Recent Blog Entries
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The Day of Small Things from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. As with many of my messages, this was a word for me, but I will share it with you as I found it encouraging. I have been building a new social media website for Refreshing Hope behind the scenes for months. It is a massive undertak... -
Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place where he was about to come. Then he said to them, "The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send ou...
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Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth dea...
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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!
Can't You See?
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They forgot to take bread; and they didn't have more than one loaf in the boat with them. He charged them, saying, 'Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.' They reasoned with one another, saying, 'It's because we have no bread.' Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, 'Why do you reason that it's because you have no bread? Don't you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, don't you see? Having ears, don't you hear? Don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?' They told him, 'Twelve.' Mark 8:14 WEB
The disciples forgot to bring bread on their trip and only had one loaf on the boat with them. When Jesus told them to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod, they began to immediately look at their physical needs, and the lack of supplies which was their fault. Because of their oversight of not bringing bread, they assumed Jesus was scolding them.
They were not blamed by Jesus for their oversight, but for their lack of faith in His provision. It it always like that. God speaks to us, and we immediately look at ourselves like a failure, 'we have let Him down' or 'we don't have enough for that.' Then He says 'Why don't you understand that I was not talking about that? Can't you see? Don't you remember what I have already done for you?'
When God calls us to do something, we often look at what we have available on hand and then say 'We don't have enough' and that is completely irrelevant to His plan. Jesus had already taken five loaves of bread and fed five-thousand and there were twelve baskets of broken pieces left over. Another time He had taken seven loaves of bread and fed four-thousand and there were seven baskets of broken pieces left over. One loaf was enough. There was no shortage of bread in that boat.
The disciples were blinded by an immediate need and had forgotten that as they put God's kingdom first, their needs would be met just as the thousands had already been fed. 'Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you' (Luke 12:29'31 WEB).
When they began to look at themselves and their failures, Jesus was grieved. He told them 'Why do you reason that it's because you have no bread? Don't you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, don't you see? Having ears, don't you hear? Don't you remember?'
After all this time with Jesus, the disciples still could not see past their immediate physical needs. They were yet blind, deaf, hardened and insensitive to the Spirit of God, like us. When they got to land, the next miracle that Jesus did was opening the eyes of a blind man (Mark 8:22).
Do not look at your immediate needs in fear and do not look at your failures. Focus on the kingdom of God and the things that you need will be added unto you. As you trust God and seek Him, He will take care of you. He will make a way, where there is no way. He makes the impossible become part of our testimony.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please open my eyes and ears. Help me to see and hear what the Spirit says to the church. I want to be a part of what you are doing today. Speak to me and through me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
Note: Happy Sunday! For those who missed the email, the newest RHM newsletter is now available under the "News" link on the site menu, and currently at the top of the announcements on the home page. All are invited to view it for the latest news on our vision, goals and happenings!
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Thank you Pastor for your faithfulness in posting these nuggets of encouragement. The Lord told me a few weeks ago, "THERE IS MUCH FEAR IN YOU". My reply was, yes, Lord there is. I have forgotten to "see" what the Lord has already done for me, especally when others said it was impossible, those are fighting words for the Lord. I see an empty refrigerator, God sees an oppertunity to shine, I see empty cabinates, God sees a chance to fill a need. My fear is not totally gone, and I battle with that , but when I think of all "HE" has already done, I have to step out of the boat, with faith that He will continue to do as He promised if I am faithful to reflect and Believe.
You wrote:::::
Do not look at your immediate needs in fear and do not look at your failures. Focus on the kingdom of God and the things that you need will be added unto you. As you trust God and seek Him, He will take care of you. He will make a way, where there is no way. He makes the impossible become part of our testimony.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please open my eyes and ears. Help me to see and hear what the Spirit says to the church. I want to be a part of what you are doing today. Speak to me and through me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
Yesssss!!!!!!! I love, love, love your transparency, vulnerability!!!!!! I too struggle with fear, so I completely get it, my sister!!! This post is everything!!!!!!!! I just know that God is going to show up and show out for you!!!!! Keep trusting!!!! :-)
Thank you for your reply Stacie. Your reply has encouraged me today.
Leslie
Once again you seem to be writing words and expressing what I want to say. I hope I get to meet you some day and share all that GOD has brought us through. Have a great day. Rebecca
We will meed one day, it is inevatable when we are heaven bound. Have you joined my Valley of Pain group? If you have I am sorry I missed you, if you havent hope you will join. Leslie
Heavenly Father please help me to look to you first and not to look at my physical needs and at what happenening round me in fear, but help me to focus on you instead. What seems impossible with man all things are possible with you God God help open my eyes to see? and ears to hear. Thank you Lord Jesus for giving Pastor Todd this encouraging message. Thanks pastor Todd for this devotional message because its very encouraging I really need this reminder of who God is thank you.
Amen!!!
"...That is completely irrelevant to God's plan!" --- This phrase in the devo leapt off the page and into my heart! So awesome!!!
Praying like Peter prayed: "Lord, help my unbelief!"
I have also had a spirit of fear about some things as of late. The funds from my disability back pay from September 2016 is only a few hundred from being spent and am learning how to budget all my bills for a month at a time as I get a small amount to live on. I have been concerned about having enough to pay for another hand surgery to repair the failed surgery. I have had to wear special brace to help hold my thumb up because of the pain pressure of raw nerves caused when thumb not supported. Well in the last few days I haven't been wearing it except when I drive. Without really thinking about it.I have been praying for a miracle for healing of my hand..often referring to it as a Failed Surgery according to my surgeon when cast came off in December. Well, to my amazement I am now using a hand without the brace and am gaining strenth back more and more in just the last few days. Doing simple things such as being able to use tweezers to get an eyelash out that was on inner eyelid that was so irritating me and being able to use nail clippers...small things that we usually wouldn't even think about that has been hard for me for months. After reading the newsletter. .it dawned on me that GOD is still in control. I will be seeing a new surgeon on April 12th to schedule new surgery. It is my prayer when I go there that he will tell me I don't need to. Yet..another one of the many miracles GOD has already done in my life. Sometimes we just take things for granted and have so little faith and forgotten all HE has already done in our lives. It is my hope that my so called Failed Surgery is just going to be another testimony for me to share and give hope to others. To many times its just the little things that we tend to make a big deal of..when GOD has to remind me that all I need is the Faith of a mustard seed. GOD IS SO GOOD! Thank you so much Pastor Dion that RM has been a vessel for me for years now
Awesome message and testimonies here today! I'm thankful for Your provision and blessings Lord, I can always trust You. Amen!
Amen! The Lord will provide.
Amen!
Amen, Jehovah- Jireh.
Thank You, Father, for Your provisions. Even as we doubt You! Amen!
Definitely needed this reminder as I begin stepping out in faith in the direction god seems to want me to go.
Amen.
The paragraph before the prayer. THIS is the reminder I need and I'm putting it in my phone to read daily. As always, thank you and love in Christ.
Another spot on message. Thank you Pastor Dion. The paragraph before the prayer is something I will keep by me to read often as I do experience fear about things in my life, and I pray the Pastors prayer: Heavenly Father, please open my eyes and ears. Help me to see and hear what the Spirit says to the church. I want to be a part of what you're doing today. Speak to me and through me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Thank you for this message. I really need this for my anxious thoughts and heart. " O LORD GOD search my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the everlasting way.The LORD OUR GOD is always with me. I will not be afraid for what can man do to me. Praise and Thank you LORD GOD for your love, mercy and faithfulness endures forever.
Praise God. Good morning! Thanks Pastor Todd! Heavenly Father, please open my eyes and ears. Help me to see and hear what the Spirit says to the church. I want to be a part of what you are doing today. Speak to me and through me, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please open my eyes and ears. Help me to see and hear what the Spirit says to the church. I want to be a part of what you are doing today. Speak to me and through me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen. <3
Thank you for the devotion today Pastor Dion. :-)