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  • The Blessing of Abraham from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. God knows how to help people who are going through a hard time, for He is a delivering God. Even when our own actions have landed us there, He can bring us back from the brink of destruction. He always tells the enemy, "Let My peop...
  • Mar 17
    Posted by Dion Todd
    Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren't tempted. Galatians 6:1 WEB.We all make mistakes. Not one of us on Earth has lived a perfect life except Jesus. Yet we tend to compare ...
  • Mar 16
    Posted by Dion Todd
    Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10 WEB.The Apostle Paul learned to be content in whatever situation that he found himself. He saw beyond his physical circum...
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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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  • Elijah said to him, Elisha, please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho. He said, As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they came to Jericho. 2 Kings 2:4 WEB

    Elisha had worked serving the prophet Elijah for several years when he suddenly asked him to stay behind. Elisha said no, and he kept following him. Three times in a row Elijah asked him to stay behind somewhere, but Elisha refused to stay.

    Elisha would not take no for an answer, he inherited a double portion anointing, and he lived the life of miracles that we read about today in our bible. There were many other Prophets too, fifty at Jericho alone. These all stayed behind and missed the anointing that Elisha received. If Elisha would have listened to those over him and stayed behind, like they asked him, he would missed the best part of his life.

    There was a time in my life, when after serving faithfully at a church for years, God told us to move on. We were praying and fasting a lot, and my spirit had become restless and hungry for more. When word got out, we were told by the ones over us to wait. As I looked around us, I could see that we were not the first, for there were people twice my age still waiting for their ministry to begin.

    The leaders meant well, and we received the usual one-on-one sermons about faithfulness, dedication, and rewards for those who wait, but God was telling us to do something else, and they could not see it. We tried to stay longer, but it became very messy and the anointing on our lives dried completely up. It would have been better for everyone if we had obeyed God and left gracefully when He had first told us to. Instead, we tried it their way, and we found that there is no drama, like church drama.

    After taking a year off to heal from church abuse, God plugged us in somewhere else, and the Spirit began to flow in our lives once again. At the new church, we got drafted into the technical team and we learned many new things that we use at Refreshing Hope Ministries today. God simply wanted to teach us skills that we would need later in ministry, but the previous church leadership could not see that. All they could see at the time was that they were losing the computer guy, and if we had stayed there, we would probably not be in ministry today.

    There will be times when you will have to choose between obeying God, or obeying man. When you choose to obey man instead, you will stall in your journey. This choice may involve making a very difficult decision, you have to be prayerfully careful, and some people may not like it. Yet sometimes when God calls you to do something, He only tells you about it. Be sure to keep yourself humble during this time with fasting and prayer, because pride will blind you. Sometimes to follow God, you cannot accept 'Wait Here' as the answer.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father please give me a clear vision and put me where You want me to be. Speak to me in a clear, unmistakable way that I can understand. Give me grace to live this life and help me make the right decisions, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

    Note: Ladies, today is Thankful Thursday at the "Ladies in Distress" group (our RHM women's group)! You are welcome to join in our weekly sharing of thankfulness for the Lord's presences and any blessings you may have experienced, big or small! "Ladies in Distress" is a private group, so if you have any problems joining, just post anywhere and we will help you :). Here is the link: Ladies in Distress


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32 comments
  • 1
Barbara Jackson
Barbara Jackson

Amen!

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer

Yes Lord, amen

January 17, 2019
  • 2
John Smith
John Smith

Church abuse.  Yeah, Paul dealt with false brothers and impostors and preachers for profit.  2,000 years later it’s still the same.  Hard to believe it began so early.  Sheep trying to pastor shepherds isn’t uncommon either.  And wolves in sheep’s clothing.  There are demonized people calling themselves Christians, not seeking deliverance, but seeking to instruct others. I’m being targeted now by 2 old men.  They claim to be Christians and then try to dispute my belief with claims contrary to Christ’s commands.  Online church is so much safer.  Then go out and treat people the way Jesus taught to treat people.  Be gentle as dove and shrewd as serpent. Trust no one, even if - especially if - they claim to be Christians.  By their fruits you will know them.

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Jim Jarrell
Jim Jarrell

Sometimes John, you have to look and make sure apples are growing on apple trees! 

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

Actions speak louder than words.

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Jim Jarrell
Jim Jarrell

Amen! Sometimes, God speaks very slowly, maybe we just have a hard time understanding. He has to slow down and let us catch up! Thank You Lord!

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Yvette York
Yvette York

Amen please God help me to make the right decision everyday 

January 17, 2019
  • 1
David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles

Prayer: Heavenly Father please give me a clear vision and put me where You want me to be. Speak to me in a clear, unmistakable way that I can understand. Give me grace to live this life and help me make the right decisions, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Yes please!! Amen ~ Thank you

January 17, 2019
  • 2
Roseanne Braverman
Roseanne Braverman

I find it so hard to change course and discern if this is right or not.  Thank you for a timely prayer and teaching.

January 17, 2019
  • 2
Theresa Bright
Theresa Bright

Thank you for this message Pastor.

January 17, 2019
  • 2
Glyn Taylor
Glyn Taylor


Psalms 118:8 - [It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

 

It is hard sometimes to do what we hear God whispering to us, when other voices are yelling.  So glad you listened and that it has worked out.  I stumbled on to RHM (his design I am sure) and love reading the devotionals every day.  I forward them to friends and family often. 

Thank you for sharing your life stories and being encouragement to so many others. 

To God be the Glory! 

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen!

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Ed Frye
Ed Frye

Father God, please give me a clear vision and put me where You want me to be. Speak to me in a clear, unmistakable way that I can understand.In Jesus name, Amen! Thank you Lord for your many blessings! Open my mind and my heart that I might receive them all.

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Jose Simo
Jose Simo

Heavenly Father whisper You word in a way I can understand, lead me and I will follow Your designs. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. Glory be to God. 

God bless you Pastor. 

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

Help me Father to make the right decisions to fulfill Your will for my life, Amen. Thank you Pastor Dion for this message.

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Cathy Webb
Cathy Webb

Thank you, Pastor Dion, for sharing your wisdom. Lord, Give me grace to live this life and help me make the right decisions.

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Carol Pady
Carol Pady

Amen!

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Wanda Pennington
Wanda Pennington

Amen

January 17, 2019
  • 1
David  Earlywine
David Earlywine

Show us the way for your Glory.We love and worship you.Thank you Jesus. Amen 

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

Stay with us and guide us Father. Amen. 

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen !

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Madalyn Myers
Madalyn Myers

16 years ago when I was in cosmetology school I had a administrator that treated me very badly. I was in and out of her office for two weeks trying to sign paperwork to finish school early. She never once seen me do hair and she told me that my work in hair was not good enough to leave school. For a week I cried and prayed because every time I entered her office she would treat me badly. One of my Instructors told me that I should try and graduate with the program that had less hours. I did not have gas money to make it to school. My aunt advised me to call the corporate office in regards to my situation. Other students call to complain about how she treated them as well. The Corporate office came to the school and they found out that she was stealing money from the school. She was fired and three other workers were fired. After being out of school for a week I was called to the school to pick up my certificate. I was so happy. God had helped me get my cosmetology diploma. I took the exam and I passed both test exams. I have been licensed to be a cosmetologist since 2004. I am still licensed today. I was the only student in my class that my instructor told to finish an early program. 

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Joseph Adams, Jr.
Joseph Adams, Jr.

Amen

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardle

Amen! Thank you for speaking the truth, your testimonies and not holding back, Pastor Dion!!!

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Sandra Colby
Sandra Colby

AMEN

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Dan Strilzuk
Dan Strilzuk

Pastor Dion, your messages are timely and speak to me often.

I had a meeting today with a couple church leaders from a local Baptist church. Long story short, My wife and I were married on a missions trip to Malawi, Africa (3rd poorest country in the world) in 2014. We have been returning every year since, facilitating various projects including a church build in a small secluded village very susceptible to black magic and witchcraft, and then came a meal program feeding 42 children, now turning into a preschool with free tuition and meals for 122 children ages 2-5.

I reached out to our local churches as the "the body of Christ" sharing our story and asking for support with travel expenses this spring, our monthly contribution only supports the teachers salaries + rent + meals. I want to return to visit the children, encourage the church and build nest boxes for the chicken farm we started that will soon sustain the preschool through egg sales.

They had some great wisdom for me but it was soon clear to see that ultimately their purpose for meeting me was to tell me that any ministry that does not grow out of a local church is not biblical and that I need to plug into a local church, re-evaluate our ministry there, and consider stopping it. I completely agree that a church family is critical for development in our walk and we are plugged into a local non-denominational church, but i strongly disagree that what we started was in vain because it didn't come from a literal church organization. We (Jesus Followers) are the church:) And God established a light in the darkness, people are coming to Christ there. 

Thank you again for your ministry Pastor Dion!

January 17, 2019
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Dan, we have certainly seen that attitude ourselves! Praying for wisdom, divine connections, provision and protection for you, your family, and your ministry, brother <3!

January 18, 2019
  • 1
Dan Strilzuk
Dan Strilzuk

Thank you Sylvia! Your comment and prayers mean more than you know. 

January 18, 2019
  • 1
Dion Todd
Dion Todd

Dan, we have seen the same attitude. For some reason there are those in the church that never miss an opportunity to tell you that you are wrong and discourage you a little bit lol. In acts 8:5, the church was scattered, Philip went down to Samaria and a revival started. Philip was not an Apostle and he was on the run, but he became an evangelist and ministered everywhere he went. It is the Holy Spirit that gives out spiritual gifts to the people as He pleases. It is the Holy Spirit that we have to work with while on earth. He has the vision, He has the plan, and the assignment for your life, that others will probably never understand. The church that you visited probably got started because someone once stopped going to another church, and someone else was probably telling them it was wrong. Even when we started Refreshing Hope, there were people telling us to stay where we were then. Those that will overcome have to discern the Lord's voice and push past these barriers. May the Lord give you a clear vision and help you focus on the right things, in Jesus name.

January 19, 2019
  • 1
Dan Strilzuk
Dan Strilzuk

The Holy Spirit was working at the end of our lunch meeting holding my tounge when the senior pastor was laughing while he was praying for me.  

Thank you Dion! Your ministry has been a blessing!

January 21, 2019
  • 1
Pranoti  Kumar
Pranoti Kumar

Amen....

January 18, 2019
  • 1
Cheryl Hepler
Cheryl Hepler

Good lesson

February 1, 2019