Recent Blog Entries

  • 11 hours 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...
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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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Unanswered Prayers

  • For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says Yahweh. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8'9 WEB.

    There have been many times in life when I worked something out in my mind, planned how it should go, then watched as it went the other way. As a business owner, at times, it was frustrating. I felt that I needed to be in control. Sometimes I became angry because I thought it could have been a good break for us. Like Martha, I would ask Him, "Lord, don't You care?"

    Time and time again, I saw that God had other plans for me. He often kept me from making a bad choice, though it looked good at the time. The Lord could see further down the road than I could. So thank God for those unanswered prayers.

    He was often busy preparing me for the next stage of my journey and His next project. While I was working hard on "My plans," He was busy steering me to where I needed to be next. His plans sometimes involved being laid off, mistreated, and offended. At least that was my perception. In reality, it was mostly my pride that got hurt, and fairly often. God will discipline His children (Hebrews 12:7).

    If my prayers had been answered, I wouldn't be a pastor or writing this. For we prayed, and we fasted, and we gave, and we begged God to bless our computer business, but He had bigger plans and could see further down the road than we could. He had prepared us to work for Him in the ministry, and when the time came, He squeezed us out of the old so that we would accept the new. I am happy to be here now, and it is better than I ever thought possible, but His thoughts were well beyond my thoughts at the time. I didn't care for the squeezing either.

    Disappointment often comes when our plans don't line up with His plans. We struggle and strive to make a business work only to find that He is trying to move us into something better. We kick and fight and scream to hold onto the past when He is trying to gently pull it away so that He can get us to take the next step. It's like holding on to a bad tooth. God is always preparing you for the next stage of your life. What you are doing now is preparing you for what is coming. He will make it all worth it, and one day when looking back, it will make sense.

    I am writing this to those that have submitted their lives to God as the Bible teaches us because that is who the promises are for. "In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:6). "Delight yourself in the Lord, And He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalms 37:4). "You shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). "If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land" (Isaiah 1:19).

    These verses state, "If you do this," then "this will happen." Jesus, Himself said, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). Our obedience is what makes Him our Lord and activates the promises of God in our life. Who shall eat the good of the land? The willing and obedient. Who will have the desires of their heart? Those who delight themselves in the Lord.

    I have spent years of my life that were not submitted to God, and He let me roam like a wild weed, doing whatever I chose and reaping the consequences. My progress in life stalled, and years were lost. The Father didn't stop the prodigal son from leaving His house (Luke 15:13), nor will the Lord stop you when you fully understand what you are doing and choose to do it anyway. Yet, when the party is over, we are always welcome to come home to Him.

    When I began to intentionally seek God daily, tried to live right, lay on the carpet, and pour out my heart to Him, things changed in my life. Does the way we live affect the blessing of God in our lives? Absolutely. "Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap" (Galatians 6:7).

    Submit yourselves to God, and He will make your life worth living. He can fill the empty places. He can turn poverty into an abundance. He can surround the lonely with friends. He levels the playing field and brings the lowly up and the arrogant down. His ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts, but if we spend time with Him in prayer, He will share His thoughts with us. When our desires finally line up with His, great things will happen in us, to us, and through us.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father, I submit my life to You. Use me as You will and put me where I need to be. Please share Your thoughts and plans with me so that I can be in tune with You. May Your will be done on earth, and in my life, as it is in heaven. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

    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


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22 comments
  • 1
Debi Burton
Debi Burton Heavenly Father, I submit my life to You. Use me as You will and put me where I need to be. Please share Your thoughts and plans with me so that I can be in tune with You. May Your will be done on earth, and in my life, as it is in heaven. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
April 9, 2022
  • 1
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer

Yes, amen Lord Jesus, amen.

April 9, 2022
  • 1
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen

April 9, 2022
  • 1
Dana Rozell
Dana Rozell

Amen.

April 9, 2022
  • 1
Candy Laventure
Candy Laventure

Yes, Lord, I give you praise and glory. Amen!

April 9, 2022
  • 1
Patricia Walker
Patricia Walkeredited: April 9, 2022

AMEN.  Heavenly Father,  Thank You for guiding me on this journey.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Amen

April 9, 2022
  • 1
Brenda F
Brenda F

Amen!!

April 9, 2022
  • 1
Richard Mondello
Richard Mondello

I say it again. God knows,God knows, God knows! This ties together a conversation my wife and I had yesterday. God is great!

April 9, 2022
  • 1
Scott Riegelmann
Scott Riegelmann

Amen

April 9, 2022
  • 1
Celeste Strenn
Celeste Strenn

Amen 

April 9, 2022
  • 1
Cathy Webb
Cathy Webb

Pastor Dion, this is an encouraging message, yet it is challenging to not bring our worldly understanding to the words. In my experience healing doesn't always come; money for necessities isn't always provided; supportive relationships aren't always developed. Pain, death, financial ruin ... these experiences come upon faithful followers. God's thoughts. God's ways. I hold on to the hope of His promises that may not be experienced in this world. May Your will be done on earth and in my life, Lord. Help my understanding and deepen my faith in Your ways. Thank you. Amen

April 9, 2022
  • 1
Yvette York
Yvette York

Amen Good Morning Everyone 

April 9, 2022
  • 1
Wanda Pennington
Wanda Pennington

Yes Lord,  Amen 

April 9, 2022
  • 1
David Krull
David Krull

Yes Lord... 

April 9, 2022
  • 1
David  Earlywine
David Earlywine

Heavenly Father,your will shall be done. Amen 

April 9, 2022
  • 1
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

Your will be done in my life! Amen. Another devotional that seems like it was written just for me today, thank you Pastor Dion :)

April 9, 2022
  • 1
Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson

Amen!! Alleluia!! Amen!!

April 9, 2022
  • 1
Paul Boore
Paul Boore

Heavenly Father, I submit my life to You. Use me as You will and put me where I need to be. Please share Your thoughts and plans with me so that I can be in tune with You. May Your will be done on earth, and in my life, as it is in heaven. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

April 9, 2022
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardle

Amen and Amen!! Thank you for this much needed devotion today, Pastor!! I'm still a work in progress, my pride was hurt on Thursday, when I was so dwelling on my accomplishments, so I needed to be humbled by the Lord, realizing that He can only use me when I'm humble!!! I'm so glad that I'm His child and I can call Him my Father!!! Praise His Holy Name (h5)

April 9, 2022
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen! 

April 9, 2022
  • 1
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

Help us always God Amen 

April 9, 2022
  • 1
David Fabillaran
David Fabillaran

Amen Lord Jesus!

April 9, 2022