“You are a solution to a God problem.”

FAITH FILLED FRIDAY

It’s Faith-Filled Friday with special guest Jennifer Wyatt! 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 

Being “in love” isn’t all about butterflies and attraction; it’s choosing to stay even when you want to go! EL

THURSDAY’S TRENCH TRUTH AND INVITATION TOO

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Lack of communication is not Biblical grounds for divorce; not “feeling” the love is not Biblical grounds for divorce. Illness, financial burdens, and all the other terms we deem irreconcilable are not Biblical grounds for divorce. So how do we reconcile what we deem irreconcilable?

This is just one of the touch dilemmas Trench Classes United helps you through! Join us at www.facebook.com/trenchclassesunited for more words of encouragement and to stay tuned for a trench coming near you!
In the meantime, set it all aside and join us for A Night of Laughter. I know you will be glad you did

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Hope to see you there,

Kim-Evinda

No matter what your ‘Goliath’ is, the battle belongs to the Lord. Let Go! EL

 WEDNESDAY’S WORD

No matter how many times you’ve read a scripture, a portion of scripture with a story in it, or an entire chapter, as long as you invite Him into the reading, you will get something new every single time!

Thanks for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word. I’m so excited to share today’s blog with you.

So I have been studying the books of 1^st and 2^nd Samuel…for quite some time. In fact, our home group has just finished those books after eight months! But I am doing an extra in-depth study on these two books so I asked my husband to join me the other morning during our coffee hour together. Let’s just say that he wanted to read something else as he felt he’d gotten enough out of the many stories within those books. I lovingly reminded him that there was something new for us in it that morning, and then proceeded to confirm that with prayer.

I wasn’t disappointed!

In 1stSamuel 17, the Philistines were preparing to go into battle with the Children of Israel and literally cremate them, take them all out. They just knew they were going to win because they had what the other side didn’t: a real live giant who stood well over 9.5 feet! His name was Goliath. Not only was he tall, but he was armed to the hilt. I mean, there was nothing that was going to penetrate this guy’s protection on his body. 

Every day for 40 days, this giant of a dude would come to the edge of the mountain they were camped on and cry out to the army on the other side – a valley separated them – and taunt them, inviting them to choose one man for battle that he could slay and take the Children of Israel to be the servants of the Philistines. Oh, the prideful parading for power that is displayed in the first 16 verses.

Well, the Israelite's were terrified, and I do mean terrified. And if you’ve ever been in a panic situation, you know that you don’t always think the most clear when you’re trembling with fear. To make a long story short about how David was chosen as the man to fight Goliath – when he really was a boy – David volunteered!

I can just imagine the Israelites’ first reaction of chocking down laughter in the midst of their terror at the thought of a young shepherd boy volunteering to slay this giant and save them. Well, the fact that they allowed him to go thru with it proves the depth of their terror. They were willing to try anything. Oh, how I would have loved to have been a fly in their heads to know their thoughts.

They get David ready for battle by weighing the little guy down with a bunch of armor and garb but he, being wise, said heck no, I’m not used to this, so he took it all off and went and got his sling-shot and five stones. Now they’re really laughing…no, not really. I think they were just so shocked, and at this point, just hoping for a miracle.

Imagine Goliath’s response when David is brought forth as the guy he’s going to fight! Wouldn’t you have loved to have seen the look on his face?  

Goliath proceeds to taunt David, and I mean taunt him with some pretty harsh insults that would truly trouble most of us, even with the strongest of faith. Goliath taunted and taunted and David only had one response: “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied.”

Then David proceeds to give a very detailed description of what he was going to do to him, ending with a reminder that the battle belongs to the Lord.

It was as if David didn’t even hear the insults of this giant, nor did he look at Goliath’s size, his armor or feed into his attitude. David was focused on his God whom he knew would not fail him and as Goliath came at him, David ran toward him, eager to slay this giant.

Friends, sometimes we can be our own Goliath! What “Goliath” is taunting you and whispering in your ear lies of being no good, or lies of giving into your weakness that prevents you from a victorious life?  Do you stop to listen, or do you just move forward, one foot at a time, armed with a faith that cannot be broken or taken?

That morning with my husband, I was so excited for this different revelation, this truth that all of us go thru periods with a Goliath of sorts and if we are armed with our faith, filled with our portions of scripture, walking with Him, we will slay our giants, no matter how big!
Have a Wonderful Wednesday,

Love,

Kim-Evinda

Laughter is to the soul what food is to the body: NECESSARY!

 TUESDAY’S TRENCH TRUTH & INVITATION TOO

Click on this link to get your free gift just for accepting the invitation to join us for A Night of Laughter, our fundraiser to continue the mission of helping others thrive in life and love

​Click on the picture to buy tickets for  Squeaky Clean Comedy  August 24, 2018! 

Hope to see you there,

Kim-Evinda

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

When you look in the mirror what do you see?

 Faith Filled Friday

Good Morning Coffee hour friends. Today we will be talking about resembling Jesus. What a blessing it is that we are able to strive for this every day. We will be looking at Melchizedek and how He was said to resemble Jesus.

I love reading about prophets like Melchizedek, a man, yet he resembled our precious Savior. What hope we have when diving into God’s word and anchoring our hearts so that we can aspire to be like Melchizedek, a man who lived and died resembling Christ. 

Psalm 110:4  (NLT) says: ⁴ The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Could you imagine begin compared to Jesus as Melchizedek? Though we don't know all about his life, we do know that he was king of the city of Salem and a priest of God most high. 

Hebrews 7:15-21 tells us what the Bible says about how and why Melchizedek resembles Jesus and I encourage you to read it.

This Coffee Hour, I’d like to encourage you in the journey of resembling Jesus, which is easier when we journey with our Prince of Peace. Remember that Satan is sure to point out our every flaw in the journey, just like he did to the people in the Old Testament when they broke the law that was impossible to keep. God knew that man could not keep this Old Testament law which was put in place to help us see our need for a Savior. He knew we needed rescuing and He set His plan in motion to send His perfect Son to free us from ourselves. Jesus came as a babe and grew in our destructive world, and He suffered every type of suffering, yet He never sinned. 

Each day we fall short of the resemblance of God. Oh, how I am thankful that we are able to come before Jesus and be washed clean every day and start again. Praise Jesus for He is Mighty to save. Pray this prayer with me:

Heavenly Father, 

 Help us to remember your old law and to use it as a guide to be more and more like you each day. Thank you for freeing us from our sinful ways. We praise you, our God Most High. Fill us afresh with a new Spirit and forgive us, Lord, of all of our sins. Continue to do a great work on and in our hearts that would fill us with more of you and less of us. Oh, how we love you and praise you. For it’s in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Ashley 

To stop and look at creation is to inhale beauty and exhale chaos! EL

Wednesday’s Word

Thanks for joining me for Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word @ Trench Classes United. It’s a great day for a Psalm! Grab your coffee, (iced J ) a pen, journal, your strand of faith and let’s get right into the word at Psalm19.

Within the first six verses we can see that this is a Psalm of praise for God’s creation and His Word. I don’t know about you, but I often miss the small things about creation that are really quite significant, especially in the world of social media. But when I press the pause button in my life and just gaze upon them, it’s like I took a deep, cleansing breath that inhales beauty and exhales chaos.

For example: what do you do when you see a new flower in bloom, or the splendor of the hills, the mountains, the puffy clouds of all sizes and shapes? Do you ever take the time to gaze upon His artwork seen in a beautiful sunrise, the promise of a new day; or a beautiful sunset, a beautiful finish to another day of life? And even more awe-inspiring is new life, such as brand new humming birds that were recently born in our Ficus tree. Watching these creations changes our perspective, refreshes us.

There are so many pieces of creation that beckon us to stop, pay attention and let it soak into our being for then we can be refreshed with hope because we’ve acknowledged our Creator.

I could sit in this mode for a long time; however, I want us to begin today with verse 7. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure; making wise the simple. ⁸ The statues of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”

Now let’s try a rewrite of this verse, which is merely putting yourself in it; in this way, you will make it yours, honest, from your heart:

“Abba, your principles and promises are perfect, and they are continuing to convert my soul. Your words are true, giving me depth in my soul.⁸Your requirements are right and they make my heart glad. The commandment to love You with all my heart, soul and mind keeps the eyes of my heart open to the things of You created by You.”

Let’s wrap up this rewriting session with the final verse, which we can make the cry of our hearts daily: ¹⁴Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O, Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

I don’t know about you, but I say there’s no need to do anything with that but write it, speak it and deposit it in the core of your soul!

Loving and learning in the Psalms,

Kim-Evinda