Recent Blog Entries
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RHM Devotional: The Chain of Command from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the chain of command in the Kingdom of God. When we began RHM, I was blown away by some of the prayer requests that we received. Many people confused God with Santa Claus. I remember one in p... -
David therefore departed there, and escaped to the cave of Adullam: and when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered themselves to him; and he became captain...
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Peter answered him and said, 'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.' He said, 'Come!' Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, 'Lord, save ...
Teach a Man to Fish
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Jesus said to them, 'Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.' Immediately they left their nets, and followed him. Mark 1:17-18 WEB
While growing up, I spent a lot of time on the rivers near my home in South Carolina. The black water of the Waccamaw was just a few miles away and fishing and hunting were a normal part of everyday life in the country. Bait selection was imperative, crickets for bream, night-crawlers for catfish, minnows or lures for bass. A good fisherman always went prepared.
You also have to use different tactics according to your quarry. When fishing you try and entice a fish to take the bait. You put something in front of them that looks good, appealing, a lure, something that they desire and would want to eat. Using the wrong bait will get you nothing but ignored. The fish willingly go after the right bait when it is presented and become hooked. If you make much noise you will drive the fish away, and if the lure does not look good they will never go for it to begin with.
In hunting you pursue your prey, often with the help of barking dogs and other hunters, depending on the quarry. The prey does not willingly submit either. It is being chased or ambushed and their only desire is that you would leave them alone.
God knows the difference between hunting and fishing as well, and there are different seasons for each. He told Jeremiah: 'Behold, I will send for many fishermen,' says Yahweh, 'and they will fish them up. Afterward I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them from every mountain, from every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks' (Jeremiah 16:16). In Jeremiah, He gave Israel a chance to come willingly by having fishers 'lure' them. Afterwards He sent the hunters to force them.
Jesus said that He would make us 'fishers of men', not their hunters. We are to make Jesus look good, appealing, something people would want. If they do not willingly take the bait then move on. Do not pursue them like a hunter as you will just drive them away. No means no. The prodigal son's Father did not chase him down with a Bible yelling at him, but instead was there waiting for his return when he came to his senses (Luke 15:17). Make Jesus look good and do not be offensive or scary when you share your faith with others.
Prayer: Father, I thank You for Your grace and wisdom. Help me know what to say at the right time and keep me from driving those away that would come to know You. Help me find a balance in my life. Please walk with me and talk with me today, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
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This message really hit home. My son and daughter-in-law, whom is Muslim, constantly say to me that our God is the same God. I have tried gently (or so I thought) to explain the difference that our God is not the same God. It came to the point a few years ago that my son asked me to no longer discuss religion with them as I am upsetting my daughter-in-law. Of course I agreed but, since then I have been upset because they don't know the truth and will not listen to the truth.
Pastor Dion, this article has awakened me to be prepared for when they find the truth. I feel so much better as it is more important to show them love and patience than to try to make them see the light. I will continue praying for them and turn this over to the Lord.
Thank you for sharing this article!
God Bless you and thank you!
Hi Debbie, I have five who grew up in church or accepted Christ in church. I heard someone say.."they hear about thei father's God but on day they will meet Him and He(Jesus) will be there God. Veil on eyes does not help. When thy are drawn to Him & seek Him to find Him & receive Him then it is for sure the veil is off. The different soils talked about in Matthew then seem to show up in my adult kids & can take another path which then I believe the Lord draw them again. Yes, my heart too is waiting too yet even though I try to put one foot in front of other till then for I know ultimately they are in God's hands.
Amen. Praise God! Thanks Pastor Todd! Father, I thank You for Your grace and wisdom. Help me know what to say at the right time and keep me from driving those away that would come to know You. Help me find a balance in my life. Please walk with me and talk with me today, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
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