Recent Blog Entries
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My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand. John 10:27'29 WEB.The hero of t... -
When they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh set ambushers against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were struck. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. When they had finish...
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A Living Sacrifice from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Various sacrifices were required under the old covenant. Some of the sacrifices helped feed the priests and those who worked at the temple, but a burnt offering was placed on the altar and completely consumed by fire. You can read about...
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- led by Lynn BrownThis 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!
Sweet and Sour
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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, and that people will create their version of god, then want you to bow down to the god they created, much like Nebuchadnezzar did (Daniel 3:1).
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 and then taught alongside the word of God, as if it were from God.
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: believe what we have been told is in the Bible, or see for ourselves 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 you are good, or less when you think 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 love.
Prayer: Father, I thank You for Your unconditional love. Help me filter out the traditions of man and 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.
Note: Happy Sunday! Just a reminder that the Sunday live service will be today at 11am EST! Just go to the "Watch" link on the site menu and click on the "Join the Live Service" link. The room will be available about 15 mins before the start of service. The message will be "Where Did You Read That?", an illuminating teaching on separating God''s will from the our will.
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Amen!! Thank you Pastor Dion, for your true honest words in your devotion. I know what your talking about. I've heard people tell me things too through my life. When I was very ill after all I went thru I started a bible class on Tuesday nights. We was reading When Heaven Invades Earth. Written By Bill Johnson. The one elder lady just loved me and knew that I was fighting a battle dropping off medication. Many women heard about my story they started to come to the classes. We was there to read our book and talk about each chapter. Some of these women thought that they would point the finger at me for taking medication. I was a mess I just had a total hysterectomy due to high ovarian cancer counts. I lost my mother to ovarian cancer. I was placed on hormone tablets and was on medication for anxiety I took a turn for the worse and end up in the hospital from a break down 01-2013. I was a mess and my mind was not working right from the loss of the hormones. This old doctor placed me on 7 different medications. I looked at them and said I can't take all those pills. This old nurse said to me you know you like it. I look into her eyes and I said excuse you she pushed the wrong button. That's what happen at the church a lady looked into my eyes there and said to me your not a christian you have no faith when you have to pop 10 pills a day. She picked a number out of her head. I looked at her and said I would like to know when you took over for God? It's not up to you to judge me that's why I give it to God. I said I belong to God and he will help me not judge me. I looked at the lady who ask me to come to the classes. I said Maureen, I love you and love many others here but i'm not here to be judged. I said i'm done. Maureen, would drive me home she and a few other women left the church and never went back. I'm always kind I always do my best for what i'm going through. I won't let anyone talk to me or my husband in a rude mannor. The lady that did that to me got mad at the people in the church because they didn't let her son do something. I never heard from her but she wanted to get in touch with me. My number is not listed. I can pray for people like that but nobody is going to tell me I have no faith and if I was a christian I would not have to take medication. God, lets the doctors take care of us he's in the midst of my life and I know that. I don't like to call myself anything. I just like to say I follow Jesus. That's what I try to do everyday and it's hard but I just call His name when I need Him. I love all my brother's and sister's in the Lord but i'm no push over when one comes after me about what I need to do if I feel it's not from God. I know i'm not perfect and i'm a sinner but I sure give it my all to stay close to my Father. He brought me this far he's got plans for me what it is I don't know but when i'm not so weak he'll let me know. Amen. I'm Done!!! LOL Your going to have another beautiful service. God loves you and all you do he's got all these plans for you and I can feel him in the midst of all you and Sylvia are doing. We here at RHM have this special team love that pulls us together to love one another in this falling world. We all need to pray for our country. I pray in Jesus, name. Amen <3
I left my church for similar reason. People were making insensitive hurtful comments. It is so easy to judge than having compassion like the story of a good Samaritan. Two religious persons walk by a man being robbed and beaten and they move to the other side of the road for not wanting to do anything with that poor man until a Samaritan came by to help. I bet those 2 religious guys probably say to themselves that the man deserved to be beaten.
GOD BLESS YOU, DIANE. Beautifully stated.
Amen Diana, it doesn't matter what people think of us , only what God knows about us!
hallelajuh thank you lord amen
Amen! Thank you for this message! A wonderful reminder of God's unconditional love for us. Can't wait for church services this morning:) Pastor's Prayer: Father, I thank You for Your unconditional love. Help me filter out the traditions of man and 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.
Amen
Many times when trials come people think God is angry with them. They fail to remeber that trials are part of our lives in this world. They are here to refine us. John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. If we walk in faith and do not blame God, He lovingly sees us through to victory. The duration of the trial is not the matter, it is the attitude of our hearts, it is the showing of our faith, that is what matters.
Amen
Amen
Wonderful word Pastor Dion!!! Praise God!
Good Morning~great lesson Pastor!!! thank you!!
Looking forward to today's service
Amen am happy God don't only love us when we are good he loves us even when we are bad. Thank you Pastor Todd for these devotion message you sent to us each morning. Hope God continue to bless you and your family as you continue to serve him.
Thank you for your message today Pastor Dion I really enjoyed hearing you speak today you have a good way of communicating with everyday peoplel likem me. I can see how religious people get the standard of their tradition mixed up with what Jesus showed me us.
Amen Lord.
Amen
Amen. Praise God! Thanks Pastor Dion!