potential. And if that means stepping back, then I’m okay with it! It’s called “passing the baton.”

The query is… when we all pitch in doesn’t it always turn out fine anyway?

Talking about pitching in, there have been a few Thanksgivings that we’ve been involved in serving others and what an amazing opportunity to do so. Certainly for the most part my home is busy preparing dads favorite dish and grandma’s favorite recipe, yet on this day our expectations turned from setting a table of splendor to a table of necessity. As we experienced serving others the eager faces that were lined up ready to embrace blankets and food were expressions filled with gratefulness. No there weren’t tables set in splendor, nevertheless there definitely were tables set in love. We talked and listened to many stories yet the one thing you walked away with was they were truly thankful for the genuine love they felt, the unpretentious love that some had never experienced before. It left us with a joy unspeakable and with grateful hearts.

Giving up one day really wasn’t a sacrifice; it was an act of obedience, honor and blessing. We have taught our family, although they are grown now and have their own families, the practice of… “Give unto others.” Yes, we have had many wonderful Thanksgivings together and how sweet it has been. We have prepared delicious dishes and set a beautiful table. Yet the question was, “Are we giving our best to those in need?”

Thanksgiving is only six days away. May our days be marked with humbleness and love. Let us be thankful not only for the things we have but also for the things we no longer have to have. And as each member of your family, whether young or old, gathers together to reflect of your thankfulness this past year, may you be knitted together as you purpose in your hearts…. in thinking of others.

Jesus speaking said in John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
There’s an old hymn that we used to sing called “Come and Dine’ and I’d like to leave a portion of this song with you today…

“Jesus has a table spread where the saints of God are fed. He invites His chosen people, “Come and dine;” With His manna He doth feed and supplies our every need: ’tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time! Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “Come and dine. You may feast at Jesus’ table all the time; He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine, to the hungry calleth now, ‘Come and dine.
Reservations have been made and the table has been set! Let us invite those who are hungry for His great love. The experience of someone being saved…. well, should make us very Thankful!
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20 NKJV

Make it a glorious weekend and a Happy Thanksgiving, until we meet again.
Being ever so thankful

Debbie

Happy Thanksgiving From the Adulterous Woman @ Chicklit Power

Oh, what a beautiful day to say thank you for stopping by! Happy Thanksgiving! I truly am thankful there is you to share coffee hour with! Let’s get back to this discussion of adultery and idolatry, which we are about to wrap up so we can finally meet this adulterous woman!

So that last definition we talked about, immorality, aka, sins of the flesh, are associated and are traced to lack of the acknowledgment of God” is a real eye opener, and something that begs the benefit of the doubt before we meet this adulterous woman. Could it be she had never come face to face with her need for a savior? Until this meeting.

Let’s look at the last definition for idolatry. Oh, my, this one will tickle your skin all over for sure: An idolater is a slave to the depraved (morally corrupt) ideas his/her idol or idols represent!”

So metaphorically speaking, then, any form of addiction is adultery because that something which one is addicted to has become an idol and therefore has led the adulterer away to idolatry. Wow, you can put anything in that underlined space to make the connection between you and the adulterous woman! I don’t know about you, but suddenly as I get ready to meet her, I am off of my pedestal and standing eye level, waiting to greet her as Jesus did!

Humbly,

Evinda