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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...