Recent Blog Entries
-
Sacrifice from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When Jesus came walking past the disciples in their fishing boat late one night, Peter called out to Him and asked if he could join Him and walk on the water. (Matthew 14:28–31 NKJV) And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if ... -
Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." He said, "Teacher, say on." A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they couldn't pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?" Simon answered, "He, I suppose, ...
-
For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard; a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Luke 7:33'34 WEB.A gloomy feeling settled over you when you...
-
- led by Lynn BrownThis is a group for RHM sponsored events like corporate fasts. Everyone is welcome to join and participate in things currently going on in the ministry. We love you and thank you for being a part of Refreshing Hope!
The Hardened Ground
-
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, Reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground; For it is time to seek Yahweh, Until He comes and rains righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12 WEB
I grew up on a farm and over the long cold winter, the ground of the fields would become so hard that water would just run off of it like it was rock. The rain would no longer penetrate the crust but just ran through the cracks in it. When spring came, we would have to plow it with a tractor, break it all up to get it ready to plant. We would then plant the seed, the rain would come, and later we would get a harvest. Each year we had to do this in order to see a harvest. Without work, there was no reward, and only weeds would be growing in the field.
Left alone, our hearts will become as hard as rock. Life happens and you add a little hurt here, another disappointment there, someone lies to you again, and soon a bigger wall goes up to protect us. We can become cynical, and we add on another layer of protection. If the rain does come, it will run off still leaving us dry and bare because our hearts have grown hard and calloused from use, and abuse.
I had a rough upbringing and there was a time in my life when I could count everyone that I loved on one hand, and still have a couple of fingers left. No one hurt me anymore because they were already an enemy when I met them. I could shake their hand and smile, but have my other hand on my Case pocket knife, just in case.
Yet God did not leave me like that. Though I had no interest in people, as I tried to grow closer to Jesus, He began to peel those layers off of me like an onion. Slowly He opened me up and eventually I could show love, and be loved, something that I had never known before I met Him. He loved me too much to leave me like I was.
In ancient Palestine, farming was a bit different than today. They scattered the seed first, then plowed it into the ground. Think of the parable that Jesus told of the sower in Matthew 13:3. You hear the word of God, then we plow it into our ground by doing it. He will then take care of everything else and provide the rain, the nutrients, and the sunshine. Working together with Him, we bring forth a harvest.
God can heal a hardened heart if you will let Him, but we often hold Him at a distance as well. We have to work with Him to advance. He gives us a word, we break up the ground by doing what He told us, then He provides the rain. We study, He reveals something new, we then try and live it, and there is a reward. The rain that comes from being in the Lord's presence and His word will soften our hearts over time, make it grow, and begin to heal.
It is not very pleasant when our ground is being broken up. Seek the Lord and His presence each day and do not let your heart become cold and hard. Talk to Him each day and cultivate a relationship. There can be no harvest until the ground is made ready, and there are many fields that have sat unchanged for decades.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please guide me and reveal the things that I need to change. Show me the next step clearly give me the grace to do whatever is needed. Help me break up the pieces of my life that have hardened, and send Your rain, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
Tip: You must be logged into the website to leave comments.
Hum lil reality check! Great--but perhaps only if your seeking! A open mind -Spirit seeking in Faith for goodness!!
amen
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please guide me and reveal the things that I need to change. Show me the next step clearly give me the grace to do whatever is needed. Help me break up the pieces of my life that have hardened, and send Your rain, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen! Thank you:) God bless
Sometimes life's hits are too much to bear. Thank you God for this devotional and prayers because they strengthen me to continue and not give up. Amen.
thank you do agree would be easy for us hold on past but I,v learned allowing mself let go of the past unforgiveness learned to enjoy my life and friends in that God has given.
Amen!
Heavenly Father I want to receive your rain. Guide me today, show me what I need to change. In your precious name
Amen
Thank you for your message today pastor Dion this is just what I needed my past still haunts me today I need to be able to start each day as an opportunity to grow in the Lord!
Amen ♡
Amen
Amen
Amen!! My prayers to all -- especially to Pastor and Mrs. Todd for your contribution to keep us all in Gods sight.
Amen! Thank you Pastor Dion for todays devotion. :-) Threw my life I know that many times I could be that onion and to trust some people is hard for me. Today ever since my older sister's husband messed my family up on May 30,2015 when they took him off to prison. I was telling her and many others for years things that I heard. My one brother in law called him out too. What happen the oldest sister got the other two sister's to turn on me and she played like she was really broken. She knew what he was doing for many years. Money sure can lead a person into the darkest world and even hurt their own family members their blood her son his daughter. I have to say I still have not got over all of what has happen. I cry all the time. There is a city police that built next to my daughter. He and I talked he saw him when they brought him to a city prison to place in a holding cell before they started to move him around. He said Diane I see this happen so many times in my life being a police. He said this is about my sister he said "She is in denial and feeling guilty." Then he said this to me "This is killing you" yes he's right is is and it has been I don't know how to get those feelings out of me. I'm going threw enough and my heart is in pain for all the children. He then told me this too "He's not worth the grief" he's right he not. My doctor said I wear my heart on my sleeve. I always did stick up for ones who got hurt in life my dad was like that. It's really not good for you but if we all turned a blind eye who would stick up for these children. Nobody and many would get away with it I heard about so many children in my life that this happen to and nobody told. They call it sick I don't want to hear about it people don't go to the police because they think they will shame the child or children. This all needs to stop people need to be the eyes and ears for these children and turn the evil people that have sick minds in to the police. Pastor Dion, this is why I never trusted many people when I was younger I was one he went after for many years. I just always out smarted him and my other sister's knew one saw him come in my bedroom. She would never tell my older sister because it would hurt her didn't she think I have feelings. My mom knew and my aunt after my mom got ill with cancer. I didn't want to start anything that would make my mother weaker. I was always the one to keep quiet when it came to anyone or anything that would upset my mom. We had a special bond and my other sister's knew that. They took everything after she passed away and all I wanted was her bible it has so many things in it that she wrote. Things that I wanted to learn I am the only one that would read the bible. I am like that onion peel back layers. I need to pray to Jesus, to heal my pain and let those layers peel back. Amen! I'll come back later to proof read this as I always do then fix all my typo's I have to get to bed. Love y'all and wish y'all sweet dreams. God Bless <3
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please guide me and reveal the things that I need to change. Show me the next step clearly give me the grace to do whatever is needed. Help me break up the pieces of my life that have hardened, and send Your rain, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen and Amen <3
Amen. Praise God! Thank you Pastor Todd! Heavenly Father, please guide me and reveal the things that I need to change. Show me the next step clearly, give me the grace to do whatever is needed. Help me break up the pieces of my life that have hardened, and send Your rain, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Amen
believe!