Thursday’s Trench Truth

Welcome to Thursday’s Trench Truth @ Chicklit Power and Trench Classes United! Grab whatever you’re having for our quick break today and come on in.

Did you know that there are five things that we (often unknowingly) put our hope in, even if we are a “Christian”? What/whom we put our hope in can be the cause of unrealistic high expectations and relationship failures, and as the cycle perpetuates, hopelessness and anger can become two emotions that drive our emotional cars.

Join us May 4 thru June 22 to learn how to have realistic relational expectations that fuel us with hope and free us from anger!

Looking forward to working with you!

Evinda

Wednesday’s Word

Cataracts, Frogs and the Spirit!

Romans 8:5 “For those who live according to the flesh, set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”

Welcome to Wednesday’s Word and while it actually stands alone it is also a solution for Monday’s Mantra, which raised the question, how do I recognize I’m becoming like a frog in a pan of water? How do I not become immune to my falling short? Grab whatever you’re having for our break, and your Strand of Faith, and let’s go tie some knots together!

It was that time again, payday and pay day…meaning I got paid so it was time to pay. I pulled the bills I had mentally planned on paying down, and began deducting them from what I thought was a pretty good-sized paycheck. Within minutes, and I do mean minutes, I had spent it all but $86! How is it that it takes so long to earn and yet so quick to spend? Why does it feel as though the more I make, the more I spend? I’m too old to be on a budget, I wanted to scream!

My eyes welled up with frustration, and ever so quietly, a question surfaced: shouldn’t I be grateful? I really do have a lot to be thankful for and so I began to talk myself up and off the ledge that was threatening to grab me and throw me down into a pit of depression.  I don’t know about you, but I often have to have these conversations in my head to talk some sense into myself! J And, no, I don’t answer myself!

I wish I could say my thoughts didn’t return to this frustration of finances, but I’d be lying!  Each time the thought began to go down Frustration Alley, I quickly reminded myself that He’s carried me thus far. A perfect example is the past two years wherein my husband’s ability to work was taken away because of a covenant not to compete, but guess what? We made it! And I’m certainly not starving; nor have I gone without anything I needed, and many times He’s given me things I just wanted! I have learned to be good with much and content with little. His intent for me is to prosper me, not pamper me, and many times that prospering means spiritually not financially! And please don’t misunderstand me; He doesn’t smile upon poverty at all; He’s just more concerned about our character than our comfort! 

Oh, how I was reminded of these very truths as I pulled out my scripture cards to feast upon while driving to work the next day. The freeway was its usual parking lot in many spots and instead of getting all worked up I chose to get versed up! The very first verse hit me like a baptism of conviction and inspiration all at the same time: “For those who live according to the flesh, set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live (emphasis added) according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit”!

If I’m feeding my flesh, in other words, an attitude of discontent, then my mind is not set on anything that has eternal value! If I continue to make choices without consulting my Guide, my Map Maker, my Provider, my Protector, then I am not living according to the Spirit. If I begin my day without any conscious thought to my spiritual diet, then I am not living that day according to the Spirit. When we are in balance spiritually, life can’t tip us over into that pot of boiling water and we can see all the colors of life with so much more clarity! The only type of frog I want to be is one Fully Relying On God!

Hopping into my day….

Evinda

Tuesday’s Trench

Welcome to Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Trench Classes United, and our first of many to come Invitation Tuesdays. Grab your break-time beverage and come on in for a very special invitation as well as some extremely exciting news!

It’s hard to believe that in July of this year, CPM (Chicklit Power Ministries) will be celebrating eight years of helping others reach their Destination? Joyful! ™ via Trench Classes United, an organization to help others learn to thrive in life and love by studying our history to break unhealthy cycles and become history makers in the right direction!

When this organization was born, if you will, I had no idea what His plans were, truly! I just wanted to write ONE book. And if you would have told me how this journey was going to go, I would have immediately said, stop the ride; I want off! But I’m so, so glad I stayed, seat-belted to my Heavenly Father, through all the twists and turns.

As I reminisce back on the journey, I must confess, while I still don’t feel qualified, I know whole-heartedly now that He doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called! So as He continues to qualify me to lead this organization, He provides creative ways to keep us going. That’s what this invitation is all about, an incredibly innovative fundraiser that EVERYONE will enjoy!

I am bubbling over with joy and excitement to extend this invitation to you, so please mark your calendar and save the date for A Night of Comedy

Don’t forget to email us at trenchclassesunited@gmail.com to reserve your tickets! First come; first serve. Tickets will not be available at the door.
Excited,

Evinda

Monday’s Mantra

Cataracts, Frogs and Sins!

Welcome to Monday’s Mantra & Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Trench Classes United. I’m so glad you could join me today! Grab whatever you’re having for our break and your strand of faith. I can’t wait to share with you how this blog came to be.

Last week, one of my besties and I were taking a run on our trail close to home and getting caught up with each other’s lives. She shared that one of her relatives was scheduled for cataract surgery. “That’s kind of scary,” I replied, thinking about my own fears when my adopted mom had to have it done last year at the age of 86!

“No, not really,” she countered, “because Barbara just had it done and she said she can’t believe how much color she sees now.”

Her statement collided with my recollection of mom’s experience. “You’re right. I remember Mom saying how she couldn’t believe how she didn’t realize how much of life’s colors she had been missing.” Well that led us into a great discussion as we continued up our last long hill before ending our run. We talked about how we become immune to things, good and not-so-good and then we ran in silence for just a minute when all of a sudden, we looked to each other and at the same time said “Just like sin!”

I’ll tell you, the adrenalin from being on the same wave length carried us up the rest of that hill as we shared experiences past wherein we had become numb and immune to our missing the mark, and how grateful we both were and are for His grace that has opened our eyes. “It’s like the frog in the pot,” she said. “Have you ever heard about that one?”

“Oh, Mylanta, one of my transformers just brought that up last week in class as we were doing our root removal. Is that the one where the frog’s put in cold water and it gets warmer and warmer and warmer and before he realizes what happens, he’s boiled to death?”

“Yes, that’s the one!”

 “Yeah, one of my leaders brought that up when I was talking about ignoring our emotional dash boards by not acknowledging our feelings, and the emotional wrecks that causes without us even realizing it. I always have to emphasize over and over with the Transformers that to acknowledge feelings doesn’t mean we get stuck in them, but it sure saves us from a lot of heartache.” 

We finished our run on the same page, both of us stronger in our faith, realizing how we too were like the frog in the pot. See, sin sneaks in and before we know it, we are dying in it! How do we avoid being boiled to death, or condemned to a life without Abba? How do we avoid immunity to the not-so-good things in life?

Join me Wednesday for the answer!

Perplexed and excited about life’s lessons,

Evinda

Thursday’s Trench Truth

Welcome to Thursday’s Trench Truth @ Chicklit Power and Trench Classes United! Grab whatever you’re having for our quick break today and come on in.

Did you know that there are five things that we (often unknowingly) put our hope in, even if we are a “Christian”? What/whom we put our hope in can be the cause of unrealistic high expectations and relationship failures, and as the cycle perpetuates, hopelessness and anger can become two emotions that drive our emotional cars.

Join us May 4 thru June 22 to learn how to have realistic relational expectations that fuel us with hope and free us from anger!

Post card front/back

Looking forward to working with you!
Evinda

Faith-filled Friday!

Hello everyone, welcome back to another Faith Filled Friday. Isn’t it amazing, the amount of rain we have received, especially after several years of drought? It has really made me stop and think about how God has not forgotten us. The rain has given us one less thing to worry about, at least for now. And yet, with the rain has come other concerns that we need to pray for: Failing damn spillways and levees is of major concern. To think 200,000 people evacuated downstream from the Lake Oroville Dam. It's really made me stop and think how we are truly always in need of not only God's love but of His strength.

The other day I caught myself thinking about how many prayers I have had over my life thus far, all of the different types of situations which involve people, animals, safety, refuge and even those prayers of  thanks I have prayed over the years. As much as it seems that I have prayed about many things, I have not prayed nearly enough. "Just what is prayer?" Asking myself that question really brought an understanding of just how special it really is. It is a way we give thanks, show appreciation, ask for help for others and for ourselves. It brings waves of wisdom and knowledge. But most of all I think it helps encapsulate just how special the love from God is. To love a God that loves us unconditionally, oh what a feeling! Whether we have much or we have little, we can pray for just anything. 

When I was homeless, I remember praying to God for warmth and dryness, for food and a place to shower. Half the time I was praying to God while crying. To be so exposed like that, to feel what would happen from one moment to the next, to wonder what will become of me. I remember praying to God to help me find a place where I could hide. It wasn't that I just wanted some security, but I was also embarrassed for I was in a small town where everyone knew everyone. Somehow I made it through that. One of the  most painful seasons in my life, and yet, there were windows of beauty where He proved to  be concerned about all that concerned me and brought out His talents in me by leading me to a piano where I wrote a few songs. Oh, the gift of music, where it can take us and what it can take out of us!

In the past few years I have found myself deep in prayer as I am trying to pay for rent and my bills. I have fought so hard to provide for myself and even a few others and as work dries up I can't help but have that fear once again that I might be on the street once again. 

It's all been rather eye opening. I started asking God: "Have I not been humble enough?" "Have I not helped other's enough?" Why must I struggle constantly in life? Why must the dams crack and bleed? Why must the levees fatigue and falter? This is the power of prayer it is as flexible as anything I know. I am trying to not stress so much and give it to the Lord more.

Believe it or not, my biggest prayer is not only for strength to get through these things but for peace to encompass me more than anything else out there. I need peace more than anything. Perhaps peace is strength? Perhaps we must pray to see the world in a different mindset. I just know that I am doing my best to give it to God. It won't be the first time and it won't be the last. Well speaking of prayer, it’s time to pray for all of you and even the next step that leads to new chapters in life, the kind that arrests our hearts and covers them with warmth and peace from the storm, the dam, and the levees.

Much love everyone,

                                        ~John Tam

Thursday’s Trench Truth and Invitation Thursday

Welcome to Thursday’s Trench Truth and Invitation Thursday! Grab your coffee and come in for a quick minute. We have so much to share with you.

So I wanted you to come in because I have something exciting to share with you, and there’s limited seating. We are having what I deem the greatest fundraiser ever to raise scholarship funds for others to learn to thrive in life and love…so come laugh with us on June 16^th, 2017 at Dave & Busters in Ontario from 8-10 p.m. ($20), but you must have a ticket to get in so reserve yours today!

Email: trenchclassesunited@gmail.com

Laughter is the fork in the road to take when life becomes too serious!