 Wow Wednesdays Recently our Wednesday blogger had a conversation with someone she loves and respects and it was suggested that she wait until she’s on the other side of her situation before writing any more about it. She has agreed and will now be starting a WOW (Words of Wisdom & Weapons of Warfare) series to encourage you in more positive way as you continue in your faith journey.
Thanks so much for joining us for WOW Wednesday with Trench Classes United and Kim-Evinda WOW (Words of Wisdom & Weapons of Warfare) Have you ever had something so unexplainable happen that it really knocked the wind of hope out of you, knocked you on your butt and landed you in your own fit? Last week was one of those times for me. We had been trying to sell our home since May and in the beginning, when escrow got cancelled because the buyers changed their mind not once but twice, I knew why; I understood perfectly. But as the months have gone by, and the house continued to remain on the market, we began praying earnestly for it to sell. I didn’t always pray the words, much less feel them in my heart, “according to YOUR will.” I just wanted it sold! Well, God heard us and a sweet family gave us an offer; we accepted and escrow opened. It was due to close November 22nd. All contingencies had been lifted; the home inspection was complete; we were now just waiting and packing. While at the office last week, I received a text from our agents asking if they could talk to us. I felt a tug on my heart as it skipped a beat and a sudden strength to prepare me for the news that followed: The husband had just lost his job; escrow was cancelled! To say I was frustratingly bewildered is an understatement. I was like a child having a fit and falling in and out of it. My husband took it way better than I did, and yet in the quietness of my soul, I knew God was up to something; I just didn’t understand and I yearned to. Before going to bed that night, our agents had three showings scheduled for the very next day, one of which was a couple who had put in an offer two months before but it was contingent on their home selling, which was now in escrow. I went to bed hopeful, not understanding but hopeful. To make that long story short of the outcome of the three showings, we got a full-price offer from the second couple that came. From first glance it appeared that God was just trying to bless us more because we were definitely going to receive more financially and the escrow would just extend two weeks past the one we had just lost. We E-signed the cancellation of the original escrow. Shortly after this, we received a text from our agents telling us to sign the new escrow papers. As I opened up the email to sign the new escrow documents, another text came up on my screen: “Never mind, the new buyers just backed out!” Escrow had just fallen out…for the fourth time! The rest of that day, I was devastatingly bewildered and every time I looked at the empty walls and all the packed boxes, I groaned with despair. “I don’t get it, Father. What are you doing?” I love His mercy to actually answer me through His Word; I mean how often do you show love and kindness when someone yells at you or accuses you of something? Usually the response is not very favorable! Well, here’s His answer to me in this predicament: “Your hands have made me and fashioned me. Give me understanding that I may learn Your commandments.” Psalm 119:73 (NKJV) Okay, I thought…so you made me. What are you trying to tell me? How does this fit into my circumstance right now, I demanded to know. What I heard after that rooted this verse in my soul and I pray it blooms in my life outpouring from my heart directly into my words and thoughts: “The only thing you need to understand in this season is MY love for you!” Wow, does anything else really matter? Can I encourage you fellow sojourner, if you are going thru a tough time, and you don’t understand the why, the how, stop, and ask Him to help you understand His love for you. Nothing else really matters! Love, Kim-Evinda
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 God’s plan will prevail
If you allow it to take sail Pray and let be He sees you working tirelessly Proactively seek what’s meant to be You, my friend are His masterpiece A work in progress But still complete In all humility Be gracious and kind Within His promise you will find A reward of riches, honor, and life By staying cheerful and fearful Taking one step at time Never lose sight Of His goodness and light Your prayers will never go unnoticed Just believe and stay focused Knowing that you will reap the utmost by being lowest Lowly and humble You are an important piece in His perfect puzzle “The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord is riches, honor, and life.” Proverbs 22:4 Wednesdays Word  When Faith Meets Suffering-Part 15
Welcome back to When Faith Meets Suffering with Trench Classes United and Kim-Evinda. We understand that social media is sort of like that “in love” stage of a relationship, the “happier” side of life. For many, it’s a sort of pretend world. While we get that trouble and tears don’t make for a good blog, we pray that as she walks through this season transparently, you will be encouraged when you walk through a difficult time of any measure, remembering who walks with you. Let’s get back to the story. She read her notes from Sunday’s message. They soothed her wounded soul, inspired and encouragedher at the same time. Jack Hibbs had invited a Navy Seal Warrior for freedom and a Warrior for Christ to share the message. She rewound the memory; she had been thoroughly entrenched in his stories of battles won, and some lost. His message was from 2nd Kings 5:1-14, about Naaman, a valiant soldier with leprosy. He wove in his own war stories of triumphs and tragedies, reminding the congregation that the one who wars against us oftentimes is ourselves with our thoughts; that we need to infuse our faith into all enemy-occupied territory. As he shared Naaman’s journey towards healing, which was full of adversity fueled by pride, she realized thather marriage was in desperate need of healing; that like Naaman, it was suffering from a form of leprosy. And while leprosy is a disease of the skin and nerves, causing devastating disabilities, it’s so very prevalenttoday and similar to a diseased marriage. There was so much shame in what was becoming more clear to her, an adulterous affair outside of marriage. And like leprosy, these types of marital infections cause devastation, disabilities and stigmas. This explained why all she wanted to do was isolate and drown in her sadness and embarrassment. Like leprosy, suspicions of any marital difficulty, especially extra-marital affairs, can cut us off and hide us away from those who can help us. All the unanswered questions, her desire to understandthe why, required that she pull a Naaman and drop her pride, allow God to peel back the layers buried in the years of unattended soil of their marital love and expose the roots that had choked out the Son, their first love, the foundation for their marriage. There were propensities and tendencies that had prevented light from exposing truth in him; now, he was in a dark place. She was left with so many questions after soaking her soul in the best medicine, the Word of God: stay or go? Will you be forged by adversity, or failed by adversity? Like the Soldier had quoted, adversity is not a singular event for we will always be affected by outside events that sometimes bring with them adversity of all kinds. Her answer to each of the questions came swiftly: “You don’t need to trust him right now; you just need to trust ME with all your mind and all your soul.” Friend, are you in the midst of a battle, an adversity? May I encourage you to infuse your God-faith into all temporal things, into all enemy-occupied territory! Love, Kim-Evinda Grasping
Fingers clasping Holding on to something Like it’s all or nothing But is that something Worth lusting When we cannot control His forthcoming? We love like we are going to lose But what is it you are holding on to? Those nice shoes, new boots, glass-paned office with a city view? We can’t recall a word from our Sunday School verse Yet we know every word and lyric to that new rap song; soover rehearsed What are we truly putting first? Our wants and desires Our dreams, yes they’re fine But have you given Him a second of your time? Does your design coincide With His will for your life? Stop for a second Amidst all the moving And think about what you truly are doing Is it for you or for others? Who do you turn to when the pressure smothers? The pressure to be all you can be The pressure to live up to a false reality Girl, can’t you see? He created you to love and He loves you immensely You are His and that’s all you need Let go of the need to be all or nothing Just believe what you are doing is already something Something He has planned that is beyond what you can see Your happiness and success is not always the key You must decrease & let life be This messy, roller coaster reality “He must increase, but I must decrease” John 3:30 Faith Filled Friday’s  Oh, how true it is that when the world is screaming at us, overwhelming us that all we need to do is press into Him to not only shut the noise out but to experience a peace that transcends all understanding. Thanks for joining us for Faith-Filled Fridays with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United. Enjoy a moment of His presence as He whispers these words to you.
~Love Letter~ My warrior, I'm your place of quiet retreat, and My wrap-around Presence becomes your shield as you wrap yourself in My Word! Even in the midst of chaos I am your quiet retreat. Learn to wrap My Presence around you, for I am your shield. Remember I said, if I am for you, who could be against you? And does it really matter? As you become more devoted to being in My Word and less concerned about what others say or do, then you release victory in your own life. Release the difficult ones to Me and I will heal you both, for I desire that ALL come to know Me and My saving grace. Come and sit in My Presence and be saturated each day by My love. Let My loving kindness continue to flood your life that you will desire to know Me and My plans for you. Beloved, lay down your own thoughts, your own ways and take on My Word, that you may walk in true holiness as you draw ever closer to Me. Wednesday’s Word
When Faith Meets Suffering-Part 14 Welcome back to When Faith Meets Suffering with Trench Classes United and Kim-Evinda. We understand that social media is sort of like that “in love” stage of a relationship, the “happier” side of life. For many, it’s a sort of pretend world. While we get that trouble and tears don’t make for a good blog, we pray that as she walks through this season transparently, you will be encouraged when you walk through a difficult time of any measure, remembering who walks with you. Let’s get back to the story. As she sat with Betty and watched a movie, her mind replayed his short and awkward visit just hours before and his empty promise to her as he said good-bye “We’ll do something fun tomorrow.” He promised to call her before going to bed that night. But as the minutes turned into hours, she realized those words that had felt like a consolation prize for the disconnect they had earlier were truly an escape. He was running from something, and in her gut she knew this. She just wasn’t quite sure how deep he had gotten himself involved with the one who was pulling him from her. He didn’t call her and as she got ready for bed, she tried calling him not once but twice. She was trying desperately not to be so desperate. FAIL. Before turning off the light and beginning what had become her sleep aid, praying herself to sleep, she texted him to say good night. She slept…but fitfully for just a couple of hours. At 1:30 she woke up, the pain of it all her constant companion, and reached for her phone. He had texted her at 12:35: “Sorry, I didn’t see my phone. I was at Ty’s.” She didn’t buy it for one minute and determined in her mind that she would call Ty the next day to uncover yet another lie. She let go of her instincts that screamed where and with whom he had been, surrendering them to God, and then she slept. The next morning was Sunday and she was ready to hear from God himself but looked forward to hearing from Jack Hibbs and being in that safe place where it was easier to focus, turn off the pain. But her thoughts and frustrations and even anger threatened to follow her into the sanctuary and as she prepared to get in her car, she heard “Trust in me with your whole heart and lean not on your own understanding.” And still her pain did not relent and followed her into the sanctuary. As she tried to worship, she heard His voice again: “Give me your whole heart; you don’t have to give it to him but give it all to me and I will guide you.” Friend, to suffer long doesn’t mean we have to understand the why, only the how. Is there something you need to surrender so as to not lean on your own understanding? Join us next week for more of this journey. Love, Kim-Evinda Monday’s Message
You are magic In a world so tragic They call you sister, mother, lover There is only one you, no other Be strong they say Courageous, filled with light every day But when the darkness comes how can we operate In our bodies as they deteriorate Our minds lose their place And our hearts their ability to embrace To hold and to know This child looks to our soul And we lean on our own strength Forgetting that in this darkness No man is safe From the shadows beyond our human brain You cannot battle this alone Dear sister, that’s okay His grace will carry you farther than your two feet can go All He asks is for you to come home Fall into His arms Let your head fall onto His chest Little girl, rest Let God take care of the rest Mother, sister, lover, you are doing your best “17 The righteous cry, and the Lord hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. 20 He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken.” Psalms 34:17-20 Faith Filled Friday
What does sitting in His presence look like to you? Oh, to just sit and sing a worship song to Him, even when we don’t feel like it. To stop the hurry flurry of the day and just be still and listen to His creation. Press the off button on our cell phones and spend a few minutes thanking Him instead of playing a game, or scrolling through our social media feeds…Ahhh, to bask in His presence is to grab hold of our Stronghold! Enjoy Debra’s love letter brought to you by Trench Classes United and Faith Filled Fridays. Love Letter~ My child, I am the hope that holds you and the Stronghold to shelter you, the only God for you, and your great confidence. Can you put yourself in the middle of these loving words? Let them wrap themselves around you just as I desire to wrap My arms around you. Look at "I Am your Stronghold!" Nothing can snatch you from My hand, for I hold you up with My righteous right hand. My love, I have a wondrous plan for you that is so good, full of excitement, full of adventure, all in and through Me. For My Word tells you how I have you hedged in, behind and before, how I have laid My hand upon you. There is nothing that can keep you from Me. Beloved, come and bask in My Presence, sit with Me for awhile with no agenda, just love, just being in My peace, that brings rest and strength. Wednesdays Word When Faith Meets Suffering-Part 13
Thanks for joining us for When Faith Meets Suffering, Part 13. Our author has actually been asked several times by some of her prayer team members if she was writing this journey down, to which she replied that she was via this blog, When Faith Meets Suffering. So, again, we want to emphasize that we realize Social Media is all about the “happy” side of life, and this may seem like a real bummer, but the author wants to share from the side of pain, because pain is a part of real life. On the other side, she knows in her bones that God will bring a victory from this season of suffering and will be just as transparent about the victory as she has been about the season of suffering. They had agreed to meet at the house after he invited her to lunch. Armed with more evidence of the affair made her entrance awkward at best. She was very reserved. He was sitting at his desk and he barely acknowledged her. Why should she expect anything different, especially in light of what she had recently learned and wanted to deny with every cell in her being. He barely acknowledged her, which completely frustrated her. And yet, her unspoken expectation of him being excited to see her was unrealistic, more a fantasy, but not from the same fantasy land that he was residing in. She tried not to show her irritation laced with disappointment, especially in light of the fact that he always waited to see what she would do, how she would respond and then he’d follow suit. He’d always take her temperature; if she was cool, then he’d be cool. If she was warm, then he’d be warm. He was never the leader, in charge of his own feelings; rather he followed…whomever made him feel what he wanted to feel. His “oh, hi” pulled her out of her stinking thinking. She put all negativity aside as he shared a company problem and she offered to help. His response to her help was one of surprise; she’d never been one to ease his burden willingly with a good attitude. Together they worked thru the problem, and then went for the lunch he had invited her to. When they pulled into the parking lot of Panda Express, he got a phone call for work. She went on in, thinking he’d follow within a few minutes. The minutes ticked by ever so slowly, feeling like marathon minutes. Five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen minutes…she sat there at a table after telling the employee she was waiting for him to order. “Why am I waiting here,” she groaned indignantly. “This is so freaking rude,” she muttered to the table, trying desperately to stay occupied on her phone and not look irritated. After twenty minutes she walked outside. He acknowledged her and held up his finger signifying he’d only be another minute. She walked back in, willing herself to be patient, less irritated. Finally, ten minutes later he walked in. “Sorry about that,” he offered quickly. She put her hurt feelings to the side and exchanged them for understanding but his priorities had decreased her appetite. He had left her waiting for almost a half hour! She ate very little and tried to strike up surface statements, questions about his job, the business to show she was interested in anything that interested him. When she said good-bye, she realized that their time had been like for the last several years of their marriage: unfulfilling, full of unmet and unrealistic expectations as a result of unspoken needs. Her God-given discernment helped her to understand this and the truth that he had finally crashed into all of it and was down for the count, not knowing who he was or is. He was not well, wandering in a wilderness of confusion with a dry and sick soul, blinded by the deception of the enemy who had used a “friend” to deceive him and bring him to the end of himself. But her covenant said in sickness and health, and God was calling her to withstand in this adversity, whispering reminders of His love, leading her to His promises and refining her like she had never experienced. Is there a situation that you need wisdom and discernment in, Friend? Then ask Him, and He will surely provide it. James 1:5 says: If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But wisdom must be accompanied by discernment. Philippians 1:9-10 says: And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. See, the discernment tells us what to do with the wisdom….both of which are prudent to longsuffering well! Hanging by a thread…to the hem of His garment, Kim-Evinda Monday’s Message You are far more deserving
You are far more worthy Than what I have to give Simply my breath to live You gave it all You took the fall For the sin that I’m in Your blood signed it away with a crimson pen Now where do we begin? Given this second chance to do it all over again Yet we still love ourselves More than we are willing to tell In love with this world The superficial Artificial Unfulfilling replacement for You, oh Lord The hole in our hearts Only Our Savior can fulfill His bounding love Overflowing in my cup How can I want any more? How can I not sing, praise, and leap for joy? My past redeemed, my slate wiped clean Within His presence I will forever soar “Thou prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anoint my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” Psalms 23:5 |
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