Faith Filled Fridays From Croley’s Corner of Chicklit Power

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Direct my steps by your Word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me. Psalm 119:132
Hi, Coffee Hour friends, so glad you could take a few moments of your time to join me. Grab your favorite beverage and journal and let’s see what God’s word has for us today.
Trials and temptations knock at our hearts and surround us. Temptations set in, hoping we’ll feel the pressure. Tough times come right after a moment of joy or even after small victories. There have been times I have tossed and turned at night, wondering how these things work their way into our thoughts, into our dreams.
It starts to feel like we’re in a batting cage struggling to hit the balls being fired at us. It gets exhausting. How easy it is for iniquity to sneak in. In fact, and for the most part, it can be pretty blatant!! And right there… right in that moment… that’s where the spiritual battle begins. It’s in that exact moment that keeping faith means everything. Can I believe God? Or should I believe what I see based on the day to day world? There’s that moment of choice. And often we have to go against everything that feels natural within us to choose what is good.
Temptation is an inward solicitation resulting from an outward test and life can be full of them. Yet our victory starts with understanding the means by which temptation comes. It comes through the trials and tests of life. Let me simply remind you that when things aren't going the way you want them to in life and you're facing a test that is the means by which temptation comes to you, learn to watch how you respond to it.
How awesome to know we have a way of escape. Just as we would prepare for a plan of escape from a fire in our home, we too have a plan of escape spiritually when the tempter comes to tempt us! We need to know what to do in order not to be engulfed with temptation. You say, "But how do you do that?” The key’s as simple as it may seem yet powerful in itself: meditating on the Word of God! Psalm 119:11 "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You".
Temptation’s come in all variances of influence; however, Paul reassures us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that “no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
The promise of that verse encourages my heart. NO temptation is overpowering. Satan is not so powerful: demons are not so effective or subtle; the flesh is not so weak, and the human heart is not so deceived that we are necessarily a victim of temptation. In this verse there are some principles that rise to the top. If we can understand them, we can understand the path of our triumph.
When the test comes, turn to the Word, turn to your Father in prayer (Matthew 6:9-13.) When the test comes, retain your faith and accept that God has a purpose and we must trust God for that purpose. When the test comes, take up the shield of faith. That means to trust God no matter how fast and furious the fiery darts may be coming at you. And when the test comes, look to Christ the faithful high priest who will encourage, support and develop you through the test and temptation. (Hebrews 4:15)
Romans 5: 1-5 simply sums it up for us as believers; that faith triumphs in trouble…distress… anxiety… and temptation…because His word produces perseverance, character; and character, hope
Remember, that it’s not just one day a week when we take dominion over iniquity, temptations and tests; it’s every day! Know where your feet are walking and you’ll discover no trouble!!
Have a sweet weekend….. and remember to keep Him close to your heart!

Love, Deb

He Showed His Power by Restraining His Power

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Happy spring time! I still can’t believe that it is already here! With spring comes one of the most important holidays, at least for the Christian, the celebration of Easter! Grab your coffee and your Strand of Faith and let’s go talk about this part of the salvation story.
When you hear the word Easter, what do you think of? Is it chocolate bunnies, baskets and bundles of brightly-colored eggs? Is it family gatherings around a great meal? Is it all about the kids, their Easter baskets and joyful Easter-egg hunts, the giggles and exclamations of discovery when they find an egg, and even when they look inside?
For some, it’s that one time when they are moved into a church service; in fact, Easter is known to be one of the highest-attended services of any church. I know for me, whenever I think of Easter, I experience a myriad of emotions and they mix together in a beautiful blend. The best way to describe them is bittersweet. Why bitter, you ask?
Well, it’s hard to think of my Jesus enduring all that He did up to and through the crucifixion. One can’t help but look at these things as Easter approaches, and yet many prophets foretold of some of the sufferings He would endure for you and me.
Did you know He sat through six trials? I didn’t either. I can handle being falsely accused here and there; I can’t even imagine trial after trial! And during those trials, He gave His back to those who struck Him, willingly. He did as He commanded us to do and turned His cheeks to those who plucked out His beard. Not once did He cover His face from the humiliation and the spitting and scream stop! (Isaiah 50:6) This was and continues to be the most amazing restraint of power in the history of all mankind!
He, the all-powerful, all-knowing Son of God could have acquitted Himself, struck each of the accusers down, struck those who hit Him back, twisted the arms of those who dared to pluck at His beard. He could have defended Himself to each of the presiding judges who spat humiliating accusations at Him. Instead, He chose to restrain His power and as a result of restraining His power, here we are over 2000 years later celebrating the reality of this Man, the necessity of His grace, the sovereignty of His power.
Many of us have a hard time staring pain in the face, let alone allowing our thoughts to go down that path. But how can we not remember these things as the day of their actual occurrences approaches? Why is it that just about any resource we look to about information surrounding this holiday all have the same facts: He was accused, endured beatings that rendered Him unrecognizable, suffered other forms of abuse, was mocked, carried His own cross, was pierced … several times, nailed to the cross, and lifted for all to see … why?
The simple answer: because His Father said so. He was aware of His Father’s will and because He was aware, He intentionally died that we may have life.
Awareness is the key to intentionality!
Every year, this time of year becomes even more significant. Why? Because the more I learn about this Man who suffered so much, the more I discover facets of His character that humble me. What I am learning now has me begging Him to entwine my heart with His that I might really be just an “inth” like Him. It’s not any coincidence that I just happen to be back in school for my Bachelor’s degree in Biblical studies, and the first class I am taking is on servant leadership and in order to understand servant leadership, we must have a grasp on the truths about power.
I can’t wait to share with you the truths I’m discovering and how they tie into this part of the Salvation Story and are turning the bitter into sweet!
Join me tomorrow for more,

Evinda

Faith Filled Fridays From Croley’s Corner of Chicklit Power

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

“Therefore, we must be diligent to feed our soul being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:11
So happy you joined me today for “Faith filled Fridays.” Grab your favorite drink, journal and join me as we realize the need of compost in our garden. Question: How many of you enjoyed science when you were in High School? It wasn’t one of my favorite subjects, yet it was essential for life as I became an adult.
The earth’s soil is a rich storehouse of nutrients essential to the growth, beauty and good health of any kind of garden. We are told in the class of science that plants must have 16 basic nutrients available to them through the soil and air. When soil does not contain enough of a particular nutrient, a fertilizer or a mixture of compost must be added. It is essential…. It’s needed to enrich the soil in order to support growth and progress of a garden.
Here’s a list of four ingredients for a garden to survive: Carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, water. Wow, how about that for a quick science lesson!
Now, to connect God’s Word to us as believers.
We must consume food daily in order to stay alive and to remain healthy…. Just as food is an important part of living and thriving, so it is with living Godly, although we are a part of this world we defiantly are not of it. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him". Colossians 3:17
Although each believer’s walk with God is personal; we truly need one another to be fruitful together in order to further the Kingdom! However, there are times when there are opinions or offenses that mix into the ingredients of our walk, together. I’ll call that the fertilizer or compost of life… and it can certainly leave a stinky aroma.
In addition to that, we typically want to turn and run. Let’s think about this for a minute…. if we go through life without any troubles, trials or tribulations, we would have no need to call on the Lord for help. There’d be no compassion for others who may be experiencing similar stinky situations! James 1:2-4 tells us, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
Is your garden lacking?
The fertilizing part of our lives is essential. For a believer it is necessary to go through stinky times in order for us to grow in His grace, His mercy, to love others, including those “stinky” enemies in order to see God produce His righteousness in us. (Matthew 5:43-48) It definitely may be stinky which makes us uncomfortable; however; He sends the Holy Spirit to stir our hearts with His love, to process the fruitfulness out of the stinky stuff.
When we don’t feed our garden properly, it will be affected. It is in that fertilizing time that causes us to grow and to walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:10).
Remember, Christianity is not a list, but a life....a life worth serving. Join me next week as we begin to see budding growth in our garden.
Love, Deb