Many are being taught that the Bible is old, outdated, but when you put yourself and your circumstances in it, you can feel the falsity of that belief. However, when we start a new job, or start a new college class, we need instruction, training right? Perhaps it’s time to change our perspective on this very old but never outdated book, The Word of God.
Thanks for joining us for Faith-Filled Friday with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United with a love letter that speaks truth about showing up in life with our best handbook, the Number 1 best seller in the world, the Bible.
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~Love Letter~
 
My blessed child, every Scripture has been inspired by the Holy Spirit, the breath of God. It will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness. Then you will be My servant, fully mature and perfectly prepared to fulfill any assignment I give you.
 
Doesn't this cause a burning desire in you for more of Me? My Word has strength, it has power and it will accomplish what it's sent out to do.
 
That's why it's important to make decrees over yourself, your family and everything that touches your heart. Are you satisfied with the world around you? Do you pray or declare My Word over it? Are you just living your life everyday with, "whatever happens happens," or do you have an active role in your own life?
 
You can only be a believer if you believe. Am I your last result or first? Do you try to fix things on your own or do you look to Me for the direction you need? My Word says, come to Me all you who are weary and I will give you rest. Come and spend time with Me and experience My rest.
 
Beloved, take My yoke [instructions] upon you and learn of Me and you will find refreshment and rest in Me. 
 
~DebraDolce

Thanks so much for joining me today for Thursdays Trench Truth which has some humor in it as well as a little taste of what our next trench is about, Living Fearlessly. Oh, before I share, I wanted to let you know, especially those who have asked for this, that I’m beginning to prepare for a podcast and we are working on a title. We are so close to getting that nailed down.
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This weekly podcast will touch on every aspect you can think of in relationships – and no, I’m no expert, just a transparent person God’s using to share life’s relational experiences. We will cover ground that people want covered but don’t know how to walk it let alone talk about it. So if that’s something you’d be interested in, would you hit the like button after you hear this and we’ll share more with you about what you can expect.

And now let me share a little serious humor that I found on F.B. This post speaks to our next trench, Living Fearlessly:
I’ll call it decades of fear strikes

In 2000 fear said y2k is going to destroy everything and everyone
In 2001 Fear screamed terrorism with 9-11 and Anthrax is going to kill us all
In 2002 Fear said West Nile Virus is going to kill us all
In 2003 Fear focused on SARS, screaming it’s going to kill us all
In 2004, We didn’t really have anything to focus our fears on, but…
In 2005 Fear started screaming with the Bird Flu, threatening to kill us all
In 2006, Fear focused on Ecoli
In 2007, Fear screamed the economy is struggling
In 2008, Fear focused on the collapsed economy and failed finances
In 2009, Fear said the Swine Flu is going to kill us all
In 2010-In 2011, External/worldly fears subsided but internal, personal fears increased
In 2012, Fear strikes again with the Mayan calendar which predicted the end of the world for us all
In 2013, Fear focused on North Korea’s threat of a World War iii
In 2014, The Ebola virus feared us into believing we were all going to die
In 2015, Fear focused on ISIS and their threats to kill us all
In 2016, The Zika virus struck and our fear had us believing we would all die
In 2020, Fear screamed COVID is going to kill us all

The truth is…fear is going to kill us. Perhaps it’s time to stop listening to mainstream media, turn off the television, pray, trust in God and wash your hands!

Don’t forget to hit that like button, and let us know if you’d be interested in our upcoming weekly podcast.

Love,
Kim-Evinda

She continued on in her study and after just four verses, she had to stop. How could it be and why is it that everything I read lately in the Old Testament seems to speak to the very season I’m in? How could that be? What are you trying to teach me?

Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United where she actually got several answers to her own question.

She dared to ask the same question that Moses did all those years ago, “Why have you brought me to this if you knew they were going to resist, and in fact, cause more trouble, and you still haven’t moved or changed it?” (paraphrased: Exodus 5:22)

She continued to read in Chapter 6 and was surprisingly surprised over the similarities with Moses’s story not only in her life but also the cycles that seem to reveal the same problems in the world today: a lack of obedience…or is it a lack of faith, she wondered?

She so related to Moses’s cry of why? Why do things seem to get worse when we do what He asks us to do? The season she’d been in for almost two years now was so close to approaching the other side of healing, and yet, she was tired, weary, and at times wondered if this was as good as it would get. And then she’d remember the promises He gave her in the beginning of the journey, miracles of sorts. She continued to read.

I am the Lord; I will bring you out from the burdens of the Egyptians. I will rescue you from their bondage and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” Ex. 6:6a-7

As was her custom, she applied her stuff to what she read: “I am your God; I will bring you out from under the burden of _________. I will rescue from _______ and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments to those who have not repented. I will take you as mine and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out of the burdens of ________.”

Friends, life application is powerful which is why I have left those blanks for you to fill in with whatever has you wondering why. [Also, my current season isn’t just my story so I am being as transparent as I can.]

And as far as my original questions in the beginning, well, the answers He gave me are for you as well: “When you spend time with Me in My word, I will reveal to you how much I love you, that you still have much to learn, that I am here to offer comfort, validation and education as well as encouragement to stay and obey.”

May you come to learn that faith is to obedience what obedience is to faith; they fuel and feed each other and you need them both on your way to heaven.

Much love
Kim-Evinda 

Thanks so much for joining me today for Tuesday’s Trench Truth which has some humor in it as well as a little taste of what our next trench is about, Living Fearlessly.

Oh, before I share, I wanted to let you know, especially those who have asked for this, that I’m beginning to prepare for a podcast and we are working on a title. This weekly podcast will touch on every aspect you can think of in relationships – and no, I’m no expert, just a transparent person God’s using to share life’s relational experiences. We will cover ground that people want covered but don’t know how to walk it let alone talk about it. So if that’s something you’d be interested in, would you hit the like button after you hear this and we’ll share more with you about what you can expect.

And now for a little truthful humor

There was this little boy who was scared of the dark. One evening his mother asked him to go out onto the back porch and bring her the broom. The little boy said, “Mama, please don’t make me go out there. It’s dark and you know I’m scared of the dark.”

His mother smiled at him and said reassuringly, “There’s no need to be afraid of the dark. Jesus is out there and he’ll look after you and protect you.”

The little boy seemed unsure and said, “Are you sure Jesus is out there?”

The mother said, “Yes, I’m sure. Jesus is everywhere and is always there and ready to help when you’re in need.”

The boy thought for a moment, then went to the back door and opened it a tiny amount. He looked out into the darkness and called out, “Jesus – if you’re out there, please pass me the broom.”

Ahhh, fears, whether they’re seemingly harmless, like that of this little boy’s or significant, small or large, they work like a barrier preventing us from our best life.
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Thanks so much and again, don’t forget to hit that like button; let me know you’d be interested in our upcoming podcast!

We are all sojourners on our way to a final destination. Thanks for joining us for Monday’s Message with Abigail Rice and Trench Classes United. This week’s poem is a great reminder that God speaks in the quiet with a message of hope and help.
 
To come to You in quiet
Is worth the fight
Is worth the riot
Because the days will pull us this way
And that
As sure as the waves
Meet their point break
On sandy shores
Where we hope for more
Hope in the sunset
Hope that this beauty
His beauty
Is here in the end
For if this is all we get
This is more than we deserve
To be living beings here on this earth
And while the flowers fade
The snow washing them away
It is here that we are
And it is here that we will stay
Planting our feet
Rooting in deep
To create a foundation
That no whisper can breach
For here
Right here
Your presence is near
Despite the agony
Despite the fear
You are our rest
and Your love is the ultimate test
The true test of time
Will we endure this ride?
Swallow our pride?
For yes, we are blessed
Beyond any ordinary distress
And while we lie in this mess
Let us be pressed
Let us be moved
Shaken
And used
For we are Yours
Your hands
Make us move.
 
-Abigail Rice

Isn’t it so true that without sadness, we wouldn’t know happiness; without pain, how would we appreciate healing…and without correction, how would we gain wisdom?

Thanks for joining us for Faith-Filled Friday with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United. This is a great addition to Wednesday’s Blog so if you haven’t checked it out, just scroll up. May you be encouraged to know that correction from God brings direction, not condemnation.
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~Love Letter~
 
My blessed child, receive My correction no matter how hard it is to swallow, for wisdom will snap you back into place. Her words will be invigorating life to you. I talk about wisdom so much because I want you to desire it, to seek for it and to embrace it. I desire that you walk in My wisdom and not that of the world.
 
Only through Me will you find all that you need, all that you ever desired. The moving of the Holy Spirit will lead you into all wisdom, into all truth. Search the Scriptures that you will find wisdom and make Me your Cornerstone. I have so much waiting for you as you step into it.
 
Don't be so concerned with the past, but learn from the mistakes and then move on. As you follow My direction you will not be doomed to repeat it. In Me you have a whole new life as you choose to walk in it, even your thinking changes as you walk in all My ways.
 
Receive My correction that you may be made whole and allow Me to heal the broken parts of you. Beloved, nothing is better than being whole and complete in Me. 
 
~DebraDolce

Two men, Robert and James, applied for an engineering position. Both applicants having the same qualifications were asked to take a test by the department manager.
      
Upon completion of the exam both men only missed one of the questions. The manager went to Robert and said, "Thank you for your interest, but we've decided to give James the job."
      
Robert replied, "Why? We both correctly answered nine questions. I believe I should get this job, especially since I've grown up in this town and James just moved here."
      
The manager said, "We made our decision not on the correct answers, but on the question you missed."
      
"How could one incorrect answer be better than the other?," asked Robert.
      
"Simple," said the manager. "James put down on question #5, 'I don't know', and you put down, 'Neither do I.'"

Oh, my gosh, have you ever been tempted to cheat on a test? Or think about telling a lie? Did you know a half truth or an omission is considered cheating as well?  I mean think about it, we sort of get a feeling of hiding when we’re thinking about cheating, or not being completely honest, right? Like we’re ducking and hiding, as if God can’t see us!!!
Friends, no matter what the situation, whether it involves half-truths, cheating, omission or straight-out lying, God always brings the truth to light! Always means always, but it doesn’t always mean on our time table!

For more encouragement, take a tour at www.trenchclassesunited.com and follow us on Instagram, too. We’d love to share the journey with you. Oh and be sure to check out our daily blog, too.

Love,
Kim-Evinda

She sat stewing in her frustration, amazed by the seemingly hard stones over the eyes of their understanding. Why couldn’t they see what she saw?  She replayed the conversation over and over for several moments, amazed that “they” still weren’t getting it. And then, like a ton of bricks, a revelation hit her over the head, humbling her right out of her frustration, washing her with regret as she wished she could have just kept her mouth shut. She knew where this revelation came from, the One who loved her enough to correct her and comfort her at the same time: If I really believe that God is who He says He is, and He will do what He says He will do, then why wouldn’t I trust Him with my burdens and blunders?
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If you’ve ever experienced exasperated frustration, or a season of waiting for an answer to prayer that really tested your faith then you will be encouraged and glad you joined us for Wednesday’s word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United.

I find I do my best sharing when it’s based on what I have learned in the process of enduring, and what I am still learning. It’s the latter that I find myself in during this season of healing. I mean I could write for hours about what I’m learning on the subject of healing, but at the risk of being too transparent I will say that emotional healing absodarnlutely (my word) is not for the quitter!

Why do I say that? Well, healing takes courage because it has a path of its own, one that is often unknown. Healing requires determination to stay on that path and not deviate, sort of like an unseen operation. One certainly wouldn’t get up in the middle of being operated on, would they? 😊 Which leads to the next thing I’ve learned about healing; it requires an obedience to the One I claim to be my God. And finally, healing often requires waiting and of course it’s hard not to wonder and wander in the waiting.

You and I can agree that the human condition sure makes it hard to sit and wait when you receive no direction, right? I mean, “wait” really is the direction when you receive no direction. But what is it that we do when we are losing hope, getting frustrated beyond exasperation or tired of waiting for others to figure it out? I’m not doing so well in any of these areas lately so it’s time for a tune-up. I mean, honestly, lately I just can’t stand the stench of my negative attitude! I don’t know how He does it and still loves me but I’m so glad He does.

While I can sure share with you what not to do, but then that’s not so encouraging, today I’d like to share what I am learning to do during times such as this with an acrostic using the word “stop”:

STOP and…

Stretch your focus back into His Word to align your thoughts with His

Thank Him in advance for taking it and making it all work together for good

Own your frustration, anger, and/or sadness, and then ask God to change them [you can’t disown what you haven’t owned!]

Pray and praise more vs. participating in private party logic

Yes, I am convinced that what comes out of my mouth reveals who is in control of my life. I want others to see my love for Jesus, not my frustrations with others. May you be encouraged to Stop, no matter what situation you find yourself in…so that those whom He has in your life can tell He is in control of your life.

Love,
Kim-Evinda 

Thanks for joining us for Tuesday’s Truthful humor where we pull truth from a bit of humor. And let me say before I give you this little funny, lighten up so you can appreciate the truth of it 😊

A busload of politicians were driving down a country road when, all of a sudden, the bus ran off the road and crashed into a tree in an old farmer's field. The old farmer, after seeing what had happened, went over to investigate. He then proceeded to dig a hole to bury the politicians.
      
A few days later the local sheriff came out, saw the crashed bus, and asked the old farmer where all the politicians had gone.
     
The old farmer said he had buried them.
      
The sheriff asked the old farmer, "Were they all dead?"
      
The old farmer replied, "Well, some of them said they weren't, but you know how them politicians lie."

Think about it, friends, we all lie, we all fall short; there is no such thing as  a perfect politician or a perfect president but we have got to do what we can do to stop the divide by dying to pride. Do you honestly believe that what has happened thus far has knocked Him off of HIS throne? He’s still in charge!

What would our political climate look like if we all put our passion into loving others as much as we do when giving our political opinions about others? And I’m speaking to myself as much as you.

Friends, God has a plan and His plan will not be thwarted; we have to trust Him, even when the direction we’re headed feels wrong, God will make it right in the end. God wins and if we are for God, and God is for us, who can be against us?

For more encouragement take a tour at www.trenchclassesunited.com and follow us on Instagram, too. We’d love to share the journey with you. Oh and be sure to check out our daily blog, too.

Love,
Kim-Evinda

When we feel like we’re treading deep waters, where is our focus?
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Thanks for joining us for Monday’s Message with Abigail Rice and Trench Classes United. Today’s message is a great reminder that there’s nothing to deep, too hard, to messed up that He can’t work out for good.
 
How to step into this theory
The unknown
The scary
the dreary
dark places of our hearts
where our souls may rip apart
 
We tread in deep water
We muster to go farther
Farther than we have gone
Because what is left
But to keep trekking on?
To keep going
Despite the unknowing
 
Despite the disturbing
Thoughts
And loud doubts
The silent screams
Drowned out
by a sky full of black and gruesome, gray clouds
Who can hear you now?
 
Who can carry on
Climbing the mountain
In the mist beyond
Where the lever belongs
A means to escape
A way to break
 
apart those heavy weighted clouds
Jumping down
Freefalling
Bellowing out
This is life
and no momentary affliction can hold us down
 
Because our backs may break
and our bones may shake
At the thoughts in our minds that we allow to escape
But in the end
Every wave has its wake
Every flesh has its grave
And every soul has its mate
 
There is an end
But this is our time
Our time to begin
So dig in
And dig deep
For the mountain
It is steep
There is no time for pause
There is no time for sleep
 
For our destiny is waiting
Waiting to greet
Us and all it takes is a leap
 
A leap to higher ground
As we bury that doubt
Knowing that where we are going
Is a place worth the weeping and the moaning
For the sun will always come
As sure as His song is always sung
It is up to us dear solider, to dare to take the plunge
 
"[Such a man] will dwell on the heights;
His place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks;
His bread will be given him; water for him will be sure."
-Isaiah 33:16
 
-Abigail Rice