Wife: "How would you describe me?"

Husband: "ABCDEFGHIJK."

Wife: "What does that mean?"

​Husband: "Adorable, beautiful, cute, delightful, elegant, fashionable, gorgeous, and hot."

Wife: "Aw, thank you, but what about IJK?"

Husband: "I'm just kidding!"

How many times have we given a sort of backwards compliment or had a motive for saying something nice? We all know that before we can make a withdrawal, we need to make a deposit, right? Maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to take away that which we just deposited and be genuine with our compliments.
​
For more encouragement, take a tour at www.trenchclassesunited.com

atthew 16:24-25: If anyone would come after Me, he must deny him/herself [emphasis mine] and take up his/her cross and follow Me. For whoever loses his/her life [emphasis mine] for Me will find it.

Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. In this time of global uncertainty, we pray that this principle found in Matthew 16:24-25, and Kim-Evinda’s personal experience with it will renew your strength and set you free from anxiety or any form of worry.

Every morning I write God letters as a way of communicating and sometimes the echo of my voice reciting what I had just wrote startles me, especially when I dare ask  Him questions. Usually my questions involve wanting to understand why something’s happening the way it is, or why it isn’t happening the way I think it should be. This particular morning was no exception. My devotional from our pastor had really spoken to me, a whisper amongst my racing thoughts, but I heard it.

Daughter of Mine, since you desire to come after Me, will you deny your agenda, the way you think I should perform this miracle, take up your burden, your hurting heart, and let go, letting Me perform the healing the way I see fit?

And then I saw this picture of fingers on both hands being moved away, surrendering, letting go and succumbing to His plan while allowing mine to disappear.

No but’s, no what if’s, just complete surrendering, and slowly albeit powerfully, trust seeps into my being catapulting me into this incredible peace and a childlike joy; and I am free…euphorically free from the need to understand, free from putting His promises into a time capsule…free to pick up my cross and follow after Him.

Friend, can I encourage you today to place yourself and your burden in this scripture…go ahead, write it out and then speak it out.

​Love,
Kim-Evinda

Grandpa Jones was celebrating his 100th birthday and everybody complimented him on how athletic and well-preserved he appeared.

"Gentlemen, I will tell you the secret of my success," he cackled. "I have been in the open air day after day for some 75 years now, rain or shine."
      
His family and friends were very impressed and asked how he managed to stay consistent with that .
     
“Well, you see my wife and I were married 75 years ago. On our wedding night, we made a solemn pledge. Whenever we had a fight, the one who was proved wrong would go outside and take a walk."

Ahhh, what if we were to focus on WHAT’S right or wrong and not WHO’S right or wrong? Do you think it could make a difference?

​Leave us your comments and for more encouragement, take a tour at www.trenchclassesunited.com

Clear the fog
Wipe away the smog
That covers your heart
and hides your God
Have you forgot?
His power is strong
Kalah
It is finished
It is done
 
His plans have been made
There will be a change
A change of our hearts
A hope in our souls
And a fight in our minds
Will you be ready this time?
 
We prayer our prayers
We say our peace
We close our books
And hope that He is listening
As we sit here in waiting
For the change to come
For it be finished
For it to be done
To finally see the sun
 
But there He is
Waiting so patiently
Amidst the fog
Behind the smog
That covers your heart
And clouds your mind
Darling, He has been there the whole time
Patiently waiting
In His timing there is no mistaking
 
 
 
Take the time
To make the time
To fully open your heart
Because that’s the start
To hear His word
To feel His voice
It is up to you
You have a choice
Embrace His countless joys
 
-Abigail Rice

In this time of panic, pressing in to His principles and promises will help us persevere. Debra’s love letter from the Father’s heart to yours and now ours is a great reminder of this very truth. Thanks for joining us for Faith-filled Friday with Debra Dolce & Trench Classes United.
 
~Love Letter~
 
My chosen, I invigorate your life so that you can praise Me even more, and let My truth be your strength! The more you choose Me and My ways the more sensitive you become to the things of God.
 
The more you choose Me, the stronger you become. Continue in My Word that as difficulties or temptations come, you can say, "It is written." I have given you the best weapons. Know your authority!
 
Come and spend time with Me, sit in My Presence and soak up that sweet, sweet peace of My Spirit. Look to Me in every situation that you be directed in the way I have for you. Every situation is to show you what's in your heart; what is good and other things needing repentance and removal.
I continually work in your heart and life that everything you do is motivated through love. Beloved, I am love and desire to mold you and make you to be a vessel filled and walking in love. 
 
~DebraDolce

A single woman tired of being single decides to ask Google for a spouse.
​
Google, she said, "I'm looking for a spouse. Can you please help me to find a suitable one?"
      
There was a slight pause, then Google says: "What exactly are you looking for?"
      
The woman says: "Well, let me see. He needs to be good looking, polite, humorous, sporty, knowledgeable, good at singing and dancing. He needs to be willing to accompany me the whole day at home during my leisure hour if I don't go out, and be able to carry on meaningful conversations and be silent when I want to rest."
      
The single woman watches the little dots on her phone signifying that Google was thinking…and searching.
In a matter of moments, the results came up: "Buy a television."

Oh, isn’t it true that we place unreasonable expectations on others, especially those we love and when they let us down, we either fall down or….

In this Google-era, what do you do when others let you down? Go you go to God or Google? Put your comments below and come take a tour at www.trenchclassesunited.com

Love & laughter,
Kim-Evinda

I don’t know about you, but I’m loving all the hope I’m seeing in my newsfeed, words of encouragement, reminders of principles & promises of God that never fail, and stories of God’s love and mercy woven into the lives of families across the globe. Isn’t it so true that we don’t know what we had until it’s gone…

Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United and our Guest Laura Woodcook. Last week when scrolling thru my newsfeed, I saw this post and asked Laura if we could share it with you on our blog. What a very thought-provoking, heart-stirring, mind-boggling time this is…wherein the heart is in dire need of the warmth of encouragement, assurance and victories of all kinds. So enjoy this for it’s sure to squeeze your heart with encouragement, especially if you’re a parent with a school-aged child trying to balance it all.
On Friday, March 13th, I received text messages from my daughter Abby all day about the rumors that were circulating the high school. Would the schools really close because of the Coronavirus? That morning she was reassured by teachers that this wouldn’t happen. By 7th period, all students and parents were notified that the school would be closing for two weeks.

If that wasn’t enough to process, the “stay-home” order was soon issued. I joked that I had been training for this my whole life, or so I thought. Why do I say that? On the surface, this looked to be the perfect introvert situation, but honestly, I was very emotional. Every time they extended the reopening of school, every time the government pushed back when social activities would resume, I could see my extroverted daughter’s smile slip.
For weeks my emotions felt right on the surface, ready to spill over, but I continued to be my family’s cheerleader. I put a smile on my face. I encouraged each of them. I came up with ways to occupy Abby and my son, too. I introduced her to my favorite romantic comedies. I helped her rearrange her room. No matter what I did to try and encourage, reassure, I still felt so emotional, so much so that I felt a little crazy. What was wrong with me? I wondered. I get to stay home! I love being home!

It wasn’t a fear thing either. Throughout the day, I’d see posts from other moms that seemed to “have it all together.” Family projects. Amazing functioning routines. I felt like I was barely holding it together.

At one point, a couple weeks into this crazy reality, I accidentally broke my son’s favorite mug. That was my undoing. I’m not an emotional person, but after weeks of these emotions strangling me, I sank to the floor and sobbed. It was about so much more than the mug. I was mourning. I was mourning the loss of my familiar routine. Yes, the getting up at 6 am that I complained about, I missed it. I missed the dropping off and picking up at two different schools; again, something I’ve been known to complain about. I missed church on Sundays. I missed Starbucks tea with my friends.
​
I love routine. I hate change. I was mourning the loss of it all. I was grieving about not being able to go to the beach over spring break. I grieved all the things my kids were missing out on both at school and at church. I felt so relieved to finally let it out. See, once I realized what I was feeling, I allowed myself to grieve and cling to God’s hope.

It’s been more than a month at home now, with no real promise of when this will end. But I’m doing better. I’m a private person. I don’t use social media to share more than surface stuff about myself, but I felt like I should say something. Even if it’s just a reminder to myself in the future…or maybe I’ll question my sanity and delete the post…but I just want people to know that there are many different ways to process this craziness.
 
We are all different, with different personalities. Be you and survive this craziness in the strengths God gave you! Don’t focus on someone else’s strengths. Support and encourage that friend that seems to have it all together, because believe me, not all days are perfect for her. Cheer her on so she can continue. If God puts someone on your heart, let them know. It’s a way for them to hear “I see you” from both God and you. If you were or are grieving like I was, please allow yourself to grieve and then find peace in God’s hope. Life will not be the same once we’ve conquered this time; it will be more beautiful. We will appreciate the simple joys of life so much more!

Love,
Laura

A wife comes home late one night after Bunco with her friends. She ever so quietly opens the door to her bedroom not wanting to wake her husband. She walks in and gets to their bed and from under the blanket, she sees four legs instead of just her husband's two.

In that moment she reaches for the baseball bat standing tall in his closet and starts hitting the blanket as hard as she can without speaking a word.

Like a lion proud of his attack, she goes to the kitchen and pours herself a glass of wine. She goes into the living room and she sees her husband there, reading a magazine.

He says, "Hi darling, your parents have come to visit us, so I let them stay in our bedroom. Did you say hello?"

Ahhh, how many times have we jumped to the wrong conclusion…that’s why in the heat of the moment it’s best to stop, step back, not jump forward and react. When we do this, regret won’t win the battle!

For more encouragement, take a tour at www.trenchclassesunited.com.

Love & laughter,
Kim-Evinda

Green is the color I see
From the trees that billow in the wind
To the pastures that never end
A sight to see
You must agree
Won't you run away with me?
To see all that the eye can see
To believe that this world was created for you and me
Yes, it may be falling apart at the seams
But that doesn’t stop the birds from chirping
Or the bees from searching
 
The sun is till shining
and the moon is still rising
Spring is here
Summer near
Outside your window
Beyond the glass
Beyond the stress
You feel your life as a mess
But look at the grass?
So evergreen
Sprinkled with colors of flowers
So worry free
And that my friend, should be you and me
Worry free
Living life as the Creator intended it to be
Cast your burdens
Forget your worries
Trust in Him
Because this too will end
The pain, yes, it is coming
But our struggles
They are not for nothing
Look to the clouds
 
The sky
The sun
Everything you see
Because the Father gave His Son
It is finished
It is done
Relish in the rest
You are doing your best
and let the world know
"I have been crucified with Christ;
It is no longer I who live,
But Christ who lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by faith in the Son of God,
Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
-Galatians 2:20

​-Abigail Rice

Friends,

Now, more than ever, we need to be receiving His gift of grace that we may offer it to others. This is called keeping short accounts in our souls. You can’t give what you don’t have so take this time of global uncertainty to press in to the One who holds your future. Debra’s love letter from the Father’s heart to ours is a great reminder of this truth.

~Love Letter~

​My blessed child, keep a constant watch over your soul, and pray for the courage and grace to prevail over these things that are destined to occur and that you will stand before the presence of the Son of Man with a clear conscience.
 
Remember My Word says that I am ever interceding for you, so you too should be interceding for yourself, your family, your nation and the world. My Word says that when you don't have words the Holy Spirit makes groans. Ask My Holy Spirit to fill you that you may find comfort in these trying times. He will teach you, guide you and show you things to come.
 
Let Him work through you causing My peace to rule and reign in your heart. Beloved, the time is short, spend more time with Me, in prayer, in My Word, learn and know My Word that fear not overtake you. 
 
 ~DebraDolce