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  • 7 hours ago
    Posted by Dion Todd
    Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you." The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not yo...
  • Thu at 3:01 AM
    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...
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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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The Placebo Replacement

  • Amaziah also said to Amos, "You seer, go, flee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there, but don't prophesy again any more at Bethel; for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a royal house!" Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman, and a farmer of sycamore figs; and Yahweh took me from following the flock, and Yahweh said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.' Now therefore listen to Yahweh's word Amos 7:12'16 WEB.

    Amos, Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah lived during a dark time in the history of Israel. Their forefathers had forsaken the living God and replaced Him with something else. A more passive, placebo god. It was a strange situation. They had built the altars and temples for God, and the priests continued their rituals, but God had left the building.

    The priests continued their daily offerings, even though God was sick of them (Isaiah 1:14, Jeremiah 6:20, 7:21, Hosea 4:13). He had told them: "Listen to My voice and I will be your God, and you shall be My people, and walk in the way that I command you" (Jeremiah 7:23).

    Yet, they turned that commandment into rote tradition and became more wicked than the people the Lord had driven out before them. They kept a long list of religious rules but had no relationship with God. They were spiritually dead, and it became the blind leading the blind. Oddly enough, church life can continue long after God has left the building.

    A placebo is a harmless pill designed to merely calm or please someone. It has no therapeutic effect. The word comes from Latin and literally means, "I shall please." The Israelites had created a pleasing god that was easy to get along with.

    God sent Jeremiah to warn them and tell them the truth. Yet, instead of listening to his words, they became furious and wanted to kill him. "The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of Yahweh. It happened, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that Yahweh had commanded him to speak to all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold on him, saying, 'You shall surely die'" (Jeremiah 26:7).

    God's word was no longer welcome in His own house, and they beat His prophets and put them in jail (Jeremiah 20:2). He sent many messengers to try and correct them, but they beat them, stoned them, and refused to acknowledge that God had sent them at all (1Kings 13:1).

    Amos was a shepherd and a farmer, but God gave him a message for Israel and sent him to them to try and wake His people up. God's priests were spiritually deaf and simply continued on in their daily drudgery. They stubbornly rejected His correction and led the people into worshiping a fake placebo god. The high priest told God's prophet Amos to get out and stay out.

    Eventually, God had enough of this, and He stirred up Assyria to destroy Israel and carry the people into exile. Then the kingdom of Babylon captured Judah. They burned the cities, destroyed the temples, and carried the people far away to be servants in a foreign land. God gave the nation a reboot and started over, much like the flood during Noah's day.

    Jeremiah prophesied that after seventy years in exile, God would visit them and bring them back to Israel (Jeremiah 29:10). So when the seventy years were up, Daniel began praying, fasting, and reminding God of His word to them (Daniel 9:2). Isaiah had prophesied 150 years before Cyrus became king that he would be the one to rebuild the Lord's temple (Isaiah 44:28). So God called King Cyrus by name about 150 years before he came on the scene.

    This is the time when Ezra and Nehemiah lived. The seventy years in exile were completed. King Cyrus, a pagan king who was used by God, gave an order to rebuild the temple of God at Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1). The remnants of the Jewish people began returning home after spending those seventy years in exile.

    God always has a redemption plan in place before His judgment comes. When the world was destroyed by a flood in Noah's time, God kept a remnant alive to rebuild it. When Israel was destroyed and taken into exile, God brought a remnant back safely to rebuild. Isaiah's prophesying of Cyrus 150 years before shows that God was already working on the way to restore a proper relationship with His people before their fall began.

    God always makes a way for the fallen to return to His family. Not as an outcast but as a fully accepted, loved person of status, just as the prodigal son returned home to a feast, a signet ring, the finest robe, and sandals (Luke 15:22). You are a true son or daughter of the Most-High God, and no matter what you have done in your life, God wants you back with Him.

    He was working out the way for you to return before you ever left. He already set the time for you to go free before you were taken captive. He knows you by name, and even the hairs of your head are all numbered (Luke 12:7). "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16).

    Prayer: Heavenly Father, I ask for and accept Your forgiveness for my sins. Please help me return to You in every area of my life. Consume me with Your love Lord, and let me see through Your eyes today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

    Note: Ladies, today is Thankful Thursday at the "Ladies in Distress" group (our RHM women's group)! You are welcome to join in our weekly sharing of thankfulness for the Lord's presence and any blessings you may have experienced, big or small! "Ladies in Distress" is a private group, so if you have any problems joining, just post anywhere and we will help you :). Here is the link: Ladies in Distress


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20 comments
  • 1
Debi Burton
Debi Burton Heavenly Father, I ask for and accept Your forgiveness for my sins. Please help me return to You in every area of my life. Consume me with Your love Lord, and let me see through Your eyes today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
March 10, 2022
  • 6
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer

Yes Lord, forgive all my sins and i forgive those who wronged me, lead me and I will follow, let me see through Your eyes, in Jesus's name i pray, amen.

March 10, 2022
  • 6
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen, thank You for Your love and forgiveness. Father help me to see through Your eyes, in Jesus name I pray.

March 10, 2022
  • 5
Candy Laventure
Candy Laventure

Thank you for your forgiveness, Lord. Amen!

March 10, 2022
  • 4
Kevin J. Eck
Kevin J. Eck

Amen, thank you Father for your forgiveness!

March 10, 2022
  • 3
Dana Rozell
Dana Rozell

Yes Amen.

March 10, 2022
  • 3
Celeste Strenn
Celeste Strenn

Amen 

March 10, 2022
  • 3
Patricia Walker
Patricia Walkeredited: March 10, 2022

Amen.  Heavenly Father, Thank you for Your blessings in my life. Thank You for Your forgiveness. AMEN

March 10, 2022
  • 2
Perry Robertson
Perry Robertson

Amen!

 

March 10, 2022
  • 2
Bella Colliander
Bella Colliander

Amen!

March 10, 2022
  • 2
Yvette York
Yvette York

Amen Good Morning Everyone 

March 10, 2022
  • 2
Wanda Pennington
Wanda Pennington

Thank you Lord for forgiving me of all my transgressions.  For those who transgressions against me.  Thank you for your daily favor over me and my family.  Amen 

March 10, 2022
  • 2
Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson

Amen!!

March 10, 2022
  • 2
Richard Mondello
Richard Mondello

In Lord Yeshua's name I ask this, Amen. 

March 10, 2022
  • 2
David Krull
David Krull

Amen. Speak to me Lord in ways I can clearly hear. Direct my paths. In Jesus Name. Amen

March 10, 2022
  • 1
Scott Riegelmann
Scott Riegelmann

Amen and Amen!! God is so  Good and I feel so blessed to be a small part of the body of Christ, Happy Thursday 

March 10, 2022
  • 1
Cathy Webb
Cathy Webb

A valuable reminder of God's faithfulness and plan, Pastor Dion! Lord, rule over every area of my life. Consume me with Your love and let me see through Your eyes today. Thank you. In Jesus' name, amen

March 10, 2022
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen!

March 10, 2022
  • 1
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

Amen 

March 10, 2022
  • 1
David Fabillaran
David Fabillaran

Amen my Lord!

March 11, 2022