The Final Countdown
by Dion Todd April 5th, 2018
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me; declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure; Isaiah 46:9 WEBDuring a sci-fi night at our house, we watched some heroes frantically trying to disarm a bomb that was quickly counting down...
Facing The Giants
by Dion Todd April 4th, 2018
O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices, and in Your salvation how greatly he exults! You have given him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Psalms 21:1 ESVI was scared when the call came because I had grown up on a farm and had no formal education in computers, but I knew the Lord wanted me to go help them. Later when I walked out of the accountant's office, I was...
The Pianist
by Dion Todd April 3rd, 2018
I have said these things to you, while still living with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. John 14:24 WEBAs I look at my piano, there are twelve keys repeated across the length of the keyboard. There are only seven ivory keys and five ebony, yet a talented pianist can make endless...
Bible Study: Acts, Chapter Two
by Dion Todd April 1st, 2018
RHM Bible Study, Acts, Chapter Two from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.
Transcript: Today we are going to study Acts chapter 2 in depth. You can follow along in your own Bible if you like. I will be reading from the World English Bible because it is copyright free, and I can read the entire bible on video without legal drama or breaking anyones rules.
After the meeting today, or sometime this...
A Basket Case
by Dion Todd April 1st, 2018
Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe at the river. Her maidens walked along by the riverside. She saw the basket among the reeds, and sent her handmaid to get it. She opened it, and saw the child, and, behold, the baby cried. She had compassion on him, and said, 'This is one of the Hebrews' children.' Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, 'Should I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew...
Surrender
by Dion Todd March 30th, 2018
Then Jesus told His disciples, If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:24 ESVI stood at a crossroad in my life and wondered which path to take. At this point, I could continue pursuing a career as a musician who played all night and slept all...
Beach Balls
by Dion Todd March 27th, 2018
The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:52 WEBWhile at the beach one day, I watched some kids playing with a beach ball. They would hit the ball and it would soar into the air, but then gradually float back down to the earth. Without some form of lift, the ball will always fall to the ground. Yet, if you fill a ball or balloon with helium, then it will begin to float on...
Bible Study: Acts, Chapter One
by Dion Todd March 25th, 2018
RHM Bible Study, Acts, Chapter One from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.
Transcript: Today we are going to study Acts chapter 1 in depth. You can follow along in your own Bible if you like. I will be reading from the World English Bible because it is the only modern English translation that is copyright free, and I can read the entire bible on video without legal drama or breaking anyones rules.
After...
A Grimy Sponge
by Dion Todd March 23rd, 2018
For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. James 3:16 WEBJust as a sponge filled with liquid is our heart within us. It absorbs all the hurts and pains in our life. Usually when we come to the Lord, it...
Deny
by Jeffrey Smith March 20th, 2018
Matthew 26:35: Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.
Romans 5:7-8: Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Peter has a really bold statement...
The Master's Touch
by Dion Todd March 20th, 2018
And wherever He came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored Him that they might touch even the fringe of His garment. And as many as touched it were made well. Mark 6:56 ESVAs we knelt down to pray, my friend had mixed emotions of fear, anger, uncertainty, and questioned whether Jesus was even real. We had played music together for the last few months....
Bold as a lion
by Jeffrey Smith March 19th, 2018
Psalm 11:1: In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: Flee like a bird to your mountain.
Proverbs 28:1: The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
Truly I tell you that all of us who take refuge in the Lord are secure in righteousness! When we are faced with so many distractions, fears, lies, and...
A Rooster Crows
by Dion Todd March 19th, 2018
After a little while again those who stood by said to Peter, 'You truly are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.' But he began to curse, and to swear, 'I don't know this man of whom you speak!' The rooster crowed the second time. Peter remembered the word, how that Jesus said to him, 'Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.' When he thought about that,...
The Dentist
by Dion Todd March 16th, 2018
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 WEBAs I writhed in pain in the chair, the dentist wrestled on with the split tooth. It was very painful and I did not want him to touch it, let alone pull on it, but the toothache would not go away until all of it was removed. Like Esau, I began to comfort myself with...
The Beaver Dam
by Dion Todd March 15th, 2018
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalms 23:4 WEBIt was dusk dark and I was alone in the middle of a swamp called the Beaver Dam. I had ridden my dirt bike over to my cousin's house that day. He stayed about four miles from us through dense woods and swamp. We had made a path to ride through...
Crickets And Bill Collectors
by Dion Todd March 14th, 2018
My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids. Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure. Job 16:16 WEBBills steadily piled up at our house, with no income to pay them. After a couple of months of the most intimate fellowship that I have ever spent with the Lord, our business dried up, I began to feel alone, and abandoned. When I tried to pray, I no longer got an...
Give all you have
by Jeffrey Smith March 12th, 2018
Matthew 6:34: Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
2 Timothy 1:7: For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.
Do you ever hold back? I mean really hold back all that you have? I have done it and later thought to myself, " I could have done more. I could have done better."
One...
Damaged Goods
by Dion Todd March 12th, 2018
Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, 'This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.' Jesus answered him, 'Simon, I have something to tell you.' He said, 'Teacher, say on.' 'A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they couldn't pay,...
Bible Study: Luke, Chapter Twenty-Four
by Dion Todd March 11th, 2018
Bible Study, Luke 24, Part One from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.
Transcript: Today we are going to continue our Bible study and we will be studying the first half of Luke Chapter 24 in depth. You can follow along in your own Bible if you like. I will be reading from the World English Bible because it is the only modern English translation that is copyright free, and I can read the entire...
The Preacher
by Dion Todd March 11th, 2018
Yahweh appeared of old to me, saying, 'Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness. Jeremiah 31:3 WEB"Just as I am without one plea, but that thy blood, was shed for me." I remember standing in a Baptist church, a kid about six years old as they sang this hymn. When they did an altar call, several people went forward and I went with them. But they...
Joy Full
by Dion Todd March 10th, 2018
I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full. 'This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.' John 15:11 WEBPeter and the Apostles were beaten by the religious leaders and then told not to talk about Jesus anymore, but they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name and continued talking (Acts...
Living Right When Wronged
by Dion Todd March 9th, 2018
Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he stuck the spear into the wall. David fled, and escaped that night. 1 Samuel 19:10 WEBKing Saul was jealous of his son-in-law David. Completely consumed by rage, he attempted to murder David with a spear. David evaded him and left the city. Saul became an evil man, and though he refused to kill all...
The Road of Life
by Dion Todd March 5th, 2018
In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and in. Yahweh said to you, You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh: and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he...
The Word Came To Me
by Dion Todd March 2nd, 2018
Jeremiah said, Yahweh's word came to me, saying, Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, 'Buy my field that is in Anathoth; for the right of redemption is yours to buy it.' So Hanamel my uncle's son came to me in the court of the guard according to Yahweh's word, and said to me, 'Please buy my field that is in Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin; for the right...
Martha and Mary of Bethany
by Dion Todd February 28th, 2018
As they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, 'Lord, don't you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me.' Jesus answered her, 'Martha,...
Something New
by Dion Todd February 27th, 2018
Now after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' servant, saying, 'Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go across this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land which I am giving to them, even to the children of Israel. Joshua 1:1 WEBMoses the servant of the Lord. died at 120 years old and the Lord Himself buried him (Deuteronomy 34:6)....
Bible Study: Luke, Chapter Twenty-Three
by Dion Todd February 25th, 2018
RHM Bible Study, Luke Chapter Twenty-Three from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.
Transcript: Today we are going to continue our Bible study and we will be studying the first half of Luke Chapter 23 in depth. We are going to split this chapter into two parts because I feel like this is probably the most important part of the Bible, the very heart of what Jesus did for us, and what He went through....
The Spare Tire
by Dion Todd February 22nd, 2018
Now for a long time Israel was without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law. But when in their distress they turned to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. 2 Chronicles 15:3 WEBWe were happily driving towards our destination when I felt the car gradually getting lower on one side, and then the steering became sluggish. I pulled over to the side of the...
Restoration
by Dion Todd February 20th, 2018
David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay with her. She bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. Yahweh loved him; and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he named him Jedidiah, for Yahweh's sake. 2 Samuel 12:24 WEBDavid and Bathsheba were the talk of town. They had an affair while her husband Uriah was away serving in the military. She became pregnant, and David...
The Break Room
by Dion Todd February 18th, 2018
Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:26 NIVThe break room fell silent as I walked in to get some water. Though I was new there, I had learned that the normal topics were hangovers, sexual exploits, or who had the best drugs. The normal stream of profanity ceased when I...