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  • 3 hours ago
    Posted by Dion Todd
    Yahweh said to Joshua, "Get up! Why have you fallen on your face like that?" Joshua 7:10 WEB.Joshua lay prostrate before the ark of the Lord all that evening. Yesterday, he had been a mighty warrior. Now Israel had lost the battle at Ai, all because one of the men with him had become greedy and brok...
  • Wed at 3:01 AM
    Posted by Dion Todd
    Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, "Don't fight with small nor great, except only with the king of Israel." When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "It is the king of Israel!" Therefore they turned around to fight against him. But Jehoshap...
  • Tue at 3:01 AM
    Posted by Dion Todd
    But Naaman was angry, and went away and said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper' " 2 Kings 5:11 WEB.Naaman stared at his new skin with amazement when he came up from the muddy wa...
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  • March 25, 2022 - led by Lynn Brown
    This is a group for RHM sponsored events like corporate fasts. Everyone is welcome to join and participate in things currently going on in the ministry. We love you and thank you for being a part of Refreshing Hope!
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Shades of Gray

  • For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at Him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Luke 7:33–34 ESV

    There was a melancholy feeling that settled over us when we entered the sanctuary. Everyone was somber with long faces like they were in mourning, but it was not a funeral. The paintings of Jesus on the wall made Him look depressed and sad. It was cold, it was quiet, and it was gray. Yet when I read the Bible, I could not help but think “we are missing something.”

    Jesus lived a colorful life, a full human life. He laughed with people, He loved people, He wept over people. Jesus fasted often, but at other times, He ate well. He gave His disciples nicknames like the “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21). The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17) and I believe that Jesus walked in that realm. The joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh 8:10) and I believe that Jesus was strong in joy.

    Martin Luther the great reformer, became a monk and wore himself out with prayer and fasting, and his superiors with his confessions, yet it gave him no peace. One day he found true grace, left monkery, married a nun and changed the known world. He raised ten children and concluded that "marriage is a far better school for character than any monastery."

    The Lord wants you to live a full life. There will be times of laughing, and times of weeping. There will be times of fasting, and there will be times of feasting. We will be born, and we will probably die. Allow room for joy in your life and balance the drudgery. Don’t allow cold, dead religion to sap the joy from your life. God created sunshine.


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31 comments
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Lucas Napo
Lucas Napo Amen, Amen and AMEN
March 12, 2015
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Vinayaka Genious
Vinayaka Genious AMEN
March 12, 2015
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Kathy Banfield
Kathy Banfield SO TRUE! I KNOW God has a sense of humor! And when I get to heaven, I can't wait to find out how He disciplines His Son, Jesus! LOL!
March 12, 2015
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Pam Ivins
Pam Ivins Amen, Thank you for sharing,I'm always so excited to see what God has in store for me.
March 12, 2015
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Karen Pietrantonio
Karen Pietrantonio Amen! I think it is vital to find joy in small, everyday moments, as well as finding peace in the hard times. We don't need to be religious to have an amazing relationship with the Father - just seek Him out every day, and find at least one thing to be joyful about and thankful for!! 
March 12, 2015
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Jennifer Ledesma
Jennifer Ledesma when  I  start  my  day,  I always  talk  to  my  GOD.  it  helps  me  a  lot  to  go  through  the  day  whether  it  is  a  joyous  one   or   a  sad  one...my  first  conversation  to  HIM  is  ""  ALMIGHTY   GOD  ,  what-ever  happens  today   to  me  and  my  love   ones,   """thy   will  be  done  ""  because  ,  I  know   YOU  love  Your  children  and  YOU  want  them   to  have  good  things  in  life  , better  or  best   ! """ that   gives  me  a  big  boost  to  do  better  everyday.  sometimes,  when   I  feel  depress  , I  will  just   look  up  and  tell  HIM,   ""  please   help  and   guide  me   !!!!!!!!......always   remember ,  we  have  a   GOOD    GOD  ,  that   is   always   ready   to  listen   to  us  .  HE  never   fails.!!!!....in  JESUS   name    ,     amen  !!!!!!!!!!!!
March 12, 2015
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Amber Roundtree
Amber Roundtree For those of us who feel as if God wants us to focus on the young people that is especially important. If they see that men and women of God are always sour-faced and never smiling how will they know the peace and joy that comes with serving God?There is plenty of time and occasion for tears and for brevity but dang, let's show the world that the love and fellowship with Christ is reason enough to smile and laugh.
March 12, 2015
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Anthony Kulbicki
Anthony Kulbicki felt blah last night...got off work and went to church but being there wasn't getting me out of my blahness...lol...only when i focused on praising the Lord and telling Him how I felt did I not only find some relief but He joy was restored...God is good!
March 12, 2015
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Paula Andrews
Paula Andrews Amen, praise God!
March 12, 2015
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Debbie Smith
Debbie Smith I've spent much of my adult life in churches that teach the Reformation as if it was the Second Coming. Don't get me wrong! The Lord did reform His Church and bring His Word and His Grace to people during that time but why can't He do it again? He can and He will I believe in these last days...praying for the lost in and out of the church.
March 12, 2015
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Mark Johnson
Mark Johnson Amen
March 12, 2015
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Kathy Banfield
Kathy Banfield I need a bit of support right now. As a Christian, I realize I need to forgive. But at the moment, I'm having an EXTREMELY difficult time doing so. My father believes my sister's lies! She told everyone I was sending her harassing emails yesterday, but I HAD NO INTERNET ACCESS ALL DAY! I am praying, asking for God's help, but now I'm reacting out of sheer fury, and that isn't good for my family or my poor dog! My dad called the town Social Services and reported me! Please pray for me--and my immediate family! THANKS!!
March 12, 2015
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Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt Yes, cold, dead religon. Christianty is not a religon. It is having a relationship with Jesus Christ, the only way to have real joy. Psalms 94:19, When my anxious thoughts multiply with in me, Your comfort, hope, joy and courage, delights my soul.
March 12, 2015
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Dion Todd
Dion Todd I pray that the Lord will bring peace to this family and you in the name of Jesus. Sometimes in our family, less is more  :)
March 12, 2015
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Dion Todd
Dion Todd It is true. Young people are fleeing most churches today, but others like New Spring are thriving. Jesus draws people. 
March 12, 2015
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Cynthia Nortey
Cynthia Nortey Amen
March 12, 2015
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Carol Pady
Carol Pady I very much agree that Christianity is not a religion, it is developing a deep relationship with our Father and His son Jesus. Sometimes that requires walking through fiery trials. Sometimes it comes with blessings of answered prayer.  It is a life long process that increases our faith.
March 12, 2015
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Janice Phillips
Janice Phillips Let the Lord's joy fill our days...Amen
March 12, 2015
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Kathy Banfield
Kathy Banfield Thank you so very much. I will not allow their lies and slander to get to me today! My "family" is strange--they claim to be Catholic, but they have distorted the religion to the extent that any non-Christian wouldn't want to set foot in a Catholic church!
March 12, 2015
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Leslie Murphy
Leslie Murphy Amen... am so ready for joy and balance in my life!
March 12, 2015
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Tonya Callaway
Tonya Callaway Amen
March 12, 2015
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Karen Pietrantonio
Karen Pietrantonio Kathy, I am so sorry you are going through this. Father God, we ask that you heal this hurting family and bring them peace and comfort. Please show them the path to forgiveness and mercy. In Jesus' name, Amen.
March 12, 2015
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Lissy Verghese
Lissy Verghese :p
March 12, 2015
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Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams Amen.  Praise God!  Thank you!  I think sometimes I don't let myself enjoy life, for fear that I might sin... 
March 13, 2015
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kylie dempsey
kylie dempsey Jesus boring? I don't think so...we are made in His image....we enjoy laughter, dancing and being among those we love....it's just sin which separates....where Jesus comes into the equation....He is just awesome :-D :-D :-D You can't help but be drawn to His goodness!
March 13, 2015
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Faye  Lott
Faye Lott Praise God giving Him all the honor, glory. I'm pleased to say I attend a church that is full of joy and laughter. Our Pastor John D Kyle of New Dimensions Ministry has set that in motion with the Holy Spirit directions. He has always said Jesus wants us to have joy in our praise and worship in church and in our daily lives. God has also told our Pastor there will be times in our lives there will be sadness, but don't let it consume you. I know God's love for us and his grace and mercy will always place a joy and smile in my heart. I thank my Heavenly Father for that.
March 13, 2015
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Dion Todd
Dion Todd I agree!
March 13, 2015
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Dion Todd
Dion Todd You can enjoy life without sinning, it just takes practice. When you fail, there is forgiveness. :)
March 13, 2015
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Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd Father, I pray that you please draw Kathy and her family to you. Please bless them all with peace and help them walk in unity as a family. I pray that you bring clarity to them and protect them from misunderstandings, in the name of Jesus - amen!
March 13, 2015
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Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd Agreed, Debbie, the Reformation was a mighty move of God, but certainly not a thing to be worshipped itself. Anything can be made an idol.
March 13, 2015
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Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd Amen, Anthony!
March 13, 2015