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For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides you, who works for him who waits for him. You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned. We have been in sin for a long time. Shall we be saved? For we have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is like...

Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men." They immediately left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:18–20 WEB. As Jesus walked down by the seashore, He saw Peter and his brother Andrew. He told them to follow...

Then Jonathan said, "Behold, we will pass over to the men, and we will reveal ourselves to them. If they say this to us, 'Wait until we come to you!' then we will stand still in our place and will not go up to them. But if they say this, 'Come up to us!' then we will go up, for Yahweh has delivered them into our hand. This shall be the sign to us." 1 Samuel 14:8-10 WEB. Vastly outnumbered, Saul and...

Teachings inspired by the Holy Spirit are refreshing, but teachings from men are like throwing a wet blanket on the fire: they quench the Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings freedom, but legalism and men's doctrines bring bondage. Consider these two verses: (2 Corinthians 3:17 NKJV) Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (Luke 11:46...

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalms 103:10-12 WEB. We drove from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to Long Beach, California, during our last big road trip. We...

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell. Acts 15:28–29 WEB. After Jesus ascended to heaven and the gospel began to spread, gentiles (non-Jewish...

Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men. The angel answered the women, "Don't be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here, for...

Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for...

When they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh set ambushers against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were struck. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. When they had finished the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy each other. 2 Chronicles 20:22 WEB. A great army...

Yahweh appeared of old to me, saying, "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness." Jeremiah 31:3 WEB. There is an old saying that you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. Yet, when I was growing up in the Bible Belt, most of the things I heard about God were seasoned with vinegar. As in, "God loves you, but He will kill you...

In Chapter 10 of the Book of Acts, we meet Cornelius, who lives in Caesarea. This stunning Roman city, built on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, bustled with life and culture. With around 50,000 residents, it served as the home of the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate. Caesarea was truly a marvel of its time, featuring impressive aqueducts that brought in fresh water,...

Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore run like that, not aimlessly. I fight like that, not beating the air, but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 WEB. There are so...

Praise Yahweh, my soul, and don't forget all his benefits, who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalm 103:2-5 WEB. Years ago, I mainly worked in low-end jobs where the only benefit was having...

They heard Yahweh God's voice walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden. Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" The man said, "I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; so I hid myself." God said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you...

Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this: he will make your righteousness shine out like light, and your justice as the noon day sun. Psalm 37:4-6 WEB. Once while performing a deed search on some property, we found a tax lien had been filed against us by the state for several thousand dollars....

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram. Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon...

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and Yahweh's glory has risen on you. For, behold, darkness will cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but Yahweh will arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1-3 WEB. Nightfall came faster than I was anticipating. It was a black night as I made my way through...

During Hurricane Hugo, I saw a barn fall from the sky and land in the middle of the road, but you couldn't see the wind that did it. You could hear it roaring, and the wind would almost blow you down, but it was invisible to the eye. Though we can't see the wind blowing, we can certainly observe its effects and feel the air movement on our skin. For example, you can see someone's hair blowing...

A man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, "Yahweh says, 'Because the Syrians have said, "Yahweh is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys;" therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am Yahweh.' 1 Kings 20:28 WEB. When the Syrians first attacked Israel, they thought the God of Israel was a god of the mountains...

But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe. Acts 14:19–20 WEB. After Paul and Barnabas healed a crippled man and preached the good news in the city...

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found, and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field. Matthew 13:44 WEB. Jesus told a parable about a man who found some hidden treasure in a field. He joyfully sold all that he had so he could buy the land and make it his own. The man couldn't take the treasure without first purchasing the...

For my eyes are on you, Yahweh, the Lord. I take refuge in you. Don't leave my soul destitute. Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, from the traps of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall together into their own nets while I pass by. Psalms 141:8–10 WEB. A simple but effective trap design that has been used through the ages is the pit trap. Hunters dig a deep pit and place...

Moses answered, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor listen to my voice; for they will say, 'Yahweh has not appeared to you.' Yahweh said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod." He said, "Throw it on the ground." He threw it on the ground, and it became a snake; and Moses ran away from it. Exodus 4:1-3 WEB. Moses had a shepherd's staff that he carried around with him. It was...

Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go and do as you have said; but make me a little cake from it first, and bring it out to me, and afterward make some for you and for your son. For Yahweh, the God of Israel says, 'The jar of meal will not run out, and the jar of oil will not fail, until the day that Yahweh sends rain on the earth.' She went and did according to the saying of Elijah; and she, and...

In all types of sports, competitors may make mistakes, get frustrated, and even ruin the rest of their game. Sometimes, they get so focused on the goal they missed, the throw they botched, or the catch they dropped, that they let it affect their next play. This tendency has to be trained out of them. A key part of becoming a great athlete is learning to shake off mistakes and keep their focus...

Yahweh's angel came and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites. Yahweh's angel appeared to him, and said to him, "Yahweh is with you, you mighty man of valor!" Judges 6:11-12 WEB. Dust and chaff drifted through the air as Gideon threshed the wheat. He was hiding inside a winepress...

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. When I showed up at a church workday event, the job that got assigned to me was scrubbing all the bathrooms: upstairs, downstairs, and down the hall. I did not remember the church having that many bathrooms. Though I was tempted to complain...

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2–4 WEB. My Dad was born during the great depression of the early 1930s. They had no electricity or running water in the rural areas where he grew up. There was no refrigeration,...

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth. After my skin is destroyed, then I will see God in my flesh, whom I, even I, will see on my side. My eyes will see, and not as a stranger. Job 19:25-27 WEB. The book of Job is the oldest in the Bible, except for the first ten chapters of Genesis. Wealth in this book was still measured in livestock. Yet, even then,...

Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn't fall, for it was founded on the rock. Matthew 7:24–25 WEB. When I was little and stayed with my mom for the summer, she took us to the beach. My brother and I built a giant sandcastle...

and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then the herald cried aloud, "To you it is commanded, peoples, nations, and languages, that whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, you fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. Whoever doesn't fall down and worship shall be cast into the middle...

Too often, we find ourselves playing it safe, staying on the sidelines, and hesitating to fully trust God with our lives. Maybe we choose comfort over stepping out to serve or avoid difficult conversations where we could share our faith. This approach can leave us with a watered-down faith - bland, colorless, and without the power that makes Christianity truly alive and compelling. It's the kind...

He went out, bearing his cross, to the place called "The Place of a Skull", which is called in Hebrew, "Golgotha", where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the cross. There was written, "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS." John 19:17–19 WEB. We read these familiar words but often fail to see their...

He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite. Psalms 147:3-5 WEB. When sharks sense blood in the water, they go into a feeding frenzy. They will attack the wounded and devour them, even if it is another shark. They get so caught up in this frenzy that...

For there is no distinction, for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24 WEB. It's easy for us, who are used to having positions, titles, and seniority in the workplace, to carry those ideas into the church. After we've been around the church for a while, we can feel we have earned our position,...

Yahweh, how my adversaries have increased! Many are those who rise up against me. Many there are who say of my soul, "There is no help for him in God." Selah. But you, Yahweh, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. Psalms 3:1-3 WEB. David wrote these words while on the run from his son Absalom who plotted to kill David and become king in his place. Almost everyone David...

The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:17-19 WEB. I grew up as the least of my family, who happened to be the least of another family. I was the youngest of thirteen children...

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:8–10 WEB. One night, we watched a movie where the people made a sacrifice every day so the sun would come up the following morning....

Moses had been tending sheep for forty years in the land of Midian when the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush. The bush was on fire but never burned up. The Lord told Moses that He had heard the cries of the Israelites who were suffering as slaves in Egypt. Then He said, "Come now, and I will send you." (Exodus 3:10). Then, an interesting conversation unfolded. Moses knew how powerful the...

Yahweh says, "You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers! Every man return to his house; for this thing is of me." So they listened to Yahweh's words, and returned from going against Jeroboam. 2 Chronicles 11:4 WEB. When Solomon, the son of King David, passed away, his son Rehoboam became the king of Israel. Soon afterward, a servant of Solomon named Jeroboam led a rebellion that divided...

When the ten heard it, they began to be indignant toward James and John. Jesus summoned them, and said to them, "You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant. Whoever of you wants to become first among you, shall...

Ruth said, "Don't urge me to leave you, and to return from following you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me." Ruth 1:16–17 WEB. Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi walked along the bumpy road...

To provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified. Isaiah 61:3 WEB. Have you ever felt so down, so sluggish, that you begin to ask yourself, "What is the point of it all?" There are many things in...

Come now, and let's reason together, says Yahweh: Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land Isaiah 1:18 WEB. I grew up in the country and have always loved ATVs, four-wheel drives, dirt bikes, off-roading, and mud bogging. For a while, a group of us would...

Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Yahweh, and your words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 1 Samuel 15:24 WEB. The Lord sent Saul, the king of Israel, on a quest, but he failed because of his fear of man. He told Saul through the prophet Samuel to completely wipe out the Amalekites. Yet, Saul conveniently "overlooked" the command of...

Jesus was only hours away from being arrested. He had poured His life into the twelve Apostles, teaching them all things. Yet, on their way to their last supper together, the Apostles argued over who was the greatest among them. Add in a little pride and a little knowledge, and young men tend to puff up (1 Corinthians 8:1). It reminds me of seminary all over again. During their last supper together,...

Behold, today I am going the way of all the earth. You know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which Yahweh your God spoke concerning you. All have happened to you. Not one thing has failed of it. Joshua 23:14 WEB. When I was young, the Lord spoke to my heart and told me that I would be in the ministry one day and for me to prepare myself...

For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21 WEB. We have a large oak tree in our yard, and each year, a fresh batch of caterpillars is born into the world. For...

Then Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made himself a booth, and sat under it in the shade, until he might see what would become of the city. Yahweh God prepared a vine, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to deliver him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the vine. But God prepared a worm at...

They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Its length shall be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height. You shall overlay it with pure gold. You shall overlay it inside and outside, and you shall make a gold molding around it. Exodus 25:10-11 WEB. The Ark of the Covenant was about the size of a small seaman's chest, built from acacia wood and overlaid with...

When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit didn't allow them. Passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him and saying, "Come over into Macedonia...

Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and Yahweh's glory filled the house. 2 Chronicles 7:1 WEB. When the Israelites completed the tabernacle and altar as Moses instructed, God lit the fire (Leviticus 9:23). Then, the priests were ordered never to let the flame die out. They were to add more wood each morning (Leviticus...

In the first chapter of the Bible, we see God, our loving Awesome Creator, bringing the universe into existence with His words. Every part of His creation is not just good but perfect—full of purpose, harmony, and life. From the stars in the sky to the ground beneath our feet, every living thing was crafted with intention. And when He created us, humanity, He declared that it was very good. (Genesis...

One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!" But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Don't you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? Luke 23:39–40 WEB. Three men were crucified outside Jerusalem on a hill called Golgotha. Which means "Place of a Skull." The Man on the center cross was Jesus Christ of Nazareth,...

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste. He spoke and said to his counselors, "Didn't we cast three men bound into the middle of the fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king." He answered, "Look, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are unharmed. The appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods. Daniel 3:24-25 WEB. Shadrach, Meshach,...

Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for...

When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore. But before long, a stormy wind beat down from shore, which is called Euroclydon. When the ship was caught and couldn't face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. Acts 27:13-15 WEB. The Apostle Paul was a Roman prisoner scheduled to stand trial before...

The men sampled their provisions, and didn't ask counsel from Yahweh's mouth. Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The princes of the congregation swore to them. At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they lived among them. Joshua 9:14–16 WEB. Strangers came into the Israelite...

Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I will kiss, that is he. Seize him, and lead him away safely." When he had come, immediately he came to him, and said, "Rabbi! Rabbi!" and kissed him. They laid their hands on him, and seized him. Mark 14:44–46 WEB. The evening light had faded, and it was now dark. Jesus and the unknowing disciples had finished their last supper on...

Much like a newborn infant cannot compare in wisdom to a seasoned elder, so too is our understanding of God if we neglect the lessons of the Old Testament. Their experiences and overcoming faith are examples for us today. The Old Testament is not just ancient history - it's God's story for us, full of lessons that shape our faith today. Once, when I was studying the book of Revelation and end-time...

Yahweh restored Job's prosperity when he prayed for his friends. Yahweh gave Job twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10 WEB. There was a man named Job who went through a terrible trial. He suddenly lost everything, including his children, his servants, and his livestock. His wealth vanished. Then he became sick and was covered in painful sores and boils from head to foot. His health vanished. As...

Therefore Jesus answered them, "Don't murmur among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up in the last day. John 6:43-44 WEB. Sometimes, I could see from the look on their face that their greatest wish on Earth was for me to stop talking about Jesus. At other times, I have seen people come to me of their own accord and shakily say, "I want...

Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me. You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me. Yahweh will fulfill that which concerns me; your loving kindness, Yahweh, endures forever. Don't forsake the works of your own hands. Psalm 138:7-8 WEB. I have it said that if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans. I am not sure whether...

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you. Psalms 32:8 WEB. When the Lord was ready to start something new in our life, He began by closing out the old, which happened to be our computer business. It caught us off guard and was a bit scary. We tried giving more, praying more, fasting more, and serving more, but nothing seemed to help. So...

Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water. James 3:10-12 WEB. Hot, tired, and aggravated, I pulled the starting cord on the weed eater for the forty-third time. Once...

Give thanks to Yahweh with the lyre. Sing praises to him with the harp of ten strings. Psalm 33:2 WEB. She was a Fender twelve-string acoustic guitar, a dark red sunburst, and in perfect tune. When I ran my fingers across the strings, I knew two things. 1: It was the most beautiful-sounding instrument I'd ever picked up. 2: I had to have one. Now, I'm not much of a guitar player, but even running...

In Matthew 12:33, Jesus said that a tree is known by the fruit it bears. By trees, He meant people, and the fruit was their actions and attitudes. This is a common theme in the Gospels. John the Baptist said it like this: (Matthew 3:10 NKJV) And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Then Jesus...

Which commandment is the greatest of all? Jesus answered, "The greatest is, 'Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one: you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. The second is like this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than...

They took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their gods. The children of Israel did that which was evil in Yahweh's sight, and forgot Yahweh their God, and served the Baals and the Asheroth. Judges 3:6-7 WEB. Centuries ago, excitement was in the air when it was time to go to church. No one wanted to stay home. Their acts of worship were lustful...

You therefore put your belt on your waist, arise, and say to them all that I command you. Don't be dismayed at them, lest I dismay you before them. For, behold, I have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they...

Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border! May your hand be with me, and may you keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" God granted him that which he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:10 WEB. We need balance in prayer. Some people are too ashamed of their past to ask God for anything. They feel that they have messed up so bad they are lucky...

They told Esther's words to Mordecai. Then Mordecai asked them to return this answer to Esther: "Don't think to yourself that you will escape in the king's house any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Who knows if you haven't come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"...

Beloved, don't be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you. But because you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice, that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy. 1 Peter 4:12-14 WEB. I have a testimony I occasionally share where the Lord gave me a horrible job in a brass polishing plant. I started...

Teach a Man to Fish from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today, I want to talk about something crucial for our spiritual walk: listening to the Holy Spirit for ourselves instead of relying on someone else to tell us what He said. It's kind of like that old saying, "Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day; teach a man to fish, and he'll...

Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were bound, and he was there in custody. But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Genesis 39:20-21 WEB. Joseph was his father's favorite son, and his older brothers became very jealous of him. Though Joseph had not done anything wrong...

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn't know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?" She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." John 20:14–16 WEB. Mary and the disciples of Jesus...

Then David gave to Solomon his son the plans for the porch of the temple, for its houses, for its treasuries, for its upper rooms, for its inner rooms, for the place of the mercy seat; and the plans of all that he had by the Spirit, 1 Chronicles 28:11-12 WEB. David provided Solomon with the plans for the new temple he was to build. Though initially, all of those plans were given to David by the Holy...

One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!" But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Don't you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." He said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom." Jesus...

When they came to Marah, they couldn't drink from the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore its name was called Marah. The people murmured against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" Then he cried to Yahweh. Yahweh showed him a tree, and he threw it into the waters, and the waters were made sweet. There he made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there he tested them. He said, "If...

A man's steps are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way. Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for Yahweh holds him up with his hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread. All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed. Psalm 37:23-26 WEB. David had the experience of an entire life behind him...

Two Are Better Than One from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. We sometimes watch a video series called "Alone," where they take people and drop them off in an extremely remote location with a camera and a few items and see how long they can survive. Some people have made it to a hundred days, while others lasted only four hours. What causes...

The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God's will remains forever. 1 John 2:17 WEB. It was my first day of school at Kingston Elementary. Early that morning, my stepmother pulled up to the school, pushed me out of her car, and drove off. Standing alone in the parking lot, I felt like a fish out of water. Panic, fear, abandonment, and a few other strong emotions rolled over me as...

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come on him, they each came from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and to comfort him. Job 2:11 WEB. Righteous men have always been hard to find. Yes, under the new covenant, we have forgiveness, and our sins are covered...

God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn't do it. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. Jonah 3:10–4:1 WEB. It was early morning during a hot summer in the South, and we were digging up a septic tank. After we located and shoveled the dirt off the lid, I grabbed a heavy bar off the truck,...

Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; for you called me." Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, Yahweh; for your servant hears.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, "Samuel!...

They went out from there and passed through Galilee. He didn't want anyone to know it, for he was teaching his disciples, and said to them, "The Son of Man is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, on the third day he will rise again." But they didn't understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. Mark 9:30–32 WEB. The office manager nodded and...

While he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him. Then he said, "Behold, this evil is from Yahweh. Why should I wait for Yahweh any longer?" Elisha said, "Hear Yahweh's word. Yahweh says, 'Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.' " Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned...

God is Able from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. We often underestimate the power and greatness of God, the Almighty. There's no one like Him - no one as powerful, no one as wise. Yet, too often, we let our circumstances chip away at our hope that God will come through for us. The more we focus on our problems, the bigger they seem, and the...

Yahweh said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel brag against me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.' Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.' " So twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained. Yahweh said...

Hezekiah prospered in all his works. However, concerning the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him to test him, that he might know all that was in his heart. 2 Chronicles 32:30-31 WEB. While attending classes at a school, the teacher is right there with you and willing to answer any questions you may have. They spend...

Now after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' servant, saying, "Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go across this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land which I am giving to them, even to the children of Israel. I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses. Joshua 1:1–3 WEB. Painful...

But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. In praying, don't use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. Matthew 6:6-7 WEB. My friend had no idea that the answer to his prayer was waiting for him just inside...

Behold, I will do a new thing. It springs out now. Don't you know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 WEB. A wealthy friend of mine once picked up his daughter's car to take it in for an oil change while she was at work. After He had been gone for a long time, she became anxious and worried about them both. But she was happy when her dad returned late...

Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof. Therefore I didn't even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, 'Go!' and...

The Dinner Party from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. One day, Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to dine at his house. We do not know why. The Pharisees were a strict sect of Judaism known for their rigorous adherence to the laws of Moses and various traditions. They avoided contact with anything or anyone considered unclean. They criticized...

Having then a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let's hold tightly to our confession. For we don't have a high priest who can't be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:14 WEB. When kings of old passed through their towns, it was often with a splendid display and ceremony....

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. The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes...

You gave also your good Spirit to instruct them, and didn't withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. Yes, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness. They lacked nothing. Their clothes didn't grow old, and their feet didn't swell. Nehemiah 9:20-21 WEB. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, the Lord gave them His Spirit to teach them. He provided them with...

A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22 WEB. Health tip: Don't worry. Be Happy. You can add years to your life and health to your body by merely being joyful and happy. No one should be able to manipulate your joy externally because it should come from inside you. People, places, and things can cause problems, but how you react to events is entirely...

Then I went down to the potter's house, and behold, he was making something on the wheels. When the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then Yahweh's word came to me, saying, "House of Israel, can't I do with you as this potter?" Jeremiah 18:3-6 WEB. A friend of mine owned a potter's wheel and...

For you will light my lamp, Yahweh. My God will light up my darkness. For by you, I advance through a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect. Yahweh's word is tried. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:28-30 WEB. Total darkness is the complete absence of light. In scripture, it is associated with gloom, despair, and terror in addition to the natural...

When Sparrows Fall from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The little sparrow was the cheapest living food sold in the marketplace. You could buy two sparrows for a penny or splurge a bit and get five for two pennies (Luke 12:6), with the penny being the smallest copper coin of the day. Sparrows have drab feathers and are described as 'dull-colored'...

He said to him, "O Lord, how shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." Yahweh said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man." Judges 6:15-16 WEB. Gideon was the least in his family, who happened to be the poorest clan in the tribe of Manasseh. Then God chose him to lead a group of three hundred...

This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn't know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you. John...

Then his lord called him in and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?' His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your hearts...

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....

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...

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 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...

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...

...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,...

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...

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;...

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....

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 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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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,...

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....

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...

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....

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...

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 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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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 15:13–14 WEB. God told Abram that his descendants would become slaves for four hundred years in a foreign land. But He...

Son Shine from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. In the book of Exodus in the Old Testament, when Moses emerged from speaking with the Lord. His face was so radiant that people were scared of him, and he had to wear a veil over his face. The Glory of God affected the surface of Moses' skin, like being in the sun for too long affects mine, but Moses'...

Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, 'Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,' then she says, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,'—let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master. Genesis 24:14 WEB. The man in this story was a servant of Abraham. Other than that, we know little about...

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.' Numbers 14:26-28 WEB. Several times in my walk with the Lord, I have seen the idle words I spoke...

But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger. They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. Jesus,...

In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7 WEB. In the past, many saints and martyrs have faced terrible trials and death with peace in their hearts that no one could explain. Some sang...

Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days disciplined us as seemed good to them, but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful...

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Don't throw me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalms 51:10–12 WEB. King David strolled around his palace's rooftop terrace one lazy afternoon and spotted one of his neighbors bathing. Apparently, his balcony was above hers so...

Window of Opportunity from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. In 2 Kings chapter 13, King Joash visits the Prophet Elisha. Joash was king of Israel and reigned for sixteen years from 798 to 782 BC. For decades, the Syrians had oppressed and invaded Israel, weakening them. Elisha the Prophet was a pain to the Syrians. They would make secret plans...

Moses said to the people, "Don't be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh, which he will work for you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall never see them again. Yahweh will fight for you, and you shall be still." Exodus 14:13–14 WEB. Standing by the Red Sea with their back to the water, a group of unarmed former slaves stared out at the most powerful army in...

Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8–9 WEB. When lions hunt water buffalo, they follow them and watch. Then they pick a straggler off on its own or try to separate one...

Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid or scared of them, for Yahweh your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 WEB. Sometimes, we can become so withdrawn that we begin to feel that it is us against the world. That no one cares or even notices what we are going through and struggling with. Even in the middle of a crowd, we can feel alone, and all...

Also delight yourself in Yahweh, And he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4 WEB. Many years ago, I bought a new graphics card for my computer. It had the newly released Digital Visual Interface port. DVI had just come out, and it was now possible to connect a computer to a high-definition television. So you could use a tv like a giant monitor. I have always been intrigued by electronics...

This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you insist 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 3:8-9 WEB. Years ago, I felt everyone needed to believe like me, and...

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 going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up, saw him, and said, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house."...

The Question from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 14, the awe-inspiring power of Jesus Christ is in full swing. He miraculously fed over 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. Later that night, the disciples were out on the Sea of Galilee in their boat when Jesus, defying the laws of nature,...

He told them this parable: "Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep and lost one of them, wouldn't leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which...

For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky, and doesn't return there, but waters the earth, and makes it grow and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so is my word that goes out of my mouth: it will not return to me void, but it will accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing I sent it to do. Isaiah 55:10–11 WEB. When I was about twenty years...

He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." Simon answered him, "Master, we worked all night and caught nothing; but at your word I will let down the net." When they had done this,...

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 1:26–29...

Yahweh spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they didn't listen. Therefore Yahweh brought on them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. When he was in distress, he begged Yahweh his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him; and he was entreated by him, and heard his...

Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light for my path. Psalms 119:105 WEB. The ancient oil lamps they used in biblical times had a small light radius. They would light the path just a few feet ahead of you. You couldn't see very far down the road. When traveling by night, you could see just enough to take the next step. When you took that step, the circle of light moved with you, and you could see...

Carrying the Torch from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Moses was a mighty man of God who performed incredible miracles and even parted the Red Sea so that the Israelites could cross over on dry land. But there came a day when his work was done, and it was time for someone else to take over. That person was Joshua, and the Lord used him to lead...

Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, from the traps of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall together into their own nets while I pass by. Psalms 141:9–10 WEB. If you examine a fishing lure closely, you will find a deadly barbed hook concealed within something that appears tasty and harmless on the outside. Much the same way, a trap is a device that is intentionally designed...

Not that I speak because of lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it. I know how to be humbled, and I also know how to abound. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13 WEB. I grew up on a farm in the country, but...

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him. The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them." He told them this parable: "Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep and lost one of them, wouldn't leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries...

Yahweh said to Joshua, "Get up! Why have you fallen on your face like that? Joshua 7:10 WEB. The first town the Israelites came to when they entered the promised land was Jericho. They marched around it seven times, shouted, and the city walls crumbled. God was working with them, and He gave them an incredible victory. They were instructed to put all the loot from the first city into the Lord's treasury....

Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, "This is Yahweh's word to Zerubbabel, saying, 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says Yahweh of Armies. Zechariah 4:6 WEB. David wrote in Psalm 37:4: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Once I was laid off from a great-paying job as a foreman with an international construction company. Then I spent...

Hello everyone! Because there were significant and sudden changes that happened at RHM over the month of April, I wanted to send y'all an update on what has been happening. The Lord has brought positive changes, but they came in the midst of attacks from the enemy that we are still dealing with, so this newsletter is also a prayer request.As a bit of background, when we started this ministry...

One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!" But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Don't you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." He said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom." Jesus said...

Rocket man from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When God's hand touches your life, everything changes, and who you were or where you came from no longer matters. Your skills, talents, intelligence, and resources, or lack thereof, no longer matter. You become something else, a new spirit-filled creation with infinite potential. New doors begin to...

Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls. All your waves and your billows have swept over me. Psalms 42:7 WEB. Moments before, the water had been quiet and still as they drifted down the stream in their raft. They lazily relaxed in the warm sunshine and missed the low roar growing in intensity. They realized too late they were quickly approaching a waterfall. Their lives flashed before their...

The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore see whether the light that is in you isn't darkness. If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light." Luke 11:34-36 WEB. After...

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness Luke 4:1 WEB. I 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. When we had to take a job we did not like. Only to find that it was a stepping stone for...

I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ has come; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. Revelation 12:10 WEB. Do you ever feel shame over something in your past? Is there something saying: "God is mad at you because…" That is the enemy trying to...

Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee; John, the brother of James, and he surnamed them Boanerges, which means, Sons of Thunder; Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. Mark 3:16–19 WEB. Jesus and the disciples had to have been tired after traveling all day when they...

"For there is no good tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces 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. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil,...

The Key Master from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. (Revelation 3:7–8 NKJV)  "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens": "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and...

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn't believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God. John...

If I shut up the sky so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 WEB. I have a Dilbert cartoon about computer tech...

He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit's mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:27-28 WEB. It was time to get a better internet package for the ministry. So we went to the service provider's office, signed in, and sat down....

He answered them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things." He said to them, "Full...

Yahweh said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? If you do well, won't it be lifted up? If you don't do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it." Cain said to Abel, his brother, "Let's go into the field." While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him. Genesis 4:6–7 WEB. Cain became...

He called the multitude to himself with his disciples and said to them, "Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it. Mark 8:34 WEB. If you follow Jesus one day at a time, no power on Earth can stop you from fulfilling...

The Sitting Dead from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jesus Christ was baptized by John in the Jordan River when He was about thirty years old. The heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the physical form of a dove:(Luke 3:21–22 NKJV)  When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized;...

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you," says Yahweh, "thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future. 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 search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you," says Yahweh Jeremiah 29:11–14 WEB. When things begin to go smoothly in our lives and everything...

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:29 WEB. I know a dad who bought his son a car because he had taken a turn for the better. Not very long after this, his son got a drunk driving charge with it. So the dad took the car back and sold it. I don't blame the dad. I may have done the same, but human gifts are often more of a loan, a bonus, or a reward than an actual gift. If...

When he had sat down at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks. Breaking it, he gave it to them. Their eyes were opened and they recognized him; then he vanished out of their sight. They said to one another, "Weren't our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?" Luke 24:30-32 WEB. The amplifier buzzed as I unplugged my bass...

Let us acknowledge Yahweh. Let us press on to know Yahweh. As surely as the sun rises, Yahweh will appear. He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain that waters the earth. Hosea 6:3 WEB. During the long hot summer in the south, the fields can sometimes get so dry the crops appear dead. A good rain shower is one thing they need to restore life and make everything alright. Once the rain...

But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough to spare, and I'm dying with hunger! 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...

Your servant struck both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, since 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, will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:36–37 WEB. Goliath must have been a fearful sight to behold when he walked out onto...

You Raise Me Up from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. King David woke from an afternoon nap and took a stroll around his balcony one evening. He happened to see a beautiful woman bathing at a nearby house. It was the house of Uriah and Bathsheba. The husband, Uriah, was away serving in the military. Now, David had many wives and concubines,...

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 WEB. The Israelites wandered forty years in the wilderness while God worked out some differences with them. Twice while repeatedly circling a mountain,...

I have said these things to you while still living with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don't let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. John 14:25-27 WEB. Soon after Jesus completed...

Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:35–36 WEB. When Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion for...

Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast "Pur", that is the lot, to consume them and to destroy them; but when this became known to the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked plan, which he had planned against the Jews, should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the...

Set a watch, Yahweh, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips. Psalms 141:3 WEB. David prayed that the Lord would set a guard over his mouth to keep him from saying things that he should not. James said, "If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well" (James 3:3). If you can control your tongue, then you can control the rest of your body. Then...

Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more. He said to them, "Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold, your sheaves came around, and bowed down to my sheaf." His brothers asked him, "Will you indeed reign over us? Will you indeed have dominion...

Holy Spirit Fall on Me from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. There are pivotal moments in life when things suddenly change, a breakout, a breakthrough. When doing the impossible suddenly becomes easy. Many of these moments in the Bible happened right after the Holy Spirit "fell" on someone. It was life-changing, and they were never the same....

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 WEB. A very anointed preacher from out of state once spoke at our church. It was a divine appointment. Another church had scheduled him to speak but canceled at the last minute. Now he was stranded...

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...

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways," says Yahweh. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8 WEB. Trying to understand God is a crossroads that everyone comes to at some point. It causes many people to stumble. We do not know, nor can we understand everything God is, what He...

In these days, 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 6:12–13 WEB. Jesus prayed all night. Even though He was the son of God, He continually developed His relationship with His Father. Jesus lived as an example to us. Intimacy and infinite knowledge...

They traveled from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. The soul of the people was very discouraged because of the journey. The people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, there is no water, and our soul loathes this disgusting food!" Numbers 21:4–5 WEB. The Israelites slowly...

Or who is there among you who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9–11 WEB. Many people I talk with have trouble trusting or drawing near to our Heavenly Father....

Lost Donkeys from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Benjamin was the smallest and least significant tribe in Israel, and a young man named Saul lived there. Saul was from a wealthy family but his life had been uneventful up to this point, and there was nothing notable to mention. Then, one day, a mundane task arose:(1 Samuel 9:3–4 NKJV) ...

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. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!" Mark 6:10–11 WEB. When Jesus sent the disciples out...

While he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue's house came, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. Don't trouble the Teacher." But Jesus hearing it, answered him, "Don't be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed." Luke 8:49–50 WEB. Jairus had a twelve-year-old daughter that was deathly sick and couldn't get out of bed. He came to Jesus, fell down at His feet, and begged Him to...

The donkey saw Yahweh's angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam's anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you." The donkey said...

Amaziah also said to Amos, "You seer, go, flee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there, but don't prophesy again any more at Bethel; for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a royal house!" Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman, and a farmer of sycamore figs; and Yahweh took me from following the flock, and Yahweh...

I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. Ezekiel 22:30 WEB. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah grew more and more wicked. Their scales finally tipped, and their judgment day came. Abraham stood in the gap for them (Genesis 18:24). He pleaded with God and asked Him if He would destroy the cities...

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things which I say? Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words and does them, I will show you who he is like. He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock. But he who hears and doesn't...

For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. Ecclesiastes 2:26 WEB. In dog racing, they have a lure called a mechanical rabbit that runs along a rail beside the race track. At the start of the race, the dogs line up and then chase...

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34–35 WEB. At the last supper, Jesus rose and washed His disciple's feet. Then He told them to love one another, just as He had loved them. By this, all people would know they were His disciples....

For we don't desire to have you uninformed, brothers, concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia: that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life. Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver,...

Whatever you will ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:13–14 WEB. It was another cold, dreary morning at work. After several months of unemployment, I got a job polishing brass plumbing parts on a buffing wheel. When I was laid off from my last job, I was a supervisor, but I longed to work in a Christian...

The heavens are Yahweh's heavens, but he has given the earth to the children of men. Psalms 115:16 WEB. I watched my son wrestle with connecting the wiring harness to the motherboard of the computer he was building. I could have done it for him, but he was now six years old and needed to learn to do this himself and that the plug only fits one way. He wanted a gaming computer for Christmas. So being...

Yahweh said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." He went, and met him on God's mountain, and kissed him. Moses told Aaron all Yahweh's words with which he had sent him, and all the signs with which he had instructed him. Exodus 4:27–28 WEB. The Lord spoke to Aaron and told him to meet his brother Moses in the wilderness. We don't know what Aaron was busy doing when the Lord began talking...

The Mustard Seed from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jesus told His disciples a parable about the kingdom of God using a tiny mustard seed. Though mustard was the smallest seed a Palestinian farmer would plant in his field, it would grow into the largest plant in his garden.  (Matthew 13:31–32 NKJV)  Another parable He put forth...

I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns! Let's rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let's give the glory to him. For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready." Revelation 19:6–7 WEB. I have a great wife, and we have...

being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 WEB. It was late Saturday night, and we were both exhausted. We were working on a networked accounting system that was bloated and slow. A simple upgrade job that should have taken a couple of hours on Friday had now taken a couple of days. Still, we chose to honor...

One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him. "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."...

The Philistines came up yet again and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. When David inquired of Yahweh, he said, "You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and attack them in front of the mulberry trees. 2 Samuel 5:22–23 WEB. The Philistine army invaded the Valley of Rephaim, and David asked the Lord what to do. The last time David had faced the Philistines, he met them straight on...

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.' Numbers 14:26–28 WEB. The Israelites came out of Egypt and saw incredible miracles each day while...

Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho." He said, "As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho. The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from over you today?" He answered, "Yes, I know it. Hold your peace." Elijah said to...

Rise From the Dust from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Moses was a fiery young man in Egypt, raised by the daughter of Pharaoh and reared with all the wisdom of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22). He was mighty in words and deeds, but when he turned forty years old, things seemed to fall apart. One day he went to visit his people, the Hebrews, who...

After many days, Yahweh's word came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, "Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth." 1 Kings 18:1 WEB. Some friends once pulled me onto a high roller coaster with them. We waited for everyone to get on board and locked in, then the ride operator started it up. The coaster slowly rattled and climbed up the rails. After a long wait, it finally crossed...

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. Matthew 27:50–51 WEB. Under the old covenant, the high priest entered a room in the temple called the "Holy of Holies" once a year on Yom Kippur. The Day of Atonement. The ark of the covenant was kept there. The manifest...

Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean." But Naaman was angry, and went away and said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper.' Aren't Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus,...

Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come! Let's meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono." But they intended to harm me. I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work, so that I can't come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?" Nehemiah 6:2–3 WEB. Jerusalem had been pillaged and destroyed. The inhabitants who were not killed, were taken...

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. But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn't know that it was Jesus. John 21:3–4 WEB. Peter stood on the shore of the sea of Galilee and watched the waves roll in. He was so discouraged....

Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? Luke 12:25–26 WEB. We were so concerned about tomorrow that we couldn't sleep. We had received a subpoena late that evening and had to appear in court at seven the following morning. There was no time to prepare. That was intentional. Many things ran...

                     Crazy Prayers from     Refreshing Hope Ministries on     Vimeo.    Over the years, I have spent a lot of time praying with others. For example, we led an intercessory prayer team for a while. We also volunteered at the healing rooms, where...

He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, 'Behold, a farmer went out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them. Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn't have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth. When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away. Others fell...

Most assuredly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full. John 16:23'24 WEB.I once heard a story about a man that was given a ticket on a luxury ocean liner. He had very little money, so he stayed in his room and made sandwiches to eat. He admired all the...

The rooster crowed the second time. Peter remembered the words that Jesus said to him, 'Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.' When he thought about that, he wept. Mark 14:72 WEB.Peter said that he would die before he would deny Jesus. Then later that night, Peter denied that he knew Jesus three times in a row. He was scared. Fear can be a powerful enemy. Sometime later, Peter...

Resurrection Day from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. This is Resurrection Day, the final day of Holy Week, which began on Palm Sunday around 33 AD. Jesus Christ would have been in his early thirties. The numbers coincide because BC and AD were created to date the birth of Jesus Christ, so he was 33 years old, and it was about 33 AD, though historical date discrepancies may put his birth a...

Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you." The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing...

Yahweh said to Joshua, "Get up! Why have you fallen on your face like that?" Joshua 7:10 WEB.Joshua lay prostrate before the ark of the Lord all that evening. Yesterday, he had been a mighty warrior. Now Israel had lost the battle at Ai, all because one of the men with him had become greedy and broken the Lord's commandment concerning Jericho. When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and entered...

Palm Sunday from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the last week of Jesus' life on Earth. It was five days before Passover, the day He would be crucified, a day we know as Good Friday. Palm Sunday leads up to Resurrection Sunday, which we call Easter. It also marks the beginning of Passion Week, also called Holy Week. Jesus traveled from Galilee to Jerusalem...

I have been young, and now am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his children begging for bread. All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His seed is blessed. Psalms 37:25'26 WEB.Today is the tomorrow you were so worried about yesterday, and it is not as bad as you thought. Many times throughout my life, I have been worried about what was coming. But when the problem arrived,...

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk you in it; when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21 WEB.A shepherd herding his sheep along a path does not have to interact with them much. He follows behind them, watching. He doesn't have to say anything while the sheep continue in the right direction, though His presence is there with them....

The Blessing of Abraham from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. God knows how to help people who are going through a hard time, for He is a delivering God. Even when our own actions have landed us there, He can bring us back from the brink of destruction. He always tells the enemy, "Let My people go!" Yet, far too many times, He sets us free, and we return to bondage like a washed sow that returns...

Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren't tempted. Galatians 6:1 WEB.We all make mistakes. Not one of us on Earth has lived a perfect life except Jesus. Yet we tend to compare our righteousness to that of others. Sometimes we feel like, "Though we all fall short, I am a lot closer...

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 12:10 WEB.The Apostle Paul learned to be content in whatever situation that he found himself. He saw beyond his physical circumstances and realized that God was still in control of his life even though he was going through terrible...

I have said these things to you, while still living with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you." John 14:25'27 WEB.One of the most challenging and rewarding things you will ever undertake is to learn to follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit. He has more wisdom than planet Earth combined...

Fool for the City from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jesus told a story about a young man who was living a comfortable life and had a bright future ahead of him. Although the man was unnamed in the story, let's call him Richmond. Richmond lived on his wealthy father's farm and helped oversee the work of maintaining it. In the ancient Near East, this would have been tending to crops, managing...

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved in various trials, that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes, even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Peter 1:6'8 WEB.Faith is the currency of heaven. If you want something from God, you get...

Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn't repent. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you." Matthew...

Speak To It from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. There is hidden power in the words you speak, but how? The Apostle Paul tells us that the Word of God is our offensive weapon: The Sword of the Spirit. We combine that with a defensive weapon called the Shield of Faith. (Ephesians 6:16–17 NKJV)  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery...

The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn't dwell in temples made with hands. He isn't served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath and all things. Acts 17:24'25 WEB.He's got the whole world in His hands. Those words were part of a great song that I learned as a child, and I believed it. I could...

He said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation." Mark 16:15 WEB.Jesus spoke these words to the eleven Apostles before He ascended to heaven. There is so much that could be said about this, but today we focus on "The Gospel." The word Gospel means "Glad tidings, good or joyful news." We are here to proclaim the "good and joyful news" to the whole creation.The good...

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 WEB.The disciples of Jesus were mostly uneducated fishermen, but later people lined the streets hoping that the shadow of Peter would pass over them (Acts 5:15). Peter had become more than a simple fisherman because He...

Transformers from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Moses was now eighty years old and tending sheep in the wilderness of Sinai.  It was a lonely, rugged, harsh terrain that was mostly barren but with just enough seasonal vegetation to graze sheep and goats. The nights were cold, and the days were extremely hot, with very little rainfall.  At eighty, Moses was pretty insignificant,...

The Lord of Breakthrough from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When David became King of Israel, the Philistines became worried, for David had long been a thorn in their side. He had killed their champion giant, Goliath, when he was in his teens. People even sang songs and danced about how many Philistines David had killed in battle, and the Philistines knew about them:  (1 Samuel 29:5...

Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you. Luke 12:29'31 WEB.The most important things in your life aren't things at all. If your primary focus is stuff, you will always feel empty inside. Solomon...

Stolen Destiny from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. After King David passed on, his son Solomon, by Bathsheba, became the next King of Israel. The Lord appeared to Solomon twice and told him that if he walked in all the Lord's ways, he would always have an heir on the throne. But Solomon's seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines led his heart astray towards the end of his life, and...

Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more. He said to them, "Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold, your sheaves came around, and bowed down to my sheaf." His brothers said to him, "Will you indeed reign over us? Or will you indeed have...

He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 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!"...

Down at the Crossroads from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. (Isaiah 55:8–9 NKJV)  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." Trying to understand why God does something is a crossroads that everyone comes to at some point,...

The Bronze Serpent from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, the Lord gave them the Ten Commandments written on tablets of stone. In essence, this was the beginning of a covenant relationship, similar to marriage vows today.  God had already proven His faithfulness by delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through many signs, wonders, miracles,...

Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:31'33 WEB.One of the sweetest testimonies that I ever heard was...

Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don't know. Jeremiah 33:3 WEB.When Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, for they were lost and without a Shepherd. He would stop, teach, and heal them. With a touch, He would heal their wounds. Jesus said several times in His teachings that He was the good Shepherd and that He came to seek out and...

As Time As This from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. In the ancient empire of Persia, around 479 BC, a high-ranking official named Haman was driven by a deep-seated grudge and plotted to exterminate all the Jewish people in the empire. His hatred was sparked by Mordecai the Jew, who refused to bow to Haman as he passed by.  So Haman, consumed by his vengeful pride, cunningly convinced...

When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most assuredly, I tell you, they have received their reward. Matthew 6:5 WEB.It was a hot summer day in the South, and Dad and I were working on a house for an elderly lady. Dad was repairing some of the woodwork, and I was coming behind...

But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:50'52 WEB.Paul and Barnabas traveled from town to town preaching the gospel....

From Dust to Dust from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is easy to lose sight of the eternal. We are so busy planning for what we are going to do tomorrow that we forget we might not be here at all. I am all for working, planning, building, and saving for a rainy day, but let's be grounded in reality and not forget about eternity. Let's begin with...

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says Yahweh. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8'9 WEB.There have been many times in life when I worked something out in my mind, planned how it should go, then watched as it went the other way. As a business owner, at times, it was frustrating....

Cry Out to Jesus from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. My simplest and most accurate description of faith is believing in something enough to take action on it. For example, if someone told you they would meet you outside the bank at 10 AM, would you believe them enough to meet them? I know some people I would believe and some I wouldn't. Some people mean what they say, while others say what...

Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that you have spoken. Then took Haman the clothing and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and caused him to ride through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king...

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his clothing, and came in to Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It isn't in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer...

2023 Year-end Wrapup from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Dear wonderful Refreshing Hope Family, As we close out another year and look back on 2023, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for being an integral part of our journey here at Refreshing Hope Ministries. Whether you've joined us through reading our devotionals, watching our videos, or listening to our music, your...

"Yahweh said to Gideon, By the three hundred men who lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand; and let all the people go every man to his place. So the people took food in their hand, and their trumpets; and he sent all the men of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the three hundred men: and the camp of Midian was beneath him in the valley." Judges 7:7'8 WEB.Facing...

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you," says Yahweh, "thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future. 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 search for me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13 WEB.I returned to church early in the afternoon because I was in the band, and we needed to rehearse...

Feeling Good from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The Lord speaks to us in ways we can comprehend. For example, He wouldn't speak Hebrew to someone who doesn't understand Hebrew. That is why the Apostle Paul said this: (1 Corinthians 14:18–19 NKJV)  I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that...

The Night Before Christmas from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Imagine what it must've been like to be in Bethlehem, a cozy little town surrounded by rolling hills, over 2,000 years ago on the very first Christmas Eve. Think about a time way before we had all these twinkling Christmas lights and the happy holiday songs we sing today. It was a night unlike any other, special and full of wonder,...

David left his baggage in the hand of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and said the same words; and David heard them. All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were terrified. 1 Samuel 17:22-24 WEB.When...

Roosters from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. I grew up on a farm in the country, and we raised chickens. I had a gorgeous dark red pet rooster I raised from a hatchling. They are peculiar creatures. The roosters were attention seekers and would strut around with their chests out, hop onto the highest point they could reach, and crow as loud and long as they could. They chased all the hens...

The Vineyard from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. I have always admired Amos, who was a shepherd in a field when the Lord told him to go and prophesy to King Jeroboam in Bethel. The priest Amaziah told him to prophesy somewhere else. They weren't interested in what the Lord had to say, but Amos stood his ground and told them the message the Lord had given him. That took courage. (Amos 7:12–16...

You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith. In the same way, wasn't Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead. James 2:24-26 WEB.I grew up on a farm with two brothers and ten step-siblings. I got to see first-hand the...

However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. Yes most assuredly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through...

Sacrifice from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When Jesus came walking past the disciples in their fishing boat late one night, Peter called out to Him and asked if he could join Him and walk on the water.  (Matthew 14:28–31 NKJV)  And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down...

Walk on Water from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. An extraordinary event unfolds in Matthew chapter 14, one that is unparalleled elsewhere in the Bible: a common fisherman defying the laws of nature by walking on water. This miraculous feat wasn't performed by Jesus, but rather by Peter, a regular fisherman by trade. Peter, who openly referred to himself as 'a sinful man' in Luke 5:8, was...

The Eyes of Faith from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. This message is a spiritual pearl for me, and I am a bit conflicted about sharing it as the Lord warns us not to throw our pearls before swine, and this is the Internet. Yet, this is a word from Him meant to be shared. May it encourage someone to look beyond the natural and give them hope. We need to see the resources available beyond the...

He said, "Take the arrows;" and he took them. He said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground;" and he struck three times, and stopped. The man of God was angry with him, and said, "You should have struck five or six times. Then you would have struck Syria until you had consumed it; whereas now you will strike Syria just three times." 2 Kings 13:18'19 WEB.Israel had repeatedly been invaded by Syria...

Moving On from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. There will be times when the Lord sends you in a different direction than those around you, like Barnabas and Saul:  (Acts 13:2 NKJV)  As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." That time was graceful, but there will be other times...

For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky, and doesn't return there, but waters the earth, and makes it grow and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so is my word that goes out of my mouth: it will not return to me void, but it will accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing I sent it to do. Isaiah 55:10'11 WEB.There are things the Lord told me...

Country Road from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jesus Christ came to seek out and save the lost sheep. He is the Good Shepherd and said plainly that He didn't come to condemn the world (John 3:17 NKJV)  "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." Jesus' teachings were so refreshing to listen to, which was a complete...

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Acts 17:10'11 WEB.The first mechanical repeater was a telegraph machine, but the practice was used...

Feel the Spirit from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jesus Christ began His ministry when He was thirty and continued for three and a half years. He knew He would be crucified, and He taught His disciples all He could to prepare them for it, but many things went over their heads. They didn't understand what was coming. They assumed that Jesus would become the next king of Israel, like David,...

Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things which I say? Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you who he is like. He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock. Luke 6:46'48 WEB.The boss paced...

Down by the Riverside from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Sometimes, when reading or listening to something, you know it was meant for you. That somehow, someway, the Lord put it in front of you for such a time as this. An anointed word or song is timeless, just as the Bible was written thousands of years ago, but it can speak something new to you every day.  Yet, you could be standing...

If it be so, 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, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up. Daniel 3:17'18 WEB.Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, had built a golden image ninety feet high and commanded everyone in his kingdom to...

You Will Have What You Need from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. We really live in exciting times. We are coming out of a global pandemic with millions dead. Wars rage around the world, with people launching billions of dollars in missiles while others wish they had a bowl of rice. The U.S. Government is approaching its fourth shutdown showdown this year. Earth has come a long way from the...

When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther came near, and touched the top of the scepter. Then the king asked her, "What would you like, queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom." Esther 5:2'3 WEB.After fasting for three...

Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down on the earth, and put his face between his knees. He said to his servant, "Go up now, and look toward the sea." He went up, and looked, and said, "There is nothing." He said, "Go again" seven times. On the seventh time, he said, "Behold, a small cloud, like a man's hand, is rising out of the sea." He said, "Go up, tell Ahab, 'Get ready...

Super Natural from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The Lord works in mysterious ways, and I love seeing Him do miracles. Yet, the heavy work of God in my life has happened so naturally that you wouldn't notice it: super natural. Sometimes, I would get laid off from one job because He wanted me somewhere else, and I didn't understand until later. I wouldn't even be in ministry today if the Lord...

The Day of Small Things from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. As with many of my messages, this was a word for me, but I will share it with you as I found it encouraging. I have been building a new social media website for Refreshing Hope behind the scenes for months. It is a massive undertaking as we are merging three control panels patched together with scripts into one mobile-friendly site...

Hope in the Dark from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. How can you have hope while living in a dark time? When you feel like what you are facing is so powerful, all you can do is pray. Many before us did, and we can learn from their examples.  First, if you read the New Testament, you'll encounter multiple rulers named 'Herod.' Though they belong to the same family line, it's important...

Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and, 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don't dash your foot against a stone.' " Jesus said to him, "Again, it is written, 'You shall not test the Lord, your God.' " Matthew...

The Fog from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Beggars sat by the gates of the city with their hands out, heads down in shame, hopelessly believing "woe is me." That nothing could change for them, at least for the better. Such was their lot in life, the hand they had been given. They accepted and believed the lie that things couldn't change. That their future would only be more of the past. It...

I have declared the former things from of old; yes, they went forth out of my mouth, and I shown them: suddenly I did them, and they happened. Isaiah 48:3 WEB.There was a time in our life when our business started failing. Our income grew less and less and then stopped completely. After several months with no work, the bills started piling up. We tried everything we could, but nothing seemed to change...

If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion, make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; each of you not just looking to his own things,...

Anxiety from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. I want to talk about something plaguing so many people today: Anxiety, a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about something with an uncertain outcome. It has always been a problem. Jesus spoke about it, but it has grown to epidemic proportions in modern times. I believe that it is partly because we are bombarded all day long by...

So they took up Jonah and threw him into the sea; and the sea ceased its raging. Then the men feared Yahweh exceedingly; and they offered a sacrifice to Yahweh and made vows. Yahweh prepared a huge fish to swallow up Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed to Yahweh, his God, out of the fish's belly. He said, "I called because of my affliction to...

Listen to the Music from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. In Daniel chapter 3, King Nebuchadnezzar built a statue of gold 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide. It was immense, possibly like the one he had seen in his dream in Daniel chapter 2, which said that he was the head of gold. Perhaps it was a statue of himself because he made the whole image out of gold. After the statue was completed, King...

Salt of the Earth from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. During the ministry of Jesus, salt was a precious commodity. Roman soldiers were sometimes paid with salt, which created the phrase "worth his salt." Our modern word for salary is derived from the Latin word "salarium," meaning "salt money." Salt has two main properties: It gives flavor and also preserves from corruption. It has been used...

Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of Yahweh, and spread it before Yahweh. Hezekiah prayed before Yahweh, and said, Yahweh, the God of Israel, who sit above the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. 2 Kings 19:14'15 WEB.Hezekiah looked hopelessly over the...

The Yoke from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. People often make promises with no intention of keeping them, but God is not like that. When He makes a promise, it will come to pass. Joshua, the son of Nun, lived forty years as a slave in Egypt, forty years wandering in the wilderness, and thirty years in the promised land. Before he died at 110, he told the Israelites this: (Joshua 21:45 NKJV) ...

It happened, when they had come, that he looked at Eliab, and said, Surely Yahweh's anointed is before him. But Yahweh said to Samuel, "Don't look on his face, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for Yahweh sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:6'7 WEB.The Lord sent Samuel to anoint the next king of Israel...

Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you. Luke 12:29-31 WEB.The Lord once doubled some of our computer equipment here at the office. At the time, we ran a small computer service company on a tight...

The Delusion of Easy Street from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. During the life of the Apostle Paul, a comfortable, soft life, living on easy street, was considered a sure sign of a righteous man. You were living in God's favor. That is why when Jesus Christ said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, the disciples with...

26 Letters from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The King James Bible is written using only twenty-six letters, for that's how many letters are in the English alphabet. There are about forty-four major sounds in the English language. Yet, we can write a series of novels within those constraints and take people where they have never been. We can bring hope, encouragement, or fear and division.  A...

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 by his beard, and struck him, and killed him. 1 Samuel 17:34'35 WEB.As a young shepherd caring for his father's sheep, David got to know each of them....

All Aboard from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When a passenger train pulls into the station, it gives one long blast from the horn then the bell begins ringing as it slows. The train conductor takes tickets from those waiting and shouts, "All aboard!" Then after a set time, the train pulls away from the station, and those who were ready head to their destination. But what happens to those...

Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?" Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Because God has shown you all of this, there is no one so discreet and wise as you. You shall be over my house. All my people will be ruled according to your word. Only in the throne I will be greater than you." Genesis 41:38'40 WEB.While serving a prison sentence in Egypt for...

Moses said to Yahweh, "Behold, you tell me, 'Bring up this people:' and you haven't let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.' Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you, so that I may find favor in your sight: and consider that this nation is your people." He...

Get Up from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Moses appointed Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land when he passed away. Moses was a deliverer who brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. Yet, because he struck a rock with his staff when he should have spoken to it, he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12). So the Lord took Moses home, and Joshua became...

For the thing which I fear comes on me, That which I am afraid of comes to me. Job 3:25 WEB.As we worked to get the fish hook free of my eyelid, an actual calmness came over me. I grew up on the rivers of South Carolina fishing, and I always got nervous when people began swinging their fishing lines around. I dreaded the thought of them snagging me with their fish hook, especially in the eye.One day,...

Secret Christian from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. I sincerely question any salvation that requires no action nor causes any change in your life. If they were arrested today and put on trial for following Jesus, many modern Christians would be set free because of a lack of evidence. Because knowing about Jesus isn't knowing Him. There seems to be some confusion over this, but look how clearly...

Rich Rulers and Poor Widows from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The Apostle Paul once did a fundraiser for the church in Judea and collected financial gifts from the Christians in Macedonia and Greece. It was financial aid, for the church in Jerusalem was being persecuted and had fallen on hard times while others were doing well.  The Christians at Corinth had vowed to help, so Paul...

Shock and Awe from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. All twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ were martyred, except for John. They chose death rather than deny the Lord Jesus Christ. James was beheaded. Peter was crucified and requested it be upside down because he felt unworthy to die as Jesus had. His brother Andrew was crucified and preached the gospel from the cross to those in the area for almost...

The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and to the animals of the field." 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...

Desperation from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet, for he wept for his nation and the coming judgment the Lord had shown him. Israel had turned their backs on the Lord and served every other god under the sun.  Spending decades under the leadership of evil kings like Manasseh led the people away from the Lord. Manasseh tried to wipe out the prophets...

Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me. Moreover I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring forth my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt. Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?" He said, "Certainly...

Heavenly Places from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Heaven is a real place, as real as the ground underneath your feet, with streets of pure transparent gold and a clear river of the water of life. There will be gates made of a single pearl and foundations made from precious gemstones. There is no darkness, for it is illuminated by the glory of God (Revelation 21:10-23). It will be a jaw-dropping...

The multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore their clothes off of them, and commanded them to be beaten with rods. When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely, who, having received such a charge, threw them into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying...

In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things...

A Living Sacrifice from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Various sacrifices were required under the old covenant. Some of the sacrifices helped feed the priests and those who worked at the temple, but a burnt offering was placed on the altar and completely consumed by fire. You can read about these in the book of Leviticus.  Under the new covenant, the perfect sacrifice of the Lord Jesus...

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27 WEB.Jesus said His sheep would hear His voice, and they would follow Him, "and a stranger, they would not follow" (John 10:5). God speaks to His people individually and collectively. Some are so concerned about being deceived that they...

Pilate therefore said to him, "Aren't you speaking to me? Don't you know that I have power to release you, and have power to crucify you?" Jesus answered, "You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore he who delivered me to you has greater sin." John 19:10'11 WEB.Beaten and bloody, wearing a purple robe and a crown made of thorns, Jesus quietly listened...

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;' and don't know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; Revelation 3:15'17 WEB.I hate needles. I remember when I was ready...

In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It's a ghost!" and they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying "Cheer up! I AM! Don't be afraid." Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters." He said, "Come!" Peter stepped down...

Anchor of the Soul from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When people lose hope, they lie down and die. They lose the will to live and fight any longer. Hopelessness is utter despair, the belief that nothing good will happen. When you begin to think like this, it will bring a desire to die. A spirit of suicide will try and convince you that death is the only way out, but it's a lie. David wrote: (Psalm...

But Rahab the prostitute, her father's household, and all that she had, Joshua saved alive. She lives in the middle of Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. Joshua 6:25 WEB.Rahab was always looked down on by the married women of the city. She was a prostitute, the least of the least, covered in shame with no hope and no future. She exchanged sex for...

A Whiter Shade of Pale from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Revival is the presence of God coming down to live among His people for a season. Jesus Christ was a walking revival. Crowds thronged around Him. Sinners came to hear Him. Miracles happened. Evil spirits came screaming out of the people. The blind could see. The deaf could hear. The crippled could walk. Sickness and disease were cured....

God said to Noah, "I will bring an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them and the earth. Make a ship of gopher wood. You shall make rooms in the ship, and shall seal it inside and outside with pitch. Genesis 6:13'14 WEB.Noah had something to do. It was a driving passion that no one else understood. He could see beyond the curve, and it made...

"He said to another, "Follow me!" But he said, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce the Kingdom of God." Another also said, "I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to bid farewell to those who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back,...

The Sound of Silence from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. It's great when we are on top of the mountain with the Lord, like Moses getting fresh direction, but it gets lonely down in the valley where they worship that golden calf. We are excited when we get a fresh vision from the Lord, a new direction. "Oh, now we know what to do!" But there is often a span of time between the revelation and...

God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day. The heavens, the earth, and all their vast array were finished. On the seventh day God finished his work which he had done; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work...

He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire." Mark 14:35-36 WEB.After growing up in the bible-belt, my image of God was as a complete disciplinarian. An angry, white-haired, lightning-bolt...

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It's a ghost!" and they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Cheer up! It is I! Don't be afraid." Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters." He said, "Come!" Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. Matthew 14:26'29...

The Grapevine from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Some people have the gift of writing a thousand words without conveying anything meaningful. Have you ever tried to research something and read page after page of documentation and still can't even find what it does?  For instance, try and compare different versions of Microsoft Office, and you will find lengthy pages of writing like:...

At the same time my understanding returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk in pride he is able...

Facing the Storm from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. We live on the coast of South Carolina near Myrtle Beach, less than ten miles from the Atlantic Ocean, as a bird would fly. I was born here. For us, from late August through November, it's hurricane season. Technically, it runs from June 1st to November 30th, but the storms I remember most land in September.  Hurricane Hugo came...

The Door to Eternity from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. People who try to live right when the world has gone wrong have always gotten God's attention. We would not even be here today unless some of those people had swum against their current culture. Consider the story of Noah: (Genesis 6:9–10 NKJV)  This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations....

Ever Increasing Faith from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Small victories in your life will lead to bigger ones. When I started with the Lord, I was so hungry I wanted to do exploits for God immediately. I wanted to do the end from the beginning, but the Lord does not work that way. Like track and field, He sets obstacles before us that we can overcome, then He raises the bar a little higher....

Jeremiah said, Yahweh's word came to me, saying, Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, "Buy my field that is in Anathoth; for the right of redemption is yours to buy it." So Hanamel my uncle's son came to me in the court of the guard according to Yahweh's word, and said to me, 'Please buy my field that is in Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin; for the right...

The Lamb from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. We know Jesus was crucified during the Passover feast, so the timing is not far off. In fact, the week of Passover overlaps with Easter this year and begins at sundown on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. At the same time, Easter is on Sunday, April 9th, right in the middle of Passover week.  The...

God looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understood, who seek after God. Psalms 53:2 WEB.When the Lord began speaking to me with His gentle promptings, I was amazed at how well He knew me. I was a computer technician and dealt with a lot of spyware and viruses at the time. The Lord often spoke to me in technical terms and dialect that others wouldn't understand....

Intentional Spiritual Growth from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. t's time to align with the divine! To clear our ears and get in tune with what the Lord is doing today. It is planting season once again and a time for intentional spiritual growth. You won't complete a marathon if you haven't disciplined yourself to run for hours. That ability is not given to you. It is earned.  Olympic...

Mirror Mirror from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. I look in the mirror, and what do I see? Who is that looking back at me? Is it someone faithful and true, or someone wishing they could start new? Today is the day to square up with the one in the mirror. David wrote this song about the Lord after he was delivered from Saul: (2 Samuel 22:26–29 ESV)  "With the merciful you show yourself...

You Get What You Need from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Sometimes disappointment comes from unrealistic expectations, like a fish that wants to fly. Fish simply aren't built for graceful air travel, but they can swim like no one else. Likewise, the Lord has given each of us a gift set and areas of expertise to build up the body of Christ, but too often, we want to be someone else, somewhere...

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...

Rest in Me from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. This is a word for me, but I'll share it with you. I've had a rough week. Our main mail server here at Refreshing Hope has grown so slow it was becoming unusable and began randomly corrupting email accounts. Millions of emails pass through that machine, and it is mission-critical for us. It is also a temperamental, hateful beast with hundreds...

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...

Wheel in the Sky from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. God's being, wisdom, and His word are eternal and live outside of time. Unlike us, He has always existed:  (Genesis 1:1 NKJV)  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Proverbs 8:23 NKJV)  I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. (Matthew 24:35 NKJV) ...

By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly...

Sheep from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Sheep are one of the most high-maintenance animals you can raise. It has been said that the very existence of sheep is evidence against the theory of evolution, for there is no way they could have survived on their own.  Sheep are at the lower end of the intelligence scale and pitifully defenseless. They are both timid and stubborn, frightened...

For neither from the east, nor from the west, nor yet from the south, comes exaltation. But God is the judge. He puts down one, and lifts up another. Psalm 75:6-7 WEB.During a personal time of revival in my life, I began to fast and pray hard for the Lord to remove anything holding me back from being closer to Him. I was thinking spiritually, but it turns out that the Lord is a bit more practical than...

The Servant from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The Lord Jesus Christ is eternal and has been here since the beginning of time. He was here when the Earth was formed and will be here when it is rebooted. He is the Commander of the army of the Lord and has legions of angels available (Joshua 5:14). That is why He could tell the apostles this:  (Matthew 26:53 NKJV)  ...do you think...

Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men." They immediately left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:18'20 WEB.As Jesus walked down by the seashore, He saw Peter and his brother Andrew. He told them to follow Him....

Whine and Fish from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Children are notorious for whining and tend to have short memory spans. They forget what you did for them last week, and the most important thing on Earth is what they want right now. They are often greedy and selfish. It's a sign of immaturity.  When the Israelites came out of Egypt, they behaved like children. One day they are singing...

Beauty for Ashes from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. We live in an age of smiling despair. Like a whitewashed tomb, everything looks fine on the outside, but inside us, there is a pile of dead dreams. The things we struggle with seem overwhelming, and we don't feel strong enough to face them. The enemy wants you to get tired and quit. To make you feel like you just can't win this time, for...

Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this: he will make your righteousness shine out like light, and your justice as the noon day sun. Psalm 37:4-6 WEB.Once while performing a deed search on some property, we found a tax lien had been filed against us by the state for several thousand dollars. After...

The Prize Fighter from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. While on his second missionary journey, the Apostle Paul spent 18 months in a town called Corinth. It was one of the wealthiest and the most immoral of the ancient cities, and Paul's letters contain several stern corrections to them, including one church member who was "having" his father's wife (1 Corinthians 5:1).  Paul established...

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.When I showed up at a church workday event, the job that got assigned to me was scrubbing all the bathrooms: upstairs, downstairs, and down the hall. I did not remember the church having that many bathrooms.Though I was tempted to complain...

Seeking or Circling from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When the descendants of Abraham were enslaved in Egypt, the Lord sent Moses to bring them out of there. The Egyptian Pharaoh wasn't up for the idea initially, but the Lord changed his mind by sending a series of plagues on Egypt without harming the Hebrews living there. After Egypt was in shambles, Pharaoh changed his mind and let them...

Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn't fall, for it was founded on the rock. Matthew 7:24'25 WEB.When I was little and stayed with my mom for the summer, she took us to the beach. My brother and I built a giant sandcastle...

Bible Study: The Gospel of John, Chapter 2 from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today, we are going to study John chapter 2 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. I can read the entire Bible on video and upload it to the Internet without any legal drama...

My Redeemer from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The book of Ruth is about a woman who lost her husband while they were living in Moab. Naomi, her mother-in-law, had lost her husband and both of her sons. After their death, Naomi returned home to Bethlehem as a childless widow with no income or means of support. Widows with no children to support them were among the lowest, most disadvantaged...

Running on Empty from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The great Apostle Peter was one of the first disciples of Jesus and became one of His closest companions. Peter was nearly always with Jesus, and one of the inner three, along with James and his brother John. They were with Jesus even when the other Apostles were left behind.  Peter watched Jesus transform into His gleaming heavenly...

Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Yahweh, and your words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 1 Samuel 15:24 WEB.The Lord sent Saul, the king of Israel, on a quest, but he failed because of his fear of man. He told Saul through the prophet Samuel to completely wipe out the Amalekites. Yet, Saul conveniently "overlooked" the command of the...

Much Ado About Nothing from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jesus Christ pulled the veil back on the spirit realm and revealed the hidden kingdom of darkness and hordes of demons that live inside of people they call their "houses." What entitled fiends. They are like squatters that move in, act as if they own the place, and began bossing others around.  (Matthew 12:43–45 NKJV) ...

When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit didn't allow them. Passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him and saying, "Come over into Macedonia...

2022 Year-End Wrapup from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you for being a part of Refreshing Hope Ministries and taking time out of your day to read or watch this message. I hope this finds you blessed, warm, safe, and happy wherever you happen to be. This is our year-end newsletter, and I wanted to update you on what has been happening...

Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for...

Little Lamb from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Have you ever wondered what it was like to be on Earth the night Jesus was born? What was the world like then? What do we know about it? Well, things were complicated. It was a difficult time.  Under Julius Caesar, Rome had expanded to a vast empire that spanned from Egypt to England, which was called Britannia. Then came Caesar Augustus....

Yahweh restored Job's prosperity when he prayed for his friends. Yahweh gave Job twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10 WEB.There was a man named Job who went through a terrible trial. He suddenly lost everything, including his children, his servants, and his livestock. His wealth vanished. Then he became sick and was covered in painful sores and boils from head to foot. His health vanished.As Job...

Widespread Revelation from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Sometimes we take great things in life for granted and don't even miss them until they are gone. Good health, loved ones, friends, a roof that doesn't leak, beautiful days, and the word of God. Those that have never experienced them may not even realize how precious and hard to recover they can be once lost.  An interesting story...

Which commandment is the greatest of all? Jesus answered, "The greatest is, 'Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one: you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. The second is like this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than...

Hidden Power from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The prophet Elijah knew things about prayer that we could learn from. When King Ahab and his wife Jezebel were wickedly leading the nation into worshiping baal and killing off the Lord's prophets, Elijah came out of nowhere and boldly confronted them with a word from the Lord:  (1 Kings 17:1 NKJV)  And Elijah the Tishbite, of the...

They told Esther's words to Mordecai. Then Mordecai asked them to return this answer to Esther: "Don't think to yourself that you will escape in the king's house any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Who knows if you haven't come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"...

Wrestling with God from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Men like Abraham and Joseph yield immediately to God's call, but others are people of conflict, like Jacob and Jonah. Though we want to be part of God's plan, we struggle independently, using our own strength until the Lord wrestles it from us.  Jacob was a man of conflict like many of us. There was both good and bad within him....

Be Thankful from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Always remember to be thankful for what God has done for you. Jesus Christ lived on Earth as our example, and He was graceful, thankful, and filled with praise. We should try and live like that, for no matter what we have been through, there are still some things we can be thankful for. An important one is that you woke up again today. For some...

Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; for you called me." Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, Yahweh; for your servant hears.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, "Samuel!...

Yahweh said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel brag against me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.' Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.' " So twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained. Yahweh said...

Now after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' servant, saying, "Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go across this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land which I am giving to them, even to the children of Israel. I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses. Joshua 1:1'3 WEB.Painful memories...

Gifts That Keep on Giving from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. One of the greatest and most fulfilling things you can do is to be used by God to help others somehow. Jesus said, what you have done to the least of the brethren, you have done unto Me (Matthew 25:40). And even giving one of His followers a cup of cold water will bring you a reward (Matthew 10:42).  Yet, we can do more than...

Gospel Amnesia from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, they came to a Samaritan village that did not welcome them. The "Sons of Thunder" brothers, James and John, remembered the prophet Elijah calling down fire from heaven and wanted to do likewise: (Luke 9:54–56 NKJV)  And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You...

A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22 WEB.Health tip: Don't worry. Be Happy. You can add years to your life and health to your body by merely being joyful and happy. No one should be able to manipulate your joy externally because it should come from inside you.People, places, and things can cause problems, but how you react to events is entirely...

Resting in a Storm from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Our Lord Jesus Christ lived on Earth as our example and lived a simple life of trust and peace. Once when Jesus and the disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee on their fishing boat, a great storm came, and Jesus slept soundly in the bottom of the vessel while the rest were stressed out. Jesus had learned to rest from stress.  (Matthew...

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....

Brothers and Sisters from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. I was raised to work hard and take pride in my work. I often turn it into a game as if I were doing it directly for the Lord. If I am making dinner for one of the Lord's people, I prepare it as if it were for the King Himself. If I am repairing a toilet at the church, it's the throne of the King. The way you treat the Lord's people...

Fun While It Lasted from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Do you believe in God enough that it affects your behavior? Do you hold back from doing some things simply because it would grieve the Holy Spirit? Or does your spiritual life have little to do with your daily life? And why does it matter? (Luke 6:46–48 NKJV)  "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which...

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 something...

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....

Rise From the Dust from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Moses was a fiery young man in Egypt, raised by the daughter of Pharaoh and reared with all the wisdom of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22). He was mighty in words and deeds, but when he turned forty years old, things seemed to fall apart.  One day he went to visit his people, the Hebrews, who were enslaved in Egypt. He wanted to help them,...

Just-if-id from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Years ago, in seminary, an instructor of mine taught the book of Romans. The theme the Apostle Paul stresses strongly in his letter to the Romans is being justified before God. Yet, what does that mean to us? Let's start with the basics and break it down as simply as possible. (Romans 3:23 NKJV)  for all have sinned and fall short of the...

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 a...

In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6'7 WEB.In the past, many saints and martyrs have faced terrible trials and death with peace in their hearts that no one could explain. Some sang hymns...

The Mustard Seed from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jesus told His disciples a parable about the kingdom of God using a tiny mustard seed. Though mustard was the smallest seed a Palestinian farmer would plant in his field, it would grow into the largest plant in his garden.  (Matthew 13:31–32 NKJV)  Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like...

Also delight yourself in Yahweh, And he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4 WEB.Many years ago, I bought a new graphics card for my computer. It had the newly released Digital Visual Interface port. DVI had just come out, and it was now possible to connect a computer to a high-definition television. So you could use a tv like a giant monitor. I have always been intrigued by electronics...

A Shoestring and a Prayer from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Elijah was a prophet of the Lord who lived during a troubled time in Israel. King Ahab was evil, and his wife Jezebel was a baal-worshipper who set out to kill all the Lord's prophets and promote pagan worship throughout their kingdom. Ahab and Jezebel were not restrained by normal reasoning or rules. When Ahab wanted a vineyard...

He told them this parable: "Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep and lost one of them, wouldn't leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which...

Day by Day from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. All through Scripture, there is a pattern of the Lord taking a little and making it do a lot. He does it with people, like when young David faced the giant warrior Goliath. He does it with resources, like when a small jar of oil never runs out.  The worldview is often to hoard it and build bigger barns, but this is not how the Lord does...

Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light for my path. Psalms 119:105 WEB.The ancient oil lamps they used in biblical times had a small light radius. They would light the path just a few feet ahead of you. You couldn't see very far down the road. When traveling by night, you could see just enough to take the next step. When you took that step, the circle of light moved with you, and you could see...

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him. The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them." He told them this parable: "Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep and lost one of them, wouldn't leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries...

The Long War from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. After King Saul rebelled and turned away, the Lord chose a new king, but it wouldn't be a microwaved instant king this time. He would begin preparing him early on. So the prophet Samuel was given a new order: to go and anoint a new godly king for Israel from the sons of Jesse in Bethlehem.  (1 Samuel 16:1 NKJV)  Now the LORD said...

One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!" But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Don't you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." He said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom." Jesus said...

I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ has come; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. Revelation 12:10 WEB.Do you ever feel shame over something in your past? Is there something saying: "God is mad at you because'" That is the enemy trying to immobilize...

The Man Who Lost His Edge from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. There is an interesting story in the book of Exodus where an eighty-year young shepherd named Moses converses with God through a burning bush. When he was a child, Moses was raised in Egypt by Pharaoh's daughter and was well educated. (Acts 7:20–22 NKJV)  At this time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and...

Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee; John, the brother of James, and he surnamed them Boanerges, which means, Sons of Thunder; Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. Mark 3:16'19 WEB.Jesus and the disciples had to have been tired after traveling all day when they finally...

He answered them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men'the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things." He said to them, "Full...

Sledgehammer from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. While working in construction, I have had the pleasure of breaking up concrete with a sledgehammer. You can swing and smash, but nothing seems to happen for a while. You can get exhausted without making much of a dent if it is reinforced. Then finally, you swing, and it crumbles. You managed to break through because all those previous swings...

Yahweh said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? If you do well, won't it be lifted up? If you don't do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it." Cain said to Abel, his brother, "Let's go into the field." While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him. Genesis 4:6'7 WEB.Cain became very...

When he had sat down at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks. Breaking it, he gave it to them. Their eyes were opened and they recognized him; then he vanished out of their sight. They said to one another, "Weren't our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?" Luke 24:30-32 WEB.The amplifier buzzed as I unplugged my bass...

Expedited from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Do you know that story about the footprints in the sand? Where two were walking together and leaving two sets of prints, but when there was only one set, the Lord was carrying them? That is what I want to talk about this morning, the Lord taking care of things we can’t handle. (Galatians 6:9 NKJV)  And let us not grow weary while doing...

Your servant struck both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, since 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, will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:36'37 WEB.Goliath must have been a fearful sight to behold when he walked out onto the...

I have said these things to you while still living with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don't let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. John 14:25-27 WEB.Soon after Jesus completed...

Super Apostles from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The Apostle Paul made three long mission trips preaching the Gospel from city to city (click on map to enlarge). His home base was Antioch, and he traveled to Berea and back. It was rough work. Paul was beaten repeatedly, stoned, left for dead, shipwrecked, and under constant threat, but he was a man on a mission.  The Apostle Paul would...

Set a watch, Yahweh, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips. Psalms 141:3 WEB.David prayed that the Lord would set a guard over his mouth to keep him from saying things that he should not. James said, "If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well" (James 3:3). If you can control your tongue, then you can control the rest of your body. Then James...

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...

Sitting At Your Feet from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. About a half hour's walk from Jerusalem there, is a small hamlet on the eastern side of the Mount of Olives called Bethany (click on image to enlarge).  When Jesus was passing through, He was invited to stay at the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. Afterward, when visiting Jerusalem, Jesus always stopped by their house. Bethany...

They traveled from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. The soul of the people was very discouraged because of the journey. The people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, there is no water, and our soul loathes this disgusting food!" Numbers 21:4'5 WEB.The Israelites slowly marched...

The donkey saw Yahweh's angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam's anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you." The donkey said...

The Weight from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The Apostle Paul wrote that the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Corinthians 1:25 NKJV). One day Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and a large crowd of people pressed in to hear Him.  Jesus saw two boats on the shore, and the fishermen were washing their nets. So...

Grasshopper from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The Israelites who marched out of Egypt had witnessed major miracles. They had seen the plagues swarming over the Egyptians while the Israelite houses were unaffected. When they came to the Red Sea, the water parted before them, and they walked across on the dry ground. When they were hungry, manna, literally bread from heaven, appeared around...

The heavens are Yahweh's heavens, but he has given the earth to the children of men. Psalms 115:16 WEB.I watched my son wrestle with connecting the wiring harness to the motherboard of the computer he was building. I could have done it for him, but he was now six years old and needed to learn to do this himself and that the plug only fits one way. He wanted a gaming computer for Christmas. So being...

being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 WEBIt was late Saturday night, and we were both exhausted. We were working on a networked accounting system that was bloated and slow. A simple upgrade job that should have taken a couple of hours on Friday had now taken a couple of days. Still, we chose to honor...

The Philistines came up yet again and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. When David inquired of Yahweh, he said, 'You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and attack them in front of the mulberry trees. 2 Samuel 5:22'23 WEB.The Philistine army invaded the Valley of Rephaim, and David asked the Lord what to do. The last time David had faced the Philistines, he met them straight on in...

Fall on Me from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Around 22 BC, Herod the Great built a major port city on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It was a grand city named for Caesar Augustus. They called it "Caesarea Maritima." This was over 2,000 years ago, yet forward-thinking Roman engineers built it. Caesarea had well-planned streets, an underground sewage system, an aqueduct that brought...

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.' Numbers 14:26'28 WEB.The Israelites came out of Egypt and saw incredible miracles each day while...

It Takes Two from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. It is a simple fact that if you never opened your mouth, you would never have an argument. I am including our text-based social media conversations as dialogue as well. In short, we are always part of the problem. None of our disagreements escalate without our help. I am talking about personal relationships and keeping the peace. People don't...

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. But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn't know that it was Jesus. John 21:3'4 WEB.Peter stood on the shore of the sea of Galilee and watched the waves roll in. He was so discouraged....

The Way Maker from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The Israelites had lived in Egypt for centuries when the Lord sent Moses to free them from slavery. A hundred years may seem like a long time to us, but to the Lord, it's merely a dramatic pause. The Lord had told Abram what was coming long before it happened, and it began with his great-grandson Joseph. (Genesis 15:13–14 NASB) ...

Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and honor him. I will satisfy him with long life, and show him my salvation.' Psalm 91:14'16 WEB.In high school gym class, we once had a "trust your teammates" session where you had to fall...

For I, Yahweh your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, Don't be afraid; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 WEB.We have a proverb we live by when performing live music: "If you hit a bad note, hit it good." Yes, it should be "hit it well," but that's the phrase I grew up hearing in South Carolina. In other words, don't let the fear of failure keep you from trying your very best in a song. If you...

I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalms 56:11 WEB.I walked down the aisle at Church to the offering basket and dropped in my tithes for the week. It had been a few awful weeks in a row now, and it was starting to show at home. My tithe was ten percent of almost nothing once again.Later, when I got home, I opened my Bible and found an envelope tucked inside it....

Shackled from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When given a task, we tend to look at ourselves, what we currently have, and our available tools. We mentally dig through our toolbox. Our solution is often confined to what we have already experienced, so we have limited vision and resources for attempting new things. Your mind can become shackled by your past.  The Lord sees more potential...

Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, "Don't fight with small nor great, except only with the king of Israel." When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "It is the king of Israel!" Therefore they turned around to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and Yahweh helped him; and God moved them to depart from him. 2 Chronicles 18:31'32 WEB.Jehoshaphat...

But Naaman was angry, and went away and said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper' " 2 Kings 5:11 WEB.Naaman stared at his new skin with amazement when he came up from the muddy water for the seventh time. His skin which had been covered in running sores, was now smooth as a baby....

A Coming Storm from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The Sermon on the Mount is the longest continuous teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ that we have a record of. It was very in-depth, and Jesus taught a lot about common things people deal with every day. He covered topics like anger, adultery, divorce, oaths, love, charitable deeds, prayer, fasting, giving, greed, wealth, judging others, the...

In Tune from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. In Acts chapter 14, the Apostle Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch after a long mission trip. The Holy Spirit had worked with them to confirm their words with signs, and they had led many Gentiles to the Lord Jesus Christ. To be clear, a Gentile is anyone who is not a Jew. When they returned, they gathered the church and told them about the trip. (Acts...

For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:12-13 WEB.Paul wrote that we do not...

David therefore departed there, and escaped to the cave of Adullam: and when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered themselves to him; and he became captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. 1 Samuel 22:1'2 WEB.Saul, the king of Israel,...

Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters." He said, "Come!" Peter stepped down from the boat and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith,...

Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife. Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. Genesis 25:20-21 WEB.Rebekah was barren. She could not have children. But after her husband Isaac prayed for her, she became pregnant...

Whitewash from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The Lord Jesus Christ had an astounding way of seeing right through lies and deception. This trait was both wonderful and alarming to those around Him. The religious elite of the day, the chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees, grew more and more envious of Jesus. God had raised Him up outside their circle and without their approval. Jesus bypassed...

No one puts new wine into old wine skins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wine skins, and both are preserved. Luke 5:37-38 WEB (Paralleled in: Matthew 9:17, Mark 2:22).The most radical change recorded in the Bible was the change from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. John the Baptist was the...

Will You Believe from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The word "Believe" occurs 309 times in the Bible (NKJV), and one-third of those are in the book of John. While writing his Gospel, John wrote "believe" 101 times. Apparently, he believed it to be a very important word. John was one of Christ's earliest Apostles and very close to Him. Peter, James, and John were often with Jesus when He...

You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. Galatians 5:7'8 WEB.The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Galatians who had been turned away from grace by some legalistic brothers. Though the Galatians were gentiles (non-Jewish believers), they were taught that they had to obey the 613 commandments of the law as if...

The Son Rises from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The Lord Jesus Christ took Peter, James, and John up to a high mountain to pray, leaving nine other Apostles down in the valley with the multitudes of people. Jesus often withdrew from the crowds to pray, and this time, He took three of His Apostles with Him. The Apostles grew "heavy with sleep," as they often did while Jesus prayed (Luke 9:32,...

For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm to the end, while it is said, "Today if you will hear his voice, don't harden your hearts, as in the rebellion." For who, when they heard, rebelled? Wasn't it all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? Hebrews 3:15'16 WEB.When Joshua and Caleb returned to the Israelite camp after spying on the promised land,...

Aren't five sparrows sold for two assaria coins? Not one of them is forgotten by God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore don't be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:6'7 WEB.We live near the coast of South Carolina in the countryside and have a large oak tree in our yard that overshadows our porch. Sometimes we sit outside and read when the weather is...

Hidden Talent from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. One of the last public sermons Jesus gave was on the Mount of Olives and called "The Olivet Discourse." It was right before His crucifixion. Jesus and His disciples were at the temple in Jerusalem, and when they were leaving, the disciples were in awe of the colossal structure. Maybe they had wandered around sightseeing, for they began pointing...

When Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Mark 2:17 WEB.Jesus walked up to a tax collector's booth in the fishing village of Capernaum, and to the shock of His disciples, He told the tax man sitting there to "Follow Me!" Then Matthew, the tax collector, immediately...

For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot would say, "Because I'm not the hand, I'm not part of the body," it is not therefore not part of the body. If the ear would say, "Because I'm not the eye, I'm not part of the body," it's not therefore not part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? 1 Corinthians...

Inspiration from Desperation from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. "Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!" David wrote these words after the Lord rescued him from the Philistines. David was anointed, overjoyed, and an amazing songwriter. Yet strangely, his life was in shambles when he wrote these inspiring words. David worked hard as a soldier in Israel and rose...

Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said to Daniel, Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you. A stone was brought, and laid on the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Daniel 6:16'17 WEB.After serving God...

He came into a house. The multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. When his friends heard it, they went out to seize him: for they said, "He is insane." The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul" Mark 3:19'22 WEB.When I first gave my heart to Jesus, I lost every friend I had but quickly gained new ones in my church family. I was born an American...

For his anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, But joy comes in the morning. Psalms 30:5 WEB.I tossed and turned on the bed, unable to sleep. The pressure of what was going on in our life was tormenting, and even though we were exhausted, we could not sleep because we knew what we had to face the next day. When the morning finally arrived, all the worry...

Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, and he would have passed by them, but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he immediately spoke with them, and said to them, "Cheer up! It is I! Don't be afraid."...

Believe from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When the Lord brought the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt, they crossed the desert and came to Kadesh-Barnea. It was an oasis with at least four springs of water. After traveling through the desert, I am sure they were happy to see it. Remember, anytime you see the word "wilderness" in the Bible, it typically means desert. The whole exodus for...

Resurrection Power from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. While praying about this message, I had a vision of a man completely immersed in a pond of dark mud. The mud was thick like gumbo clay, and it clung to him. It seemed alive, and each time he tried to escape from it, it pulled him back down like a suction cup. It was a helpless situation, for there was no possible way for him to get free....

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"...

Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence? If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there! If I take the wings of the dawn, And settle in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there your hand will lead me, And your right hand will hold me. Psalms 139:7'10 WEB.Before we were born, God was already there for us (Psalm 139:13)....

Dark Night of the Soul from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jesus once took five loaves of bread and two fish and fed 5,000 men and their families until they were full. He miraculously multiplied the food, and they picked up twelve baskets full of leftovers when done. The people who experienced the miracle wanted to take Jesus by force and declare Him the new King of Israel. For most men,...

Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18'20 WEB.We just waited for Jesus to come and get...

But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don't withhold your coat also. Give to everyone who asks you, and don't ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again. As you would like people to do to...

The Spirit said to Philip, "Go near, and join yourself to this chariot." Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. Acts 8:29'31 WEB.I played music with a local band, and they had booked a bar for the weekend. I needed the money...

Young, Hip and Rich from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. As with most couples, Sylvia and I had separate bank accounts before marriage. I had my money, and she had hers. We each took care of our own expenses. But after we became husband and wife, we merged them into a shared bank account. Now we have "Our money," and each of us has access to it when it's needed. This will become more relevant...

When he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean." Jesus stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, "I want to. Be made clean." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:1'3 WEB.Jesus Christ touched the untouchables. Lepers and those with various diseases were considered...

The Wedding Garment from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. What is the Spirit saying to the Church today?: "People get ready, for the marriage supper of the Lamb is coming. Prepare your hearts!" This is what came to me while praying over this message. As usual, it was a clue to look deeper at something. So I began to look over all the references to weddings and suppers, and I learned a few things...

Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9'11 WEB."Pray for me, preacher! I'm going to commit some adultery tonight, Lord willing,"...

Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" He said, "Behold, it's me, Lord." The Lord said to him, "Arise, and go to the street which is called...

By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. Hebrews 11:7-8 WEB.For...

Little Town of Bethlehem from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. What would it be like to live in the perfect will of God? There is probably no better example than His Son, Jesus Christ, and the parents who raised Him. So let's do a quick recap of our Savior's birth. What was it like when the Son of God was born? Jesus' parents lived in the tiny insignificant town of Nazareth. They were poor,...

Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place where he was about to come. Then he said to them, "The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest." Luke 10:1'2 WEB.I grew up cropping tobacco. We walked along the rows and...

Your Will Be Done from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Too many times when we pray, we give God Almighty instructions as if He works for us. It's something I had to learn to stop doing. When you take a moment and think about it, how absurd is it for us to tell Him what to do? We often see prayer requests like, 'Pray that I get "this" job, this car, or this house!' But the Lord may have something...

Looking Back on 2021 from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Thank you for being a part of Refreshing Hope Ministries and taking time out of your day to read or watch this message. I hope this finds you blessed, warm, safe, and happy, wherever you happen to be. This is our year-end newsletter, and I wanted to take some time to update you on what has been happening behind the scenes here at Refreshing...

In the same hour, the fingers of a man's hand came out and wrote near the lamp stand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace. The king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king's face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and his knees struck one against another. Daniel 5:5'6 WEB.Belshazzar, the King of Babylon, threw an enormous...

Alone and Afraid from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. It is a perilous time to live on Earth. There is a worldwide pandemic of sickness constantly mutating with millions already dead and no end in sight. Nations teeter on the brink of financial collapse. There is violence, wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes in various places. People are distanced from others, alone, and afraid. Welcome to...

He told them this parable. "Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn't leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing." Luke 15:3'5 WEB.Jesus once told a parable about a man who had one hundred sheep, and one of them got lost. The Shepherd's job was to...

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It's a ghost!" and they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Cheer up! It is I! Don't be afraid." Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters." He said, "Come!" Peter stepped down from the boat and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. Matthew 14:26'29...

High Fidelity from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jesus told His disciples a parable about stewards waiting for their Master to come home. He was gone to a wedding celebration, which could last several days in Hebrew culture. So they were to watch and prepare for His return, though they didn't know the exact time. The faithful steward was dressed and ready, even if the Master came during the...

Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that comes against us. We don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you. All Judah stood before Yahweh, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. Then Yahweh's Spirit came' 2 Chronicles 20:12-14 WEB.When a vast enemy army gathered together with the intention of sacking Judah, King Jehoshaphat didn't know...

If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 WEB.I took one last draw and put the cigarette out. That was over twenty-five years ago and the last time I smoked. I grew up on a farm in the South and worked in tobacco. Everyone I knew smoked. Well, except for one pretty weird guy, and no one wanted to be like him. By the age of ten, I was smoking regularly, just like the rest...

If Tomorrow Never Comes from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. For many years I was captivated by the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. I studied charts, timelines, and scriptures and posted them on the wall like an ongoing investigation. I was anxiously waiting for the Lord to return. Then He began to impress on me how fleeting our lives are in His timeline. The Lord is not in a hurry...

Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let's exalt his name together. I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame. This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. Psalms 34:3'6 WEB.David was in the center of the enemies' camp, surrounded by relatives of men he had...

Even the youths faint and get weary, and the young men utterly fall; but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:30'31 WEB.I sat down on a bean bag in the corner of my prayer room and contemplated how we got here. We had been out of work for months while the bills piled...

Come now, and let us reason together, says Yahweh: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land Isaiah 1:18'19 WEB.As I looked out over the fresh snow covering our home, smoke slowly rose from the chimney. It was an extremely rare day in South Carolina when...

Holes in My Moneybag from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. There are many things in scripture that have been misunderstood or blown out of proportion over the centuries. Two of them are prosperity and abundance. There are many promises of God concerning these, but it's a bit deeper than "name it and claim it" or "blab it and grab it." We have to be submissive to Him and obedient for His promises...

Rocky Ground from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. One day, Jesus told a parable about a farmer who went out to sow seed. In those times, farmers would first scatter the seed and then come back and plow it into the ground. In a nutshell, Jesus Christ was the farmer, the seed being sown was the word of God, and the soil was the listener hearing His words. (Luke 8:5–8 NKJV)  "A sower...

Hezekiah prospered in all his works. However, concerning the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him to test him, that he might know all that was in his heart. 2 Chronicles 32:30'31 WEB.Hezekiah was a great king in Judah who followed the Lord closely. At his prayer, God sent an angel and wiped out 185,000 Assyrians who...

Now the Philistines had taken God's ark, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. The Philistines took God's ark, and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon. When the people of Ashdod arose early on the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before Yahweh's ark. They took Dagon and set him in his place again. 1 Samuel 5:1'3 WEB.After the Philistines captured...

The Freedom Trail from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. One morning when Jesus was teaching in the temple, the scribes and Pharisees were trying to trap Him in His words. They often tried to trap Jesus in no-win scenarios, but He was living wisdom. Once, they asked Him if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not (Matthew 22:17). If He said yes, He would become an enemy of the Jews and be...

Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don't give up. Galatians 6:6'9 WEB.We were constructing a three-story office building and setting the...

Christ in You from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. After the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden, a great chasm separated God and mankind. At first, the Lord anointed prophets and judges to guide the people like Moses, Deborah, and Samuel. He spoke through them, but later the people didn't like what He had to say.  So the people began stoning His prophets and sawing them in half. They...

Faith in Action from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. One day when Jesus came ashore after crossing the sea of Galilee, Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, came to meet Him. Jairus begged Jesus to come and heal his daughter, who was at the point of death. Jesus went with him, but on the way, a life-changing event happened for someone else. There was a woman in the crowd who had been hemorrhaging...

Abundance from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. There is a coming wave of blessing over the Lord's people. The world will begin to see the difference between the wicked and the righteous in the days to come. It's time for the bride to shine. (Malachi 3:17–18 NKJV)  "They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man...

They said to you that "In the last time there will be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts." These are they who cause divisions, and are sensual, not having the Spirit. 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. Jude 1:18'21 WEB.I sat...

I AM Coming Again from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. On the night of the last supper, after Judas Iscariot had left the room, Jesus had a discussion with the eleven apostles who remained. He knew Judas had left to betray Him and that His time left on Earth was short. So He said these words to comfort His disciples: (John 14:1–6 NKJV)  "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe...

He said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus said to him, "Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Luke 23:42'43 WEB.As they hung there bleeding on the crosses they had been nailed to, one of the two thieves beside Jesus asked Him to remember him when He came into His kingdom. Jesus replied, "Today, you will be with Me in paradise." So even after...

I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand. John 10:28'29 WEB.We often worry about so many things in this life, but when all is stripped away, the fact remains that we are held in God's strong hands. When you give your life to Jesus and...

Tears in a Bottle from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Hezekiah, the king of Israel, became deathly ill from a boil, and the prophet Isaiah came to see him. He didn't bring good news. When Isaiah left, Hezekiah prayed and wept bitterly. The Lord spoke to Isaiah before he got out of the courtyard. (2 Kings 20:4–5 NKJV)  And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle...

So Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of Yahweh's temple. She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Yahweh, weeping bitterly. 1 Samuel 1:9'10 WEB.Hannah poured out her heart to the Lord. She wanted a child so badly that the rest of her life seemed empty, and nothing else mattered. Her husband Elkanah loved...

The Storm Comes from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. We live near the coast of South Carolina, and every year we have to prepare for hurricane season. When a major storm comes through, it can be devastating. The electricity may be out for a week, and the roads are often closed because of flooding or blocked with downed trees and power lines. We make certain we have a good supply of batteries,...

Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can't bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4'5 WEB.The ministry of Jesus, from the first recorded miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana...

The Great I Am from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Moses had been a shepherd for forty years in the land of Midian when the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush. The bush was self-sustaining and wouldn't burn up. The Lord told Moses He had heard the cries of the Israelite people who were enslaved in Egypt. Then He said, "Come now, and I will send you." (Exodus 3:10). Then an interesting...

Jesus therefore answered them, "Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise. John 5:19 WEB.Their eyes welled up with tears as I handed them the envelope. They knew what was inside of it, for though they had told no one, they had been silently praying for help. All the while, they were...

The Point of No Return from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jesus chose twelve men out of thousands of disciples, and He named them apostles (Luke 6:13). He taught them all things, gave them power over unclean spirits, and the ability to heal all manners of sickness and disease. (Luke 9:1–2 NKJV)  Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over...

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. Psalms 46:10 WEB.It was another busy day with so much to do, so many bills, and a lot going on. The pressure and anxiety had kept me up most of the night. It seemed like I spent most of my time these days trying to solve tomorrow's problems before they got here, and don't even get me started on the...

When they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be on me." 2 Kings 2:9 WEB.While walking down the road together, Elisha was just a humble servant to the mighty prophet Elijah. This prophet was renowned for calling fire down from heaven multiple times. His words had brought a drought on...

In a Little While from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When Joseph was a young boy of about seventeen years, God gave him a dream showing that he would be a ruler one day. But when Joseph told his brothers about it, they became jealous and angry. (Genesis 37:5–8 NKJV)  Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, "Please...

Wisdom in the Workplace from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. What if there was an edge you could have that would set you apart from anyone else in your field? If you had deeper insight and understanding than your peers, that caused you to stand out from the rest. Would you be interested? There is, and it's called wisdom. Wisdom is probably best defined as "the practical use of knowledge."...

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27 WEB.Jesus said His sheep would hear His voice, and they would follow Him, "and a stranger, they would not follow" (John 10:5). God speaks to His people individually as well as collectively. Some are so concerned about being deceived...

The Cornerstone from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. After Jesus made a whip of cords and drove the money changers out of the temple in Jerusalem, He had an interesting conversation with the Jewish leaders. They asked for a sign, and He told them this: (John 2:18–21 NKJV)  So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?" Jesus answered...

The Shepherd Calls from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jesus Christ said He was the Good Shepherd and that He calls His sheep by their name. He knows the name of each of us. Isn't that beautiful? He knows you, and He speaks to you. We get to hear His voice. (John 10:1–5 NKJV) Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way,...

Let It Rain from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. There is the sound of abundant rain in the heavens, and the clouds are heavy. Sylvia and I went out shopping this week. It was a sunny morning, but the moment we opened the house door, it started raining. It seemed localized. There were small patches of rain that tended to follow our car. Yet, long stretches of perfectly dry highway. We passed...

Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?' His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your...

Wherever he entered'into villages, or into cities, or into the country'they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched him were made well. Mark 6:56 WEB.As we knelt down to pray together, my friend had mixed emotions of fear, conviction, and uncertainty. At that moment, He questioned whether Jesus was even real. We had...

Rise! from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. What if you knew today was your last one, and you would be standing before the judgment seat of Christ in a matter of hours. Would that affect how you lived your life right now? It shouldn't. I feel too many times, we are focusing on our immediate worldly needs while ignoring the eternal. Then it slips up on us, just like Christmas. I mean, the Lord...

God said, "Let's make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." God created man in his own image. In God's image he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27 WEB.I love cars, always have. When I was younger,...

 During the last supper, on the night that Jesus was arrested, He told those who were with Him this: (John 14:15–18 NKJV)  "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for...

The Ladder from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. For many years, I was a painter, and if it has anything to do with painting, I have probably done it. I've painted houses, hospitals, hotels, schools, factories, cars, and crow-footed plaster walls in 200-year-old mansions. For a year, I walked on stilts and cut in ceilings day after day while we remodeled oceanfront high-rises. I grew used to...

Don't remember the former things, and don't consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing. It springs out now. Don't you know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19 WEB.I was sitting in church one morning listening to the guest speaker's monotone message. When to put it frankly, I became bored. I yawned, searched for the time, and wondered...

Now Yahweh said to Abram, "Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. Genesis 12:1'2 WEB.Abram came to a crossroads in his life where he had to make a radical choice: to follow God's path or to continue on where he was. Following God meant...

How Low Can You Go from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. (James 4:10 NKJV)  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. One Sunday morning, several years ago, I was working at the coffee counter at our local church when the Lord gave me a word for a member of the praise team. It was just a single sentence that dropped into my spirit when I saw him come in that...

As they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me." Jesus answered her, "Martha,...

Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for...

Let the Wind Blow from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jesus had thousands of followers. Some were with Him occasionally, while others almost constantly. In Matthew 14:13, Jesus miraculously multiplied food and fed over 5,000 people who had been listening to Him teach. Out of all those followers, Jesus chose twelve, and He named them Apostles. Then there was an inner three, Peter, James, and...

David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the souls of all the people were grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters; but David strengthened himself in Yahweh his God. 1 Samuel 30:6 WEB.David was distressed. When they had returned to their village earlier, they found it burned to the ground. All of their wives, children, and belongings had been taken away...

Therefore all those who devour you will be devoured. All your adversaries, everyone of them, will go into captivity. Those who plunder you will be plunder. I will make all who prey on you become prey. For I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds, says Yahweh, "because they have called you an outcast, saying, 'It is Zion, whom no man seeks after.' " Jeremiah 30:16-17 WEB.It was...

When they had come, he looked at Eliab, and said, "Surely Yahweh's anointed is before him." But Yahweh said to Samuel, "Don't look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don't see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:6-7 WEB.When Saul was chosen to be the first king of Israel, he was handsome and...

The Anointing from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. In Scripture, God commanded certain people and items to be anointed with oil. It set them apart for His use, and it was often done before they took on a new office or role of authority. Some of the things anointed in the Old Testament were pillars, the tabernacle, its furniture, shields, kings, priests, and prophets. It's probably easiest to...

But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life....

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I don't make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time!" When he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But...

In those days Hezekiah was terminally ill, and he prayed to Yahweh; and he spoke to him, and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah didn't reciprocate appropriate to the benefit done for him, because his heart was lifted up. Therefore there was wrath on him, Judah, and Jerusalem. However, Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that Yahweh's wrath didn't...

Sons and Daughters from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. I had a great Dad who always managed to have hope even in the darkest times. I remember once when I was little, the engine in his car began knocking, and he had no money for parts. So he jacked it up in the yard and pulled the oil pan off. Then he cut some leather strips from an old boot and used it as a spacer behind the worn-out main...

The man said, "They have left here, for I heard them say, 'Let's go to Dothan.' " Joseph went after his brothers, and found them in Dothan. They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, "Behold, this dreamer comes. Come now therefore, and let's kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, 'An evil animal has...

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...

The Golden Era from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. There is a time coming that will be the most glorious the Earth has ever seen, the golden era. A time of complete peace. A world free from war, sickness, and disease. When Jesus Christ rules and reigns on the Earth. Yes, there may be dark days between now and then, but this hope we have and hold onto. Occasionally we need to remind ourselves...

Here Comes the Son from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Noah was a righteous man in his generation. He lived differently than the others. Though it had never rained on the Earth, the Lord told Noah to build an ark because there was a flood coming. Noah didn't know what day or hour the rain would start, but he believed God, and he started working on that boat. When the rain began to fall, Noah...

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 forgotten....

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 life-long carpenter, and I got to work with...

Making Water Into Wine from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. There is an interesting story in John chapter 2 at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. Jesus, His Mother, and His new disciples were invited to attend a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Cana was a small town about 8 miles northeast of their hometown of Nazareth. In Hebrew culture, the wedding celebration was considered the grandest...

Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don't go away, the Counselor won't come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment; John 16:8 WEB.When I first started attending church, I often stood with my head down, too ashamed to look around me. Every fiber of my being...

The Door in the Distance from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The Lord Jesus Christ appeared to the Apostle John, who lived in exile on a small island called Patmos. Tertullian, an early Christian author, and "Foxes Book of Martyrs," record that the Roman emperor Domitian tried to publicly execute John in the Coliseum by plunging him into boiling oil in front of a crowd. But John suffered nothing...

By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. Hebrews 11:8-9 WEB.In Genesis 12:1, the Lord told Abram to leave his father's house, relatives,...

So Yahweh blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters. Job 42:12'13 WEB.Job was a very wealthy man who went through a terrible trial. He lost everything he had. Yet, when it was over, and Job prayed for his friends, all he had lost was...

Unstoppable from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The Apostle Paul had a "thorn in the flesh" that he asked the Lord to remove three times, yet, the Lord refused to do so. He told Paul this: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Paul wrote about it later in 2nd Corinthians: (2 Corinthians 12:9–10 NKJV)  And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient...

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalms 103:10-12 WEB.We drove from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to Long Beach, California, during our last big road trip. We traveled...

Supply and Demand from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. There is a chronic drug addiction problem in our country. Nearly every family has someone or knows someone who is struggling with it. Drugs are everywhere, and the supply is more abundant than ever before. It has become a trillion-dollar-a-year industry. Why is there such an abundant supply of drugs available? Because there is great demand...

When they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh set ambushers against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were struck. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. When they had finished the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy each other. 2 Chronicles 20:22 WEB.A great army...

Yahweh appeared of old to me, saying, 'Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness.' Jeremiah 31:3 WEB.There is an old saying that you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. Yet, when I was growing up in the Bible Belt, most of the things I heard about God were seasoned with vinegar. As in, "God loves you, but He will kill you...

Praise Yahweh, my soul, and don't forget all his benefits, who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalm 103:2 WEB.Years ago, I mainly worked in low-end jobs where the only benefit was having a job....

Soul Shine from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. There is an interesting conversation between Jesus Christ and the Apostle Peter on the night of their last supper together. When you were invited to supper like this, you bathed at home. But as you walked along the dusty roads to go to the banquet, your feet would become dirty. Typically, there was a servant there to wash your feet when you arrived. On...

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and Yahweh's glory has risen on you. For, behold, darkness will cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but Yahweh will arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1-3 WEB.Nightfall came faster than I was anticipating. It was a black night as I made my way through...

For my eyes are on you, Yahweh, the Lord. I take refuge in you. Don't leave my soul destitute. Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, from the traps of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall together into their own nets while I pass by. Psalms 141:8'10 WEB.A simple but effective trap design that has been used through the ages is the pit trap. Hunters dig a deep pit and place sharpened...

Spiritual Famine from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Too often, we take the Lord for granted. We will pray later...we will do that later. That is assuming that He gives us a "later." Yet, that is not what is taught in the Bible. Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Consider the words of Isaiah: (Isaiah 55:6 NASB)  Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while...

The Seed from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. We have a majestic oak tree in our yard that is older than me. It would probably take three men to reach their arms around the base of it at the moment. It stands about sixty feet tall, and the canopy is at least sixty feet across. During the hot southern summer, it provides a cool, dense shade underneath. It is home to a diverse group of creatures....

He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite. Psalms 147:3-5 WEB.When sharks sense blood in the water, they go into a feeding frenzy. They will attack the wounded and devour them, even if it is another shark. They get so caught up in this frenzy that...

The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:17-19 WEB.I grew up as the least of my family, who happened to be the least of another family. I was the youngest of thirteen children...

Prayers That Move Things from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When David and his men returned home, they found their village of Ziklag burned to the ground. All their families and belongings had been taken away by the Amalekites in a raid while they were gone. They wept until they could weep no more. Some of the men spoke of stoning David to death. It was a dark day, and things were looking...

to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified. Isaiah 61:3 WEB.Have you ever felt so down, so sluggish, that you begin to ask yourself, "What is the point of it all?" There are many things in this...

Arise and Shine from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Happy resurrection morning! It's a great day to be alive. This week has been slammed unexpected work and things breaking. We are a few days into our Intentional Growth Corporate Fast, and all hell seems to be breaking loose with our network equipment here. Air conditioners pouring water into the house, routers going offline, and databases...

Come now, and let's reason together, says Yahweh: Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land Isaiah 1:18 WEB.I grew up in the country and have always loved ATVs, four-wheel drives, dirt bikes, off-roading, and mud bogging. For a while, a group of us would...

For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21 WEB.We have a large oak tree in our yard, and each year, a fresh batch of caterpillars is born into the world. For a...

They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Its length shall be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height. You shall overlay it with pure gold. You shall overlay it inside and outside, and you shall make a gold molding around it. Exodus 25:10-11 WEB.The Ark of the Covenant was about the size of a small seaman's chest, built from acacia wood and overlaid with...

Intentional Growth 5: The Challenge from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. We have been covering growing in godliness during the "Intentional Growth" series by doing things intentionally instead of just hoping something good will happen. If you want to get better at something, you practice. That is how you learn to play guitar, piano, sing, write, paint, or a million other things. You learn by...

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste. He spoke and said to his counselors, "Didn't we cast three men bound into the middle of the fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king." He answered, "Look, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are unharmed. The appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods. Daniel 3:24-25 WEB.Shadrach, Meshach, and...

When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore. But before long, a stormy wind beat down from shore, which is called Euroclydon. When the ship was caught and couldn't face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. Acts 27:13-15 WEB.The Apostle Paul was a Roman prisoner scheduled to stand trial before...

When the Clock Strikes from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. (I planned to wrap up my series on "Intentional Growth" this week, but while praying, the Lord interrupted me and changed my message. Lord willing, we will continue the series next week.) (2 Corinthians 4:16–5:1 NKJV)  Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being...

Intentional Growth 4: When You Fast from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. During His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6, Jesus mentioned three things we were to do in secret that would be openly rewarded. He used the words, "When you..." 1. When you pray. 2. When you give. 3. When you fast. (Matthew 6:3–4 NASB)  "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your...

They took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their gods. The children of Israel did that which was evil in Yahweh's sight, and forgot Yahweh their God, and served the Baals and the Asheroth. Judges 3:6-7 WEB.Centuries ago, when it was time to go to church, there was excitement in the air. No one wanted to stay home. Their acts of worship were lustful...

Intentional Growth 3: When You Give from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. During His sermon on the mount in Matthew chapter 6, Jesus mentioned three things His disciples would do: when you pray, when you give, and when you fast. This April, we plan to do a corporate Daniel-type fast, and to prepare us, I am covering some of the basics. Last week we covered "When you pray." This week will be,...

One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!" But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Don't you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." He said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom." Jesus...

Intentional Growth 2 (Prayer) from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The Sermon on the Mount that Jesus gave is a goldmine of information. It is like the beating heart of my Bible. It spans 3 chapters, Matthew 5 through 7. I created a playlist of it and put it on repeat to listen to it all day while working, and I learn new things consistently. To prepare us for our upcoming corporate fast in...

The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God's will remains forever. 1 John 2:17 WEB.It was my first day of school at Kingston Elementary. Early that morning, my stepmother pulled up to the school, pushed me out of her car, and drove off. Standing there alone in the parking lot, I felt like a fish out of water. Panic, fear, abandonment, and a few other strong emotions rolled over me...

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come on him, they each came from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and to comfort him. Job 2:11 WEB.Righteous men have always been hard to find. Yes, under the new covenant, we have forgiveness, and our sins are covered by...

God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn't do it. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. Jonah 3:10'4:1 WEB.It was early morning during a hot summer in the South, and we were digging up a septic tank. After we located and shoveled the dirt off the lid, I grabbed a heavy bar off the truck, and...

Intentional Growth from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When trying to learn something new, we must invest the time needed to be successful. For example, when I was first learning to play bass guitar, I spent hours each day practicing. Soon the results of disciplined practice began to show in my playing, and people began to invite me to play in their band. Great musicians, much better than...

Caesar is in the House from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jesus was born during a time of great division and strife. As so many times before, His nation of Israel had once again been conquered by a surrounding enemy. This time it was the Roman empire. Rome was the latest in a long list of nations that had invaded and occupied Israel. All through history, God used "evil" nations to bring...

You gave also your good Spirit to instruct them, and didn't withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. Yes, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness. They lacked nothing. Their clothes didn't grow old, and their feet didn't swell. Nehemiah 9:20-21 WEB.When the Israelites came out of Egypt, the Lord gave them His Spirit to teach them. He provided them food, water...

The Little Things from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jesus told His disciples a parable about an unjust steward who squandered his master's possessions. The master demanded to see the books to determine what he had done with the wealth entrusted to him. Then he promptly fired the steward. The steward was too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg, so he came up with a cunning plan. He would...

For you will light my lamp, Yahweh. My God will light up my darkness. For by you, I advance through a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect. Yahweh's word is tried. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:28-30 WEB.Total darkness is the complete absence of light. In scripture, it is associated with gloom, despair, and terror in addition to the natural...

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...

You Are Good from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When you get married, your life changes in many ways. Life is no longer about what I need. Instead, it becomes about what we need as a couple. The "I do" automatically brings many unspoken, "I don'ts" along with it. Your actions now reflect on your spouse, and you are now called to a higher standard. When you said yes to your spouse, you said...

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 of them at some point.When we are...

Wild Horses from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. How would you like to see more divine provision, protection, peace, and rest in your life? To have less anxiety and worry about what is coming tomorrow? There is a way. 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 My yoke upon you and learn from Me,...

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....

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...

Divided By Pride from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Humanity faces a challenging new year. I pray it is not like the last one, and I hope we can start well. A key tactic of the enemy is to divide and conquer. Well, too many of us were on his team last year and happy to attack each other. As a people, we are divided more now than I ever remember, and I grew up during the school system's desegregation...

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Don't throw me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalms 51:10'12 WEB.King David took a stroll around his palace's rooftop terrace one lazy afternoon when he spotted one of his neighbors bathing. It appears his balcony was above hers...

The Return of the King from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Have you ever not had time to complete something? Like when a teacher gives you a deadline for a report, but you just get too busy doing everything else, and the time slips away. You knew the day was coming. You knew you had to have it completed, but you still focused on something else. There is a deadline approaching, which none of...

She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn. There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said to them, 'Don't...

Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid or scared of them, for Yahweh your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 WEB.Sometimes, we can become so withdrawn that we begin to feel that it is us against the world. That no one cares or even notices what we are going through and struggling with. Even in the middle of a crowd, we can feel alone, and all...

RHM 2020 Newsletter Photos from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Luke 2:7–11 NKJV  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood...

Only Believe from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. All Christians face the danger of becoming desensitized to the beautiful truths in Scripture. When you have been around the church a while, His word can become too familiar to us. It begins to lose the magic, wonder, and hope that it once brought when we hear it. We refer to passages by pet phrases like the "Roman Road" without even bothering...

He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." Simon answered him, "Master, we worked all night and caught nothing; but at your word I will let down the net." When they had done this,...

Acts of Kindness from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When you do what the Lord asks you with the right attitude, it brings a reward. God is really good with numbers, and He always pays His debts. Now we don't earn our salvation, for we are saved by grace alone, and it is a free gift if we choose to accept it (Ephesians 2:8). Not everyone does. What I mean is, there is a pattern in scripture...

Yahweh said to Joshua, 'Get up! Why have you fallen on your face like that? Joshua 7:10 WEB.The first town the Israelites came to when they entered the promised land was Jericho. They marched around it seven times, shouted, and the walls of the city crumbled. God was working with them, and He gave them an incredible victory. They were instructed to put all the loot from the first city into the Lord's...

Bearing Your Burdens from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. There is too much sickness in the body of Christ today. This should not be. Obviously, we are failing to do something right. I want to take a closer look at what we should do when sick by examining the prayer of faith and divine healing. (James 5:13–16 NASB)  Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful?...

Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, 'This is Yahweh's word to Zerubbabel, saying, 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says Yahweh of Armies. Zechariah 4:6 WEB.David wrote in Psalm 37:4: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Once I was laid off from a great paying job as a foreman with an international construction company. Then I spent a...

The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore see whether the light that is in you isn't darkness. If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light.' Luke 11:34-36 WEB.After...

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness Luke 4:1 WEB.I 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. When we had to take a job we did not like. Only to find that it was a stepping stone for...

The Voice of a Stranger from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. (John 10:1–5 NKJV)  “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name...

Gathering the Manna from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. (Exodus 16:4–5 NKJV)  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be...

He called the multitude to himself with his disciples and said to them, 'Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it. Mark 8:34 WEB.If you follow Jesus one day at a time, no power on Earth can stop you from fulfilling...

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,' says Yahweh, 'thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future. 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 search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' says Yahweh Jeremiah 29:11'14 WEB.When things begin to go smoothly in our lives and everything...

On Baptism from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Luke 3:16 WEB John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire” Baptism typically means to "dip" or "immerse." There are many types of baptisms mentioned in the Scriptures. Ephesians 4:5...

Riding with the King from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. (Isaiah 40:21–25 NASB)  Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them...

Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more. He said to them, 'Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold, your sheaves came around, and bowed down to my sheaf.' His brothers asked him, 'Will you indeed reign over us? Will you indeed have dominion...

'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,' says Yahweh. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8 WEB.Trying to understand God is a crossroads that everyone comes to at some point. It causes many people to stumble. We do not and cannot understand everything God is, what He is doing,...

The Good and the Bad from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. (Jeremiah 29:11–14 NKJV)  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found...

Or who is there among you who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9'11 WEB.Many people I talk with have a problem trusting or drawing near to our Heavenly Father....

Here I Am from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.  Here I Am. In a time when so many have begun to focus only on the negative, when so many people wonder, "Where is the Lord?", He answers, "Here I Am." When Moses met with the Lord at the burning bush in the wilderness, He asked Moses to return to Egypt and speak to Pharaoh. Moses asked the Lord, "Who do I tell them has sent me?" He told...

I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. Ezekiel 22:30 WEB.The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah grew more and more wicked. Their scales finally tipped, and their judgment day came. Abraham stood in the gap for them (Genesis 18:24). He pleaded with God and asked Him if He would destroy them if...

Hooked on a Feeling from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. I feel this, I feel that I feel, I feel, I feel. Feelings rule our society today, and unknowingly shape our attitude and actions. When we begin to speak our feelings, our tongue begins to steer our life. James said it like this: (James 3:3–6 NASB)  Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey...

Please Stay Here from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. There is a story in 2nd Kings where the prophet Elijah tells his servant Elisha to stay behind three times, but Elisha refuses. Later he receives a double portion of Elijah's anointing. (2 Kings 2:1–2 NASB) And it came about when the LORD was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal....

After many days, Yahweh's word came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, 'Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth.' 1 Kings 18:1 WEB.Some friends once pulled me onto a really high roller coaster with them. We waited for everyone to get on board and get locked in, then the ride operator started it up. The coaster slowly rattled and climbed up the rails. After a pretty long wait,...

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. Matthew 27:50'51 WEB.Under the old covenant, the high priest entered a room in the temple called the "Holy of Holies," once a year on Yom Kippur. The Day of Atonement. The ark of the covenant was kept there. The manifest...

The Hourglass from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jeremiah 31:3 NASB The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. A "forever" love. That is what everlasting means. It is love that lasts for eternity. God loves each of us, and He knows us by name. He knows how many hairs are on your head (Matthew...

Ripples from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. (Isaiah 55:10–11 NKJV) "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And...

The Fall of a Dynasty from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. It took Solomon seven years to complete the first temple. When the work was done, all of Israel was invited to Jerusalem, and they had a long feast that lasted for twenty-two days. Solomon prayed a beautiful prayer of dedication. When he was done, the fire of the Lord came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifices on the altar. His...

So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, 'Do you know what I have done to you? You call me, 'Teacher' and 'Lord.' You say so correctly, for so I am.If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.' John 13:12 WEBWhen you were invited to dine at someone's house during the time that Jesus...

Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, looking to yourself so that you also aren't tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1'2 WEBPicture us all climbing a mountain together, the mountain of God. Each of us is different physically and of various ages. Some will have experience...

Ultimate Obedience from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Sacrifice. If the Lord asked you to give up, surrender, give away, something precious to you. Would you be willing? In the book of Genesis, Abraham had waited many long years for him and Sarah to have a child. God had made them a promise and even told them that his name would be Isaac (Genesis 17:19). Isaac means "he laughed" because they...

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 WEBOne year as Christmas approached, we felt like doing something special. Looking back, I am sure that it was the Holy Spirit prompting us. He needed us to plant seeds for what He planned to do in our...

For he satisfies the longing soul. He fills the hungry soul with good Psalms 107:9 WEBTemporary pleasures offer temporary satisfaction but often come with longterm repercussions. There are so many things in our lives that promise or would appear to provide satisfaction, but they all fall short of it in the long run. You can eat a good meal, but you will soon be hungry again. Buying something new is...

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 on video and put it on our website without...

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...

If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances, 'Don't handle, nor taste, nor touch' (all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men? These things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, humility, and severity to the body; but aren't of any value against the indulgence of the...

I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different 'good news', but there isn't another 'good news.' Only there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Good News of Christ. But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any 'good news' other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. Galatians 1:6 WEBThere was...

Don't Look Back from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about putting your hand to the plow, and looking back at what you have left behind. In Genesis chapter 19, there were two cities that had become extremely wicked, so bad that God decided the Earth would be better off without them: Sodom and Gomorrah. During this time, there was a man named Abraham who walked so closely...

Then Elijah said to the people, 'I, even I only, am left as a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal's prophets are four hundred fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it. You call on the name of your god, and...

The Lord Is My Helper from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the importance of realizing that you are not isolated and alone. This is so important today, because it easy to just hear those words, nod and smile, and then go on about your day not actually believing them. Maybe only one in 10,000 will get this, but it was a turning point in my life when I realized that...

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6 ESVLaying in bed and unable to sleep, another night passed by. So concerned about the next day, that I could not seem to end the current one. Yet when the following day arrived, everything took care of itself. Day after day,...

He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love. By this God's love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:8 WEBEach time that I stumble in my Christian walk, the thought comes to me to turn back. I begin...

He said, 'Take the arrows;' and he took them. He said to the king of Israel, 'Strike the ground;' and he struck three times, and stopped. The man of God was angry with him, and said, 'You should have struck five or six times. Then you would have struck Syria until you had consumed it; whereas now you will strike Syria just three times.' 2 Kings 13:18 WEBIsrael had been invaded by Syria for years and...

Follow Me from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about something that was confusing to me when I really got serious about knowing Jesus. My life became difficult. I mean, what’s up with that? “I’m a child of the King! He fights my battles.” Uh huh. It seemed the more effort that I put into knowing Him, the more difficult things became. My little mind...

James 1: 2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Galatians 6: 7-8 “Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their...

I Can Do This from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about something very simple, but immeasurably important, and not always easy to do. Let’s begin in a house in the book of Matthew where Jesus healed two blind men: (Matthew 9:27–30 NKJV)  When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy...

Left Behind from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about being left behind. Not particularly about the return of Jesus Christ to Earth, because that will be a simple enough choice. When He appears in the twinkling of an eye, you will be saved, or you will be dead. You won’t have to decide anything, and you won’t have to worry about being left behind. The decisions...

You are of your Father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn't stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it. John 8:44 WEBWhen I would try and pray, crazy thoughts would begin to run through my mind like: 'God has abandoned you. He doesn't...

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won't he much more clothe you, you of little faith? Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's...

Dreams and Circumstances from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to examine the birth of Jesus and how God guided Mary and Joseph. It all began when the angel Gabriel appeared to a young woman named Mary and told her that she would soon conceive a child when the Holy Spirit overshadowed her. She was engaged to Joseph, a carpenter, but not yet married, so becoming pregnant now made...

When the season for fruit drew near, He sent His servants to the tenants to get His fruit. Matthew 21:34 ESVFor years I waited, yet every door remained closed. When I was about twenty, the Lord told me through a pastor that He had chosen me for ministry and to begin to prepare myself. I already knew it in my heart. His word was a confirmation of what God had already put inside me. Later while visiting...

You shall seek me, and find me, when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you Jeremiah 29:13 WEBIt was a very busy morning and I had so much to do. I was under a lot pressure to fulfill the many commitments that I had made, and I was anxious to get the day underway. I had also told the Lord that I would start the morning with prayer time, but when under pressure, I wrestled with...

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Isaiah 43:1 ESVIt was almost dark and we had to ride our motorcycles through the swamp to get back home. We had done it many times,...

Good From Bad (Your Worst Day Can Become Your Best) from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about how God can bring good things out of the bad. How He can change your worst day, into your best. How He can change bad situations, into incredible opportunities. He has done it all through scripture, He has done it for me, and He will do it for you. (Romans 8:28 NKJV)  And...

 “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Ephesians 4: 11-12 For years, it has seemed our Nation has become so split in our beliefs. You could feel it among our families, our churches, our work places and even among our friends. A generation...

God Almighty from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. There is a lot of fear and uncertainty in the world today and I feel that many are losing their focus by spending too much time listening to the news, and too little time listening to the Lord. We must remember that what we feed in our mind will grow, and what we starve will die. Things that we focus on grow bigger and bigger. I believe that...

When he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, 'Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.' Jesus stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, 'I want to. Be made clean.' Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:1 WEBAn outcast waited by the roadside, hoping to see Jesus. He was a leper and had a skin disease that...

Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he was making a work on the wheels. When the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, House of Israel, can't I do with you as this potter?' Jeremiah 18:3 WEBWhen I was young, I followed the family tradition...

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7   All my life, I was a person that lived in fear and anxiety over things that I allowed the enemy to defeat me. I was exhausted with the fear to the point it took me into a very dark time in my life. It was a time that I honestly felt there was no hope. My world was dim and gray, I saw...

Pestilence: The White Horse from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about pestilence in scripture. A hot topic on the news today is the Coronavirus that is ravaging countries. While I am writing this, the cases reported have increased thirteen fold in China, and Italy has now shut down all transportation except to medical facilities and grocery stores. It has become a serious...

Thank you for being a part of Refreshing Hope Ministries. Like everyone else, we have been monitoring the Corona Virus (COVID-19) outbreak and praying about it. As of today, many church services and public gatherings are being canceled around the world. It is a difficult time for many, and fear is on the rise on a global scale. While it is important to take reasonable precautions, both for ourselves...

The House of God from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about The House of God, the place where we go to meet God. When the Israelites left Egypt, Moses met with God in a tent called “The Tent of Meeting” (Exodus 33:7). When Moses went inside, the pillar of cloud would descend on it and the Lord would talk with Moses. Then the Lord gave Moses instructions to build...

Overwhelmed from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about feeling overwhelmed by the things that you are facing. Sometimes life hands us things that seem too weighty, too much to deal with. Let’s begin by looking at a little Bible history. Jeremiah, the Old Testament prophet, prophesied for around forty years, warning backslidden Israel that disaster was coming. As...

May He grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans! Psalms 20:4 ESVIt was so hot in the field that day that people were getting sick to their stomachs and the rest of us had to crop their row. As a young boy about twelve working in the tobacco field, my world was very small. My family was the least of the least and I was in my twenties before I even knew what college was, and we could...

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.' Saul said to David, 'Go! Yahweh will be with you.' 1 Samuel 17:37 WEBYoung David was probably around fifteen years old and was now facing the greatest challenge of his life, Goliath. He was a real giant of a man that was just over nine feet tall and...

Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. He said to him, 'I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Get behind me, satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.' ' Matthew 4:7 WEBJesus was now a young man of about...

Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together! I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. Psalms 34:3 ESVDavid was now in the enemies' camp and surrounded by the relatives of those that he had...

Farther Along from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about dealing with things that we don’t understand. There will be times in life when the path becomes dark, and we have to walk by faith. I want to begin in Psalm 119: (Psalm 119:105 NKJV) Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. The lamp in this Psalm is an oil lamp, which only gives a small circle...

You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience; among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest....

In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?' Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the midst of them, and said, 'Most assuredly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom...

Conditionals from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about conditionals in the word of God, blessings, promises, even curses that are triggered by a certain action. It is something that we should always be aware of. God’s laws work much like gravity: you drop a cup and it always falls towards the Earth. Many of God’s promises work like this, an action followed...

One Day at A Time from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about God’s supply chain and how He takes care of us. Too many times we see people confuse God with Santa Claus and their prayer becomes gimme, gimme, gimme. We have received prayer requests that were like this: “Please pray for the Lord to give me a large brick house, fully furnished, and paid for. A new...

Then Yahweh spoke to the fish, and it vomited out Jonah on the dry land. Yahweh's word came to Jonah the second time, saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I give you.' So Jonah arose, and went to Nineveh Jonah 2:10 WEBJonah landed on the beach and stood up, covered in fish vomit. The giant fish had puked him onto the beach and He probably wanted to go back...

Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don't give up. Galatians 6:6 WEBAs I fell through the air from the top of the building in seemingly slow-motion,...

He Touched Me from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the unclean, the outcasts, the lepers who lived during the time of Jesus. (Mark 1:40–42 NKJV) Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and...

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV Welcome to 2020! Thank you so much for reading our devotional and for being a part of Refreshing Hope Ministries. I hope that this message finds you blessed, healthy, and happy wherever you are. For the last couple of years, Sylvia and I have managed to...

Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me.' John 14:6 WEBWhen people around me started praying for someone, I used to shy away or stand quietly by. If they really had their eyes closed and were praying the way they should have, they should not have noticed me anyway. I always thought 'If they really knew me, they would not have asked for...

I See You from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When I was young in the Lord, I felt insignificant in His eyes. I had been beaten down by life pretty good and often the clothes I wore had as well. When I started going to church, I was often surrounded by people wearing suits and driving cars that I could never have afforded, even if it had been financed. I was just a laborer. So I mostly stayed...

If He comes suddenly, do not let Him find you sleeping. Mark 13:36 NIVThere was a time in our life when our business started failing and our income got less, and less, and then stopped. As the bills started piling up, we tried everything, but nothing seemed to help. We gave more, prayed more, fasted more, served more, tried to find any job possible and then as the last straw, we prepared to move out...

God spoke all these words, saying, 'I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for...

A Scattered Flock from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Jesus was the good Shepherd (John 10:1), and He was also our example of how to live a perfect life. He came to Earth at a dark, difficult time, especially in religion, for God’s presence had left the temple. The last book in the Old Testament is the prophet Malachi, and this is what the Lord told the priests that took care of His...

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. James 5:13'15 NIVAs I got out of bed, I was more tired than when I had laid down. We had not slept now for weeks except for a brief...

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,” that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13–14 WEB In Roman times, slaves were sold on an auction block under a spear. When a spear...

If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Will I eat the meat of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High. Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me.' Psalms 50:12 WEBGod owns the entire universe, above and below, seen and unseen. Some people think that...

I have said these things to you, while still living with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. John 14:25 WEBWhen I rested my hand on the box, a light came on. When I moved my hand away, it went out. I examined the wires connected to the back of the hub and found that one of the network...

I Care from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. While I was praying about the message today, I prayed: “Lord help me feed Your sheep. What are Your people are missing today? What can I tell them to give them hope?” I heard two words spoken slowly, but very firmly: “I Care.” Then a flood of thoughts and scriptures came to mind. We truly don’t understand how much the...

The Wet Fleece from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about Gideon in Judges, chapter six. For seven years, raiders from the land of Midian would invade Israel at harvest time, set up camps, then systematically steal their crops, livestock, and destroy and pillage anything of value. They came up like locusts and their numbers could not even be counted. The Israelites were...

Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. David's two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David strengthened...

Moses said to the people, 'Don't be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh, which he will work for you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall never see them again. Yahweh will fight for you, and you shall be still.' Yahweh said to Moses, 'Why do you cry to me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward.' Exodus 14:13 WEBMoses and the Israelite people...

The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate; for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.' Luke...

The First Christmas from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the first Christmas. What was it like to be on the Earth the night that Jesus was born? What was the world like then? What do we know about it? Well, things were complicated. It was a difficult time. Under Julius Caesar, Rome had expanded to a vast empire that spanned from Egypt to England, which was called...

And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”...

Just a short thought here... With the Christmas season approaching, it seems we all can be consumed or overwhelmed with getting things done especially with small children, the worry of not having the financial means; Or the overwhelming loss of loved ones. The first thing to remember, you are not alone! Sometimes Jesus seems so far away by not giving us comfort when we feel the worry, loneliness and...

For Such a Time As This from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about God’s timing. Too many of us read the Scriptures and feel that God is dated, or out of touch with modern times, when nothing could be further from the truth. He invented time. He created the Sun that the Earth orbits. Sometimes we can feel that He is distant, unconcerned with the occurrences in our...

I love those who love Me. Those who seek me diligently will find Me. Proverbs 8:17 WEBI came out of my prayer room that morning feeling like I was walking on a cloud with tears of joy in my eyes. If you would have told me that the world was getting ready to explode, I would have said 'Let 'er blow!' I truly did not have a care in the world. An hour earlier, I felt like the weight of the world was on...

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, Reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground; For it is time to seek Yahweh, Until He comes and rains righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12 WEBI grew up on a farm and over the long cold winter, the ground of the fields would become so hard that water would just run off of it like it was rock. The rain would no longer penetrate the crust but just ran through...

The Comforter from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the work of the Comforter. Before Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, He promised the disciples that He would send Someone else to them. He knew that His time on Earth would soon be completed and that He would return to heaven, but He would not abandon the disciples or leave them all alone. It...

In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things...

The Choice from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the choice that each person has to make when Jesus calls us them. We read about the disciples and apostles that followed Jesus and assume that this was set in stone, meant to be, that they automatically followed Him, but they were each given a choice. Some people chose not to. Jesus called some fishermen in Matthew chapter...

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27 WEBJesus said that His sheep would hear His voice and that they would follow Him 'and a stranger, they would not follow" (John 10:5). God speaks to His people individually and collectively. Some are so concerned on being deceived that...

Elijah said to her, Don't be afraid; go and do as you have said; but make me of it a little cake first, and bring it forth to me, and afterward make for you and for your son. For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, The jar of meal shall not empty, neither shall the jar of oil fail, until the day that Yahweh sends rain on the earth. She went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he,...

Recalculating from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about getting your life back on course after a mistake. Walking with God is a bit like traveling with a GPS. You can miss an exit or make a wrong turn and the GPS will recalculate your route to get you to your destination, from wherever you are at that moment. The Holy Spirit works much the same way. We can make a complete...

He said therefore, What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches. Luke 13:18 ESVAs I stared out of the window at the huge oak tree in our yard, I thought of what it looked like thirty years ago, when I first moved here. It...

Rejected Identity from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about rejection, especially in your calling, your gifts, your talents, by those who are familiar with you. We can read the Bible and feel like Jesus had an automatic win button in every circumstance. Storms, disease, demons, even death obeyed His words, but there was one thing on Earth that did not: people. Not everyone...

The Journey from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the journey of life. Our thinking is often consumed with what is happening today, or tomorrow, or sometimes what happened yesterday. God thinks in the long term. He can see our entire life at once. Think of it like this: if our life were a bicycle wheel and each day a spoke, then God sees it from the hub in the center...

He said, 'Abba, Father, all things are possible to you.' Mark 14:36 WEBAfter growing up in the Bible Belt, my image of God was as a complete disciplinarian, an angry, white-haired, lightning bolt throwing super being who stalked me. He was rightly called 'The Lion of Judah.' He was always watching, ready to pounce on the unsuspecting soul that broke one of those precious commandments. There were a...

Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?' His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your...

Goldfish from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about a very strange miracle of Jesus that is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. When Jesus and the disciples came to Peter’s hometown of Capernaum, tax collectors came up to them and asked them for money. Only Matthew wrote about this, and it may have stood out to him because he had been a tax collector in Capernaum himself....

White Knuckle Driving from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about what I call “white knuckle driving.” It is when you clutch the steering wheel of a car so hard that your knuckles become white. For example, my son once called us on Easter weekend. He had been involved in an accident and his leg was broken in several places. He was taken to a hospital, then transferred...

Strengthen Yourself from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about strengthening yourself in the Lord. It is important that you learn to have a direct relationship with God that does not depend on anyone else. There will be times in this life when those whom you once trusted, turn their back on you. Sometimes even those that you look up to spiritually may let you down, and...

I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick; Ezekiel 34:16 WEBAs the tears flowed down my face, I knew they weren't mine. I had a rough upbringing. I could count the people that I trusted on one hand, and still have a couple of fingers left. Yet, as I laid hands on this hopelessly lost...

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 ESVSo there I sat in my prayer room, feeling washed up and wondering why I was there at all that day. After going through a drawn out messy divorce, I didn't go to church at all and rarely prayed. I felt that the Lord was done with me. I had let Him down and the whole church...

Now Yahweh's word came to me, saying, 'Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.' Then I said, 'Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I don't know how to speak; for I am a child.' Jeremiah 1:4 WEBJeremiah tried to reason with the Lord and explain about why he was not the one for this prophet job, but the Lord would not take...

Inspiration from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about inspiration, when a creative idea suddenly downloads into your brain. That is not an accident. It happens for a purpose, and it may be more important than we think. Let’s begin in Jeremiah chapter 1 verse 4: Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before...

Yahweh's angel found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur. He said, 'Hagar, Sarai's servant, where did you come from? Where are you going?' She said, 'I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.' Genesis 16:7 WEBHagar wandered alone in the desert. She had always done what she was told, but now it had become too much and she had ran from the painful life...

His Blood and Our Testimony from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about what Jesus has done for us, and what we are expected to do for Him. Let’s start by examining Revelation 12:10: Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who...

King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.' Agrippa said to Paul, 'With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?' Paul said, 'I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these bonds.' Acts 26:27 WEBWhen a net is pulled out of the water on a fishing boat, it may contain...

God and the Workplace from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the importance of learning to serve God right where you are, doing exactly what you are doing. Get to know Him there, for if you will not serve Him there, you will not serve Him anywhere else. Wherever you find yourself, and whatever you are doing, begin to involve God in it every day. Many feel that they...

Good Neighbors from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the importance of being a good neighbor. Ever since Adam and Eve had kids and one killed the other, it has been an ongoing thing, learning to live with one another. Most of the ten commandments are about how we treat our neighbor.  Over the years, God had to give many, many commandments about neighbors. Apparently...

When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me. My strength was sapped in the heat of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin to you. I didn't hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah Psalms 32:3 WEBDavid wrote Psalm 32 after his affair and marriage to Bathsheba....

The Wonder of You from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the wonder of the Lord. I believe that wonder is a great definition of what it feels like to have the Holy Spirit moving in your life. It can feel almost magical, surreal, at times you may ask yourself “Is this really happening?” The word “wonder” means: Wonder (noun) 1 a feeling of surprise...

Hand in Hand from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about walking with the Lord, hand in hand, and what that may look like. He has not called us to walk alone, and so much frustration comes when we rely on our own strength, and our own wisdom. Until we get to know His ways of communicating with us, walking with Him can seem to be very mysterious. We think that if we were...

Dust on the Bottle from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about something we try to avoid: growing older. It is something that everyone blessed with a long life will face. As gray hair begins to come, we can begin to feel less useful, like our time has passed, when it may not have gotten here. While it is true that there is time for changing the guard, there is always a proper...

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.' Luke 22:31 WEBPeter told Jesus that he was ready to go to prison and to die for Him if needed, which was a very bold statement. Then Jesus told Peter that satan had asked to test him,...

By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Most gladly...

Training Wheels from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the journey of becoming more like Jesus, and it is a journey. I will be talking mostly about the life of the Apostle Peter, but I want to begin with something Jesus said to all of His disciples in Luke 6:40: A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. Luke...

let's hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful. Let's consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23 WEBMy home state of South Carolina carries this inscription on the state seal:...

Bible Study, Acts Chapter 28 from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Transcript: Today we are going to study Acts chapter 28 verse by verse, and you can follow along in your own Bible if you like. I will be reading from the World English Bible because it is currently the only modern English translation that is copyright free, and I can read the entire Bible on video without any legal drama or...

Flow Through Me from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about something that is at the very core of knowing Jesus: the Holy Spirit. This is fundamental stuff, but sometimes we build our doctrines so high that we can no longer see the foundation, yet it is very important that it is still there. Please keep a teachable spirit and don’t shut me out automatically if I happen...

Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that Yahweh will work for us; for there is no restraint to Yahweh to save by many or by few.' 1 Samuel 14:6 WEBGreatly outnumbered, Saul and about 600 Israelites were cowering in fear from the Philistines who had come against them. Only king Saul and his son Jonathan had a sword...

Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men. The angel answered the women, 'Don't be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here, for...

The Fixer Upper from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When I young, it was common for a church to wet you, set you, and forget you. Basically once you were saved and baptized, they didn’t know what else to do with you. Oh, they would teach on tithing, let’s not forget that one, but it was a common belief that you got everything...

Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for...

The Wind from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the Wind. We cannot see the wind blowing, but we can see the effects of it and we can feel the air movement on our skin. For example you can see someone’s hair blowing in the wind, but you can’t see the wind itself that is moving it. I want to begin in Acts chapter 2: When the Day of Pentecost had fully come,...

They heard Yahweh God's voice walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden. Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, 'Where are you?' Genesis 3:8 WEBAdam walked with God in the garden of eden. Then the serpent talked Eve into disobeying the command of God so that she could have the knowledge...

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram. Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon...

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and Yahweh's glory has risen on you. For, behold, darkness will cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but Yahweh will arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1 WEBNightfall came faster than I was anticipating and it was black night as I made my way through...

But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe. Acts 14:19 WEBAfter Paul and Barnabas healed a crippled man and preached the good news in the city of Lystra,...

The Lack of Knowledge from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today, I want to talk about the lack of knowledge. Specifically, the lack of knowledge of God and His word. There has always been far too much hearsay in the church, people repeating what they have heard well-meaning preachers tell them. Let’s begin in Hosea chapter 4 verse 6: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because...

Elijah said to her, 'Don't be afraid. Go and do as you have said; but make me a little cake from it first, and bring it out to me, and afterward make some for you and for your son. For Yahweh, the God of Israel says, 'The jar of meal will not run out, and the jar of oil will not fail, until the day that Yahweh sends rain on the earth.' She went and did according to the saying of Elijah; and she, and...

Do Not Be Dismayed from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about becoming “Dismayed.” To be dismayed means “to be downcast, disappointed, disheartened, filled with terror.” It replaces hope and will lead you to a dark place. We become ineffective and paralyzed. The joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh. 8:10) and it is hard to be joyful when you are...

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2 WEBMy Dad was born during the great depression in the early 1930s. They had no electricity or running water in the rural areas where he grew up. There was no refrigeration,...

For there is no distinction, for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22 WEBIt is so easy for us to become used to having positions, titles, and levels in the workplace during our life and then carry those ideas over into the church. After we have been around a while, we can begin to feel that...

Walking on Water from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the importance of believing the Lord, of shaking off the naysayers and continuing on your own journey. People have a tendency to not want you to go where they have not been. Leaders cannot lead you, where they have not been. Let’s examine a moment in the life of Peter, beginning in Matthew 14:25: Now in...

Broken from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about being broken in Spirit, for the Lord will not be able to use you until you are. Let’s look at Matthew 11:29: Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:29–30 NKJV The yoke that...

Then Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made himself a booth, and sat under it in the shade, until he might see what would become of the city. Yahweh God prepared a vine, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to deliver him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the vine. But God prepared a worm at...

Answered Prayers from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about Answered Prayers and how they come about. We hear a lot about “unanswered prayers” and I think those are great, but for me, I love the answered ones. I want to take a complex, multi-layered subject and try to make it as simple as possible. Picture in your mind the army of God, with Jesus being the...

One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, 'If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!' But the other answered, and rebuking him said, 'Don't you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? Luke 23:39 WEBThree men were crucified together at a place called Golgotha. The One in the center was Jesus, the Son of God. There was a convicted criminal on His left, and another...

Rest from Stress from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about resting from stress. Jesus Christ, who lived on Earth as our example, lived a simple life of trust and peace. When He and the disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee on their fishing boat and a great storm came, Jesus slept soundly in the bottom of the boat. That is what I call resting from stress. Let’s read...

Thank You from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the importance of being thankful. Jesus lived on Earth as our example, and He was so thankful and full of praise. No matter what you have been through, there are still some things that you can be thankful about. An important one is that you woke up today.  For some people, yesterday was their last day on Earth. I...

Drive My Car from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to tell you a story about how I felt when I let someone drive our car for the first time. One year we visited some family members for Christmas, and then all of us traveled together to a tournament in Las Vegas. Since Sylvia and I had brought an SUV along that was big enough for all of us, we decided to ride together. They had made...

You therefore put your belt on your waist, arise, and say to them all that I command you. Don't be dismayed at them, lest I dismay you before them. For, behold, I have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they...

The Crazy Ones from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the crazy ones, the saints of old who followed God through thick and thin while the rest of the people in the world thought they were, crazy. As you grow closer to God, He will begin to change you, and tweak your wants and desires. You begin to think differently. Expect a time to come when you no longer fit in as...

Soul Anchor from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about Hope, the anchor of our soul, the protector of our mind. Hope is so important in our daily lives and overcoming the storms that we all face. Everyone that has committed suicide, first lost all hope. Hopelessness is a very dark place to be. The South Carolina motto here is “While I breathe, I hope.” I want...

Hezekiah prospered in all his works. However concerning the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. 2 Chronicles 32:30 WEBWhile attending classes at a school, the teacher is right there with you answering any questions that you may have and explaining the subject...

Fear Not from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about fear, and the importance of pressing on even though we are afraid. When God calls you to do something, often fear is the first guardian that will be sent to stop you from accomplishing it. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy and told him this in his second letter: Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which...

But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. In praying, don't use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. Matthew 6:6 WEBMy friend had no idea that the answer to his prayer was waiting for him just inside of...

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. The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes...

God is Able from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about underestimating God, the Almighty. There is no one like Him, there is no one as powerful, there is no one as smart. Yet too often we allow our circumstances to break our hope that God will help us. Our circumstances become more powerful in our mind, than God. As we focus on them, our problems become bigger, and He becomes...

The God Box from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about an interesting story in 1 Samuel chapter 2. In verse 12 we read about the high priest Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were priests serving at the temple, and they were very interesting priests. It says that they were “worthless men” who did not know the Lord. That is really strong language...

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 WEBWhen the Israelites came to the land that God promised them, they stopped and sent out twelve spies to survey it. When the spies returned,...

Living on the Edge from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about living on the edge. Too much of the church is playing it safe, staying out of the game, afraid to really let go and trust God to take care of them. This leads to a bland, colorless, powerless version of Christianity that no one is interested in. Paul wrote to Timothy that in the last days, men would be lovers...

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;...

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 WEBWe love to get a tub of buttered popcorn at the movies. It is a rare occasion 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 and while...

Baby Jesus from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about “Who is Jesus?” I feel that we take it for granted that people actually know that much about Him. In the world we see Jesus as a baby in a manger, then crucified on a cross. The life of Jesus seems to span about three months. There was so much more to His life than that. Jesus is a divine Being and had “always”...

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 WEBAfter spending...

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 WEBJesus would often withdraw from the noisy crowds to be alone with His Heavenly Father in prayer. It was here that He chose His disciples, refreshed His...

Three Crosses from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the three crosses that were placed on the hill of Calvary the day that Jesus Christ was crucified. We will pick this up in Matthew chapter 27: And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. And above His head...

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 WEBHe also made the stars. What a sentence. I read this verse sometimes and I am amazed by how much the Bible packs into a single verse. Scientists estimate that there are around 300 sextillion stars now, and that number grows larger as they develop devices...

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...

RHM Devotional: He Changed My Mind from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about breaking bad habits, or destructive patterns in our life. It requires allowing the Holy Spirit to change our mind. We tend to put on our Christian faces and look like we have it all together, but all of us have our inner struggles that the Holy Spirit knows about. He wants to help us change, to...

RHM Devotional: Fruit Trees from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the fruit of the spirit, which should be developing in our lives. Jesus said in Matthew 12:33 that a tree is known by the fruit that it bears. In light of this, trees meant people, and the fruit were their actions and attitudes. The disciples were called Christians because their behavior, activities,...

The heavens are the heavens of Yahweh; But the earth has he given to the children of men. Psalms 115:16 WEBI watched my son wrestle with connecting the wiring harness to the motherboard of the computer that he was building. I could have done it for him, but he needed to learn to do this himself, and that the plug only fits one way. He wanted a gaming computer for his sixth Christmas, so being a computer...

One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him. 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?' Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.'...

Elijah said to him, Elisha, please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho. He said, As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they came to Jericho. 2 Kings 2:4 WEBElisha had worked serving the prophet Elijah for several years when he suddenly asked him to stay behind. Elisha said no, and he kept following him. Three times in a row Elijah asked him to stay behind somewhere,...

RHM Bible Study, Acts Chapter Twenty-five from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today we are going to study Acts chapter 25 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...

RHM Devotional: Life or Death from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about life or death, in the Spirit. God is the Giver of life, and He breathed the breath of life into Adam in the beginning. His Spirit brings a freshness, a revitalization, freedom, an excitement, It gives life to our spirit. Scripture is very clear about this: “For the letter kills, but the Spirit...

Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I can't come down: why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you? Nehemiah 6:2 WEBNehemiah was organizing the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem after it had been...

Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? Luke 12:25 WEBWe were so concerned about tomorrow that we could not sleep. We had received a subpoena late that evening and had to appear in court at seven in the morning, but so many things ran through our mind that we watched the sun go down, and then...

if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 WEBI have a Dilbert cartoon about tech support taped to our internet router because it reminds me of our service provider here. Each time that we call them with a problem,...

It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they turned about to fight against him: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and Yahweh helped him; and God moved them to depart from him. It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. 2 Chronicles 18:31 WEBJehoshaphat,...

RHM Devotional: Understanding God from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about understanding God. I believe that this is a crossroads that everyone comes to at some point, and it causes many to stumble. I have seen so many people turn back from their commitment to Jesus because they could not understand what He was doing. Many of us like to sketch out things like an architect,...

RHM Newsletter #33, 2018 Year-end Wrap-up from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. (For those interested, there are quite a few more photos in the video version of this newsletter :)) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 WEB Hi...

RHM Devotional: Spiritual Bullies from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today I want to talk about the heart of Jesus towards the lost sheep, compared to the heart of the religious leaders that should have been taking care of them. Luke chapter 15 reads: Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man...