Drink in the Spirit forget the spirits
by Jeffrey Smith June 7th, 2016
Proverbs 31: 4-7: It is not for kings, O Lemuel--not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.
This is not a devotional about the evils of drinking...
Straddling the Fence
by Linda Darlene Gibson June 5th, 2016
“Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.” 1 Kings 18:20
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have to truly Trust him in all the decisions in our lives because he doesn’t just want part of...
Call Me Brother
by Jeffrey Smith June 3rd, 2016
Genesis 20:11- Abraham replied, "I said to myself, there is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.' Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, this is how you can show your love to me. Everywhere we go, say of me, "He is...
Perspective
by Jeffrey Smith June 2nd, 2016
Philippians 2:1-4
2 Corinthians 3:12-14
Humility or boldness which is better? Running on the road is a balance of beating down the flesh which says, you can’t do this, you should just give up, and concentrating on the power of Christ in us. I run on the road and I face oncoming traffic. As I am running, I feel this other conflict deep inside and one that says, "be humble and get out of...
Who does it?
by Jeffrey Smith June 1st, 2016
Mark 11:23-24-Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him.
So we read this scripture and wonder, why don't we look at things and tell them to do what we want them to do more often? You would think that we would be telling cancer to leave bodies, and...
For we are tempted...
by Linda Darlene Gibson June 1st, 2016
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10: 13
There have been many times in my life I have been tempted in a variety of ways. Some I will admit I resisted...
RHM May 2016 Newsletter
by Dion Todd May 31st, 2016
Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat. You clothe yourself with the wool. You kill the fatlings, but you don’t feed the sheep. You haven’t strengthened the diseased. You haven’t healed that which was sick. You haven’t bound up that which was broken. You haven’t...
Cuts Like A Knife
by Dion Todd May 29th, 2016
Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, 'Whomever I will kiss, that is he. Seize him, and lead him away safely.' When he had come, immediately he came to him, and said, 'Rabbi! Rabbi!' and kissed him. They laid their hands on him, and seized him. Mark 14:44 WEBIt was now dark. Jesus and the disciples had finished their last supper, sang a hymn together, and then went to pray in the Garden...
Reversing The New Low
by Dion Todd May 28th, 2016
And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10 KJVJob went through a terrible time in his life where he lost everything. As he sat in a pile of ashes with sores covering his body, his friends told him that it was the sinful life that he had lived that had caused all of this to happen. Actually, Job had lived...
Shake off temptation
by Jeffrey Smith May 27th, 2016
Acts 28:6- The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
Mark 16:18- they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well."
Do you know what venom...
Lending
by Jeffrey Smith May 24th, 2016
Proverbs 19:17: He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.
Whenever we give to others there is an intersection of abundance and lack. None of us are rich in all things, but we are poor in some way in the face of someone like us who has more of that which we lack. When we give freely to others, this proverb says that we are lending to the...
Step up to the plate
by Jeffrey Smith May 23rd, 2016
Proverbs 16:3: Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
When I was a kid, my Mom signed me up for little league. I was short, chubby, slow, and didn’t understand why if the baseball went past me while I was batting, that it may or may not be called a strike. I thought that I had to swing and miss in order for it to be a strike. I learned quickly.
I...
The Twelve String
by Dion Todd May 23rd, 2016
Give thanks to Yahweh with the lyre. Sing praises to him with the harp of ten strings. Psalm 33:2 WEBWhen I ran my fingers across the strings, I knew instantly that this was the most beautiful sounding thing that I had ever picked up and that I had to have one. It was a twelve string acoustic guitar, a deep red sun-burst, and it was in perfect tune. I am not much of a guitar player, but even strumming...
Receive it!
by Jeffrey Smith May 20th, 2016
Romans 11:5,6: So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
Ephesians 2:4-9: But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with...
Guard it
by Jeffrey Smith May 19th, 2016
Job 3:25-26: What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.
Philippians 4:6-7: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
There...
First and Last words
by Jeffrey Smith May 18th, 2016
Matthew 3:15- Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
Revelation 22:20- He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega (Rev. 1:8). It is important for us see these two scriptures and know that what has happened for us all from the beginning to the end. This is how our...
Your Testimony
by Dion Todd May 18th, 2016
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 1Pet. 4:12 ESVI have a testimony that I share sometimes where the Lord gave me a horrible job in a plant polishing brass and sweeping the floor. Within...
Wrongfully Accused
by Dion Todd May 17th, 2016
Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were bound, and he was there in custody. But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Gen. 39:20 WEBJoseph was his father's favorite son and though he had done nothing wrong, he was sold into slavery by his older brothers, who were jealous....
The Database
by Dion Todd May 13th, 2016
Then David gave to Solomon his son the plans for the porch of the temple, for its houses, for its treasuries, for its upper rooms, for its inner rooms, for the place of the mercy seat; and the plans of all that he had by the Spirit, 1 Chronicles 28:11 WEBDavid gave Solomon all the plans for the new temple that he was to build, but all of those plans were originally given to David by the Holy Spirit....
In God We Trust
by Dion Todd May 11th, 2016
I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread. Psalm 37:25 WEBDavid had been through a lot when he wrote this verse. He had been anointed by Samuel as a young boy and went on to kill lions, bears, and giants. As he grew, David became an experienced shepherd, an accomplished musician, and an excellent soldier. He had to run and hide...
The best laid plans....
by Linda Darlene Gibson May 9th, 2016
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future.” Jeremiah 29: 11
Have you ever heard the saying ‘the best laid plans of mice and man often go astray’? It is actually a very profound statement I never put a lot of thought into before. As a child, I often...
Septic Tanks
by Dion Todd May 8th, 2016
God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn't do it. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. Jonah 3:10 WEBThere is nothing quite like cracking open a septic tank first thing in the morning, especially during a hot summer in the South. When you get a whiff of the fresh sewage, it will not be a...
A Voice From The Past
by Dion Todd May 7th, 2016
Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, 'Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, Yahweh; for your servant hears.' ' So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak; for your servant hears.' 1 Samuel 3:8-10 WEBSamuel was a young boy, lying down...
Courage is found in Him
by Jeffrey Smith May 6th, 2016
Matthew 16:25-For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
Use your fear, it can take you to a place where you store your courage. Amelia Earhart.
What she was talking about was an internal drive. This is a true statement, but not how Amelia Earhart intended. Where do you store your courage? We store it in Jesus Christ. It is...
The Mail Server
by Dion Todd May 6th, 2016
They went out from there, and passed through Galilee. He didn't want anyone to know it. For he was teaching his disciples, and said to them, 'The Son of Man is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, on the third day he will rise again.' But they didn't understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. Mark 9:30 WEBThe manager of the the office nodded...
Say something
by Jeffrey Smith May 5th, 2016
Esther 4:14: For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?
Did you know that you are in a royal position in Jesus Christ? We who are in Jesus Christ are heirs. We are all part of the Kingdom of God. Through Jesus...
Darkest Before the Dawn
by Dion Todd May 5th, 2016
And while he was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him and said, This trouble is from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD any longer? But Elisha said, Hear the word of the LORD: thus says the LORD, Tomorrow about this time' 2Kings 6:33 ESVJoram was king when Samaria, the capital city of Israel, was besieged by Syria about 850 BC. Samaria was surrounded and a great famine spread...
Be in position
by Jeffrey Smith May 4th, 2016
2 Timothy 1-2: You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
For those of you who know me well, I was once a hockey player. I was a goaltender. My job was to stand in the face of an onslaught of shots coming at me from all...
Today's promise
by Jeffrey Smith May 3rd, 2016
John 3:17- For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
We often focus on John 3:16 which you can find everywhere and anywhere. Most people know the scripture John 3:16 and it has become so callous that we let it wash over us. Think about it for a second. When you hear, God gave us his only Son, that whoever believes in Him will...
Learning to swim
by Jeffrey Smith May 2nd, 2016
Psalm 25:3-5: No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. Show me your ways, O Lord. Teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all the day long.
When I was a kid, I loved to swim, and I couldn't wait until it was warm enough to jump in and swim all day...