God doesn’t allow a trial without directions to the answer! EL

I couldn’t find my way out of a paper bag, or a cardboard box, which is why I need explicit defining directions and instructions and not just in driving! 

Thanks for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United.

I so appreciate having GPS in my car because it’s proven over and over again it will get me to where I need to go…almost alwaysJ But driving is not the only area of life that I need specific defining directions and instructions in. In my sociology class, we have a Signature project coming up and I’ve been feeling like I’m literally drowning in information. My brain is having a hard time not getting swept away and allowing the information to settle in like the sand of the ocean floor. The first part of the project is due this weekend, and I do not have a starting point! I know what I want to talk about but I have no idea where to start, and I can’t write about it like I write a blog or a book. L It’s like being lost and needing to find my way.

I reached out to my professor, confessing my ignorance while pleading my case of needing a starting point, some sort of direction. I waited…trying not to dwell on feeling lost.

I used to feel that way when I would listen to others share the Word of God with such specificity. I wondered, how in the world do they do that? It’s such a huge book filled with so much information…until I opened it and began by dipping the feet of my heart in, a little at a time and now, just as with anything, there is more of a jumping in with an eagerness to learn and receive what He wants to lovingly teach me.

While waiting for the response from my professor, I read Philippians 4:4-7 and James 1:1-4, which speak to our response to challenges of any kind. Both Paul and James remind us to relax in the trial or trouble because everything’s gonna be all right, (paraphrased) and you and me, well, we’re going to be made stronger for it, stronger in faith, and another benefit, the flame of hope within us will not be blown out.

Paul tells us to not be anxious about anything, but he doesn’t leave it right there. He gives us direction on how to do that: but in everything, our response is to pray, just talk it out with God. Stay there in the conversation; don’t walk away until your heart is filled with the knowledge of hope in Christ.

See, God doesn’t allow a trial without directions to the answer.

Speaking of an answer, the next day, after reading these passages, I received a response from my professor:  Chillax! You will be okay. Try to relax and benefit from the process as opposed to stressing the hell out about it :-)

Hmmm, benefit from the trial, the challenge. I wonder if he had any idea how God used him to confirm the answer to my dilemma!

Anything means everything, including: relationships, finances, health…and my signature assignment.

Oh that we would be able to do as James, Paul and my professor stated: relax and chillax, learning from the journey.

Chillaxing…

Evinda

Prayer is as simple as talking with your BFF!

My husband and I started doing a new exercise. Every Sunday I write a prayer for him and he writes a prayer for me. Then we exchange the prayers we wrote for each other. For the rest of the week he prays the prayer I wrote for him plus the prayer he wrote for me. I do the same for him. Throughout the week we take notice of how God influences us through our prayers. At the end of the week we sit down and share our prayer experiences with each other. The prayer exercise makes us more aware of how God is moving in our individual lives. It also brings a greater intimate relationship with Him into our relationship with each other.

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

Sarah Young writes a beautiful daily devotion about prayer in her book “Jesus Always”. She writes it as if Jesus, Himself, is speaking directly to you. It reads …

“Before you begin to take on a task – large or small – take time to pray about it. By doing so, you acknowledge your need for Me and your trust that I will help you. This enables you to go about your work in dependence on Me. There are many benefits to this practice. I can guide your mind as you think things out and make decisions. Just knowing I am involved in what you are doing gives you confidence, reducing stress. It’s wise to thank Me often for My help and to keep asking Me to guide you along the best pathway.”

“Though the Bible instructs you to pray continuingly, at times you ignore this teaching. When you are feeling rushed, you find it hard to slow down enough to seek My perspective on the work at hand. However, diving in and forging ahead on your own is actually counter-productive. When you request My involvement before you begin, I can point you in the right direction – saving precious time and energy. I delight in helping you with everything, even simple tasks, because you are My beloved.”

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” – Psalm 32:8 NLT

“Be joyful always; pray continually: give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Praying to God is as simple as talking to your best friend. Actually, praying to God is talking to your best friend! Pour your heart out to Him, for He is your refuge.

Your comments are always most welcome.

Lovingly in Christ,

Megan

God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called!

Have you ever felt like you weren’t qualified to do a certain job? Do you ever look up and try and convince God you are not the one for the job of parenting, being a wife, a supervisor…the list can go on. We are not alone as you will see in what Ashley shares with us this Faith-Filled Friday!

Good Morning, Beloveds. Come grab a warm cup of coffee and sit with me. Thank you in advance for taking time and joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Faith Filled Friday with Trench Classes United.

 Amos7:14-15 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁴ But Amos replied, “I’m not a professional prophet, and I was never trained to be one; I’m just a shepherd, and I take care of sycamore-fig trees. ¹⁵ But the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to my people in Israel.’

 We see how Amos questioned Gods choice in choosing him to be a prophet. Amos could only see what he thought he was capable of and couldn’t comprehend or understand why God would choose him for something he knew nothing about. However, we see that Amos who tended the flock and the sycamore-fig trees was chosen by God because he had faithfully performed the present task God had called him to.

When God calls us to something new to us, out of our league so to speak, is it really though? The enemy likes to get in between us and God and stir the pot of doubt and insecurity, whispering to us that we aren’t qualified to do what God has called us to.

But as you and I have been faithful to the current task God has called us to now – being a wife, a mom, whatever it may be -- we feel qualified and certain of what we are doing...most of the time, right? J  However, when we first started these tasks, didn’t we question Gods calling? I know I did many times.

Remember coffee hour friends, that when God calls us to something new He doesn’t expect us to face it alone or in our own strength.

Isaiah 41:10 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁰ Don’t  be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

 God will give us all the necessary tools we need day by day. Our God is ever so faithful to us. I pray that when He calls you and I out to new scary tasks, that instead of the questions, we’d faithfully drop to our knees and be still before our God who knows what our tomorrow brings.

Has God has called you to a new task? Can I encourage you, to rejoice, give thanks, and trust and know he will lead the way and bless you through this new and scary journey?

Gripped in His Grace, 

Ashley

He loves us too much to leave us the way we are EL

“God cannot use His power outside of His love…” As I read and re-read that from “Trusting the Shepherd” by Haddon Robinson, my soul became still.

Thanks for joining us for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Thursday’s Trench Truth with Trench Classes United.

In the storms of chaos and trouble, it is comforting to know that everything we are going through passes through His plans of love…not of punishment and that if we allow ourselves to just trust and rest in His love instead of resisting by stressing and worrying, our souls will come out unscathed, filled with strength and joy, ready for the next challenge.

God loves us way too much to leave us the way we are and does what He needs to do out of love for our sake and His glory.

Learning and unlearning truth,

Kim-Evinda

Struggles are our teachers in the classroom of life! EL

My hands shook as if I had palsy of some kind; my fingers going everywhere except to the designated keys to form the words that were being dictated for all of us to take down, verbatim, with 95.5% accuracy. “Why, Lord, why can’t I pass this test?”

Welcome to Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United.

It took me two tries to pass my California Court Reporting test and receive my license and I am so, so glad I didn’t give up. Have you ever been so exasperated, so frustrated you could just scream…or throw something or just give up?

I recently enrolled in an online class, Sociology 101, for several reasons: 1, I needed my CEU credits for my national court reporting license but I have no interest in court reporting education, per say, and 2, I need 12 units to finish my A.S. degree and 3, I truly want to learn more about how to function more effectively in the ministry He has called me to and immersed me in. Honestly, I thought it would be easy, maybe a little challenging, but definitely doable considering my passion to understand people and how their past influences their present and derails them from a fabulous future.

I was WRONG! This class is infuriating and exhilarating all at the same time! I have this sort of love/hate relationship with it. I am extremely challenged, and it is moving at a pace that is putting my brain on supersonic steroids! I am having a hard time keeping up. And when it’s test time, it takes me back to my court reporting days where suddenly everything I’ve absorbed up to that point seems to have fled to hiding places that my brain can’t find!

This season of learning is no different; my first test score was 37 out of 50! I was devastated, beyond frustrated and even infuriated. I really wanted to quit. My brain couldn’t comprehend getting such a low score. After cooling off for a bit, I called my professor sharing my frustration and complaining about the allotted 60 minutes to answer 50 questions. I mean think about it, that’s some pressure there!

He gave me a great study tip and encouraged me to stay in the journey. He let me know he believed I was invested and he was not going to let me fail…or quit. He spoke to me as if I were a friend.

What do we do when we are beyond frustrated, exasperated, and ready to just give up, whether it is from a class that is challenging our minds, or an illness that is draining us of energy, or a relationship that is testing our ability to love?

Treat your struggle like a friend who has something to teach you!

Proverbs 17:17 tells us that a friend loves at all times. Hmmm, think about it: when we need a friend, don’t we go to someone we can trust because we know they will be honest with us? We listen, maybe not always agreeing, but knowing that friend has our best interest at heart. Perhaps your current struggle was sent to be your friend, handpicked from our loving Father to continue to do His will in you that He may work through you.

Thoughtfully,

Kim-Evinda

Life is the classroom but we are not defined by a letter grade! EL

4.0 used to be the “perfect” GPA when I was growing up. Now the educational system has come up with ways to exceed “perfect”!

Thanks for joining me for Coffee Hour with Chicklit Power and Tuesday’s Trench Truth with Trench Classes United.

There is nothing, absolutely nothing wrong with working for that A, reaching for that GPA that opens the doors to chosen opportunities, higher learning and otherwise. The problem with so much emphasis on a letter grade is it can easily become too much emphasis for identity.

I am learning, albeit the hard way, that I am not to define myself, nor be defined by a letter grade!

Oh, to be okay with not getting an A!

No matter what challenge we are facing, we need to remind ourselves of who we are in Christ. Just like we are not the car we drive, or the purse we buy, or the clothes we wear, we are not defined by anything but who we are in Him, with Him, and by Him.  

 Learning…and unlearning

Kim-Evinda

We receive only as much as we believe!

I feel like a slacker when I watch the Olympics. The physical exertion and laser focus of an Olympic athlete boggles my mind. I worked toward the dream of becoming an Olympic athlete when I was a competitive diver in high school and college. As I watched the experienced divers flawlessly execute dives from the 10-meter platform, I would think, “Wow, if I could do that!”

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

In Mark 9:23 Jesus says, “If you can?” “Everything is possible to the one who believes.”

Had I evoked this scripture back in my diving days, things might have turned out differently, but that is unlikely. The above scripture does not mean if you believe you will win a gold medal, you will. It means through your faith in Jesus Christ, you are empowered to accomplish things you never dreamed possible–IF you can believe all things are possible through Him. 

The amount of God’s grace in our lives is measured by the amount of our faith in Him. We receive the same amount of peace, hope, wisdom, and courage as we have faith.  We are able to receive only as much as we are able to believe.

The Toyota Corporation introduced its new slogan during the 2018 Winter Olympics. I find the Olympics the perfect venue for its release. Their new slogan is:  “Start Your Impossible”

If you can believe all things are possible through Jesus Christ, impossible becomes possible.

Your comments are always most welcome.

Lovingly in Christ,

Megan