Blog

It is impossible to find your stride and develop routines when everything every day feels so disheveled and chaotic. School just got started back, but every day is a new scenario. Work is still a daily TV reality show. Church is just not…church (fellowship and social distance just don’t jive). In this stage of the game, it is easy to feel like you don’t have much to give. And I do…feel that way, that is.  I find myself feeling like I am not doing enough or that I can’t BE enough, and I get discouraged.  But then, God reminds me who He is and what He can do with not much and nothing.   This weekend I read 1 Samuel 14, and Jonathan’s words just struck me, “For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.” Then 1 Samuel 17, David the shepherd boy takes down and kills an

Backpack Buddies Changing the lives of children one weekend at a time.    Backpack Buddies is an organization dedicated to reducing the effects of childhood hunger by providing nutritious, easy-to-prepare food over the weekend to children residing in food-insecure homes in Lawrence County, Ohio. Backpack Buddies serves children and families in Lawrence County, Ohio through our Backpack Program and Emergency Food program. Children struggling with hunger come from families who are struggling too.   Listen to our Community Matters Interview with Jodie Hunt:   To learn more about Backpack Buddies, visit their website. Jodie Hunt, Program Coordinator Backpack Buddies PO Box 522, Ironton, Ohio 45638 740.534.3550  

No matter how many times I tell myself that it’s ok to say “no,” I inevitably recite an exhaustive — yet highly impressive — list of excuses. This is especially true for spiritual decisions.  Whether it’s stepping out of leadership, giving up my turn in the nursery, or leaving the church entirely, I just can’t rest in the single declarative word — no.  Truth: The only acceptable reason to start, stop, stay, or leave is God’s leading. If He’s leading you to say no, then you say no. Otherwise, change that diaper or lead that ministry to His glory. But…stop making excuses and trust God’s guidance. If you’ve prayed about it and sincerely feel that the Lord is guiding you to say no, then trust that — REST in that.   Here are three truths to help you rest in God’s guidance — God guides those who submit to Him~

One of the many appeals to making the city to country transition was fruit trees. We were so excited. I envisioned eating fruit straight off the vine, fresh-baked pies, jams, and sauces. We’ve lived on the farm for 15 years, and I have yet to make a pie and have eaten very few apples straight from the vine. Why? The trees had not been pruned in years (still haven’t). Vines wined their way up the trunks of a few and choked out the fruit. On the “healthy” trees, blossoms get negated quickly by worms, birds, or a late spring frost. Turns out, it is more challenging to own fruit trees than we thought. The same can be true of our spiritual lives. Our relationship with Jesus is full of promise and hope, but the worries of the world work their way into our hearts and minds and choke out our

Join Tri-State Bible College for their Appalachian Ministry Conference on Thursday, September 23rd, 2021! The Keynote speaker is author and professor Dr. Tom Cheyney. Early Bird and Pastors’ Registration is open: https://buff.ly/2UQHkZV. Conference Theme: Fulfilling Your Ministry in a Post-Covid Appalachia Listen to our Community Matters Interview with President Rex Howe and Matt Chamblin:     To learn more about Tri-State Bible College and the Appalachian Ministry Conference, check out their website https://www.tsbc.edu. You can also listen to their Podcast, Level Paths, on Apple and Google.

“I’d rather be in the boat with Jesus than on the shore without Him.”  Dr. David Jeremiah It seems like a simple, straightforward statement that every believer should be confident to make. Yet, when I consider what “in the boat” could mean…would I? Would I rather be in the boat on the turbulent waters of change with Jesus? What about the turbulent waters of cancer? What about the turbulent waters of losing my child? What about the turbulent waters of being beaten and tortured for my beliefs? When I put a label on it…the answer doesn’t come so easy.  Some of those “would I rather” questions are deeply personal and would result in deep scars… But…Jesus knows deep scars. (By His wounds, we are healed. Isaiah 53:5)  And, He isn’t just in the boat. Jesus commands the winds and the waves.  If He so chooses, those waves could knock me