Faith-Filled Friday When we look at that sentence, it’s a bit of an oxymoron, right?
Thanks for joining us for Faith-Filled Friday with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United. Today’s love letter is a great illustration of what it means to allow Him to be strong in times of weakness. ~Love Letter~ Don't be defeated by your weakness but delighted! For when you feel your weakness and endure mistreatment-when you're surrounded with troubles on every side and face persecution because of your love for Me, you are made yet stronger. How? It is your weakness which becomes a portal to My power. This is a beautiful Word. Don't be defeated by your weakness but learn to lean into Me. When you feel weak and endure mistreatment, when you feel surrounded by pain, sorrow and troubles and even face persecution because of Me, then you are actually being made stronger. Even though you don't realize it, you are being strengthened. For your weakness becomes a portal of My power. Please know that when you go through things, My power is right there to sustain you. My Spirit is there strengthening you. The things that should get you down as you hold onto Me will be the things that strengthen you. Beloved, there is nothing in life that can make you stronger and more resilient than allowing your weaknesses to be the portal for My strength. ~DebraDolce
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Thursdays Trench Truth How about you join us for our annual Night of Laughter fundraiser on 4-22-23. Help us help others thrive in life and love by connecting past to present for a healthier future. These trench classes help others to break destructive relational cycles and while it’s work, there’s always laughter too. Get your ticket today. $25 for a night out a bit of
hor ‘dourves dessert and laughter. The link’s below A Night of Laughter Tickets, Sat, Apr 22, 2023 at 6:30 PM | Eventbrite Wednesday Word For many years, this week [Holy week] had always been a bit somber, serious and sweet at
the same time. It was a time of deeper reflection for sure. She smiled as she turned the page to begin the next chapter of her current study, “Pursuing More of Jesus” by Anne Graham Lotz: “More of His death in my life.” She knew without a doubt He was calling her to go deeper in her healing and in her faith. Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. Have you ever wondered what it means to be “crucified with Christ”? Today’s word is good for every day of the week, every week of the year. Years ago, she had come to an understanding of what it meant to be crucified with Christ. But still, she wondered, why did He have to endure such torture? And while eternity is the simple answer, it was something hard to grasp during pressures, problems, and pain she had endured in this season. She nodded her head in silent agreement at Anne’s words: “The pressures, problems and pain had been the nails that pinned me to the cross.” And because of what Christ already accomplished in His suffering, no pain, pressure, or problem would ever be wasted. Why? Because death of self, areas of life that need to die, bring blessings. As she reflected on the pressure, problems, and pain of the last three years due to an unexpected divorce, she was able to see how His sovereignty had produced so many blessings out of her dying to self, albeit a slow and painful death. Yes, she had to die to the desire of revenge, die to the right to understand the why of it all, die to unforgiveness, die to resorting to old habits and coping mechanisms…she smiled as she realized she could keep adding to the list of deaths. But with every death had come new blessings, namely a deeper understanding of His love for her, the understanding that the betrayal, rejection and abandonment had gone through Him first, and because it had to go through Him first, and had already been paid for, she was able to surrender each one of these things that had needed to die in her and experience the truth that NOTHING HAD BEEN WASTED. That’s the beauty of living a crucified life: knowing that He works all things for His glory and my good as I await to join Him in eternity where there will be no more betrayal, rejection, or abandonment, no more addictions, body memories, pain and sorrow…just pure blessing and celebration of a job well done here while waiting. Friend, can I encourage you to think of what needs to die in you, to be crucified with Christ? Is it your reputation, your own dreams and desires, or is t an attitude or action that you keep holding on to, refuting Christ in you? He’s waiting for your willingness to surrender it and in exchange, He has a blessing just for you. Crucified…daily, Kim-Evinda Tuesday Trench Truth. Thanks for joining us for Tuesday’s Truthful Humor.
A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Bible class. As she ran she prayed, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!" As she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed herself off, and started running again. As she ran she once again began to pray, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late... But please don't shove me either!" Whew, sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself, but hey, come out and laugh with us at our annual Night of Laughter fundraiser with Trench Classes United. The link is below. Love & laughter Kim-Evinda Monday Message Is who you are now not who you were before? Thanks for joining us for Monday’s Message
with Abigail Rice and Trench Classes United. Today’s poem speaks of a surrender that brings so much clarity and reminds us that all of us would do better living a crucified life. Ask Seek Knock Scattered thoughts Trying to create water From rocks Looking for signs Miracles From God When all along The miracle was Him From start to finish Where it all began Our minds can’t comprehend Seeking Him again And again Wondering when When will we ever win Until we finally realize The victory is within When our hearts become His Bought at a price To have another chance at life and; not be condemned No need to rend Our clothes For our sins But instead Let the tearing begin In our hearts made of tin Just longing once more To beat for Him To feel the joy Like a long lost friend Jesus is it and; on His throne He sits Reaching out His hand Calling you higher Creating myrtle from brier Defeating the liar Whose web has entangled you Leaving you bitten and bruised How can you break through? Because you are one One of the few A chosen nation A royal priesthood Ready and; willing To draw your sword All for the sake Of our God and our Lord Who you are now Is not who you were before He won the battle defeated the enemy and; finished the war. “And rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil.” - Joel “Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name of renown, for an everlasting sign [of jubilant exaltation] and memorial [to His praise], which shall not be cut off.” - Isaiah Faith-Filled Friday How many times have you heard others, or even yourself, say I’m not in
love with…anymore? Thanks for joining us for Faith-Filled Friday with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United. Today’s love letter is a great reminder of what true intimacy is, something the world needs now. ~Love Letter~ Come into an intimate experience with My love, and trust in the love I have for you. I am love! When you are living in love you are living in Me, and I live through you. Meditate on this Good News. Come and spend time with Me and allow My love to grow in you. This is true intimacy, not the intimacy the world teaches you to crave. You can plant and water through My Word, in prayer and through worship. As you spend time with Me, you will cultivate our relationship. Now this is a wonderful thing. I desire that all My children study My Word so that each may see My great love for them. How else will you truly know Me if you don't spend time with Me? I have so much for you to learn. The longer you trust and walk with Me the more I will show and teach you things. This is true intimacy. I will work through you as you surrender your life to Me. Others will see your love for Me and they'll be moved by it. People will desire what you have with Me and you can tell them. Beloved, teach them the importance of time alone with Me and how a total surrender of your own will changes everything in your life. ~DebraDolce Thursdays Trench Truth Thanks for joining me for Thursday’s Trench Truth.
“It’s the ‘I’ll never’ syndrome. I’ll never be this or that. I’ll never have this look, or that body or enough money or the right whatever. Since I was a child, I have always felt a sense of despair which then I would over-compensate with laughter or jokes (Symptom 5 of Guilt/Shame) or being the class clown. But my sense of despair would keep me up at nights with nightmares and/or panic attacks, plaguing my mind with scenes that were fictitious to the core. My sense of self-worth was wrapped up in a façade of others’ opinions of me, for example, my mother, teacher, or friends. What they thought of me must have been the true me, so I traveled with their opinion, heavy on my back. This lack of self-worth (Symptom 3 of the Root of Despair) prevented me from doing more for myself, setting goals, and keeping them. Many times, my sense of hope was gone because my sense of self was so diminished that I could not see the future. I felt stuck. I wasn’t worthy of anything and didn’t matter to anyone.” The thread woven in those words that I just read is depression, despair…if you relate in any way with any of the thoughts I just shared with you, then please, do yourself a huge favor: invest in your well-being and join us for Living Fueled by Hope coming to a trench near you the week of April 24th . There is also a Zoom opportunity as well. Hopeful, Kim-Evinda Wednesday Word She read and re-read the scripture, a picture starting to form in her mind. How many times had she done the same thing, not made the connection until the opportunity to seize it had gone? Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. Have you ever had a could-of, would-of, should-of moment? Or a moment where you wish you could take it back, or do it over? Today’s blog is about one of those moments. It was the week of Passover, just days after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, had supper with Lazarus and his family, had His body prepared for burial through Mary’s act of sacrificial worship with her life savings, but nobody knew it but Jesus Himself. She almost giggled at the irony of the chief priests plotting against Jesus, not because they didn’t believe, but because they did. The jealousy drove them to the biggest murder of all time. She continued reading: “His disciples did not understand these things at first…” Prophecy had just been fulfilled…again, and it wasn’t until Jesus died, rose and ascended that the disciples understood. Prophecy by prophecy came flooding to the surface and as the disciples connected them all. I can’t help but wonder if they wanted a do-over? What would they have done differently if they had taken Him at His word as they traveled with Him, watching miracle after miracle, and listened to His teachings? It made me think of that movie “Pretty Woman” when Julia Roberts marches in the store loaded down with packages purchased at another store; she goes right up to the lady who had refused to help her because of her appearance saying “Mistake, huge mistake.” I don’t know about you, but Jesus has proven His worth repeatedly in my life and I don’t want to be told huge mistake when He returns. As Easter approaches, which celebrates His resurrection, and victory over eternal death, may we all be reminded that His return is nearing as well. Those two truths should help us rise above anything that threatens to take our focus from Him who will see us to and through it all. I don’t know about you, but when He greets me in my last breath, I want to hear Him say the words well done, my good and faithful daughter and not “Mistake, huge mistake.” Awaiting that resurrection moment, Kim-Evinda Tuesday Trench Truth. So I have a few one-liners I found online on Christianity today’s site to
share with you that are actually just a little bit funny but heart warmers none the less: 1. Did you know they had tennis in the Old Testament? As the Scriptures say: "Joseph served in the court of Pharaoh." 2. Did you know the King of Israel rode a motorbike? "David's Triumph was heard across the land." 3. How does Moses make his coffee? Hebrews it. 4. What kind of man was Boaz before he married? He was Ruthless. 5. They drove Hondas in the New Testament. As it says in the book of Acts: "All the disciples were in one Accord." Okay, if you want some real comedy, please join us Saturday, April 22nd for our annual Night of Laughter with Squeaky Clean Comedy…you won’t want to miss it and we don’t want to miss you. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-night-of-laughter-tickets-593767884727 Love and laughter, Kim Evinda Monday Message Redeemed by purpose
Out of the furnace Once tarnished Now revarnished In leaves of gold As the story unfolds From ashes to beauty All so new to me For my eyes could not see But a mere few steps before me But oh, what glory! This new heart That’s been restored to me Once dark and so cold Now free and so bold This old soul Finally released Free From captivity The lion He prowls But faith drove him out and when those doubts come back around Your Sword shuts them down Look up Your feet float above the ground Light beams At the sound Of Your Holy Name and though I pray For the day These Tears go away Every ounce of pain Made these fears fade Pushing through it all Punching at the wall and even still You never let me fall Your hand held me up My feet floating above the ground Your life a ransom So I could soar Finally free Finally Yours “Just as the Son of Man came not to be waited on but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [the price paid to set them free].” - Matthew 20:28 |
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