Peaceful Easy Feeling
by Dion Todd April 17th, 2016
Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if this cup can't pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done.' He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words. Matt 26:42 WEBOn the night that Jesus was betrayed, He was troubled in His spirit and went to the garden of Gethsemane...
The Stealership
by Dion Todd April 15th, 2016
The spirit of man is Yahweh's lamp, searching all his innermost parts. Proverbs 20:27 WEBA friend of mine once worked as a salesman at a car dealership. One day a lady came in that wanted to buy a certain car, but the air conditioning did not work. The manager promised her that they would fix it if she brought it back later in the month, so she purchased the car as is. When she brought the car back...
Heads or Tails
by Dion Todd April 10th, 2016
For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? But if we hope for that which we don't see, we wait for it with patience. Rom 8:24 WEBOh, I don't want to face tomorrow. I have a bad, bad, feeling about this. On and on we go, into a spiral of self-pity and hopelessness. Fear, anxiety and depression begin to snowball and soon consume us. Eventually...
Possibilities
by Dion Todd April 8th, 2016
Jesus, looking at them, said, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.' Mark 10:27 WEBHave you ever faced an impossible circumstance? Something that looked entirely hopeless. Jesus said that ALL things are possible with God. Nothing is out of reach, nothing is impossible. We often try to work things out in our mind, with our own reasoning. We can only see...
Coming Apart At The Seams
by Dion Todd April 6th, 2016
Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there. Simon and those who were with him searched for him. They found him and told him, 'Everyone is looking for you.' Mark 1:35 WEBJesus would often withdraw from the noisy crowds to be alone with the Father in prayer. It was here that He chose His disciples, refreshed His strength,...
Star Lord
by Dion Todd April 5th, 2016
God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. Gen 1:16 WEBHe also made the stars. I read this verse sometimes and am amazed by how much the Bible packs into a single verse. Scientists estimate they are around 300 sextillion stars now and that number keeps growing as they develop devices that let them see further. That...
This Is The One
by Dion Todd March 29th, 2016
Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, 'Yahweh has not chosen these.' Samuel said to Jesse, 'Are all your children here?' He said, 'There remains yet the youngest. Behold, he is keeping the sheep.' Samuel said to Jesse, 'Send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.' He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a handsome face and good appearance....
Icy Paint Buckets
by Dion Todd March 27th, 2016
He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? If you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? Luke 16:10 WEBIt was a cold day and the wind coming in off the...
Peace
by Dion Todd March 23rd, 2016
In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6 WEBMany saints and martyrs in the past have faced terrible trials and death with a peace in their hearts that no one could explain. Some sang hymns on...
A Fresh Start
by Dion Todd March 22nd, 2016
Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, 'Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.' John 8:10 WEBOne day while Jesus was teaching in the temple, the religious leaders brought in a woman who had been caught in the very act of adultery and stood her in front of the crowd. They asked Him...
Shock Treatment
by Dion Todd March 20th, 2016
All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby. Hebrews 12:11 WEBWhile at school, I learned to read and write, add and subtract, and much more. However, many times it was after school that the learning really began for me. Dad would tell us 'That electric fence will shock you so...
Be Strong For You Are Not Alone
by Dion Todd March 19th, 2016
Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid or scared of them; for Yahweh your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 WEBWe can become so withdrawn sometimes and begin to feel that it is us against the world, and that no one seems to care or even notice what we are going through, or currently struggling with. Even in a crowd, we can feel alone and all...
Facing Failure
by Dion Todd March 14th, 2016
He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.' Simon answered him, 'Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.' When they had done this,...
God of the Universe
by Dion Todd March 13th, 2016
John answered them, 'I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don't know. He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I'm not worthy to loosen.' These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!' John 1:26 WEBAdam...
Bad to the Bone
by Dion Todd March 12th, 2016
Yahweh spoke to Manasseh, and to his people; but they didn't listen. Therefore Yahweh brought on them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. When he was in distress, he begged Yahweh his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him; and he was entreated by him, and heard his...
RHM March 2016 Newsletter
by Dion Todd March 10th, 2016
“He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, To love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 WEB
March Newsletter - 2016
Hello there,
Thank you for reading our devotional and being a part of Refreshing Hope Ministries. This is our monthly update on what has been happening here during the last month and I thank you for taking...
Get Up And Go
by Dion Todd March 7th, 2016
Yahweh said to Joshua, Get you up; why are you thus fallen on your face? Joshua 7:10 WEBJoshua lay on his face before the Lord while praying. Israel had sinned and as a result, they had lost the battle at the small town of Ai. The first town that they had come to in the promised land was Jericho. The walls fell down after marching around it seven times, and it was not a difficult battle.They were supposed...
Carving Out The Masterpiece
by Dion Todd March 1st, 2016
If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light. Luke 11:36 WEBAfter viewing the marble statue of David, someone asked Michelangelo, 'How did you know what to cut away?' The sculptor answered, 'It's simple, I just remove everything that doesn't look like David.' He knew what the statue should...
Connecting the Dots
by Dion Todd February 29th, 2016
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness Luke 4:1 WEBI would not be here, if I had not been there. So many times in our life we can look back and say those words. Where we were when we met our spouse, and how narrow a time frame that it was. Taking a job that we did not really like, only to find that it was a stepping stone for something...
The Sin Problem
by Dion Todd February 28th, 2016
The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!' John 1:29 WEBDo you ever feel guilt or shame over something in your past? Is there something haunting you and saying, 'God is mad at you because'' or 'You are not worthy to do this?' That is the enemy trying to immobilize you and keep you from doing God's will. That is what he does, he...
Two Kingdoms
by Dion Todd February 26th, 2016
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn't believe has been judged already John 3:16 WEBWhat an amazing piece of scripture. God sent His Son Jesus...
Crouching At The Door
by Dion Todd February 25th, 2016
Yahweh said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? If you do well, won't it be lifted up? If you don't do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.' Genesis 4:6 WEBCain got angry because the Lord had no regard for the offering that he had brought, but did to Abel's offering. After Cain became very angry, the Lord told him that...
Carrying The Cross
by Dion Todd February 24th, 2016
He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, 'Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.' Mark 8:34 WEBIf you will just keep following Jesus one day at a time, no power on earth can stop you because the Father is mightier than all. He created the universe, the earth, the stars, as well as us. He is not called 'The Almighty'...
The Promise Keeper
by Dion Todd February 21st, 2016
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:29 WEBI know a dad that once bought his son a car because he had taken a turn for the better. Not very long after this, his son got a DUI with the car and the dad took it back and sold it. I don't blame the dad and may have done the same, but often our gifts are more of a bonus or a reward than an actual gift.Many times when we give gifts...
Catching Fire in the Rain
by Dion Todd February 19th, 2016
Let us acknowledge Yahweh. Let us press on to know Yahweh. As surely as the sun rises, Yahweh will appear. He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain that waters the earth. Hosea 6:3 WEBDuring the long hot summer of the south, the fields can get so dry that the crops just sit dead. The one thing that they need to restore life and make everything right, is a good rain shower. Once the rain...
The Good Shepherd
by Dion Todd February 13th, 2016
Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:35 WEBWhen Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion on them for...
RHM February 2016 Newsletter
by Dion Todd February 9th, 2016
For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky, and doesn’t return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:10–11 WEB
February...
Nineveh is the Other Direction
by Dion Todd February 7th, 2016
Now Yahweh's word came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it, for their wickedness has come up before me.' But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid its fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. Jonah...
The Box
by Dion Todd February 1st, 2016
The donkey saw Yahweh's angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam's anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 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...
The Mechanical Rabbit
by Dion Todd January 31st, 2016
For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. Ecclesiastes 2:26 WEBIn dog racing, they have a lure called a mechanical rabbit that runs along a rail. At the start of the race, the dogs line up and then chase this rabbit around the...