Identity
by Jeffrey Smith August 27th, 2015
Isaiah 55:8-9: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Hebrews 12:1-3: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us...
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
by Jeffrey Smith August 26th, 2015
John 15:15-17: I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his masters business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each...
Your Presence Is Heaven To Me
by Dion Todd August 25th, 2015
Moses said to Yahweh, Behold, you tell me, Bring up this people: and you havent let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight. Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you, so that I may find favor in your sight: and consider that this nation is your people. He said, My...
Luke Chapter 17
by Dion Todd August 24th, 2015
Luke Chapter 17
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Luke 17 Outline:
17:01-04 The importance of forgiving others.17:05-06 The apostles as for more faith.17:07-10 Unprofitable servants.17:11-19 The ten lepers.17:20-37 The coming of the kingdom.
Fun Facts:— A skandalon is the bait meat used in a pit trap. Jesus used that word in “Temptations are sure to come.”—...
The Plain Brown Wrapping
by Dion Todd August 24th, 2015
It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth. She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn Luke 2:6 WEB.The greatest gift that God ever gave mankind spent His first hours laying in a feeding trough for animals. Mary wrapped the baby Jesus in strips of...
Freedom
by Jeffrey Smith August 22nd, 2015
Ephesians 6:12: For the struggle is not against the flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Philippians 4:6-7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts...
The Fork In The Road
by Dion Todd August 22nd, 2015
You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says Yahweh, and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places where I have driven you, says Yahweh; and I will bring you again to the place from where I caused you to be carried away captive. Jeremiah 29:13 WEBIsrael was on a slow downward...
SURELY
by Jeffrey Smith August 20th, 2015
Isaiah 53:4-6: Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed four our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid...
Broken Hedges
by Dion Todd August 20th, 2015
Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? Havent 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 that he has, and he will renounce you to your face. Job 1:9 WEBJob was a righteous man who feared God. It...
All good things
by Jeffrey Smith August 19th, 2015
Psalm 136: 1: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.
I have heard this throughout my life, Jeff, all good things must come to an end. That is what people tell you when you go through a tough time. When you’re playing competitive sports days are through, when a great relationship fails, even when someone close to you leaves. I have heard that many times before. What...
Rest in Him
by Jeffrey Smith August 18th, 2015
Psalm 142:5-7: I cry to you, O Lord; I say, You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of you goodness to me.
David cried out to the Lord when he was in a cave hiding...
The Day The Word Came
by Dion Todd August 18th, 2015
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. He came into all the region around the Jordan,...
Luke Chapter 16
by Dion Todd August 17th, 2015
Luke Chapter 16
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Luke 16 Outline:
16:01-09 The unjust steward.16:10-13 God and mammon.16:14-15 The covetous Pharisees.16:16-17 The law and the prophets.16:19-31 The rich man and Lazarus.
Fun Facts:— The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is only mentioned in the book of Luke.— Lazarus is the only person given a name in...
Mighty Strong Hands
by Dion Todd August 17th, 2015
I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Fathers hand. John 10:28 WEBWe often worry about so many things in this life, but when all is stripped away, the fact remains that we are held in Gods strong hands. When you have given your life to Jesus and...
Fire Me Up God
by Dion Todd August 13th, 2015
Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. Davids two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David strengthened...
Rebuilding the Wall
by Dion Todd August 12th, 2015
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 served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and fat land...
Slopping The Hogs
by Dion Todd August 11th, 2015
The son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate; for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found. Luke 15:21...
Connect To The Vine
by Dion Todd August 10th, 2015
Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch cant bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4 WEBThe ministry of Jesus from the first recorded miracle of turning water into wine, until His resurrection...
Burn It All Down
by Dion Todd August 7th, 2015
However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. Yes most assuredly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through...
The Opposing Wind
by Dion Todd July 23rd, 2015
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 me! Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, You of little faith, why did you doubt? Matthew 14:29 WEBAs the wind blew stronger, fear came upon Peter and he began...
Watch The Edges
by Dion Todd July 21st, 2015
Dont be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we dont give up. Galatians 6:6 WEBAs I fell through the air from the top of the building, Dads words came...
Luke Chapter 15
by Dion Todd July 20th, 2015
Luke Chapter 15
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Luke 15 Outline:
15:01-02 Sinners gather to hear Jesus.15:03-07 The parable of the lost sheep.15:08-10 The parable of the lost coin.15:11-32 The parable of the lost son.
Fun Facts:— A Greek drachma coin was made of silver and worth one days wage for a laborer picking fruit.— A man lost a sheep, a woman...
Hidden Away
by Dion Todd July 17th, 2015
Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me. Moreover I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring forth my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt. Moses said to God, Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? He said, Certainly...
It Happened Suddenly
by Dion Todd July 15th, 2015
I have declared the former things from of old; yes, they went forth out of my mouth, and I shown them: suddenly I did them, and they happened. Isaiah 48:3 WEBThere was a time in our life when our business started failing and our income got less, and less, and then stopped. As the bills started piling up, we tried everything, but nothing seemed to help. We gave more, prayed more, fasted more, served...
Luke Chapter 14
by Dion Todd July 13th, 2015
Luke Chapter 14
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Luke 14 Outline:14:01-06 Jesus heals a man with dropsy.14:07-14 How to act when invited to a banquet.14:15-24 People invited began to make excuses.14:25-33 The cost of discipleship.14:34-35 The salt of the earth.
Fun Facts:— Salt in ancient Palestine was far from pure what was left may not taste like salt at all.
Study...
Who Is Your God
by Dion Todd July 13th, 2015
Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. Psalms 46:10 WEBAnother busy day. So much to do, so many bills, the pressure and anxiety kept me up most of the night. It seemed like I spent most of my time these days trying to solve tomorrow's problems before they got here, and don't even get me started on the news. On top of that, I felt tired...
The Houseguest
by Jeffrey Smith July 11th, 2015
Luke 10:41,42- "Martha, Martha, The Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but only the one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Martha is like most of us, she is busy working and preparing forJesus. I have to imagine she is growing in frustration as she prepares food forthe house. Jesus didn’t travel alone very...
Why Question Me?
by Dion Todd July 10th, 2015
Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child? Genesis 17:17 ESVAbraham lay on his face and laughed when God told him that he would soon have a son because he was almost one-hundred years old, and his wife Sarah was ninety. Still, the following year they had a son named Isaac....
RHM July 2015 Newsletter
by Dion Todd July 9th, 2015
if My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:13–14 WEB)
July Newsletter - 2015
Hello there,
Thank you for reading our devotional and being a part of Refreshing Hope Ministries. This is our monthly update on...
The Dove
by Jeffrey Smith July 9th, 2015
Matthew 6:25-34- Therefore I tell you, do not worry about yourlife, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isnot life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds ofthe air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenlyFather feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of youby worrying add a single hour...