Recent Blog Entries
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Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven't you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth your hand now, and touch all t... -
You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith. In the same way, wasn't Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead. James...
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However you are just in all that is come on us; for you have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly; neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept your law, nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies with which you did testify against them. For they have not ser...
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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!
The Packhorse
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Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don't go away, the Counselor won't come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment; John 16:8 WEB
There I stood with my head down, too ashamed to look around me and every fiber of my being told me to run out of the door. I spent a lot of time looking at the floor and avoided making eye contact when attending church. I felt so ashamed to be there because of my past. Oh, I had been saved and baptized, but I was saddled with baggage and being ridden by the enemy like a packhorse. I was carrying shame from the past, and it was a heavy load.
Jesus came to convict the world of sin, but I often see people walking around bound by shame because of something they did twenty years ago, repented of seventy seven times, and still feel like God is mad at them over it.
Let me tell you this: God does not look at you like that. When you repent of something, it is gone.If you asked God about it again He will not know what you are talking about because He has put your sin as far as the East is from the West (Psalms 103:12). When God forgives you, He means it.
To Convict means: to expose, lay bare, to detect, to reveal your mistake to you. When you repent, it is gone.
To Shame means: to humiliate, dishonor, and to disgrace. Fear and shame are tools of the enemy. They are like bullies and will not leave without a fight, but when you decide to face them, they will flee.
Conviction is good and says: 'What you did was wrong. Apologize and don't do it again.' It will shape you into a better person.
Shame is evil and says: 'You are what is wrong.You are no good and you will never be any good. Look at what you did.Why don't you just quit.' The purpose is to get you to give up and drown in defeat.
When you stumble, repent, tell God you are sorry about that, and then lift your head up and stand tall. Know that you are forgiven and washed as white as snow.As far as hanging your head down in shame, stop it! Never give into that trap. How can you ever lead others to Jesus when you look so miserable yourself? The joy of the Lord is our strength. The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Shame will only keep you back from what God has for in store for you. Let it go and never fall into that trap.
Prayer: Father, I thank You for forgiving me. Please set me free from the chains of shame that try and cling to me. Lead me into all that You have for me to do here and let Your light shine in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
Note: Good morning! The highlighted group of the week is "What''s For Dinner?", a fun forum for recipes and ideas that are family friendly and the budget conscious. Most, if not all, of us could benefit from improving our cooking skills and stretching our dollar, so please do join us! The Creation Photographers theme of the week is "A Child''s View", based on Matthew 19:14. As always you are free to share as God calls you to.
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Amen thanks pastor Todd for this devotional message. Thank you Lord Jesus for giving me when I mess up.
AMEN!
Amen
It took many years for me to truly realize that ALL is FORGIVEN... What a glorious God we serve!!!
Praise God, Joy.
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST
Amen
Amen.
thank you lord for forgiving me thank you for giving me this new day to spread and speak about the good news amen
Prayer: Father, I thank You for forgiving me. Please set me free from the chains of shame that try and cling to me. Lead me into all that You have for me to do here and let Your light shine in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen! I know this well! I catch myself drowning in my guilt/shame/worthless feelings far too much and have to constantly remind myself to whom I truly belong. I thank God for the knowledge of his truths to strengthen me when I am weak and too tired to fight off the enemy's attack. He keeps me and holds me until I feel strong again and reminds me I'm his. Thank you Pastor! I needed to hear this today... God bless
I believe this too, that God is who He says He is, and can do what He says He can do, and that I am who God says I am, and that I can do what God says I can do!
amen
Amen
Amen
Thanks for your message which is, essentially, that Jesus was born, lived, died, was resurrected, and is now at the right hand of The Father interceding for us, so that we don't have to live in shame. Wonderful reminder of the grace Our Lord has given us!
I believe this!
Amen
Amen, brother Teddy!
The joy of the Lord is our strength, Amen!!
Mine too, Roseanne.
amen
Amen
We should only look to our past to see how far we have come. We will never obtain perfection, we can only let Him mold us into something better. It takes time and many trials and tribulations to grow us up in Christ, but it is so worth every storm!
I believe this!
Amen
It only by faith in Jesus Christ and by his grace that we are forgiven! He died on the Cross and washed away our sins with his blood shed for us! We all fall well short of his glory and need to only to live from this day forward for we cannot go back in time and change the past!
AMEN! I believe this!
Amen
Amen Pastor, you has lift me up. So many things I've done in the past that still around me and has kept me down. Your words have opened my eyes, Praise the Lord.
AMEN! Jose.
Amen
This is the most important thing that God wants us to believe, that we don't have to live in shame after God forgives us ALL of our Sin's. We can never redue our past, and God does not want us to. Forgiveness is just that and it is for eternity. I thank God for never remembering our sin, not ever again, we need to Trust God that this is the truth!
Amen
Amen!!! That hit home with me, I am always dealing with shame. I'm going to print this and post on my fridge so I can read it on a regular basis. I have a problem with a low self esteem because of past things that was done to me as a child and that led me into making some bad choices even since I been saved.
thank you for that word of encouragement.
Amen Diane
Amen ♡
before moving here I wrote testmony putting all down paper help free me and then shareing youth help feel shamed know hopeful make better choice even they from broken home God not talk about they may only go church felt sense peace of letting go give to jesue.
Amen.Thank you Father for accepting me the way I came,before asking you into my heart.For your forgiveness and changing me.Let your light shine in me ,and draw me closer to you,never let my heart grow cold,keep my heart on fire for you.In Jesus Christ I pray.
Thank you so much MY LORD GOD for forgiving me of my sins. The past is the past, we can not undo it. GOD forgives and want us to move forward not backward. For GOD is with us every step we make and hope and pray that we sin no more.
Amen! This message was right on time, thank you Jesus! I know I have been forgiven, I know that Jesus is more than enough for me. The enemy is a liar! I will stand on my faith and trust God to do his will. Jesus help me to accomplish everything you have for me, and rebuke the enemy from trying to load me up with shame and guilt in Jesus name Amen!
Now I realize that shame originates from satan! Thanks for this very important deveotional; I really needed to hear these words.
Thank you pastor Todd for another great devotional it really did speak to my heart and spirit in a good bright new way! thanx again sincerely Scott R.
Amen.
I can really relate to this devotional message. Today I sat in my room and watched television. I began to cry. My heart for a moment felt sad. I actually realized several times that I have not been able to be the parent that I wanted to be. When I thought this tears rolled down my face. I have felt guilty of not seeing my children for almost 5 years. My heart felt broken and my soul is wounded. I literally gave up fighting for custody and I felt the pain today. I have to go back to court and restart the process in having custody rights to see them again. Somedays I felt like I wanted to give up and I forced myself to interact with people and to keep walking to work even though I don't have a car yet. I am hopeful that God will give me the joy that a parent should have and for me to stop being sad.
Dear Madalyn,
What's done is done. I too lived with a lot of guilty feelings and thought that no one noticed me. One day I was on public transportation and a woman I had never seen before in my life, told me "son forgive yourself." Needless to say, I did not listen and continued to carry the guilt like a lunch box, yet her words to me kept coming back. What I am saying is it is not easy for some of us and even harder for others, but we MUST learn to forgive ourselves if we want to live in true victory in Christ. God has forgiven us, let us learn to forgive ourselves. My prayers will be for you and with you, God is Able. May all the Blessings of the Lord be upon you and your children, God is in the business of reconciliation, stand firm in your Faith.
Father, I pray that you comfort Madalyn, that you grant her favor with the court system, and increase her strength, in the name of Jesus, amen <3.
Amen
Amen! Thank you Pastor Dion for todays devotion. When I was done reading I thought to myself Diane you have done a lot that was in the reading. I use to repent then I would think about what I did out of know where something comes back and I repent would again. I have to say that i've gotton a lot better with not doing it like I did a some time ago. Thank You Father!!!
Amen. Praise God! Thank you Pastor Todd! Father, I thank You for forgiving me. Please set me free from the chains of shame that try and cling to me. Lead me into all that You have for me to do here and let Your light shine in my life. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Trying to keep my focus on God so to not pack it on. Sometimes I just say here, Lord, your will be done.