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And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. Then the LORD said to Jacob, Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you. Genesis 31:2 ESVThings were beginning to be difficult for Jacob where he worked. The Lord had certainly put him there, prospered him greatly and he had become wealthy. Up until then, his father-in-law had always treated him with...

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:11 ESVPeter and the apostles were beaten by the religious leaders and told not mention Jesus anymore, yet they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name (Acts 5:41). When Paul and Silas were imprisoned, they...

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? Isaiah 43:18 ESVWhile sitting in church one morning listening to the speaker drone on, I yawned, searched for the time and wondered how long was left before we could go home. Having served the Lord a couple decades, graduated seminary and been ordained twice,...

And the LORD said to you, You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel. So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. 2 Samuel 5:2 ESVDavid was just a young boy when God had Samuel anoint him as king over Israel. David was probably between ten to...

 Luke Chapter 5 >> Click Here For Audio Version <<  Take the Quiz on Luke Chapter 5 when done Luke 5 Outline: 5:1-5   Jesus preaches from a boat on lake Gennesaret. 5:6-7   The miraculous catch of fish. 5:8-11 The fishermen forsake all to follow Jesus. 5:12-13 Jesus heals a man with leprosy. 5:14    Jesus tells the man to tell no-one...

And Jesus answering said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he answered, Say it, Teacher. A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more? Luke 7:39 ESVAs Jesus reclined on a low couch at the table, with His head near the table and His feet away from...

Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." Jeremiah 1:4 ESVJeremiah tried to reason with the Lord and make excuses about why he was not the one for this job, but the Lord would...

Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came to me: Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you and say, Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours. Then Hanamel my cousin came to me Jeremiah 32:68 ESVThe word of the Lord came to Jeremiah and instructed him to buy his uncles field. Before long, his uncle came to him and offered to sell it to him....

Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking? Supposing Him to be the gardener, she 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. She turned and said to him in Aramaic, Rabboni! (which means Teacher). John 20:15 ESVMary Magdalene came to the tomb of Jesus to grieve but found it empty. As she...

Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are neededor indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. Luke 10:4142 NIVMartha and Mary were sisters but very different people. Martha invited Jesus to their home, but then became busy and distracted with all the work. The visitation of Jesus soon became a chore...

 Luke Chapter 4 >> Click Here For Audio Version <<  Take the Quiz on Luke chapter 4 when you are done   Luke 4 Outline: 4:1-13    Satan tests Jesus in the wilderness.4:14-15  Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee.4:16-30  Jesus preaches in His hometown of Nazareth and they try to kill Him.4:31-32  Jesus settles in Capernaum.4:33-37...

And Agrippa said to Paul, In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian? Acts 26:28 ESVI was in awe of power of the Holy Spirit as I saw this hardened drug dealer begin to weep. He was a friend whose life had gone the other way. One day I was going to town and he wanted to come, so I brought him along. As we drove down the highway, I began to tell him about some scripture that I had been...

And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. 1 Samuel 30:6 ESVDavid was distressed. He and his men had wept until they no longer had the strength to weep. When they returned to their town, they had found it burned to the ground and all of their...

Luke Chapters 2 & 3    >> Click Here For Audio Version <<  Take the Quiz on Luke chapters 2 & 3 when done Luke 2 Outline:2:1-7  The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.2:1-3  The census decreed by Caesar Augustus.2:4-5  Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem.2:6-7  Mary gives birth to Jesus.2:8-14  The Angels appear to the shepherds by night.2:15-20...

   The Gospel According to Luke   This week we will be discussing Luke chapter 1. Here are some thoughts and questions for this weeks segment to think over while you are listening / reading. We will get feedback as we move forward and try and improve each week as we learn together. Feel free to post your comment below!   >> Click Here For Audio Version <<  Take...

But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men. But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. Luke 9:43 ESVJesus told His disciples, Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to...

Now the LORD said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your fathers house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:1 ESVAbram had to make a choice: obey God, or continue on with his life as it was going. He was going to have to move away from his hometown, abandoning...

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; Is. 55:6 ESVI enjoy playing music, computers, gaming and I generally have my quiet time with the Lord each morning. However for a couple of months, I was called to pray every day at about 3 PM. It became a driving desire and the most important thing in my life. Rather than doing the usual things that I would normally do, each day...

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:13 ESVI was at a very dark place in my life. Doctors had placed me on anti-depressants, yet I remained a recluse with suicidal thoughts. Once I had carried the precious...

And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." Mark 1:17 ESVWhile growing up, I spent a lot of time on the rivers near my home in South Carolina. The black water of the Waccamaw was just a few miles away and fishing and hunting were a normal part of everyday life in the country. Bait selection was imperative, crickets for bream, nightcrawlers for catfish, minnows or...

Refreshing Hope Ministries began as a simple daily devotional from Pastor Dion Todd sent via email, with personal testimonies of God’s work in our lives. Our vision was, and still is, to help renew hope in the world by sharing the love of Jesus Christ. We believe that God’s people are being beaten down by poverty, cynicism and religion. In such a world, even a small light will shine in...

This article is for members who would like to start their own small group as part of this ministry. We would love to hear from any who are called to take this kind of leadership position here. Please review the guidelines below and use the link at the end to contact us! 1. Starting a Group: First, please go over the guidelines in this list. If you believe your group fits here and the Lord is calling...

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood Rev. 1:5 ESVJesus 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. So simple and yet so long...

Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. Luke 22:31 ESVPeter told Jesus that he was ready to go to prison and die for Him if needed, a very bold statement. Jesus told Peter that satan had asked to test him, to reveal what was inside of him, and...

Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me. But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. Jonah 1:13 ESVThe Lord told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh, but instead Jonah set out for Tarshish, which was in the opposite direction. After he boarded a ship,...

And as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke Him, saying, Master, Master, we are perishing! And He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, Where is your faith? Luke 8:23-25 ESVWho is going to tell Him? They had put it off as long as...

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. Heb 10:23 NIVMy home state of South Carolina carries this inscription on the state seal: Dum spiro spero. In Latin, this phrase means "While I breathe, I hope". This is a profound statement because where there is hope, there is life and where there is no hope, there is no life. That is the goal of Refreshing Hope Ministries,...

But Samson said to his father, Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes. His father and mother did not know that it was from the LORD, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel. Judg. 14:3-4 ESVSamson wanted to marry a Philistine woman and it upset his parents terribly. What on earth is wrong with that kid? his parents must have thought....

It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell. Acts 15:28–29 NIV After Jesus ascended to the Father and the gospel started to spread, non-Jewish people...

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James 2:26 ESV Growing up on a farm with two brothers and ten step-siblings, I got to see first-hand those who were pleasing to their parents, and those who were not. The parents could ask one child to do something and they would. This pleased them and there would sometimes be a reward for the child. The child...