Wednesday Word She replayed the disagreement over and over in her mind. Her thoughts of frustration
moved like critters scurrying around and around, stuck, like a truck in the mud, unable to move towards understanding. Thanks for joining us today which picks up with Part 4 of Driving your Thoughts instead of Letting Them Drive You with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. If thoughts were a car, where would they be driving you today? Have you ever been stuck in a conflict, unable to understand the other person’s point of view? Today’s blog is meant to encourage you through it. She couldn’t believe what they had said, had done what they did. And try as she might to think of a way that she could have steered the final disagreement toward resolution, she hadn’t been successful. In fact, as she replayed the last couple of interactions, it had been obvious then, as it was now, that there was built up resentment used to defend their attitudes, actions, and beliefs, all of which were completely out of her control. She desperately wanted to make it better, to un-hear what she had heard, not just the words but the attitude with which they were spoken, but she couldn’t. She could only run them through the eight-point thought test found in Philippians 4:8 to get unstuck, own what was hers, and set her thoughts on higher ground: She began to go thru them, inviting Abba into her time: “Whatever is true.” “Well, they believed their words were true, Lord, she cried out. “Unresolved resentment shades the truth.” His answer brought some clarity. “Well, they definitely believe they were/are in the right,” she continued. “It’s not about who’s right but what is right. As they seek me in this matter, I will speak to them as I am speaking to you.” She continued through the eight-point thought test: “Well, neither of us were being pure in our words, and certainly the way it was all handled wasn’t admirable, excellent or praiseworthy, so now what, Lord”? “Do not add to the conflict by speaking about them in a way that is not true, pure, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy!” Ouch!! While His admonishment stung, its truth settled into her soul and settled her thoughts. Yes, this conversation with God and His Word had taken her thoughts to a higher place, no longer stuck like a truck in the mud on the last conversations with her friends. God’s Word had steered her clear of any detour of resentment which had begun because of their unresolved resentments and this unresolved conflict. She smiled, knowing that somehow, some way, He would resolve it if she stayed out of it by not adding to it. Friend, if you’re stuck amid an unresolved conflict, can I encourage you to take this eight-point thought test found in His Love Letters to you and me? There’s a guarantee that His Words will
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Tuesday Trench Truth Thanks for joining me for a little bit of truthful humor.
After she woke up, a woman told her husband, "I just dreamed that you gave me a pearl necklace for Valentine’s Day. What do you think it means?" "You'll know tonight." he said. That evening, the man came home with a small package and gave it to his wife. Delighted, she opened it to find a book entitled "The Meaning of Dreams" I don’t know about you, but my first internal response – notice I said internal – would have been what the heck, where’s my pearl necklace? But, when we stop and look at the heart of this sweet truth in this little funny, we can ascertain the truth that her husband was listening, and because men like to solve problems, he brought her something that would give her the solution, an answer to her question. Isn’t that just as thoughtful? Hey, speaking of humor, join us for A Night of Laughter, featuring squeaky clean comedy happening 3-2. Doors open at 6:30 for hors d’ oeuvres and dessert and show starts soon after. Get your tickets today! Monday Message Do you believe a foundation is only as strong as its roots? Thanks for joining us for
Monday’s Message with Abigale Rice and Trench Classes United. Just about every decision we make, attitude we cling to, action we take is rooted in something. Today’s message affirms this in a poetic way. Enjoy Proclaim His Name: A seed was planted and deep in its roots Is where we find meaning Is where we find truth and as it grew beyond the stars In the sky there it bloomed Knowing there were no limits To all it could do Through the power manifested in You For by the Word of Your breath It was spoken and there they sat The planets all in line The moon, the waves, and the tide From this chaos we were torn But in You We are reborn A new life A fresh wind The beginning and the end and I will forever sing Your Name Again and amen Our human souls Thirsting within and by Your love We are quenched So again I say, Amen and Godsent By Faith we affirm You are the Light You are the Way as we daily dissipate Your mercies never fail and a new life You create For by Your grace We have been saved and for that we give thanks and forever proclaim Your Name So, Lord, I thank You For the vastness of Your goodness This feeling of excitement bubbling up and I just can’t get enough Of this freedom we so long for and want That has been standing right here Right in front Saying, “Here I am” Ready, willing, and able To speak truth at Your table Where upon every tongue Honey shall drip As we sing all praises Proclaiming how great Your Name is Faith-Filled Friday What does intimacy look like to you?
Thanks for joining us for Faith-Filled Friday with Debra Dolce and Trench Classes United. Today’s Love Letter gives us insight into the kind of intimacy that ushers in unconditional love. ~Love Letter~ Become intimate with Me in whatever you do, and I will lead you wherever you go. Look at all the benefits being intimate with Me brings. Isn't it wonderful to think about, to dream about Me leading you wherever you go? My desire is for you to become intimate with Me. I desire to lead you wherever you go. When you are intimate with Me, then you become sensitive to My desires for you. Your time on earth is short and I desire for you to make a difference in the lives of those around you by your love and compassion for Me. Your love for Me will grow and touch those around you and they will see Me and be blessed. My love is no ordinary love. As you spend time with Me you will recognize the difference between the love of this world and the love of My world. As you spend time with Me you will feel the change in your own life. Don't be stubborn but look at your life and what you need to lay before Me. Lay down all stubbornness and pride and accept My gentleness, My goodness, and My kindness to touch those around you. You cannot make a difference in people's lives if you don't touch them with My love. Bring Me into everything you do, involve Me and all that you do making me your priority in everything. What is it that you need from Me today? What healing do you need? Do you need healing in your mind and your thoughts? Do you need healing in your body? Nothing is too hard for Me! I am able to do above and beyond anything that you could ask or think. ~DebraDolce Thursday's Trench Truth Hey, I have an invite for you, but first, let me share a little giggle with you.
A police officer attempts to stop a car for speeding and the guy gradually increases his speed until he's topping 100 mph! The man eventually realizes he can't escape and finally pulls over. The cop approaches the car and says, "It's been a long day and my shift is almost over, so if you can give me a good excuse for your behaviour, I'll let you go." The guy thinks for a few seconds and then says, "My wife ran away with a cop about a week ago. I thought you might be that officer trying to give her back!" Isn’t it so true that relationships have become so…well, so disposable? We unfriend on Fakebook, stop following on Instagram, Twitter, throw in the towel on friendships and marriages, but isn’t it so comforting to know that Jesus never wants to give us back, to throw us away or discard us, or even let us return to our old ways, but He continues to love us, refine us, guide us to be more like Him that we may love like He does. So, about that invite: Much better comedians coming your way at our fundraiser, a night of laughter on March 2nd , from 6:30 to 9:30 @ Yucaipa Elk’s Lodge! Tickets are only $30 EVENTS - TRENCH CLASSES UNITED, A DIVISION OF CHICKLIT POWER MINISTRIES Wednesday Word I’ve been known to call this “holiday” not so friendly words, accusing it of
being just another reason to exploit others financially, especially being 60-something and single. Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. Today’s blog puts a new light on this day that is meant to express love. The other day I was in my head and planning ahead, and I remembered in past seasons of singleness how I got past Valentine’s Day better and not bitter…by loving others. I can’t help but share this exercise I learned some time ago that puts a bright light on not just V-day, but every day. Read 1 st Corinthians 13:4-7 and every time you see the word “love,” and “it,” simply exchange it for your name…then read it aloud. Wherever you get stuck, ask Him to pull you out that you may express His love to others because His love isn’t a love just for lovers on Valentine’s Day, but it’s for all of us to give and receive every day. 4 ( Your name) ____ is patient and kind. (your name) _____ is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. (Your name) ______does not demand its own way. (Your name) ______is not irritable, and (Your name) ______ keeps no record of being wronged. 6 (Your name) ______ does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 (Your name) ______ never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love, Kim Evinda Tuesday Trench Truth So, today’s trench truth is actually wrapped up in a giggle.
This single guy named Bill wanted a horse. He began to shop and saw an interesting ad on Craigslist which was advertising a “Christian horse.” He sent an inquiry and made arrangements to go see this horse. When Bill got to the ranch, he introduced himself to the horse's owner and they talked small talk on their way to where the horse was. As soon as Bill saw the horse, he couldn’t help but get excited and asked if he could ride him, take him for a test drive, so to speak. The owner said, sure, "It's easy to ride him. Just say 'praise the Lord' to make him go, and 'amen' to make him stop." Bill got on the horse and said, "Praise the Lord." The horse started to walk. "Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, praise the Lord" and the horse is running. Now Bill sees the cliff and says: "AMEN." The horse stops and Bill says: "Whew! Praise the lord!" The Word of God says that He inhabits the praises of His children…so let me invite you to our fundraiser, A Night of Laughter featuring Squeaky Clean Comedy on Saturday, March 2nd . Doors open at 6:30 and there will be some tasty hor d’ oeuvres and amazing desserts and an amazing raffle. Simply email us or text us to get your tickets today! Monday Message Have you ever held on to a secret about yourself so hard, so long that
you wanted to just run and hide? Thanks for joining us for Monday’s Message with Abigail Rice and Trench Classes United. Oday’s poem reveals the freedom that comes from letting secrets out and letting others in. When relationships Seem far Often times So is your heart. There’s a room With a door and it’s locked. You let no one in Because the secrets Are too big Too big To dig Too deep To sit To be quiet To get still and listen to the turn of the locks Like the gears on a clock Tick Tick Tock! Any second It could go off So you move along Not wanting to disturb That demon In his home Or confront The lesser Of the known And the cost? Feeling all alone and that relationship seems off Because you would rather be lost Than have someone find that key Open the door and start digging Real deep… Because what’s buried beneath Not even your soul would speak With a mouth taped closed You’re left there To feel all alone So where do you go? and how do you know Which rooms are locked And who stole your thoughts? Back to the clock Back to the time When you may have crossed over A most daunting line Or maybe generations have passed So you must be brave and you must ask For the Holy Spirit to guide you To take you back To show you the moment You must explore In order to reopen and unlock that door To set your soul free, you must speak Now is not the time To run and be weak For if you run I’m afraid you’ll never meet The entirety of you and all you were created to do So take that key and open that room For you were made Made to bloom “And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.” Job 11:17 Thursday's Trench Truth For today’s Trench truth, I thought I’d use a little humor which more
often than not has some truth. A husband was trying to prove to his wife that women talk more than men. He showed her a study which indicated that men use about 10,000 words per day, whereas women use 20,000 words per day. His wife thought about this for a while. She then told her husband that women use twice as many words as men because they have to repeat everything they say. Her husband looked stunned. He said "What?" When you feel someone’s not listening, what do you do? More often than not, getting worked up prevents us from working it out with those we love. Hey, let me be the first to invite you to our semi-annual fundraiser A Night of Laughter with Squeaky Clean Comedy. There will be amazing hors d'oeuvres and desserts and great entertainment all for only $30, not to mention an incredible raffle! To purchase tickets please click the link below Venmo | Trench Classes United Wednesday Word She stared at the text message…almost in disbelief.
Have you ever been asked to do something you really didn’t want to do, whether by a family member, friend a loved one…OR even God? Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. Today’s blog reminds us that the sacrifice of obedience will see us through the sacrifice. She couldn’t help but smile as she rewound the first week of the situation that had brough John 15:13 to life in her own life. She had been on a cruise with one of her besties and their family, and finally relaxing. The text had come on the second day of the trip, asking if they could stay with her for a few weeks. The mental/emotional tug-of-war that began to try and steel her relaxation was real: the struggle for her own comfort in her own space and the financial cost vs. the choice to help someone who was really having a hard time. Begrudgingly, not joyfully, she said yes, and tried not to think about if for the rest of the cruise. She was able to accomplish that by convincing herself, it’s only for a few weeks. I can set aside my own need to be alone and not share my space…but only temporarily, she convinced herself. A week into this sacrifice, which was definitely irritating and a struggle, she was in her devotion time in the book of John, Chapter 15, and His Word came alive in her struggle: “Greater love has no one than this: that they lay down their life for their friends.” “Yeah, but that’s about You, God, and what you did for us on the cross,” she argued. Again, she heard Him speak, “Kim, no greater love is there than she who would set aside her desire to be alone, not share her space, [lay down your flesh] for her friend.” It was as if He was sharing a secret: quit fighting the sacrifice and I’ll see you through the sacrifice. I want you to be My hands and feet for her. Wow, talk about perspective and an immediate change in my heart. Can I encourage you today to sit in His word, even if just for a few minutes, and allow it to speak to your current situation, whatever that is? It’s guaranteed to change your perspective and your attitude. Love, Kim-Evinda |
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