Foster’s Faith Filled Friday

Welcome once again to another Foster’s Faith-Filled Friday with Brianna! I’m sure you’re going to be able to relate with her! Grab your coffee and come on in.

Ever have those times when you have a lot more month at the end of your money? Where you aren't sure what your next move is? Questioning whether God is hearing your prayers, because at this moment in time it feels like He's completely ignoring you? Oh man, this week has been rough and I'm feeling a little ignored. And let me tell you, when I feel ignored, I can throw one heck of a pity party. Next time I throw one, you are more than welcome to join, you know, misery loves company. (Totally kidding, I don't even want to be at these parties) J J

Let me tell you what; trials are a part of our journey in life. Sometimes they make us and other times they break us and piece us together into something different. Either way, we come out of these difficulties a different person than we were when we went in. That is the purpose of trials.

Some turn to God in their difficulties, but what happens when we feel that God has abandoned us and forced us to face the darkness alone? We lose sight of the bigger picture. I remember my dad telling me once "sometimes when you feel like God is ignoring you, He's actually disciplining you." I never understood what that really meant until recently. I lie in bed and think "Wow, my dad is so right!"

I need to remember that God in fact never ignores us. Quite frankly He doesn't want us to suffer, per say, but we do because we are human. 

Do you almost isolate yourself from others when walking through trials because you don't want to burden people with your problems? I can tend to do that, but I’m learning that I'm not meant to suffer alone. It is okay to allow ourselves to vent and confide in our trusted friends, family, significant others, people whom we trust and respect to help guide us through troubled times and hold our hand when our hearts are heavy and we need some cheering up.

Isolating ourselves causes loneliness and depression and it essentially robs us of the hope we have in Christ. I guess what I’m trying to offer here, Coffee Hour Friend, is allow people to encourage you, support you and help keep you grounded!
  

Remember, God never abandons His children. God is a God of love. You are his precious, beautiful child and although He may at times test you, He will never, ever forsake you. Of this promise you can be sure. Believe in Him and keep moving forward. I leave you with this passage of scripture that is picking me up and out of my pity party:

Hebrews12: 4-11: ⁴In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,⁶because the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a]

 ⁷Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 

¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Disciplined in His love…

Breanna

Tam’s Trench Truth

Welcome to Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Tam’s Trench Truth, things he’s learning from the trenches of life. Grab your coffee and come on in.

Hello and welcome back everyone. Hope this all finds you well. When I say I hope this all finds you well, I really mean that. You’re familiar with that saying, “it takes one to know one,” right? I was thinking about this very saying just the other day…and how this applies to me and my brother.

It has often been hard on me to be there for people, and yet I feel people are like my church. I can see them at stop lights beside me and I'll glance over real quick just to see the look on a person's face. Sometimes I see happiness, stress, torment, fear, but the one I pick-up most on is heartbreak. They say it takes one to know one.

In these moments when I see people in this sadness, something in me wants to reach out and hug them, talk to them and lend them a word of encouragement that time will help the heartbreak. Or is it really patience that does? There are so many of us running around working to pay bills, raise children, get to work... yet at the end of the day so many of us are found wanting... wanting of someone to just love and care for us, someone to come home and laugh with, talk with, maybe even fight with when those times are there.

I have never stopped loving anyone I was ever with and regardless of how I was treated I don't want to live bitter. But the most loyal experiences in my life have been with my brother and a dog named Bella. I feel overwhelming gratitude and thanks for all the love I received from my dog Bella while her four paws walked this earth.

And then there’s my brother. We have a strained relationship, but he's my brother and really the only family I think who ultimately cares. Lately I have determined to not be so sad about not having my own family, and focus on what I can change: my relationship with my brother. If I would die for him because I love him, why wouldn’t I first live for him and try and be a better brother.

I have not been the easiest person to get along with and yet he was there when no one else has been. I am definitely my brother's keeper, but I still feel guilty that my needs have left him short of maybe living a different life than what he wanted to. I want to see him fly with a freedom because life has weighed him down. I want to see him spread his wings and attain more things that he wants out of his life. I don't want to be the anchor or the one who keeps him grounded. 

If I can find this sense of satisfaction and joy when helping others then I know I need to reach out and go it a new way as well with and for my brother. I find myself, or should I say I have already found myself trying to change things up with my brother. It's hard to make changes but I love him and he deserves it. I know he has wings that he still needs to flap, to rise into his own fresh world. I find myself praying for my health to better so I don't have to rely on him as much. Usually my prayers have been "God please help me get through work tonight because the pain is so heavy on me." But now though I may pray the same thing, it is for a different reason, for my brother’s well-being as well.

Yes, I am learning to count my blessings, and there’s one right before me, my brother. It’s time for me to treat him as a blessing. Would you all join me in prayer, praying not only for my health and for my pain to subside, but for my brother's to find his wings.

Much love to you all, oh how much I really mean this for all of you whoever you are and wherever you come from

John

Wednesday’s Word

There are all Kinds…

Revelation 1:5b: “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood and has made us kings and priests” -- (witnesses)—“to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen.”

Thanks so much for stopping by Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and our Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United. I just love Wednesdays…and His Word that never, ever fails to steer us in the right direction.

Did you know that you qualify as a witness? Yep, that’s right, a witness to what He has done for you…not what you have done!

I was reading in the Book of Revelation the other day, and this subject of being a witness came up, and He gave me such a great analogy using my job to help me relate and understand in a way I could share with you: court-reporting.  I just love how He does that, speaks to us, about us, for us so He can speak through us.

Anyway, let me share this analogy with you.

There are many types of witnesses, and as a court reporter, I have reported them all. J For example, there are hostile witnesses, those who are angry at being called to testify about what they’ve seen or experienced. There are third-party witnesses, those who say he said/she said; in other words, gossipers, or unrelated parties. And there are those I call unprepared witnesses, those whose answers are 90% “I don’t remember” or “I don’t recall,” and these are usually witnesses for their own case! J Then there are expert witnesses, those called because of their expertise in the subject that the attorneys are there to talk about. And lastly, the most common kind of witness I’ve reported as a court reporter is a percipient witness, or an eyewitness. This is a witness who testifies about what he/she actually has seen, perceived with their own senses.

As I was reading John’s first letter to the churches and to all of us, this thought hit me like a ton of bricks – well, maybe a bit more gently than that – but if we all qualify as witness for Christ, what kind of witness are we?

Are we the hostile witness, angry at or with God because of a tragedy and our need to understand everything?

Do we tend to slip down that slippery slope of gossip in the name of “prayer,” acting as a witness to someone’s misfortune or bad choice, or talking about our own mountains, making them bigger and bigger, instead of looking to the mountain mover? Are we so focused on others that we are a third-party to our own walk with Christ?

Are you the type of witness who forgets all He has done for you, allowing your troubles to outweigh His triumphs in your life? Forgetting to have an attitude of gratitude?

Or are you an expert witness, one who professes their faith and lives it and is paid by His protection, provision and promises and guided by His principles?

Oh, I want to leave a legacy that says: she lived what she knew; she was so in love with Jesus that many considered her an expert in her faith!

Witnessing…

Evinda

Tuesday’s Trench Truth and Invitation, Too!

Sometimes our brain needs a lane change!

Thanks so much for stopping by for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and our Tuesday’s Trench Truth with Trench Classes United. Come on in for a moment of truth that came to the surface of my heart just last week.

Last week, I had an incredibly long drive to what turned out to be a short deposition. But oh, how thankful I am for that long ride to Glendale. I had determined in my mind that I was going to make it a great time of worship and praise, a time for me and Abba to hang out, and a time for me to hear Him above the noise of life. He’s such a joyous God, with a crazy funny sense of humor, and He will go to great lengths to sit us down, causing us to be still so deep can reach out to deep. And the parking lot of the 210 freeway proved to be that quiet place!

The entire two-hour drive was spent listening and agreeing with so many pieces by Hosanna Poetry, words that worked as coals of fire with sparks of conviction into a couple of areas of my life, sparks burning away deeply-buried resentments, resentments that were close to growing roots but now with the cry of repentance melted away like a dying ember.

There were moments of such deep conviction driving me right there in the parking lot of the freeway to cry out for God to forgive me for what had been growing, unbeknownst to me, inside my heart because of an ongoing situation.

And then there were moments of just thanking Him, of feeling His arms reach out and enfold me in a huge and gentle hug all the while keeping the hands on the wheel of my car driving me to my deposition.

What could have been a real bummer of a drive turned out to be such a time of refreshing renewal…it was as if my brain had a lane change!

Coffee Hour friend, sometimes we just need to be still in the most unsuspecting places and times and soak up His presence, allow our brain to experience the ease of a lane change that will propel our heart right back to Him.  What goes in is what comes out!

Are there people, circumstances pulling on your mind, taking you down the roads of resentment, bitter, angry? Join us to learn how to experience that brain lane change and live fearlessly!

Love,

Evinda

Megan’s Mantra

Is it mandatory to experience an “AH HA” moment when you commit your life to Christ? I sure hope not, because I didn’t!

Welcome to Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Megan’s Monday Mantra with Trench Classes United. Warm up that cup of coffee you’ve been carrying around all morning and join me in my salvation story.

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Jesus knew how much I already needed Him, so He snatched me up early…

My Mom thought the neighbors were undereducated. In other words, STUPID!

She reluctantly let me play with Bobbie and Tom because they were the only kids in our neighborhood close to my age. I thoroughly enjoyed their company but Mom always wished I had someone more my “equal” to play with.

One Sunday morning, Bobbie and Tom’s parents asked my Mom if I could go to church with them. To my surprise, she allowed me to go. I will never forget pulling into the parking lot of a pink brick church. At the impressionable age of 6 years old, I had never seen a pink building let alone a pink brick church!

There were no Sunday School classes, everyone just filed into the church and filled the pews. I can still distinctly remember where we sat – fifth pew from the front on the left side facing the altar.

No one could ever accuse my neighbors of being a traditional prim and proper type of family. They worked hard, played hard, and then some. My playmates, Bobbie and Tom, were always into some kind of mischief, which was what I liked most about them. Today was different though. Today they all sat in a neat row, backs straight, hands folded in their laps, and feet firmly planted on the floor, waiting expectantly for the sermon to begin.

The most colorful character I had ever encountered, up to this point in my short life, confidently approached the pulpit. His presence was so huge that the pink brick church could hardly contain it. His booming voice filled the city block surrounding him and he wore the coolest cowboy hat I had ever seen. His name was Preacher Cowboy George!

I know he delivered a great sermon because the congregation was on fire. The only, and most important, part I remember is when Preacher Cowboy George asked, “Have you committed your life to Christ? Have you asked Jesus into your heart? If not, then come on up and we will do it together here, today!”

My first reaction was to jump to my feet and head straight to the altar, but not before looking to my neighbors to do the same. There they sat, calmly watching and smiling at those who were making their way to the front of the church. UH-OH! I didn’t know anything about asking Jesus into my heart, yet clearly my “undereducated” neighbors not only already knew – they already had! I was ashamed.  I lagged behind on the way out of church. I had been too afraid to stand up in front of the congregation, to accept Christ, all by myself.

That lone “UH-OH” moment led to a nightly prayer for Jesus to come into my heart for the next 16 years! That lone “UH -OH” moment has led to some very special “AH-HA” moments throughout my lifetime.

I’ve not felt concerned with the kind of moment I experienced when I committed my life to Christ. Instead, my biggest concern has been whether or not I am allowing Christ to work visibly through me, so that others might recognize His presence and be blessed by their own type of “AH HA” moments as they commit their lives to Him.

So, as you work your way through this week, remember, oftentimes God’s “UH-OH moments” actually turn out to be “AH-HA’s”!

In closing, I’d like to share one of my husband’s favorite Monday morning texts to me,
 “Enjoy this day that God has given you.”

Your comments are always most welcome.

Lovingly in Christ,

Megan

Foster’s Faith-filled Friday

Welcome to Foster’s Faith-filled Friday. I’m so humbled and excited to have Breanna on our blog team. Today’s blog is so transparent, heartfelt and if you’ve ever lost a loved one, well, grab your tissues…this one’s for you!

I miss my dad.

The grieving of my dad’s passing has its ebbs and flows. Most days I'm coping well but some days I'm completely lost. Today was one of those lost days. 

On the way to work, my car began to display some serious issues beginning with a loud and frightening noise. When I pulled over and got out, I discovered that my wheel well was hanging down and dragging against the road while I was driving. Scary! Scary! Scary!

The first thought that came to my head was "Call your dad. he'll know what to do," and reality hits me like a ton of bricks, I don't have that option anymore. I don't get to call my daddy when I'm scared and don't know what to do! In that moment, I lost it; I cried and cried for him. I needed my dad in that moment so desperately; my heart couldn't bare the pain. I could feel him; I knew he was watching over me. I couldn’t see him, but he was occupying space. There was no question, and again I spoke to him.

How many times had he seen me cry in such pain? How would I ever learn to cope with things life throws at me without my daddy to save the day? The tears came so powerfully I bent down and braced myself against the steering wheel. I watched my tears fall below me, and the pattern they made on my jeans, pulling me out of the hole I was falling into.

I was able to compose myself and told him I loved him, and continued driving to work.

Most of the time I go on as if nothing happened, because I don’t know what else to do, and if you ask me how I am, which many people who care about me do, I would say “ok,” because it seems that way at the time. But things have started cracking. I drive to the bottom of my street and can’t remember if I need to go right or left. I have no idea why I’m here or where I’m going.  I felt so emotionally drained.

When I got home after work, I crawled straight into bed. My spirit was grieving. As soon as my soul was still, I remembered, I'm not alone! The Lord is covering me with his love. He sees my pain and He comforts me.

Ecclesiastes3:1-4 – To everything there is a season, a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal, a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.

I remember one thing my pastor told me, "It will always be hard. But it won't always be crushing."

This was a moment I broke down and now I need to build up. I need to continue pushing forward knowing I'm so loved and I have two dads in heaven waiting for me and that brings me so much peace.

The loss of a loved one can be extremely difficult, but we also know that our grief is temporary, limited to this life. In heaven we will no longer experience the sadness associated with lost loved ones. For now, I will let that thought hold me, take me into a deep sleep.

Breanna

Thursday’s Trench Truth

Welcome to Tam’s Trench Truth and Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Trench Classes United.

Today I went for a short walk in a park and ended up lying down under a tree. Since I was a child I have loved to do this, lie there still, looking up, watching as the wind blows the leaves and branches. I have always found it most relaxing. Today as I laid there looking up, I thought of this invisible force and how it's possible that something you can't see can have so much power. Man has long used the wind to his advantage to hoist the sails and to move across the ocean. To use wind to grind grain and pump water. It’s used to drain the wetlands and make room for agriculture. For so long, man has harnessed the wind and used its power all without ever witnessing its physical form. Still we believe in it. We cannot direct the wind, but we can surely direct our sails and our rudders to work with the wind to move toward a destination of our choosing. 

I find myself always wondering about God and His will. Wondering about the Holy Spirit and how it all comes to fruition. Are we not all part of God's wind and God's power? Can we not fill the sails of other's reaching out for love? You see, I think God's wind and power also takes no physical form, yet we can see its power all around us. If love is the wind and we are the power that feeds it, why do we not push to spread its power more in this world? Might I suggest that so many of us get caught up with our own issues and problems that we forget to take the time to be empathetic toward others?

We should not only project this wind of love but also harness it. Sometimes we give so much of ourselves we forget to let love in. Perhaps we justify blocking love out because we are busy giving it, and still not absorbing it. 

I want to love but I always want to be loved. I admit that I think I might have come into a place in my life where I have become tainted, where I feel the need to block love... maybe from small places, but nonetheless shut it out, especially considering the people I wanted it the most from refused to give it.

Yes, as I lay there, I felt God in the trees blowing through. I’d like to think so, that God has my back in such simple ways, It begs this question: Why do we see the dramatic loss of love before we see the calming love in the clouds?

May we tune our eyes to not only observe, but feel these clouds that fly by so effortlessly.  Let's take the time to take in the trees, harness the wind, feel the clouds, to believe in its power. It's all God's love.

To help you do that, plan on joining us for A Night of Purpose, an evening sure to answer questions, give you great information and meet you right where you are!

Much love everyone,

                 ~John