Recent Blog Entries

  • 13 hours ago
    Posted by Dion Todd
    Then Mordecai asked them to return this answer to Esther: "Don't think to yourself that you will escape in the king's house any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Who...
  • Wed at 3:01 AM
    Posted by Dion Todd
    In the same hour, the fingers of a man's hand came out and wrote near the lamp stand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace. The king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king's face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and ...
  • Tue at 3:01 AM
    Posted by Dion Todd
    One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!" But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Don't you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this ma...
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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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Customer Service

  • We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 WEB

    It was time to get a better internet package for the ministry, so we went to the service provider's office, signed in and sat down, but no one called us. I looked at the clock as they called the next person, and even though we had signed in before them, they were now going in ahead of us.

    It was annoying to be skipped over as we waited for customer service and after this happened a couple of times, I was ready to do some professional level whining and complaining. For some reason they had skipped over us and continued down the sign in sheet. I felt cheated.

    Eventually, one of the upper management came to help them catch up with the queue, called us in and waited on us personally. I was surprised because I had gone to school with her and we had been friends long ago.

    Someone else had already told us that the top speed business package would cost us around $300 a month, so we were going to get something more in the middle. However, my friend who was helping us said that they were allowed to give a ministry the residential rate of $99 for the top tier and still have all the same service and benefits.

    They saved us from making a mistake, gave us a much better package, and saved us a good bit of money at the same time, about a third of what we would have paid. It turns out that it could not have worked out better.

    Have you ever been inconvenienced only to find out that it worked out for the best? There are people that met their spouse while waiting in a slow line at the grocery store. Had they not been stuck waiting in the line they would have walked right past each other.

    Know today that the delays, setbacks, and disappointments that you face will end up working out for your own good. The things that look bad, scary, and the things that make you nervous, will work out for the best in the end. When God makes you wait, He always has something better in store.

    Prayer: Father, thank You for this wonderful day. I am thankful to be here, right where I am, and I know that You have good plans for me. I choose to delight in You today and I know that the bad things are going to work out for good, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

    Note: Good morning! The highlighted group of the week is "Real Support for Military Families": This group is a place to receive and offer encouragement and prayer for members of the military and their families. We recognize that the families of those who serve in particular have daily burdens that often go unnoticed. If you would like to be part of this community, either as part of a military family, or just someone who would like to pray for them, please do join them! You can find them and any of the other groups on the 'Groups' link on the site menu.


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Social Sharing

48 comments
  • 2
Joey Smith
Joey Smith Amen, thank you Pastor Dion for sharing the inspiring words of the Lord it's always a blessing to start the day with words from our Lord Savioir.
February 23, 2016
  • 3
Janet Clary
Janet Clary Wow... a great devotion Pastor Dion!   This speaks to all of us concerning trust, patience and rewards in our trust with the Lord.  I believe that patience is the toughest emotion we learn to deal with and in situations such as this, we never find the patience we need to wait.  At times in my life when I had to exercise patience and trust in the lord, I usually actd like a brat (yep, I do that once in a while) and "share" my level of disappointment.  When all is said and done, I have to bow beore the Lord and ask forgiveness for being a brat. Your devotion teaches and shares with us that good things come to us in Gods timing, not when we think it should.  I believe that its important for me to begin to realize that the best of all gifts from the Lord come when He knows we need it most.  Thank you Pastor Dion for todays spoken love of the devotion of patience.   Hugs, Janet
February 23, 2016
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David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles Amen Janet <3 Love and hugs
February 23, 2016
  • 3
David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles Amen! Thank you I needed this reminder today :) Looking through the storm for brighter days and lessons to glean from heartbreak and disappointment. I know things will work out and bigger better blessings are coming! I am praying some of those blessings come in the  form of healing hurts and hearts for people I love...and financial blessings as well ;) Thank you Pastor, today I see a little more hope on the horizon do to your kind and encouraging words here. Pastor's Prayer: Father, thank You for this wonderful day. I am thankful to be here, right where I am, and I know that You have good plans for me. I choose to delight in You today and I know that the bad things are going to work out for good, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.  
February 23, 2016
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Penelope Rhome
Penelope Rhome Hallelujah amen
February 23, 2016
  • 3
Pastor Marty Pena
Pastor Marty Pena Pastor Todd, Great message! We have the favor of God at all times if we only learn to wait on Him. Many Christians today are defeated because they are not declaring God's favor or declaring it. God's favor surrounds us like a shield the Word of God says. Let us thank God as much as we can daily for His favor. He never brought us into this life to lack in any way, but to lavish us with His favor. Waiting on God is such a setback for many Christians and sad to say, sometimes they abort their own plans from God for not waiting on Him and running ahead of Him, or taking measures on their own without waiting on God. Let us thank God constantly for His favor as we may miss what He has for us. The message you shared today was the favor of God. When we live favor minded, God will cause you to live in favor. Christians limit God. Psalms 5:12 KJV For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. The creator of the universe created everyone with favor on them. Let us learn to live with a favor mindset and thank God for His goodness and mercy at all time. Attitude, faith, and patience with God makes a big differene in our lives.  Psalm KJV Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Everyday you are wearing God's favor and goodness. Not because of who you are but of WHO'S you are. Declare favor over your life today, and you will see an abundance of favor in every area, even against the enemy. Thank you Lord, for your favor, your mercy, and your amazing grace. Pst. Marty Pena    
February 23, 2016
  • 2
Dorene Glaze
Dorene Glaze Amen! This is so true
February 23, 2016
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Sylvia Schmidt
Sylvia Schmidt Thank you. I pray I can learn one day how what happened to me last week was for my good too. I might never know until I get to heaven, but I just try to focus on who God is rather on why he does what he does when I don't understand. Chasing the why can make a person crazy otherwise when we need to trust him so we can move on.
February 23, 2016
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd That's for sure, Sylvia, worrying about why doesn't help at all. Just stay close to Him and He will lead you to your best possible destiny!
February 23, 2016
  • 1
Sylvia Schmidt
Sylvia Schmidt Yes I am learning that lately. Just because I try and follow his will does not mean I will have less heartache when things don't turn out the way I thought they would. I realized that I know very little about what God's plan is for my life. Letting God be God seems the safe bet for me.
February 23, 2016
  • 2
Linda Cella
Linda Cella Amen. Thank you Pastor Dion. It is so wonderful to start my day with these beautiful Devotionals. God Bless You. 
February 23, 2016
  • 2
Heide Garner
Heide Garner I rember after got married had dreams doing something with my life so thought took child Devomentlal class only ending struggle drop then sitution would happen where my siterlaw would have her children taken and put fostercare well they ask the young couple who had only been married short time would be willing to take on raise thes boys well went serouse depression god How come seemsjust when thought happense after takong care my necies I was well finally my turn no God want take on this did,mt seem fair and then found out we were expecting with first just great well when  boys went back and and had three got pregant you know mops group they threw great baby shower now this girl had nursery come true for her third baby girl God knows we scarfice time someone wants love us I reaaly was shock and God for those great friends thought wow  you gave me this took baby rus  for regerst anf got babysitter for your own so have  peace quite no kids I love it  but what happen if said no and not got married and those boys were taken and stsyed fostercare and were not taken church for year half they were encoraged about jesue taken someone where every saturday so thankyou God ask me what probley would have said no if only knew his plans.  
February 23, 2016
  • 2
Norman Glaze Sr
Norman Glaze Sr Amen.
February 23, 2016
  • 2
K K
K K Amen!
February 23, 2016
  • 3
Carol Pady
Carol Pady Amen sometimes interruptions can be divine appointments. We just need to allow them to happen to find out.
February 23, 2016
  • 2
Sylvia Schmidt
Sylvia Schmidt Patience helps to see it that way. You must have lots of patience Carol. Good for you. 
February 23, 2016
  • 1
Carol Pady
Carol Pady I have learned patience the hard way Sylvia . Now I hear His small still voice much clearer.
February 24, 2016
  • 1
Sylvia Schmidt
Sylvia Schmidt I am still working on hearing his still small voice. I need to remove more distractions in my life so I can hear him too.
February 24, 2016
  • 2
Karen Pasquinelli
Karen Pasquinelli Amen!
February 23, 2016
  • 2
Deborah Alexander
Deborah Alexander TYL for this word I so needed to hear
February 23, 2016
  • 2
Tyler Velau
Tyler Velau Patience is a difficult thing for some of us to learn. Especially if we come from a family with a history of impatience like I do. But your words are true, Pastor Todd, and I thank you for them. Patience is an important thing and there may be very good reasons for all the waiting and the run arounds you recieve in life. From avoiding disaster, to meeting the most important people in your life. We never know what the Lord has in store for us, but we can take heart in knowing that whatever it is will be good, we just have to trust Him and His timing. His knowledge and understanding go far beyond human comprehension, He truly knows what's best. Trusting the Lord isn't alwyas easy but it's a challenge we have to do our best at.
February 23, 2016
  • 2
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd Amen, brother! I know that the time where Dion and I met was a very small window where that could have happened, but here we are ;-). His timing is the best!
February 23, 2016
  • 2
Michele  Smart
Michele Smart You should share the story of how you met with us Sylvia ;-)
February 23, 2016
  • 2
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd Oh haha, sure, I will try :). We actually met in an online game we both enjoyed, but will try to talk about it in non-gamer terms :). Years ago, there was a game that we both loved called Dark Age of Camelot. It's a game with a medievel, knights-and-heroes, defending the castle, tone, that you play with people from all over the world. We had both played for a long time, but on different servers, so we never met. Both of us, for nostalgia's sake, started to play on a new server, just to kick around for a few days. That is where we met, and has they say in "Casablanca", it was "the beginning of a beautiful friendship".  I was in Southern California and he was in South Carolina, about as far as you can get in the lower 48 :). We met in a group, became friends, then best friends...enough to finally meet, and here we are :). Throughout our time together, God has showed us many lessons from our time in online gaming that pertained to our walk with Him, and it's a time we treasure. We still enjoy gaming now, though don't have the time that we used to :). Anyway, that's a brief version of how we met, haha. God bless!
February 24, 2016
  • 1
Audry Reddy
Audry Reddy Wonderful!!
February 24, 2016
  • 3
Joseph Adams, Jr.
Joseph Adams, Jr.edited: February 23, 2016      Wow, how timely is this message, I just got off the phone with my ISP and Cable provider. Earlier I had a live chat with an agent who was inept and not helpful at all. I got frustrated and abruptly exited the Live Chat session. I waited a few minutes and called Comcast, and talked to an agent who gave me much better service for an additional $10.00/month. I now have 140 channels instead of 60 and my Internet speed has been increased to 75 mbps. God is sooooooo..........Good.
February 23, 2016
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd Praise God, He is good indeed!
February 23, 2016
  • 3
Pamela Leslie
Pamela Leslie Waiting on God through difficult times has always been hard for me. But in the end it has always been worth the wait! Thank you Jesus, you always know what's best for your children!
February 23, 2016
  • 2
Albert Chau
Albert Chau I learn to be happy in all circumstances and try not complain. God has a plan for all of us and all things work out for our own good.
February 23, 2016
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd Amen, brother!
February 23, 2016
  • 2
Kathy Banfield
Kathy Banfield Patience is not one of my virtues, but when I wait for God, His tiimetable always proves to be better than mine!
February 23, 2016
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd Yes indeed, Kathy!
February 23, 2016
  • 2
Kath Paro
Kath Paro Thank you again Dion!  This bring to mind how much I have changed as a result of the seminar I mentioned.  If I have to wait, it is for a reason.  I'm having to wait, which I do not like, for my collar bone to heal.  There are good things happening as a result.  I had to wait a year for me and my hubby to officially meet!  This rings a lot of bells for me.
February 23, 2016
  • 3
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd We just finished with a similar experience, dealing with healthcare.gov. We have been sending them some documentation that they wanted multiple times, even with signature verification, and they continue to say they are not receiving it...very annoying! Today is the last day for them to receive it, so I called once again to see if they had received any of the copies we sent in the mail. They had not, but we FINALLY landed on a person bright enough to help us fix the reason why we had to mail them in the first place. Our account was "broken" in a way that would not allow us to see our coverage or upload any documents, which had been going on for two years and they had said each time during my many calls before that there was no way to fix it. As tech people, that kind of thing makes us gnash our teeth ;-). The young lady did not exactly know why it was broken, but had enough initiatve to try some things with us and, within an hour, we are able to upload again, which is of course FAR better. It's taken a while, and I can't say we even had the best attitude about it, but praise God, for He always has better plans for us!
February 23, 2016
  • 3
Dion Todd
Dion Todd That was so frustrating. They asked us to mail them a form, so we did. We mailed it to them and they said they did not get it. So we mailed it again, using UPS tracking and signature required. They signed for it, then said they did not get it. So we turned it into a game and mailed it from three different cities over the course of three different days. They said they did not get it. I yelled at the woman on the phone until she hung up on me... But yes, thank God we got through this ordeal today. :)
February 23, 2016
  • 2
Allie Ponzo
Allie Ponzo Oh my gosh, I would have been livid.  I've been dealing with bad C/S from my internet company and kept calling back several differnt days and talked to 6 different people till I got one that actually knew what C/S was and I thanked her over and over and she appreciated it.  
February 24, 2016
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd Praise God, Allie, glad you got to the end of it, at least :)! Years ago, I had a time with my internet company (Earthlink), where I had to go through a bunch of people like that, elevating the ticket. Because of a millisecond where the internet worked, they said I would have to start from the bottom again and go through the whole process from step one! Needless to say, that was my last day with Earthlink.
February 24, 2016
  • 2
Tyler Velau
Tyler Velau Ah, the problems of big government and beaureaucracy..... The problem with any society that has turned its back on God as modern societies have seemed to do. Let them serve as proof of the importance of bringing the Lord into our lives and trying our very best to do some good in this world. I can relate to your issues, I've had similar experiences with "Big Brother" none of which were pleasant. But thankfully you found a solution at least for the moment. I think the Lord is always there somewhere subtly changing things for the better, He will right the wrongs and help those who need it.
February 23, 2016
  • 3
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd Amen, Tyler, it doesn't matter whether they serve Him or not...it only matters who WE serve! That said, I am very happy to be done talking with them ;).
February 23, 2016
  • 2
Sylvia Schmidt
Sylvia Schmidt Man alive. What a nightmare. Glad you guys got it sorted out! Hope things go better for you with uploading documents from now on.
February 23, 2016
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd Thank you, Sylvia, we are too, and yes, we can FINALLY upload! What was crazy was during the many times I called them last year, most of the time they said they just didn't know the reason, and that was it. Finally, they said it was a bug in the system that they would send in tickets about.   THIS year, after many calls, they came up with the excuse that I had created the account under my name, but had set up Dion as the primary holder, so they didn't match. Well, I don't know if that made sense, but the kicker was that they said neither they nor I could change the name, or point the account to the right name, or anything else, and NEVER would be able to! As a techie, I'm sure you know how silly that sounds, but there seemed to be no one there who would do any more.   Yesterday, we had the thought to try to specifically ask for tech support. While there didn't seem to be any, the young lady on the phone said something like "let's try some things", which was already 1000% better than anyone else we had encountered. We ended up just creating a new account under Dion's name (which the other people said would make it "worse", though we decided it really couldn't get worse) and the young lady just pointed our application to the new account. After that, I had the issue fixed in seconds!    Crazy stuff, but praise God, He helped us get to the end :)!
February 24, 2016
  • 2
Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt I do believe that God does know what He is doing, and waiting can teach us so much. Psalm62:1-2 & 5-8. This is my life verses. Wate in silence for God only.
February 23, 2016
  • 2
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus Amen!!
February 23, 2016
  • 2
Mahlet  Tsegaye
Mahlet Tsegaye Amen!
February 24, 2016
  • 2
Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams Amen.  Praise God!  Thanks Pastor Dion!
February 24, 2016
  • 1
Audry Reddy
Audry Reddy Amen and Amen!!!
February 24, 2016
  • 1
Myrna Gonzalez
Myrna Gonzalez Amen,Thank you Yahweh because i have come to learn that when things are scary n i am nervous something good  is going to come out from what's happening.I am learning to wait on u even when i think everything is going to crumble n i am in dakness all of a sudden u show me the light.Thank u Abba Father for never failing n having mercy for me.
February 25, 2016
  • 1
Rosemary Marsh
Rosemary Marsh Amen.Thank you Pastor.So uplifting,and you witnessing how good God is,and his timing is perfect.Praise God,for all his Blessings. Father help us to look all around us and count our blessings when we are having to wait for things to happen,not to be inpatient or anxious,but to trust in you,knowing you are in control,and what you have planned for us,is for our own interest,and our needs.In Jess name I pray.
February 25, 2016