Recent Blog Entries
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Anchor of the Soul from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When people lose hope, they lie down and die. They lose the will to live and fight any longer. Hopelessness is utter despair, the belief that nothing good will happen. When you begin to think like this, it will bring a desire to die. A ... -
The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?" He answered them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, But their heart is far f...
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Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me; declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure; Isaiah 46:9'10 WEB.During a sci-fi n...
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- 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!
Opposites Attract
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Now the word of Yahweh came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it, for their wickedness has come up before me.' But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. Jonah 1:1 WEB
The word of the Lord came to Jonah to go and preach to Nineveh, but Jonah fled in the opposite direction. When God told him to go to Nineveh, Jonah went to Joppa instead and took a ship down to Tarshish. Nineveh (in modern-day Iraq) was about five hundred miles east of his home in Gath-heper (2 Kings 14:25). While Tarshish (in southern Spain) was twenty-five hundred miles west. Jonah planned to be three-thousand miles away from where God wanted him to be, as soon as possible.
Rather than do what God wanted him to do, Jonah spent far more time, energy, and money, to do the exact opposite. Soon, trouble followed after him. The Lord told Jonah to do something, but Jonah refused and intentionally went the opposite direction while fully knowing what God really wanted him to do. I don't know what causes a man to do that, but I have done similar things myself. We know to do right, but just can't seem to do it. As Paul wrote 'For the good which I desire, I don't do; but the evil which I don't desire, that I practice' (Romans 7:19). Sin always starts with a thought, followed by a decision. You always stumble first in your thought life.
His life then fell apart and became a living hell. At his lowest point, when he had been eaten by a fish and was sitting alone in the dark, covered in slime and seaweed, Jonah finally surrendered his life to God and prayed. Things then changed quickly in his life and, as he stood on the beach, the exact same word of the Lord came to him a second time. God's plan had not changed because of Jonah's behavior. The word was still 'Go.'
There have been times when I thought that God was finished with me. Yet when I finally turned to Him and prayed, I heard the same word come again. His plan for you is still there, even when you knew what you were supposed to do, and yet did the opposite. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29). The Lord still has a purpose for your life when you turn back to Him.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for having mercy on my life. Forgive me of the times when I have lived contrary to Your will. Lead me, and I will follow. Teach me, and I will learn. Please work Your perfect will in my life and guide me into all that You have for me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
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Help me persevere lord. Amen
Wowww!!!!!!! Second day in a row of on time Word from God!!! Don't know whether to laugh or cry!!! Amazing! Awesome! Thank you, Pastor Dion!
Lord forgive my past disobedience, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Amen
Thanks Pastor Dion, this happens to peope alot...we want what we want, not what God wants...I have called this "whale" experience of Jonah's in my life, times He has had to figuratively "hit me over the head with a bat"...I say bat because I am hard headed at times (runs in the family), and a drastic waking up to think more clearly. There is just as troubling a situation, when I know what God wants to happen...I am certain of it, yet when I act on it, as we should do when we are sure it is something God wants us to do...and Bam!! We hit a brick wall. And step back and think well, God must NOT have wanted me to do such and such. What I have come to realize, these many, many years later, was yes, God did want that, but it was more of a "foretelling"...He had to prepare me for its future eventuality...and that was His initial way to preparing me. Letting me know what was going to come to pass at some point. He does that from time to time with people in Scriptures...and with people even up to the present time. You have mentioned that about your yearning to be a Pastor and it being delayed. Mary, the Mother of God had the message from an angel about the upcoming birth of her child and He would be the "Savior" of His people, Moses and the Burning Bush, etc. These messages come in dramatic and not so dramatic form, but are mostly foretellings to help us prepare so we will be prepared when God does move to accomplish in our lives. So many times, people think that God only sends his messages to "Holy" people...not so, not so. Moses was an escapee from Egypt, a murderer at that, who was trying to figure who he was...quite a mess when he got his message. Yes, he became holy, only after his encounter with the Holy One. Most people are not "holy", in a religious kind of sense, but are moved to "clean themselves up" after such an encounter. And the best kept secret is you don't have to wait for Him to "hit you over the head", so to speak. Keeping knocking at the door, seeking His Presence, and when the timing is right for you, He will open the door, and you will not be able to miss His Presence.
Thank you Father God, for yourr forgiveness, grace and mercy during those times when I have not listened to you, when I did what I wanted, and not what you asked. Lird, I am a work in progress and need your continued guidance and suppot. In Jesus name! I pray, Amen
Amen!
Amen!
Amen, what a good word this morning!!! Thank you Jesus ❤❤
Amen
Great message!!!!
Amen!
Can't help but think of Jonah sitting in the belly of the whale with slime all over him and not think of the Prodical son in pig muck. Love Romans verse. Keeps me with two feet on the earth knowing I am in the flesh and need to look up or within where Jesus sits to keep on track in my walk with Him.
Had a good devotion time earlier today on Mary washing Jesus feet with perfume and letting her hair down to wash them. So loving and no care of who is present and what they think. This was in reference to Worship of Him in the church. No care of perfection of how I would look to someone or what they think. If they have their eyes and heart on and with Him there isn't a problem really. I close my eyes and listen to each word with spiritual eyes(I call them) on Him. Every word is filling me with my care of Him and desire to lose myself to Him. Where we go now is seeming this way yet I do not study. When in dancing steps I happen to see a man out of corner of my eye going up and down in the air and I laughed with joy to join him. But it was the best in years to be in corporate worship and feel so free in my soul in worshipping my Lord. It's overwhelming actually. I just thank You Lord for being so present in our lives. If only I could stay in my flesh day to day as this yet I do have two feet on this earth. And this body doesn't always want to jump. Lol!!
Amen another daily devotional that is right on point in my life thank you pastor Dion!
Amen! Pastors prayer, Heavenly Father, I thank you for having Mercy on my life. Forgive me of the times when I have lived contrary to your will. Lead Me, and I will follow. Teach me, and I will learn. Please work your perfect will in my life and guide me into all that you have for me, in the name of Jesus Christ I prayAmen!!
Amen Lord Jesus, amen.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for having mercy on my life. Forgive me of the times when I have lived contrary to Your will. Lead me, and I will follow. Teach me, and I will learn. Please work Your perfect will in my life and guide me into all that You have for me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen. <3
Thanks for todays devotion Pastor Dion. <3
Amen
Praise God! Thanks Pastor Todd! Heavenly Father, I thank You for having mercy on my life. Forgive me of the times when I have lived contrary to Your will. Lead me, and I will follow. Teach me, and I will learn. Please work Your perfect will in my life and guide me into all that You have for me, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Amen.Thank you Heavenly Father for your Love Grace and Mercy that you have shown me through my life,andfor bringing me to where I am to day.Thank you for your forgiveness when I have failed to do your will.,and for teaching me through those times.Help me to be teachable and to do your will and give me guidance in the way you want me to go and do all the things you want me to do.In The Name of Jesus Christ I Pray.That in my life You will be Glorified.Thank you Pastor Dion.For this Devotion and prayer.
Amen.