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  • Tue at 3:01 AM
    Posted by Dion Todd
    In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It's a ghost!" and they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying "Cheer up! I AM! Don't be afraid." Peter answered him and said...
  • May 28
    Posted by Dion Todd
    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 ...
  • May 28
    Posted by Dion Todd
    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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  • March 25, 2022 - led by Lynn Brown
    This 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!
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Sweet and Sour

  • Yahweh appeared of old to me, saying, 'Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness.' Jeremiah 31:3 WEB

    There is a saying that you can catch more flies with honey, than you can with vinegar. Yet when I was growing up in the Bible Belt, most of the things that I heard about God were seasoned with vinegar, sort of like: 'God does love you, but He will kill you if do not do what I said.'

    Over the years, I have learned that God is not like that at all, but that people will create their own version of god, then want you to bow down to the god that they created, much like Nebuchadnezzar did (Daniel 3:1). The only way to know the difference, is to know His word.

    While Jesus was ministering on the earth, the pharisees condemned Him for not teaching His disciples to follow their traditions. Some of the disciples did not wash their hands up to the elbow seven times before eating (Mark 7:1). This was just a man-made tradition that had been passed down through the generations and taught alongside the word of God, as if it were from God. The problem was that it wasn't.

    In my own life, it has taken years to weed through that baggage, and I still find pieces that don't belong now. For some reason it is easy for us to believe the lie that God is mean, or that He is mad at us. It is much more difficult to believe that He truly loves us, that we are forgiven, that we can now come boldly before Him, but this is the truth that scripture teaches.

    The first time that I read the Bible completely through, I was most amazed by what was not in there, and sometimes by what was. So we have a choice: to believe what we have been told is in the Bible, or look for ourselves and see what is actually in there.

    What is in there is this: God loves us with an everlasting love, and that love never changes based on your behavior. He does not love you more when you think that you are good, or less when you think that you are bad. He draws us with His loving kindness to get us to turn to Him. When you fall, get up, He still loves you. When you come to know the Lord, you will only find sweetness, compassion, and unconditional love.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your unconditional love. Help me to filter out the traditions of man and to focus on actually knowing You and Your word. Teach me the things that I need to know. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

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21 comments
  • 2
Debi Burton
Debi Burton Praise the Lord Hallelujah! Amen
August 10, 2019
  • 2
Eric Rodriguez
Eric Rodriguez

Thanks be to GOD ...................

 

August 10, 2019
  • 3
David  Earlywine
David Earlywine

Amen, praise God from whom all blessings flow.

August 10, 2019
  • 1
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen!

August 10, 2019
  • 3
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

Amen! This is truly what I want, a real relationship with our Father.

August 10, 2019
  • 1
Richard Mondello
Richard Mondello

Ditto Lynn. God bless...

August 10, 2019
  • 2
Cathy Webb
Cathy Webb

Amen! Me, too, Lynn!

August 10, 2019
  • 3
Jim Jarrell
Jim Jarrell

Amen! It is amazing the traditions that are not in the Bible at all. You do not have to look far. Thank You Lord for Your Words!

August 10, 2019
  • 1
Wanda Pennington
Wanda Pennington

Amen!!

August 10, 2019
  • 3
Linda Clark
Linda Clark

This is a very good to learn  this praise God!! Amen

August 10, 2019
  • 1
Dana Rozell
Dana Rozell

Amen.

August 10, 2019
  • 1
Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson

Amen!!

August 10, 2019
  • 2
Richard Mondello
Richard Mondello

Uplifting and encouraging message. Thanks pastor Dion. So glad God is faithful and loves us even when we aren't feeling it.

August 10, 2019
  • 3
Jose Simo
Jose Simo

Heavenly Father I thank Your loving kindness for me a sinner, show me the truth about Your word to stay away from tradition. You are the loving Father whom we need to follow. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 

Thank you Pastor for this wonderful message, God bless you. 

August 10, 2019
  • 2
Perry Robertson
Perry Robertson

Amen! Traditions of Man always try to put God in a box, how audacious to think that they can do that, My mothers generation has taught me what religion can do to distort things to their liking. I prefer the truth, And I to am amazed by whats not in the bible, and happy and refreshed by what is! Great devotional Pastor Dion

August 10, 2019
  • 2
Cathy Webb
Cathy Webb

Lord, thank You for Your unconditional love. Teach me the things that I need to know. Amen

A perfect prayer for my day! Thank you, Pastor Dion!

August 10, 2019
  • 1
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

Help me to grow in knowledge of you God. Help me to do what’s right always and guide us to do your will. Thank you for your many blessings praise God amen

August 10, 2019
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen!

August 10, 2019
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardle

Amen and Amen !!! 

August 10, 2019
  • 1
Ed Frye
Ed Frye

Amen!!

August 11, 2019
  • 1
Sandra Colby
Sandra Colby

AMEN

August 14, 2019