Event Details

  • RHM is hosting a corporate (group) fast during the month of April. While we normally fast in private, I believe the Lord wants me to invite the Refreshing Hope members to participate with us in a community fast. We plan on doing a Daniel (vegan) fast, but if you have dietary or other restrictions, you can fast in whatever way your health allows. For more information, you can view the blog post here: https://www.refreshinghope.org/blogs/1/3013/intentional-growth
  • 4/1/21 at 1:00 AM -
    5/2/21 at 11:50 PM
  • Where
    Refreshing Hope Ministries Map
  • Led by
  • RSVPs
    • 40 attending
    • 3 maybe attending
    • 0 not attending
    • 130 awaiting reply

April Intentional Growth

What's New

  • Nora Olen
    Nora Olen joined the event April Intentional Growth
    • Jan 28
  • Octavia Cruse
    Octavia Cruse joined the event April Intentional Growth
    • March 21, 2023
  • Dion Todd
    Dion Todd:
    May 01, 2021. I hope this message finds you well. This is the first day after our thirty-day fast, and I thought I would note some things that have happened here so far. For the last week, possibly longer, we have been so drowsy and lethargic all day...  more
    • May 1, 2021
    • Dion Todd
      Dion Todd Ha! I was wondering what the 310% was about... (Malachi 3:10 NASB) “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of...  more
    • Dion Todd
      Kerryann Ivey To God be the glory ????

      I’m going to do a 21 day fast for the month of May with a group of ladies Gods willing. Please pray for us to successfully complete this fast.
    • Dion Todd
      Sylvia Todd Praying for you and your group, Kerryann, for grace, inspiration and health !
    • Dion Todd
      Liesel aka Lisa Wardle Wow, Pastor, praising the Lord with you!!! He truly looks at he heart and rewards according to His riches!!!
    • Dion Todd
      Liesel aka Lisa Wardle Prayers sent, dear Kerryann
  • Cathy Webb
    Cathy Webb:
    One of the learning and leading moments of this fast was an exchange yesterday with two of my Islamic robotic students who are fasting for Ramadan. They thought only those of their faith engaged in fasting. It was a growth conversation and a touchstone...  more
    • May 1, 2021
    • Cathy Webb
      Lynn Brown That definitely was a God-sent moment, Cathy
    • Cathy Webb
      Dion Todd That was certainly a divine appointment, Cathy. I love those moments! When He has already equipped you for what is coming before it happens.
    • Cathy Webb
      Sylvia Todd How wonderful, Cathy, love that !
    • Cathy Webb
      Liesel aka Lisa Wardle Wow, Cathy! Doesn't it stir our hearts when we see the Lord's working in our lives, directing us, preparing and equipping us for future moments and encounters! Even, if it is going through trials and hardships, experiencing a mountain of emotions,...  more
  • Sylvia Todd
    Sylvia Todd:
    PTL, we made it through the month! As with all our fasts, it was challenging from the standpoint of testing, drama, keeping enough energy, etc. Still, it is, and always has been, worth it for work out unwanted elements within us, for learning to restrain...  more
    • May 1, 2021
  • Barbara Jackson
    Barbara Jackson:
    It was an Honor to GOD, to be invited, to fast and Pray, to have clarity of mind in Jesus Christ. I Thank GOD for holding me down and keeking me Strong in the word of GOD!
    • May 1, 2021
  • Bella Colliander
    Bella Colliander:
    Thank you Lord for your guidance and patience in my life. No, my fasting was not perfect, as planned, but a great deal was resolved. I want to continue using a lunch hour, which I normally didn't take, devotedly to the Lords word. I yearn to continue...  more
    • April 30, 2021
    • Bella Colliander
      Liesel aka Lisa Wardle Amen and Amen !!!
    • Bella Colliander
      Sylvia Todd Amen, Bella, very glad that the fast was "fruitful" for you! I don't know if there is a "perfect" fast anyway - we all just do what we can, as He leads us, and as we can handle with our age, circumstances and health. For instance, one of the "better"...  more
    • Bella Colliander
      Dion Todd There is hardly a perfect fast by imperfect people. The Lord understands and rewards our feeble attempts anyway! When you are trying at all, He will work with you and bless you with more. To him that has, more will be given. May you be blessed in every way!
  • Dion Todd
    Dion Todd:
    April 30: Praise God. We have reached the final day of our thirty-day challenge. The Lord often brings new direction, clarity, and better habits out of our fasts. Once, we were even laid off from work on the last week, but that started us down the path...  more
    • April 30, 2021
    • Dion Todd
      Sylvia Todd Thankful for the grace we have had throughout the fast, though it was not without challenges. Certainly looking forward to a bit of feasting tomorrow !
    • Dion Todd
      Lynn Brown Amen Pastor. I am grateful for the time spent with the Lord
    • Dion Todd
      Shelly Marriot I am thankful that God led you to include the church on this fast with you and Sylvia! Many blessings and goodness to all! ✨
  • Billie Marie Hall
    Billie Marie Hall joined the event April Intentional Growth
    • April 29, 2021
  • Dion Todd
    Dion Todd:
    April 28: Praise the Lord. Two more days to go! I hope this finds you well wherever you are. It is time to start planning the break-fast menu. For us, meat will be back on the menu. We tend to watch a lot of cooking shows during fasting. I guess it gives...  more
    • April 28, 2021
    • Dion Todd
      Cathy Webb God is so amazing in the details: we have a family birthday celebration BBQ set up for Sunday. I don't even have to cook!
    • Dion Todd
      Sylvia Todd That sounds perfect, Cathy !
    • Dion Todd
      Harold Edwards Greetings Pastor and Sister Todd,

      How are you? This fast has been so needed for me. I'm looking forward to going to a nice Steakhouse restaurant and order the largest ribeye they have LOL; I love ribeye's.
    • Dion Todd
      Dion Todd That sounds great Cathy! And I completely understand Harold. We are planning to grind up a New York strip steak into a hamburger and stuff it with blue cheese crumbles and bacon bits. Let us know how that ribeye tastes!
    • Dion Todd
      Sylvia Todd That sounds like an excellent plan, Harold ! As Dion mentioned there, we are planning something quite similar
  • Dion Todd
    Dion Todd:
    Be wary of family drama during this time and don’t trip in your walk. God works through His people, and the enemy works through the people that he has a foothold in as well. They are ridden like horses into battle and do not even know what they are...  more
    • April 27, 2021
    • Dion Todd
      Cristy Herzberg I just joined two weeks ago and you don’t know how much I’ve learned and how much closer I’ve gotten to God already. Thank you so much for these devotionals and so happy
    • Dion Todd
      Liesel aka Lisa Wardle So very true, Pastor Dion!!! with all the many ongoing health problems, the worst attack is that on your family members, this is such a heart ache beyond anything beyond anything else that we know!! I'm trying to keep going but I've a fever now that...  more
  • Dion Todd
    Dion Todd:
    Just a quick note. If you are fasting with only vegetables and begin to feel weak along this time, be sure you take B vitamins. They are found in meat, and when you abstain from meat for a month you can start to run out. Only five more days to go though!
    • April 25, 2021
  • Bella Colliander
    Bella Colliander:
    I haven't been my most faithful during this fast but I keep trying everyday. Thank you Lord for understanding and loving me. I pray that you strengthen those that are also struggling. Try to list to the song "Thank You For It All" by Marvin...  more
    • April 24, 2021
    • - edited
    • Bella Colliander
      Harold Edwards Bella, you're doing good by continuing with it. I'm reminded of what Jesus said in The Book of Matthew 24:13 "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved". We fall, but we get back up again right? "For this race is not given to the...  more
    • Bella Colliander
      Sylvia Todd Praying for all of us !
    • Bella Colliander
      Cathy Webb Thank you, Harold and Bella, for sharing the wisdom and beauty of Marvin Sapp. Much needed encouragement for my morning!
      • April 27, 2021
  • Lynn Brown
    Lynn Brown:
    Thank You Father for this time of fasting and drawing near to You. I am blessed by this time of reflection and silence with You. May You bless and draw all here closer to You. Amen!
    • April 24, 2021
  • Barbara Jackson
    Barbara Jackson:
    Still Holding on Father GOD, Thank you
    • April 24, 2021
  • Harold Edwards
    Harold Edwards:
    Good evening Family, I must agree that in this final stretch of seeking our Lord God through this consecration of fasting, the spiritual warfare is intensifying. "But thanks be to God which giveth us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1...  more
    • April 22, 2021
    • Harold Edwards
      Dion Todd Typically, the pressure is greatest on the first and last weeks. In my work, it is almost like Murphy's law, "If something can go wrong it will." Yet, we hold the line and just try and avoid confrontations and drama as much as possible during this time....  more
    • Harold Edwards
      Dion Todd Also, I love the song. Listened to it twice
    • Harold Edwards
      Liesel aka Lisa Wardle Amen and Amen, Brother!!! Thank you so much for sharing this!
    • Harold Edwards
      Sylvia Todd Amen, brother, amen !
  • Catrina  Patrick
    Catrina Patrick:
    I’ve had some things going on and was not able to start the fast but I would like to do a month of fasting. Is there a particular book I can use with meals for the Daniel Fast?
    • April 22, 2021
    • Catrina  Patrick
      Sylvia Todd Hi Catrina, no worries ! We pick April for us because it works well with our life, but everyone has different needs ! There are probably books, but here is a website that has meals: https://ultimatedanielfast.com/recipes/
  • Barbara Jackson
    Barbara Jackson:
    Thank you so much Pastor. I am still hanging in there, by the Grace of GOD, yesterday and today was kind of RUFF, but I stayed the course. Praise GOD!
    • April 21, 2021
  • Dion Todd
    Dion Todd:
    2021-04-21: This is day 21. A full three weeks into our April fast with only nine days to go! Praise the Lord. I have tried to focus more on creative work than physical work lately. Partly because it has been like combat, and secondly, I just don’t...  more
    • April 21, 2021
    • Dion Todd
      Harold Edwards Glory be to God in the highest Pastor, I love this spiritual update and check-in. Very powerful midstream boost, as we prepare to close out this well needed affliction of this flesh of ours. I'm purposing to finish strong, as I'm sure everyone is. Thank...  more
    • Dion Todd
      Lynn Brown Thank you Pastor for the encouragement. I am praying for all here to have success in this fast especially as we are heading to the last week!
  • Sylvia Todd
    Sylvia Todd:
    Lord, I lift up all who are fasting here, for strength, for grace, for Your presence and for improved health, in the name of Jesus, amen !
    • April 20, 2021
  • Lynn Brown
    Lynn Brown:
    Continuing to keep all here in my prayers for a successful fast. May we find God's will and grow in Him Amen!
    • April 18, 2021
  • Cathy Webb
    Cathy Webb:
    At the beginning of this fasting season, I wrote in my journal things I needed God's guidance on. One of these was retirement. Throughout last night thoughts rambled through my head and every passage in today's meditation time focused on trust, reliance,...  more
    • April 17, 2021
  • Carol Carter
    Carol Carter:
    I’m am also on this journey with y’all and am hanging in there! Needless to say, all hell has broken loose since April 1st. Praying for RHM! Thank you pastor for sharing this time with us.
    • April 15, 2021
    • Carol Carter
      Sylvia Todd Carol, if that is happening you probably can tell you are doing it right - that is certainly happening for us, too . That said, some of the most consequential happenings (in a good way ) have happened in our lives through fasting, so yes, please do hang...  more
  • Harold Edwards
    Harold Edwards:
    Greetings Pastor and Sister Sylvia, and the Family here that are fasting,

    How are you? Pastor I couldn't agree more with you, as we get deeper into the days here, that the intensity of the forces and principalities of darkness, are pushing back...  more
    • April 15, 2021
  • Shelly Marriot
    Shelly Marriot:
    The Holy Spirit moved me to add a prayer:
    Father God, thank you that we have your power. We lift up Pastor Dion and Sylvia to you. We thank them for taking us on this journey of Intentional Growth and we ask that you to protect them (and us) from all...  more
    • April 15, 2021
  • Shelly Marriot
    Shelly Marriot:
    Good morning everyone! Thank you Pastor Dion and Sylvia for the encouragement and support on Day 15. It’s been challenging but good. I’m surely intentionally growing! I turned to this page this morning, I pray it strengthens all who need it. ✨
    • April 15, 2021
    • - edited
  • Dion Todd
    Dion Todd:
    The halfway point! The 15nth marks the halfway point of our April fast of 30 days.
    I hope this message finds you well. Aches, pains, drama, frustrations, things breaking are all a part of this. We are facing it here at Refreshing Hope as well.

    We went...  more
    • April 15, 2021
    • Dion Todd
      Lynn Brown Thank you for that encouragement Pastor Dion. Praying for you, Sylvia and your family. Prayers for all here who are struggling as well.
    • Dion Todd
      Liesel aka Lisa Wardle I'm adding to all of the above fever, my fever is back again, afraid that I've the virus again, even though I was vaccinated, but ". . . They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength . . ."! Praise the Lord any how and anyway!
    • Dion Todd
      Liesel aka Lisa Wardle Prayers for you, Sylvia, and all of our brothers and sisters that are currently struggling and facing trials and hardships!
  • Scott Riegelmann
    Scott Riegelmann:
    Thank you Father for hearing our prayers, Please help everyone involved in the fast to have strength and over come the enemies attacks, In Jesus name I pray Amen! Thank you prayer warriors.
    • April 14, 2021
  • Debi Burton
    Debi Burton:
    Still learning about fasting..... no sodas so far! Thank you Lord!
    • April 14, 2021
    • Debi Burton
      Sylvia Todd Amen, Debi, and better for your teeth, too !
    • Debi Burton
      Harold Edwards Greetings Sister Debi, If you haven't already, I humbly encourage you to read the book of Isaiah chapter 58, wherein the Lord speaks through the Prophet Isaiah, to the people, pertaining to the Fast that He has ordained. Secondly, again if not already,...  more
  • Barbara Jackson
    Barbara Jackson:
    Thank you LORD GOD for Strength and courage to keep going.
    • April 14, 2021
  • Sylvia Todd
    Sylvia Todd:
    Some veggie stir fry - just spaghetti noodles, with some broccoli, carrots and peppers in the house that we chopped up, and basically Worcestershire sauce - not bad !
    • April 13, 2021
  • Gail Petersen
    Gail Petersen:
    I have been checking the blog daily. I started a little later because of some family commitments I had. I am trying to stay away from sugars and other sweets and limiting my meat. Trying to load up on veggies and fruits. I have gastric reflux so I...  more
    • April 13, 2021
    • Gail Petersen
      Sylvia Todd Good morning, Gail, glad you have been able to jump in ! Yes, do be careful with the gastric reflux! We have liked the Daniel fast, because while we have been hungry because we may not eat enough, that is in our control to correct . God bless, sister !
  • Harold Edwards
    Harold Edwards:
    Good evening Pastor and Sister Todd,

    Thanks for obeying God in this Spiritual Endeavor of shutting down our plates, and whatever area those of you who are believing God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ for, as we afflict this flesh of ours for...  more
    • April 12, 2021
    • Harold Edwards
      Sylvia Todd Amen, Harold, agreed that prayer and fasting go hand-in-hand! Praying that He bless you with the energy needed to both wake up earlier, and still be alert and sharp for the rest of the day, and that He blesses you and yours with His presence and movement...  more
    • Harold Edwards
      Dion Todd Yes, prayer is important! Fasting ignites our prayers, but if we fail to pray then we miss out on a lot of the benefits of the fast. Also the Word, things begin to leap out at you that you never noticed before. But again, if you don't listen to it or...  more
    • Harold Edwards
      Scott Riegelmann Amen Harold, Thanks for sharing.
  • Desiderio Ciscokid Guerrero
    Desiderio Ciscokid Guerrero:
    It's a struggle but with the grace of God I'm doing well i had my ups and downs...but matter to recover being diabetes it is hard to give some items for my fasting so every now and then i cheat though i don't want to excep t i don't want my sugar to...  more
    • April 12, 2021
    • Desiderio Ciscokid Guerrero
      Sylvia Todd Desiderio, please do check with your doctor to be sure that the way you are fasting is working ok with your diabetes - there are many ways to fast . Praying that He heals the diabetes and shines His presence on you through your fast !
  • Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
    Liesel aka Lisa Wardle:
    Very little time to go online, but I have to say this that the Lord has been dealing with me in so many ways now either placing words in my mouth, thoughts in my head and last week an old and precious hymn: "Have Thine own way Lord! Have Thine own way!...  more
    • April 12, 2021
    • - edited
  • Bella Colliander
    Bella Colliander:
    Another beautiful day. Thank you Lord for allowing me to see the sun rise. My time spent with my brothers and sisters here at RHM whether fasting, praying or praising has made me hungry to know more about our Lord. This April time the Lord is showing...  more
    • April 12, 2021
  • Rachel Dawn
    Rachel Dawn:
    I decided to take a fast through the month of April of candy.....I hadn’t realized how much I actually ate....lol.....but since the fast has begun for me, the Father has been revealing SOOO many things to me about myself and how I view myself.....the...  more
    • April 12, 2021
  • Lynn Brown
    Lynn Brown:
    My intention for this fast was to fast from meat the first 7 days, fast from sweets the next 7, fast from dairy products the next 7 and then the remainder of the time to fast from TV and social media. The first 7 days from meat wasn't so hard. This past...  more
    • April 12, 2021
    • Lynn Brown
      Cathy Webb Praying that God provides the strength and breakthroughs in your life this week, Lynn! So thankful and encouraged by your faithful witness!
    • Lynn Brown
      Lynn Brown Thank you, Cathy! I am encouraged by you as well and grateful for your friendship and prayers!
    • Lynn Brown
      Sylvia Todd That is a cool way to fast, Lynn, interesting and creative to address particular areas specifically each week ! Praying that the Lord guides you if it truly is not enough - His wisdom is best ! Over the years, we have done quite a few different types of...  more
    • Lynn Brown
      Scott Riegelmann Amen Lynn, Hang in there sister I'm praying with you! You got this!!
  • Barbara Jackson
    Barbara Jackson:
    Thank you all for your strength, still holding on by the Grace of GOD
    • April 12, 2021
  • Sylvia Todd
    Sylvia Todd:
    One thing for those who are doing the Daniel fast with us, it probably helps to eat more frequently. When you (or at least we ) have meat, it stays in the system longer, so we feel full longer. That's actually probably not great, 'cause it's just sitting...  more
    • April 12, 2021