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The Heart of Stone
by Dion Todd August 8th, 2024
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. You will keep my ordinances and do them....
Going Back to Egypt
by Dion Todd August 7th, 2024
Why does Yahweh bring us to this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be captured or killed! Wouldn't it be better for us to return into Egypt?" They said to one another, "Let's choose a leader, and let's return into Egypt." Numbers 14:3–4 WEB.
When the Israelites approached the land God had promised them, they stopped, and Moses sent out twelve spies to survey it. When...
That Peaceful Easy Feeling
by Dion Todd August 6th, 2024
Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cup can't pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done." He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words. Matthew 26:42 WEB.
On the night that Jesus was betrayed, He knew trouble was coming. He was troubled in His spirit,...
Wild Horses
by Dion Todd August 5th, 2024
Wild Horses from
Refreshing Hope Ministries on
Vimeo.
How would you like to see more divine provision, protection, peace, and rest in your life? There is a way to have less anxiety and worry about what is coming tomorrow. Jesus told us this:
(Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take...
Cut it Loose
by Dion Todd August 4th, 2024
Fearing that we would run aground on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for daylight. As the sailors were trying to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, pretending that they would lay out anchors from the bow, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, "Unless these stay in the ship, you can't be saved." Then the soldiers cut away the ropes...
The Stealership
by Dion Todd August 3rd, 2024
...Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? No, but you yourselves do wrong and defraud, and that against your brothers. Or don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God's Kingdom? Don't be deceived... 1 Corinthians 6:7-9 WEB.
A friend of mine once worked as a salesman at a local car dealership. One day a lady came in who was interested in buying a particular car. However,...
Hide and Seek
by Dion Todd August 2nd, 2024
You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 WEB.
Remember the game "Hide and Seek"? Many of us played it when we were children. One person covers their eyes and counts down while the others go and hide as best they can. When the countdown is complete, the seeker then searches for the hiders.
When I became a dad, I would reverse this game and play...
Grace Like Rain
by Dion Todd August 1st, 2024
For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don't have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another, having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us: if prophecy, let's prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; or service, let's give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching;...
The Popcorn Line
by Dion Todd July 31st, 2024
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6–7 WEB.
We love to get a tub of buttered popcorn at the movies. It is rare for us to go, but popcorn just seems to make the whole movie experience better. It makes us happy. One day we went to see a movie with some friends at a local theater....
Refirement
by Dion Todd July 30th, 2024
Moses said to Yahweh, "O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." Yahweh said to him, "Who made man's mouth? Or who makes one mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Isn't it I, Yahweh? Therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak." Moses said, "Oh, Lord, please send someone...
Wonder Bread
by Dion Todd July 29th, 2024
Wonder Bread from
Refreshing Hope Ministries on
Vimeo.
In Matthew 14:16-21 Jesus fed 5,000 men plus all the women and children who were there with only five loaves of bread and two fish. The disciples picked up twelve baskets of scraps afterward.
In Matthew 15:33-38 Jesus fed 4,000 men plus women and children with seven loaves of bread and a few...
Pride and Prejudice
by Dion Todd July 28th, 2024
When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2 WEB.
The movie "Pride and Prejudice" might have scored good ratings at the theater, but it will not score you points with God. He looks at your heart instead of your clothing. These are two great hindrances to the Holy Spirit moving in your life. And each of us has dealt with one or both at some point.
When we are prideful,...
Heads or Tails
by Dion Todd July 27th, 2024
For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? But if we hope for that which we don't see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:24-25 WEB.
"Oh, I just can't face tomorrow. I have a bad feeling about this." On and on we go, into a spiral of self-pity and hopelessness. Fear, anxiety, and depression begin to snowball around us, and it soon consumes...
Snow Flakes
by Dion Todd July 26th, 2024
For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well. My frame wasn't hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when...
The Car Wash
by Dion Todd July 25th, 2024
Jesus answered him, "If I don't wash you, you have no part with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you." For he knew him who would betray him, therefore he said, "You are not all clean." John 13:8-11 WEB.
After spending...
The Possibilities Book
by Dion Todd July 24th, 2024
Jesus, looking at them, said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God." Mark 10:27 WEB.
Have you ever faced a seemingly impossible circumstance that looked entirely hopeless? Jesus said that ALL things are possible with God. There is nothing out of reach or that He cannot do. The Bible is a possibilities book. It contains so many instances of God creating...
Talk is Cheap
by Dion Todd July 23rd, 2024
They answered him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham didn't do this. You do the works of your father." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God." Therefore Jesus said to them, "If God were...
Devil Cane
by Dion Todd July 22nd, 2024
Devil Cane from
Refreshing Hope Ministries on
Vimeo.
Some years ago, we bought an adjacent property that had been neglected for years after my brother passed away.
It was mostly reclaimed by the woods and covered in pine trees, thorns, briars, poison ivy, and poison oak. We spent time clearing away the collapsing house and debris, hauling in...
The Morning Update
by Dion Todd July 21st, 2024
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." Mark 1:35-37 WEB.
Jesus often withdrew from the noisy crowds to be alone with His Heavenly Father in prayer. Here, He chose His Apostles, refreshed His strength,...
This Is the One
by Dion Todd July 20th, 2024
Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, "Yahweh has not chosen these." Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your children here?" He said, "There remains yet the youngest. Behold, he is keeping the sheep." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here." He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a handsome face and good appearance....
The Star Lord
by Dion Todd July 19th, 2024
God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. Genesis 1:16 WEB.
He also made the stars—what a sentence. I sometimes read this and am amazed by how much the Bible packs into a single verse. Humans cannot create a single star, but they keep finding more of them as they develop devices that let them see further into...
The Hidden Well
by Dion Todd July 18th, 2024
God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Don't be afraid. For God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him with your hand. For I will make him a great nation." God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the container with water, and gave the boy a drink....
The Rock and a Hot Place
by Dion Todd July 17th, 2024
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 3:16-18 WEB.
While...
Justice
by Dion Todd July 16th, 2024
Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful. Don't judge, and you won't be judged. Don't condemn, and you won't be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. The same measure you measure will be measured back to you. Luke 6:36-38 WEB.
I once heard an elder at...
Grace Under Fire
by Dion Todd July 15th, 2024
Grace Under Fire from
Refreshing Hope Ministries on
Vimeo.
In the book of Acts, the Apostle Paul and his group left their home church at Antioch, planning to visit some of the house churches they had established on their first missionary journey. However, soon after they began, the Holy Spirit stopped them.
(Acts 16:6–8 NKJV) Now when they had...
Icy Paint Buckets
by Dion Todd July 14th, 2024
He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? If you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? Luke 16:10–12 WEB.
It was a gray, cold morning in Myrtle...
The Gentle Whisper
by Dion Todd July 13th, 2024
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....
Catch Me if You Can
by Dion Todd July 12th, 2024
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...
Vineyards
by Dion Todd July 11th, 2024
For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Matthew 20:1 WEB.
Vineyards that produce some of the best wines limit the grapevines' water to make their roots go deeper into the soil. The resulting grapes are small...
Thunderstorms
by Dion Todd July 10th, 2024
Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. Psalm 131:2 WEB.
Thunderstorms in the deep south can be terrible, especially for children. Blackened skies, winds that blow down trees, walls of rain you cannot see through, accompanied by bolts of lightning that hit the ground and sound as if an artillery shell exploded. Once...
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