Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:22–25 ESV) January Newsletter - 2015 Thank you for reading our devotional...

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. Romans 14:5–6 ESV December...

The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. John 10:2–5 ESV November Newsletter Thank you for reading our devotional and being a part...

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! Psalms 143:10 ESV October Newsletter Thank you for reading our devotional and being a part of Refreshing Hope Ministries. I wanted to update you on what is going on here because this is an exciting time in our life. For several months I had felt a restlessness, and that God wanted me to do something...

You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. Forty years You sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. Neh 9:20-21 ESV When the Israelites came out of Egypt, the Lord gave them His Spirit to teach them, provided them food, water, and sustained...

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22 ESV Health tip: Don't worry, be happy. You can add years to your life, and health to your body by simply being joyful and happy. No one should have power over your joy. They can cause problems but how you react to it is completely under your power. You make a choice to become angry instead of turning the other...

So I went down to the potters house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potters hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Then the word of the LORD came to me: O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? Jer. 18:3-6 ESV I was always amazed at how beautiful the pieces of pottery...

And he said to him, Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my fathers house. 16 And the LORD said to him, But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man. Judg. 6:15-16 ESV Gideon was the least in his family who was the poorest clan in Manasseh. God chose him to lead a group of three hundred men and defeat a vast...

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:13 ESV Once while having dinner at a friends house, there was a lady there...

Then his master summoned him and said to him, You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. Matthew...

Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ships boat and let it go. Acts 27:32 ESV The crew was gripped with fear as the ship was tossed about by the wind and waves. For fourteen days they had been battered and driven before this storm. Finally some of the sailors decided they would escape using a life boat, but Paul told them that if they did not stay on the ship, they would all die. Then they...