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  • 7 hours ago
    Posted by Dion Todd
    Yahweh said to Joshua, "Get up! Why have you fallen on your face like that?" Joshua 7:10 WEB.Joshua lay prostrate before the ark of the Lord all that evening. Yesterday, he had been a mighty warrior. Now Israel had lost the battle at Ai, all because one of the men with him had become greedy and brok...
  • Wed at 3:01 AM
    Posted by Dion Todd
    Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, "Don't fight with small nor great, except only with the king of Israel." When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "It is the king of Israel!" Therefore they turned around to fight against him. But Jehoshap...
  • Tue at 3:01 AM
    Posted by Dion Todd
    But Naaman was angry, and went away and said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper' " 2 Kings 5:11 WEB.Naaman stared at his new skin with amazement when he came up from the muddy wa...
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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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Shark Bait

  • Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren't tempted. Galatians 6:1 WEB

    We all make mistakes. Not one of us on Earth has lived a perfect life except Jesus. Yet we tend to compare our righteousness to that of others. Sometimes we feel like, "Though we all fall short, I am a lot closer than them." The truth is that we all need Jesus because our own righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). It literally means a "menstrual cloth." Maybe our rag is not quite as dirty as someone else's, but it's certainly not a wedding veil.

    When a shark is injured in the wild, their own friends and family may turn on them and tear them apart. A feeding frenzy takes place, and they begin to devour the wounded with their mouths. This is the way that sharks behave when there is blood in the water.

    Too often, when a Christian stumbles, the rest turn on them and rip them to shreds with gossip. Some feel better about themselves by making others look bad. Maybe our righteousness is now bumped up to a 4 because we haven't done that yet' The "yet" word is the tricky part.

    Bart Simpson once said, "This is the worst day of my life!" Homer wisely told him, "This is the worst day of your life, so far'" Like Bart, we don't really know what is coming in our lives. I once heard an elder at our church in his mid-seventies say one morning that he had gone back and done everything he had earlier said that he would never do. As I grew older, I began to understand. I find it interesting that when Jesus confronted the Pharisees with condemning another of sin, the oldest left first:

    "But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her." Again he stooped down and with his finger, wrote on the ground. They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last" (John 8:6'9).

    When I was young and cocky, knowing very little, I thought I knew a lot. Then as life happened, I learned what it brings with it and what you can do when given the right set of circumstances. The sin that so easily besets us is always lurking right around the corner (Hebrews 12:1). It crouches outside your door seeking an entrance into your life (Genesis 4:7). I believe that as you get older and your pile of sin gets even more massive, that you become a little more understanding of when people fall. Thus the oldest left first.

    Most of the time, people do not need you to tell them they have fallen. They already know that better than you. They need help to get back up. We have all fallen short in the sin area. It only takes one sin to be guilty of the whole law (James 2:10), and all liars will have their part in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). Without the Lord Jesus Christ's grace, we are all hopelessly lost and will bust hell wide open. Not literally, but you get the idea.

    Yet there is hope, there is forgiveness for our mistakes. If you are down right now, know that the Lord Jesus died for you to have eternal life, and your past can be wiped away with a simple prayer. If you know someone today that has fallen, be kind to them. Treat them like you would like to be treated. If the Lord has already forgiven them, who are we to point at their past. Help restore them, and in doing so, you may not become shark bait yourself.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You so much for all that You do in my life. Please help me see the lost and hurting through Your eyes. Fill me with Your compassion. Help me show mercy, as I have been shown mercy, in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

    Note: 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.' (Philippians 4:6-7) ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network


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16 comments
  • 1
Debi Burton
Debi Burton Lord Jehovah, Help me to be humble and kind and loving to others, thank you for all you do for us in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen
September 12, 2020
  • 3
Brenda F
Brenda F

Amen

September 12, 2020
  • 3
Patricia Walker
Patricia Walker

Amen. May we all be humble and kind to one another. Thank you Jesus for my Blessings. Amen. 

September 12, 2020
  • 3
Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson

Amen!!

September 12, 2020
  • 3
Jim Jarrell
Jim Jarrell

Amen! Thank You Lord!

September 12, 2020
  • 3
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen Father help me to be more kinder to others

September 12, 2020
  • 3
David  Earlywine
David Earlywine

Jesus ,help us to help others as you have helped us.We love you. Amen 

September 12, 2020
  • 4
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

Father, help me to not judge others and to always be humble and kind. Thank You for Your forgiveness and mercy, Amen!

September 12, 2020
  • 3
Yada (Wendy)
Yada (Wendy)

Rebuild His House

Do not tear it down

Amen ♡♡♡

September 12, 2020
  • 2
Scott Riegelmann
Scott Riegelmann

Amen thank you Jesus my trust is in you

September 12, 2020
  • 2
Linda Clark
Linda Clark

Help me to always  be humble  and walk with jesus   in jesus name amen 

September 12, 2020
  • 2
Jose Simo
Jose Simo

Heavenly Father help us to be a helper for those who have fall, give us the wisdom to make them feel better through Your word. We have fall and Your loving grace has picked up us, make us humble and caring for those who need it. In Jesus Christ name we pray, Amen. Lord use us as You wish. 

Love this devotional Pastor, God bless you and Sylvia. 

 

September 12, 2020
  • 2
Cathy Webb
Cathy Webb

Thank you for this sobering reminder, Pastor Dion. Lord, please help me see the lost and hurting through Your eyes. Fill me with Your compassion. Help me show mercy, as You have graciously given mercy to me, in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

September 12, 2020
  • 2
Yvette York
Yvette York

Amen

September 12, 2020
  • 2
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

Help me be patient dear God. In the name of Jesus Amen 

September 12, 2020
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen!

September 14, 2020