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  • Thu at 3:01 AM
    Posted by Dion Todd
    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 brok...
  • Wed at 3:01 AM
    Posted by Dion Todd
    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 Jehoshap...
  • Tue at 3:01 AM
    Posted by Dion Todd
    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 wa...
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  • March 25, 2022 - led by Lynn Brown
    This is a group for RHM sponsored events like corporate fasts. Everyone is welcome to join and participate in things currently going on in the ministry. We love you and thank you for being a part of Refreshing Hope!
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Seasons Change

  • 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 WEB

    Springtime is so beautiful when all of nature is blooming, then comes summer and fall. Eventually winter comes and things begin to die. The weather is no longer pleasant and inviting as it once was, but all seasons are necessary in the circle of life. Everything has a season, and in our life, it is often much easier to begin something, than to end it.

    My wife and I once led an intercessory prayer team at church. It was great for quite a while, and the Holy Spirit was really there. In time however, we began to feel that the Lord wanted us to stop, rest, and go in another direction.

    At the time, we were taught that quitting something just shows that you are weak or lazy. So we shook off the feeling to stop as the devil, and tried to continue on as any committed christian would.

    After our restlessness became much worse, we asked for prayer from the church leadership, but we did not want them influenced by their natural senses. We had learned that leadership often supports you when stepping up, but it is rare when the leadership supports you when stepping down.

    It is hard for them to hear God objectively when: 'Who will take their place?' is flashing in their head like a neon sign. You may hear: 'You work in the nursery, and you should stay in the nursery, because that is God's will for you, and ours.'

    So we prayed about it some more and then wrote the question: 'Should we leave the prayer group?' on a piece of paper, folded it up, and brought that with us.

    Then we had the elders pray over the paper with us, without telling them the question written inside of it. One elder, who heard from the Lord regularly in prayer heard: 'Yes.' All the rest agreed, 'Yes.'

    When we opened the paper and they saw what was written, they were shocked, but we were free. He admitted that it was best that he did not know what the question was before because he could never have thought that was God's will for us.

    There are seasons in your life, and what was once the Lord's will for you, may not always be. Seasons change. Be open minded about what the Lord whispers to you in your prayer time, and rule nothing out. Sometimes you have to say no to the good, so you can say yes to the great.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father speak to me clearly and in a way that I understand about the things in my life that I need to change. I realize that none of us can do everything. Help me focus my time and energy on what matters to You, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

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30 comments
  • 1
Joseph Adams, Jr.
Joseph Adams, Jr.

Amen. https://youtu.be/pKP4cfU28vM

 

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Stacie Chambers-Franklin
Stacie Chambers-Franklin

Wow! How timely! I have been serving as a Worship Leader for many years. I recently transitioned to a new church, and went through the audition process. I made it through every round, and was told just lastnight that my gift is "amazing"  but that they felt the Lord saying that I shouldn't be on the team at this time. They took me to dinner to tell me. That threw me. Why not the typical email? But I guess... I'm grateful for the face to face effort. Let's just say I'm crushed. This is all I know. It's the first time that I have ever been denied a spot on a worship team. I've done years of paid gigs, studio work, and even television work. There was even one night where I was tipped $300 at a gig because a patron enjoyed my singing. I'm struggling with it. Why did God give me all of this experience and favor to turn me down? I'm really struggling today. I understand that I must submit to His will, but I'm trying to understand why He would give me these dreams, desires, and this gifting to sit me down. Again, this is all I know; and I'm pretty good at it. Haven't slept much. Disappointed. Hurt. It's been my life's work. But trying to be like David when he fasted and prayed for his son to live. When his son died, he got up, washed his face and kept it moving. Difficult to do, but this devo is so right on time and gives some much needed encouragement. As always, thanks Pastor Dion.

June 24, 2017
  • 2
Barbara Jackson
Barbara Jacksonedited: June 24, 2017

Wait I say my sister in Christ JESUS. GOD may have something else he wants you too do. Give it to Jesus, and rest. Let GOD be your guide.

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Stacie Chambers-Franklin
Stacie Chambers-Franklin

Thank you, my sister! I really appreciate the encouragement and support. 

June 24, 2017
  • 2
Jim Jarrell
Jim Jarrell

Stacie, I agree with Barbara, some times it is hard to understand God. He tells us in His word that His ways are not our ways. If I were to tell you of the anointing that God has shown me, you might find it hard to believe. But today, He has me here and resting mostly. I must need it even though I do not understand. I suggest that you give this some time and really rest, God will open up the doors He has for you in His own time. Just pray and seek His face!

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Stacie Chambers-Franklin
Stacie Chambers-Franklin

Yes, Sir! What awesome, godly advice! Thank you very much. I appreciate you!

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Michelle  Muff
Michelle Muff

Wow that is so tough and so hard to go through!  How hard Staci to go through all that and then they say no. It must have made you feel rejected.  But God is not rejecting you and it sounds like the worship team really liked you and the are trying to follow Gods will and the lead of the Holy Spirit.  Perhaps God allowed this event to root out false pride or to increase more dependence on Him. Whatever the case I believe, I know deep within my soul that He has a plan for you and it is so beautiful and wonderful that you will be blown away.  However He needs you to be supple and bendable to allow Him to lead you. May God continue to bless you in your gifts and know He loves you.  

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Stacie Chambers-Franklin
Stacie Chambers-Franklin

Awwww, Michelle, you just made me cry! Thank you! You know, I was asking the Lord the same thing about pride. It's so common in music ministry, but I know that I tried to be aware of it/prayerful about it. But now that you've said it, I'll continue to pray about it too. Thank you, my friend. 

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Michelle  Muff
Michelle Muff

Read isiah 49: 1-6.  I read it this morning in my meditation and thought of you.

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Stacie Chambers-Franklin
Stacie Chambers-Franklin

I just read it. Beautiful! Perfect! Thank you!

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Dion Todd
Dion Toddedited: June 24, 2017

Sometimes God says no to the short term, so we can be available for His long term plan. Once when young and out of work, a Christian school wanted to hire me to do maintenance as I was a pretty good carpenter at the time. I was all set for working in a Christian environment, but when we prayed about it together, the Lord said: "No." I felt really let down. So did the school. Then I began learning to work on computers and to build websites for a living. Now He pushed me into ministry using those skills that I learned... Thank God He shut the door at the Christian school, or I would have continued being a maintenance man. Welcome the closed door. It is God's painted lines on the highway.

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Stacie Chambers-Franklin
Stacie Chambers-Franklin

You just made me cry too! You know, I thought about you after it happened. I thought about the closed doors that you faced, and how God showed up on the other side of those doors. So that gave me great encouragement. You're so right about the painted lines on the highway! Thank you for always having the right words! 

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Joseph Adams, Jr.
Joseph Adams, Jr.

Let go, let Yah. Take "I" out of the equation. It's not what we do, it what Yahuah does through us.

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Stacie Chambers-Franklin
Stacie Chambers-Franklin

Amen.

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Barbara Jackson
Barbara Jackson

Thank you Pastor. This is great. JESUS, will work it out. Take it to GOD, in prayer. Amen.

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

Amen

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Jose Simo
Jose Simo

Amen.

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Carol Pady
Carol Pady

Amen!

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Mike OBryan
Mike OBryan

whoa Pastor, what a story!! I did a quick check Myself this Morning thinking what have I been doing to get to this point!! Amazing to be Human, having choices!! I realized early on , people close to Me could have a negative effect on Me! You get a group, all of one mind, thought agreements, it could be a diaster!! I know for a fact in My most trying times, it was My connection to a God of My understanding-that made the differance!! A very good lesson on how man is! Thank you!!!

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Linda Clark
Linda Clark

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Christina Ocasio
Christina Ocasio

Amen❤

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Deng Tembreza
Deng Tembreza

In all the seasons of our life, if and when we feel that our LORD GOD has something for us, we must accept HIS will for everything that happens (everything happens for a reason) are all in accordance to HIS will.  I always praise and give thanks to our LORD GOD ALMIGHTY for having me understand all that HE want in my life that needed change.  GOD LOVES US ALL SO MUCH

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Kathy Banfield
Kathy Banfield

One thought that always helps me during a difficult season is: Seasons don't last! Our troubles WILL pass, even if it takes a year, as it did for me.

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen! Pastors prayer, Heavenly Father, speak to me clearly and in a way that I understand about the things in my life that I need to change. I realize that none of us can do everything. Help me Focus my time and energy on what matters to you, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray Amen!!

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer

Amen Lord Jesus. 

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Rose Sicilia
Rose Sicilia

What a message I just came back from my bests friend in life's memorial she had a sudden heart attack my heart was torn and I went and got through it and got home safely ty Jesus anyway I was very mixed up and upset I immediately went to my Gmail because I get alot of devotionals and beautiful Bible versus and the 1st one u always open and you stated from scripture a time to live a time to die seasons change gave me the answer to how I was feeling you never know when your entertaining an angel. Thank you Pastor Dion God Bless Us all..truly rose Sicilia 

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Diane Symborski✝
Diane Symborski✝

Prayer: Heavenly Father speak to me clearly and in a way that I understand about the things in my life that I need to change. I realize that none of us can do everything. Help me focus my time and energy on what matters to You, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen. <3

 

Thank you pastor Dion for this devotion that should mean a lot to all of us. Amen :-)

June 24, 2017
  • 1
Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams

Praise God!  Thanks Pastor Todd!  Very helpful!  Heavenly Father speak to me clearly and in a way that I understand about the things in my life that I need to change. I realize that none of us can do everything. Help me focus my time and energy on what matters to You, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray.  Amen.

June 25, 2017
  • 1
Rosemary Marsh
Rosemary Marsh

Amen.

July 4, 2017