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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 WEB.There was a time in our life when our business started failing. Our income grew less and less and then stopped completely. After several months with no work, the bills started piling up. We tried everything we could, but nothing seemed to change...

If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion, make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; each of you not just looking to his own things,...

Anxiety from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. I want to talk about something plaguing so many people today: Anxiety, a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about something with an uncertain outcome. It has always been a problem. Jesus spoke about it, but it has grown to epidemic proportions in modern times. I believe that it is partly because we are bombarded all day long by...

So they took up Jonah and threw him into the sea; and the sea ceased its raging. Then the men feared Yahweh exceedingly; and they offered a sacrifice to Yahweh and made vows. Yahweh prepared a huge fish to swallow up Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed to Yahweh, his God, out of the fish's belly. He said, "I called because of my affliction to...

Listen to the Music from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. In Daniel chapter 3, King Nebuchadnezzar built a statue of gold 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide. It was immense, possibly like the one he had seen in his dream in Daniel chapter 2, which said that he was the head of gold. Perhaps it was a statue of himself because he made the whole image out of gold. After the statue was completed, King...

Salt of the Earth from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. During the ministry of Jesus, salt was a precious commodity. Roman soldiers were sometimes paid with salt, which created the phrase "worth his salt." Our modern word for salary is derived from the Latin word "salarium," meaning "salt money." Salt has two main properties: It gives flavor and also preserves from corruption. It has been used...

Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of Yahweh, and spread it before Yahweh. Hezekiah prayed before Yahweh, and said, Yahweh, the God of Israel, who sit above the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. 2 Kings 19:14'15 WEB.Hezekiah looked hopelessly over the...

The Yoke from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. People often make promises with no intention of keeping them, but God is not like that. When He makes a promise, it will come to pass. Joshua, the son of Nun, lived forty years as a slave in Egypt, forty years wandering in the wilderness, and thirty years in the promised land. Before he died at 110, he told the Israelites this: (Joshua 21:45 NKJV) ...

It happened, when they had come, that he looked at Eliab, and said, Surely Yahweh's anointed is before him. But Yahweh said to Samuel, "Don't look on his face, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for Yahweh sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:6'7 WEB.The Lord sent Samuel to anoint the next king of Israel...

Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you. Luke 12:29-31 WEB.The Lord once doubled some of our computer equipment here at the office. At the time, we ran a small computer service company on a tight...

The Delusion of Easy Street from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. During the life of the Apostle Paul, a comfortable, soft life, living on easy street, was considered a sure sign of a righteous man. You were living in God's favor. That is why when Jesus Christ said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, the disciples with...

26 Letters from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The King James Bible is written using only twenty-six letters, for that's how many letters are in the English alphabet. There are about forty-four major sounds in the English language. Yet, we can write a series of novels within those constraints and take people where they have never been. We can bring hope, encouragement, or fear and division.  A...

David said to Saul, Your servant was keeping his father's sheep; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after him, and struck him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and struck him, and killed him. 1 Samuel 17:34'35 WEB.As a young shepherd caring for his father's sheep, David got to know each of them....

All Aboard from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When a passenger train pulls into the station, it gives one long blast from the horn then the bell begins ringing as it slows. The train conductor takes tickets from those waiting and shouts, "All aboard!" Then after a set time, the train pulls away from the station, and those who were ready head to their destination. But what happens to those...

Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?" Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Because God has shown you all of this, there is no one so discreet and wise as you. You shall be over my house. All my people will be ruled according to your word. Only in the throne I will be greater than you." Genesis 41:38'40 WEB.While serving a prison sentence in Egypt for...

Moses said to Yahweh, "Behold, you tell me, 'Bring up this people:' and you haven't 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...

Get Up from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Moses appointed Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land when he passed away. Moses was a deliverer who brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. Yet, because he struck a rock with his staff when he should have spoken to it, he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12). So the Lord took Moses home, and Joshua became...

For the thing which I fear comes on me, That which I am afraid of comes to me. Job 3:25 WEB.As we worked to get the fish hook free of my eyelid, an actual calmness came over me. I grew up on the rivers of South Carolina fishing, and I always got nervous when people began swinging their fishing lines around. I dreaded the thought of them snagging me with their fish hook, especially in the eye.One day,...

Secret Christian from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. I sincerely question any salvation that requires no action nor causes any change in your life. If they were arrested today and put on trial for following Jesus, many modern Christians would be set free because of a lack of evidence. Because knowing about Jesus isn't knowing Him. There seems to be some confusion over this, but look how clearly...

Rich Rulers and Poor Widows from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The Apostle Paul once did a fundraiser for the church in Judea and collected financial gifts from the Christians in Macedonia and Greece. It was financial aid, for the church in Jerusalem was being persecuted and had fallen on hard times while others were doing well.  The Christians at Corinth had vowed to help, so Paul...

Shock and Awe from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. All twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ were martyred, except for John. They chose death rather than deny the Lord Jesus Christ. James was beheaded. Peter was crucified and requested it be upside down because he felt unworthy to die as Jesus had. His brother Andrew was crucified and preached the gospel from the cross to those in the area for almost...

The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and to the animals of the field." Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of Yahweh of Armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today, Yahweh will deliver you into my hand. I will strike you and take...

Desperation from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet, for he wept for his nation and the coming judgment the Lord had shown him. Israel had turned their backs on the Lord and served every other god under the sun.  Spending decades under the leadership of evil kings like Manasseh led the people away from the Lord. Manasseh tried to wipe out the prophets...

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...

Heavenly Places from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Heaven is a real place, as real as the ground underneath your feet, with streets of pure transparent gold and a clear river of the water of life. There will be gates made of a single pearl and foundations made from precious gemstones. There is no darkness, for it is illuminated by the glory of God (Revelation 21:10-23). It will be a jaw-dropping...

The multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore their clothes off of them, and commanded them to be beaten with rods. When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely, who, having received such a charge, threw them into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying...

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. Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things...

A Living Sacrifice from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Various sacrifices were required under the old covenant. Some of the sacrifices helped feed the priests and those who worked at the temple, but a burnt offering was placed on the altar and completely consumed by fire. You can read about these in the book of Leviticus.  Under the new covenant, the perfect sacrifice of the Lord Jesus...

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27 WEB.Jesus said His sheep would hear His voice, and they would follow Him, "and a stranger, they would not follow" (John 10:5). God speaks to His people individually and collectively. Some are so concerned about being deceived that they...

Pilate therefore said to him, "Aren't you speaking to me? Don't you know that I have power to release you, and have power to crucify you?" Jesus answered, "You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore he who delivered me to you has greater sin." John 19:10'11 WEB.Beaten and bloody, wearing a purple robe and a crown made of thorns, Jesus quietly listened...