Recent Blog Entries

  • 1 hour ago
    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...
View All
  • 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!
View All

Free Bird

  • He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him. The scribes and the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, 'Why is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?' When Jesus heard it, he said to them, 'Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.' Mark 2:15'17 WEB

    I have played bass guitar now for over thirty years. There were some years where I played music for a living and performed around eight shows a week. Then for the next fifteen years, I played in clubs, county fairs, contests, weddings, and parties as a side job. A weekend warrior.

    I originally started out playing guitar, but when some of us got together to play in a garage band, there were five guitar players and a drummer. At the time, it seemed that everyone wanted to play a guitar, and they were all better than me, so I switched to playing bass. It became an obsession, and I often played eight hours a day. To me, a good bass line became the driving force behind the band, the heart beat, I could feel the chord change coming and walk up to meet it. Soon groups began to seek me out, and I shuffled three bands at a time.

    After getting serious with God, I began praying about quitting the bands and bars but I felt that I heard 'No.' It was a difficult time in my life, especially on Saturday. I would work a 12 hour shift at work, from 7AM to 7PM, then play music from 10PM till 2AM sometimes an hour away, pack up a trailer full of equipment, then drive home. Sometimes when I would get home, the sun would be coming up. Later when I was able to attend church, I played bass in the praise and worship team. We practiced at 8AM, so some Sunday mornings, I would just get a shower and go straight onto church red eyed and weary after being up all night.

    I began attending bible college a few nights a week, and my mind kept telling me that it could not be God's will for me to continue playing in bars. Yet each time that I prayed about quitting, the Lord would say 'No.' I thought maybe I was just hearing Him wrong, so I came up with a way to ask my pastor, who heard from God far better than I did, but without tainting the answer.

    If you ask any pastor 'Should I be playing music in bars?' most are going to immediately tell you no, but I didn't want his opinion, I wanted a confirmation from the Lord. So I prayed first and told the Lord my question in secret: 'Should I leave the band?' I firmly decided that if the pastor tells me yes then I am leaving this band, if he tells me no, then I am going to stay.

    Then I asked my pastor, 'Pastor, I have a question and need to make a decision, Yes or No?' He liked these kind of questions because it did not complicate things. He prayed for a moment and said 'No, not at this time.' I had my confirmation, so I continued playing the bar circuit, though I did not understand any of it. I always felt funny when I was on stage in a bar playing music and someone from the church would walk in. The look on their face was priceless when they saw me. I don't know if it was the shock of them seeing me, or knowing that I saw them.

    There was a guitar player in our band, one of the best that I have ever played with. He played with such feeling and would close his eyes, then go into a lead that would give you shivers. He was in his forties and had never been saved, or into church. His parents were Christians, as well as his wife, but he had no interest in their religion whatsoever. He was completely closed off to their witnessing, and their words seemed to have no effect on him. I guess that he had heard it all of his life and became hardened to it. As far as I know, he had never been to church as an adult.

    I was attending bible college at night, working everyday, and playing music on the weekends. Sometimes at practice, I would mention something that the Lord had done for me during the week. At the time, I fasted a lot and He was really active in my life, but I was not preachy. I was just a fellow musician, one of band, the bass player.

    One Saturday night, we were on stage in a bar playing music, when I felt the Holy Spirit descend on me like a warm blanket. It was unmistakable, and I have rarely felt His presence that strong. I think that we were in the middle of Skynerd's Free Bird, and the Holy Spirit was the last Person that I expected to show up. I recognized His presence immediately and asked 'Lord, what are YOU doing here?' Then scriptures started coming to me, and the guitar player seemed to illuminate and caught my attention. It is a bit hard to explain, but I knew that these scriptures were for him.

    I thought this over a moment and told the Lord: 'Break time is coming up and the band will go to the bar for a drink. I will go out, sit in my car and read my Bible. If you want me to tell him these scriptures, then send him out to my car.' Now it is a time honored tradition for the band to huddle at the bar during a break, so if he came outside, it would be abnormal.

    When break time came, the band went to the bar, and I went to my car. I opened my Bible to the scripture that the Holy Spirit had given me and read over it. In a few moments there was a tap on the window, it was the guitar player. I got out of the car, and he began to ask me questions that he had about God, and I already had my Bible opened to his answer. So in the early morning, I stood out in the parking lot of a bar and shared an inspired word with him from the Lord. As I read the scriptures, he began trembling under conviction, and it continued on until I saw him again that Wednesday night at practice.

    When I showed up for practice, he was there waiting for me. I had never seen anyone under that much conviction before. He was trembling all over with tears in his eyes. He told me that he had been that way since Saturday night, he couldn't sleep, he couldn't eat, and he couldn't stop shaking. He walked up to me and said 'Dion, I want what you have. Pray for my soul.' So we knelt down together in the practice shed, and I led him through a simple prayer. He came up with a smile beaming from ear to ear, and his heavy burden was gone. He stopped shaking. He was now as free as a bird. Then the Lord released me from the band. He had kept me there to reach that one lost sheep.

    Remember the Lord's desire to save the lost and don't become so religious that He can no longer use you. Follow His direction and don't get out in front of Him. 'What would Jesus do' is often much different than what our natural mind would think. Every person out there is so important to God, and He is so concerned with reaching the lost that He will put you anywhere they are. We do not have to understand why. We just need to trust that He knows best and follow Him one day at a time, even when we do not understand where He is leading us. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. When you work with Him, don't be surprised if you see them gathering around you.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father I want more of You in my life. I want to live the real thing and not just talk. Please fill me with Your presence to overflowing. Deliver me from the things that hold me back. Set me free from the burdens that I carry and use me to reach others, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

    Note: 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.' (Philippians 4:6-7) ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network


    > You can subscribe to our daily devotional here <



Tip: You must be logged into the website to leave comments.

 

Social Sharing

20 comments
  • 1
Marilyn Salter
Marilyn Salter I believe all that you said in your post Pastor Dion. I have had that experience of being able to share God’s love with others. I always pray that I am ready when the Holy Spirit calls on me again to do it. Thank you for such a great message today.
June 18, 2020
  • 2
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen Father

June 17, 2020
  • 2
Linda Clark
Linda Clark

Amen 

June 17, 2020
  • 2
Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson

Amen!!

 

June 17, 2020
  • 2
Brenda F
Brenda F

Amen

June 17, 2020
  • 2
Patricia Walker
Patricia Walker

Amen.  Thank you Pastor Dion for your testimony. I received such a message from the Lord to give to my nephew. He called me just last week. I have not spoken to him in 11 years.  I continue to pray for him. Amen

June 17, 2020
  • 2
Scott Riegelmann
Scott Riegelmann

Amen thank you pastor Dion for another great devotional

June 17, 2020
  • 2
David  Earlywine
David Earlywine

Thank you Pastor Dion for you and Sylvia being in our lives.Wonderfull testimony to Gods love for us all. God bless you all. Amen 

June 17, 2020
  • 2
Yvette York
Yvette York

Amen

June 17, 2020
  • 2
Wanda Pennington
Wanda Penningtonedited: June 17, 2020

Awesome lesson today.  Holy Spirit please show me what you want me to do for others. My lost family members. Help me to be a witness to them. Amen

June 17, 2020
  • 2
Yada (Wendy)
Yada (Wendy)edited: June 17, 2020

Thank you Father for your Son, your lasting love and enduring mercy & faithfulness ♡ 

 

Bible fun fact: 1 Timothy 3.10-12 ♡

June 17, 2020
  • 3
Jose Simo
Jose Simo

Heavenly Father I thank Your loving care but I need more of You in my life,teach and lead me to where You want me to be and do. That You deliver me from those things that are holding me back, I pray this in the name of Your Son Jesus,Amen. Praise be to Your Holy name. 

Awesome devotional testimony Pastor, God bless you and Sylvia. 

June 17, 2020
  • 2
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

God lift some of this load from me. As you always have please Help me always have enough. Praise God hallelujah Amen  

June 17, 2020
  • 1
Richard Mondello
Richard Mondello

Prayed for you and your family Mari.  May God bless all of you. 

June 17, 2020
  • 1
Richard Mondello
Richard Mondello

In Jesus name Amen.  Lord Yehoshua help me to be a consistent authentic follower of You. In Your righteous name I ask You, Amen. 

June 17, 2020
  • 2
Kathleen Rock
Kathleen Rock

Pastor Dion, 

I thank God for your messages. The Lord's wisdom always shines through your words. Today my eyes have been opened to a different view of the men in my life. I am single and attract men who believe in God, but don't act like they know him intimately. I viewed these fellows as romantic interests, but don't feel drawn to encourage the romance.

Today, reading your message, it dawned on me why these men have been placed in my life. They may be the lost sheep God wants brought back into His fold. My heart is on fire for their salvation. I pray I may be worthy of God's trust to draw them back to Himself. 

Thanking God, and you, for your obedience to minister in your special ways.

June 17, 2020
  • 2
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer

Yes Lord Jesus, amen

June 17, 2020
  • 2
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

Please give me the right words to draw people to You, Amen.

June 17, 2020
  • 2
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardle

Amen and Amen!!! Praise the Lord, He works in mysterious ways!!! O Lord, my God, I'm Your's, please use me after Thy holy will and direct me, guide me, lead and teach me by Thy Hl. Spirit, in the name of all names, in the name of Jesus Christ, I ask and pray, Amen!!!

June 17, 2020
  • 2
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen!

June 17, 2020