Recent Blog Entries
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A Scattered Flock from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jesus was the good Shepherd (John 10:1), and He was also our example of how to live a perfect life. He came to Earth at a dark, difficult time, especially in religion, for God’s presence had left the temple. The last book in the Ol... -
But you, when you pray, enter into your inner chamber, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. In praying, don't use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speakin...
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See the birds of the sky, that they don't sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they? Which of you, by being anxious, can add one cubit to the measure of his life?Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies o...
Strangers In The Night
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But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, 'Who is my neighbor?' Jesus answered, 'A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. Luke 10:29 WEB
It was a narrow dirt road that the priest walked down 'by chance' on his way to Jericho, when he came across the man who had been beaten, robbed, and left for dead. Not wishing to be troubled in his busy day, he crossed to the other side of the road and continued on. Soon a Levite came down the road, saw the man, and passed by on the other side leaving him there to die. Then a Samaritan, considered a half-breed and despised by the Jews, came along and stopped to help the man. He bandaged him up and then took him to an inn.
Who is your neighbor? The one that God 'by chance' put in your path. It is easy to get overwhelmed when you think of the world's problems. How can you make a difference to those imprisoned in foreign nations? Other than prayer, most of us will not. But God places people in each of our paths that we can help, and then we get to choose whether to pass them by and carry on with our busy day, or take a moment to show them the love of Jesus.
Hebrews 13:2 tells us: 'Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.'
When you are busy, it is so easy to get upset at that unexpected knock at the door, to send that phone call to voicemail, to walk on past that person asking for help. Many today are beaten down, poor, naked and abandoned, and all while wearing a suit at work. No one can help everyone, but everyone can help someone. So be mindful of the one that God puts in your path, for they are your neighbor.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to see those that You put in my path clearly and give me the wisdom to help them. Get my attention and give the grace to do what needs to done, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
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Amen
I think I may have been both at one time or another, the man in need of help, and the man who passed on by. I'm not proud of it, but either I was too busy to see the man in need or I didn't want to get involved or I thought that man could have been potentially dangerous so stayed away. Either way, I did not do what I should have done. And nobody likes to be the one in need of help least of all to find that people tend to steer away from you when you are in that position. But I don't think it would be right to let their lack of action influence you or harden your heart against them. You have to put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself what you would do if you saw a man in dire need right in front of you, would you help?
Amen! Yes I would hope I would try to help :)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to see those that You put in my path clearly and give me the wisdom to help them. Get my attention and give the grace to do what needs to be done, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen <3 Thank you... In a hurting and broken world, hospitality is a refreshing change <3 Father help me be that change! Help me to show your unconditional kindness and love to those you put on my path. Amen
Amen Lord.
Amen
Amen
Amen! There are no acidents! God expects us to take care of us! Lord help us keep our eyes on you and each other!
Amen, Jim!
Amen!!
Jim and i both learned a hard lesson about this...about 5 or 6 years ago we were approached by two men asking for gas money. We didnt give it and later felt terrible and knew that we should have. Now when these encounters happen we quickly ask for the Holy Spirit to guide us and follow!! we still feel bad about our decision that day...
Don't beat yourself up, Julie, when faced with a sudden situation, we may sometimes make decisions that we might not have otherwise made if we had time to think about it. I know that for me, as an introvert, I do better when I can give something a bit of thought. I know you have taken the opportunity to bless others afterwards and, in the end, He also probably found someone else to bless those two men :).
Thank you so much! thats a great thought that God used someone else to bless them. It was in the parking lot and my arms were full of groceries and its likely that Jim felt my nervousness and we turned them down. I like time to pray on it too!!
Sure, understandable, Julie :)!
Amen Pastor Dion and those times seem to always show up when we are overwhelmed by whatever it can be in our life but I noticed that God uses them and I think allows those times so HIS strengh is shows up.I kept thinking how his strength is made perfect in weakness.
So true, Pastor Dion. Thank you for putting that sweet lady in my path yesterday. Visiting w/her, I forgot what a crazy day it has been and that I was in a hurry (husband sitting in car waiting). She touched my heart and blessed my evening. Thank you God, for never leaving me and knowing what I need to make me better. Amen.
Amen. Distractions may be divine appointments.
sweet
Truly being Jesus hands and feet!
amen
I felt like this man,3 years ago. I was hurting from a devastating divorce, trying to wrap my head around it,I had lost my job at Walmart due to computer glitches,my unmarried daughter had a baby at 18, and invited baby daddy to live with her in ouapartment,no responsibility! When i opposed they moved out.i was alone,jobless,scared.one day i went to the church id been going to,my car was running on empty,and my other daughter needed pickup from school 5 miles away.in desperation,i went to the church. I was repeatedly told by pastors wife that they could help only every 2 months and that id been given food pantry items less than that.it wasnt my timei had a breakdown after that,and went 8nto a facility for my mental health for 3 months,where we used the serenity prayer.God worked through a military facility, not through an estàblished church!
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I'm so sorry about all that you have been through, Cindy ;(. Whether through a church or elsewhere, thankful that He brought you through it! Praying for continued peace and provision, in the name of Jesus!
Thank you Cindy, I wish your story could be heard in the places where it do some good. Far too many people have been in that same place, not many good Samaritans out there! May God bless you the rest of your life!
I love your testimony. Thank you
Amen
Amen! Thank you Pastor for you devotion. :-)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to see those that You put in my path clearly and give me the wisdom to help them. Get my attention and give the grace to do what needs to done, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen. <3
Amen! Pastors prayer, Heavenly Father, help me to see those that you put in my path clearly and give me the wisdom to help them. Get my attention and give me the grace to do what needs to be done , in the name of Jesus Christ I pray Amen!!
Amen. Praise God! Thanks Pastor Todd! Heavenly Father, help me to see those that You put in my path clearly and give me the wisdom to help them. Get my attention and give the grace to do what needs to be done, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Amen