Recent Blog Entries

  • 9 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...
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 Christian Bookstore

  • Joseph came in to them in the morning, and saw them, and saw that they were sad. He asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in custody in his master's house, saying, "Why do you look so sad today?" They said to him, "We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it." Joseph said to them, "Don't interpretations belong to God? Please tell it to me." The chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph Genesis 40:6-9 WEB.

    Joseph had been in prison for two years. He had been accused of attempted rape by Potiphar's wife, though he was innocent. The Lord was with Joseph in prison and caused him to excel at administration. He also began to use his gift of dream interpretation to help those around him, and word of it got back to Pharaoh.

    Joseph became known for his gifts of dream interpretation and administration. Later, when Pharaoh had a dream, Joseph was summoned to interpret it for him. Because of his gifting and his excellent spirit, he promoted Joseph.

    Pharaoh set Joseph free from prison and made him second-in-command of the most powerful nation in the world. Yet, if Joseph had become bitter because of his circumstances and not used his gifts, then Pharaoh may have never heard of him. Joseph might have remained in prison. So Joseph was set free because he used his talents right where God had put him, even if it was a prison. This is very important.

    I once had a great paying job with good benefits (by South Carolina standards anyway) as a supervisor over a maintenance crew. It had matched 401k retirement, insurance, and many other perks. The boss loved me, but I had to work twelve-hour shifts every weekend and couldn't attend church.

    After I fasted and prayed for a couple of weeks to get closer to the Lord, they suddenly laid me off. I was a bit shocked at first as I didn't see that coming. But I just knew in my heart that God had something better in store for me. I felt that I should be working in a Christian bookstore anyway or a Christian environment. Listening to the Bible, or gentle praise music all day, and talking with others about God. I assumed that He was working on making that happen.

    Wrong! After being out of work until the bills began to pile up around me, a door opened, and I had to take a job in the worst, darkest, hole-in-the-wall place I ever worked in my life. It was horrible in every way. It paid one-third of what I had been earning and had zero benefits. I operated a buffing machine and polished brass plumbing parts by hand. Everyone that worked there soon became the same color, black from the buffing compounds and green from the brass dust.

    It was dangerous work. There were giant, roaring, forty-year-old belt sanders the size of cars with no safety guards in place. The lengthy sanding belts just ran in the open air and would cut you in half if you bumped into them. Sometimes, the buffing machine would snatch the part away from you, wind it up, then fire it back at you like a canon. I was hit in the chest and knocked down a few times at the start.

    Almost everyone there did drugs openly, cursed like sailors, and death metal roared from giant speakers all day. It was skidrow. A dark, hopeless place, and everyone there was just trying to make it to another weekend.

    I prayed about leaving, but I could feel in my spirit that this is where I was supposed to be. The Lord gradually revealed to me that I had become prideful in my supervisor job. Now He was fixing that, and He asked if I would submit to His correction. I could leave if I had to, but I knew my place was there for a season. So I humbled myself by becoming the best employee they ever had. I swept the floor, picked up trash, and kept my work area immaculate. Where some polished a few hundred parts, I was soon polishing 7,000 a day.

    I prayed silently most of the day, listened to the Bible in headphones, and fasted as much as I ate. Though I was pretty fit and muscular at the start, I lost thirty pounds from the combined heat, work, and fasting. One day while working at my machine, I felt righteous indignation suddenly sweep over me. The Holy Spirit had enough of what the enemy was doing around us. He inspired me to claim the place in the name of Jesus Christ, and I declared it holy ground.

    Suddenly things began to change around me. A lot of the worst elements immediately left. They scattered like bugs. The ones who remained came to Christ. Then the owners fired the manager and promoted me to his place. We started the day out by praying together in a circle and attended church together. Since we were all believers, we played the Bible over the intercom all day. A mini-revival had broken out, and it was a beautiful thing.

    It had become a Christian environment. When I went to church, I would fill my entire row with guests. The pastor loved me. Soon after this, the brass plant merged with another. Then the Lord unexpectedly launched me into my own computer business for the next seventeen years. Just as Paul had crashlanded on the island of Malta, my promotion had taken a slight detour and saved some people along the way.

    Sometimes the way of promotion isn't lined with roses. Yet, serve God right where you are, right now. Believe me, it may not be a pretty place, but it will prepare you for what's coming. So do it wholeheartedly, and hold nothing back. Be the best floor sweeper they've ever seen in their lives. The Lord knows what you need, and if you submit, He'll provide it.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father, I submit to Your will for my life. Please forgive me for thinking that I know what is best, and remove the things that hold me back. Place me where You can use me, and speak to me in a way that I understand. I know that You are in full control and that You love me. Increase Your presence in my life, whatever the cost. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

    Note: For those participating in the Creation Photography weekly themes, here is this week's challenge from group leader, Dianna Wyles: Matthew 19:14 "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'" ~ 'A Child's View' will be our next fun loving theme and is wide open for creative interpretation We also encourage you to post anything else that inspires you as well. My photos this week reflect some creative ways I choose to express this theme, through my inner child's views both past and present (that would be my love for nature), and through the children I care for. So let the children come, and do not hinder them! Let us show them a world where the Creator's love covers everything and surpasses all obstacles!! Let us show them we can have child-like faith as well Stay safe! Stay blessed! This theme is here for the second of two weeks, as I will be taking some time for self care (more details in the group). Have a wonderful couple of weeks! Here is the link: Creation Photographers


    > You can subscribe to our daily devotional here <



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

 

Social Sharing

17 comments
  • 0
Scott Riegelmann
Scott Riegelmann Thank you pastor Dion for another timely message awesome job
August 17, 2021
  • 1
Brenda F
Brenda F

Amen

August 17, 2021
  • 1
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen

August 17, 2021
  • 1
Candy Laventure
Candy Laventure

Amen!

August 17, 2021
  • 1
Patricia Walker
Patricia Walker

Amen Heavenly Father,  Thank You for Your Grace and mercy over my life.  Your will be done.  AMEN

August 17, 2021
  • 1
Celeste Strenn
Celeste Strenn

Amen!

August 17, 2021
  • 1
Yvette York
Yvette York

Amen Good Morning Everyone

August 17, 2021
  • 1
Bella Colliander
Bella Colliander

Amen!

August 17, 2021
  • 1
Linda Clark
Linda Clark

Amen 

August 17, 2021
  • 1
Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson

Amen!!

August 17, 2021
  • 1
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

God since I submitted to your will I have felt more secure and peaceful. Thank you Amen

August 17, 2021
  • 1
David  Earlywine
David Earlywine

Amen 

August 17, 2021
  • 1
Susan Petho
Susan Petho

Amen!

August 17, 2021
  • 1
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer

Yes, amen Lord 

August 17, 2021
  • 1
Sherry McCosh
Sherry McCosh

Amen!! Thank you for todays devotion!!

 

August 17, 2021
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen!

August 18, 2021
  • 1
Patricia Stokes
Patricia Stokes

This was an exceptional devotion, what a great testiment of obedience & faith! Amen????????

August 19, 2021