Jason Sneed Simple Thoughts

How Can Christians Handle Storms?

Storms are an inevitable part of life, and as Christians, it is important to know how to handle them when they arise. Whether it’s a physical storm, such as a hurricane or tornado, or a metaphorical one, such as a job loss or a health crisis, storms can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate. However, there are some key principles that Christians can follow to help them weather the storms of life.

The first principle is to trust in God. As the Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” When we trust in God, we can be confident that he is in control and that he will guide us through the storm. We may not always understand why we are going through difficult times, but we can trust that God has a plan and a purpose for our lives.

The second principle is to seek support from others. As Christians, we are called to be part of a community and to support one another. When we are going through a storm, we need the support and encouragement of others to help us through it. This may mean reaching out to friends or family members for help, or it may mean seeking support from a church or other faith-based organization. It’s important to remember that we don’t have to go through the storm alone.

The third principle is to stay grounded in our faith. When we are going through a storm, it can be easy to lose sight of our faith and become overwhelmed by fear and anxiety. However, by staying grounded in our faith, we can find strength and hope in the midst of the storm. This may mean spending more time in prayer or reading the Bible, or it may mean seeking out the guidance of a spiritual mentor or counselor.

The fourth principle is to focus on gratitude. Even in the midst of a storm, there are still things to be thankful for. By focusing on gratitude, we can shift our perspective and find hope and joy in the midst of difficult circumstances. This may mean keeping a gratitude journal, or it may mean intentionally looking for things to be thankful for each day.

In conclusion, storms are a part of life, but as Christians, we can handle them with grace and faith. By trusting in God, seeking support from others, staying grounded in our faith, and focusing on gratitude, we can weather the storms of life and come out stronger on the other side.

The Bend in the Road – A poem by Helen Steiner Rice (1900-1981)

Sometimes we come to life’s crossroads
We view what we think is the end;
But God has a much wider vision
And He knows that it’s only a bend.

The road will go on and get smoother
And after we’ve stopped for a rest,
The path that lies hidden beyond us
Is often the path that is best.

So rest and relax and grow stronger
Let go, and let God share your load,
And have faith in a brighter tomorrow
You’ve just come to a bend in the road.

Jason Sneed Simple Thoughts

The Grace of God

The grace of God is a central concept in Christianity, representing the unmerited favor and love that God shows to humanity. It is a gift freely given, not earned or deserved by any individual (Ephesians 2:8-9). This grace is demonstrated through God’s forgiveness of sins and the salvation of believers.

The grace of God is often described as a transformative force that can change the lives of those who accept it. It can bring peace, joy, and a sense of purpose to people who feel lost or disconnected. The grace of God is often seen as a source of comfort and hope, especially in times of hardship or suffering.

One of the most famous verses in the Bible that speaks of the grace of God is found in Ephesians 2:8-9, which says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” This verse highlights the idea that salvation is not something that can be earned but is a gift from God that is received through faith.

The grace of God is not just a New Testament concept. In the Old Testament, God’s grace is demonstrated through his mercy and compassion toward his people. For example, in Exodus 34:6-7, God reveals himself to Moses as “the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin.”

The grace of God is also closely tied to the concept of love. In John 3:16, a famous verse that many Christians consider to be the most important in the Bible, says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This verse speaks to the depth of God’s love for humanity and the ultimate expression of that love through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

The grace of God is not just something that is received by individuals, but it is also something that is meant to be shared with others. Christians are called to reflect the grace of God in their lives, showing love, forgiveness, and compassion to those around them. This can be a powerful witness to the world and can help others to experience the grace of God for themselves.

The grace of God is a foundational concept in Christianity that represents the unmerited favor and love that God shows to humanity. It is a transformative force that can bring peace, joy, and a sense of purpose to people’s lives. The grace of God is demonstrated through God’s forgiveness of sins and the salvation of believers, and it is closely tied to the concept of love. Christians are called to reflect the grace of God in their lives, showing love, forgiveness, and compassion to those around them.

Jason Sneed Worship Wednesdays

Worship Wednesday – “Truth I’m Standing On”

On August 5, 2020, I received an email from a friend of mine, Jess Kerley, that simply said, “Hey Jason, this is an amazing song”! The song he was referring to is “Truth I’m Standing On” by Leanna Crawford.

Fast forward 5 months and this same song started off Jess’ funeral. You see Jess had been fighting cancer for almost a year. He told me that this song meant so much to him and said that he loved the words to the chorus. Those words goes like this…

This is the truth I’m standing on
Even when all my strength is gone
You are faithful forever
And I know You’ll never let me fall

Right now I’m choosing to believe
Someday soon I’ll look back and see
All the pain had a purpose
Your plan was perfect all along
This is the truth I’m standing on

Jess’ “someday” came sooner than any of us wanted. Jess’ strength was gone but his faith in his Savior was not deterred. He found out the reason for his pain and that God’s plan was and is “perfect all along”.

Verse two of this song says these words:

Good, I believe You’re still good
Even when life’s not good
I will not loose this hope

The God who parts the sea
Promises He’s gonna
Make a way for me

Jess held onto these words tightly. You see, Jess knew where his hope came from. Jess knew that this hope could not come from any man but from the One who paid the price for his sins and gave himself as a sacrifice. Jess knew that one day he would see his Savior face to face. This was Jess’ hope and this was the truth that Jess was standing on!

Jess, I love you and I miss you. I know you are healed and I know your cancer is no more. For this I rejoice! Because Jesus is also my hope, one day my friend, I will see you again. Until that day…

I hope you enjoy today’s Worship Wednesday song!

Jason Sneed Simple Thoughts

A Christian’s Goal for 2021

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I am not, nor have I ever been, someone who sets New Year resolutions. Resolutions really just fade away quickly, much like the difference between gym attendance in January & February.

I am one that does enjoy setting goals for myself. Goals help to keep me focused on what is important and what is not. Setting goals allow you to strive for something.

“A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there. With enough effort, he may achieve it. Or he may find something that is even more rewarding. But in the end, no matter what the outcome, he will know he has been alive.”

Walt Disney

We have all strived to set goals for ourselves at some point in our lives. We have said we would like to get more active; or we would like to lose some weight. We want to read more, eat healthy, spend more time with family. We all have good intentions, but do we follow through with those intentions? That is the question!

In this post, I want to help challenge you, if you are a Christian, to set some goals for yourself. Let’s be men & women of the Bible. Robby Gallaty has always said, “Let’s get into God’s Word, until God’s Word gets into us”! YES, YES, YES!!!!!

The following are 6 goals that I believe every Christian should strive for in 2021 (and beyond).

  • Hearing The Word – Jeremiah 3:15

“‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

  • Reading The Word – Deuteronomy 17:19

And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them…

  • Study The Word – Proverbs 2:1-5

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

  • Memorizing The Word – Psalms 119:11

I have stored up your word in my heart,that I might not sin against you.

  • Meditating On The Word – Joshua 1:8

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

  • Be Doers Of The Word – James 1:22

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves

These are six goals that every Christian should try to make for themselves in 2021. They are worth the time and energy to achieve. As Walt Disney said, “With enough effort, he may achieve it. Or he may find something that is even more rewarding.”

Christians, let’s be people of the Word. And in getting into the Word, I believe that we will find something that is even more rewarding – Jesus himself! He is the one who is the sustainer of life, our rock, our refuge and our strength. Does it not make sense to spend time with Him each day?

Jason Sneed Worship Wednesdays

Worship Wednesday – “Ancient Of Days”

Our first Worship Wednesday for 2021 begins with a song that I absolutely love. The melody is easy to sing and the words are incredible. It is also a wonderful reminder to all of us of who is in control of everything. The name of the song is “Ancient of Days”. No, not that “Ancient of Days”, but a new song from CityAlight with the same name.

The chorus goes:

None above Him, none before Him
All of time in His hands
For His throne it shall remain and ever stand
All the power, all the glory
I will trust in His name
For my God is, the Ancient of Days

A look into the book of Daniel 7 gives us the reference of Ancient of Days. The following information is given from my ESV Study Bible…

The Ancient of Days, God himself, sat on the central throne. His clothing was white as snow, representing uncompromising and radiant purity; his hair was as white as pure wool, symbolizing the wisdom that comes with great age. His chariot-throne was flaming with fire and its wheels were ablaze, images of the divine warrior’s fearsome power to destroy his enemy. A stream of fire flowed out from before him, and he was surrounded by myriads upon myriads of angelic attendants. (referencing Daniel 7:9-12)

The scene depicts in powerful imagery a judge who has the wisdom to sort out right from wrong, the purity to persistently choose the right, and the power to enforce his judgements.

With all of the craziness that is happening in the world right now, this song gives us a great reminder that no matter what happens, God is still sovereign and in control!

Verse 1 says:

Though the nations rage
Kingdoms rise and fall
There is still one King
Reigning over all
So I will not fear for this truth remains:
That my God is the Ancient of Days

I hope you enjoy “Ancient of Days” by CityAlight.

Jason Sneed Simple Thoughts

Remember, we are fighting a spiritual war. — Christianity Matters

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6:12) We are living in a time of political upheaval. Tempers are charged on either side of the aisle. Everyone […]

Remember, we are fighting a spiritual war. — Christianity Matters