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Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, 'Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it happens, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.' Daniel 3:16 WEBWhile...

He said, 'Go out, and stand on the mountain before Yahweh.' Behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire passed; but Yahweh was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a still small voice....

The Long Haul from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about living the Christian life successfully, and with as little frustration as possible. I have learned that when we become frustrated, hopeless, and begin to feel stuck, that we are simply thinking too small, too focused on a tiny detail. I am one of the world’s worst at this. I have never multi-tasked that well....

But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid its fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. Jonah 1:3 WEBIt was late one Saturday afternoon when a friend stopped by and invited me to go to church with him the following morning. I politely declined because the thought...

He said to Abram, 'Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years. I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth; Genesis 15:13 WEBGod told Abram that his descendants would become slaves for four hundred years in a foreign land, but that He would...

Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 'How long shall I bear with this evil congregation that complain against me? I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel, which they complain against me. Tell them, 'As I live, says Yahweh, surely as you have spoken in my ears, so I will do to you. Num. 14:26 WEBSeveral times in my walk with the Lord, I have seen the idle things that I have spoken...

Go in the Strength You Have from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When I was praying about the message this week, “Go in the Strength You Have” came to me and then this entire message downloaded to my mind over the next minute. The core of the message is this: The Lord will intentionally put you into hopeless situations, and separate you from those that would have helped, in order...

This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you affirm confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men; but shun foolish questionings, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. Titus 3:8 WEBYears ago, I thought that everyone needed to believe the same...

There was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn't because of the crowd, because he was short. He ran on ahead, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your...

John answered them, 'I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don't know. He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I'm not worthy to loosen.' These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!' John 1:26 WEBAdam...

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10 NIVThe Lord spoke to me when I was about...

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Eccl. 3:11 ESVI grew up on a farm in the country, but always had a passion for computers. I never actually owned one as we were pretty poor at the time. I prayed a lot for a computer of my own, but did not actually get a computer in the way that...

RHM Devotional: Shipwrecked from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the ability of God to be in control, even when your life seems out of control. Most of us have been through times when we were powerless to change our circumstances. Some of you may be going through such a moment even now. Looking back, I can tell you of many times when I thought that I must have missed...

Bible Study, Acts Chapter 27 from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Transcript: Today we are going to study Acts chapter 27 in depth. You can follow along in your own Bible if you like. I will be reading from the World English Bible because it is the only modern English translation that is copyright free, and I can read the entire Bible on video without any legal drama or breaking anyone’s...

Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. Psalms 42:7 ESVMoments before the water was still and quiet as they drifted down the stream. They were relaxed in the warm sunshine, not noticing the low roar coming. Suddenly, their lives flashed before their eyes and they began to panic as they realized they were quickly approaching a waterfall,...

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness Luke 4:1 WEBI would not be here, if I had not first been there. So many times in our life we can look back and say those words. Where we were when we met our spouse, and how narrow a time frame that it was. Taking a job that we did not really like, only to find that it was a stepping stone for something...

The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!' John 1:29 WEBDo you ever feel guilt or shame over something in your past? Is there something haunting you and saying: 'God is mad at you because'' or 'You are not worthy to do this?' That is the enemy trying to immobilize you and to keep you from doing God's will. That is what he does,...

RHM Devotional: Treasure Chests from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about containers, particularly treasure chests: boxes that hold things. Let’s start with the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus 25. God told Moses: They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. You...

For there is no good tree that brings forth rotten fruit; nor again a rotten tree that brings forth good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people don't gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. Luke 6:43 WEBWe find it humorous when we get cut off in traffic by a rude driver, and they have a Christian fish symbol on their bumper. Less humorous is that...

RHM Devotional: Doors from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about recognizing the doors that God opens for us in our life. Think of them as doors of opportunity. This has always His way, He opens a door for us, and then we have to walk through it. Paul prayed that doors would open in his life: Colossians 4:2–3: "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with...

Your servant struck both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God. David said, 'Yahweh who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.' 1 Samuel 17:36 WEBGoliath must have been a fearful sight to behold when he walked out onto...

RHM Devotional: The Missing Bread from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the lack of provision, and all the things that seem to come with it. When we are faced with the lack of something, we tend to look at ourselves, what can “we” do, in our strength, and with the provisions that we have. We tend to take our eyes off Jesus, and soon plummet into a life...

Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as Yahweh spoke to me; and we encircled Mount Seir many days. Yahweh spoke to me, saying, 'You have encircled this mountain long enough. Turn northward.' Deuteronomy 2:1-3 WEBThe Israelites wandered forty years in the wilderness while God worked out some differences with them. Twice while they were circling a mountain,...

I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.' He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Luke 15:18 WEBThe younger son in the story...

Now Yahweh's word came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it, for their wickedness has come up before me.' But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid its fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. Jonah...

Bible Study, Acts Chapter 26 from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Transcript: Today we are going to study Acts chapter 26 in depth. You can follow along in your own Bible if you like. I will be reading from the World English Bible because it is the only modern English translation that is copyright free, and I can read the entire Bible on video without any legal drama or breaking anyone’s...

Video Devotional: Love Mercy from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to share some things that I have learned about walking with God in a sustainable way. I am talking about long term lifestyle, and what exactly is required to please God. Israel had these same questions thousands of years ago. The priests had burdened the people down with religious rituals until they literally broke...

It happened in these days, that he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God. When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles Luke 6:12 WEBEven though Jesus was the son of God, He prayed a lot. He continually developed His relationship with His Father. Jesus lived as our example. Intimacy and infinite knowledge...

He said to them, 'Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there. Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them.' Mark 6:10 WEBWhen Jesus sent the disciples out to preach the good news, they often faced rejection. Jesus told them to shake it off, and then go on to the next town. There...

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38 WEBOnce when they were taking an offering for a visiting speaker at our church, I gave $40 in the offering basket. Two weeks later, someone who was just an acquaintance, gave me $4,000. It was exactly...