Tuesday’s Trench Truth

Did you know that one of the Hebrew translations for the word “truth” is “an unveiled reality”? Thanks for joining me today for Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Tuesday’s Trench Truth with Trench Classes United. Come on in for a moment of truth that I pray will become your unveiled reality.

Have you ever been at a party and they broke out the limbo stick and suddenly before you knew it, you were in line and it was getting close to your turn to twist and contort your body into some form of a pretzel so it would go under the bar without touching it? And when you made it through that first time, you breathed a huge sigh of relief and began planning how you would twist and contort to get under the bar this next time around which would be harder because it was lower, right?

Well, when someone lets us down, do we fall down, like we do in that limbo line when the bar is just too low, or do we get up and rise above the hurt and disappointment?

If we don’t rise above it, is it because we don’t know how to?

Perhaps it’s time to lower our expectations, just like in the limbo line…now, not all the way to the ground, but seriously, think about it: oftentimes we are let down because our expectations are too high.

See, hurt people hurt people…but found people find people! Health recognizes health!

Mark your calendar for January 18, 2018, and join us to learn how to live with expectations that set your relationships up for success!
Love,

Evinda

Monday’s Mantra

I met an elderly lady while grocery shopping for a Thanksgiving turkey. She told me she had lost her husband a year and a half ago and how horribly difficult it had been for her to be without him. She would get up every morning and just go through the motions of her day. Until one day, while listening to her favorite Country Western radio station, she heard Carrie Underwood’s beautiful voice belt out, “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”

Welcome to Coffee Hour at Chicklit Power and Megan’s Monday Mantra with Trench Classes United.

The, now impassioned, elderly lady continued to tell me she had started to ask “Jesus to take the wheel” all of the time, and even though she still missed her husband, she had places to be … like sharing her story with me in the middle of a busy grocery store aisle!

It all sounds so simple, too simple…but, it works! I’ve tried it J

Truthfully, it is simply too easy to lose sight of Jesus. A difficult decision, running behind schedule, reshuffling of plans, an unexpected emergency, even a misplaced cell phone, can easily distract our focus away from Him. Yet, these are the very times we need to call on Him. Truthfully, all times are the very times we need to call on Jesus.  He promised to keep our steps steady by His word. He promised that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

All we need to do is ask...

“Jesus, take the wheel; take it from my hands

Cause I can’t do this on my own. I’m letting go,

So give me one more chance and save me from this road I’m on …

Jesus, take the wheel”

Your comments are always most welcome.

Lovingly in Christ,

Megan

Faith-Filled Friday

It’s Faith-Filled Friday! Grab your coffee and your strand of faith for some great knot-tying in and for your faith! Jennifer has a thought-provoking question to ask us…and an answer, her answer to that same question! Come on in for a few!

How would it change your mindset if you suddenly realized that you were born to solve a problem? 

When I was young I would read history books or stories of people who did great things and marvel at what they were able to accomplish.  If only I could do great things.  If only I had a special purpose in life.  That hope was tossed aside by the realities of my life: Parents who often worked late and weren’t home, bullies at school, an abusive husband.  I have often felt unworthy, not good enough and that having a purpose in life was for someone else and not me. 

Then one day I heard… “You are a solution to a God problem.”  It wasn’t a voice from on high but from the pulpit. I had just moved to Florida and it was the second or third time attending this church.  The pastor went on to explain that all of us were created to solve a “God problem.”  Every hard situation, every joy was meant to fulfill that purpose. 

Every person is born with purpose, to solve a God problem.

“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” (Proverbs 20:5)

All people are made in the image of God. Each of us are born with a purpose and calling that we can discover… or completely miss. The influence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers gives us insight to His purposes for us.

I have an assignment from God specifically for me.  Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

This truth opened up a world of hope and a resolve to discover that plan and achieve it.   I no longer feel like someone tossed about by my experiences.  I feel free to walk out what God has called me to do.

How about you?  Do you feel bound up by the past and/or how you view yourself?  Do you believe God has a special assignment for you?  He does, and He is waiting for you to accept it.

Jennifer

Thursday’s Triumph

When someone steps on your foot, what do you say? Hopefully you say ouch, right?! But what do we do when someone steps on our emotions, our emotional foot, per say?

Welcome to Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Thursday’s Trench Truth with Trench Classes United. Grab your coffee and come on in for a moment of truth.

After so many times of getting your foot stepped on without any sort of relief, one of two things will happen: Your foot will be so pained, you won’t be able to walk, or…you will finally say ouch and stop people from stepping on it and recreating the pain.

The key is not just in when we say ouch, it’s how we say ouch.

Join us to learn how to live life forgiven and forgiving…for a life lived forgiven is worth living.

Love,

Evinda

Wednesday’s Word

per·spec·tive

“The interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed; also: point of view; the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance.” 

Did you know that your perspective can be affected by your perception?  I know; I see you scratching your head so let me make a confession: I honestly thought they were the same thing! Welcome to Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United. Come on in for what I hope will be a powerful blog that will clear your perception to positively affect your perspective, no matter where you are in life!

I can’t take credit for this breakthrough; it comes from Jason Frenn, the author of Power to Change.  Let me see if I can explain it to you in a way that brings clarity. As the definition states, perspective is where you are physically, emotionally and spiritually when you view something, or someone, and perception is how you interpret what you are looking at, perceiving with your mind and soul, from any given perspective.

For example, we have all read or heard of those amazing stories of a person born into poverty, or a not so positive generational cycle of any type; this equates to their perspective, position and/or placement in life. Now, how they rise above it and make something of themselves because of how they viewed and interpreted their circumstances is their perception. In other words, perception is how we take in whatever we take in. 

Let me share a word picture that comes to mind: There are many arteries and blood vessels (little pipes) that carry oxygen and blood to and from the heart but they can’t do that if there are clogs in the pipes, so to speak. Life can clog those pipes –perspective—and receiving God’s love becomes really difficult, if not impossible for many. (John 3:16) It is NOT because God’s love isn’t powerful enough to clear the clog, but more because their perception needs to receive truth in order to unclog the perspective.

His love is what changes our perception so that no matter what perspective we are viewing our life’s circumstances from, or those of others, our perception doesn’t waver.

Perception can change your perspective.

But how do we change our perception despite our perspective?

God knew there would be so many of His kids born into unhealthy cycles,  incredibly unpleasant circumstances, which is why He left us the precious gift of His Spirit: to change our perception, despite our perspective.  Could it be that when we feed our faith, our perception is able to rise above our perspective?

What will you do today to positively affect your perception in a way that lifts you above your perspective?

Thoughtfully,

Evinda 

Tuesday’s Trench Truth

When someone you look up to lets you down, what in the world do you do?

Welcome to Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Tuesday Trench Truth with Trench Classes United. Grab your coffee and come on in for a moment of truth.

Recently I experienced a disappointment as it relates to a very influential person, but what sickens my heart even more is this person is the most influential in “the church,” and I know what that can do to the perspective of newcomers. 

Why do we fall so hard when those we have esteemed let us down? Could it be that perhaps we have put them on a pedestal that no one should be put upon except our God? Could this be why He tells us to not put our faith in man but in The Son of Man? Could it be that our pride is wounded for having been so deceived and now this person becomes just “another wolf in sheep’s clothing”?

Coffee hour friend, many times when we are let down by those we lifted high, it’s because we see their error as an extension of ourselves! Instead of focusing on the problem we need to kneel to the solution and pray our own souls into transformation as well as the one who has let us down. There truly is no other way.

On that note, if you’ve ever been let down by someone you held up high, why don’t you plan on joining us for the orientation to Living Forgiven, and Forgiving, because a life lived forgiven is worth the living!

I am so excited to meet you there!

Evinda 

Monday’s Mantra

Have you ever told a lie? That is one of the questions on a sales assessment test. If you answer no, you are lying. If you answer yes, you are a liar. The best case scenario…you are an honest lair!

Welcome to Coffee Hour at Chicklit Power and Megan’s Monday Mantra with Trench Classes United.

When I was the age of five, my mother decided it was time to teach me about the consequences of dishonesty. One morning at breakfast she said, “Megan, do you know God knows every time you tell a lie?” “How does He know?” I asked. She answered, “because every time you tell a lie, there is a light that blinks on and off in Heaven.” I had to take a few moments to think about that … and then I asked, “Mom, do you ever lie?” “Of course not!” she proclaimed. “Mom,” I replied, “I think there is a light blinking on and off in Heaven!”

A comical childhood memory, yes, but not without thought-provoking implications. What is the difference between a half truth and a white lie? Are we able to speak the truth if we are not able to be truthful with ourselves? Can we be totally honest without sacrificing the feelings of others? Does saving someone’s feelings actually save them from the truth?

I am currently studying “Speaking the Truth in Love; How to Be an Assertive Christian” in my Stephen Ministry class. Speaking the truth in love means being genuinely honest, direct, and open when relating to others. Assertive behavior is built on the principles of respect, truth and honesty. We are called to be honest with God, ourselves, and those with whom we love, live, and work. When we express our thoughts, feelings and preferences, in an honest, direct, and respectful manner, we empower others to do so as well. The Christ-centered, assertive Christian is one of wholeness and integrity; a person whose words and behaviors are consistent with his or her beliefs and values – a person who accurately reflects on the outside what is on the inside… a person who lives his or her truth out of love and respect for God, themselves, and others.

I pray, Dear Lord, that we may grow and blossom into this kind of Christian, so that our behavior may bring honor to You and to the whole Body of Christ. 

“But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head – Christ” Ephesians 4:15 

Your comments are always most welcome.

Lovingly in Christ,

Megan