​Faith-Filled Friday

With the God-given design for family changing and morphing faster and
faster away from Biblical principles, this commandment to honor our father
and mother is becoming more of a fairy-tale, once upon a time.
Thanks for joining us for Faith-Filled Friday with Debra Dolce and Trench
Classes United. Today’s love letter is a great reminder that not only is our
God a God of order, but He also knew this would be a tough thing to do in
our ever-changing culture, which is why He sealed it with a promise.

~Love Letter~
My love, honor your father and mother, and love those around you as you love yourself.
This instruction is very important in your life.

To honor is a commitment to respect and love. That doesn't mean agreeing with
everything they choose. You honor and respect your parents for who they are, but you
follow and worship Me.

Scripture says to have no other gods before Me. When you love and worship Me then
you can do all these other things. It is My love that changes your heart, even expands
its capacity to love those around you.

All those you struggle with I can help you when you come and ask Me and as you rely
on Me, My strength becomes your strength and will walk you through these struggles
with those you are called to honor. I am always with you helping you to love no matter
what the circumstances are.
​
I know the hardship some suffer from the hands of another. Do you see My love for My
betrayer and those that crucified Me? The secret is it has more to do with you and I than
it does about you and them.

Beloved, the secret to living offense free is surrendering everything to Me and letting
every other thing fall by the wayside. 

~DebraDolce

Do you keep score of the things those you care about did to you or about you, or…are
you able to express your hurt/disappointment appropriately
​
I remember the opportunity to do just that, express myself appropriately, showed up
unexpectedly. That’s how life is; lessons show up unexpectedly and we can either stop
and learn the lesson, or keep on going until we are forced to figure it out.
So here’s what happened: my step-son had done something which let’s just say totally
irritated me, pushed a button and it wasn’t the happy one. When we got home, he
actually asked me, you mad? “I’m fine.” No sooner had the little white lie escaped my
lips when all of a sudden, my conscience was searing. I stopped what I was doing,
thought about what I would say…without an attitude and then went outside and
addressed it. It went something like this: Hey, Bryce, so when you asked me if I was
mad, I wasn’t really mad, just irritated. I went on to address his action, NOT his
character, and then boom, just like that, I was done; irritation vanished and integrity
intact.

What if I hadn’t approached it? I’ll tell you what would have happened. It would have
resided deeper and deeper into my soul and been added to any other unresolved
conflict until one day….But it doesn’t have to be that way!

Plan on joining us in our How to Love Trench coming to Redlands next week. Come
learn how to love those you love and even learn to communicate healthily with those
you don’t…really like too much! Check out the link for our Zoom opportunity as well.
www.trenchclassesunited.com/classes

Learning and Unlearning…
Kim-Evinda

It’s that time of year where I can easily get caught up in shopping; I mean
after all, every store you shop has “CLEARANCE” and “WHILE SUPPLIES
LAST” signs everywhere. How can a girl not get sucked in!

Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Evinda Lepins and
Trench Classes United.

Seriously, don’t we all run to the sales, whether it be online, the grocery
store, outlet stores, department stores…Stores! Stores! Stores! And then
there’s Amazon! Lord, help me!

It blows my mind when I rewind the camera of my life and see me
shopping, my mouth wide open in shock as I stare at a pair of white jeans
marked down to $4.50, and a dress marked down to $7, and on and on and
on. How can I not, I say to myself! And before I know it, my arms are filled
with all these things that I just thought I had to have.

It’s easy to get sucked in, isn’t it? I mean I better hurry up and buy them
before someone else gets them, right? 

Well, last week, a day after one of those type of shopping incidents, our
pastor was speaking about encounters with God. It was a powerful
message, and a wonderful church service. I felt so empowered,
encouraged, and energized spiritually, emotionally and physically. It
satisfied my soul in such a way that…oh my goodness, in such a way that
all the “CLEARANCE” and “GET IT WHILE SUPPLIES LAST” shopping
sprees could not ever do. I mean I felt such euphoria, like I could just dance
with joy, and that stayed with me awhile, inspiring this very thought:
There are things that never go on sale and yet…the supply is endless and
there’s enough for everyone, and there’s only one Manufacturer…Jesus!
Grace, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness…yes these are the things I
want to pursue more enthusiastically this year, especially knowing that they
never run dry and there’s enough for everyone…enough for me and
enough for me to share as long as I am abiding in and with the
Manufacturer. [Galatians 5:22-23]

Oh, to pursue the things that never go on sale, things I’ll never find on the
clearance rack, things that will give contentment that money can’t
buy…even half as much as I chase those sales! 
​
Love,
Kim-Evinda

Thanks for joining us friends for our Tuesday’s Trench Truth.
Ah, how true it is that being critical leads to conflict, chaos and condemnation…none of
which are from God!

Did you have a critical and/or angry parent whose approval you tried to win? Do you find
yourself doing things in order to feel accepted and approved of? Or…do you
acknowledge you are not perfect and allow others room for their weaknesses too?
What would it look like if we just stopped looking for something or someone to blame
when things happen out of our control? Unfortunately blaming seems to be part of the
human condition and we seem to have bought into the lie that saying sorry, or that we
were wrong is a sign of weakness when in actuality it is a sign of strength and emotional
integrity. See the more we understand ourselves, the more we give others permission to
be who they are.
​
We’ve got a way that you can do this: Plan on joining us for our How to Love Who You
Love relationship class, coming to a trench near you and even available on Zoom.
For more information go to www.trenchclassesunited.com/classes
Learning and Unlearning
Kim-Evinda

Life can feel like a field of weeds at times, with one challenge after another
rising to the surface. Thanks for joining us for Monday’s Message with Abigail Rice and Trench
Classes United. Today’s Message is a great reminder that we don’t have to
meet life on life’s terms alone. We have a heavenly gardener who longs to be
invited into the weeds that He may turn them into beautiful seeds that
sprout with victory.

This weight
I shake
I stumble
I wait
In the dark
Feeling the tightness in my heart
Closed off
So far
It was once open
But the pressure
Made me feel lesser
Than who I really am
Because who I am
Is a warrior
and I stand
Firm in my foundation
Letting Him take command
I let go of control
I release all I know
For the wisdom of this world
Is that of the wind
Only here for a temporary fix
When what I really need is
Him
His serenity
His peace
A quiet place of retreat
Where I can really live
Where I can really be
The woman He has called me to be
But the enemy
He screams
Making me believe
I am not worthy
and my heart bleeds
Agonizing
Trying to pull up these weeds
That no matter how much I pull
They take over me
So I ask, Lord, how do I get back to my roots
When all I see is shoot after shoot
Sprouting up and not letting me loose
And He says, I am here
I have always been here
Gardening your soul
Holding on until you know
That what you reaped
You have sown
and no man can tell you where to go
So listen in
And let Me begin
To do the work
Of my supernatural hands
This is out of your control
And for so long you have held on
Never fully letting go
Now let me sow
New seeds
That will bring
Ultimate joy
Happiness
and peace
When you surrender it all
Surrender to Me
I never let you go
Daughter, you know
This world can be harsh
This world is full of dark
and the only way to breathe
Is to sing
Sing it loud
Sing it clear
Sing it out for the whole world to hear
That I am here
and I am near
Never far
Never gone
I have been here all along

Daughter, sing your song…
Abigail

​Isn’t it easy to love those who are kind to us, show appreciation for us and
like to be with us?

Thanks for joining us for our Faith-Filled Friday with Debra Dolce and
Trench Classes United. Today’s love letter is a great reminder of His
golden rule for us which proves to produce a life better than gold.

~Love Letter~

My blessed child, in everything you do, be careful to treat others in the same way you
would want them to treat you, for that is the essence of all My teachings.

Everybody is born with a need to be known and loved and yet this is not really
practiced, not even in My kids. I’d love to see you practicing this principle even when
others don't.

It doesn't really matter what others do but it does matter what you do. Do your actions
support your words? If so, you will be like a garment without spots, or wrinkles.

This involves making a commitment to walk in purity. I'll tell you right now there's no
such thing as a "white lie"; You need to adjust your thinking. Some think because they
asked Me into their life that they are good. Don’t live a double life of only being
righteous once a week; instead surrender all and live as My intimate friend.

I know how easy it is to get sidetracked and become complacent. You must guard
against becoming comfortable.

Beloved, you must be a Watchman on the wall, armed for battle, because that is what
it's going to take. 
​
~DebraDolce

Do you often feel misunderstood and/or experience unmet expectations in your
relationships that lead to disappointment or…are you able to speak up and let others
know they hurt/disappointed you without an attitude?

I don’t know about you but approaching something or someone that has hurt you
without an attitude is probably one of the toughest things to do…but I want to
emphasize it’s possible, my friend, it’s possible.

If you would like to learn how to share unmet expectations and avoid an emotional
collision before it happens, then you will want to join us for our How to Love Who you
Love trench, coming to a small group near you, and available on Zoom!
For more information go to https://www.trenchclassesunited.com/classes.html
​
Learning and unlearning,
Kim-Evinda

I watched Roomba go back and forth, getting every square inch, learning
the lay of the rooms, one room at a time. It was fascinating, but what was
even more fascinating was instinctively it knew right when it needed to be
charged and where to go!

Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench
Classes United.

I couldn’t help but giggle as I watched my little Roomba. He was showing
improvement in learning the rooms of my new house and it was so fun to
watch him work while I accomplished other things.
Suddenly, my app showed he was headed for a recharge. As I watched
him return to his place of dumping and recharging, I got to thinking…where
do we dump our junk? Where do we go for a recharge?
I don’t know about you, but in my current reality, these are relevant
questions. I’ve been feeling a bit sucker-punched lately and so this quiet
thought inspired by watching little Roomba was intensely powerful: I need
to dump up, not out and down, and I need to go straight to His Word to get
in His presence to get my recharge. My hope is in Him, not anyone or
anything that attempts to interrupt my peace.

His Word is a simple fix for a complex problem. So, this morning, I got
regrouped after dumping my hurt, frustration and even anger up to my
Abba who cares for me and ALL that concerns me, and then I sat in His
word for a bit, specifically Psalm 95:1-7.
As I read it and meditated on it the words soaked into my own life and I was
able to ground myself with a spiritual reality that overcomes my worldly
reality: He wants us to praise Him in the times of uncertainty for then we
will become certain of what is true.
Can I encourage you, friend, go to the ONE source that will help you
recharge and refresh all in one sitting?
​
Dumped and recharging….
Kim-Evinda

​Do you tend to be a peacemaker, afraid of making those close to you upset or angry,
even being dishonest to avoid conflict, or just give in to get it over with, or…can you
initiate a difficult conversation to resolve a problem/conflict?
What if I were to tell you that you can learn how to say no without it causing you anxiety
and insecurity? And it’s never too soon to learn this!
A couple of visits ago my grandson admitted to me he was afraid of making me mad so
he didn’t come downstairs to have me rub lavender on his feet after he had been
upstairs in bed for almost an hour.

Oh, what a teaching moment. I was able to say, you know, Bryden, I probably would
have been irritated, but then by the time we made it back upstairs and I was rubbing
your little feet to help you sleep, I would have been over it.
Would you like to overcome this tendency and gain relational security? Then plan on
joining us for our How to Love Who You Love trench beginning January 19th. We also
have a Zoom opportunity as well.

For more information, go to https://www.trenchclassesunited.com/classes.html
​
Thoughtfully,
Kim-Evinda

Ahh, for such a time as this when all seems so uncertain… uncertainty leads us to fear,
but if we remember HE has not changed and will not change no matter what changes
come our way.

Thanks for joining us for Monday’s Message with Abigail and Trench Classes United.
We trust that Abigail’s words will be such a sweet reminder of this very truth as we
begin a new year.

Lord, I need You today
Give me Your clarity today
Give me breath
Give me strength
For I am merely withering
Wasting away
Can You please show me the way?
For as I fall
I pray
I cry out to You
During this season
Of something so new
So unknown
Where is my home?
I desire to rest in You
But I can't breakthrough
Are you still there?
Or have you forgotten about me?
Despicable me
Once a soldier
Now as bare as a fallen tree
Are You still there?
Are You even listening?
Because I'm still here
Just a broken dream
Yet, somehow still radiating
Creating life
So evergreen
Don't You see?

You have called me
Yet, I feel so lost
So lonely
My thoughts
They haunt me
Why won’t You show me?
How do I pull out of this mess
This weakness
This upheaval
mountain of distress
I am standing before You
Naked
Undressed
Lord, please clothe me
With your light beams so Holy
So I can be
The servant that You need
I am here
So unaware
But I am ready, Lord
I am prepared.

"I know your deeds, that you have a name
That you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up,
And strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die;
He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments;
And I will not erase his name from the book of life,
And I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels"
  -Revelation 3:1b-2a;5