Recent Blog Entries

  • The Day of Small Things from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. As with many of my messages, this was a word for me, but I will share it with you as I found it encouraging. I have been building a new social media website for Refreshing Hope behind the scenes for months. It is a massive undertak...
  • Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place where he was about to come. Then he said to them, "The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send ou...
  • Sep 30
    Posted by Dion Todd
    Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth dea...
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

The Promise Keeper

  • For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:29 WEB

    I know a dad that once bought his son a car because he had taken a turn for the better. Not very long after this, his son got a DUI with the car and the dad took it back and sold it. I don't blame the dad and may have done the same, but often our gifts are more of a bonus or a reward than an actual gift.

    Many times when we give gifts to someone, it is based on their behavior or performance. If we can take it back, then it's not a gift for it was not really theirs to begin with.

    God does not take back His love, His gifts, or His calling of us no matter what we do. It is not based on our performance, or our behavior, though we should try and live right. He did not call us, or give us the gifts in our life because we were good. It is because He is good, and He is faithful to keep His promises.

    I have had a 'calling' on my life since I was young. God told me to 'prepare' myself because I would be in ministry and teach His word. This was over twenty-five years ago when I was in my late teens.

    After years of preparing for ministry, attending Bible college after work, getting a degree, studying, praying, fasting, there was a train wreck right in the middle of it. I went through a long drawn out divorce and it got really ugly, but I knew when I started contemplating ending it all that it was time for change.

    I resolved to just make the best of what was left of my life and forgot about ministry altogether. One day while in prayer this verse came to mind and I heard 'What I have told you, I will do.' I was pretty sure that I had ruined God's plan for me, but I just put it on the shelf and waited to see what would happen.

    In time I was herded into ministry like cattle through a loading chute. Now here I am writing this and looking back through a string of unplanned jobs, it appears that He equipped and trained me for this along the way. Like Joseph, the things that I went through only brought me closer to His goal.

    No matter what you have done in your life, the same gifts, the same calling, the same love, is still there. Don't distance yourself from God because you think that you messed up. When God gives us something, it comes with no strings attached, and He does not take it back. When your life is submitted to Him, the things that you are going through will only bring you closer to His goal.

    Prayer: Father I thank You for all that You do for me. My life has taken unexpected twists and turns, but here I am Lord, ready to serve You as best I can. Take me, use me, speak to me and through me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

    Note: Happy Sunday, everyone! We pray that God blesses you with rest and a fresh encounter with His presence! For those who may be struggling today, we are always available to pray for you through our Prayer Network. Just click on the Prayer link on the site menu to send in a private request. Of course, if privacy is not an issue, you can always post your needs on our homepage as well (you will need to be logged in for either). God bless and thank you all who support us, encourage us and bless us with your presence at RHM!

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

 

Social Sharing

32 comments
  • 2
David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles Amen! Thank you:) Pastor's Prayer: Father I thank You for all that You do for me. My life has taken unexpected twists and turns, but here I am Lord, ready to serve You as best I can. Take me, use me, speak to me and through me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
February 21, 2016
  • 3
Richard Mondello
Richard Mondello I needed to read this,this morning. I thank the Spirit for speaking it through you Pastor Dion. Please Abba God heal the hurt that I still feel inside missing my wife this morning,Amen.
February 21, 2016
  • 1
Mark Duell
Mark Duell Thank you for listening to the call Pastor!
February 21, 2016
  • 2
Penelope Rhome
Penelope Rhome Hallelujah I am listening Father I need you today thank you Father amen
February 21, 2016
  • 2
Mary Williams
Mary Williams Amen Thank you Pastor Dion....
February 21, 2016
  • 2
Linda Cella
Linda Cella Amen. Thank You Pastor for this Beautiful Message. 
February 21, 2016
  • 2
Jeffrey Smith
Jeffrey Smith Amen! Beautiful message. Praise God!
February 21, 2016
  • 2
Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson Amen!!  The blessings we receive from our Father in Heaven are true treasures because he gives out of Love, there are never ever in any strings attached.  Thank you Father for the Love you give all of us.  Amen!! Amen!! Amen!!
February 21, 2016
  • 1
Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt AMEN!
February 21, 2016
  • 2
Joey Smith
Joey Smith Amen, thank Pastor Dion for sharing the inspirational words of the Lord its always a blessing to start the the day with inspiring words from the Lord. Have a Blessed and joyful Sunday.
February 21, 2016
  • 2
Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt I am so glad that God keeps His promices and It does not depend on me. It was Jesus that was the faithful One that shed His blood willingly for me, and God raised Him from the dead so I can live my life for Him. He is the one that gave me gifts to serve Him, but God is the one who does the work through me. I thank God that He loves me so much and gave me to Jesus. I am special to Him and He wants me to let my light shine to the lost, and wait for God to call them.
February 21, 2016
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus Amen Twila
February 21, 2016
  • 2
MP (Mary Pat) Taylor
MP (Mary Pat) Taylor Thank you Pastor Dion for another Word that really fits my life.   :)  
February 21, 2016
  • 2
Matthew  Materazzi
Matthew Materazzi Amen!
February 21, 2016
  • 2
Ann Burks
Ann Burks  Amen Pastor Todd.  We serve an awesome God. 
February 21, 2016
  • 2
Sylvia Schmidt
Sylvia Schmidt Pastor When you wrote: "When your life is submitted to Him, the things that you are going through will only bring you closer to His goal. " It feels like your word is speaking directly into my situation I faced this week about losing the counsellor volunteer work and that maybe it is a part of the journey towards the calling of counselling on my life. A few others have told me they think it happened as a part of my growth and development so what you say lines up with what others have said.  It has been a hard week coping with this situation for me. Thank you pastor. God bless you.
February 21, 2016
  • 1
Dion Todd
Dion Todd Sometimes for something new to come, the old has to pass away. He has yanked the rug out from under me more than once, but always replaced it with a new one.  :)
February 21, 2016
  • 1
Carol Pady
Carol Pady Amen! 
February 21, 2016
  • 1
Karen Pasquinelli
Karen Pasquinelli Amen!!  Thank you Pastor Dion for this inspiration today.  After reading I don't think God is finished with me yet.  I feel there is something he wants me to do but I am not sure what it is.  I pray that God will show me, I am not getting any younger yet I don't feel old in my mind (the body is another story..lol).  
February 21, 2016
  • 1
Kathy Banfield
Kathy Banfield Amen! God has big plans for each and every one of us!
February 21, 2016
  • 1
Madalyn Myers
Madalyn Myers This was a great message. I believe in God's promise and his word and the truth that is in his word. This was a great devotional. Everyone have a blessed day.    
February 21, 2016
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus Amen! Thank you pastor Dion.  Thank you Jesus!!!
February 21, 2016
  • 0
Cheryl Branch
Cheryl Branch God wants us to pray for the wife or husband of our youth. Our first marriage  (neither spouse having a previous living spouse) is a one-flesh, covenant marriage. The only time we can be married to someone else is if our first covenant spouse has died. Then we can marry someone who is a Christian and who doesn’t have a living one-flesh, covenant spouse. If our spouse has abandoned us, abused us, committed adultery, divorced us or anything else, they are still our spouse until death according to the Word of God and we are to pray for them to obey God and then we are to wait on the Lord to restore our marriage for His glory. "Moving on" and "marrying" someone else is not "of faith"! Jesus calls it adultery.  Jesus explicitly defined adultery as marrying a divorced person. In fact, other than saying it begins in the heart from looking with lust / covetousness [Matt. 5:27-31], Jesus is not recorded anywhere in the gospels as defining adultery ANY OTHER WAY: "EVERYONE who marries one who has been put away commits adultery" [Matt. 5:32(b); Matt. 19:9(b)-KJV; Luke 16:18]. Since there are no exceptions for an innocent suitor of somebody else's spouse, there cannot be any biblical exceptions that can possibly apply to anyone they presume to "marry". Furthermore, the tense He used, present-indicative, tells us that it is not merely an act of adultery to marry another while having a living, estranged spouse, but it is the ongoing, continuous state of adultery! Paul made it very clear at least twice that adulterers will not inherit the kingdom of God [1 Cor. 6:9-10 and Gal. 5:19-21]. "Grace" is not a license to sin, but the empowerment to OBEY. Remarriage adultery is one sin that takes travelling companions to hell with you, if not terminated and rectified. That should tell us that God does not recognize man's divorce when it comes to the spouse of our youth. The reason is, that only God joins and only God unjoins that which He has joined [Matt. 19:6; Mark 10:9] - and He doesn't join or covenant with adultery, because He is holy and He remains in covenant with the original spouse [Mal. 2:13-15]. It is therefore not a "repeat sin" to terminate and civilly divorce such an adulterous relationship because it is not a marriage in God's eyes, and never will be. It is the first step of repentance and restored fellowship with God to do so. Listen to the truth about one-flesh, covenant marriage! We shouldn't be so presumptuous as to take the grace of God for granted. Remarriage to any other person while a covenant spouse is still living is adultery and must be repented of. Repentance is more than just feeling sorry for what you've done. It is a change of mind AND a change of life. Admit it and quit it!!! Marriage + Divorce + Remarriage = Adultery! https://youtu.be/k9j154SmLqM
February 21, 2016
  • 1
Allie Ponzo
Allie Ponzo So Cheryl, is this a Rebuke to the Pastor?
February 24, 2016
  • 1
Dion Todd
Dion Toddedited: February 24, 2016 Hi Cheryl, I understand that your husband recently left and you are hurt. You posted this here a while back: Cheryl Branch commented on Dion Todd's blog entry: "I cried so hard while praying until 1:00 a.m. My husband is lavishing another woman with gifts and his time and attention instead of loving the wife of his youth." But your understanding of marriage, and God's forgiveness, has some gaping holes in it. Trying to force them to love you will not work. God loves your husband to, and if you cannot live in peace together, you are better off alone. Also if one of you cheats on the other, as he has, the marriage covenant is now broken and you are free as a bird. As far as my divorce, my only regret was that I did not do it sooner for there would have been less hatred for all involved. If I woke up in the morning still married to them, I would immediately divorce them again. May the Lord help you find your way again, in Jesus name. I have a longer teaching on marriage and divorce on this site. Click "Pastor's Corner > Teachings > Marriage and Divorce." 
February 24, 2016
  • 2
Malissa Birket
Malissa Birket Amen!
February 21, 2016
  • 2
Lissy Verghese
Lissy Verghese Thank you dear Pastor, for the great message!
February 21, 2016
  • 2
Cathy Webb
Cathy Webb This is such an important message to share! Thank you for putting your experience in words to encourage me and others!
February 21, 2016
  • 2
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer Yes Lord Jesus, amen. 
February 22, 2016
  • 2
Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams Amen.  Praise God!  Thanks Pastor Dion!  Lord, Speak to me and through me for Your glory!
February 22, 2016
  • 2
Heide Garner
Heide Garner well do understand this as teenager I wrote poems as Adult when got more serouse with God my writing have changed to more spitual I rember my first year depression and sucide  thoughts hit hard kept press in the word now in prayer and writing the past down prepare for councile at my church for found peace even more by  writing down knoing God knows my heart  he has forgiven my past once had  guilt my daughter like once was I realized that delive want beilive lies so see Jesue love whatever others may thought God moved me  on the otherside world away for Drama of my family so know jesie  true thankyou forvery good message .
February 22, 2016
  • 1
Cheryl Hepler
Cheryl Hepler Great story for God's Glory†
February 24, 2016