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  • Understanding The Prophetic Ministry

    Understanding The Prophetic Ministry

    By Kim Eidel

    The Prophetic Ministry. Hmmm… What does that actually mean? It seems like almost everyday when one logs onto FaceBook there is is a “prophetic word” given by an individual or minister. How do we know what is “real and truth” and what is not? How can we trust what we read or hear, especially if there is confusion about this type of ministry?
    If you find yourself wondering about these very points, then you are in a good spot. It is good to test things that are brought to our attention by and through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. It is on this basis that these questions will be addressed, and we will hear from two ministers who have a great anointing in the prophetic ministry. Since the Word is our foundation for spiritual guidance, then it would behoove us to first go to the source – the Word of God.
    1 Corinthians 12:4-11 lists the nine Spiritual gifts that are available to the body of Christ. To keep things simple and in line with our particular topic, we will just look at the gift of prophecy. The gift of prophecy is a part of the inspirational gifts and we can find out what it means by looking at 1 Corinthians 14:3. “But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them” (NLT). In other words, prophecy is the anointed speaking forth of words that build others up, encourages them along their spiritual journey, and comforts those in need. Prophecy is a supernatural utterance that comes from a person who is anointed to speak the treasures of God to the body of Christ.
    It is imperative at this point to clarify the difference between prophecy and the word of wisdom. Many people have confused the regular gift of prophecy with the gift of word of wisdom for quite some time now. When an individual (who is a born-again Christian) speaks out in church or on social media foretelling the future, then they have left the inspirational gift of prophecy and have moved into the word of wisdom.
    For those who think the gift of being shown something in relation to the future by the Holy Spirit as the “coolest” of all gifts, take note that there are 22 references of the importance of prophecy over the span of 4 chapters (1 Corinthians chapters 11-14) in the New Testament. 1 Corinthians 14:1 tells us to desire the gifts, but especially prophecy and 1 Thessalonians 5:20 tells us not to despise (or withhold) prophecy. The gift of prophecy is used by God for many reasons. Prophecy can lift a Christian out of depression, out of negligence, out of a lukewarmness attitude, and put them back into the mainstream of the thrust of God. Prophecy can energize or jumpstart spiritual fortification. The threefold purpose of prophecy, which is to edify (build up), exhort (encourage), and to comfort others should be functioning in the church regularly. It is for His glory and our benefit!
    With the importance of prophecy being established, we can now be introduced to two highly anointed minsters who have a vast knowledge of the Word and who are regularly used in prophecy and the gifts of the Spirit. After the introduction of each, specific questions in relation to the prophetic ministry will be addressed.
    First, we will look at Darby Slaton out of Pennsylvania. Darby comes from a background of an Independent Fundamental Baptist where he was taught the gifts of the Spirit ended with the passing of the last apostle. It was after some personal and detrimental circumstances that the Lord was able to get through to Darby. It was through a divine appointment and an encounter with God in 2003 that changed everything for him. It was at this time that he experienced something he never had before. He wasn’t able to explain it or understand it then because of his upbringing, but he felt the presence of God and felt like all the lights were turned on inside of him. His eyes were opened and he felt the impression of the Lord speak to him for the fist time. The Lord shared with Darby that he was going to be used by God in such a way that hearing His voice was vitally necessary. In the days, weeks, and months following that Word, Darby had an insatiable appetite for the Word of God and grew exponentially in the Spirit. Through training by the Spirit and individuals the Lord sent to Darby, he developed in the ministry that the Lord placed before him and he is still working in with diligence. Darby is an ordained minister through Harvest Chapel out of PA; not only is he used traveling from destination to destination along the East Coast ministering the Word and in the Prophetic Word, but he also operates in a unique ministry as a Life Coach to those in the ministry and in the business world. Darby regularly ministers to those in the world who are looking for answers and for help.


    There are many instances of the Prophetic Word that the Lord gave to Darby while ministering to others. An example of one of those occurrences happened during a service in Fredrick, Maryland where Darby was ministering in the prophetic realm. The Lord illuminated a young man in the congregation to Darby and the Spirit showed a picture of this man and a word of wisdom in regards to something that was to take place in the near future. This young man was married and heavily involved in street ministry. What Darby did not know was that this couple was in great debt. The Lord told Darby that He was going to give this young man a unique idea that he would be able to use where enough money would come in to not only quickly pay off all the debt, but where they would have surplus that could be used in their ministry.
    Not long after the young man received the word from Darby, his wife, who worked as teacher with handicapped children heard about an “invention” that never materialized. She told her husband that this gadget, if reengineered, would be beneficial to her handicapped students. There was an expired patent on a crude version of what was to be a fidget spinner. The young man remembered the word of wisdom that was spoke over him and he had a clear vision of what this crude fidget spinner could become. He purchased the contraption and patent and reengineered it. Once it was completed, he manufactured it and put it on Amazon. Within four months, this man and his wife were able to pay over $150,000 off in debt and now makes between $2000-$5000 a day. Because of the idea the Lord gave him he now is able to focus more on street ministry.
    Another phenomenal minister who has an anointing in the prophetic ministry is Charlie Abraham. Brother Abraham is a third generation preacher who has been in ministry 24 years. He was a pastor two different times and works as a missionary. Abraham and his family were missionaries in Indonesia for a little over three years where he made an impact on dozens of local residents of that area. He also ministered in Africa on a temporary basis where evangelical meetings, pastoral training, discipleship, teaching, and powerful services took place. He has also ministered in Japan and has regularly ministered in jails, parks, under bridges, in schools, churches, in conferences, and has ministered in revivals with signs and wonders following.


    Before Brother Abraham’s Spiritual transformation, like many lost and tormented souls, he was plagued with an out of control life. He was in bondage of deep depression; he had two complete breaks downs, was hospitalized and was committed into an institution both times. His eyes were finally opened and in the midst of defeat, he surrendered completely to the Lord. Right after his salvation and deliverance, he fell madly in love with Jesus. It was at this time that a love, compassion, and a desire to share that love with others was birthed. Abraham had a compulsion to see others find freedom, deliverance, acceptance, love, and salvation. He felt a desire rise up in him to help the lost and the scattered sheep needing direction. He prayed that God would use him to bring healing to broken people and to send him to the nations of the world. He prayed for God to give him a Word for pastors that would minister to them in a way that would encourage them in their ministry. He had a heart to minister to ministers.
    Along with the burning desire to see lives changed, he felt a strong urge to start interceding for people that the Lord laid upon his heart. He seriously pursued this gift of intercession faithfully for several months. Then something happened. While he was interceding for a person the Lord put on his heart, a particular Bible scripture came to him and he knew he was supposed to give it to that person. It just happened to be, even though they said nothing to anyone, it was the exact scripture they needed at that moment. This allowed Abraham a focal point to pray specifically for that individual. The Lord continued to bless him in this manner and people were amazed that the Lord would show Abraham something for them. It encouraged them and it helped Abraham to grow in the prophetic ministry. After following in this season of intercession, intense worship, and spending a great amount of time pursuing the Lord, Abraham grew in the Spirit where he would go somewhere and the Spirit would show him something about someone near him. He would go up to them and tell them what the Lord showed him. It was always something that was going on in their lives and every time they were amazed that a stranger would be used by the Lord to help them. He always followed this up by praying for them. Brother Abraham states, “My prophetic ministry was birthed through obedience, dedication, and commitment.” Now Abraham travels through West Virginia, the East Coast and beyond, mighty and greatly used by the Lord.
    Because the Holy Spirit is a gentleman, He will not force anyone to do anything they do not want to do. One has to first desire the gifts of the Spirit before they can receive and operate in them. Both Darby and Abraham had this desire and the determination to pursue the Lord relentlessly. They cultivated their relationship with the Lord and in the Word. Because of this level of commitment, they have grown and developed more in the gifts of the Spirit than ever before.
    Many questions have been brought forth in relation to the gift of prophecy. It seems many Christians fit into one of two categories: one, they do not understand the prophetic ministry at all, or two, they desire to learn more about it and want to know how to operate in it. With that being said, a collection of these questions have been gathered and are answered below. Both Darby and Abraham have offered their insight to these queries.

    Q: What about those messages that seem to be vague to the point that it could apply to anyone?

    A: First of all, the Bible is for everyone. Both Darby and Brother Abraham said “Prophecy always aligns with the Word of God.” It is not truism or mentalism involving cold reading. John 10:27 states, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (NKJV). Jesus said we hear His voice, which proves He talks to us. Revelation 19:10b states, “For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus[b]” (NLT).

    However, it is important that we judge all prophecy to the Word of God. If something is said that is already in the Bible, because the Word of God should be embraced and taken as truth, then the prophecy spoken can be celebrated and embraced as well.

    Q: How do I know if the person giving a prophecy has the right motives?

    A: As long as the prophecy lines up with the Word of God then that is something you can agree with. As far as motives, give it to God and let Him take care of it. You do your part and let God do His.

    Q: What advice would you give if a message is given to an individual and it doesn’t “register” with their spirit?

    A: According to 1 John 4:1 we must test the spirits and the Word given to us. In order to do this, one must give it to the Lord. Darby specifies we must sit on it, pray, listen, and wait. He pointed out that when we pray about it we should ask the Lord to either confirm it or if not from Him, to remove it.

    Brother Abraham pointed out that sometimes a prophecy will be mixed with a word of wisdom (foretelling of something to come) telling us something that will occur over time. Abraham reminds us that this is what happened with Sarah. The Lord told her she would conceive and give birth to a child. When she was told this news, it did not “register” with her. As a matter of fact, the Word of God said that when she heard this, she actually laughed.

    Another example of this is given by Darby. Darby pointed out that in Judges chapter 6 an angel approached Gideon and called Gideon a “mighty warrior of the Lord”. Because Gideon was in fear and was hiding from his enemies; even though he was the least in his father’s house, the angel was not confirming what was a reality at that time, but what was to become. Darby went on to say that heaven and the Lord does not see us as we see ourselves. He said that we should be careful in not dismissing and casting off a Word spoken over us just because we do not see it in the natural or we have a hard time envisioning what was said.

    With both of the examples as a reference, even if a “prophecy” does not register with you, first, judge it by the Word; then surrender the prophecy to the Lord and allow Him to work in that situation and you follow peace.

    Q: I have received a word of prophecy or word of knowledge and it does bear witness to my spirit. Now what do I do?

    A: As with anything…we wait. Pray and surrender the word given to you to Him and wait for Him to bring it to pass. Do not make the mistake of trying to “help” God out. That is what Abraham and Sarah did when they agreed to have a child through Sarah’s maid. It caused them problems and to this day, there are world-wide repercussions to the decision they made.

    One thing you can do is to continue to draw closer to the Lord and spend more time in the Word and at His feet. From time to time, remind Him of the prophecy and thank him for working it out in your life in His timing. Tell Him that you trust Him…then do that very thing – trust Him. He knows what He is doing and He will not forget you.

    Q: How do you develop in the ministry of prophecy?

    A: First off, you must make sure you have pure motives to operate in this gift. If your desire is to grow in this gift so you can you be seen and heard as “important” in man’s eyes, then know you will never be used by the Lord is this area. Abraham said that the Spirit of love is the drive behind the moving in the gifts of the Spirit. The Lord looks on the heart and knows man’s thoughts. With that being said, both Darby and Abraham gave examples of how they developed in this gift. They both diligently sought after the Lord, they interceded out of love for people; and they both desired to be used by God. God will not force something on you that you do not want. Both men put God first and it showed in their lives. As they developed in their relationship with the Lord; as they operated in obedience and trusted in Him; as they verbally made themselves available for God to use, then little things began to happen. They chose to be faithful over the little. Many times God will use something small to start off to see if you will trust Him, be obedient to Him, and to see if He can trust you with what He is giving you. Darby pointed out that it also takes practice. As we become more sensitive to the Spirit and step out with what the Lord is giving us, we learn and grow. It takes practice…and yes, sometimes a mistake can help shape a person as long as they keep their hearts right and do not back off and shy away.

    As you develop in these areas, then the following are some things you may encounter: the Spirit may give you a scripture that you know is for another person. You can write this scripture down and present it to that person and intercede for them before, during, and after the delivery. God sometimes gives His servants a dream, a vision, or we may hear something in our spirits. Still, others have said that a person seems to have a “glow” around them and words come to them when they look at the individual that is “highlighted”. Of course, in the beginning, the Spirit of God will usually start with something small and allow you to grow into the gifts of the Spirit.

    Hopefully these questions and answers offered clarification on the subject of prophecy.
    Since the nine gifts of the Spirit were mentioned in detail in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, we can see that it is God’s will and intent for these gifts to operate in and through the church. As children of God, we are to be open to these gifts and not shy away from them due to uncertainty or to fear. As we grow in the gifts of the Spirit and in sensitivity to the Spirit, we can and will accomplish God’s will and purpose in this life and in this day and age. Because in the end, His Word and His plan will prevail. I don’t know where you stand, but I want to make sure that I am not a hinderance; but instead, I want to be a vessel He can use. What about you?

    If you have questions and would like to speak to either minister; or if you would like to schedule Darby Slaton or Charlie Abraham to come and speak at your church or event, the following contact information is provided:

    Darby Slaton:
    Darbyslaton@gmail.com
    Darbyslaton.com

    Charlie Abraham
    304-688-6850
    Signature1929@gmail.com

    Kim Eidel is an Apostolic Minister and founder of Arise Ministries — a non-profit religious organization and its divisions — that teaches the “how-to’s” of faith and practice.

    With a mandate to serve, encourage, empower, and disciple through speaking engagements, live events, writing, and broadcasting, Kim equips others to grow spiritually and to develop a closer and more personal relationship with the Lord.

    Kim is an ordained minister through the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) and is the Executive Pastor at the Refuge Church of God in New Martinsville, WV and has a degree in education. She is also the author of several published articles and enjoys teaching the principles of God’s Kingdom.

    Kim and her husband, George, live in West Virginia with their four children.

  • Grieving The Godly Way

    Grieving The Godly Way

    I miss you, Dad. Life will not be the same without you. You did the best you could with the tools you were given. You may not have always loved the way you should, but you did have a heart to help others. You made many mistakes in your life, but it’s not how you start- it’s how you finish that counts. You lived a crazy life, but I got to see the miracle I was praying for before you passed away. You accepted Christ and got baptized (something that seemed so far away- yet I watched it with my own eyes).

    Nobody is too far for Christ to reach. God’s grace is incomprehensible to the human mind. None of us deserve it and yet it’s made available to those we would call the most evil. God’s love chases us down and He answers our prayers to reach and rescue our lost family members. Don’t stop praying!!!!!! He is faithful to watch over His Word to perform it. He saves for His name sake. If my daddy could be saved & baptized, anyone can.

    I lost my dad about 5 months ago now. It was unexpected and painful. When I lost him, I cried out to God and asked, “How can this be? It wasn’t supposed to be this way- you promised my bloodline would be saved and yet here we are.” I was undone. I couldn’t understand. It didn’t make any sense. I didn’t tell anyone what I was thinking and then one of my trusted friends sent me the video of my dad being baptized not too long before this happened. She told me the Lord told her to record it and she didn’t know why, but then he passed and little did she know I had just asked God those questions. She sent me the video and told me the Lord said my prayers were not in vain. Talk about being humbled!!!!

    As I was trying to process this, I heard the Lord tell me to “grieve the Godly way.” What did this mean? Is there an ungodly way to grieve?

    Well I believe there is. I believe we can either cling to the Father to walk us through our grief and healing, or we can run from Him and even blame Him for what’s happened. One produces life- the other produces death and wounds. One brings true healing- the other brings a false healing and even more wounds. Time does not heal all wounds- only God heals our wounds. Time just gives us the opportunity to fill our wounds with things we shouldn’t. It’s like a mask we put on them and we just pretend they go away.

    This is why it can be years since something has happened and when it’s brought up again, we burst out into tears just like when it happened. The Lord created the grieving process for us because He knew we needed it. We are humans and we need to process things and let the Lord in the process to heal us through it. Psalm 34:18 says, “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

    Our Father knows what pain and hurt feels like. Jesus came as a man and He experienced every feeling and emotion we ever would. He is not far off and distant from understanding our pain and suffering. He can handle our big questions and feelings. His Word shows us He is close when we are broken and grieving. And when God is close, things can’t stay the same. This post is very vulnerable to me. This is not easy to share, but I encourage you to grieve the Godly way. Let the Lord lead you through the healing process. Don’t run from Him, but run TO Him. He cares for you and truly does understand.

    We will all have to face grief in this lifetime. Don’t try to pretend you’re okay when you’re not- run to the Father and let His arms wrap around you, collect every tear, and hold you until you begin to receive healing and rest. He is faithful. He didn’t cause the bad things that happened to you- that’s a lie from the devil.. but God can absolutely heal every single trauma and pain that you have gone through, if you’ll only let Him.

    It’s been almost 5 months and the grief still hits me in waves but one thing I have learned is that God is faithful to walk with me hand-in-hand along this journey of healing. I can’t imagine where I would be in this life without my Savior. He is truly the one our soul longs for. I think about all the things my earthly father won’t get to see me do, but eternity is truly all that matters. All of these things on earth will fade away- but making it to heaven and bringing others with us is truly ALL THAT MATTERS!!!!!

    Thanks for listening, I felt lead to share this today. Being vulnerable is scary, but it is our testimony that helps others overcome as well.

    Hannah Smith, author of the Moving Mountains blog, is a woman who feels she has experienced a lot of life in her 33 years. 

    At 19 years old, Hannah joined the Army. After moving around the country, getting a divorce and losing what seemed like everything, she landed back where God wanted her in Ohio, even though she fought the whole way. She is now a devoted follower of Christ and seeks the Lord with all she’s got.

    Hannah is married and a RN, but works as a stay-at-home mom to her 3 children per instruction from the Lord.

    She loves to hike, travel, drink coffee, and talk about Jesus. Hannah also has a heart to create a home and life in which she can be a safe place for the hurting and the broken. Her biggest piece of advice would be to never tell the Lord you will never do something- because He will most likely then ask you to do that very thing, LOL!

    To her readers, Hannah says, “I believe that God set every single one of you reading this apart, for such a time as this. It is my hope and prayer that God would use the words I say to change your life in a way you and I never thought possible!”

  • Our Eyes Fixed On Jesus

    Our Eyes Fixed On Jesus

    So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down, And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth, and they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

    Their eyes were fixed on Jesus because He was speaking – in fact He is the Gospel – the good news. He is the Living Word of God.

    Notice the writings of John:

    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God (John 1:1-2).

    And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

    Yes, they fixed their eyes on Jesus and wondered at His words – so do we! His words convey love, healing, liberty, comfort, and peace to all who will focus on Him.

    Our eyes are fixed on Jesus because He is our source. We trust Him and He supplies what we need. Philippians 4:19 tells us God has ordained it to be so: “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

    As we live our lives for Him, we continually look with great expectancy for the future. Soon He will come for those who love His appearing. The Apostle Paul wrote these words to Timothy, “Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (II Timothy 4:8)

    Time has passed since Jesus said, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Their eyes were fixed on Him before He died and rose again. Today, our eyes are fixed on Jesus after His death and resurrection. We focus on Him in expectation of His return. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

    Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.

    Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children  — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter  — Breanna. 

    Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 

    Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.

  • When You Are Ready To Give Up

    When You Are Ready To Give Up

    When you finally throw your hands up and say, “God, I’m done. I can’t do this alone anymore…”  That’s when He says, “It’s about time you come to me with your troubles.  Now, let’s get to work and get you back on my plans I have for you.”

    You know He never leaves you in your time of giving up- He wants you to come to Him. Lay it at his feet. Ask Him to guide and direct you in this time of feeling defeated.

    We all have those times that we feel everything has landed on top of our shoulders and it’s a big weight to bear.

    We don’t know which way to turn, but God is standing there with His arms open wide, just waiting for you to run to Him.

    Galatians 6:9 reminds us that we will reap a harvest if we don’t give up. Hebrews 12:3 encourages us to consider Jesus’ endurance to avoid growing weary and losing heart. Philippians 4:13 offers strength through Christ to face any challenge.

    I think we all have a little bit of trouble handing things over to Him; it’s not like He doesn’t already know what we’re going through, He knows everything about us. And the most amazing thing is…. HE STILL LOVES US… how about that??

    So, remember, there is NOTHING too big to take to the Father. He wants to help us no matter how big or small it is.

    Please…if you are feeling that heaviness in your heart or mind…He is just a whisper away.

    Be blessed and never let your cup be empty. ☕️

    Lou Ann Virden is the author of the blog Farmhouse, Coffee and Jesus. She is very active in her church. She volunteers in the food pantry, usher/greeter team, and cleaning crew. She is on the prayer team, is over the sound room team, and she writes the newsletter for her church. Lou Ann and her husband Donnie will be relaunching The Refuge 180 Evangelism Ministry. They have been married for over 40 years. They live on her husband’s family farm with their dog Hunter. In the summer they are busy canning what they harvest from their garden. Her hobbies include going to the beach, reading, camping, and serving however she can. She hopes that her blogs inspires someone that might be dealing with a similar situation.

  • Sharing God

    Sharing God

    “There will come a day when you’ll see that I posted all of my “annoying religious” posts because I have a deep concern for you. I care about you so much and you matter a great deal to God- He created you! As hard as this is to say, I would rather you hate me for telling you the truth in love, than gain your approval while I lie to you.

    Once a friend was gracious enough to share with me and God removed the scales from my eyes so I could see. It’s now my responsibility to do the same for you. That’s what the cross of Christ is all about.”

    When I read this, I thought, someone did this for me….and I am very grateful. Although, I had no idea where it would take me.

    Wow, what a journey this has been so far. There have been so many changes, but He has a good plan for me.

    Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” 

    I know what you’re probably thinking, “But I will have to change my way of life.” Yes, that’s true. That is something we all have to do if we want to follow Christ. The things that fell from me that I didn’t realize were holding me back were so necessary.  

    Colossians 3:23-24: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

    Giving your life to God is rewarding. But it isn’t always sunshine & roses. There are sacrifices, friends will walk away from you, family will not understand sometimes. But think about what God did for us: He gave his only son to die on the cross for our sins.

    I pray that if someone posts some God things on their Facebook, or asks you to church, or even asks if they can pray for you, that you don’t brush it to the side. Someone cared enough about me to introduce me to Him. I bet someone cares enough about you to do the same…

    I hope you enjoyed this blog today. Have a blessed day!!!! ☕️

    Lou Ann Virden is the author of the blog Farmhouse, Coffee and Jesus. She is very active in her church. She volunteers in the food pantry, usher/greeter team, and cleaning crew. She is on the prayer team, is over the sound room team, and she writes the newsletter for her church. Lou Ann and her husband Donnie will be relaunching The Refuge 180 Evangelism Ministry. They have been married for over 40 years. They live on her husband’s family farm with their dog Hunter. In the summer they are busy canning what they harvest from their garden. Her hobbies include going to the beach, reading, camping, and serving however she can. She hopes that her blogs inspires someone that might be dealing with a similar situation.

  • To Know and To Be Known

    To Know and To Be Known

    Thus saith the Lord, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:23-23).

    “But if any man love God, the same is known of him” (I Corinthians 8: 3).

    Scripture informs us that every person must give an account of himself/herself before God. In light of eternity, some things are not that important and should not be gloried in. Worldly wisdom – what we know – will not count when we stand before our God. Our might will not sustain us here and will have no weight on that day. Certainly, our riches will not buy our way into Heaven.

    What really matters? Knowing Him and being known by Him are the only things that have any bearing on our eternity.

    Think of it this way – knowing the Lord is a necessity. The Apostle Paul wrote: “I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung, that I may know Him” (Philippians 3: 8-10). He is well worth knowing!

    Knowing Him means we know His voice. John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” He speaks to us through His Word and through other people. He speaks to our hearts and spirits. He can speak audibly to us.

    Knowing Him means we know His ways. Psalm 145:17 tells us He is righteous in all His ways and holy in all His works. Holiness, love, forgiveness, and compassion are evident in how God deals with people.

    Knowing Him means we know His will for us. We know His will by living out the words of the following verses:

    “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

    Think of it this way – to be known of Him is assurance. People in the Bible were definitely known of God. Following are examples of this:

    Job – in Job 1:8, God said there was none like Job on earth.

    Cornelius – Acts 10:1-2, God knew him to be devout, God-fearing, giving and prayerful.

    Ananias – Acts 9: 10-11, God sent him to meet Saul and pray with him.

    Like the shepherd, our Good Shepherd knows our names. The following verses assure us that He knows us well:

    “To him (the shepherd) the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10: 3)

    “Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, THE LORD KNOWS THEM THAT ARE HIS” (II Timothy 2:19).

    Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.

    Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children  — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter  — Breanna. 

    Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 

    Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.

  • Rest

    Rest

    I know that I have written about rest before, but I just felt it needed to be addressed again.

    There are a couple kinds of rest that we need to look at… There is spiritual rest and there is physical rest.

    The spiritual rest is when Jesus offers the ultimate fulfillment of spiritual rest through His sacrifice and the promise of eternal life. Resting in God involves letting go of control and trusting in His promises, knowing that He is sufficient.

    Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.”    

    Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

    Ok now for the physical rest… I think this is the one most turn to. Physical rest is for our body. We can so easily push ourselves to the point of complete exhaustion, not feeling able to do one more thing.

    Take my husband and myself for example: to be able to get physical rest, we have to leave our farm and go far enough away that there is nothing we can possibly do about what we could be doing on our list.

    We just recently took a week off and went on vacation. Did we think about the farm? Yes of course. But we didn’t let it ruin our time away. It was one of the most relaxing vacations we have had for a while.

    Mark 6:31 says, “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have time to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

    God doesn’t want us to be spiritually exhausted or physically exhausted. He wants us ready for when He calls us.

    So, get spiritual rest and physical rest. We all need it.

    I hope this helps someone today if you are battling with resting…

    Have a blessed day…☕️

    Lou Ann Virden is the author of the blog Farmhouse, Coffee and Jesus. She is very active in her church. She volunteers in the food pantry, usher/greeter team, and cleaning crew. She is on the prayer team, is over the sound room team, and she writes the newsletter for her church. Lou Ann and her husband Donnie will be relaunching The Refuge 180 Evangelism Ministry. They have been married for over 40 years. They live on her husband’s family farm with their dog Hunter. In the summer they are busy canning what they harvest from their garden. Her hobbies include going to the beach, reading, camping, and serving however she can. She hopes that her blogs inspires someone that might be dealing with a similar situation.

  • Enduring

    Enduring

    “But he that shall endure unto the end; the same shall be saved.” (MATTHEW 24:13)

    The Biblical meaning for enduring is to “bear up under.” As Christians, we bear up under hardships, persecution, and temptation.

    Jesus came into this world and experienced life as we know it. In John 16:33 He declared: “…In this world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Essentially, He was saying, “I have made it. You will too.”

    Enduring is a very real component of being a Christian. In fact, enduring is a part of life that we all experience.

    Imagine Timothy reading the words of the Apostle Paul: “Then therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ”. In a war, soldiers experience discomfort, deprivation, and danger. Christians also suffer hardship – both as a result of being a Christian and as a result of everyday life.

    It is a reality that Satan will always tempt us to turn away from God and return to the darkness of sin. Enduring temptation is difficult, but the reward for doing so is great. Notice James’ encouraging words:

    “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:2)

    Then there is the possibility of enduring persecution for our faith. Jesus actually stated that because people hated Him, they would also hate His followers. Persecution may come in various forms. However, Jesus said, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my name sake.” (Matthew 5:11)

    Now let’s look at the positive connection of the word enduring:

    * God’s goodness is enduring. “Why boasteth thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The goodness of God endureth continually.” (Psalm 52:1)

    * God’s mercy is enduring. “Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth forever.” (Psalm 118:2)

    * God’s Word is enduring. “But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (I Peter 1:25)

    *Our Lord is enduring. “But the Lord shall endure forever; he hath prepared his throne for judgement.” (Psalm 9:7)

    We can see that “enduring” is a word Christians will be familiar with throughout life. The important thing to remember is that if we endure to the end, we will spend an enduring eternity in an enduring Heaven with our enduring Lord.

    Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.

    Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children  — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter  — Breanna. 

    Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 

    Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.

  • Losing Someone

    Losing Someone

    In the last few months, we have lost two family members. Both had cancer; one went very quickly, the other fought it for several years.

    They both knew and loved God with everything in them. They trusted Him and His plan.

    Romans 14:8 and John 11:25-26 highlight that believers live and die for the Lord and that those who believe in Christ will live even after death.

    Romans 14:8, “For whether we live, we live to the Lord, and whether we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”

    John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives by believing in me shall never die.”

    Scriptures offer comfort and hope regarding death, emphasizing that believers are united with God even in death and that God’s love cannot be broken. Verses like Romans 8:38-39 reassure that nothing, including death, can separate believers from God’s love.

    Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

     Another verse that highlights the promise of eternal life and the hope of resurrection is below…

     1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”

    I know these two family members are rejoicing with the Lord. They have no pain or suffering; they are worshiping and dancing.

    Is it hard to lose someone? Absolutely…we hate to lose them. Are we sad they passed? Yes, but we know, someday we will see them again.

    God has a plan for all our lives, and we must trust the process. We don’t always understand at first, but He knows what’s best for us.

    I hope you find comfort in this blog if you have lost someone…  

    Never let your cup go empty ☕️

    Have a blessed day.

    Lou Ann Virden is the author of the blog Farmhouse, Coffee and Jesus. She is very active in her church. She volunteers in the food pantry, usher/greeter team, and cleaning crew. She is on the prayer team, is over the sound room team, and she writes the newsletter for her church. Lou Ann and her husband Donnie will be relaunching The Refuge 180 Evangelism Ministry. They have been married for over 40 years. They live on her husband’s family farm with their dog Hunter. In the summer they are busy canning what they harvest from their garden. Her hobbies include going to the beach, reading, camping, and serving however she can. She hopes that her blogs inspires someone that might be dealing with a similar situation.

  • Leaving The Nest

    Leaving The Nest

    Then said Jesus unto His disciples, “If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

    The little bird has a few feathers. Possibly not enough to fly, but enough to want to. It steps out of its nest onto the narrow shelf of the window awning.

    Curiously, the bird carefully toes the edge. It looks down. It looks up. It looks all around.

    Precariously, the little one teeters on the edge and nearly falls. It wants to fly, but it can’t let go. Finally, it returns to the nest and awkwardly gets back into safety.

    That is how our faith sometimes functions. We want to take the plunge into full trust and commitment, but we cannot let go. Like the bird on the narrow ledge, we have become accustomed to living on the edge. Sin and lack of commitment to God keep us from doing what we know we should do. We return to the comfort of the nest.

    However, we need to understand that a bird’s nest is temporary. The pleasure of sin is temporary. The lack of commitment is temporary because someday we must give an account for ourselves.

    So, let us determine to let go of the things that hold us back. Let’s take the plunge that must be taken in order for us to excel at living a life of faith in God.

    Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.

    Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children  — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter  — Breanna. 

    Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 

    Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.

  • What A Morning!

    What A Morning!

    Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” (Matthew 28:1-6)

    In those early morning hours, what did these women expect to find? Mark 16 and Luke 24 record that they were bringing spices with which to anoint Him. These spices were intended to counteract the odors of decay. They were not expecting a resurrection!

    As they approached the tomb, the earth began to shake. I would imagine they remembered how the earth shook when Jesus yielded up His spirit while hanging on the cross. It seems fitting that the earth would also shake as an angel descended and rolled the stone away from the door.

    Expecting a dead body, they found an angel sitting on the very stone that had sealed the tomb. Then they heard these words, “Do not be afraid. I know you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. He is risen.” Extreme sadness turned to unspeakable joy. What a morning for them! What a morning for us!

    In John 3:16, Jesus said,”… In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” He overcame the world for us. In Revelation 1:18, Jesus said, …”I have the keys of Hell and Death.” He is victorious over the temptations and sins of this world, Hell and death. Because of Him we will be victorious also.

    Again, we say, “WHAT A MORNING!”

    Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.

    Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children  — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter  — Breanna. 

    Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 

    Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.