We pout when someone gets more materialistic things than we do. We get hurt when someone doesn’t call for a while just to check on us. We also get in comparison when someone has more likes on social media than us.
However, we don’t always apologize when we know we are wrong. We don’t always call someone when they are on our minds. What about comparing our troubles to our God? It is human nature to just focus on what we do not have, but what if we took the time to hone in on what matters?
It matters that we have a God that will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5). Our God is faithful that promised (1Thessalonians 5:24). If He said it, then we can bank on it. He will finish what He started in us (Philippians 1:6). We are reminded to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not to lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
Remember, we are the sum of what we think on consistently. So let’s kick out the thoughts of living in defeat. Let’s replace these feelings with His truth.
We are Forgiven (1 John 1:9).
We are the Righteousness of God (2 Corthians 5:21).
We are the Apple of His eye (Proverbs 7:2).
Remember, we are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28), not what others try to dictate us to be. Allowing someone to control our thoughts is like having someone on the opposite side of the vehicle with the same amount of control over it. We truly have to let Jesus take the wheel.
The why behind our heart is what motivates us to stay in our pity party or to rise up, shake it off, and speak victory over our lives. It doesn’t matter what we go through. God cares and will listen to every detail. However, we need to work on our response to every situation.
As we go forth to pursue Him, always remember that lifting others up is pleasing Him. A soft word turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1) even when it is toward ourselves. We need to be kind to all including ourselves. In the meantime, keep smiling and trusting God. Pray about it and leave it in His hands. He knows how to handle it all.
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.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
In the natural course of things, one thing is sure- change. Things in nature change. People change.
Look at nature. Fall changes to winter; winter changes to spring. Spring gives way to summer. Due to erosion, the course of rivers and outlines of ocean shores are altered.
Look at people. Babies learn to crawl- then they walk. Children become teens; teens become adults. Our hair turns gray- or we lose it. Things change from the very simplest to the most complex.
Isn’t it good to know that, spiritually speaking, some things never change? Scripture declares that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is in control. Since He is in control, His people will win in the end. Since the Lord does not change, truths in His Word will not change.
One thing that will never change- Jesus is the way of salvation. Scripture teaches that whoever humbles himself will be exalted. The following verses reveal the humility of Jesus and the exaltation that resulted:
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:5-11).
Acts 4:12 declares that there is no salvation in anyone else because there is no other name given whereby we may be saved. Scripture is clear about this- whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Another truth is that we need Jesus if we are to ever be the people God wants us to be. He wants us to be faithful and holy- we cannot attain these expectations on our own. If we are to produce the fruit He wants us to produce- we have to be fully connected to Him. In John 15:4-5, Jesus explained this: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15: 4-5)
Thirdly, God is in control. Psalm 24:1 declares that the earth is the Lord’s- and all they that dwell therein. Psalm 75:5-7 says He is the ultimate authority: “Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”
Yes, God is in control. Due to God being in control, we that know Him will never have to hang our heads in defeat. II Corinthians 2:14 is true for us: “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”
Considering these matters, it makes good sense to serve the Lord. While everything around us changes, He remains the same. Thank God for His stability in a very unstable world.
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.
Through the years, feeding five children something they all liked seemed like an impossible task. If I would have let them, I truly believe they would have eaten a diet of only chicken nuggets, french fries, and pizza. I tried to introduce them to different things and would get a lot of “feedback” from them that wasn’t always positive. My go to saying was, “You get what you get, and you won’t throw a fit!” Didn’t always work out that way but they eventually learned to be grateful for having food on the table.
As adults we aren’t always grateful for what God has done for us. He can deliver us from situations, relationships, hurt and more but we don’t always see it as a blessing but rather as a loss.
A few years back, I started reading the Bible from cover to cover and at the same time I was boxing up all of our belongings to move to our current home. I was excited to begin this new adventure but also very melancholy about selling our home. I was the third generation to live on this land and even though we loved it there, life was difficult with a barely functioning water well and needing to haul water several times a week along with a difficult-to-maneuver driveway in the winter. I remember being iced in for a few weeks and needing to get groceries so we hiked up the hill to the car and ventured to town to get the groceries and then when we got back, we used a little kid swimming pool to slide the food down the hill to the house. I was frustrated but the kids loved it.
I had been praying for two years for a specific thing to happen for us to be able to move. When we began moving to the new house, I started feeling sorry for myself. Instead of seeing the things that I had been praying about for two years coming to fruition, all I was focusing on was the negativity of what I was losing.
As I had mentioned before, I was reading through the Bible and I was at the part where Moses had led the Hebrews out of Egypt and slavery. The Lord was answering their prayers. Then as I was reading about them in the wilderness, I got fed up with them whining all the time. This was one section of the Bible that I struggled with reading because it seemed like they were so ungrateful to God and constantly found fault when they should have been rejoicing. They constantly wanted this, and they wanted that……they complained continuously and even had the nerve to ask Moses why he brought them out of Egypt; at least they knew what to expect there. Really? He had just stood in front of Pharaoh and threatened that God was going bring horrible plagues on all of Egypt if he didn’t let them go free, but you know, it wasn’t enough.
Then it hit me like a ton of bricks…
I wasn’t any better than the whiney Hebrews I was complaining about wandering around the wilderness pining away for the good old days in Egypt when they were literally slaves. They had prayed for generations for God to deliver them from captivity and when he did, it still wasn’t good enough.
I took a long, slow breath and exhaled. I had been praying for this for two years and just received exactly what I asked for but instead of opening my arms out to accept the blessing I kept dragging the past with me. You can’t receive the full blessing if your arms are full of the old stuff you insist on bringing with you. I felt like God was saying, “Finally! She gets it!” As I dropped all that extra baggage and I put on my big girl pants and decided that I was going to feel blessed and not depressed. We can’t progress in God’s plan if we keep staying in the same position. I have learned that growing and maturing as a Christian has made me uncomfortable at times… ok, maybe a lot of times, but each time it was worth it.
Have you ever looked at your kids and seen a gift or a lot of potential but they need that little nudge to help them get started? I feel that way with me and God, but sometimes with me he needs to use a 2×4 to nudge me because I have my feet dug into the ground and don’t want to move because I’m comfortable.
If you have never been made to feel uncomfortable by God, I urge you to pray and ask him what his plan is for your life and tell him that you are here to do his will. I will warn you that typically what he has planned and what you have planned are two different things and even though it may look scary, feel scary, or smell scary, and you may be petrified, just remember if he brings you to it, he will see you through it.
We would love for you to share a time God has answered your prayers. Look me up on Facebook under our group: Mopping up the blessings or email me at: moppinguptheblessings@gmail.com
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.
So often in today’s society we feel we have to keep up with “The Jones.”
Who made that up?? What does that even mean? Seriously, why do I have to keep up with them? Maybe I don’t want their life. What if they are miserable? I don’t want to be miserable.
Proverbs 15:15-16: A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song. 16 A simple life in the Fear-of-God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.
We speak misery into ourselves when we say, “I will never get ahead in life, I will never get a good job,” etc… see where I’m going with this? We need to speak favor on ourselves: I WILL get that job, I WILL make a better life for myself, etc.
God does not want us to be miserable. He wants us to be joyful in our spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this.”
The Good News: Joy is among the most unmistakable marks of a faithful heart.
WE make the choice of how we live our life. God can guide us in the right direction but ultimately it is our choice.
We all have those moments that we say, I am miserable, I’m having a hard time dealing with life right now… we want to curl up in the fetal position and go to sleep until things work out.
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
The Good News: Keep going, no matter what other people say. Your one true companion throughout life is God and He will never abandon you.
I hope this has encouraged someone today that no matter how bad you think things are, God is always on your side.
Have a blessed day.
Remember never let your cup become 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.
Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto him, Go and show John again these things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached unto them (Matthew 11:2-5).
This was quite a turnaround for John the Baptist. Earlier, he had declared that Jesus was the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Now, sitting in prison and feeling at his lowest, he questioned whether or not Jesus was who he thought he was. At our low points, we often ask, “Lord, where are you?” Well, that is a close second to, “Are you who you say you are?”
Into a world searching for truth, salvation and healing, Jesus appeared. During this Easter season, no matter what we are going through, we must realize that we need look no further for the same truth, salvation and healing that the world was looking for then.
Today, it is becoming more and more difficult to believe the things we are told. Jesus said, “I am the truth.” We use the word “gospel” when we speak of God’s Word. John 1:14 says, “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.) If we want truth- look no further than Jesus.
Many people do not realize it, but we really do need salvation. Salvation gives us eternal life that only comes through knowing Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Notice the words in the following two verses:
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father (Galatians 1:3-4).
If we want salvation- look no further than Jesus.
Not only is Jesus truth and salvation- he is healer. Years ago, my sister was born with no bone or muscle structure in her feet and legs. The doctor told my mother that my sister would never walk.
Mom took my sister to church one Sunday night. The Pastor and the congregation prayed for her. Everyone literally saw the bones and muscles form like they should right before their eyes. Needless to say, my sister has not had one crippled day in her life.
Through the thirty-six years that I pastored, I saw many healings take place- some miraculous and some gradual. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” If we need healing spiritually, physically, mentally or emotionally- he is able.
All of our lives we have heard about the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus. We don’t need to ask Him, “Do we look for someone else?” We can confidently say instead, “We will look no further than 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.
This weeks blog will be a little different as I believe there is a word for His body in this season based upon a recent dream that I had. Although the dream has personal application for myself, I do believe there is a broader application. I am only including the part of the dream that I believe has significance for others in the body of Christ. This is that part of the dream..
In a dream, I was walking in a barren, desert wasteland/wilderness with a well known prophetic voice. As we were walking, we noticed several foxes sneaking up on us. The prophet would just reach down, grab them by the scruff of the neck and throw them off into the landscape.
As we continued walking, a wolf came upon us in attack mode. The prophet spoke to the wolf, “Be still! And GO!” The wolf turned away at the command.
Next we came to a river. The prophet jumped across with skill and ease. Then he yelled at me from the other side, “You have to jump! Just be careful because the river is full of alligators.”
I was petrified but knew I had to get to the other side. So, I backed up, took a running start and jumped. I could see the gators beneath me but I made it to the other side.
End of dream.
Many are the promises of God and in Him they are all Yes! and Amen!
As we walk through this life, there are many seasons of trial, hardship, turmoil and uncertainty. Often during these times, we feel like we are walking in a barren, desert wasteland. We long for breakthrough, we search for answers. We all love the times when God is so near. Well, He is always near, but there are times that it requires a greater seeking, a greater surrender, a greater laying all things down. We may even feel as though the answers will never come, or like we’re groping along trying to find our way. It’s called the wilderness. The place where greatness is conceived.
On our journey through the wilderness, we learn how to depend on the Lord above all else. We find ourselves stripped of all crutches that we used to prop ourselves up. We find ourselves having no-one to turn to in our deepest time of need. It seems there was a time when Jesus had to do the same before His most grueling death on the cross. He took some of His disciples with Him when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane, but they slept at the time He needed them to stand with Him. (Luke 22)
Even we may have people around us, but the wilderness is our place of testing. It’s the place that crushes us and then anoints us. It’s the place where we find new freedom and areas yet explored. It births greater faith. It’s the place where greatness is conceived.
We walk with the Lord and learn His ways. We die to the things that would steal our harvest or devour our fruit. We learn so much from Him as we lean on Him. Those little foxes are really cunning and sly. They can sneak in unaware. In the wilderness, He teaches us how to pick those foxes up and toss them aside. We recognize their cunning ways and their deceit and we finally come to the place that it takes less effort or strength to move past them. We just pick them up and toss them out. Gone!
Wolves are predators, devourers, they seek their own gain. Of course, they can also represent false prophets or evil intentions. The wilderness has us confront many predators alone. It’s those things that desire to mislead us or cause us to seek our own gain. Voices scream telling us to go our own way. After all, we deserve it. We are called, anointed and appointed.
Wolves are ferocious and attack their prey. They lead us away from the Truth but don’t always come looking like a wolf. They may look like a sheep but inwardly, they are ravenous wolves. Like David who in secret killed the bear and the lion (1 Samuel 17:34-36), we are being made strong in the Lord and the power of His might. We learn how to fight and make decrees. We begin to grow in authority and speak with power and boldness. Be Still! Go! And it goes. We are learning how to operate in His authority, with His strength and His decrees. The powerful name of Jesus!!
We face impossible circumstances with seemingly no way through. We can’t turn back and the way forward is too dangerous. We may be facing a terrible ‘something’ and we just don’t know what to do. Our only way is forward.
A river is not even remotely possible to jump over unless we have superhero kind of strength. And a river teaming with alligators is nothing slight of a death sentence. Generational issues are flowing in the river, trying to swallow us alive. We feel the danger and the possibly inevitable demise in the situation. Yet, we can’t turn back. He is beckoning us to jump. We can’t toss a river aside. We can’t toss aside this issue. We have to cross.
To go through would mean certain death, so we must go over. We have to leap over into the next, over the past, over the fear, over the pride, over the things that are trying to end our journey. And we watch them beneath us as we jump. Teeth gnashing, but unable to harm us. With Him we can scale a wall! We can leap over the enormity of it all with Him as our guide. He was beckoning me to come. I had to put my faith in His Word and it worked. Much like Peter who walked on water at the command of Jesus. He walked on His Word with His eyes on Him.
There is progressive growth for every believer that heeds the voice of the Lord. The wilderness is where we are tested. But after the testing, comes the time of moving with Him in greater ways. We learn that we are kings and priests unto our God. Priests intercede, Kings decree. We learn how to pray. We learn when to just pray and when to pray and decree. It’s all at His command. We do and say what He says.
The wilderness kills our self sufficiency, and our inadequacies. It brings us to a place of total dependence upon Him. We long for His ways and follow His commands. We realize that nothing is impossible. We grow in authority and come out in power. Some things we just need to toss aside, some things we have to speak to, and others require great faith. But the same way won’t work for every situation. Sometimes it’s a combination, sometimes it’s one word. One thing for sure, utter dependence on Him is paramount.
Just remember, greatness is born here. The place of absolute surrender. The place where we die so that we may truly live in Him. I followed this prophet everywhere and watched what he did. He was symbolic of the Holy Spirit. He was teaching me and I was careful to pay attention to every detail. You are His seed, His child.
Greatness is already on the inside of you. For some, it’s lying dormant. For others, it’s starting to bud and for others, it’s coming forth. No matter where you are, purpose in your heart to fully surrender. Hold nothing back. Yours is the victory if you embrace the ways of the Lord. You will grow in power and authority and see the impossible become possible through Him.
Rev. 5:10
And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Song of Solomon 2:15
Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes.
strength to strength until each appears before God in Zion
Psalm 18:29-30
For by You I can run against a troop,
By my God I can leap over a wall.
As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
Ephesians 6:10 (AMP)
be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.
Deidre Gaines resides in West Virginia with her husband and best friend, Richard. She has three grown children and one granddaughter. Deidre is a Licensed Minister, Prophetic intercessor, blogger (Shamar), speaker and encourager with a heart to see the nature of Jesus put on display for the world to see. She is passionate to see His love, unity, presence, power and authority transform hearts, cities, regions and the nations through bringing glory and honor to His name. Deidre desires to see the church walk in the fullness of His Kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, Matthew 6:10. She enjoys spending time with her family, sports, crocheting and being outdoors. Especially taking rides in the side by side with her husband Richard.
Years ago, I had a very disturbing dream that I still remember vividly twenty years later. I was walking down a street at night and came across an alley where a man had just killed a woman. I ran to get help and he was apprehended and arrested. During the trial the man would sit and stare at me when I was sitting in the back and also on the witness stand with a smug smirk on his face. To say it was disturbing was an understatement. I was the key witness and testified that I witnessed him murder the victim and he was convicted and sentenced to death.
When it was time for his execution, they brought him to the electric chair. I was there as a witness along with the victim’s family. While the people conducting the execution were reading his charges and sentence, he sat in the chair staring me in the eyes the whole entire time with the same smug smirk on his face.
When the execution began and his body began to thrash, he never stopped staring at me with that creepy smile. When it was over, they drew the curtain and we were escorted from the building. I remember feeling such a sigh of relief knowing this nightmare was over and I would never have to see him again.
A few weeks later, I was walking down the street and a man dressed in dark clothes and a hooded jacket came walking toward me. He seemed to have an eerie presence about him but it was in the middle of the day so I just kept walking. As he passed me, I turned and looked at him and he had stopped right behind me. He kept his head down so I couldn’t see his face and then he spoke and asked me if I knew who he was. I shook my head no but I could feel a familiar dread.
He lifted his head and pulled back his hood and it was the man who I had witnessed being executed. The only difference this time was his eyes were solid black. I stepped back in horror and the only word I could muster was “How?”
He laughed and said that he had murdered so many people, but everyone just turned a blind eye and never dared to say anything or report him because they were all scared of him until I came along.
I looked around the neighborhood and I could see people out mowing their lawns and children running and playing and no one seemed to notice the creepy dude with black eyes. He then said, “They can’t see me, only you can.” I asked him what he wanted from me and he laughed and answered, “Your soul! I will drive you to the brink of insanity so you take your own life and I will collect your soul and carry it to the pits of hell so I can torture you for eternity.”
I remember being frozen with fear as what he just said sunk into my brain, but I was stubborn enough to not let him get me. The only thing I could think of was to go on my daily routine and try to ignore him so he would get bored and go away. For the next few days, I got up and went to work, out with friends, and did laundry the same as I always have. I didn’t say anything to him over the next few days and I would avoid looking at him or acknowledging his existence but he still followed me everywhere and whispering such things that ‘I couldn’t handle the stress’ or ‘I might as well give up’ all day and all night.
When Wednesday came around, I came home from work, made dinner and went to church. I looked in the backseat and he was still there but as I pulled up to the church he sat up and looked around and started cursing. I parked the car and got out and he did also but as I started walking up to the church he stopped. I turned and looked at him as he was still cursing and it dawned on me that he would not follow me into the church.
At that point in the dream, I began to smile, I had found his weakness and I was going to exploit it. I went home and I began to play worship music at the house. I began reading my Bible out loud as well as praying out loud as I walked around my house. At first, he responded with vulgar cursing and ranting and raving. For days he cursed at me and told me I was too weak and stupid and that I could never get rid of him and that I was doomed, but I didn’t give up and eventually he did. He became weaker and weaker and started disappearing for longer periods of time until he was gone.
I would continue reading my Bible, praising and worshiping Jesus but once in a while I would slip or fall back into my old ways and in a matter of days, I could hear him trying to manifest again but I refused to let him and dove back into prayer and even into my Bible study and worship. He would curse and say horrible things but he left.
At the time I had the dream I really didn’t understand what God was trying to say to me. At the time I had the dream I thought it was just a normal nightmare but it was so vivid and seemed to be more important than that. As I have grown in my faith, I came to understand that sometimes we don’t mean to open the door for those “demons” to step in. It can be as innocent as being in the wrong place at the right time. Taking pain killers to recover from an injury is innocent enough but can unknowingly lead to addiction and cause you to lose everything you have. Going out for “drinks” with your friends all the time becomes too much and you stay up later and later each night and end up calling off work and eventually losing your job.
These things can seem to “haunt” you even if no one else can see them. You will drag them everywhere you go and the weight will become unbearable. When you walk into church and give your life to Jesus and begin to focus on him those things will go away and keeping our focus on Jesus keeps them away.
If you have things that haunt you, please feel free to reach out for help at your local church or email me at: moppinguptheblessings@gmail.com or friend request me on Facebook to be added to our group so we can pray for you.
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.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
As I was driving to work- a couple of days ago- I was listening to a Christian music radio station. It was brought to my attention that the date for that day was 3/16. The announcer then said, “This is John 3:16 Day.” This was very fitting, because- when you really think about it- John 3:16 is the gold nugget of Scripture.
John 3:16 may be the most familiar verse to believers and non-believers alike. After all, how many times have we seen it on placards at televised football and baseball games? For sure, this one verse contains three important concepts regarding God: God’s love, God’s gift and God’s purpose.
God’s love is absolutely amazing. Before we were even thought about, He proved His love for us. We did nothing to deserve His love, yet He loved us anyway.
Romans 5:6-8 clarifies His love:
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
At times we have had people love us as long as we met their expectations. God loved us when we didn’t come close to approaching His standards.
Jesus is God’s gift to us. James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Jesus was the perfect, sinless sacrifice needed for the sins of the whole world. He is now alive and watching out for us as we advance through this life.
Finally, there is God’s purpose for us. He wants us to have eternal life and has provided the way for us to have it through His only Son. Jeremiah 29:11 declares God’s goodwill toward us: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
There is a line in an old song: “When He was on the cross, I was on His mind.” Truly we have always been on the Lord’s mind because He has a purpose for us here and a home for us throughout eternity.
So when we think about John 3:16 let’s remember God’s love, God’s gift and God’s purpose for us. In fact, let’s make every day John 3:16 Day!
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.
I feel like the Lord has been laying the words transition and posture on my heart lately. At first, I was looking at it literally. I know I have a child graduating in a few months and transitioning to college but it didn’t seem like that was what he was meaning.
We have family members who are going through some things and starting new adventures, but that didn’t seem quite it either. Instead of trying to guess what the Lord was trying to say, I just asked him.
I was really hoping to wake up in the morning with a stone tablet or sticky note on the fridge outlining what transitions the Lord had planned out for the next six months or so, but there was no note. I began to pray more and more about it, and I feel like he was showing me how much life has changed for me in the last year……but there is still more to come.
So, what do I do with that?
I wasn’t sure, so I decided to prepare. I dove deeper into prayer and studying my Bible. I have seen so much growth in my faith and a deeper connection with God that I don’t want to stop there, I want more.
Isaiah 43:18-19:
Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Now the other word he has been laying on my heart is posture… Which really didn’t make sense. When I think of posture I think of slouching. I thought, “Ok, maybe I need to stand proud as a Christian, not weak or cowardly,” but it didn’t feel like that was right.
When I googled the definition of posture this is what the Oxford Dictionary says:
Posture: a particular way of dealing with or considering something; an approach or attitude.
Oh my, that kind of blew me away because I wasn’t correlating the two words together but that is exactly what he was meaning. I don’t always have a positive attitude towards things, especially transitions and changes. So, taking the new information I have regarding transitions that are going to happen in my life, whether they are spiritual, physical, or geographical, I feel like the Lord is trying to tell me I need to have a good attitude toward the transitions coming up. To be honest, that even scares me more because a when I give the kids a heads up that they need to have a good attitude about something it usually means they aren’t going to like what I have to say or have them do.
What has the Lord been revealing to you? If you would want to share here, or on our Mopping up the Blessings group, just send me a friend request on Facebook and we will get you added.
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.
Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people; O visit me with thy salvation (Psalm 106:4).
Favor is a word that is often mentioned in Christian ranks. Surely, Christians have God’s favor, but we should look at this word more closely than we sometimes do. First of all, we should know that everyone does not show us favor.
Obviously, we are not favored by Satan. John 10:10 says Satan is the thief that comes to steal, kill and destroy. Revelation 12:10 calls him our accuser. I Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Jesus also called him a liar and a murderer.
Let the description of Satan sink in. Thief, accuser, devourer, liar, murderer! Not only does Satan show us no favor- he hates us because we are created in the image and likeness of God. Since he is also the prince of this world, it stands to reason that the world doesn’t favor us either.
In John 15:18 Jesus said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” We represent the name this world hates. Matthew 10:22 says, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” The sooner we realize we are in this world but not of this world the better our walk with the Lord becomes. Truly, the world despises us, but we have the favor of God.
In Psalm 106:4, favor is the Hebrew word “rawtsome” which means delight or desire. God delights in our well-being and desires to see us ultimately triumph. His favor is not hidden; it is seen in how He makes us to stand strong. Psalm 30:7 says, “Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong…”
Having God’s favor in our lives is no accident. It is directly tied to obeying His commandments. Proverbs 3:1-4 definitely points this out:
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
God’s favor includes His abiding presence and steady help as we walk through this life. It also includes eternal preservation of what we have committed to Him. Consider the following verses:
Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence (Psalm 140:13).
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5).
But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head (Psalm 3:3).
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (II Timothy 1:12).
Do we have the favor of God? Believers most certainly do have the favor of God. Let us recognize His favor for the great benefit that it is. Let us be thankful that God has extended it to us for this life and all eternity.
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.
by leaps and bounds 