Recent Blog Entries
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Good Neighbors from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the importance of being a good neighbor. Ever since Adam and Eve had kids and one killed the other, it has been an ongoing thing, learning to live with one another. Most of the ten commandments are about how we tr... -
When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me. My strength was sapped in the heat of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin to you. I didn't hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh, and you forgave t...
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The man said, 'They have left here, for I heard them say, 'Let's go to Dothan.' ' Joseph went after his brothers, and found them in Dothan. They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, 'Behold, this dreamer comes. Come now ...
Carving Out The Masterpiece
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If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light. Luke 11:36 WEB
After viewing the marble statue of David, someone asked Michelangelo: 'How did you know what to cut away?' The sculptor answered: 'It's simple, I just remove everything that doesn't look like David.' He knew what the statue should look like before he began his work, but it then took him three years to carve away the pieces that did not belong.
They say that anything can be accomplished when it is broken down into small enough steps. I do find that when I take on a large project, it works best for me to break it into stages. I complete stage one, then focus on stage two, and so on until the project is complete. The way that you eat an elephant, is one bite at a time.
It is important to not become overwhelmed in our life. If you brought a bride to be into her new home, and showed her all the housework that she have would do, all the dishes that there would be to wash, all the dirty diapers that she would have to change, all at once, then the wedding would probably be off.
God is working on us in a similar fashion. He does not want us to remain in darkness, but He takes it a step at a time. That is why some teachings are so timely in our lives, it is the Holy Spirit at work uncovering things, reassuring us, comforting us.
We all have areas of our lives that could stand improving, but if it were all done at once, we could not bear it, and we would just give up. When we first come to Jesus there are usually more areas, and after we have walked with Him a while, there should be less.
Anger, lust, greed, idolatry, jealousy, envy, strife, out of control eating and drinking (gluttony and drunkenness), and things like pornography, are really just a few areas that the Holy Spirit will shine His light on. You know that thing that causes the hair on the back of your neck to stand up when mentioned, the one that we tend to keep quiet about? That is the one that I am talking about right there. He will bring those things up one at a time until they are all gone.
Yes He loves us, and He will wash our sins away. But after growing up on a farm, I can tell you that it is hard to wash a hog while it is actively rolling in the mud. You have to wait for it to stop.
Work with God day by day on improving your life and do not try and get ahead of Him. Take it one day at a time and He will let you know what is on today's to-do list. Walking with Jesus is not a sprint, it is a marathon, and He works with us individually, and at our own pace. Don't compare yourself to others that seem more polished. In time, you will be as well.
God is working on a masterpiece that will take decades to perfect, you. He gently chips away the parts that do not belong there. Don't get too excited on the mountain top, and don't get too depressed in the valley, for this is a lifelong event.
Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for Your patience with me. Help me to be stable and learn to time my steps with You. Make what is important to You, important to me and help me to focus on that. Please give me the grace to get through today, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
Note: Good morning and happy Sunday! If you are in need of prayer, don''t forget that we are here for you! Just click on the Prayer link on the site menu (or it''s also at the bottom of the announcements on the home page) and you can send in a private prayer request. Have a blessed day!> You can subscribe to our daily devotional here <
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Amen, Elohim thank you for taking care of me and for keeping me these 65 and 1/2 years.
Just what I needed this morning. Thank you Pastor Dion for your devotion to these devotionals.
Amen my Lord.
God Morning!!! Very good read!! Seems I learned this long ago!!! Funny I was once given a pamplet Of Peals book on positive thinking! I was crushed... At first it was overwheling trying to get it! Me the man I am, I may have jumped around alittle. Funny when I applied His suggestions they began too work!! Amazing the intentions of the heart!! He may and can let us keep missing the mark, teaching us all the great things about endurance persistance drive desire accomplishment joy--that coming from finaly winning.. Amen!! Thanks Pastor!!
"Take it one day at a time and He will let you know what is on today's to-do list." Words to live by!
Amen, it has taken 27 years to bring me this far and it is hard to tell what God will ask next, but I know I am His!
Love the hog analogy! So true. God is working on one part of me right now and the blessings in removing my sin is greater dependence on Him for all things and the knowledge that all is considered loss except for the love, and glory of Jesus Christ!!
Amen! Praying that God will keep me patient as these flood waters come down in Texas, I know he's got this in control
Amen. Thank you for this inspiring message.
Amen,please teach me to have more patience.I love you Jesus.
Great message! I receive so much from these devotionals each day, they just seem to hit the mark and are wise words to ponder. Thank you Pastor Dion :)
Amen!
Today's passage brought to mind this song by Cristy Lane.
"One Day At A Time, Sweet Jesus"
I'm only human, I'm just a woman.
Help me believe in what I could be
And all that I am.
Show me the stairway, I have to climb.
Lord for my sake, teach me to take
One day at a time.
Chorus:
One day at a time sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from you.
Just give me the strength
To do everyday what I have to do.
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time.
Do you remember, when you walked among men?
Well Jesus you know if you're looking below
It's worse now, than then.
Cheating and stealing, violence and crime
So for my sake, teach me to take
One day at a time.
Chorus:
One day at a time sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from you.
Just give me the strength
To do everyday what I have to do.
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time.
Cristy Lane lyrics
Thank you Pastor Dion. Please pray for all of us in Texas. Thank you and God Bless.
Lord,thank You for all Your blessings. Clean me the way You want us to be and protect us from evil, Amen.
Praying with y'all for all in the path of the hurricane, brother <3!
Dear Father in Heaven, I thank you for the wonderful Blessings you bestow upon me and I am very thankful and appreciate the beauty that I see each day. I pray for our world and the darkness that tries to take over, but Jesus continues to shine on us and his love is everlasting. I pray for what is going on in Texas, the rains, floods and for the people whose families are still alive and together! May your love comfort them during this difficult time and may they know you have not forsaken or left them behind, for you are a compassionate and loving Father who cares for his children. May they continue to have peace always. I pray in the name of your most Precious son Jesus. Amen!!
Amen
Amen
Amen, Pastor Dion! Timely devotional!
Amen
Beating timing Pastor Dionn thank you and GOD BLESS !!
Amen. Praise God! Thanks Pastor Todd! This helped a lot! Heavenly Father I thank You for Your patience with me. Help me to be stable and learn to time my steps with You. Make what is important to You, important to me and help me to focus on that. Please give me the grace to get through today, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
All I can say is, He's still working on me, He is the potter and I am the clay! One day at a time, carving, molding and shaping! Have a blessed day:)
Amen
This message was timely right down to the core of my soul. I recognise now more than ever God's hand in my life......