What keeps us from making amends, forgiving, apologizing, owning what we need to own so we can finally let it go and move forward to that abundant life that God sent His Son to die for?

Thanks for joining us for our Faith-Filled Friday for 2021 with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United. As you read this love letter, we pray that the truths within would soak up in our souls and be multiplied in our lives. Perhaps if we prayed more than proffered opinions, this would help us own what we need to own so we can let it go and move forward.
 
~Love Letter~
 
My dear one, confess and acknowledge how you have offended one another and then pray for one another to be instantly healed, for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!
 
Oh, what a good Word this is for you. There is power in the prayer of those who are not offended. Have you offended another? Make amends whenever possible. As for you, keep your heart pure.
 
Don't be so quick to give your opinion on everything. Do you really know? Have you sought Me about your opinion or is it pride that makes you talk like you know so much? Be more concerned about praying for others than giving them the knowledge you possess. Then you can hear from Me and give them My knowledge instead of your opinion.
 
Spend time in prayer emptying yourself of you so there can be more room for Me and then you can speak and declare the things that come from Me. Remember, Scripture says only the things you do for Me will last. Beloved, turn your thoughts to Me before anything or anyone. 
 
 ~DebraDolce

I received this email a while back about why go to church and I thought it would be a great way to end the year and look to the next:
 
WHY GO TO CHURCH:
A churchgoer wrote a letter to the editor of the town’s newspaper complaining that it made no sense to go to church every week He wrote: "I've gone for 30 years now, and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons, but for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time, the preachers and priests are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all".
This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column.
​
Much to the delight of the editor, it went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:
"I've been married for 30 years now.  In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals.  But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals.

But I do know this:  They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work.  If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.

Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!" God ordained fellowship for our good, His glory. God left us His Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth to prepare us for an eternity with Him.

For more encouragement, join us at www.trenchclassesunited.com and our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/trenchclassesunite and follow us on Instagram, too at www.instagram.com/trenchclasses

​As she read the verses for the ADVENT word that day, a light turned on in her soul, and her brain, too, illuminating understanding to guide her through what was to come.

Thanks for joining us for the final Wednesday’s Word for this year with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. Our hope is that her blog will help shed some light on whatever is going on or will go on that threatens to send you to a dark place.

She was in the final day of an Advent devotional and the word for that day was love…such a deep subject but it began correctly: love is not “dutiful,” but voluntary, and God, who sent His Son voluntarily to save each one of us was the ultimate example of love.

The verses continued to confirm what she already knew, and yet, there’s no such thing as being able to grasp and hold this kind of love for it is uncontainable. Every verse she read together just reinforced and continued to illuminate a new level of love of God, from God and about God.

There were two verses in particular that pulled at the light switch in her soul granting her a deeper level of His love: Proverbs 17:17 which says “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” 1John 4:7-21 repeated this principle, that whoever claims to love God must also love his brother.

She wondered aloud, “Why is a ‘brother’ born for adversity?” She continued to read and study in search of answers to this mystery. God is always faithful to those who search for answers in His word. She discovered some powerful truths that not only reinforced His love for her but also shed light on this truth: Without God’s love, we can’t love as He’s called us to love our “brothers.”

Friends, God isn’t just talking about sibling rivalry – although knowing He understands this reinforces yet again another level of His love for us – and He’s not just speaking about a brother/sister in Christ. God is referencing the term “brother’ to mean relationships in general, and we all know that some relationships bring with them adversity.

Maybe you look at adversity negatively but what if we allowed that adversity to grow us, not defeat us? Romans 8:28 says He uses all things…let’s put “adversity” in there to bring this home:

And we know that all adversities God works for the good of those who…love HIM…

As we close out this year and enter 2022, perhaps we can take with us a fresh perspective when it comes to “brother” and “adversity” and allow those two to sharpen us, refine us, cut away anything that takes us away from “loving our brother.” Then 2022 is guaranteed to be a better year.

Thoughtfully,
Kim-Evinda

Thanks for joining us for Thursday’s Truthful Humor we pull truth from a bit of humor

For the umpteenth time Mrs. Youngston came to her pastor to tell him, "I'm so scared! Joe says he's going to kill me if I continue to come to your church."
      
"Yes, yes, my child," replied the pastor, more than a little tired of hearing this over and over. "I will continue to pray for you, Mrs. Youngston. Have faith - the Lord will watch over you."
 
"Oh yes, he has kept me safe thus far, only....."
 
"Only what, my child?"
 
"Well, now he says if I keep coming to your church, he's going to kill YOU!"
      
"Well, now," said the pastor, "Perhaps it's time to check out that little church on the other side of town."
Ahh, isn’t it so true that it’s so easy to believe when it’s comfortable but true faith takes us out of our “comfort” zone!

For more encouragement, join our Facebook and Instagram communities; and take a tour at www.trenchclassesunited.com

This is it
This is to the
New beginning
This being the brick laying
 
The foundation of this life
This business
Is listening
and forgiving
 
As any relationship is laid in
But this time it’s about realizing
What it means to truly let go
Knowing that you are only human
and while this earth is cursed
until the day He comes back
We will always live within this lack
 
Alas, there is this Hope
and there is a Faith
That can take you beyond that shore
Where the waves break
 
Inching up closer and closer
Caressing the sand
Whispering "More…"
Because we will always want more:
 
More time
More money
More freedom
More reason
 
But that want
Will always lead back to lack
Because what I need and so desperately seek
Is to become less
 
Less of me
So I can finally let go of
The reigns and let The Spirit intercede
 
Washing my eyes
and moving my feet
As my heart drains
and bleeds
Dripping out the overflow
Of Love, Joy,and Peace
Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness,
Gentleness, Self-Control, with a mind so meek
Living with the most unselfish tendencies
 
Now breathe
 
Breathe into that space
Where your soul
and Your Spirit interlace
 
Hold on to that
and you will never lack
Because in Him
You have everything
 
and in Him you become a light
That someone needs
 
So hold on to that
Take that next step
and never look back
 
and As cliché as it sounds
It truly is
As simple as that.

​~Abigail

I remember when I finally understood what it meant to die to flesh…what a real eye opener. When we think of death, we usually don’t have pleasant or feel-good feelings, but, when we understand this principle of dying to flesh, then we can really begin living.

Thanks for joining us for Faith-Filled Friday with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United. Today’s love letter helps us understand the value of dying to self and abundant life.
 
~Love Letter~
 
My dear one, let Me make this clear: a single grain of wheat will never be more than a single grain of wheat unless it drops into the ground and dies. Because then it sprouts and produces a great harvest of wheat–all because one grain died.
 
When you understand this and walk in this truth, then you will walk in My ways. It is a moment-by-moment choice to walk in the life of denying yourself. For My Light to be manifested in and through you, there must be more of Me and less of you. So, like the seed that falls into the ground and dies so you must die to the desires of the world and its many entitlements.
 
Let your desires be for Me and what I have for you. You will be so blessed with what I have for you as you lay your life down for Me. As you live your life for Me, you will begin to sprout and produce a harvest which produces a love and a satisfaction that cannot be found anywhere else.
 
When you walk in My ways and accept the plan I have for you, then you will know joy that cannot be explained. Beloved, I have a plan that is for good, to bring you a future and a hope. 
 
~DebraDolce

There’s always time for a little giggle! Thanks for joining us for Thursday’s Truthful Humor where we pull truth from humor
An elderly lady lost her handbag in the bustle of Christmas shopping. It was found by an honest little boy and returned to her. Looking in her purse, she commented, "Hmmm.... That's funny. When I lost my bag there was a $20 bill in it. Now there are twenty $1 bills."
      
The boy quickly replied, "That's right, lady. The last time I found a lady's purse, she didn't have any change for a reward."
​
Hmm, kind of makes you wonder, huh? This is a great reminder to check our motives: why do we do what we do for others, especially this time of year? Oh, to give the gifts that can’t be bought…without expectation of something in return…

For more giggles and encouragement, too, take a tour at www.trenchclassesunited.com and click on the blog.
 
Read more at www.jokes.christiansunite.com

She read the words she had written years ago, feeling their truth even more so considering the current world reality, and she couldn’t help herself; she had to add just one more thought. When she was finished, she sensed the satisfaction knowing in her heart that, yes, change is coming, but these things remain.
 
Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. It is our prayer that the words of this blog remain carry you through this most celebrated season, and through any challenge you may encounter.
 
The Gifts of the Season

It’s not about the presents under the Christmas tree
But the presence of love we feel from friends and family
It’s not about the shopping that we feel we must do
But about the gift that’s already been given to me and to you
The gift is a gift that money can’t buy
The birth and death of Christ; it’s for you and I

It’s not about making a list and checking it twice
And buying countless gifts for the naughty or nice
The reason for this season isn’t about all the debt and stress
But a time to offer special gifts such as patience and forgiveness
Or maybe a gift of time for one whose time here is running out
A meal for a family in need to encourage hope where there is doubt
Or maybe someone needs a helping hand to accomplish a tedious chore
Or a neighbor needs some company so they are not so lonely anymore

Oh, if we would take the materialism out of this season
And in its place remember that redemption is our reason
Yes, these kinds of gifts come freely to those walking in His Spirit
For they will outlive materialism, though the world doesn’t hear it
No matter what this year has brought
We can still give the gifts that can’t be bought
 
May love, joy, peace and patience, kindness, gentleness & self-control too
Be the gifts you give away freely and part of all that you endeavor to do

Love,
Kim-Evinda

I think Santa Claus is a woman.... Think about it. Christmas is a big, organized, warm, fuzzy, nurturing social deal, and I have a tough time believing a guy could possibly pull it all off!

For starters, the vast majority of men don't even think about selecting gifts until Christmas Eve. Once at the mall, they always seem surprised to find only Ronco products, socket wrench sets, and mood rings left on the shelves. On this count alone, I'm convinced Santa is a woman.
      
Surely, if he were a man, everyone in the universe would wake up Christmas morning to find a rotating musical Chia Pet under the tree, still in the bag.
​
Another problem with a he-Santa is the reindeer issue. Even if the male Santa DID have reindeer, he'd still have transportation problems because he would inevitably get lost up there in the snow and clouds and then refuse to stop and ask for directions.
      
Other reasons why Santa can't possibly be a man:
      
       - Men can't pack a bag.
       - Men would rather be dead than caught wearing red velvet.
       - Men don't answer their mail.
       - Men would refuse to allow their physique to be described even in jest as anything remotely resembling a "bowlful of jelly."
       - Men aren't interested in stockings unless somebody's wearing them.
       - Having to do the Ho Ho Ho thing would seriously inhibit their ability to pick up women.
Oh, my, it’s true that most men don’t get as involved as we do, but ask any of them if they enjoy the benefits…isn’t that what matters most?
   
For more giggles and encouragement, too, take a tour at www.trenchclassesunited.com and click on the blog.

Read more at www.jokes.christiansunite.com

There is this wall
This mental brick
 
Your reaching
Your grasping
 
But you cannot grip
What is in front of you
Your time well spent
Yet, there is something
Something amiss
 
What is it?
You ask
You reflect
You look back
 
All the checks are in place
Make no mistakes
Your perfection has set in
You are running the race
 
Yet, there it is again
 
That mental brick
 
Blocking out your ability to let His light in
 
What gives?
What lives?
 
Your flesh
Your carnal self
So alive
So fresh
 
Yet you are dying inside
Can't you see the faded lines?
 
Your Spirit
It cries
Find me my friend
And soon again
You will live
 
Your perfection does not matter
Your time of day the former or the latter
It's all a gift
This life you live
And all He asks is for your companionship
 
But Darkness has settled in
It's wedged between the cracks
The crevices disguised
As golden border lines
 
But your boundaries
Are crying loudly
Come back to Me
My daughter, my friend
 
Come back to Me
Your soul a sweet sound to Me
 
& I hear your cries
I see you trying
But what is it you are trying to prove?
Don’t you know I already love you?
Don’t you know I have the world in my hands
Ready to show you
The doors I have opened
The voices are scratching
The locks all relatching
Because you have turned your back to Me
 
Daughter, come back to Me
 
You can’t see it
But you feel it
The grey turning to black
The wants turning to lack
 
But in Me you will never lack
Your heart is seeking something quick
Something fast
But this my darling, is a long journey
Filled with mountains and valleys
And heavy weighted burdens
But I am here walking beside you
With My Holy Spirit to guide you
 
Invite Me back in
It's time for your life to begin
Begin again
This time WITH ME
The only Light you will ever need…
 
 "The [basis of the] judgement (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the ground for the sentence) lies in this:
the Light has come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil.
For every wrongdoer hates (loathes, detests) the Light, and will not come out into the Light but shrinks from it, lest his works (his deeds, his activities, his conduct) be exposed and reproved.
But he who practices truth [who does what is right] comes out into the Light; so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are -
wrought with God  [divinely prompted, done with God's help, in dependence upon Him]. "
 - John 3:19-21

~Abigail