​Did you know that there are eight hazardous roadblocks to avoid in relationships? And interestingly enough, these roadblocks keep us dependent on things we shouldn’t be dependent on, and they keep us from WHO we should be dependent upon.
What are they: fear, guilt/shame, despair/depression, anger/rage, denial, rigidity, impaired identity and confusion.

Let’s take fear, as an example: while fear is a real emotion, it’s more often than not based on a false expectation, in other words, what might happen, or could happen but what hasn’t happened!

Fear paralyzes us, keeping us dependent on ourselves, giving us a false sense of being in control, dependent on self, circumstances and outcomes.

Faith, on the other hand, moves us forward, albeit sometimes blindly, trusting the One we need to be dependent on to bring us through whatever comes our way, quietly and fearlessly.
In times of uncertainty, and even tragedy, when your world is loud with painful circumstances, what is it you’re feeding; your faith or your fear?

Truthfully,
Kim-Evinda

#ThursdaysTruth #TrenchClassesUnited #FearScreams #FaithWhispers #TheStillSoftVoice #LearningToUnderstand

What should I blog about this week? The question returned with a reminder to go back and review the previous week’s chapter for her discipleship class. The words “constant contact” and “contactless” brought the entire homework assignment back to the forefront of her mind, rushing in with reminders of truths she had learned years ago.

In a world speeding towards being run by computers, we are becoming a contactless society, giving us less and less constant contact with those around us. Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. Today’s blog is a heart-felt reminder of how important it is to stay in constant contact with The One who will never leave us.

The vision from years ago came flooding back reminding her of the simplicity of abiding in The One who had carried her through so much, and with the vision came the question He had asked her, as familiar to her soul as if He was asking her now: “Daughter, when you see a tree and its branches, are the branches struggling to remain in the tree? Of course not. They are a part of the tree. So it is with you; you are part of Me, and as long as we are in constant contact, I will lead you to and through where you are to go, who you are to connect with for My sake.”

The awe she felt then returned to her now and while she had experienced this abiding, she could also admit it wasn’t as simple as it sounds or seems.

Oh, how many times had she run ahead of Him, bending the branch of her life to near breaking. But His grace would lift her up and out of herself, repositioning her in Him and at the same time equipping her with all she needed to accomplish all that He had set out for her to do.

Though the world is headed towards contactless, we need to be in constant contact with Him, remaining in Him more and more.

Yes, to abide in Him is to dwell with Him and whenever there’s interruptions, which there will be because we are housed in this tent of flesh, His grace will bring us back to the simplicity of the branch in the tree.

Her homework that week had been intensely thought provoking, inspiring her to become a disciple maker with Him, for His glory and her good.

Friend, when we remain in Him, we are like that branch on a tree, not striving to live, but thriving in life.

Love,
Kim-Evinda
 
#WednesdaysWord #TrenchClassesUnited #RedefineAbide

In looking at the obstacles that hinder us from identifying and owning what we feel is the pressure put upon us by others. For example, in the not-too-distant past it felt like most of us had similar views and feelings about most issues. Part of this was because of our limited awareness of differing views and opinions because we were isolated from those differences.

Since we are now inundated with all sorts of different views, input, and feedback with very diverse and sometimes personally threatening results, many of us hesitate to “freely” share our thoughts about much of anything.

What about you; do you not share a feeling because of what others may think? This tendency brings chaos and confusion to relationships.

Can I encourage you to practice emotional integrity by separating your opinion from your feeling and being honest about what you’re feeling…without an attitude. This is a step in rising above chaos and confusion.

If you agree, type amen below!

Truthfully,
Kim-Evinda

#TuesdaysTruth #TrenchClassesUnited #FeelYourFeelings #DontWreck #EmotionalIntegrity

If you’re a parent and your child asks you for something they really, really want, chances are you go out of your way to make it happen, right?
 
Thanks for joining us for Monday’s Message with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United. Today’s love letter is a great reminder that we need only ask, and listen, to gain the jewel of wisdom.
  
~Love Letter~

When wisdom wins your heart and revelation breaks in, true pleasure enters your soul. If you choose to follow good counsel, divine design will watch over you and understanding will protect you from making poor choices.
 
Read this again; meditate on it, and let it soak in.
 
It's so important to desire wisdom, to seek it. Finding wisdom offers you help to follow good counsel and as a result, divine design will watch over you and understanding will protect you from making poor choices.
 
When you're walking in the direction I have for you, you are protected. The closer you stay to Me, the better your choices are. The more you choose My way, the closer you get to Me. Do you see the correlation?
 
I am always here helping you as you listen to Me and follow My lead. I desire you to have true pleasure in following Me and walking in My way. It's exciting to think that knowledge shall be pleasant for you and understanding shall keep you. This is why My Word speaks so strongly about wisdom, knowledge and understanding.
 
Beloved, seek after these things. 
 
~DebraDolce

#MondaysMessage #TrenchClassesUnited #LoveLetter #DebraDolce #LearningToUnderstand

In our current life-experience class we are talking about rigidity vs. flexibility, and there are several areas in life where rigidity interferes with our ability to trust.  In each of these life-experience classes, the area of finances was the strongest pull towards this root of rigidity.
 
God has already promised us to meet all of our needs, to grant us the desires of our heart…when we grant Him access to all of our heart.

Friend, let me ask you: do you struggle to trust Him in this area of finances and does that distrust, or mistrust cause you to run ahead of Him, figuring out how to pay who you need to pay?
 
Perhaps it’s time to deposit some of His promises into your soul – there are literally thousands of them – to avoid feeling bankrupt.
​
Truthfully,
Kim-Evinda
 
#ThursdaysTruth #TrenchClassesUnited #MySoulIsRich

​Two words kept coming through the halls of her heart and rose to the back of her mind throughout the day: “abiding,” and “hurrying.”
 
Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. Today’s blog is inspired by a study of discipling and disciple making that she is currently in and has something for all of us as we remember the “Why” of this life.

She remembered a vision He had given her all those years ago for the word “abide”:  it was a tree with all its branches, thriving, beautiful and very much alive.
​
And then He had spoken: “Do you see the branches struggling to stay attached?”  To which she replied, “of course not.”

“This is abiding, My daughter; the more you press into Me and attach yourself to Me, the more you will flourish as you produce fruit, followers after Me.”
 
But all of that was before the betrayal of her now ex-husband, and as she rewound the past several years since the demolition of their commitment and covenant, she could see a wall, albeit thin, around her heart that was hindering her ability to attach and abide whole-heartedly. Her faith was intact; that wasn’t an issue. Unbeknownst to her, this “thin wall” interfering with her complete connection was built with hurrying on to the next thing to not lose all she had worked so hard for in the ministry He had called her to over 14 years ago.
 
“Look at all I’ve brought you through, Beloved. Have I not carried you when you needed lifting the most? While it wasn’t My will for this to happen, your faith in Me and love for Me have sustained you and will aide you in My calling for you.”
 
Gratitude filled her senses as she retraced the steps through the many lessons she had learned over the last several years. She was able to see that when she hurried to and through the list of to-dos, she was not only running but hurrying ahead of Him. This brough another truth that illuminated the light of understanding: Hurrying had prevented her from abiding in Him and while her faith had remained intact, it had left her with a sense of defeat. 
 
His truthful and loving presence had stepped in again, reminding her that because He loved her too much to leave her the way she was, He would continue to teach her what she needed to learn as she abided in Him.
 
Friend, when was the last time that you slowed down to abide in Him instead of hurrying ahead of Him? He has so much to give us in this life as He prepares us for our eternal life. To abide in and with Him prevents us from running ahead of Him.

Love,
Kim-Evinda
 
#WednesdaysWord #TrenchClassesUnited #AbideInHim #HeWillAbideInYou #LearningToUnderstand

​In my new SOS, season of singleness, I have learned so much and realized I, once again, have trust issues, especially in the area of dating. However, in this season, I am learning to abide in Him instead of running ahead of Him holding onto my God-given need for love and companionship like a quarterback running for the goal line for the winning touchdown. 😊

My biggest struggle is me! I have had to surrender my right to be loved, my right to understand, and immerse myself in His love and allow Him to be all that I really need. When I do that, this need for love and companion subsides, and He becomes enough. I may or may not get that desire this side of heaven and I am finally okay with that.
 
To all my single friends out there, I encourage you that when we make God our one true safe harbour, He will lead us to the right port.
 
Truthfully,
Kim-Evinda
 
#TuesdaysTruth #TrenchClassesUnited #OurSafeHarbor #KimEvinda #LearningToUnderstand

​Have you ever had a revelation while watching a child?
 
Thanks for joining us for Monday’s Message with Abigail Rice and Trench Classes United. Abigail is a mommy of three, and today’s message is inspired by her newest little human.

​My 4-month-old son has this little seat on wheels
We call it his “joovy”
He can act like he can sit up and walk
With the help of the seat under him
and the balance of the table in front of him
he has control of the where the wheels take him
By the movement of his tiny little feet
He can steer that little joovy wherever his curious heart desires
 
But with his limited movement ability
He seems to only know how to go backwards…
 
No matter where I place him in the house
He always ends up backing himself into a corner
Into a wall
Into a table
Into anywhere possible in the house
Where he no longer can move
And starts to cry out
Because, well, he is stuck…
 
He doesn't yet seem to have the notion or knowing on how to go forward
Sound familiar?
 
It does to me
As God so graciously reminded me
For so long in my life
For so many years of constant battle
and strife
It seemed no matter how hard I tried to move my feet forward
I somehow went back
 
And got stuck
In the mud
Off the path
Only to find myself crying out again
And again
For God to save me
For God to help me
To break off the chains
To get out of the vicious cycles
Of bad habits
That always seemed to lead me back to this place
Of guilt
Of shame
Condemnation
and blame…
 
and I needed God to give me a push again
To pull me forward
And He would
Because He is so good
 
But it was as if I were still a baby
Learning to walk
 
I knew I could sit in this chair
While balancing next to this table
Because God had prepared it for me
And placed it before me
In the presence of my enemies
 
Yet, when I attempted to get up and walk
It always seemed like I was still just going one step forward
And ten steps back
Stuck again
Back here again
In this dark pit
Of shame
and self-destruction
Trying to find the reset button
 
I realize now while I had the ability
and the God given right
To sit at His table
I was trying to stand
Before I was able
 
I needed to learn to walk
With God
Not before Him
 
I needed to learn to sit with Him…Before I could stand next to Him
I may have been leaning on Him
To support me
But I was walking
Before He went before me
And because of that my feet seemed to always slip off track
My thoughts seemed to constantly take me back
Just like my 4-month-old in his joovy
 
He may believe he is cruising
But just because he can balance by leaning on the support of the table
Doesn’t mean he is ready to walk...
I still may get off track
But this time
I won’t let me mind go back
For I know who stands before me
and sets a table for me
in the presence of my enemies
 
I may still be learning how to walk
But condemnation can no longer keep my trapped in blame
I will mess up
I will fall back
But with the help of His hand
I will get back on the path
 
This is a reminder
to you
to me
to anyone listening
to remain in Christ
do not fall prey to the attack
even when you slip off
even when you get off track
 
Don’t let the enemy keep you in a place where you feel you can no longer cry out to God
God is waiting for you to come back
God is waiting for you to realize all you need is Him
to ask for forgiveness
to fully surrender
in repentance
and remembrance
that you still have a seat at His table
and you are more than able
to fend off these attacks
just don’t go back
 
The enemy wants to keep you feeling guilt
and the weight of your shame
So that you feel like you are no longer worthy
so that you embrace all the blame
 
Allow yourself to feel the guilt
and thank God for a broken spirit and a contrite heart
that leads to true repentance
allow that to draw you near
and have no fear
for your Father in heaven holds you dear
don’t go back.
draw near.
For the time is here...
 
"My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit;
 
A broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise." - Psalm 51:17
 
for God is greater than our heart and He knows all things [nothing is hidden from Him because we are in His hands].
 
 Beloved, if our heart does not convict us [of guilt], we have confidence [complete assurance and boldness] before God; and we receive from Him whatever we ask because we [carefully and consistently] keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight [habitually seeking to follow His plan for us].
 
This is His commandment, that we believe [with personal faith and confident trust] in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and [that we unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, just as He commanded us.
 
#MondaysMessage #TrenchClassesUnited #LearningToUnderstand #AbigailRice #StayOnTrack

Considering the world of Zoom and other types of online gatherings, convenience and complacency have threatened community.
​
Thanks for joining us for Faith-Filled Friday with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United. Today’s Love Letter is a great reminder of the “why” we want to attend church…in person…for there is much to gain and only time to lose.

Love Letter~

Consider how you may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Because you never know the Day or the hour, you should always be ready, always be about your Father's business.

Don't slip into complacency because it seems like you've been waiting your whole life. Remember Scripture says to occupy till I come, do the work of building the Kingdom.

Don't get weary in doing well for sooner than you think I shall return and you will come and be with Me. Oh, what a day that day will be. But until then, work and build My Kingdom. Speak to anyone who will listen. Who cares what they think about you? Look at Noah, do you think he was concerned about what people thought or said about him? They laughed and scorned, calling him crazy. Do you think he cared? The only thing he was concerned about was doing My will, doing what I had called him to do. At the time it did seem crazy but when the rains came, you can bet all those that made fun of him wished with all their hearts that they had listened.

Ask for creative ways to help those you love, those I've placed around you.

Let Me speak to your heart as you gather together with other believers. Many wonderful things happen in the corporate anointing as you gather together to worship Me. You see and understand things here that you don't get anywhere else.

Beloved, put yourself in a place where you are encouraged and where you get to pour into those I deeply love. 

~DebraDolce
​
#FaithFilledFriday #TrenchClassesUnited #LoveLetter #DebraDolce #PourDeeply

She imagined them all sitting in a circle, listening intently with a yearning to understand what He was saying, relating to those who didn’t really get it, and happy for those who did.

Have you ever been lost because of not reading or heeding directions, or even asking for them?

Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Km-Evinda and Trench Classes United. Today’s blog takes us to and through a time of reflection as Kim-Evinda writes from her heart to yours.

She looked at the next part of her study which asked what lessons could be learned from the facts of the verse; as well as looking for a warning to heed or an example to follow or a command to obey.
​
“You know the way to the place where I Am going.” 

She allowed the words to seep into her soul silently…and as they did, the lesson to be learned, the warning to heed beckoned her in a way that connected her to The One she tried to love and serve, the same One who told His disciples all those years ago that they knew the way to get to where He was going and is now.

She began to write, trying to write as fast as the realizations were tumbling out of her heart: “I have left you My Word and My Spirit to guide you to where I Am now. And if ever you get lost, these will guide you back toward Me.”

She stopped writing as she searched for the warning to heed, but He was quick to give it to her: “Because you know how to and what to do to get to Me, you are accountable…but not alone.”

Out of nowhere, a distant memory surfaced of her drive home from Texas the day after Christmas. The airport was utter and complete chaos as flights were cancelled, leaving people stranded. She had rented a car to get home so as not to be stranded for the estimated six days they were telling her it would take to get her back home. She remembered the feeling of fear when she plugged the destination in and when the GPS indicated 19 hours and 46 minutes, her fear was put on steroids because she had never driven this far by herself.

She would never, ever forget that NONSTOP relentless drive from Austin, Texas to her home in Southern California. Her sense of focus on the GPS was like super glue as the miles disappeared in a blur. She didn’t dare deviate especially in light of not being able to find her way out of a paper bag. 😊

As the memory of the drive faded and she returned to her study, she knew God was speaking to her, reminding her that in life, we all have an internal GPS, God’s present strength, to guide us to our final destination.

Love,
Kim-Evinda
 
#WednesdaysWord #TrenchClassesUnited #GodsPresentStrength #NeverSteersUsWrong #JesusTakeTheWheel