Faith Filled Friday

Hello and welcome back, Troopers, to another Faith Filled Friday! 

This last week was found much like the one before, and the one before that, a constant echo. Do we not appreciate a cold glass of ice water a lot more on a hot summer’s day? Might I appreciate a conversation more perhaps because I feel so alone? Maybe because I didn't have all the toys other kids had, I have more imagination. Because I have not had a relationship that's stood the test of time, despite working so hard for it, I appreciate it more when it was present and accounted for. The things we long for in life are often the things that could keep us humble. Being humble is a gift all to itself, yet, too easily lost. 

Humility is about reminding ourselves daily to be grateful for what we have, but also maybe what we don't have. I recently thought about moments of my childhood where I wanted a popular toy and I was never able to get it; we were just too poor. I never had a lot of toys, but I was humbled by that, and I likely will be for my entire lifetime too. Where and what I was lacking as a kid, I made up for with a growing imagination. My mind could turn anything into spaceship. I wasn't only the regular super hero... I invented new ones. Any stick I picked up could be a firearm and would make me a trooper. 

Although I have had moments of day dreaming and spacing out, I can't recall too many times in my lifetime where I was bored. Yet I hear people say that all the time, even children. God instilled this gift in me and I am entirely content with feeling such precious life through the same wind that not only fills our lungs... but graces my face.... Can't help but feel that sometimes I might just have more than others in that sense.

You see I find myself appreciating the fact that despite all the things I have wanted and not attained, that it has all formed this part and piece of me that loves, appreciates and feels things deeply. Sometimes that can feel like a curse. But for the most part being able to see God's grace and love in things almost everywhere I look is such a huge gift. So I am thankful to the power of the universe, my mother and God himself, for not always providing and giving in to my wants. It's amazing to me that how bad we can want and never have the joy of getting it, could bring happiness and joy on different levels. Sometimes our Father knows best! 

Still it hurts to be so alone... often with the silence as a friend, but also an adversary. But this void perhaps isn't an empty space as more it might be a cavern to feel from. I just know I love and appreciate music, laughter, joy, and yes even the tears that much more. I will never take for granted the time, the love, the joy and laughter of a friend or especially a mate that wants to stick around and believe in me. 

Love is and always will be a best roommate. I know for me it is.

Much love and till next time, try and appreciate something you had to go without because of its end effect. God surely works in mysterious ways.

John

Wednesday's Word

Be on the Lookout

1^st Peter 3:15: Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord, and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a gentle and respectful way. Living Bible (TLB)

Happy Wednesday! I’m so glad that you took the time to stop what you were doing and join me for Coffee Hour here @ Chicklit Power and Trench Classes United.  Come with me to yet another revelation that brought scripture to life in me.

My personal coffee hour with Him began at 4:30 that morning. I was being sent to a different law firm and wasn’t quite sure how long it would take me once I got off the Red Line Subway, so I was giving myself plenty of time. As I rewind the day, I can’t help but smile as I realize it only took me about ten minutes to walk the five short blocks. And to show me He was with me, He made sure that I saw the Red Line Subway stop just 100 yards from where I needed to be which is the way I went back to Union Station for the train ride home.

Though I was tired, I was energized in my mind, and soul. I was ready to work, to paint a verbatim record with words…Apparently, He had other plans! The defense attorney came out and informed us that the applicant had informed her he couldn’t testify; he was under the influence of yet more medications; his grandfather had a heart attack and they weren’t expecting him to live and he just didn’t feel like testifying, so we’d be going on the record to state just that and then we’d be done. Dang it! I was all prepared to get some pages, Lord…but I guess you have other plans.

We did what she said we would do, and within four minutes – the shortest deposition I’ve ever taken in my almost 27 years of reporting – we were done! Badda bing, badda boom! Setting up my equipment took me seven minutes for crying out loud! I left the building a little less happy than when I entered, but within minutes let go of my frustration. Obviously He knew what was/is best, so I went to my office just a couple stops up the route to Union Station, dropped off an expedited transcript, visited with staff for a bit and then went for a relaxing lunch before catching the train home.

The conductor greeted me and there was a little poke in my memory about him; I had gone home this early one other time in the recent past and I wasn’t feeling so well and he was very nice. He greeted me again, only with that hesitation of vague familiarity. I didn’t attempt to jog his memory; I was so tired and was having a hard time staying awake, much less communicative, but I also wanted to get on and get my three-minute transcript done!

By the time we were on our way and towards our third stop, I did just that, and couldn’t help but hear a conversation he was having with another rider, this rider was in a wheelchair and quite an interesting fellow. Anyway, their dialog was definitely about the philosophies of religions and you could tell they believed different things. I tried not to look like I was listening – you know what I mean – but at one point my cover was blown as my eyes caught his. I must have had a question in my eyes, because several stops later, after he had helped this man off the train, he came up to me and just began talking with me as if though I had been part of that conversation! Awkward! ☺ ☺ 

I discovered He was a Mormon and so I asked him somewhat confidently but curious nonetheless what were the differences between Christianity and Mormonism, and then quickly added, I understand you do refer to yourselves as Christians. I really wanted to know. It was an eye-opening experience…but not just for me. When he talked about heaven, eternity, our view differed greatly, but what was cool in a God’s grace kind of way is I was able to use scripture to play verbal tennis, if you will, when it came to a couple of our differing points of view. We talked about the levels of heaven; he referred to them as the levels of glory. Okay, that’s not so far off. He believes, or they believe that they are the priesthood; okay; that’s a minor and I wanted to focus on the majors. The very last thing we touched upon before my ride came to an end intrigued me and saddened me all at the same time. He said we all will have a “review of life.” 

I said well, yeah, we will be judged on our gifts, how we used them or not, our fruit, our faith which should produce good works. “Is that what you mean by a review of life?”

What he said next rendered me lost in thought…and sad, so very sad.

He said “We will get to feel the pain we caused others but didn’t know we caused others.” 

Now to put it in a way that my pea brain can comprehend, we will be shamed? 

“We will continue this conversation another time,” he said the train pulled into the station.

I looked at him and smiled. “Yes, we will.”

Now I am definitely looking forward to seeing him again and will definitely refute that philosophy…in love and gentleness. But as I re-wound the camera the next morning in my time with Him, it hit me that He had answered my prayer, which was to be used by Him. I wasn’t supposed to stay on the record getting page after page after page and making more money. He had a different plan and needed me on that train and in that conversation! I can’t take the credit; we know it was His Spirit in me. 

Oh, that I would always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within me…may I challenge you today to be on the lookout for an opportunity to do the same…in love.

Evinda

Monday's Mantra

Going the Extra Mile

Welcome to Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Trench Classes United! I’m so humbled to have you join me for a cup of encouragement in the journey of life which is full of opportunities to be a good neighbor as He puts people in our lives for a reason, and for a season. Some seasons are longer than others, and some are so quick that one must be prepared and ready to show kindness, listen, sacrifice and humbly! Today being Halloween is a perfect opportunity to practice some of these neighboring principles! Come on; grab whatever you’re having and don’t forget your Red Strand of Faith as my prayer is that what you read today will tie another knot in your faith.

Have you ever not done something and even found good cause to justify not doing so…and then shortly thereafter felt a little nudge tugging on your heart?  Oh, I have, and too many times to count.  Everywhere we look there are obvious and not-so-obvious needs needing to be met, brokenness needing mending, dysfunction needing education and guidance; in other words, there are plenty of opportunities to be His hands and His feet, to friends, strangers and enemies!  

Let’s look at this next piece of this verse 34 in Luke 10 which reveals the Samaritan’s commitment as it relates to this parable. He has already done what most of us would deem plenty – he saw him; his compassion moved him into action of cleaning his wounds; thereafter, he put him up on his own animal, which meant he probably walked to the inn with his eyes on the beaten man while pulling his animal and then he “took care of him.” In verse 35, we read the words: “On the next day when he departed,” which tells us he stayed the night with him!

To many of us, this is a big stretch, a sort of stock in Spandex kind of stretch! ☺ But, really what it is, is the “extra” in “extraordinary”; the extra mile. Did you know that phrase “the extra mile” actually comes from the Bible? See, according to the law, the Roman soldiers could force a Jewish boy or man to carry their packs or burdens for up to one mile. This was a law! And by the way, their mile was just a tad short of the equivalent of our mile. I don’t know about you, but walking a mile requires some energy; I can’t imagine carrying something too! 

Galatians 6:2 tells us that bearing one another’s burdens is fulfilling the law of Christ! And yet…we hesitate. Maybe instead of concentrating on excusing why we don’t, let’s look at why we should:

So why would we want to go the extra mile? Well, an easy answer would be “because Jesus says so!” But let’s dig a little deeper. When Jesus spoke the words “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two” in Matthew 5:41, this was contra-culture; in other words, this statement was offensive to the Jews of Jesus’ day because a Messiah wouldn’t subject himself to such humility for a myriad of reasons…many of those reasons are still with us in our own culture today.  Why do you believe Jesus requires a “second mile”? Did you know that there are those in the church that desperately need someone to go the extra mile for them? And we don’t have to walk very far outside the doors of our place of worship to see that same reality.

It’s easy to love those who love us, to like those who like us. This is the equivalent of going that first mile, and if we’re honest with ourselves, many of us do this out of a sense of duty and/or love. But when it comes to a neighbor, a stranger and even an enemy, well, this is the opportunity to go the second mile or the extra mile. It is in this second mile that others are able to see firsthand the level of our commitment and our love for Jesus. Do you believe that if more of us consistently went that second mile, the church would experience a significant shift! Why? The second mile is the trial mile, and we all know that trials grow our faith, and make us more like Jesus!

Can I encourage you this week to be on the lookout for your invitation to go the second mile.

Love,

Evinda

Fatih Filled Friday's

Welcome back to Faith Filled Friday's!

Do you ever feel like there needs to be five of you to get it all done because things are just too crazy? Well that is how I have felt for quite some time; however, this week has been an extremely challenging one for me: between emergency dental visits, an extension deadline fast approaching for my taxes and missing that deadline due to a bug in the IRS’s system, there were also VA issues. Oh, and let’s not forget car breakdowns, printer breakdowns, business issues... Well let's say I am grasping for any extra seconds or bits of calm and peace that I can get.

Well, all of this really became too much and I grabbed my head and let out a scream. I felt trapped, my anxiety coming on so strong sending me into a full-on panic attack. I prayed for God to help me through it as I don't like having to reach for medication to help settle me down. But in this moment, I absolutely had to reach for them, fighting feelings of guilt, feeling like half a man because I can't deal with it all without assistance from a pill. All these thoughts were swirling with all the other stuff as I reached into the cabinet for what I knew would quiet it all. 

Just as I was reaching into the cupboard, the doorbell rang. It was a friend showing up and I realized right away that she was totally God sent. She was able to help me calm down enough to get the priority stuff done and then talk me through an emotional breakdown. I fell to tears and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop. I was so overwhelmed with the reality that though I felt so all alone, God heard my silent screams of panic. I don't always have people show up like that and in fact I am alone most of the time. But in my dark moment, God showed up in the form of a friend. I felt…loved, cared for.

So I just wanted to portray my thanks to God and to my friend by sharing this with you. See, sometimes we just need to hold on a few seconds later... help is on the way. Once again I find myself in tears but this time it's because I feel blessed. I needed exactly what came my way tonight. I surely hope this blesses you wherever you are in heart, mind and spirit.

Until next week.. Much love & God Bless,

~John Tam

Wednesday's Word

1^st Peter 2:20

But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

Thanks so much for joining us for Wednesday’s Word and Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Trench Classes United. Grab your beverage and your Strand of Faith. Something tells me there may be a very big knot to tie in our faith!

The other day I was on the phone with one of my Transformers and they were sharing their recent relational struggle which involved a sister and her three children and her and her two children.  As she unfolded the pieces of her interpretation of what happened that led up to her son being bullied, and how she handled it, and the results of the way she handled it, she was left in a frustrated quandary and wanted me to tell her which direction to go now. Each time I suggested something, she brought a new piece into the messy puzzle, which definitely tweaked it just enough to change the outcome had she tried what I suggested. I listened and could totally relate with her frustration but also realized that in every situation, there are two versions: the one I’m being told and the one I’m not being told. ☺

Not only that, but there were many facets to this current drama she was entangled in and as I continued to listen to try and assimilate them all, I put myself in her shoes and in the shoes of her sister and there was a holy moment that happened as these words flew out of my mouth, almost without any warning but for the memory of having read these powerful words just the day before: “Let go of your right to be right,” I exclaimed.

“Huh?”
The silence was refreshing.

I repeated what I had said, and then added, “So many times when we know that we know that we are in the right, we want to take the other person and rub their nose in our opinion of being right, get them to see what we see, but we can’t do that for it only causes harm, and adds to the frustration. Maybe it’s time to step back and pray and just let go of your right to be right. This situation is not going anywhere, but if you continue trying to solve it now, you will only make it bigger…and worse.”

As I was sharing this with her, He was speaking to me! He’s such a multi-tasker like that! I’m pretty sure that you can vouch for at least one broken relationship that means so much to you, and recently I have surrendered mine to Him, letting go of my right to be right while praying He builds the bridge towards reconciliation, which definitely will require that I bear patiently while I suffer in my soul over the absence of this relationship, doing what is right by letting go and letting God work it out. And knowing this is pleasing to Him…well, that does make it a little easier. 

I love this Transformer and her teachable heart. She got it and simply said, “So do nothing?” 

“Right now, yes, do nothing; just handle it within your own household, with your husband and children and let go of your need to be right. It’s not like this won’t come up again, but before it does, you need to be prayed up so you can soften up.”
I am definitely waiting patiently to see how God intervenes in her relational struggle and mine. How about you; do you have an area of your life that you need to surrender your right to be right? I’m praying that these holy words will erase that need while rooting in your heart and blossoming in your life and the lives of those whom you love.

Evinda

Monday's Mantra

Humility=Thinking of Yourself Less

Welcome to Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Trench Classes United. I’m so glad you chose to take the time to make the time to join us for a cup of encouragement in the faith journey! Grab whatever you’re having for your break, and don’t forget your Red Strand of Faith because my hope is that you will be able to tie a few knots in it as things written from my heart reach yours.

So far in this series about neighboring, we’ve talked about compassion, which moves us into action, and the fact that anyone who crosses our path is our neighbor in that moment, and about the gift of listening to our neighbor and then of course the sacrifice it requires to stop in the moment and be a good neighbor. Today I’d like to talk about something that actually goes hand in hand with sacrifice and let me start out with this quote from C.S. Lewis: “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less”! Isn’t that a good one?!

The next thing that the Samaritan did to love/serve his neighbor after he had bandaged him, or cleaned up his wounds with oil and wine, was to then “set him on his own animal”! (Emphasis own added) 

It’s important to remember the historical backdrop: The Samaritans were known as “half-breeds,” half Jewish and half Gentile, and because of their idol-worshipping, were despised even more than the Roman conquerors. They were labeled as “unclean,” which is why Jesus uses him as an example for this parable; he was the least likely to help his Jewish neighbor for the Samaritans’ hate for the Jews ran as deep as the Jews’ hate for the Samaritans! 

So what would our homes, neighborhoods and communities look like if we were to lay aside culture, social and economic backgrounds, or the whole popularity issue, private and public prejudices? What if we just reached out and treated any of these, aka, our neighbor as a creation of Christ? How is it that we deny ourselves the propensity of labeling others less fortunate than ourselves in a negative light, or deny the habit of ignoring the homeless, or humbly run to instead of run from the addict, the alcoholic, or stereo-typing the more obviously wounded, or the mentally challenged, the frail elderly? What if we were to bring them near to us, just as the Samaritan put this guy on his own animal?

The Samaritan’s eyes remained opened; he listened to his heart which moved him to continue to show compassion. He could have left him there after cleaning his wounds, but he didn’t. He sacrificed his own agenda, delayed his journey and re-routed his course, and at his own expense of his own resources: time, money. He humbled himself and put the guy’s needs ahead of his own, dared to associate himself with him, bee seen with him by putting him up on his own animal. Here’s something else to ponder: I wonder if by the time the Samaritan puts him up on his horse if the guy was coherent enough to recognize the help he was receiving. Remember by the time the Samaritan reached him, he was “half dead.” 

Let’s exchange “half-dead” for our lowest point or points in life, when trials and tragedies really have us shaken, when our needs feel greater than our faith. Have you ever been in such a position? Do you know anyone right now who could use someone to bring them close?  This verse goes on to say that the Samaritan takes him to a safe place! The first place I think of when I think of a safe place is the church! When is the last time you reached out to invite anyone to a safe place, let alone a hurting neighbor? Isn’t the church a hospital for the wounded and sick? 

What makes us different from that man in the road? Could it be the safe place we call church?

Humbly

Evinda  

Fatih Filled Friday

Oh, friends, if you’re a pet lover, you’re really going to relate with this blog today. I too believe that God uses four-legged friends for many, many things in our faith journey…one of them being learning to be vulnerable! Grab your favorite beverage and join us for a sweet time!

Welcome back everyone to another Faith Filled Friday! 

So I thought I'd share some pretty exciting news here: After going two years since I lost my best friend Bella (my dog), I have decided to take on a kitten. This is a big step for me. I am not the kind of person to fill the painful loss and void with just another. I loved my dog Bella with every part of me. She was the most loyal friend and she was always there for me, even eager to warm my cold feet. I think for many of us in the world when we have troubles connecting with people we confide in our four-legged family members quite a bit. Animals have a unique way of filling in the voids that come our way in the world. I was incredibly blessed that God brought that dog into my life. I miss her dearly but I feel that the time has come to bring a family member into this home. I have actually been quite excited and found myself even surfing through the pages of Amazon and heading to a pet store to get a few things. The anticipation is building and I still have a month and a half of waiting before I bring the lil' guy home. I just couldn't help myself. 

I have always wanted to be good to any pet I have had because I want to bond with them. This leads me to read up extensively, so that I may fully understand what I am getting into, but mostly to gather the knowledge and figure out how I am going to put it together to create the best and overall experience for the both of us. 

This really got me to thinking about God and how in creating our world, all of the thought and love that He put into understanding that mankind would fair very well with companions like four-legged pets. Someone once asked me: "Where do you see God the most when you look at the world?" I remember thinking how blessed I was to have that dog named Bella. She brought me so much love and joy. I feel she really got me and I got her. I can't explain what it was like to know that I had a living thing that never wanted to leave me, especially considering all of my abandonment issues rooted in my childhood. The concept of something, someone by my side from the starting line to the finish line in life is something so energizing and fulfilling for me. 

So now once again I am opening up and laying out the welcome mat to a new family member. A little nervous but mostly excited for a new bonding experience with a new friend. Pray for me folks, if you don't mind because in opening up this time round, I realize the risk because it's hard to love when you still feel the loss of one you’ve loved. 

Can't wait to share some pictures with all of you and write about some funny new experiences that come with my new four-legged family member.

Much love everyone... till next week…and remember, love and laugh as much you can.

John

P.S. And since I think the Big Man upstairs might read my blog post, I'd like to thank Him for helping me heal enough to open up my heart once again. ;) Let me leave you with this question: In what way do you need to become vulnerable again?