Recent Blog Entries

  • 8 hours ago
    Posted by Dion Todd
    Elijah said to her, Don't be afraid; go and do as you have said; but make me of it a little cake first, and bring it forth to me, and afterward make for you and for your son. For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, The jar of meal shall not empty, neither shall the jar of oil fail, until the day th...
  • Tue at 3:01 AM
    Posted by Dion Todd
    In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It's a ghost!" and they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying "Cheer up! I AM! Don't be afraid." Peter answered him and said...
  • May 28
    Posted by Dion Todd
    Anchor of the Soul from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When people lose hope, they lie down and die. They lose the will to live and fight any longer. Hopelessness is utter despair, the belief that nothing good will happen. When you begin to think like this, it will bring a desire to die. A ...
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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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The Plain Brown Wrapper

  • It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth. She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn Luke 2:6 WEB.

    The greatest gift that God ever gave mankind spent His first hours laying in a feeding trough for animals. Mary wrapped the baby Jesus in strips of cloth herself which meant that it was a lonely birth without others to help her. There was no room for them at the inn. It was a picture of poverty, obscurity, and rejection. The greatest event in history went almost unnoticed by those around it.

    God is so secure in Himself that He does not need to impress anyone, and His word makes it clear that the pride of a man makes him blind to all that God has for him. The wisdom of man is foolishness to God (1 Corinthians 3:19). Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will exalt you (James 4:10). God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time (1 Peter 5:6).

    How many times have we missed what God has for us because we felt that it was beneath us. Looking back over my life, God provided me the greatest opportunities wrapped in an humble, plain looking, brown paper wrapping. It looked beneath me, and my flesh wanted to complain and tell the people how important that I really was.

    Once after being laid off from a high paying job (for me), I ended up drawing unemployment and could not find another job anywhere. I searched for work every day, then spent time alone on the Waccamaw river fishing and listening to the Bible. During the last week of my unemployment, I was fishing and I prayed earnestly, 'Lord, I need a job. Anything, just open a door. Just please let me be able to listen to Your word while I work.' Soon after praying this, I caught the biggest bass that I had ever caught in my life. It was on the last cast of my last fishing trip that year.

    When I got home, a temp service had called and said that they had an opening at 'Miracle Finishing' for a brass polisher, and they wanted me to go talk to the manager. The following day, I pulled up in my Toyota Supra wearing a black leather jacket and shades to find that it was a loud, dirty, hole in the wall housed in a hundred year old brick building. All the employees except the manager were temps, addicts, and nearly homeless. They were all living day to day.

    It was extremely hot in August and giant ghetto blasters roared above the already deafening machines in the dimly lit building. Car-sized belt sanders ran with no guards in place and would cut off limbs if you bumped into them. Sometimes the buffing machine would snatch the part away, then fire it back at you and knock you down. People sometimes smoked pot at the machines, and the manager came in hungover everyday of his life. Everyone there was just living for another Friday to come. It was a dirty, dark, hole-in-the-wall and everyone was covered in black buffing compound from the machines. The job paid a third of what my last job had. Everything in my flesh screamed 'There is no way this is God's plan for me!'

    That morning, I walked up to the manager and the first thing that he said was: 'Are you ready to start? Better bring something to listen to as it can get really boring in here.' At that moment the Holy Spirit brought my prayer back to my remembrance and said: 'This is what you asked Me for.' Through clenched lips I told the manager 'Yep.'

    The turnover rate was infinite because most people did not last a week, many even left before their first lunch break. But I knew that it was God's will for me to be there, though it was still hard to keep my pride under control. 'I deserve better than this' was always inviting me to think about it.

    I soon made it into a game of working for God Himself and became a model employee. Bright, shining, and always early, my workspace was the cleanest in the building. I went home each day as black as smut from the buffing compounds. My skin began to take on a greenish tint from the brass dust. My brother would stop by now and then and ask me, 'Dion, what in the world are you doing here?' and I would tell him, 'This is where God wants me at the moment.'

    I fasted as much as I ate, listened to the Bible all day, and prayed in the spirit while just grinding out part after part. I started out running 300 parts a day, but was soon running 7,500. It was a mindless task of repetition, but it allowed me to listen to the Bible all day in my head phones and meditate on scripture while working. I began to love it.

    After several months, one day I suddenly felt oil being poured over my head and spun around thinking that someone was pulling a prank on me, but there was no one there. The Lord had anointed me for something new. That was a turning point in my life, and things began to change around me. I had lost over thirty pounds from the heat, fasting, sweating and hard work.

    When I humbled myself and followed the path that the Lord revealed to me, He raised me up quickly. I went straight to the top and became the manager. After that He pushed me into my own computer business for the next decade, and then into full time ministry using the skills and testimonies that I learned along the way.

    A long time later when God began to shut my computer business down and I was unemployed again, I showed up for a church workday event. The only job left was to scrub all the bathrooms and toilets. No one had chosen to do that one. I sensed that God was setting me up, so I did it wholeheartedly as if I were working for the Lord. I left those bathrooms sparkling clean behind me. About a month after, the Lord put me into full time ministry.

    These were humble doors that one would easily avoid, but it was His path for me. I can honestly say that the humble door hides a great future, and so many will pass it by while waiting for that management position to open that they so deserve. Be watchful and guard your mind. Learn that when the flesh begins to squeal, that God is beginning to move.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father, I seek Your path for me. Let me see through Your eyes and fulfill Your every desire in my life. I yield to You and pray that You guide my every step. I want what You want for me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

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20 comments
  • 1
Debi Burton
Debi Burton Yes, Thank you for all you do for us and all the blessings that you provided. Please keep guiding my children and grandchildren and protect them from any harm..... in Jesus’s name , Amen
October 6, 2018
  • 2
David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I seek Your path for me. Let me see through Your eyes and fulfill Your every desire in my life. I yield to You and pray that You guide my every step. I want what You want for me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Yes please Amen! Thank you

October 6, 2018
  • 2
Pranoti  Kumar
Pranoti Kumar

Amazing testominy Pastor.....

October 6, 2018
  • 2
Celeste Strenn
Celeste Strenn

Amen 

October 6, 2018
  • 2
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

Thank you God for your many blessings. Guide my grandchildren. Help me. Amen. 

October 6, 2018
  • 2
Ted Muilenburg
Ted Muilenburg

Love this vital message- at 76 and some what disabled looking for a place to work in HIS work

October 6, 2018
  • 1
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen!

October 6, 2018
  • 1
Ed Frye
Ed Frye

Amen Lord!!

October 6, 2018
  • 2
Linda Clark
Linda Clark

Every one have a bless weekend  ! Amen for our God is great

October 6, 2018
  • 2
Carol Pady
Carol Pady

Amen Your will not mine

October 6, 2018
  • 2
David  Earlywine
David Earlywine

Amen,God loves you all and so do we.

October 6, 2018
  • 2
Bella Colliander
Bella Colliander

Another wonderful devotional.  Thank you Pastor Dion.  I'm sure through my becoming a believer that I have passed by that door I should've walked through.  Father, forgive me for not doing the things that you had wanted me to.  Open my eyes to see what it is you want of me.  I want to please you.  Be with me every step that I take and keep my path straight.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen

October 6, 2018
  • 1
Kevin J. Eck
Kevin J. Eck

Amen

October 6, 2018
  • 2
Cheryl Hepler
Cheryl Hepleredited: October 6, 2018

 Remember oil poured on me and what an incredible reality.  Dion, how God has molded & shaped you in all these experiences, worked with many who didn't know Christ, put you thru the fire, blessed you in midst in most needy times to have a church called by God titled Refreshing Hope.  Where many are pursuing God lead by one who pursued God blessed by a God who pursued you!  A WOW Ministery which the flame of God may never go out!  Love the Old Testament telling how the people were led by fire at night and cloud by day....all equaling a hot pursuit....WOW!  Isn't God magnificent !!

October 6, 2018
  • 2
Jim Jarrell
Jim Jarrell

Amen! As Christians we sometimes lose sight that God is still in charge. Read the end of the book, if we hold on, we win!

October 6, 2018
  • 2
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

I love your testimony Pastor Dion! I am so thankful that you followed God's plan and for this ministry and all that it has brought to my life, Amen! <3

October 6, 2018
  • 2
Joseph Adams, Jr.
Joseph Adams, Jr.

Amen, Lord keep me humble.

October 6, 2018
  • 2
Jose Simo
Jose Simo

Heavenly Father, thank You for all the blessings I've received from You. Lead me and I will follow Your designs, teach me the way to be as You want me to be.In Jesus name I pray. Amen. 

Pastor,this devotional has touched me. Thank you, I feel the Lord will provide for me.

October 6, 2018
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen!

October 6, 2018
  • 1
Scott Riegelmann
Scott Riegelmann

Amen thanks again for another great devotional God Bless you and all the members of RHM sincerely Scott R.

October 6, 2018