One of my favorite things to do to connect with God, even when I’m not feeling very connectable, is to read a Psalm. So depending on what day of the month it is, that’s the Psalm number I’ll chose; for example, a couple of days ago, it was July 23rd…Ahh, Psalm 23, one of my favs. I’ll read it, then come back and re-read it and just meditate on it. Then I’ll put my current challenge, circumstance and even a victory in that Psalm.
 
For example, verse 1 says: The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want…then I’ll add something I’m doing or wanting that I know I shouldn’t be, and I’ll write it, speak it and soon I’m believing it. I’ll go verse by verse and wow, what a perspective changer this is, friends.
 
So can I encourage you to try it; put yourself in His word, verse by verse, and feel it come alive in your life. Whatever it is you are facing, you will realize you are not alone!
 
In His Word,
Kim-Evinda

​They stood side by side, each looking for the pieces with faces on them and as they worked together, putting the pieces in their right places, a sense of satisfaction filled the air. “We make a great team,” he exclaimed every time she handed him the piece to fill the right spot. She smiled…inwardly and outwardly.
 
The puzzle was titled “Music” and had at least 200 famous musicians captured within the 1000 pieces. He had already had the frame completed when she came over for their doggie-play date, and he had started filling it in here and there.
 
Immediately she realized while the “filling in” was probably the hardest, it was made easier because the frame was already intact. Her theory proved true as they added to its picture, piece by piece, high fiving each other for their finds.
 
It wasn’t until the next morning when she was sitting in her quiet time thinking of their time spent that the analogy hit her like a bucket of refreshing water. Any worthwhile relationship requires a framework, a foundation if you will, to build upon. To try and put the pieces of a relationship together before that is established is setting the relationship up for unnecessary challenges. That’s not to say that because of the framework being built first that there won’t be challenges, but with a strong frame built, it can stand the test of time as the pieces join the puzzle and the frame holds it together.
 
Thoughtfully,
Kim-Evinda
 
#WednesdaysWord #TrenchClassesUnited #FrameFirst #PieceByPiece

Don’t live in the past, learn from the past KE
 
Did you know Paul, the apostle, after he came to accept Christ as his Savior, and before God released him for ministry, spent at least eight years unlearning all he had learned?
 
Some history needs to be studied so as not to be repeated. Sure, it may be uncomfortable, and even painful at first, but in the learning and unlearning, whatever it is we are having to unlearn loses its power!
 
#TuesdaysTruth #TrenchClassesUnited #LearnFromThePast #TheApostlePaul

​What does it mean to meet life on life’s terms?
 
Thanks for joining us for Monday’s Message with Abigail Rice and Trench Classes United.
To meet life on life’s terms is to know that whatever we go through, He’s already there. We will always find Him in whatever storm we face.
 
My heart is breaking
For You
As Yours is breaking
For mine
 
The pain does not subside
From the terrors in the night
 
A heaviness
A weight
 
Too much
I can’t take
One more second
Of this human fate 

​But then i recall
None of this is about me
None of it at all
 
Though i stumble
Though i fall
I will still answer the call
 
Because this life is not my own
i am nothing but dust
Nothing but bones
 
So alone..
The lies
Hiding in the dark corners of my mind
 
But i will rise
 
Not for spite
Vengeance
Or pride
 
But because He called me
He called me to fight
 
and in this present darkness
There is still a light
 
and in this feeble body
There is a warrior
A warrior inside
 
Not by my will
and not by my might
But because He promised -
 All vengeance is Mine
 
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. - Romans 12:19
 
#MondaysMessage #TrenchClassesUnited #LetHimBeYourLight #AbigailRice

Thanks for joining me for Thursday’s Life-Coaching Truth. One of the major differences between guilt and shame is that guilt addresses the act while shame attacks the person.
 
Let me give you an example: When you get a traffic ticket – I’ve had many – you pay the fine, maybe even go to traffic school and it’s done, paid for.  The act was whatever caused you to receive that ticket.
 
Shame, however, works differently; it is internal because of something external, and it requires a deeper work. Shame is one of the enemy’s oldest tools in his box of tricks that he uses to keep us from accepting the gift of grace, the gift that has already paid for every act.

#ThursdaysTruth #TrenchClassesUnited #ShameScreams #GiftOfGrace

She returned to her study, remembering she had taken a break because she hadn’t understood what the verse for that day meant.  John 16:26: “In that day, you will ask in My name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.”
 
“Lord, please help me understand this. What are you trying to tell me? Her thoughts drifted to a time in the recent past. She tried to reign them in because she thought it was a distraction and began to chastise herself, but He stopped her, graciously granting her request and helping her to understand and apply His Word.
 
Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. Have you ever been granted access by way of a key that unlocked what is otherwise off limits for others? Today’s word is a reminder of a special kind of access that we have all been given.

​She listened as he explained what room/door each key would open. She took in the realization that that he, on behalf of staff, was granting her access to something incredibly important…the church. The feeling of being known and accepted washed over her.
 
And then the light of understanding turned on and illuminated attraction instead of distraction: In those days, to approach God required a High Priest. They/we did not have direct access but now because of God’s sacrifice of His Son, is descension into hell to defeat death and His resurrection to prove it, we have all been granted immediate access. This is the key that allows us to go to Him directly, asking anything in His Son’s name…
 
Friend, what are you doing with your direct access? Can I encourage you to accept the key that give you direct access to God the Father and His Son. The key is in your hand.
 
Love,
Kim-Evinda
 
#WednesdaysWord #TrenchClassesUnited #HeIsTheKey #JohnSixteen #LivingForgivenAndForgiving

​Thanks for joining me for Tuesday’s Life Coaching Truth.
 
Recently I had the joy of learning of huge breakthroughs in the current life-experience class I’m coaching which deals with guilt/shame and unforgiveness. It happened because of an exercise we do, which is putting our circumstances in the scriptures, and then speaking it aloud.
 
Let me give you an example: Psalms 25:2 says: Oh, my God, I trust in You; let me not be ashamed; let  not my enemies triumph over me. When I put my circumstance of guilt/shame and/or unforgiveness in there, it would sound something like this: Oh my God, help me trust in you; let me not be ashamed anymore; let not guilt/shame or unforgiveness win over me.

​This is not sacrilegious in any way, friends because everything that happens in your life is already there in the Word; that’s why He gave it. He poured His life into The Word to give you power to get through life.
 
Truthfully,
Kim-Evinda

#TuesdaysTruth #TrenchClassesUnited #GiveYourselfThePowerOfHIM #LivingForgivenAndForgiving

​When life is happening at a crazy speed with darts landing all around you and even in you, what is it you do?
 
Thanks for joining us for Monday’s Message with Abigail Rice and Trench Classes United. Today’s message is a great reminder that just because those darts of life are flying doesn’t refute that He’s never left your side.

​Lord this is too much
The uncertainty
The unknowing
 
The giving
& not receiving
 
It’s depleting
 
I would ask where You are
But I know You’re right here next to me
 
Despite my doubts
& unbelief
 
Despite my sins
& my grief
 
Lord, You are all I need
 
So then why do I keep running
Back to who I used to be
 
Filled with fear
Trying to draw near
 
Expecting You to speak
But instead You lead
Me back to an old journal entry
That reads:
 
Oh that you would taste
& see
The goodness pouring from Me
Dripping like pure honey
Wrapped in silken sheets
 
A gentle
Quiet
Peace
 
If only you would let Me
In to the corners of your heart
Where no candle dares to go
For it is too dark
 
You expected a walk in the park
Well, daughter, my friend
It’s about to get hard
 
Letting go is hard
Being weak & always in need
Is hard
 
But darling, it doesn't have to be
If you could just walk with Me
 
Stop striving
& cease
 
There is nothing you could do for Me
That will make Me more pleased
My only desire is for you to go with Me
 
To pick up your net
Full of heavy burdens
& sins
 
Cast it out
& reel it back in
 
But this time
With Me instead
 
Let Me be your bread
Your water on dry land
For, I, the Lord have said:
 
“Behold, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs forth; do you not perceive & know it
& will you not give heed to it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness
& rivers in the desert.” - Isaiah 43:19
 
#MondaysMessage #TrenchClassesUnited #AbigailRice #BeYourOwnBoss #LivingForgivenAndForgiving

​Have you ever made a promise you didn’t keep, or been on the other end of a broken promise?
 
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 Heavenly Promise Keeper will help us keep our promises.

~Love Letter~
 
When you make a vow to Me, the Lord or take an oath to obligate yourself by a pledge, you must not break your word but must do everything you said. Spend time meditating on this important Word. Do all that you've set in your heart to do. Follow all the instructions surrounding your vow, your oath. Never let it slip from your mind but be diligent to do all that goes with your promises.
 
Can you imagine if I didn't take My promises to you seriously? What would your life be like? Where could you go? Your promises to Me are just as important to Me as My promises are to you. Some make promises in vain; they don't really mean what they say, but you must be careful to do what you say. You must not break your word but do everything you said.
 
I am very patient, waiting for you to accomplish all that you've said. I desire that you take seriously all that you've said to Me and all that I've spoken to you. I wait to help you keep your word so believe all that we've shared so you can walk in a strength you've never known through everything you've promised.
 
Beloved, come and sit with Me, sit in My Presence; let Me reinforce My love and care for you so that you can keep the promises you make.
 
~DebraDolce
 
#FaithFilledFriday #TrenchClassesUnited #DebraDolce #KeepYourPromises #LoveLetter #LivingForgivenAndForgiving

Psalm 138:8 tells us that he will perfect that which concerns you and me, and that He will not forsake the work of His hands, meaning us! There’s some symbolism in the hand. Let me give you this analogy that I learned a while ago.
 
Take a moment to trace your hand. Then, looking at your hand, start with your thumb. The thumb is closest to our heart and represents those we pray for first, usually the ones closest to us.

Then the next finger is your pointer finger, which is analogous to those people in your life who point you in the right direction, so write in “Leaders in my life” in that finger. 

​That third finger…uh-huh, that’s the middle finger is to remind you to pray for your enemies! Write “enemies, or even personalize it and put a few unlovable people’s names in that finger.
 
And then the ring finger, did you know it’s considered the weakest finger? Oh, my goodness, what beautiful symbolism, especially if there’s a wedding ring on it! That finger is to remind you to pray for the weak, those less fortunate than you and I so in that finger, write “Weak, those in need.”
 
And then finally we have the pinkie, which is to remind you to pray for yourself, so write “self” in that finger.  Many of us are so concerned about others that we may forget to pray for ourselves, but just like the fingers on a hand, every one of them has a purpose…and so do you!
 
So next time you get ready to pray, remember all of your fingers to accomplish a five-finger prayer and cast every care😊