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The Night Before Christmas from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Imagine what it must have been like to be in Bethlehem, a cozy little town surrounded by green rolling hills, on the very first Christmas Eve over 2,000 years ago. Think about a time before we had electricity, twinkling Christmas lights and the happy holiday songs we sing today....

Brothers, I don't regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do: forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 WEB. I was in a very dark place in my life. The doctor had placed me on anti-depressants, yet I remained a recluse with suicidal...

Dear Refreshing Hope Family, I hope this message finds you warm, safe, and happy wherever you are. Thank you so much for being a part of Refreshing Hope Ministries. We wouldn't be here without you. May the beauty of the Lord's presence shine on you this holiday season and brighten your life and that of your loved ones, bringing a wonderful celebration of Christmas and a New Year filled with happiness,...

For you don't delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart. Psalms 51:16–17 WEB. When I first came to the Lord, I was so zealous that I wanted to make up for everything I'd ever done wrong. I fasted for weeks, gave all that I had, tried to memorize the Bible,...

As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them. Luke 6:31 WEB. We had to park way out in the parking lot that day, and it was hot when we came out of the grocery store. There were no cart returns nearby, and I didn't really feel like taking the buggy all the way back to the building. I saw a few other shopping carts nearby that people had left out in the parking lot. As I contemplated...

Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men." Immediately they left their nets, and followed him. Mark 1:16-18 WEB. When I was young, I spent a lot of time navigating the waters near my home in South Carolina. The black water of the...

As an eagle that stirs up her nest, that flutters over her young, he spread abroad his wings, he took them, he bore them on his feathers. Deuteronomy 32:11 WEB. When eagles have their young, they line the inside of the nest with feathers, fur, and other soft materials. The parents try to make the little ones comfortable in the nest. They hunt and bring food to feed them. They pamper the little ones...

So then the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen. Mark 16:19-20 WEB. One night, I was playing music at a party with our band. When the Lord suddenly presented me with an opportunity to tell them about Him. We went...

Treasure Chests from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Treasure chests are special boxes crafted to hold something precious. Just as a treasure chest, we, too, can be vessels for something incredibly valuable: the Holy Spirit. Think about the Ark of the Covenant, which Moses constructed according to God's precise blueprint: (Exodus 25:10–11...

Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" So they were offended at him. Mark 6:3 WEB. Wood, I grew up around it. My Dad was a carpenter for fifty-five years. I helped him at times, so there was a lot of carrying, sawing, nailing, and pulling splinters from my hands. Since then, I've always enjoyed building things. I find...

Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many. Now the centurion and those...

Yahweh, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb says: "I am Yahweh, who makes all things; who alone stretches out the heavens; who spreads out the earth by myself; Isaiah 44:24 WEB. When someone was in trouble, danger, or in dire need during biblical times, a male relative could step in and "redeem" them. This relative was called a "kinsmen redeemer." They could step in and pay off their...

For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:6-7 WEB. Have you ever felt a sense of dread come over you? Have you been afraid of that monster in the closet or under the bed? My older brother, who had a driver's license, was a serious...

Sing to Yahweh a new song! Sing to Yahweh, all the earth. Sing to Yahweh! Bless his name! Proclaim his salvation from day to day! Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. For Yahweh is great, and greatly to be praised! He is to be feared above all gods. Psalms 96:1-4 WEB. I was so nervous when I took the microphone that evening. At our church, the lead singers...

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Psalms 56:3-4 WEB. Tired and needing a rest, David was on the run from his father-in-law King Saul and his men, who sought to kill David in a jealous rage. David had to leave town in a hurry in the middle of the night. Everything he owned was left behind when...

The Door from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Over the years, I have sometimes asked the Lord what I am supposed to be doing now. That door closed, and that job ended. What now? What is Your perfect will for me? Sometimes, this became stressful because I couldn't hear anything when I thought I really needed to. Yet, most of the time, it was...

Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh. Proverbs 18:22 WEB. One morning, I was lying on the floor in my room praying. My mind was aimlessly drifting from one thing to another as I prayed when I saw an image of my wife and me walking on a beach together. Then it occurred to me that her birthday was coming up soon. Then a thought came to me, "You should take her away for...

Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? "Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For...

And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood Revelation 1:5 WEB. "Jesus loves me. This I know, for the Bible tells me so; Little ones to Him belong. They are weak, but He is strong." Many of us learned these words when we were kids. They are so simple, but yet today, so...

You shall remember all the way which Yahweh your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, to test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. Deuteronomy 8:2 WEB. It was summertime. An elder at our church had a leaky spot on his roof, and I was helping him repair it. My dad was a lifelong carpenter, and I got to work with...

The Lord said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have all of you, that he might sift you as wheat, but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn't fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers." He said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!" He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will by no means crow today until you deny that you know me three...

Jesus The Beautiful  By: Dion Todd   Revision: 5   Timing: 4/4(Isaiah 53:2) WEB He has no good looks or majesty. When we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. Lyrics:Verse 1:Jesus You’re so beautiful to meHelp me show others what I seeIf I could only write down what I feel insideId tell the people, that they don’t have to hideChorus:That to know You, ...

You Never Let GoBy: Dion Todd   Revision: 1   Timing: 4/4  Tempo: 65  12.7.2018(Romans 8:38) ESV For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.Progression:...

Forever By: Dion Todd   Revision: 3   Timing: 4/4  Tempo: 112 One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple. (Psalm 27:4) (NKJV) Progression: Verse1, Chorus, Instrumental, Verse2, Chorus, EndVerse 1:Lord I seek Your face todayAnd...

More Like YouBy: Dion Todd   Revision: 3   Timing: 4/4  Tempo: 95   12.01.2018Jeremiah 18:4 ESV And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Lyrics:Verse 1: Lord I want to be more like You Want to love others like You doYou made me once, so shiny and...

I Want to Know YouBy: Dion Todd   Revision: 3   Timing: 4/4  Tempo: 85 Scripture:  (1 Samuel 2:2) NASB “There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.”Lyrics:Verse 1:  I want to know You like MosesWho You called a friendI want to love You like DavidAnd be faithful to the endI want to...

Flow Through MeBy: Dion Todd   Revision: 3   Timing: 4/4  Tempo: 120  2019.08.17Scripture: “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38 NKJV).Lyrics:Verse:Flow through meFlow through meHoly Spirit, want You come and flow through meChorus:Open my eyes, to see Your lightThen use my hands,...

Hand in HandBy: Dion Todd   Revision: 3   Timing: 4/4  Tempo: 96   11.25.2018For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) NKJV Verse1:  Em   G   C  ->  Am  BmMany today are like politiciansThey promise the moon,...

I Choose YouBy: Dion Todd   Revision: 3   Timing: 4/4  Tempo: 125   2019.04.14Scripture: “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house,...

Set Me FreeBy: Dion Todd   Revision: 3   Timing: 4/4(Psalm 142:7) David wrote: Set me free from my prison that I may praise Your name.Progression: Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus x2, EndingVerse:Holy Father, shine Your light down on me, and let me seeI feel darkness calling, and I need You today, and Your help somewayMy own strength, has never been enough. It seems to fail, anytime...