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If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established. Isaiah 7:9 WEB.Ephraim and Aram allied and prepared to invade Judah, which terrified the people living there. When the people of Judah learned of the coming invasion, 'The hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind' (Isaiah 7:2).The Lord sent them the prophet Isaiah, who told them not to...

Seek the Lord from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The book of Jeremiah gives us a vivid description of the Lord's backslidden people. They chased every god under the sun except the right One while claiming they followed Him. They had become more corrupt than the people the Lord had driven out before them. There were male and female cult prostitutes, and their new religion involved a lot of...

Of the angels he says, "Who makes his angels winds, And his servants a flame of fire." Hebrews 1:7 WEB.When the preacher walked past our row of seats, you could feel the heat coming off of him. When he looked at you, it was as if he looked straight into your heart and saw how black it really was. You felt as if he could see everything that you had ever done wrong in your life. It was uncomfortable,...

Breakthrough from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When two armies meet in battle, it can sometimes lead to a standoff. Perhaps one side is dug into defensive positions and hard to dislodge. Eventually, one side may perform a powerful offensive thrust that penetrates their enemy's line and carries them far beyond. This is called a breakthrough. After the breakthrough, instead of being locked...

Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 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...

Therefore, I tell you, don't be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothing? See the birds of the sky, that they don't sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they? Matthew 6:25'26 WEB.Painstakingly...

The April Challenge from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Well, it's that time of year again! For over ten years, Sylvia and I have fasted for the months of April and August and witnessed life-changing events. In fact, RHM was born from fasting. We went into a fast one month, became unemployed halfway through it, and on the last day, the Lord pushed us into starting Refreshing Hope Ministries....

Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you, and all this people, to the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread on, to you have I given it, as I spoke to Moses. Joshua 1:2'3 WEB.The Israelites gathered together on the bank of the Jordan River. God had miraculously provided for their every need for...

He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9'10 WEB.So many times in life,...

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 2:6'7 WEB.The greatest gift God ever gave mankind spent His first hours laying in a feeding trough for animals. Mary wrapped the baby Jesus in strips of...

The Unseen Realm from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. I often find abandoned ruins intriguing. Some structure that people poured so much time, labor, and money into creating. Then it's just left to return to nature, time moves on, and it is forgotten. Everything in life that you see around you is temporary and will return to the ground it was taken from. Yet, there is another realm unseen to...

Our God, will you not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that comes against us; neither know we what to do: but out eyes are on you. All Judah stood before Yahweh, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 2 Chronicles 20:12'13 WEB.While under the reign of Jehoshaphat, Judah began to have a small revival, and they returned to the Lord for a season. Then the Ammonites...

He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him. The scribes and the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?" When Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those...

They forgot to take bread; and they didn't have more than one loaf in the boat with them. He charged them, saying, "Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod." They reasoned with one another, saying, "It's because we have no bread." Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, "Why do you reason that it's because you have no bread? Don't you perceive yet, neither understand? Is...

The Lawnmower in the Rain from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When you neglect something, it begins to deteriorate. Whether it is a lawnmower sitting out in the weather, a relationship, or a gift that God has placed in your life. Many will look at themselves now and say, "What gift?" You are not the first. The Apostle Paul wrote this to the church at Corinth: (1 Corinthians 12:1 NKJV) ...

High Anxiety from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Something we see on the rise in the church is anxiety. It's true that we live in a perilous time. Wars are raging, and nations are under severe financial stress. There are random earthquakes, wildfires, and going to the grocery store can expose you to a plague. Yet, we are here for such a time as this and need to keep our emotions under control....

Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven't 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 1:9'11 WEB.Job was a righteous man who feared...

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...

Knock Knock from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The hustle and bustle of life can get a bit overwhelming at times. There are often so many things pulling at our attention, yet there is something that you need to make time for. (Revelation 3:20 NKJV)  "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with...

Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" Jesus answered him, "You don't know what I am doing now, but you will understand later." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet!" John 13:5'8 WEB.It had been over three years since Jesus...

Fire Salt from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. I have a tendency to get deeply involved in the churches we attend. I always start out planning to sit in the congregation as invisible as possible. Still, almost inevitably, our technical background pulls us into the spinning gears. Soon, we end up as exhausted full-time volunteers once again. We have met some wonderful people by doing so, the...

But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus answered, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place,...

Such a Time as This from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "I believe that in dark times God is making lamps with which to remove the gloom." For every Goliath that appears, the Lord has secretly prepared a David, an Elijah, a You. A young Jewish girl in the Bible named Hadassah was living as an exile in Persia. Her father and mother were dead, and she...

But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:11'12 WEB.We can't impress God with the things we have accomplished, for it's by His grace and mercy that we are breathing at all. He's not impressed with how many people you led to the Lord, for He drew them first. He's not impressed with how many people...

Hope and Despair from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The difference between life and death often has less to do with the strength of our physical body than our mental health. Prisoners of war who survived had something to look forward to outside the barbwire fence. Those who lost hope in the future fell into despair, curled up in a ball, and died. Viktor Frankl was a psychiatrist who survived...

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 your head from off you. 1 Samuel 17:45'46 WEB.It was early morning, and we were polishing brass plumbing faucets at our buffing...

Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized. He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus. Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God. Acts 9:18'20 WEB.Young Saul was a hardcore Christian hunter. He was there when Stephen was stoned to death in...

The New Generation from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When the Israelites came out of slavery in Egypt, the Lord instructed Moses to build an Ark of the Covenant. It was much like a treasure chest overlaid with gold, which contained the ten commandments carved on stone and some other relics like a jar of manna. The Ark was carried by Levite priests and kept in a special tent called "the...

The Sword from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. We often get emails and comments about how timely a particular devotional is for them. Sometimes, they feel as if it was written especially for them. One man told me that the Word was so relevant for a week that it was like I had a microphone in his house and could hear what was going on there. How does that happen? (Hebrews 4:12–13 NKJV) ...

You will keep whoever's mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you. Trust in Yahweh forever; for in Yah, Yahweh, is an everlasting Rock. Isaiah 26:3 WEB.How did I get caught up in this mess? Many times have I asked myself that question. Looking back, it always began with a thought which would become a desire if I didn't push it out of my mind. Before long, what started as a "harmless"...