Faith-Filled FridayHave you ever been waiting for something, and as time passes, your excitement mounts as you hold on to certain expectations and beliefs?
Thanks for joining us for Faith-Filled Friday with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United. This love letter is a perfect reminder that for such a time as this, those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength! Love Letter~ My love, My eyes are upon even the weakest worshipers who love Me-those who wait in hope and expectation for My strong, steady love. Cling to Me in your hope and in your expectation, for My love is strong and steady. Everything you desire is wrapped up in Me. You run here and there looking for satisfaction, fulfillment, all the while it's right here with Me. Come and bring your worship, bring your praise. Give Me your whole heart and then the pull back and forth will cease. When you think you are sure and steady, then I show you another part of your heart, or I put you in a different situation where all your weaknesses are evident. Then back to My strong and steady love you must come. I am the Rock of your salvation. There is safety, assurance in My loving arms, so come and receive of Me. There is nothing that I cannot do. Nothing that I cannot work out for you as you relinquish control and trust Me. Beloved, My love is a sure foundation, so build your dependency upon Me and I will bring to pass all that I say. ~DebraDolce
0 Comments
Thursday’s Trench TruthAfter she woke up, a woman told her husband, "I just dreamed that you gave me a pearl necklace for Valentine's day. What do you think it means?"
"You'll know tonight." he said. That evening, the man came home with a small package and gave it to his wife. Delighted, she opened it to find a book entitled "The Meaning of Dreams" I don’t know about you, but my first internal response – notice I said internal – would have been what the heck, where’s my pearl necklace. But, when we stop and look at the sweet truth in this little funny, we can ascertain that her husband was listening, and because men like to solve problems, he brought her something that would give her the solution, an answer to her question. Isn’t that just as thoughtful? For more encouragement, take a tour at www.trenchclassesunited.com and check out the blogs and join us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/trenchclassesunited Love, Kim-Evinda Wednesday’s WordI was going thru my bookcase the other day, trying to re-organize and clean at the same time. I let go of a heavy sigh as I picked up book after book that I had started but never finished. Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United and Kim-Evinda. Each of the unfinished books had fulfilled a need at the time I began them. They were part of a season I was in, but for some unknow reason, I was either satisfied and no longer in that season, or I just got distracted and moved on to something else. Well, then there’s the possibility that I just forgot about the book…the latter is the most likely. 😉 Each of them are faith-based, replete with very relevant and encouraging for the Christian sojourner. I started to let myself slip onto that slippery slope of condemnation, beating myself up, asking myself, why haven’t you finished this one? And what about this one? With each one I picked up and re-placed, the frustration increased, like air being forced into a helium balloon until…pop! While I cleaned with vigor, my self-beating picked up speed, especially after I counted the unfinished books: one…two…three…four…five…six…seven…eight! Eight books I had started over the last couple of years and did not complete. I arranged them all together on my shelf closest to my writing chair and determined that this would be the year that those suckers got read! Why? Because I just can’t put them away until I complete them. I can’t stand unfinished business. As I determined this within my soul, I had a thought: God never leaves anything unfinished. What He starts, He finishes! That made me smile and the condemnation slipped away, like a popped balloon that goes poof. I am so glad that He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it until I see Him in eternity. (Phil 1:6 paraphrased.) A good work…all of these unfinished books had been part of the good work He is doing in me and I know they will be part of His good work in me this year. I’m so thankful that what He starts He finishes and He will help me to do the same. Is there anything unfinished in your life? Ask the Greatest Finisher for some help! Love, Kim-Evinda Tuesday’s Truthful humorWelcome to Tuesday’s Truthful humor where we pull truth from humor.
A husband was trying to prove to his wife that women talk more than men. He showed her a study which indicated that men use about 10,000 words per day, whereas women use 20,000 words per day. His wife thought about this for a while. She then told her husband that women use twice as many words as men because they have to repeat everything they say. Her husband looked stunned. He said "What?" Oh, friends, just as Gary Thomas says in his book, Sacred Marriage, the sooner we realize that many of our communication issues aren’t really about those communicating and those not listening, but they are more problems between men, generally, and women generally. This is really going to help me the next time I get frustrated because I feel someone’s not listening. I can get myself all worked up because I feel someone’s not listening but this prevents me from working it out with those I love. Monday’s MessageSometimes life can send us running like wild horses with no direction. But there is a way to stay grounded
Thanks so much for joining us for Monday’s Message with Abigail Rice and Trench Classes United. Have you ever needed to run for shelter, or just wanted a safe place to “be,” away from the chaos of life? That’s what the church is to be for each of us, a place to learn how to live in this life. Enjoy the word pictures that Abigail’s poem creates. As a cool breeze kisses my face How I long to see your face Your gentle kicks Your small nudges Leading me to want this To desire a life well spent A journey fully lived To leave behind more than a steeple But a church of seeds Planted Lethal A weapon well forged Beyond that of a sword But words that speak truth and visions that hold us together Stronger than glue We run wild Rampant and Loose Like a horse that has escaped its noose Because it is You, oh Lord, that we wake up and choose Like the moon in the sky As it refuses to hide No matter the day No matter the time We are your people And we are more than a steeple What we leave behind In Your name Let it guide For these moments will go by As the sun continues to rise So as long as You are by our side We will not lose Even though our mortal bodies will soon subside For You we will battle For You we will die Let this be our calling To bring your people At Your time “Go then and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” – Matthew 28:19 -Abigail Rice Faith-Filled FridaysDid you know you were mentioned in His love letters to us, the Bible? Yes, that’s right for all means all in every language! Thanks for joining us for Faith-Filled Friday with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United. May you be encouraged by this love letter today.
~Love Letter~ My warrior, prepare your heart and mind for action! Stay alert and fix your hope firmly on My marvelous grace that is coming to you. For when I, Jesus Christ am unveiled a greater measure of grace will be released to you. Am I unveiled in your life? Are you preparing, stepping into action? Do not be passive like before! Do not let opportunities go unnoticed, but tune your heart and mind to be swift to speak a word of encouragement and even acts of kindness, because those speak too. Didn't I send somebody to speak to you? Didn't I provide My people to help instruct and guide you along the path? I provided people that would direct you to Me, but you are the one that has to develop your own relationship with Me. Spend time with Me and in My Word. Speak My promises back to Me causing life to spring forth. That's the very best. Remember I said to decree a thing and it shall be. Now that's some exciting news. For when I am lifted up, I will draw all unto Myself. That means your family, your friends, no matter how it looks, keep on lifting Me up. Beloved, all means ALL in every language. ~DebraDolce Thursday’s Trench TruthDid you grow up in a family with serious problems (anger, addiction, abuse) or…did you grow up in a consistently safe environment where emotions were allowed and conflict was resolved and responsibilities were met; in other words, you got to be a child and your parents were emotionally, physically healthy?
You know I’ve heard it over and over again, “I had to grow up early,” or, “I had to parent my parent(s)” or, “I had to raise my brother or sister.” I have a few friends in education and they verify and validate this unhealthy cycle all the time. Why do you think that is? Because how we are loved as kids absodarnlutely affects how we love those we love. Now, it’s not to bash our parents in any way, friends, because our lives prove over and over again that some of our history needs to be studied so as not to be repeated. How else can we break those unhealthy love styles? I don’t know about you, but when I think of leaving a legacy behind, especially for my kids and my grand-babies, I want them to be able to say my mom, or my nana was emotionally healthy and learned how to love healthily because of The One who first loved her. No matter what kind of childhood you’ve had, or are giving your kids now, it’s never too late to learn how to love those you love in a way that honors Him who first loved us. Trenches are starting this week so go to www.trenchclassesunited.com/classes and sign up today. Love, Kim-Evinda Wednesday’s Word The issues were swirling around in her head, crashing into each other and as they did, confusion, depression and bewilderment began to seep into her soul, making her feel as though she were drowning. Have you ever wanted to scream at your mind and tell it to stop? With all that is happening around us, is it any wonder? Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. As she shares her heart, and a solution to this ongoing battle that is all around us and settling into our minds and hearts, may the reality of the love of our Savior wash it all away and transform your mind and heart. As she read Isaiah 1 and 2, the similarities were shocking. Many times she had heard people say, the Bible is old; it’s not relevant, but the contradiction was blatantly obvious: here on the pages was history repeating itself, only the repetitions felt as though they were on steroids, probably because population is so much larger and they didn’t have social media back then, she concluded. Let’s face it, every form of social media seems to be discussing one issue or another: abortion or prolife, borders and walls or let them all in; “no mask for the healthy” or wear three masks; close your businesses, outdoor dining, red tier, purple tier; close the church or keep it open; speak your opinions, or be censored; expose all the human trafficking and child sacrifice, or turn hour heads and pretend we don’t know; leftists, extreme right. We all know this list could continue on. When did we become so angrily divided, she wondered. Would there ever be a reprieve or a change of direction back to moral unity? How does one maintain sanity, let alone their “Christianity” in times like this? Legacy Nashville was playing worship in the background and when the paused to share about this very subject, she stopped and listened. Was this coincidence, she wondered, or a God-incidence? I was as though the young lady speaking had reached into her mind and grabbed her thoughts…and exchanged them for a solution! “Rom 12:2 Be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you will be able to test what is that good, perfect and acceptable will of God”…for you! While all of these “issues” are of concern, I must allow my mind to be transformed by God by meeting with God so I may be used for God. The more we think about these things we don’t agree with, the more they will consume us and make us un-transformable…and isn’t that just what the enemy wants? We don’t have to ignore them or pretend they don’t exist; we just can’t let them take up space in our hearts and minds because they don’t pay the rent! Instead, we can take what concerns us to the One who is concerned about us and not let all of it consume us. Can I encourage you, friend, put your spiritual armor on…daily, every single piece of it, for such a time as this; then you too will be transformed by the renewing of your mind able to test what is that good and perfect will of God for you and for our nation. Love, Kim-Evinda Tuesday’s Trench TruthDo you experience a sort of emotional dance of back and forth connection with those closest to you or…do you feel consistent healthy connection with those closest to you?
What do we mean when we say relationships are like a dance? Well, usually, if you have the same types of disagreements – and those could range from parenting styles to meeting needs versus expectations – and neither of you stop and try and resolve them, you’ll continue to dance to the same song, but the rhythm will change, becoming more and more un-danceable, if you will. One will pull away, and then come back and try again, and the other is left scratching their head wondering how to get the steps right! If you’d like to learn how to dance to a loving song, with lots of harmony, not missing the beats, then you will want to plan on joining us for our How to Love Who You Love trench based on the wonderful book How to Love Who You Love by Milan and Kay Yerkovitch. Classes start this week so go on over to www.trenchclassesunited.com/classes to check it out and sign up. I hope to see you in a trench near you! Love, Kim-Evinda Monday’s MessageWhen you hear a knock at your door, do you answer it every time, especially if you’re not expecting someone? The enemy of our lives is always lurking on the outside, and knocks all the time with thoughts. It’s up to us to determine it’s him and not let him in!
Thanks for joining us today for Monday’s Message with Abigail Rice and Trench Classes United. May her poetic words strengthen your mind and soul today. Lord, I need you today Your energy Your strength To battle these demons These heathens That lurk and prowl On the outskirts of my mind Waiting for the perfect time To break in and crawl inside To the depths of the battle The battle that rages and roars in a place Between spaces Of no time and I pray in this darkness That this darkness You will bind So that I may see clearly Filled with Your light Filled with Your energy Because right now I feel it dimming Wavering on empty But when I am empty You reach down And fill me up Just when I thought I was never enough I straighten up My back taller now Even as I kneel Even as I bow The sweat falls from my brow No longer tears But blood shed To wipe away and destroy all fears For these These are the years That the sun will reign Inflicting fire upon fire Endless seasons of pain No hope for the land Desolate Without rain and the crops turn to dust As the weeks turn to months Yet, we Your people We will not stand down and we will not give up Until the ash clears and the smoke billows away The light pouring in As the angels sing Your Name Singing this is the day The day the Lord has made and I will rejoice I will rejoice and be glad in it For we have suffered every blow and we have endured every hit But trouble, my friend Trouble did not win… “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” -John 16:35 -Abigail Rice |
Archives
May 2024
|