​Learning often requires unlearning, and that’s not always easy.
 
Thanks for joining us today for Faith-Filled Friday with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United. Today’s Love Letter is a great reminder that to be teachable, while not always comfortable, improves this journey of life.

~Love Letter~
 
Refusing constructive criticism shows you have no interest in improving your life, for revelation-insight only comes as you accept correction and the wisdom that it brings.
 
Is it hard for you to receive constructive criticism? Do you not know that in Me, there are always things to unlearn and replace? Do you deem being criticized as being picked on? What if you were to give them the benefit of the doubt and take constructive criticism as a way of helping you? This will improve your life.
 
Instead of becoming defensive, bring those criticisms and sit with Me. Let's look at them together to see if they're true or not. Some may not be true because others have their own issues. But avoid becoming offended. Look at the ones that are true and let's work on those.
 
Revelation-insight comes when you accept correction. Wisdom comes when you accept this revelation-insight. The source of revelation-knowledge is found as you fall down in surrender to Me. Everything starts at the foot of the cross. For this is where your sins are forgiven.
 
Is this hard for you to do?  There are so many who want to serve Me but they want to control everything in their life, in their ministry, even in the world around them. Life is hard for those who want to control, for to try and control is to manipulate. I am God who already controls the universe and everything in it.
 
Things change mightily when you recognize this and you surrender your all to Me. Beloved, surrender your life even minute by minute when you have to. 
 
~DebraDolce
 

#FaithFilledFriday #TrenchClassesUnited #LoveLetter #DebraDolce #KimEvinda #LivingFearlessly

​Thanks for joining me today for another Life-Coaching Truth. So I’m learning to play tennis with my tennis club in my community. Recently I was asked if I could play on Wednesday with a group of gals so I said sure.
 
I knew right away it was not going to be a good fit; they were extremely competitive and I found myself intimidated, insecure and just not having fun. By the third time, I actually said as much, and they stepped back and became more helpful. And then I got the phone call telling me I wasn’t a good fit for them and to keep going to clinics, and drop-ins on Tues/Thurs. 

After I hung up, this internal struggle began: “Well, I would have handled it differently and not been so selfish,” vs. “They’re there to play serious tennis, not teach someone how to play,” vs. “You’re just not good enough.”
 
I felt a seed of resentment start to seep its way into my soul and immediately reminded myself of the rational truth: they were there to play tennis, not teach someone how to, and just because I didn’t agree with them booting me off the court, doesn’t make them wrong…again and again and again to avoid that resentment from rooting. It’s the enemy who say’s I’m not good enough but God says I am…and one day I’ll be good enough to play with competitors like them.
 
Truthfully,
Kim-Evinda

#ThursdaysTruth #TrenchClassesUnited #KimEvinda #DontLetResentmentRoot #LivingFearlessly

​When we think of saying goodbye to someone, usually, not always, it’s with the intent that you will see each other again. However, when we have to say goodbye to someone whom we will not be seeing again, that one word becomes one of the hardest words to say.
 
Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Life-Coaching Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. Today’s blog is a great reminder of the promise of a Helper, an Advocate that was sent to us shortly after a heart-felt and painful goodbye.
 
I can’t imagine what the disciples were thinking when Jesus told them He had to go away. The first thing I think about is He didn’t say goodbye, and He spared them the gory details of His “going away.”

I can remember my biological dad kissing me goodbye when I was five years old, telling me he had to go away. I was confused, and desperately sad. And even though it’s been so long ago, I do remember feeling those two feelings.
 
When Jesus said these words to His disciples in John 16:7 – “But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you,” I can’t help but imagine the emotions they experienced. And when I try to put myself in their place in the Upper Room, I’m sure they were confused.  I can almost feel them shutting down after hearing He was going away because the sorrow was so thick with layers of confusion. I would bet that their hearts couldn’t comprehend who/what the Advocate was or would be to them and for them.
 
Friend, there’s some great news in this scripture: we don’t have to wander and wonder, like the disciples must have. See, when God was in a bod, He was limited to one place at a time. This is why He says, “it’s best for you that I go away,” so I can be with you wherever you are, whenever you need me.
 
Without Him having gone away, there would be no Gospels. Without His death, there would be no forgiveness of sin. Without His death, there would be no defeat over death and sin. And without His death there would be no resurrection. Without all of that, we would not have our Advocate. Each one of these “without’s” is a major contribution to the gift that we all have access to.
 
Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines “Advocate” as someone who defends or maintains a cause. We are His cause.
 
We can take Him at his Word TODAY by calling on His Spirit…whenever we need any sort of help.  He promises to be with us spiritually and consistently until we see Him face to face. At that time there will be no more goodbyes.
 
Love,
Kim-Evinda


#WednesdaysWord #TrenchClassesUnited #GoodbyesAreNotForever #LivingFearlessly #LifeCoach

​Man, I don’t know how many times it has taken me to learn this…and I’m still learning.
 
Thanks for joining me for Tuesday’s Life-Coaching Truth. So the other day after a four-hour deposition that was fairly complex, I had e-mailed the questioning attorney a question for a spelling and then I gave my opinion that went something like this: I’d hate for him to be my employee; I can’t believe how apathetic he was and how much he “didn’t know.” I felt a twinge in my spirit simultaneously with pressing send but send won out.

As soon as I did that, I realized that I had replied to all!!!
 
I was convicted right away, sent our client an email apologizing for offering my unsolicited opinion and asked God to forgive me as well, and to help me remember that just because I have an opinion is not permission to give it!
 
Truthfully,
Kim-Evinda


​#TuesdaysTruth #TrenchClassesUnited #KimEvinda #LifeCoaching #HealthyRelationships

​Have you ever noticed that the busier you are during the day, the harder it is to slow down?
Thanks for joining us for Monday’s Life-Coaching Message with Abigail Rice and Trench Classes United. Today’s poem is a great reminder that to be oftentimes is better than to do.

Is God’s favor upon you?
Or does chaos surround you?
Ask yourself,
What are you bound to?
What is holding you back from surrendering
and finally living
Free
 
Free from captivity
Free from shame
and constantly feeling guilty
The need of productivity
Or the endless need to be
Something
Other than
Who you were called to be
 
You were born for such a time as this
As the sun meets the moon
It it’s final eclipse
 
It hits
All around chaos surrounds
As we strive to achieve
To be
Another rat in the race
If only we could see
The wheel we are on
Is never ending
Never giving
Only taking
Every last piece
Of what’s left of your peace
 
So maybe it’s time to wake up
and believe
In something bigger than you
Something bigger than me
Something other than the world’s standards of achievement
and peace
 
When simply being still
Is much harder than taking a pill
Then maybe it’s time to swallow that tough pill
and heed to His will
Because in the end what He has predestined
Will be accomplished
With or without your obedience
 
So the question then is
Where do you stand
On this side of heaven?
 
At the gates of surrender
and serenity
Or chaos
and wandering?
 
In the face of fear
Are you solemn
At His sovereignty
Or are you left pondering
and squandering
Every second you have left
Wondering what’s next?
Rest assured in this
It is ALL a part of God’s plan
Whether you rest in the safety of being His child
Or let your heart and mind be in denial
His story will continue to unfold
All of the while
 
The beauty of it all is
That no matter where you are
How far you feel you have gone
He is waiting for you
With open and loving arms
 
So darling, now is the time to decide
Now is the time to come home
 
“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?”

• Esther 4:14

#MondaysMessage #TrenchClassesUnited #AbigailRice #KimEvinda #LivingFearlessly #HealthyRelationships

​If someone were a bystander in your faith life, would they be cheering you on as they watch you grow?
Thanks for joining us for Faith-Filled Friday with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United. Today’s Love Letter is a great reminder that our faith must be bigger than our fears, and our struggles.

~Love Letter~
 
When it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested, it stirs up in you the power of endurance. And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
 
For those who have always wondered how faith grows, how you become stronger in Me, here is your answer. See each difficulty you go through as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest growth spurt which will increase your joy.
 
How do you do this, you ask? When your faith is tested, it stirs up in you the power of endurance. As your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking. What a great Word of encouragement this is.
 
There is strength in you. Hold onto Me as you find your way through every difficulty. These difficulties are not for nothing for I use every single thing to make you stronger, and better equipped to endure all things.
 
Look at History. I was with the children of Israel in and through every difficulty. I Am with you as well. I desire to show My greatness in your life, for your faith to take flight in the fight.
 
~DebraDolce
 
 #FaithFilledFriday #TrenchClassesUnited #LoveLetter #DebraDolce #KimEvinda 

​Have you ever dropped something accidentally, and it landed at someone’s feet? Did you run and quickly pick it up and walk away and forget about it?
 
Thanks for joining me for Thursday’s Life-Coaching Truth. We’ve all heard the expression “drop the mic’” and as I read that expression the other day, it made me think of God’s desire for all  of us: He longs for us to drop our cares in His lap, at His feet and walk away!

What would that look like for you today? What cares do you need to drop like dropping the mic’? What would it take to actually do that and what interferes with doing that?
 
We would learn how to live the way He designed us to live, abundantly and fearlessly. Getting to that point is not like the Nike slogan, “Just do it!” But…it is possible!
 
#ThursdaysTruth #TrenchClassesUnited #DropYourCares #ThenLeaveThemThere #KimEvinda

​Damon had waited for her to get her bag and then they ran through Dallas Airport to the skycap to get to their gate. She was determined to get on that plane, especially considering she was a day late in getting home.  They got to their gate with only moments to spare, boarded and made their way to their seats. “Do you want me to lift that up for you?” Damon asked. “Sure, that would be great,” but remembered she wanted her laptop to catch up on some work. 

She opened the front pocket, went to grab it and grabbed at nothing. The realization came super-sonically fast and as her heart beat out of her chest and the blood disappeared from her face, her world stood still for a second as she remembered that she had forgotten her laptop on the first plane.
 
Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. Have you ever done something you wish you could take back, something that just no matter how much “faith” or “hope” one has, you just can’t make sense of it?  Come on in for an encouraging word for such a time as this.
 
The realization that her laptop was not there came fast, colliding with her rapid heartbeat and the blood disappeared from her face. Her world stood still for a second as she remembered that she had forgotten her laptop on the first plane.
 
The moments passed by in a blur, filled with tears that turned to all-out sobs as she raced against the others who were trying to board the plane. She was met with a compassionate staff who called over to the other tower, unfortunately to no avail; they had already left. She made it back to her seat in total shock, numbed by her own self-anger and it wasn’t until they were already up in the air, well into the return home she remembered He was with her.
 
The hours and days that passed were a blurry mix of frustration, anger with herself, and hope. Hope revealed itself to her after buying a replacement computer after several shopping trips.  COVID had sent computers flying off the shelves with all the distance learning and there wasn’t anything similar to her long-lost laptop available without ordering. She wound up with a beast of a computer that was 17 inches versus her compact and powerful 14-inch but she finally had a computer.
 
As soon as she got home, she prayed over it, and herself as computer issues sent her to a not-so-good place. She signed into her Microsoft account, hoping against the dread that filled her that it was the right account, the right password. 😊 Suddenly her screensaver from her other laptop appeared and the shortcuts, too. And then documents that she was sure were gone forever began to appear as well. She sat and wept tears of gratitude, grateful for something to be thankful for.
 
Many of those closest to her shared their frustration over this latest attack in her life wondering why she continued to do ministry and put herself through this; or why hadn’t God just given her a break. Her faith responded: “But God did not make me leave that computer on the plane; perhaps I was more motivated by fear than faith when I ran without retrieving it. This is yet another opportunity for God to be God in my life. And perhaps the break I needed was to be further broken in another area of my life? I don’t know.”
 
Friend, how would you respond? How do you respond when unexpected crises happen in your life?
To this day, I don’t have answers – (and I still don’t have my laptop). What I do have is hope that God will use my faith to speak into the lives of those who questioned my faith because His Word promises that. His Word promises that He is concerned about all that concerns me. His Word promises that His plan is to lift me up, give me a hope and that ALL things will work for my good and His glory.
 
Perhaps when crying for a break, we get just that, revelation into another area of life that needs to be broken that we can be fully reliant on and in the Hope of Christ.
 
Thoughtfully,
Kim-Evinda
  
#WednesdaysWord #TrenchClassesUnited #TakeAbreak #DontStayBroken #KimEvinda

​Thanks for stopping to listen to this life-coaching truth today.  Did you know that guilt can be used for your good? Yes, it’s called conviction but it is NOT condemnation. See conviction keeps us moving towards Christ, condemnation is what the Enemy uses to pull away from Him.
 
Let me see if I can paint a verbal picture: when we do something wrong, make a bad choice, or do something we know we shouldn’t do, Jesus is right there, waiting to shower us with His grace and advocate for us to the Father. 

I know for so many of my Christian years, I did not get that picture; in my mind His love and grace were contingent upon my behavior. Friends, that’s not the truth and that’s just what Satan wants us to believe.
Jesus loves us right where we at…and too much to leave us there!
 
His grace is what allows us to live forgiven and forgiving!
 
Truthfully,
Kim-Evinda
 
#TuesdaysTruth #TrenchClassesUnited #AgapeLove #UnconditionallyLoved #KimEvinda

We’ve all heard the phrase sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” and all of us can agree that this is so far from the truth.
 
Thanks for joining us for Monday’s Message with Abigail Rice and Trench Classes United. Today’s message is a great reminder that we should think before we speak.
 
Wounds are slow to heal
and blood even quicker to spill
So how do we hold still
When moments like these feel too surreal?
 
Like salt being poured into a wound open wide
Despite the malice
Despite the strife
We still strike
 
With our words that slowly burn
Leaving fire and ash wherever we turn
We cannot hold on
We cannot hold still​

​Because the pain
Yes, that burning pain
is all too real
 
Like your heart being cut out
Leaving your soul in a wake of doubt
You pinch yourself
Only to wake up in sweats of shout
 
Because this
This is real
The wound is new
But you will heal
 
as time consumes
The space between you and gloom
Moments will fade
The black turning gray
 
and soon you will feel
That presence
To be still
To breathe in new life
As that scar tissue no longer bites
 
Yes, it's still there
The trigger is aware
But you are His child
Slow to anger
and Slower to strife
 
You forgive and let go
Leaving it all in His control
For this I do know
The nails that pierced His hands
Were driven for His plan
 
A new kingdom
A divine land
 
So when that wound cuts open
Remember His blood being poured
Our Savior's sacrifice
For a world no longer broken
 
A Hope that heals
 
#MondaysMessage #TrenchClassesUnited #ChooseYourWords #KimEvinda #LivingFearlessly