Recent Blog Entries
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They heard Yahweh God's voice walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden. Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" The man said, "I heard your voice in the garden, and I wa... -
Beauty for Ashes from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. We live in an age of smiling despair. Like a whitewashed tomb, everything looks fine on the outside, but inside us, there is a pile of dead dreams. The things we struggle with seem overwhelming, and we don't feel strong enough to face the...
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Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this: he will make your righteousness shine out like light, and your justice as the noon day sun. Psalm 37:4-6 WEB.Once while performing a deed search on some...
Institutionalized Religion
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For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard; a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Luke 7:33'34 WEB.
A gloomy feeling settled over you when you entered the church sanctuary. Everyone was somber, with long faces like they were mourning, but it wasn't a funeral. The elders certainly looked elderly. The paintings of Jesus on the wall always made Him look sad. Either He was a baby in a manger or bleeding out on a cross. This church was cold, quiet, and highly religious. It was institutionalized religion at its finest, and the denomination was basically a franchise.
When I read my Bible, I couldn't help but think, "We seem to be missing something." Jesus lived a colorful, full, happy life. He laughed with people, He loved, He wept. Jesus had friends. He fasted often, but at other times, He ate very well. The Pharisees stood outside and watched Him feast with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:11). Yet, they felt too holy to go inside themselves. They stood outside feeling holier than the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus gave His disciples nicknames like the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17) when James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven. He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21). The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17), and Jesus walked in that realm. The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and I am sure that Jesus was strong.
The great reformer Martin Luther became a monk. He wore himself out praying to saints, fasting, and confessing sins to his superiors. Yet, it gave him no peace. Then he found true grace, left monkery, married a nun, and changed the known world. Luther raised ten children and concluded that "Marriage is a far better school for character than any monastery."
The Lord Jesus Christ wants you to live a full and wonderful life just as He did. There will be times of laughing and times of weeping. There will be times of fasting and times of feasting. There is a time to be born and a time to die. So allow room for joy in your life, and balance the drudgery. Don't allow cold, dead religion to sap the joy from your life, for it was God who invented blue skies and sunshine.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please restore the joy to my life and let me feel Your touch once again. Help me focus on what is important to You and guide my heart today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Note: This morning, we will be hosting our RHM Live Online church service. This is a special time of worship, prayer, fellowship and an inspiring message. All are welcome! Here is the link to join: RHM Live> You can subscribe to our daily devotional here <
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Yes Lord Jesus, bring back the joy to my life, please help me to fulfil my destony in Your joy, in Jesus's name i pray, amen.
Amen Father thank You for teaching me peace and joy in my life.
JOY ! YES, AMEN...LOVE YOU LORD. JESUS.
Amen The joy of the Lord is my strength!
Jesus,please give us peace, happiness and joy. Amen
Amen! Lord, help me focus on what is important to You and guide my heart today.
Thank You For All The Joy You Put In My Life Amen Good Morning Everyone Have A Joyful Day
May I always have the love and joy of Jesus in my heart. Amen!
Amen. Jesus restore unto me the joy of my salvation and renew a right spirit in me. In Jesus Name.
Amen!!
Amen! : )
Amen
In Jesus Name I ask, Amen
Amen
I would love to live a life full of joy. Please my God make me a joyous happy person. Amen
Help me to do what You said for the rest of my time here on earth Lord Jesus,Amen.
Amen!