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 ...
Mountains and Valleys
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A man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, 'Yahweh says, 'Because the Syrians have said, 'Yahweh is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys;' therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am Yahweh.' 1 Kings 20:28 WEB
When the Syrians attacked Israel, they thought that the God of Israel was only a god of the mountains and not of the valleys. After several battles they learned that He is God Almighty on the mountain, as well as in the valley.
It is very easy for us to feel God's presence when we are on the mountain top. Certainly God is with us, our life is great, things are looking bright, hallelujah, praise the Lord.
The valley though is a completely different place in your life. 'Where is God's presence? It certainly isn't here with me. Look at this! What am I going to do now?'
Too many times we measure God's power by how well He obeys us, instead of us obeying Him and finding the way out. It is normal to cycle between these two poles. It seems that you are often coming out of one and heading towards another in the Christian life.
Keep your head up, keep serving God right across the valley and straight up the mountain. He is the God of both and in fact, He will still be God when the mountains and valleys are gone. Do not get overly excited on the mountain and do not get depressed in the valley. Keep it steady and stay the course.
Prayer: Father, I thank You for always being there for me. Help me praise You through the valley and on the mountain as well. You are the Creator of the heavens and the earth, forgive me for ever doubting You, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
Note: Good morning and happy Sunday! Don''''t forget that we will be having a live service this morning at 11am EST. The message, titled "Talk to Me", an in-depth teaching on the power of prayer (click on the Watch link on the site menu tomorrow to join - the room will open about 15 mins before the start of the service). Hope to see y''all there!
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Good Morning Brethren!! I Pray hope for a fun and exciting-edyfying 4th of July!!! For Me the Veteran I am, its been ever so tough for Me, Holidays!! My out look on issues, the reasons behind things, truth in it all, is the deal!! I can't state the exact day-the 4th was reconized!! I know for years now, thinking what arte we celebrating?? I believe it started being released from the grip of a foe... As today, we're in the grip of eveil Men I feel!! Our Government!! I went too VietNam, a sketchy War... being the Vet I am, having spent many days of this year at the VA Hospital, I see first hand the effects of War!! My mind spins over all the injustice going on!! Its said be in the world but not part of!! That in itself is such a statement!! I'll leave this with ya all!! Certainly I'm not alone in My thoughts.. another car bomb?? hum
Mike, I pray that you have an especially blessed 4th <3. Thank you for your service!
Yes God you are the God of the mountains and the valleys, the high times and our low times, and worthy to be praised!..Amen♡
Amen
Amen! Thank you! I see / feel his presence on the mountain tops and the valleys low! I know he is always with me! This is a great blessing indeed! To know even in the valleys I am not alone! Pastor's Prayer: Father, I thank You for always being there for me. Help me praise You through the valley and on the mountain as well. You are the Creator of the heavens and the earth, forgive me for ever doubting You, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
Amen, Dianna!
Amen
"If we suffer, we shall also reign with him."
2 Timothy 2:12
We must suffer in order to reign with him. We must keep this in mind as we walk through the valleys. We must accept this as part of our lot. If we take up his cross and follow, we are signing on to suffer as well. Through the low valleys rejoice, for in this suffering you are being made ready to follow him. In our peaks at the top of the mountain rejoice, for he gives us times of abundance and blessing to remember during these times of valleys. It is our assurance that we won't stay in the valley. we will only be there long enough to be refined. Then we will begin to climb the mountain once more. How long we stay in the valley depends upon how we accept this trial. Do we complain? are we angry at God? or like Paul once prayed in prison for boldness, is this our prayer to? God knows when we have passed the test and then He allows us to move on. Praise Him in the storm! Then He can either calm the storm or calm His child.
Amen, Carol, I truly believe our obedience makes all the difference!
GOD is in control in the middle of the storm. Praise GOD and have HOPE, FAITH and LOVE in our heart and we will all pass the test and up to the mountain we all go. Amen
Amen Carol! Your are so in tune with the Holy Spirit, thank you Jesus for carol bless her and continue to speak your precious truth through her and our pastor Dion. Thank you Father!!
Wesley the only reason I am in tune as you say is because of my complete and total surrender to Him. I gave Him my life and held nothing back. Now He is directing my thoughts, words and deeds. It is His Holy spirit working in me, i can do nothing without Him. God bless!!
Our true relationship with Him is built in the valleys. This is where it becomes stronger. This is where we find the true love of our Lord and Saviour. James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.Amen, brother!
Amen.
Amen mark. I've been in really deep valleys and although it was not fun, I always understood what God was trying to show me or tell me. And I always came out on the other side with blessings and love always. I thank you Father for the people in my life. For I know they are a direct extension of your perfect love. Amen!!
Thank you Lord and amen
Happy 4th, "Independance Day", I often wonder how many Americans really understand what that term means? As for mountins and valleys, for those who have seen the Rocky Mountians, there is what is known as a tree line on those mountians. There is no fruit grown where there are no trees. When we go into the valleys, we can produce fruit, there are plenty of trees in the valleys. The next time you find your self in the valley, stop to look at the fruit you are producing, God knows!
That is an amazing word, Jim, I've never thought of that :).
That is true. In the valley of our lives, we find HOPE for there are trees bearing fruit where there is HOPE, The tomorrow which only GOD knows that is going forward to the mountain for in GOD we trust.
Amen
How many times do we forget to continue to serve God when we are at the bottom of these valleys in our lives?
So true, Barbara, it is easy for most to do!
Amen!! Thank you Pastor Dion for this devotion. To let us know that God is not just on the mountain and in the valley. That he's threw the two of them too. So we can alway know that God is with us. Talk to him and always stay in touch. Amen.
Thank you Pastor Dion and Sylvia for that beautiful team love you have for one another. The two of you helping one another made all your services beautiful. Today was a beautiful service, the reading touched me telling me to listen. I want to hear God's voice so I need to talk to God wait and listen longer. Amen! Thank You!!! I Love You Both. <3
Aww, thank you so much, Diane, we love you, too! (((HUGS)))
***hugs*** :-)
Amen
Amen thank you for another great devotional have a wonderful day I pray for God to reveal himself to u in a new and fresh way!
Amen!
Amen.Thank you Pastor.
Amen thank you Jesus
Amen. Praise God! Thanks Pastor Dion! Father, I thank You for always being there for me. Help me praise You through the valley and on the mountain as well. You are the Creator of the heavens and the earth, forgive me for ever doubting You, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Thank you dear Pastor, for the great message!