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  • Isaiah 30

    Isaiah 30

    I have been spending time in Isaiah, and if I were to be honest, I would tell you that up until recently it was the hardest book for me to read. I struggled to not only digest its words meaning, but to stay attentive to what just seemed like obnoxious ramblings. Yeah, I am aware on how that may rub many people wrong especially those that love the book of Isaiah, lol. But granted, I was adamant that I would tackle it again and again until it finally “made sense”.

    Thankfully that time appears to be now, as it seems the words are coming to life and calling out to me as I read them. I got caught up in chapter 30 last night, and I was left in awe over how anyone can read his words and not take heed. How can one not realize that he spelled out how we live this very day and not be taken aback by it? Like dude, these verses call out so much of society…

    Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness.

    For these are rebellious people deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction.

    They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.

    Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” Isaiah 30.8-11

    So many want us to hand them false religion, the watered-down version of Jesus Christ. They surely don’t want us handing them the truth in a time when the truth is absolutely damning to the way that they are choosing to live their lives. Many have constructed versions of the gospel that suit their own personal agendas all the while they demand that we alter the truthful version as to not assault their senses, or insult the way that they are choosing to live their lives, aka ignoring the Word of the Lord.

    I have to wonder if those that do alter the truths to appease others understand how vile and bitter of a future they are painting for themselves. Surely, they haven’t pulled that thick of a veil over and upon their own eyes that they can’t recognize the dangers they’ve put their own souls into? And I can’t grasp why anyone who does believe would detour and be willing to run astray from the truth willingly? For if you find yourself believing even one part of the Bible, wouldn’t that instill enough fear of God to keep your path straight? For me it surely does!

    I think one of the reasons I fell in love with the verbiage in Chapter 30 is because even though it depicts how society is today with not believing and wanting a different picture painted to appease them, it also reminds us of God’s glory and goodness. It reminds us with the verses as follows, how loving our God can be.  

    Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30.18

    Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” Isaiah 30.21

    Then to have the chapter wrap up with reminding us of God’s power, and how His wrath packs a mighty punch. All the while it leaves you longing for wanting to please God and wanting nothing more than to be bestowed with His love and His approval. It isn’t just the fear of what He is capable of doing that keeps your path straight, it is the overwhelming love and adoration that comes from Him and for Him that makes you want to live life as He calls us too.

    Now I don’t know about the rest of you, but I have no plans on budging from the truths to appease anyone. As for me, the more truths He shows me, and the more wisdom I obtain through Him, I absolutely could never bring myself to share the Word any other way but His way and with truth, glory, love and honor. For it IS an honor to be chosen by Him to share His truths. Maybe more people need to understand that… 

    Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life…. If you love me, keep my commands.” John 14. 6 & 15

    Billie is a 40-something stay-at-home momma of five beautiful children and Grammy to three grandchildren. When not wrangling the littles, she babysits for her two adult children. You will find her gardening, canning, baking, and making the most delicious meals for her family. Billie is a multitasker juggling a team of miniature tyrants, a cat, a snake, two dogs, two rats, and nine chickens. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and studying her bible. Her passion is sharing the gospel through her writing! So, whether she’s feeding your body with delicious meals or feeding your soul through her writing, join Billie as she takes you on a journey providing you with “Food for Thought.”

  • It Is A Must

    It Is A Must

    I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no man can work (John 9:4).

    When Jesus walked this earth, He was completely committed to doing the work God sent Him to do- all the way to the cross, the tomb and the resurrection. Now we are commissioned to continue the work. In John 14:12 Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” To do God’s work as we should, there are some “musts” to follow.

    To do God’s work, we must be friendly. “A man who has friends must himself be friendly…”(Proverbs 18:24) Unfriendliness harms our Christian witness, disappoints others and displeases God. When we are welcoming and understanding toward people, we can create a desire in others to be Christians.

    As believers, we must also demonstrate forgiveness. After all, we have been forgiven by our Lord. The following words of Jesus are so important to us:

    For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:14-15).

    Romans 12:11 says we should not lag in diligence. The same verse says we must be fervent in spirit while we are serving the Lord. We cannot be lethargic and lack concern for God’s work. We must be intensely devoted and earnest. Our time, talents and treasures must be geared toward endeavors that have eternal value.

    Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit…”(John 15:16) It is easy to lose our enthusiasm for the Lord’s work at times. When this happens our fruit is limited and our growth is stunted. We must be fruitful, so we have to be continually renewed by God’s Spirit so our zeal for His work does not wane.

    Finally, we must be faithful. When we are weak, we hold fast to Him. When we are floundering, we continue to trust Him and rely on His strength to accomplish the tasks He gives to us. According to Revelation 2:10, faithfulness will result in a crown of life for each person who never gives up.

    Believers are not to simply occupy a seat at church on Sunday morning. We are called to continue the work of God while we are here on this earth. The eternal destiny of others depends on our commitment to the work of God- growing His kingdom one soul at a time.

    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.

  • Faith

    Faith

    Having faith in something means trusting it completely. People with a strong faith in God are confident in the knowledge that they can do anything they set their minds to and weather the toughest times. Having faith in God can help you achieve even your loftiest goals.

    The power of faith can enrich life in many ways.

    Faith impacts what you do and how you live. One could even say that faith keeps you going. No matter the task, faith says that you will accomplish it. If you have faith, you feel motivated to get things done. Faith helps you progress and move forward.

    Being faithful to God and including Him in your day-to-day activities brings joy to your life, and boosts your mood, which, in turn, can help you complete your work with a genuine smile on your face. Also, having faith in God and your ability to do anything through Him, who strengthens you, helps you be more productive and succeed.

    If you have faith, you will have hope, which will help you endure difficult times and uncertainties. Times can be tough, and you may find yourself drowning in despair. But never lose hope. Even if you lose your job, suffer the pain of losing a beloved, don’t have enough money, or face any other challenge, faith means releasing control to God and knowing that He will work all things out for our good. Even though it may not be how we think it should be worked out, He will do it in such a manner that it will be the best for us in the end.

    Faith also helps you see the positive aspects of all these things. When you focus on the positive things, you can deal with problems more confidently. Because of faith, you can be more joyful, hopeful, motivated, and ever-ready to take on challenges and welcome new paths in your life.

    Have you ever wondered how creative-minded people come up with new ideas or directions to take after failing multiple times? Simply stated, it’s because of faith. They have faith that they can achieve their goal. No matter what comes their way, they remain focused and motivated. This can be an example and encouragement for others. People around you will learn from you. They will follow your lead.

    Don’t forget. Unshakable faith is noticeable, which can lead your family and friends to be firm in their faith, just like you. From a believer’s standpoint, it can help lead someone to Christ when they see your faith in the creator. Hence, when your faith is genuine and strong, it can inspire others and make a difference in their lives.

    Faith gives you the courage to overcome your fears. It plays a significant role in motivating you to do something that, without faith, you may not have been able to act upon or do. Courage comes directly from faith. For instance, stepping into a new endeavor, such as a new job, going to college, opening a business, or writing your first book takes courage. Faith in God gives you the courage to take a bold step that can lead you to success and helps you discover your purpose in life.

    The bottom line is that faith will give you hope, courage, motivation, purpose, joy, and much more. Faith is the key to living a better and more fulfilling life.

    Danielle “Danie” Gunto is the author of the Mind, Body & Soul blog. Danie has been a Registered Nurse since 2004. However, she never felt like she was doing what she was called to do. That was until a few years ago when she became an active member of the Church, and it soon became evident what her true calling was.

    Although she had spent very little time in Church growing up, within minutes of walking into the Refuge, she knew that was the missing piece of her life. Since that day, Danie has become a Pastor and is the Executive Pastor at the Refuge Church of God in New Martinsville, WV.

    In addition to her work at the Refuge, Danie works at the local community hospital as the Infection Prevention/Employee Health/Emergency Management Coordinator. Although her goal is to one day only work at the Church.

    Danie lives with her husband, Glen, and their cat Libbie in Proctor, WV. They have one grown daughter Cheyenne who is a Nurse Practitioner and lives in Pittsburgh, Pa.

    She loves to read, write, spend time with family and friends, talk about the Lord, and sip coffee.
    Her inspiration is to share the gospel with everyone she can so that they may know Jesus and who they are in him.

  • Boldly

    Boldly

    Boldly:

    1. In a confident and courageous way, showing a willingness to take risks.

    Dated: in a manner that is so confident as to be impudent or presumptuous.

    2. In a way that is characterized by having a strong, vivid, or clear appearance.

    For the last several days, ever since I began praying over a post of Hannah’s on Facebook, I have had the word “boldly” stuck in my head. Not only that, but once again, encounter after encounter keeps leading back to it, and I’ve even “heard” it again under other circumstances. It got me to thinking of how we seem to have an ongoing theme going and I do believe He is sending us the message that it is time we step up our game. And it would seem that so many are preaching a similar message, too.

    If you stop and look at verses in the Bible where the word boldly was used, you can see that we have been instructed to be bold in our faith. To proclaim and spread the Gospel boldly. We are even told to approach our Father in boldness. We were not encouraged to go about our Christian walk in a timid fashion, oh absolutely the complete opposite. He wants us to enter and live in a relationship with Him in complete boldness. Just as He wants us to call unto others in a bold and courageous manor so that they too can learn of the love and relationship that He has to offer them.

    I believe that He is urging us that the time has come that we must step out and up our efforts. Between the messages of “zeal, praise, growth and (now) boldly” I feel He is telling us how we should go about doing so. I don’t believe He intends for us to stay rooted in the pews while hoping we can usher new folks into His house. I believe He is wanting us all to step out of our comfort zones, to step out of our “safety net” and to find ways to reach those that may not otherwise take notice of what is going on within the walls of the church.

    The message I received where I initially heard the word boldly said to speak boldly, to speak His name, boldly. To call them (Saul) out boldly to become Paul’s. To call them out my children. Boldly, Boldly, Boldly. Speak my name boldly wherever you go!

    That sure isn’t implying anything but boldness on our parts. For far too many years Christians have taken the meek approach as to not stir the pot, or to offend, and where has that left us in a whole? If anyone is paying attention then you know He is calling us to action, and yes, He is requiring so much more of us than ever before. It’s time that we stop hiding from our calling, and that we step fully and boldly into what He expects of us.

    After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Acts 4.31 NIV

    He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! Acts 28.31 NIV

    I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise. I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame. When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me. Psalm 138.1-3 NIV

     “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” Ephesians 3.12 KJV

    And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6.17-20 KJV

    The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Proverbs 28.1 NIV

    Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4.16 KJV

    Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 2 Corinthians 3.12 NIV

    I am acting in great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy. 2 Corinthians 7.4 ESV

    Billie is a 40-something stay-at-home momma of five beautiful children and Grammy to three grandchildren. When not wrangling the littles, she babysits for her two adult children. You will find her gardening, canning, baking, and making the most delicious meals for her family. Billie is a multitasker juggling a team of miniature tyrants, a cat, a snake, two dogs, two rats, and nine chickens. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and studying her bible. Her passion is sharing the gospel through her writing! So, whether she’s feeding your body with delicious meals or feeding your soul through her writing, join Billie as she takes you on a journey providing you with “Food for Thought.”

  • What About Our Faithfulness?

    What About Our Faithfulness?

    Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful (I Corinthians 4:1-2).

    The word “faithful” is used in Christian circles quite a lot. We hear this word in songs. We hear this word in sermons and teachings throughout churches, social media and wherever the Gospel is proclaimed. However, it sometimes appears to be very one-sided in context. Let me explain.

    References to faithfulness tend to lean heavily toward God’s faithfulness. We are told that He is faithful. In fact, we are told that He is faithful even if we are not. Is God faithful? Well, the following verses attest to His faithfulness:

    This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness (Lamentations 3: 21-23).

    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:17).

    God is faithful. At times He is portrayed as the One who chases us down. Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” There is no doubt that God pursues us when we are lost in our sins. He desires that we be saved. However, once we are saved, should He have to chase us down to get us to do what we know we should do? In other words- what about our faithfulness to Him?

    I Corinthians 4:2 says it is required in stewards that we be found faithful.We are stewards of the Gospel and the grace of God. As His servants we must be faithful to Him.

    God’s love for us is shown by His faithfulness toward us. Our love for Him should compel us to be faithful to Him. Jesus Himself said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” There are very basic things we can do that will show our faithfulness and grow our faithfulness toward Him.

    I Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” Prayer is our way to communicate with God. We need to talk to Him daily.

    II Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Jesus said, “If you continue in my word, you are my disciples indeed.” God speaks to us through His Word. He teaches us what is right and what is wrong so that we can be faithful in keeping His commandments.

    Finally, there is the matter of meeting with like-minded people. Hebrews 10:25 tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. In other words, church is the place we can be encouraged to be faithful in our Christian walk. It is good to be with God’s people regularly and faithfully in order to learn more about Him.

    Yes, God is faithful! We should be faithful, too.

    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.

  • Nobody

    Nobody

    I was listening to the radio this week and heard the song, “Nobody” being sung by Matthew West.  I have heard this song many times before, and even heard him sing it in concert, but it hit differently today.   The words really reached out and grabbed my attention.  I have posted the first part of the song below for you to see.

    “Nobody”
    (originally by Casting Crowns)

    Well, why You ever chose me
    Has always been a mystery
    See, all my life, I’ve been told I belong
    At the end of the line
    With all the other Not-Quites
    And all the Never-Get-It-Rights
    But it turns out they’re the ones You were looking for
    All this time

    ‘Cause I’m just a nobody trying to tell everybody
    All about Somebody who saved my soul
    And ever since You rescued me
    You gave my heart a song to sing
    I’m just living for the world to see nobody but Jesus
    I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus

    Well, Moses had stage fright (Yeah)
    And David brought a rock to a sword fight
    You picked twelve outsiders nobody would’ve chosen
    And You changed the world
    Well, the moral of the story is
    Everybody’s got a purpose
    So when I hear that devil start talking to me, saying
    “Who do you think you are?” I say
    I’m just a nobody trying to tell everybody
    All about Somebody who saved my soul
    Well, ever since You rescued me
    You gave my heart a song to sing
    I’m just living for the world to see nobody but Jesus
    I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus

    In school, I was never quite an “A” student.

    Never the best musician.

    Never the Homecoming Queen.

    Never the best mom.

    Never the best at anything.

    Never quite had it all together.

    Then I began to wonder…

    When God chose Moses, why would he choose him if he had stage fright?

    Why would he choose a teenager with a slingshot to defeat a giant?

    Why would he choose twelve men who were outsiders to be his disciples?

    Would it have been different if he chose a king from another land to confront Pharaoh? Someone who had a lot of resources at their disposal and could make Pharaoh’s life miserable?

    If he sent another giant to defeat Goliath, would it have displayed God showing up to the fight?

    When Jesus chose his disciples, he did not choose the perfect ones, but rather men who were common fishermen or even an outcast tax collector who was despised by just about everyone.

    Then, I began to realize that God did not call them for their skills, but rather they were called because of their obedience.  Whatever they lacked, God made it up!

    In John 14:21:

    Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves

    me will obey my teaching. 

    My Father will Love them,

    and we will come to them

    and make our home with them.”

    James 1:22:

    Do not merely listen to the word,

    and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.

    No, we are not perfect.  Couldn’t be even if we tried, but we can be obedient.  That is all he wants; he will take care of the rest.

    My prayer for today:

    Heavenly Father,

    I pray today for a heart of obedience.  To understand your word and to be a loyal and faithful servant. I pray that when faced with the obstacles in life that I remember your truth and stand firmly on your word even though the world may be against me. 

    Even though I may be small and seem insignificant in this world, I know that my creator does not make mistakes and has a purpose and plan for my life as he does everyones life.  I pray that everyone reading this will draw closer to you and live a life of obedience so that they too will know your grace, mercy, and purpose for their lives in Christ Jesus.

    In Jesus name I pray,

    Amen

    You can reach out to the author at:  moppinguptheblessing@gmail.com for prayer requests or questions or at her Facebook page under Tammy Bassett.

    Tammy Bassett is a speaker and the author of the Mopping Up Your Blessings blog. She was born and raised a country girl who’s roots run deep in the mountains of Appalachia. She has worked a wide variety of jobs ranging from radio to insurance agent. She is now a stay-at-home mom, who along with her husband, are raising five daughters (ages 10 to 25), seven cats and one dog. She uses her accounting and business administration degree to help run her busy household.
    She loves spending time with her family and homeschooling her two youngest children. She spends a lot of her day trying to conquer the obstacles in her home. With four of her children still living at home the laundry pile (nicknamed Mt. Wash-more) is her nemesis. Some days she wins and some days she doesn’t, but she always gets up the next day and tries again.
    She also loves camping with her family as long as there is a camper with air conditioning, a comfy bed, and indoor plumbing. Her downfall is her obsession with iced coffee. Thankfully the closest Starbucks is an hour from her home, or she would be broke. She also loves reading and learning new skills such as homesteading, being more self-sustainable, gardening and foraging.
    She relates the most to her favorite animal, the alpaca. They are both kind of weird and look like they are two months past due on a haircut. Much like alpacas she makes a gentle humming noise when happy and if irritated she often stamps the ground with her feet. Her husband has refused to buy her an alpaca much to her disappointment.
    But more than anything, she loves the Lord and is growing more in her faith each day and hopes to inspire others to do the same. She wants everyone to understand that God’s grace is truly amazing and has changed her from the inside out and he can do the same for you.

  • Refocus

    Refocus

    There are so many things that grab our attention, from our favorite TV show to the Facebook post that caused jealousy to stir in our hearts. You name it… several things can catch our attention. 

    Someone once said, “You make time for what is important to you.” I have thought on that for a few months now. This statement alone has had me refocusing my priorities.  I have been spending more time with family these last few months, and God has really shown me that family is the first ministry He gave me. 

    God has blessed me with a family that has loved me through my darkest hours. When I thought that no one cared, I realized that the ones who loved me really did care. Let’s say that I have taken many detours on this walk called life.  The reason I am where I am today is by the grace of God and a family who chose to never give up on me. Life has given me some hard terrain to push through, and I am forever grateful to a God that was there with arms wide open when He had every reason to turn away. 

    Jesus is truly my best friend. He has seen me at my best and has seen me at my worst. Yet He never loves me any less when I fall short.  Not even when I allow my mouth to fly out of control. No, He doesn’t hold my past against me, He just simply loves me no matter what. I have watched Him again and again pick me up out of the mess of my own making and dust me off to cheer me on. His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 2:9).

    If you just feel like there is no hope, allow me to introduce you to hope, His name is Jesus. He promises to never leave you nor forsake you (Deut. 31:6). He promises to make the crooked ways straight (Isaiah 41:2-3). He promises to calm the storms of life because when you place your life in His hands, you can bank on it that He will see you through.

    It is time to refocus on who we are, really. We are children of God, blood bought, blood washed, and set apart to be the light in this dark world. Never allow anyone to sell you short, not even yourself.  We are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). He has a good plan and purpose for each of us (Jeremiah 39:11). So, I am challenging each of us this month to refocus on who He calls us. Refocus on the one who died for you. Refocus on Him and what He has blessed us with: family, friends, and a life worth living.

    Tina Bassett resides in New Martinsville. She is a single mom of three beautiful daughters: Rachel, Charity, and Destiny. She is the director of the greeters/ushers, serves on the prayer team, and also participates on the praise and worship team at her local church. She loves animals and the beach. More than anything she wants her life to reflect God’s love and have an impact on those around her.

  • This Is How He Reminds Me

    This Is How He Reminds Me

    For days I have found myself in a funk, and for days I have had the feeling that I needed to clean my bedroom. What a mix!! I’ve sat here and argued with myself that tackling my bedroom while in a mood was not going to be a good thing.

    But alas, I finally gave in and headed in to tackle the dreaded job of sorting, rearranging and cleaning my room. And wanna know something? Surprisingly my mental state is in a far better place than it was when I started.

    How can that be when I was dreading it so much? Well, I’m gonna tell ya!

    I built the wall that made my bedroom, and my bed myself. I put a lot of time and energy into making my room into my own personal space after not having one for almost 2 years. I was so proud of myself and what I had been able to accomplish on my own. Being in there, spending the time in there cleaning it reminded me of just how much I have to be proud of myself for.

    I have learned how to replace windows, doors, tear out walls completely, build and install shelves. I completely gutted our bathroom and replaced the complete floor (joists and all) in a record amount of time. There are things that while they may not be perfect, they are surely way better than they were when we moved into our home and it’s all because I moved past my fear and timidness and tackled those projects myself.

    Every single time I would take one of those projects on, I’d ask God for His guidance and for Him to give me the gumption, the strength and the knowledge to get it done. And seeing how some of these projects have kicked my behind, knowing the medical issues I deal with daily; it is clear that it was by His grace that I was able to complete each one as I did.

    I think sometimes we forget all that we are capable of being, of what we are capable of doing and all that we have already successfully done and that is when we get into those “funks” that lead us nowhere good in our minds. Each of us need to remember our strengths, and to remember that the strength we had yesterday is the strength we’ll have tomorrow if we only remain steadfast in Him. For we know He is still the same today as He was yesterday, and He’ll still be the same tomorrow. So, if we are trusting in Him and relying on Him as we should each day, then why would we vary day to day?

    “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62.8

    I do believe that when we get those feelings that we should be doing or need to do something, even the things that we may not really want to do, we need to listen to them. I feel that He uses those situations to remind us of things, to show us something or even to offer us clarity on a subject we’ve been struggling with.

    Had I not given in (even though it was begrudgingly) I wouldn’t have taken the time to reflect upon my strengths, how far I’ve come, or all that I have to be grateful and thankful for. Sometimes our blessings get shadowed by the day-to-day hustle and bustle and He has to make us take the time to slow down, or to focus on what He knows will bring us back into focus so that we see them more clearly.

    There is just sometimes you can’t help but sit, reflect and say, “I know that was you Jesus, and I am so thankful that You love me, that You care enough about me and that You care enough about how I see myself that You still take the time to direct my thoughts, my actions and my day so that I can find the answers, even the ones that I may not know I seek. Thank You Jesus!”

    Billie is a 40-something stay-at-home momma of five beautiful children and Grammy to three grandchildren. When not wrangling the littles, she babysits for her two adult children. You will find her gardening, canning, baking, and making the most delicious meals for her family. Billie is a multitasker juggling a team of miniature tyrants, a cat, a snake, two dogs, two rats, and nine chickens. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and studying her bible. Her passion is sharing the gospel through her writing! So, whether she’s feeding your body with delicious meals or feeding your soul through her writing, join Billie as she takes you on a journey providing you with “Food for Thought.”

  • Hoops

    Hoops

    When I was in middle school, my younger brother was still in elementary school and he played on the youth league basketball team.  Much like the leagues today they would travel to the other surrounding small towns and play against their teams, and they would travel to our town to play also.

    One time the parents were called about a local town having a tournament that his team was in and the tip off time was 11:00am on Sunday.  The coach spoke to the parents about this, and they were all in agreement that they would all be in church (they all attended different churches) and would not be able to make the game at that time.  The youth league hosting tried to coerce the parents into having the kids play at that time by telling them that they would forfeit the game and the parents responded with a consolidated response of …  “OK”.  They never argued but stood their ground that this was not going to persuade them to skip church.

    At the time, I was really puzzled by the idea of missing this basketball tournament because of it conflicting with church because we went to church every Sunday.  I didn’t think it was a big deal to miss one Sunday and that all the parents were making a really big deal out of nothing.  Just skip one Sunday, no big deal, and let the kids play basketball.

    Looking back on that moment I realize that my parents, along with all the other parents, were right.  Skipping church for a basketball game was a ridiculous request and they did the right thing by standing their ground and forfeiting the game if need be.  Luckily the people running the tournament changed their mind and rescheduled the game so the kids could participate.

    Another time while in the opening of church, they asked for announcements and a woman stood up and announced that youth group would not be held that day because unfortunately the Sabbath isn’t holy anymore and the kids had sports and activities on that day.  I understood that as the Sabbath is holy unless there are sports for the kids that day.  Looking back, I can’t believe the nerve it took to say that during church.

    I am picking on sports in these examples, but I think this applies to almost everything that we put before Jesus.  The first commandment in Exodus 20:3 states:

    You Shall Have no other gods before me.

    As a kid I always thought that meant worshiping idols, or mythological gods but as an adult I have realized that can mean almost anything:  sports, movies, family time, catching up on sleep, your car, career, even another person.

    Of course, things happen and people do get sick and have to miss church but just remember the next time you are tempted to skip church that the enemy is using “stuff” to lure you away; don’t let him win.  We need to have a backbone and stand up to pressure from society and stand our ground and not “skip” church services that are important to us and our families because once we start caving in to the pressures, it gets harder and harder to stand our ground.

    Tammy Bassett is a speaker and the author of the Mopping Up Your Blessings blog. She was born and raised a country girl who’s roots run deep in the mountains of Appalachia. She has worked a wide variety of jobs ranging from radio to insurance agent. She is now a stay-at-home mom, who along with her husband, are raising five daughters (ages 10 to 25), seven cats and one dog. She uses her accounting and business administration degree to help run her busy household.
    She loves spending time with her family and homeschooling her two youngest children. She spends a lot of her day trying to conquer the obstacles in her home. With four of her children still living at home the laundry pile (nicknamed Mt. Wash-more) is her nemesis. Some days she wins and some days she doesn’t, but she always gets up the next day and tries again.
    She also loves camping with her family as long as there is a camper with air conditioning, a comfy bed, and indoor plumbing. Her downfall is her obsession with iced coffee. Thankfully the closest Starbucks is an hour from her home, or she would be broke. She also loves reading and learning new skills such as homesteading, being more self-sustainable, gardening and foraging.
    She relates the most to her favorite animal, the alpaca. They are both kind of weird and look like they are two months past due on a haircut. Much like alpacas she makes a gentle humming noise when happy and if irritated she often stamps the ground with her feet. Her husband has refused to buy her an alpaca much to her disappointment.
    But more than anything, she loves the Lord and is growing more in her faith each day and hopes to inspire others to do the same. She wants everyone to understand that God’s grace is truly amazing and has changed her from the inside out and he can do the same for you.

  • Layers

    Layers

    The picture above shows a chair and water can that has many layers of paint. It shows years of paint built up.

    It’s like us; we all have layers from years of things accumulating on us like anger, fear, anxiety, depression, lies, and scars. They build up and up to the point that we feel past the point of no return.

    So, when you want to take those layers off, what do you do? Well, with the chair, you would scrape them off with a wire brush.  It’s hard work but the end result is good.

    But for us, we can’t just scrape them off like that. We can’t do it on our own. Which comes to the question: how do we do it then? We take it to God and ask him to help us start peeling them off.

    Allow God to peel back your layers with you. You will get to know yourself and be able to deal with whatever is hiding deep within the core of your heart. It is not easy and it can be very painful, but it is worth it. Matthew 19:26 tells us all things are possible with Him.

    Matthew 19:26

    But Jesus beheld their thoughts, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but if they will forsake all things for my sake, with God whatsoever things I speak are possible.

    He will guide you through this every step of the way. He will not leave you or forsake you. He is our provider in all things.

    Proverbs 20:24: “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?”

    We can look fine on the outside… and no one knows that you might be dealing with a lot of “layers” underneath that smile. You’ve played the part of “I’m fine” for so long, but today is the day that those layers can start peeling off.

    As the layers come off, take a look at each one; they were a part of you. Remind yourself that you aren’t going to let those things rule you anymore.

    Isaiah 41:10

    Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

    I hope this helps you today. We all have things in our life that we need to deal with… But with God you can get through anything.

    Have a blessed day and always make sure your cup is full. ☕️

    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.