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...

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...

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. Jesus therefore said to them, "Children, have you anything to eat?" They answered him, "No." John 21:3-5 WEB. The Apostle...

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...

The God Who Sees Me from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Hagar was Sarah's Egyptian maidservant, and when Sarah struggled to conceive, she offered Hagar to her husband Abram as a wife, hoping to have children through her. However, once Hagar became pregnant, the family dynamics changed. Sarah began to treat her "harshly", leading Hagar to flee....

Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Does my father still live?" His brothers couldn't answer him; for they were terrified at his presence. Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." They came near. "He said, I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Now don't be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life." Genesis...

Yahweh said to Gideon, "I will save you by the three hundred men who lapped, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, each to his own place." So the people took food in their hand, and their trumpets; and he sent all the rest of the men of Israel to their own tents, but retained the three hundred men; and the camp of Midian was beneath him in the valley. Judges 7:7–8...

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...

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,"...

For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 WEB. When I was about twenty years old, the Lord told me through a pastor that He had chosen me for ministry. That I was to begin preparing myself. I already knew this in my heart. The pastor's word was...

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. It was another busy morning, and I had so much to do. I was under pressure to keep up with...

Bent Tuning Forks from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. In a music group, everyone tunes their instruments to the same note, and then they can play in tune with each other. Years ago, you might have used an A-440 tuning fork and tuned by ear, but electronics have largely replaced this method today, especially in noisy environments. The Lord...

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...

"Don't be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you." Isaiah 43:1–2 WEB. It was growing dark, and we had to ride our motorcycles through the swamp to get back home. There...

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...

Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death." James 1:13–15 WEB. The peaceful water of the Waccamaw River near our home is as black as coffee....

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...

Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers; But his delight is in Yahweh's law; On his law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper. Psalms 1:1–3 WEB. Though it...

Thank You from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Today, I want to highlight the power of being thankful. Jesus, our perfect example, modeled a life filled with gratitude and praise. No matter the challenges you've faced, there's always something to be thankful for—starting with the simple blessing of waking up today. For many, yesterday was...

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you. Don't quench the Spirit. Don't despise prophesies. Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good. Abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–22 WEB. While traveling through Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with my pastor, we stopped at an old smokehouse restaurant and ordered...

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. An outcast waited by the roadside, hoping to see Jesus. He was a leper and had a terrible...

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...

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 18:3–6 WEB. When I was young, I followed an old family...

Therefore let's also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let's run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews...

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?" Esther 4:13-14 WEB. Esther didn't...

Resting While the Storm Rages from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. Stress is something we all face. Whether it's worries about our jobs, our families, our health, or just the busyness of life, stress can feel like a raging storm that won't quit. We try hard to keep it all together, but inside, we're often tired, overwhelmed, or even afraid. That's...

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...

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...

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...

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...