​“Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ, and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.”
- C.S. Lewis
 
Our flesh
This body
This mind
Only lives under this sun
And goes around a number of times
and while we live under this earthly sun
Are we looking for the Son

• The One True Love?

Seeking His Kingdom
Until Kingdom come
On earth as it is in heaven
Our daily bread left unleavened
While we keep searching
Barely scratching the surface
Of all His good works
In the little things of this life
The small simple pleasures
Bringing down glimpses of heaven
 
Yet we try
and we toil
To make something more of this manna
When really what we have
Is all we will ever need
If we could just stop aiming to please
and chasing our greed
To create growth from the seeds
that only lead
To disdain, agony, and grief
Oh, if His people would just fall to their knees!
Look under the table
and crawl like a beast
Because without God
That is all we'll ever be
 
Or will you stand tall
and look straight
Because that trail of breadcrumbs
Will lead to something great
and so I dare ask -
How great is your faith?
Do you truly believe it is too little too late?
Or is your mind crumbling as you dissipate into this earthly fate?
Look to the sun and you will see beauty
But for what?
A momentary proving?
Look to the Son and you will find a love beyond measures
Overflowing your cup
Raising all standards
 
“I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time [appointed] for every matter and purpose for every work. I said in my heart, regarding the subject of the sons of men, God is trying (separating and sifting) them, that they may see that by themselves [under the sun, without God] they are but like beasts.” -  Ecclesiastes 3:17-18

​How many times have you told yourself, “I’ve got this”? What if you were to exchange those words for “He’s got this”? Do you think the struggle would be different?

Thanks for joining us for Faith-Filled Fridays with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United. Today’s love letter is a beautiful picture of what it could look like amid struggles if we tell ourselves “He’s got this!”
 
~Love Letter~
 
My chosen one, trust in Me your Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart, rely on Me to guide you, and I will lead you in every decision you make.  Become intimate with Me in whatever you do, and I will lead you wherever you go.
 
Such a good Word for you. Are you able to walk in this or are you continually slipping into, "I got this?" An independent spirit will keep you from walking in the fullness I have for you. Trust and rely on Me and I will direct your path.
 
What a blessing for you to know that as you follow My lead I will make the crooked places straight. But that is just the beginning, I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Meditate on this. Meditate on this river that cleanses and refreshes you in this desert you find yourself in at times.
 
Let Me be the refreshment in the middle of your struggle, Beloved.
 
 ~DebraDolce

I saw this post the other day and it literally reached out and grabbed me: Stop dating while you are hurting! And then this is paraphrased in my editorial way: you are infecting others!

Isn’t it so true that hurt people hurt people…but healed people can help in the healing?
If you’d like to experience relational healing, please, plan on joining us next week in a trench near you to learn how to love those you love.
https://www.facebook.com/events/328834819246922/

​Kim-Evinda

                          “Driving Your Thoughts Instead of Letting Them Drive You.”

Why, God, does my mind continue to take these treacherous, time-wasting, joyless and sorrowful detours?
She waited for Him to answer.
 
Finally, Kim-Evinda, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
 
Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. Have you ever wondered how to train your brain to not think the things it does, or how to pull it out of the pit it can drag you into? Kim-Evinda shares how she is learning to be the driver of her thoughts thru her recent season in this second part of her new series, “Driving Your Thoughts Instead of Letting Them Drive You.”
 
I’m not one for wasting time. When I set out to go somewhere, I go straight there; I don’t take any detours – well, I can think of one place that I would, Kauai! 😊 Whenever I’ve ventured out on an adventure, headed for a specific destination, I have almost aways taken detours. Why? Because there’s always a reward in the form of a beautiful waterfall, or an ocean so blue it takes your breath away, or foliage so green and sweet-smelling it makes you want to stop and thank our Creator for such beauty.  Yes, whenever I’ve taken a detour while driving, or walking, for that matter on the island of Kauai, it has been worth it!
 
But that’s not real life. My mind is always driving me to and through emotional detours. Do you catch your thoughts drifting from where you are to something or someone else?
 
In my current season [SOAR, Season of adultery recovery] my thoughts keep going back to some of the same questions, over, and over, and over again, like a mouse stuck on a wheel going and going, expecting a different result but going in the same direction, around and around and around…crazy, less faithful and more flesh-full, pulling me away from the One who has my answers and will give them to me in His time. And before I know it, I’m drowning in a puddle of my own tears. ☹
 
I have read this scripture over and over and have never had it come to life more than in my current season. It literally is a mind-altering scripture that can help us with these crazy detours that our mind tends to take us on, no matter what you are going through. Let’s look at the first two whatever’s:
Finally, My child, whatever is true…STOP!


My argument with this one, and yours may be as well, is this: It is true, they did what they did; there’s no dispute.
“Okay,” God says, “but is it noble”?
“Heck to the no,” I say; “what they did, said, thought was not noble. They may think it was but…”
“Stop! You don’t know what they think; only I know their thoughts. Get off the detour, turn around and head back to Me.”
 
Friend, can I encourage you this week to just take the first two “whatever’s” and practice putting the brakes on the car of your thoughts, lest they drive you crazy. His Word is there to help us, not hinder us.
 
Finally, My child, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
 
Thoughtfully,
Kim-Evinda

Proverbs 6:32 tells us when we wound another, we wound our own soul! Think about that for a moment…is that really what you want to do?
I have experienced such freedom in learning how to love those I love, including the unlovable ones in my life.
 
In fact, what I have learned so far is truly helping me to rise above relational chaos and the lies we tell ourselves when something falls apart because of someone else’s choices.
 
If you’d like to learn how to love those you love more healthily, join us next week in a trench near you. The ink is below
https://www.facebook.com/events/328834819246922/
​
Kim-Evinda

If your life were a movie, how would you change some of the scenes?
Thanks for joining us for Monday’s Message with Abigail Rice and Trench Classes United. What a thought-provoking question…we can’t change the past only learn from it but going forward…how do we want our script to read? Enjoy Abigail’s words of wisdom today.
 
Flip the script
This playbook we’re in
It really isn’t “it”
 
Because there’s something you long for
A missing piece
That you continuously search for
In things of this world
 
Yet no matter how high or how low
You search for this fill
You are left empty
Living against your soul’s will
 
and all along it was there
This life you could build
If you would simply listen
Simply let your flesh yield
 
But it’s those seemingly small “yeses”
Those little steps of chances
That can easily become second guesses
Or hard learned lessons
 
Oh, but only if you would just listen
To the secrets of your soul
That you have always known
 
That still small voice
That you ignore
Because you have a choice
 
More than just a choice
You have a voice
To speak up
And flip the script
Rewrite the playbook for generations to begin
and live this one life
Like only you can
 
Your God given purpose
To bring heaven to the surface
But first you must go deep
To that dark inner well
That being
That creature
that has always been lingering
 
The stain of sin
Hindering
You from taking the chance
To breathe in
And begin
 
As the lightning flickers
and the air gets thicker
You may feel misunderstood
Lonely and no good
But I can promise you this
The more you yield
The more you chose
To flip the script
and rewrite your book
 
Remove the dust from the pews
Rebuild the altar
As He dries up the waters
 
While you may feel barren
Wandering in a desert of dry land
He is there parting the waters
Only for them to come back
Faster and stronger
 
A tidal wave
Your great escape
To finally see the true meaning of the grave
 
A slate washed clean
With pure water
and a well that goes deep
 
No more searching
No more yearning
Because in Him you now have everything you will ever need
 
 
“For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you,
Until ye were passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red sea,
Which He dried up from before us, until we were gone over” - Joshua 4:23

~Abigail

Sticks and stones may break our bones…and words will definitely hurt us!

Thanks for joining us for Faith-Filled Friday with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United. If the tongue were a knife, what and who would you be cutting or curing? Today’s love letter reminds us that gratitude changes the attitude and our altitude and takes us to higher ground.
 
~Love Letter~
 
My child, your words are so powerful that they will kill or give life, and the talkative person will reap the consequences. Speak life over yourself and over those you love. Continue to speak life that you don't negate the life you have spoken. Speak life over your country, over your state and over your city. Then begin to speak My Word over every situation, for My Word is life and produces life.
 
Come and spend time with Me. Talk to Me, then be still and listen- what do I want today? Sit quiet in My Presence and allow Me to hover over you, touching your mind, your heart and your flesh.
 
Stop the negative and the twirling in your mind with saying Scriptures, with releasing your praise. You see praise changes the very atmosphere where you are. Walk like King David with My praises continually in your mouth. Others will love being around a grateful person, they already receive so much negative. Beloved, come and soak in My Presence.
 
~DebraDolce

Do you often feel misunderstood and/or experience unmet expectations in your relationships that lead to disappointment or…are you able to speak up and let others know they hurt/disappointed you without an attitude?
​
If you’d like to learn how to make the great exchange of unmet and unhealthy expectations for understanding in all of your relationships, then plan on joining us in a trench near you, and even on Zoom for How to Love Who You Love…
www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-love-who-you-love-class-tickets-228490881377

Learning and unlearning,
Kim-Evinda

The words of the verse pulled her mind out of the pit of depression it was headed for. Funny, she thought, how the mind can pick up speed towards things not praiseworthy, or of good report, but it sure is slow to head the other direction towards hope-filled possibilities.

Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. Have you ever wondered how to train your brain to not think the things it does, or how to pull it out of the pit it can drag you into? Kim-Evinda shares how she is learning to be the driver of her thoughts thru her recent season in this first of her new series, “Driving Your Thoughts Instead of Letting Them Drive You.”

Her mind kept going to the pain of the recent past, reaching for understanding that felt so unobtainable, it was as if it was an airplane flying high, coming down as if to land and then flying off again. She didn’t get it.
How is it that people can cause so much pain to others, and continue living their lives as if they are doing nothing wrong? How can they go on as if I didn’t exist? Her heart ached for these answers.

Finally, Kim-Evinda, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Her thoughts, questions came to a screeching halt. She wanted to argue with God, but she couldn’t; instead, He gave her a way to take control of these detours her heart insisted on venturing off onto.
Oh, friend, have you ever wondered these things? Do your thoughts drive you crazy or to a beautiful place? Join me next week in this series for part 2; in the meantime, “If anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.”

Love,
Kim-Evinda

Do 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? If you would like to learn how to dance better, relationally that is, join us in a trench near you for How to Love Who You Love.
www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-love-who-you-love-class-tickets-228490881377

Learning to dance…better

Kim-Evinda