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The Enemy Within from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. There is a thought-provoking story in the book of Joshua, chapter 9. Moses had passed on. Joshua had become the new leader, and Israel was taking the Promised Land one city at a time with great success. The land was given to Israel because Canaan's inhabitants were exceedingly sinful and had been for hundreds of years. The three principal...

Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there. Simon and those who were with him searched for him. They found him and told him, 'Everyone is looking for you.' He said to them, 'Let's go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because I came out for this reason.' Mark 1:35-38 WEBIt was early morning...

When the Storm Comes from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. “The words of Jesus, written in red, so easily ignored, by those who are misled.” That is what came to me while praying over this message. Jesus’ longest sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, spans chapters 5, 6, and 7 in the book of Matthew. Those three chapters contain the core of His message, and all the words there were...

What Would Jesus Do? from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. What would Jesus do? That has always been a thorn for me each time I hear the phrase. It sounds harmless enough on the surface, but most people do not truly know the answer to that. For example, many have taken up a sword in the name of Jesus, though He didn’t seem to own one. Years ago when I was working my way through Bible...

David abode in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill-country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God didn't deliver him into his hand. 1 Samuel 23:14 WEBOnce upon a time after a month long fast, we bought a wood smoker. You could call it a rebound effect. A wood smoker works like an outdoor slow cooker and often takes all day. One of the first things that...

Good to the Bone from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the goodness of God. He is good through and through. It is His very nature to be good to us, and no one has to help Him. God is eternally and unchangeably good. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all good through and through. God is good to the bone, and nothing that we do will ever change that. (Nahum...

Mockingbird from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the northern mockingbird, the “many-tongued thrush” This bird can do an exact imitation of the notes it learns from other birds, as well as some animals. It has the ability to sound like a robin, a cardinal, a bluebird, or a sparrow. It can even mimic cats, dogs, frogs, and crickets. It is a copy cat, and...

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1 WEBI could see by the look on his face that we were making a lasting impression on the visiting evangelist. Some of the praise and worship...

Eagle Wings from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the importance of waiting on the Lord, for good things happen when we learn to wait on God. A good example is our grandpuppy River, who sits and watches us eat supper in anticipation of something good happening. She has hope that something special is coming her way, that we are going to move on her behalf, and usually...

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34 WEBIf you study Jesus in the gospels, His defining characteristics were love, compassion, grace, and wisdom. He was humble, kind, and He cared for the people. He touched the outcasts,...

Hang Ten: A New Wave Begins from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Lord I wait here all alone, for a whisper from Your throne. I prayed that while waiting on some inspiration to come, unsure what to write about. I was waiting for a word of hope or encouragement, but all week, I had been hearing something else. I waited quietly for a while with my head resting on the keyboard here. Then I heard...

You shall not be scared of them; for Yahweh your God is in the midst of you, a great and awesome God. Deuteronomy 7:21 WEBMoses called the Israelites together right before they entered the promised land, and he told them to not be afraid, for the Lord who is in the midst of you, is a great and 'Awesome' God.The definition of Awesome: adjective - breathtaking, awe-inspiring, magnificent, wonderful,...

The Hiding Place from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the hiding place. How can you dwell in safety in a world filled with violence, peril, and contagious diseases? I want to examine the scriptures and see what we can learn from them. Let’s begin with Psalm 91: (Psalm 91:1–4 NKJV)  He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under...

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of Yahweh, 'He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust.' For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart. Psalms 91:1 WEBIn the...

For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hurries toward the end, and won't prove false. Though it takes time, wait for it; because it will surely come. It won't delay. Habakkuk 2:3 WEBFor the vision is for an appointed time. In other words, God has marked the day on His calendar, and every hour that passes brings us closer to it. When the proper amount of time has elapsed, then the vision...

When the Minstrel Played from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the spiritual power that can be brought on by music. There is an interesting story told in 2 Kings chapter 3 when Moab rebelled against Israel. After the death of King Solomon, the nation of Israel had been split into two parts by a civil war: Samaria and Judah. Samaria had drifted far away from God and...

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end. You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11 WEBMy Dad was a lifelong carpenter and I used to help him build custom homes. Today I wish...

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we haven't sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:8 WEBWhen you work with someone day after day and you watch them smack their thumb with a hammer, drop something...

Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, 'I'm going fishing.' They told him, 'We are also coming with you.' They immediately went out, and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing. John 21:2 WEBAs the disciples stood there together, Peter said: 'I am going fishing.'...

When God Shakes the Earth from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the rise and fall of kingdoms on the Earth. They come and they go, but there is one that will remain for eternity. The prophet Daniel wrote about a vision that he had during the night in Daniel 7:13: (Daniel 7:13–14 NASB)  “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds...

Mission Impossible from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about our Heavenly Father. What it is like to talk with Him, to work with Him, as it is written in the scriptures. Sometimes we receive prayer requests that to me resemble a fairy tale, or a child’s letter to santa claus. I hope that I can bring a balance to that, for when we line up with what He is doing, His...

Video Devotional: Love and Hate from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Note: Today's article is the "devotional-length" version of our ministry newsletter on the subject of racism. For those interested, you are welcome to read or watch the full version, which includes the devotional below plus additional thoughts and scriptures relating to current events. It will be about 30 minutes long. Jesus...

RHM Newsletter: Love and Hate from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NASB) If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all...

But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. On some have compassion, making a distinction, and some save, snatching them out of the fire with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh. Jude 1:20 WEBThere were seasons of my life when I made...

Now the word of Yahweh 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. Jonah 1:1 WEBThe word of the Lord came to Jonah to go and preach to Nineveh, but Jonah fled in the opposite direction. God told him to go to Nineveh, but Jonah went...

The One in the Mirror from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about our biggest problem, the one in the mirror, and the importance of living a disciplined life. Be wary of a watered down religion that costs you nothing, for true freedom always comes with a price. The enemy does not willingly let you go without a fight. James wrote it this way: (James 1:22–27 NASB) ...

Petrified from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about becoming petrified. So scared, so bound up, so terrified inside, that you are unable to think or move. Frozen in place. Unable to make decisions. An example is the guards at Jesus’ tomb on Sunday morning. At the request of the Jewish leaders, Pilate sent a group of Roman soldiers to stand guard over the tomb of...

Bible Study, The Gospel of John, Chapter One from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today we are going to study the good news of John chapter 1 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...

For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard; a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Luke 7:33 WEBThere was always a gloomy feeling that settled over you when you entered the church sanctuary. Everyone was somber with long faces like they were in...

People Get Ready from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jesus said “My sheep hear My voice” in John 10:27 and I believe that each of us have pearls of wisdom given to us by the Holy Spirit. Little gems and insights that are beautiful and meant to build up and strengthen the body of Christ. We are each a microcell in His body and are given resources, gifts, and talents to benefit the...