Recent Blog Entries

  • 4 hours ago
    Posted by Dion Todd
    "Don't be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you." Isaiah 43:1'2 WEB...
  • 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...
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 Rising of the Sun

  • For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:8 WEB

    One night we watched a movie where the people made a sacrifice every day so that the sun would come up. All was well until one day everything went wrong and they failed to make the daily sacrifice. The people were terrified and thought the world was ending. Instead, the next day came and the sun rose in the sky anyway. They learned that the sun just came up, with or without their sacrifice. They had been practicing a ritual and thought that it was making a difference, but it was only a tradition that had been passed down through the generations.

    So it can be with us. When I came to the Lord, I read the Bible about eight hours a day, fasted more than I ate, went through Bible College, gave all that I had in the offering plate, but there was still no intimacy in my relationship to God. He was distant and I was trying to earn His love. I knew all about God, I just did not know Him. He loved me the whole time. His love was already there every day while I was busy trying to earn it. I was only ignoring Him while focusing hard on my traditions.

    There is certainly nothing wrong with fervently seeking God, and I still do, but remember that He is also seeking you. 'We love Him because He first loved us' (1 John 4:19). 'What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?' (Luke 15:4).

    Relax. Talk to God as you would your best friend and just be yourself. God already loves you today and you will not increase this love by your works. Of course you should try and live right, and faith with out works is dead, but works without the relationship is a waste of your time and resources. If you miss the mark today, God will still love you just as the sun managed to come up without a sacrifice.

    Prayer: Oh Lord, please bring a balance into my life and help me to know You better. Fill my mind with Your thoughts and guide me today. I want to live my life with You at the center of it and have a relationship with You like Jesus did, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

    Note: Good morning, family, thank you all for helping out with your participation and feedback at Tuesday''s test service! Our first official live service will be happening this Sunday (Father''s Day) at 11am EST! For some who may be concerned about being seen on video, only Pastor Dion will be on video. Members will have a chat area where they can type comments and prayer requests, and Pastor Dion will respond over the video. We have made some good improvements from the feedback, and hope to see you all there! Please see the event for more info. ALSO, for those who are not aware, the "Spiritually Single" group hosts a "Fast & Pray Friday" event where they fast for pre-believing spouses, but also for other family and loved ones who are not yet part of the body of Christ, or may have backslidden. All are welcome to join. Have a very blessed and peaceful day!

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

 

Social Sharing

29 comments
  • 2
Kath Paro
Kath Paro

Good morning Dion~

This is a very good devotion.  It reminded me of a sermon I heard, 9 of 99, I now get it.  I don't have to advertise that God loves me, I just have to walk the talk and everyone will witness His love and my love for Him.  I still must carry the message of our Lord Jesus Christ.  I don't have to convince anyone any longer.  

June 16, 2016
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Amen, Kath!

June 16, 2016
  • 2
Dana Rozell
Dana Rozell

Thanks for this Devotional Pastor Todd! Simple and Clear, Praise God!

June 16, 2016
  • 2
Penelope Rhome
Penelope Rhome

yes  i want  to have a  relationship  with  you  lord  thank you for  this  day  amen

 

June 16, 2016
  • 2
Kevin J. Eck
Kevin J. Eck

Amen!

June 16, 2016
  • 2
David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles

Amen! Thank you :) Pastor's Prayer: Oh Lord, please bring a balance into my life and help me to know You better. Fill my mind with Your thoughts and guide me today. I want to live my life with You at the center of it and have a relationship with You like Jesus did, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

 

June 16, 2016
  • 2
Mike OBryan
Mike OBryan

           Ha that first paragraph--so deep!!!

June 16, 2016
  • 2
Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt

AMEN! I love this passage that God has planed our good works ahead of time, so I can trust Him with my life. I do need to have a entimante relationship with Him. He knows me so well, I just need to work with Him. All things work together,(Me working together with Him) for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

June 16, 2016
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

That's the truth, Twila <3!

June 16, 2016
  • 2
Carol Pady
Carol Pady

Amen! Pastor Dion I have learned to be open and honest in all my conversations with God. If I am feeling anxious, burned out, empty, no matter what I tell Him. If I make a sin of comission or omission I accept full responsibility and I talk to Him as I would talk to my closest friend. He gets me. He knows I will struggle, that I will have errors in judgement. Just telling my Abba Father about it, brings such peace. He is my good good Father and He loves it when I tell him everything, not holding back anything! Then He encourages me to get back on the saddle and ride hard in the race, to the finish line where He waits as a proud Father for His daughter to place a crown upon her head.

June 16, 2016
  • 1
Deng Tembreza
Deng Tembreza

Thank you for your reflections.  I have struggle to myself asking how can I have a closer relationship with our LORD ALMIGTHY. This gives me an answer.  Honesty and openess while having all your conversation with GOD Is so the answer. 

June 16, 2016
  • 1
Carol Pady
Carol Pady

Amen!

June 16, 2016
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Agreed, Carol, none of us is perfect, but we are all beautiful in His eyes!

June 16, 2016
  • 2
Carol Pady
Carol Pady

Amen!

June 16, 2016
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen Carol.  Well said

June 16, 2016
  • 2
Fraser Keys
Fraser Keys

Amen thank you for your message today Pastor Dion

June 16, 2016
  • 2
Deng Tembreza
Deng Tembreza

I have always asked and pray :    Please LORD GOD help me to know how to have a relationship with you.  Up onto now, I still can not discern how.  Help me please in the name of my LORD JESUS CHRIST this I pray. Amen

June 16, 2016
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Father, I pray that you draw close to Deng, that you bless her with a revelation to the deepest part of her heart that she is loved and treasured beyond compare, in the name of Jesus, amen <3.

June 16, 2016
  • 1
Lisa Quillman
Lisa Quillman

Lord please help my dear friend know of your presence. Give him the strength to feel your love. In Jesus name I pray. Love...

June 17, 2016
  • 2
Tyler Velau
Tyler Velau

Lord, I pray that you lift everyone here at RHM up today, grant us your blessings of peace and mercy and help us to fufill your wishes here on the Earth. Guide us, protect us, and help us to achieve your will and be a blessing to others so we may lift them up and raise them to you. 

June 16, 2016
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Amen, brother!

June 16, 2016
  • 2
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen

June 16, 2016
  • 2
Rachael Burke
Rachael Burke

Amen, very uplifting message today, thank you pastor Dion for sharing 

June 16, 2016
  • 1
Heide Garner
Heide Garner

when really got serouly God was thirty started  reading word   really think  how change help as got prayer and read  word devil no longer  could I be decied God had peace over my mind so felt peace my life try  care what what family opipn about how mother were what matter what God thought of me at the end of the day.

 

 

June 16, 2016
  • 1
Lissy Verghese
Lissy Verghese

Thank you dear Pastor, for the great message!

June 16, 2016
  • 1
Celestina Ndunda
Celestina Ndunda

Praise the Lord..I know You love me so much Father and i Love you more..

June 17, 2016
  • 1
Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams

Amen.  Praise God!  Thanks Pastor Dion!  Lord, please bring a balance into my life and help me to know You better. Fill my mind with Your thoughts and guide me today. I want to live my life with You at the center of it and have a relationship with You like Jesus did, in His Name I pray.  Amen.

June 17, 2016
  • 1
Loriann Riley
Loriann Riley

Thank you Lord for this message and you Pastor Todd for this devotional message. I really it this today.  Keep up the good work Pastor 

June 17, 2016
  • 1
Karen Pasquinelli
Karen Pasquinelli

Amen 

June 17, 2016