Recent Blog Entries

  • 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 undertak...
  • 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 ou...
  • Sep 30
    Posted by Dion Todd
    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 dea...
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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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Slopping The Hogs

  • 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 15:21 WEB

    Jesus told a story of a young man who could not wait to get his inheritance from his father. When he finally received it, he left home and ran through it immediately by spending the entire inheritance on riotous living and prostitutes. That was certainly not his father's perfect will for him.

    When everything was gone and he became hungry, he tried to find a job, but could not. Finally as a last act of desperation, he got a job feeding pigs for a gentile. Both gentiles and pigs were detestable and unclean for a Jew, so he had sunk as low as a Jewish man could go.

    I grew up on a farm and slopping the hogs was a daily chore. I can tell you that it is a messy place to be and that the aromas from the pig pen are memorable. I can say from experience, that hogs are not clean animals, but they can be very tasty when prepared properly.

    Anyway, this son had now hit rock bottom. For a Jew to be a pig feeder for a despised gentile was as low as he could go in social status. After a while of doing this, scripture tells us that he came to his senses. He realized that he was now broke, hungry, living by slopping the hogs, and that it was a choice that he had made that got him here.

    He remembered that the servants in his Father's house always had plenty to eat, so he decided to return home and become a servant like them. He put together a long speech about how he was no longer worthy to be called a son. But the Father met him on the road and before he could even give the speech, the father in the story was throwing a celebration and making him the guest of honor at it. The Father's heart said: 'You will always be my son.' The son only had to return home for the Father's door was wide open and he was welcome.

    Sometimes we ask God for things and then when we get it, we completely blow it. One of those 'Oh my, that was stupid' moments that we wake up from. God understands and He wants us to return to Him. His door is always open. No matter what you have done, you are welcome at His house. This story was included in the Bible for people like us. When you come to your senses, return home to the Father. It is ok, He understands. You don't have to stay out there with the pigs.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for always having an open door. I choose You today and ask that You help me find my place in Your kingdom. Put me where You want me to be Lord. Open the next door and I will walk through it, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

    Note: Good morning! We will be continuing to the next chapter of our online Bible Study tomorrow morning, but for those who would like to catch up, here is the link to all of the chapters. You are welcome to start any time :)! Bible Study


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18 comments
  • 2
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

Amen

May 5, 2018
  • 2
Gail Sellu
Gail Sellu

Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for always having an open door. I choose You today and ask that You help me find my place in Your kingdom. Put me where You want me to be Lord. Open the next door and I will walk through it, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

May 5, 2018
  • 1
Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson

Amen!!

May 5, 2018
  • 3
Jim Jarrell
Jim Jarrell

Amen! It is amazing how far the Father is will to go!

May 5, 2018
  • 1
Barbara Neahring
Barbara Neahring

Thank you!!

May 5, 2018
  • 1
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen!!!

May 5, 2018
  • 2
David  Earlywine
David Earlywine

Amen,praise you Jesus.Thank you.

May 5, 2018
  • 1
Yvette York
Yvette York

Amen 

May 5, 2018
  • 2
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

Thank You Father, Amen.

May 5, 2018
  • 1
Wanda Pennington
Wanda Pennington

Amen!!

May 5, 2018
  • 2
Linda Clark
Linda Clark

Praise God for his love God bless you all in Jesus name amen 

May 5, 2018
  • 2
Jose Simo
Jose Simo

Heavenly Father You know I'm a sinner and I ask You to cleanse me. Don't let me forget that You are always there for me.In Jesus name I pray. Amen. 

May 5, 2018
  • 2
Rose Sicilia
Rose Sicilia

Truth Amen 

May 5, 2018
  • 1
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer

Amen Lord, amen

May 5, 2018
  • 2
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardle

Amen! Oh what love the Heavenly Father has for us, we, I, will never fully understand and grasp this kind of love! I'm so very very thankful and grateful, that even when I fail Him, He is right there waiting for me! Thank You Father, I praise your holy name!

Thank you Pastor Dion!

May 5, 2018
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen!!

May 6, 2018
  • 2
Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams

Amen.  Praise God!  Thanks Pastor Todd!  "Heavenly Father I thank You for always having an open door. I choose You today and ask that You help me find my place in Your kingdom. Put me where You want me to be Lord. Open the next door and I will walk through it, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray.  Amen.

May 6, 2018
  • 1
Linda Kovacs
Linda Kovacs

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE FILMING OF THE LEFT BEHIND 2 MOVIE :)

May 10, 2018