Blog Post
Posted by Dion Todd June 1st, 2025 1,248 Views 24 Comments
You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience; among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)" Ephesians 2:1–5 WEB.
It was another night at another party. We were always playing a gig somewhere in the band I was in. We played music about six nights a week and sometimes twice a day on the weekends. At first, it was a lot of fun, but eventually, it became just another job filled with late hours and moving heavy equipment.
We often had the same people who would come to hear us when we were in the area. Eventually, I knew every couple on the dance floor and what song they would dance to. Though I was always on stage and looked like the life of the party, I felt pretty empty inside. Something was missing in my life.
One night, while playing music at a party, the Holy Spirit came into the bar and changed my life in a flash. In the middle of playing a song, and without missing a chord, my priorities were transformed. He suddenly gave me a third-person view of my current life. I saw myself playing on stage from a distance. Then He asked me, "Do you want this, or what I have for you?" I instantly knew it was time to make a change.
I had become the living dead. I finished the set, put up my bass, went home and into my bedroom, lay on the floor, and poured my heart out to God. That was a Saturday night, and He was calling me. The next morning, I got up and went to a nearby church. I have never been the same. I found what was missing, or more accurately, He found me. I once was lost, but now I am found.
You can live while dead and empty inside, but you don't have to. Jesus resurrected the dead, and He gave them eternal life. He can rekindle the spirit inside of you and relight that fire that has gone out. It's never too late to get a fresh start and be revived. The joy and the fire can be restored, and the emptiness can be filled. You don't have to be the living dead.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for taking care of me and bringing me this far. Please forgive me of my sins, give me a clear vision, and help me become the person that You created me to be. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Note: For those who would like to join us, today we will be hosting our RHM Live Online church service. This is a special time of interactive worship, prayer, fellowship and an inspiring message. All are welcome! The service starts at 10am EST. Here is the link to join: RHM Live. As always, 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.
Eco Version .577: Adapted the site to be a (PWA) Progressive Web App that you can install locally and still browse cached content like devotionals you have read when you are offline. Also, you can click the 3 ... and "Cast" to display it on your TV if you have a compatible device. It should work with Chrome, Edge, Android, as well as iPhones, iPads, and tablets. I will create some documentation on it soon, but this is a summary:
How to Install the Refreshing Hope Ministries App:
For Android & Desktop Users:
Visit our website: Go to www.refreshinghope.org using Chrome, Edge, or another compatible browser.
Wait for the prompt: After a few moments on the site, you'll see a banner at the bottom of your screen asking if you'd like to "Add RHM to Home Screen."
Tap "Install": Click the "Install" button on the prompt.
Enjoy the app: The RHM app will be installed on your device. You can now access it directly from your home screen or app drawer without opening a browser.
For iPhone & iPad Users:
Use Safari browser: Open www.refreshinghope.org in Safari (this won't work in Chrome or other browsers on iOS).
Tap the Share button: Look for the share icon (square with an arrow pointing up) at the bottom of your screen.
Select "Add to Home Screen": Scroll down in the share menu if needed to find this option.
Confirm installation: Tap "Add" in the top-right corner of the screen.
Access the app: The RHM icon will appear on your home screen. Tap it to open the app directly.
Benefits of Installing the RHM App:
Quick access: Open RHM with one tap from your home screen
Offline access: View previously visited pages even without an internet connection
App-like experience: Enjoy a full-screen experience without browser controls
Stay updated: Receive important ministry updates and notifications
Save data: The app loads faster and uses less data than repeatedly visiting the website
Need Help? If you have any questions or need assistance installing the app on your device, please contact us and we'll be happy to help! 😀
Amen, dear Jesus! Such a powerful testimony, Pastor. I trust God for the perfect plan and timing for the salvation of those I love and pray for!! In Your precious & matchless name I pray, Amen
Comment from Michele Copley
2 hours ago
Oh, so very encouraging, powerful testimony, thanks be to God! Amen!
Post from Barbara Lowell
20 hours ago
Pastor Dion, this is such a wonderful Devotional of Hope! Your beautiful prayer expresses what I pray to God each night. You put it more eloquently than I ever have. The meaning in the prayer though, is the same. Thank you for expressing it so beautifully for me asking God to help me become the person that He created me to be. God bless you. 🙏💗
Post from Mari Kaufmann
22 hours ago
Amen
Post from Wesley Paulus
23 hours ago
Amen!
Heavenly Father, I thank You for taking care of me and bringing me this far. Please forgive me of my sins, give me a clear vision, and help me become the person that You created me to be. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen! ❤️🤟🏻
Post from John Petchonka
1 day ago
Amen 🙏
Heavenly Father please bring me to the next level in my life. Help me to see more clearly please let the Holy Spirit flow through me and heal every part of my body. In Jesus Name Amen 🙏
Post from Liesel aka lisa Wardle
1 day ago
Amen and Amen, Pastor!!! Thank you so much for your honesty as you continue to share your life with us, true testimonies from the heart showing how the Lord draws and calls, changing lives, still building churches such as RHM, a much needed online ministry, drawing and increasing members from all corners of our nation and other lands! You faced so many trials and obstacles, and yet you and Sylvia keep on going faithfully trusting the Lord one day at a time!!! I'm so blessed for the Lord to draw me to your ministry, which was under another name at that time! And here I'm living one day at a time with my Lord, looking back when I was just a baby in Christ, and how I've grown, as He was working on me! As Jeanine said today that she was praying for the Lord to take away the thorn in her flesh, I was thinking of Paul in 2. Cor. 12:7, as he was asking the Lord to take away the thorn in his flesh, but then resigned to the fact that God's grace is sufficient, His strength is made perfect in weakness! It is our loving Heavenly Father who works in us, He either heals us or strengthens and blesses us in our weakness, because He loves us so much! I remember when I at first was diagnosed with the Bronchiectasis disease of the respiratory system, which is stable right now, then followed by Lupus and R/A, and I was bedridden for a short while, couldn't even get out of bed by myself! I was taking so many medications and infusions, followed by bad reactions, but then found a specialist who came up with a different treatment plan which included a prescription that was only available in England at that time, called Hydroxichloroquin, which became available over here as well! However, it was recently discovered that this product is also attacking the retina of the eyes, including mine as well to some degree! So, I'm scheduled to see the retina specialist again next month, in July, who will determine if I can continue the Hydroxichloroquin in addition to the Prednison etc... I was SURPRISED when you prayed for my eyes today, and for strength in my arms, especially since I couldn't even pick up and hold my little great grandson yesterday!! The Lord is truly with you, Pastor, when you pray, I hadn't even mentioned my eyes to you! Thank the Lord for bringing you and Sylvia into my life, thank the Lord most high for this praying and loving church, and showing me the power and strength of prayer!!! I'll go on trusting the Lord for myself, the physical and especially spiritual well being of my entire family, my siblings, their families, and many many more, and will continue to pray without ceasing!!!🙏
Heavenly Father I want What You Have For Me Amen Good Morning Everyone Have A Blessed Sunday And Week Ahead 🌷😄🌷
Post from Marisa Jackson
1 day ago
Amen 🙏 ❤️❤️🙏!!
Good morning, y'all, praying you have a restful and most blessed Sunday! 🌻🌼🤗
Post from Richard A Smith
1 day ago
Happy June and almost Summer! Amen.
Comment from Bella Colliander
1 day ago
Happy June to you Richard ☺️🕊️
Post from Wanda Pennington
1 day ago
Heavenly Father, I thank You for taking care of me and bringing me this far. Please forgive me of my sins, give me a clear vision, and help me become the person that You created me to be. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Post from Theresa Bright
1 day ago
Amen 🙏🏻
Post from Celeste Strenn
1 day ago
Amen❣️
Good word thank you for your positive thoughts that I need daily. May the Most High God Bless you!
Post from Bella Colliander
1 day ago
Amen and Amen 💜🕊️
Amen
Post from Kay Collinsworth
1 day ago
Amen
Amen
Amen!🙏🏼
Post from Schalk de Beer
1 day ago
Yes Lord, I pray this in Jesus's name, amen. ✝️🛐
Hallelujah. Amen.🙏🙏
Amen
Comment from Michele Copley
4 hours ago
Good morning, Pastor Dion. How helpful of your creating this detailed app for RHM. How good it will be to load and display RHM on large screen TV at times, and with more documentation or needed assistance upcoming along the way for RHM Family- of God.