Recent Blog Entries

  • 12 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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Carving Out The Masterpiece

  • If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light. Luke 11:36 WEB

    After viewing the marble statue of David, someone asked Michelangelo, 'How did you know what to cut away?' The sculptor answered, 'It's simple, I just remove everything that doesn't look like David.' He knew what the statue should look like before he began his work, but it took him three years to carve away the pieces that did not belong.

    They say that anything can be accomplished when it is broken down into small enough steps. I do find that when taking on large projects, it works best for me to break it into stages. I complete stage one, then focus on stage two, and so on until the project is complete. The way that you eat an elephant is one bite at a time.

    It is important to not become overwhelmed. If you brought a bride to be into a house and showed her all the housework that she have would do, all the dishes that she would have to wash, all the dirty diapers that she would have to change, at one time, then the wedding would probably be off.

    God is working on us in a similar fashion. He does not want us to remain in darkness, but He takes it a step at a time. That is why some teachings are so timely in our lives, it is the Holy Spirit at work uncovering things, reassuring us, comforting us.

    We all have areas of our lives that could stand improving, but if it were all done at once, we could not bear it and would just give up. When we first come to Jesus there are usually more areas, and after we have walked with Him a while, there should be less.

    Anger, lust, greed, idolatry, jealousy, envy, strife, out of control eating and drinking (gluttony and drunkenness), pornography are really just a few areas that the Holy Spirit will shine His light on. You know that thing that causes the hair on the back of your neck to stand up when mentioned, the one that we tend to keep quiet about? That is the one that I am talking about. He will bring those things up one at a time until they are all gone.

    Yes He loves us, and He will wash our sins away. But after growing up on a farm, I can tell you that it is hard to wash a hog while it is actively rolling in the mud. You have to wait for it to stop.

    Work with God day by day on improving your life and do not try and get ahead of Him. Take it one day at a time and He will let you know what is on the to-do list. Walking with Jesus is not a sprint, it is a marathon, and He works with us individually and at our own pace. Don't compare yourself to others that seem more polished. In time, you will be as well.

    God is working on a masterpiece that will take decades to perfect, you. He gently chips away the parts that do not belong there. Don't get too excited on the mountain top, and don't get too depressed in the valley, for this is a lifelong event.

    Prayer: Father, I thank You for Your patience with me. Help me to be stable and learn to time my steps with You. Make what is important to You, important to me and help me to focus on that. Give me the grace to get through today, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

    Note: Good morning! The highlighted group of the week is "Keep It Simple Crafts". Join in to learn and share about fun home crafts that you can make at home, even if you are only a beginner! ALSO, the topic this week for FAAD chat is "His Love is Forever" and will be a beautiful time of meditating on God''s unending love for us!

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24 comments
  • 2
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer Amen. 
March 1, 2016
  • 2
Pamela Medas
Pamela Medas Thank you for this message. You have an annointing. 
March 1, 2016
  • 1
David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles Amen! Thank you :) Pastor's Prayer: Father, I thank You for Your patience with me. Help me to be stable and learn to time my steps with You. Make what is important to You, important to me and help me to focus on that. Give me the grace to get through today, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
March 1, 2016
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Joan Joseph
Joan Joseph Lord bless me to take it one day at a time, for you said: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," 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). You are the  Begining and the End, my everything, Lord bless me to wait for my due time, in Jesus name Amen. 
March 1, 2016
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Linda Cella
Linda Cella Amen. 
March 1, 2016
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Joey Smith
Joey Smith AMEN
March 1, 2016
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Jim Jarrell
Jim Jarrell What a perfect description of how God is changing us! Keep up the good work God!
March 1, 2016
  • 2
Mike OBryan
Mike OBryan This along with many other great tid bits this Morn has Me pumped!! I believe His showing Me some things that are astounding!! running the very edge like I've done gives Me the opportunity to see things as they realy are!!  People in new in Recovery often state they have too change everything in there lives!! but those not in The Lord take it often literaly and it whips them!! Like a bad Teacher!! Jesus is the bes and Him coming through His Breathren makes all the differance!!!!!!!!  
March 1, 2016
  • 1
Jim Jarrell
Jim Jarrell Recovery, now that is a subject I can get behind. Maybe it is time to start a chat about Recovery. God will get you through!
March 1, 2016
  • 1
Lisa Aldridge-Mathson
Lisa Aldridge-Mathson Love this!!!
March 1, 2016
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Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt I was just reading today about when Jesus healed the blind man spit on his eyes and laid his hands on his eyes , the blind man could only see men as sticks. So Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again, and then he could see. I think Jesus did that to involve the blind mans faith. God knows us so well and I believe He grows us in steps. Some times He does it all at one time, but that is for His reasons. God knows we usually can only take a step at a time. I think that is why He says to not worry about tomorrow because today has enough trouble of it's own. I want to be that bright light that shines for Jesus daily, and never lit it get dim because of worry and not trusting my LORD that He has every thing in control.
March 1, 2016
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Kath Paro
Kath Paro Thank you Dion.  This is how I live my life today!
March 1, 2016
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Christina Ocasio
Christina Ocasio This word was such a blessing to me this morning. I always try and take something from every word I come across but some just resignate more than others. Thank you Father God for always reaching your children's heart and speaking to us individually in a way that we get it, in a unique way that our hearts and spirit feel it. Amen ❤ 
March 1, 2016
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Carol Pady
Carol Pady Amen! He is the potter and I am the clay. He changes me bit by bit and day by day.
March 1, 2016
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Deng Tembreza
Deng Tembreza amen
March 1, 2016
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Sharon Peterson
Sharon Peterson So true and I love how you put it. A great bit of wisdom to ponder today.
March 1, 2016
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Albert Chau
Albert Chau We are God masterpiece if we let Him. Lord please mold us the way you see fit. Amen.  
March 1, 2016
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Deng Tembreza
Deng Tembreza Truly we are GOD's  masterpiece and working on us everyday through the rest of our life for this is a lifelong event.  Prayer from you Pastor.  I also pray this for my children.Father, I thank You for Your patience with me. Help me to be stable and learn to time my steps with You. Make what is important to You, important to me and help me to focus on that. Give me the grace to get through today, in the name of JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD I pray Amen.
March 1, 2016
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Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus Amen! Great message! Great prayer! Thank you JESUS!
March 1, 2016
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Lissy Verghese
Lissy Verghese Thank you, dear Pastor, for the motivating message!
March 1, 2016
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Cheryl Hepler
Cheryl Hepler I never thought much about washing a hog especially while it is rolling.. thanks for humor!   I like the new bride story swing what all it would entail:) I am relating much to the who teaching.  For a few months now I have grown overwhelmed in our mothering of two Bassettes.  Six months old & 2 1/2.  I love them..I live dogs.  The new routine of raising the six month was good yet challenging... turning into the beginning of stress that the next sweetie came along the stress of a different routine grew in me.  My husband is great.  Yet I felt a need of more help. The one day at a time even hour to hour is where I have returned in my life.  Bassettes shed hair.  We groom each day with the Furminator brush which is incredible yet vac out is once a day with a Shark vac.  Just amazing.  We had dogs before these that were groomed (not often vac).  We love the Bassettes so something we took to heart to do.  Incl Fibromyalgia & some other mental/emotional conditions I have I became ill.  Thought these last three weeks I had a stomach virus.  It was painful.  But my specialist mentioned Fibro affecting the stomach.  I found a diet for it & started yesterday.  Hour by hour I improved.  Very grateful.  Today I saw my digestive specialist & she confirmed IBS.  The Lord work nightly with of RHM prayer team again!  Some devotionals I read like Jesus Calling nailed it with nuggets in point scriptures that Holy Spirit fed me with...I love meat from the word. And now Diagnosis is a Praise God from whom all Blessings F L O W..,..God is good & prayer weapons are too.  In this new month I have a catscan to do of the area & blood work.  But she said keep going.  Still keeping the piece by piece that God works on is the way to go in big project & in difficulty's.  This fed me full...thanks Pastor Dion!!
March 1, 2016
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Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams Amen.  Praise God!  Thanks Pastor Dion!  Lord, please give me the Grace to get through Today.  In Jesus' Name I pray.  Amen.
March 2, 2016
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Norman Glaze Sr
Norman Glaze Sr Outstanding Pastor. Amen.
March 2, 2016
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Rosemary Marsh
Rosemary Marsh Amen.Thank you for sharing this and the prayer..Pastor. Yes with a thankful heart Jesus is changing me.Lord help us to walk in the Spirit,and be lead by The Holy Spirit.,and to be wilingl to let you have your way.In Jesus name I pray.
March 2, 2016