Wednesday's WordThe tears came trickling down as the words she read went through her mind, seeping into her soul. Her thoughts seemed to scream: I want to live this, Lord, I really do, but how? She continued reading, yearning for more insight so as to be free from the fury that would rise up every time, any time thoughts of this one person came to mind. Welcome to Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United and Kim-Evinda. Has this ever happened to you, conviction mixed with frustration? Where you read truth and it seeps into your soul and calls you to rise to the change? We pray this blog will open up the eyes of your heart and bring you freedom to love those who have hurt you. I continued to read…and to cry tears of conviction, refusing to stop reading until I had finished. It was the daily devotional from my pastor, Pastor Ken of ACTS Center Church and the title of his devotional: The Explosive Power of Love. It started off with the command from Jesus Himself found in Matthew 5:44 directing us to love our enemies. Oh, I’ve had to deal with many an unlovable, in fact, just the other day while court-reporting a deposition thru Zoom I truly wanted to reach through cyber space and wring the neck of the questioning attorney and the doctor for making my job nearly impossible. I’m not talking about those type of unlovable people, no; the ones I’m speaking about are those whom our hearts are more invested in. As I continued to read this devotional, I realized that I am stuck…any time I think of this person, I struggle to find anything positive. But…I won’t stop trying to rise to this challenge of applying and complying with this incredibly demanding verse. I can’t, especially if I call myself a child of God. I continued to read…”loving our enemies is not an optional request but a command”!!! (emphasis mine) I stopped for a moment and thought, how all-knowing of our Abba that He knew there would be more than one enemy! 😊 ☹ 😊 What “the enemy” uses for evil, God will use for my good came running from my heart to my mind. We must remember that “the enemy” we are dealing with is Satan himself, not the one(s) he uses as his minions to promote his agenda. “Love can undermine the plans of the enemy and overturn his works.” Again, I stopped and thought, wow, I/we have that kind of power in us? And I hear, “Yes, you do for you were made in My image.” That brought me to yet another pause. Just a couple of days ago, my husband and I started a Bible Study that talked about this very subject, being made in His image. We both wanted to understand this better so I looked up the Hebrew definition for “image” and immediately understood its meaning and in today’s Hebrew “image: refers to a physical image or picture, it also means “likeness” Likeness is not restricted to outward appearance but more about the characteristics of Christ, the inner Christ. The Biblical explanation for “image” says: “To say that humans are in the image of God is to recognize the special qualities of human nature which allow God to be made manifest in humans. One of God’s greatest characteristics is His unconditional, unfailing, unprovoked love! I continued reading: “Love does not stand still; it moves out into the open and gives unreservedly…” “Love does not count the cost of the sacrifice involved.” Again, I had to pause and think of “the sacrifice involved.” What does it cost me to let go of this deep-rooted hurt and anger every time I think of the act and the actor? Seriously, what does it cost me? NOTHING, except maybe my pride…then I must let go and remember because I am created in His image, I can and I will love my enemies…not just this once but until I see Him face to face. Friend, when we get there, He won’t talk to us about what those enemies did to us, but He will address how we allowed them to make us bitter…or better. Thoughtfully, Kim-Evinda
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Tuesday's Truthful HumorThanks for joining us for Tuesday’s Truthful Humor where we pull truth from humor.
A man married a woman whose commands and demands to her husband were as sharp as the bite of a barracuda but he didn’t know this until he married her. His friends wondered why he would allow himself to be treated this way and it wasn’t that he was a coward, but he was a pleaser and just wanted to keep the peace. One day his wife told him she had a get-together happening with her girlfriends and they were meeting at their house. To make sure that he didn’t interrupt their fun, she ordered him into the closet and told him to stay there until the las girlfriend had left. During their get together, the ladies were comparing their authority over their husbands…almost as if they were bragging. The hostess of their get-together tells her girlfriends that not only had she ordered her husband into the closet but she could order him to come out as well at her beck and call I’ll prove it, she boasted: "Bob! Come out of that closet." No response. "Bob!" She called louder, “come out of that closet” No response. Giving it one more try she screamed at the top of her lungs, “I order you to get out of that closet this instant!” "No, I won’t", he said in a muffled voice from inside the closet. “I’ll show you who’s boss in this house!” Oh, friends, marriage was not meant to be a power struggle, but a partnership, with each other’s differences entwining and not colliding. When we treat people with this kind of authority, we are deeming them as property, not people! (Read more at cleanjokes.com) For more encouragement, take a tour at www.trenchclassesunited.com and join our Insta Fam and our Facebook community www.facebook.com/trenchclassesunited Monday’s Messageeed to breathe
Space to retreat A place where only You and me Can fill the silence in-between Thoughts of everlasting A moment of peace Simplified clarity Pulling me Daring me Take that leap Trust in Me and your future I will bring As long as you seek A life lived for Me and when happiness retreats Hear Me speak Filling your lungs With the air that you breathe A new day The same place Shed your skin and chase that slow pace That rhythm beneath The lines that you trace Is this a chance you are willing to take? Or will you remain Stuck and confused Misled Used For nothing more Than earthly gain Leaving you out in the deep dark blue Daughter, hold on to Me I am your glue Let Me piece you back together Because you cannot storm this weather Without My hand to hold My spirit telling you where to go For this I know Your story has been foretold Now watch it unfold "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, But do not know where it comes from and where it is going; So is everyone who is born of the spirit." –John 3:8 -Abigail Rice For more from today's author, visit instagram.com/ajourney2life Faith-Filled FridayOur thoughts can defeat and deplete us or fuel and fulfill us. Where do you allow your mind to rest?
Thanks for joining us for Faith-filled Friday with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United. This love letter is a great reminder of how to arrest the negative thoughts so as to quiet our souls. ~Love Letter~ My love, whenever your busy thoughts are out of control, the soothing comfort of My Presence calms you down and overwhelms you with delight. Wow, say that out loud a few times; meditate on that Scripture until it gets down into your heart and takes hold of your spirit. Continue meditating day and night that I may soothe and comfort you. Learn how to combat those racing thoughts whenever they start and then you can rest in My peace and not be fighting those thoughts for days. Let them be a distant memory as you declare "No More." Remember, the enemy only has the power you give him. He dangles that carrot in front of you and he makes it very appealing. Resist because you already know the end result. Be aware of the things that disrupt your peace and bring those to Me that I may give you strength to see, to know and to walk through them successfully. Beloved, I have called you to walk victory and I have called you to live in a place of REST. ~DebraDolce Thursday's Truthful HumorWelcome to Thursday’s Truthful Humor where we pull truth from humor.
A husband visited a marriage counselor and said, "When we were first married, I would come home from the office, my wife would bring my slippers and our cute little dog would run around barking. Now after ten years it's all-different. I come home, the dog brings the slippers and my wife runs around barking." "Why complain?" said the counselor, "You're still getting the same service." Oh, my goodness, it’s all about perception, right? But honestly, friends, when needs are being met with integrity on both sides, no one goes without. But how do we do that? When we embrace our God-given identity, we are able to serve those we love without any negative thoughts or emotions, and marriage doesn’t feel like a trap that we wish to escape but rather a haven to grow in and stay in. For more encouragement, take a tour at www.trenchclassesunited.com and join our Insta Fam and Facebook community at www.facebook.com/trenchclassesunited Wednesday’s WordPlease no, please, not again! I can’t and I won’t…The notification sound on her phone brought her out of her painful thoughts and memories. She tried to shake the gut-wrenching fear off of her like flipping a bug off her shoulder, but it refused to leave. Welcome to Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. How many times do false expectations appearing real take us down emotionally, physically and even spiritually? Today’s blog gives you a weapon to combat just that. The text was from a prayer partner/friend and when I say that the timing was perfect, I mean it was definitely from God through her. It simply said: “You got this, girl and I’m praying for you. Don’t listen to the negative talk.” And then, “Philippians 4:8.” I couldn’t help but smile for I had just read that verse a few hours before. This was such a God whisper to my soul reminding me I wasn’t alone. I began to recite it, and just like that, it worked to pull, tug and remove the thoughts that had threatened to take me under. Have you ever been stuck in your head with thoughts and fears as a result of someone else’s actions, or an unforeseen circumstance? Well, that’s where I find myself lately, too often, and as I contemplated what to share this week, this scripture keeps rising to the forefront of my mind and soul. Let’s feast on it together as I bring it to life with my life that I pray will speak something into yours. The italicized words are the actual scripture and my additions are Spirit inspired and noted in blue: Finally, brethren, (Kim, friends) Whatever is true…A good truth, not truths about others who have hurt us in the past but the truth about His love that will never leave us or forsake us, lie to us or cheat on us. Whatever is honorable…forgiveness is honorable and blesses God, and so does integrity, and reaching out to someone less fortunate. There are so many “honorable” things to think about Whatever is right…two wrongs do not make a right – in other words, it is better to dwell on things that are right then to sit in thoughts that lead us to do wrong. When we allow His principles & promises to root in our lives, thinking about whatever is right will get easier. Whatever is pure…the purest thing in this world is the presence of His love and grace, so to escape the wrong thoughts, we must discipline ourselves to allow ourselves to be loved by God, especially in those times when we feel lost and alone. Dare to sit with Him and just be; this is purity! Whatever is lovely…in those moments when we can’t escape our thoughts, can’t seem to grasp that pure love of Christ and connect in a way that sends these thoughts scurrying, it’s time for a change in scenery. Take a walk, go outside and smell the flowers, take a walk in the rain and feel His creation. Whatever is of good repute (report)…think on past victories, all the times He’s provided and protected and proven His love over and over again. If there is any excellence, anything praiseworthy…there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for. Finding one thing to be thankful for leads to many things to praise Him for. Dwell on these things…to dwell is to live, so we need to live in those thoughts of truth, honor, purity, lovely and praiseworthy so as to not let the wrong thoughts carry us out to a sea of depression. When we look to our Life Preserver, we will see the One whose love will keep us afloat. Thoughtfully, Kim-Evinda Tuesday's Truthful HumorWelcome to Tuesday’s Truthful humor where we pull truth from humor.
A newlywed farmer and his wife were visited by her mother, who immediately demanded an inspection of the place. The Farmer had genuinely tried to be friendly to his new mother-in-law, hoping that it could be a friendly, non-antagonistic relationship. To no avail, she kept nagging them at every opportunity, demanding changes, offering unwanted advice and making life unbearable to the farmer and his new bride. While they were walking through the barn, the farmer's mule suddenly reared up and kicked the mother-in-law in the head, killing her instantly. At the funeral service a few days later, the farmer stood near the casket and greeted folks as they walked by. The pastor noticed that whenever a woman would whisper something to the farmer, he would nod his head yes and say something. Whenever a man walked by and whispered to the farmer, however, he would shake his head, no and mumble a reply. Very curious as to this bizarre behavior, the pastor later asked the farmer what that was all about. The farmer replied, "The women would say, 'What a terrible tragedy' and I would nod my head and say, 'Yes, it was.' The men would ask, 'Can I borrow that mule?' and I would shake my head and say, 'Can't. It's all booked up for a year.' The best advice I received from the pastor who married my son and daughter-in-love was to MYOB, mind your own business when these kids go through difficulties! If they ask for your advice/help, then offer it, but do so unconditionally. For more encouragement, take a tour at www.trenchclassesunited.com and join our Insta Fam @trenchclassesunited and Facebook community at www.facebook.com/trenchclassesunited Monday’s MessageYou I see you Up late After the kids are fed and bathed Trying to sneak in a moment away Of peace in this place Only to rise early and repeat the next day Breakfast, lunch, dinner Schoolwork and play The dishes are piling high The beds still unmade and you think to yourself Will I ever get a break? How selfish of me To feel so unhappy But I am utterly running on empty Depleted But constantly needed Yet, I feel so unworthy To be on this journey When all I want to do is crawl into my bed and hide Gone is my sense of pride Of holding it together As I silently scream inside and these thoughts they consume me Destroy me Confuse me and when You call me All I can say is 'Who me?' I can't even muster to put on my blue jeans Truthfully I feel lost Eaten alive by my thoughts I cannot even pinpoint the source Feeling used Coerced This isn't what I have been praying for and my selfish tendencies I let get the best of me and down the spiral I go Drowning in my own home Lord, please find me The silence is gone Yet, amidst the chaos You reach for my hand Daughter, you were not lost Your sins have been bought By My blood on the cross Do not worry Do not fret The tears that drench your face at night Are a sign you are alive Don't run Don't hide That battle has yet begun and it starts in your mind Let Me ease your pain Let Me join your fight You can't do this alone Have you not been told? With God all things are possible and nothing, no one can stop you Yes, in this life you will have seasons of blue But steady soldier fight on and do not let this world trouble you For your battle has been won I have overcome Dear heart, stay strong Fight on -Abigail Rice For more from today's author, visit instagram.com/ajourney2life Faith-Filled FridayIf we live like we believe His promises and principles, then we would come to learn that we can do ALL things thru Him, who strengthens us, including saying no to negative thoughts. Thinking negatively is a choice but consistent negativity creates negative behavior and takes up residency in our personality if it continues…but there is a different way.
Welcome to Faith-Filled Friday with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United. Love Letter~ My love, may the words of your mouth, your meditation-thoughts, and every movement of your heart be always pure and pleasing, acceptable before My eyes, for I am your only Redeemer, I am your Protector–God. What are your meditation-thoughts? Do you think about things that are true and honorable, right and pure, lovely and of a good report? This is where your thoughts should continually go. Negative thoughts begin to release poison inside of yourself, but I say be filled with My Spirit that you may have My perspective. Seek to see things like I see them. Seek to see the worth in others that I may be glorified even in your thoughts. What a great exercise to train your thoughts towards wholeness. Meditate on My Word daily, the Scriptures say "Day and Night," then you will obey everything written in it. Meditating on My Word brings such peace and then you will be filled with a joy that comes from deep within. Beloved, guard your peace, guard your joy and come to the table I have prepared for you, even in the presence of your enemy, who is the evil one. ~DebraDolce Thursday’s Truthful HumorWelcome to Thursday’s Truthful Humor where we pull truth from humor
A priest, a minister, and a rabbi wanted to see who was best at their job, so they each went into the woods, and their assignment was to find a bear, and convert it. Later they get together to exchange experiences. The priest begins: “When I found the bear, I read to him from the Catechism and sprinkled him with holy water. Next week is his first communion.” The minister goes next: “I found a bear by the stream, and preached God’s holy word. The bear was so mesmerized that he let me baptize him.” They both look down at the rabbi, who was lying on a gurney in a body cast. The Rabi says: “Now that I think about it, maybe I shouldn't have started with the circumcision.” Oh, how many times do we try and be His Holy Spirit, attempting to convert, control and/or change…He doesn’t need our help; just a willingness to be changed ourselves. For more encouragement, join our Insta Fam @trenchclassesunited or our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/trenchclassesunited and don't forget to take a tour at www.trenchclassesunited.com/classes to see what our upcoming trench is all about! See if we are coming to YOUR hood, this month. Hope to see you there! |
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