Recent Blog Entries

  • 58 minutes ago
    Posted by Dion Todd
    Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you." The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not yo...
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    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...
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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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Shakespearean Invocations

  • When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most assuredly, I tell you, they have received their reward. Matthew 6:5 WEB

    It was a hot summer day in the South and I was painting a house for an elderly lady, when she invited me in to have lunch with her. As we sat down at the table, I removed my hat and she said a blessing over the food before we ate. I try to always say a blessing over my food too, but this one I will always remember.

    She folded her hands, her eyes closed, her voice changed, and she began to speak in a 1700s ancient english dialect. She prayed words that I had only read in Shakespeare, or in the King James Bible. I felt as if we were on the Mount of Transfiguration as she became a completely different person right in front of me, uttering long beautiful words that I barely understood. Even her southern accent seemed to take on an old English overtone, and her pronunciation changed. I watched her out of the corner of my eye to see if she would levitate up from her chair.

    After what seemed like several minutes, her prayer ended and she became herself again. I felt like I had just seen something from the movie "The Exorcist" and I clenched my knife a little tighter for the rest of the meal. Really, she was just a southern belle that had learned religion by rote, and she prayed in King James English. You used to see a lot of that here. They thought they sounded 'Holier' but to me it was just 'Scarier'.

    When you pray, be yourself. Do not make God scratch His head and say: 'Well he looks like Dion, but he sounds like Shakespeare? Dion is that you? What happened?' I am sure that God would understand, but He has not heard that dialect in a while.

    Hypocrite means actor, someone impersonating someone else. God made you to be who you are. When you speak to Him, be your everyday self and do not be ashamed to pray because you do not have the fancy words that you have heard others use. They may be faking it in order to impress you.

    You are who He made you to be and He loves you. When you pretend to be 'holier than thou' you are buying into a lie that you are not good enough, that God could not love the 'real' you, when nothing could be further from the truth. God has loved you for your entire life, through the ups and the downs. He understands, and He still loves you.

    God knows who we are inside, sees us run to the bathroom, and watches us in traffic, so don't think that you will flatter Him with some pretty words. God is the Awesome, Omnipresent, Unchangeable, Loving, Merciful, and Patient, Creator of the Universe, and He made you. So be yourself, especially when praying. The superficial is everywhere, while the real thing is rare, and beautiful to behold.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for loving me just as I am. You made me and I am now here before You in prayer. It's me Lord. I just want You to know that I am thinking of You today and that I want more of You in my life, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

    Note: For those interested in capturing or viewing photos of God's creation, here is this week's theme message from Creation Photographers: "Good morning Creation Photographers, thank you all for being a part of our group fun!! Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." This week our fun theme will be 'Let Your Love Light Shine'. When at times the world seems so dark and cold, how do you show God's love? Our themes are open for interpretation as always, so be creative. You are also encouraged to post anything else that inspires you as well! My photos this week reflect my love of Heart blessings. It's how I let my love light shine! By capturing hearts in nature to share them with the world along with the reminder that He is always blessing us daily, we only need to take the time to look! Have a fantastic week everyone, and may God's love shine down on you always!" Here is the link to participate in this group: Creation Photographers group


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22 comments
  • 1
Debi Burton
Debi Burton Amen....... thank you for the daily devotional Dion, and Jehovah ‘s love and blessings ! ❤️
October 30, 2018
  • 2
Barbara Jackson
Barbara Jackson

 It's just me LORD. Amen

October 30, 2018
  • 2
David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles

Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for loving me just as I am. You made me and I am now here before You in prayer. It's me Lord. I just want You to know that I am thinking of You today and that I want more of You in my life, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen Thank you

October 30, 2018
  • 2
Gail Sellu
Gail Sellu

Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for loving me just as I am. You made me and I am now here before You in prayer. It's me Lord. I just want You to know that I am thinking of You today and that I want more of You in my life, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen. Thank you Father.

October 30, 2018
  • 2
Yvette York
Yvette York

Thank you God for loving me Amen 

October 30, 2018
  • 2
Jim Jarrell
Jim Jarrell

Amen! When you finally understand that you can not hide from God, He sets you free!

October 30, 2018
  • 2
Perry Robertson
Perry Robertson

Amen!

October 30, 2018
  • 2
Suzy Romaine
Suzy Romaine

Thank you for loving me,  Lord. Yesterday, today and tomorrow. I love you Lord!

October 30, 2018
  • 1
Michael Hobbs
Michael Hobbs

I have thought about this scripture a lot lately. I don’t want to be the one on the corner. When I’m at church and they give you the opportunity to pray at the  altar, I don’t go for two reasons. One because  The author is  located just in front of where the band is playing and the music is so loud that you really can’t think of what to pray.  But mostly because they are very few that go to the altar and I don’t want to look like I’m holier than everyone else in the church. If that makes sense. Also I feel like God has recently told me to tone it down  on Facebook when it comes to their religious/question things that I posed.  I am in college to get my bachelors degree in the ministry and I often make posts about the war between me and Satan and him fight me all the way to the pulpit. Then later I think about it it is as if I was bragging on myself. So I’m trying to tone it down  when it comes to stuff of that nature. Please keep me in my family in your prayers four we are going through a hard time with my wife’s illnesses and me now been unemployed and looking for a new career. Thank you. 

October 30, 2018
  • 1
David  Earlywine
David Earlywine

God bless you and your family my friend.

October 30, 2018
  • 1
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

Prayers for you and your family, Amen.

October 30, 2018
  • 1
David  Earlywine
David Earlywine

Amen,thank you God for loving and caring for us.We love you.

October 30, 2018
  • 1
Joseph Adams, Jr.
Joseph Adams, Jr.

Amen, I can only be Joseph, with my excess baggage and all. I am just as I am: a patient in a "Spiritual" hospital.

October 30, 2018
  • 1
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen!

October 30, 2018
  • 1
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

Thank you Father, Amen.

October 30, 2018
  • 1
Ed Frye
Ed Frye

Amen!

October 30, 2018
  • 1
Linda Clark
Linda Clark

Praise God for his love  Amen

October 30, 2018
  • 1
Audry Reddy
Audry Reddy

:D Amen!!

October 30, 2018
  • 1
Jose Simo
Jose Simo

Dear Father thank You for Your blessings, help me to be as close to You as You want. Hear my prayers as I talk to You today,in Jesus name I pray. Amen. 

I loved your morning devotional, God bless you.

October 30, 2018
  • 1
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

Love me dear God. Amen. 

October 30, 2018
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen!

October 30, 2018
  • 1
Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams

Amen.  Praise God!  Thanks Pastor Todd!  Heavenly Father I thank You for loving me just as I am. You made me and I am now here before You in prayer. It's me Lord. I just want You to know that I am thinking of You today and that I want more of You in my life, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray.

November 10, 2018