Category: 2015 at 08:00AM

By Ashley Shepherd

Psalms 121:3-4 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

In a world heavy laden with uncertainties, anxieties, and fears, the word remains steadfast and true, the Father keeps a watchful eye on His beloved and it is His desire to give them rest. So the next time you become overwhelmed and restless dwell on these promises, make them your confession, and let His peace rest upon you.

Psalms 4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 3:5 I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.

Proverbs 3:24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Psalms 91:1-16 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, …

Psalms 127:2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Blessings!

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Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM

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By Ashley Shepherd

Today as I was driving some peaceful country backroads I was listening to Delerious? a music group that I listened to back in the day during times of revival. There’s nothing like music that can transport you to another place and time. There is just something about their music and music from that time which ignites and excites something inside me. In these moments I can only describe what can only be referred to as a tinge of His presence as experienced back then. The more I listened the more I felt Him come and invade my space. It was a precious time.

As I sat there driving I couldn’t help but pray, God visit us again. There is no describing the longing in which these words were uttered unless you’ve experienced and know first hand the very tangible nature of God during that time. The only way in which I can even begin to is the longing with which you long for first love when nothing in the world can satisfy and everything else pales in comparison, only to have that love taken away.

In the Spirit I saw what appeared to be a tearing away of a thin layer which divided. Folks, the vail has already been torn away. His withholding His presence has far less to do with His withholding and more to do with our hearts proximity to His. The only layer which divides is that which covers our hearts. His promise is, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:11).”

Will you seek Him today?

Blessings!

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By Ashley Shepherd

He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth. (Hos. 6:3)

“How does a person receive rain? Not by prying it loose from the sky but just by watching it fall, by standing in the downpour, by thanking Him for opening up the floodgates and sending what He knows we need and can’t get for ourselves, yet what He so faithfully, regularly, and graciously gives.”

Pricilla Shirer, from her book Fervent in reference to getting your passion back.

I love this! I want to stand in the downpour. Is that your longing today? It’s never to late for a tryst with Him. He longs to shower you with His presence. It can all begin with a simple prayer, come Holy Spirit. Make space for Him today and get alone in your quiet space. Back in the day we called this soaking. It is in these quiet moments He becomes so intimate to us.

Blessings!

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Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM

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By Ashley Shepherd

The other day I was in the midst of doing some mundane household chores and ever so lightly I heard my child’s cartoons playing in the background. The cartoon was discussing the ocean and the question of the day was, how did the ocean get salty.

As I went about my business I didn’t think much of it until all of a sudden the characters start singing, “the streams and the rivers bring salt to the ocean by all the rocks they rush over.” Something about that line gave me pause and I was reminded of the passage from the sermon on the mount.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:13-16).

I ask you today as I’ve asked myself, are you a vessel in which salt can run through and reach the world or have you lost your saltiness?

If you find yourself a little stagnant today ask the Lord to fill you afresh and anew and ask Him who or what is your “ocean” aka area of influence.

Be salty and shine brightly with His love, blessings!

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By Ashley Shepherd

Yes, no matter where you are what you’ve done, God does long for a relationship with you. He sees you through the eyes of a loving father and only has great plans for you. Your new beginning is waiting for you. Don’t let your past dictate your future, receive Him today, He’s waiting for you.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. II Corinthians 5:17

Blessings!

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By Ashley Shepherd

Over Labor Day weekend my husband and I decided to take an impromptu mini vacation at a cabin located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

On the drive there I was surfing channels on the radio trying to find a station and happened across 88.3 The Journey. The entire drive the Lord spoke to me through song. The station was wonderful and played many of my favorites in addition to some songs I hadn’t heard before.

Along the way we passed several little churches and one of them had a sign which read, “where is your journey taking you?” The question stopped me in my tracks and I began some deep contemplating as truth be told I have felt stuck for some time due to life circumstances and haven’t really allowed myself to hope or dream for some time.

As we arrived to our destination all of this was weighing heavily on my mind and I was overcome by a flood of emotion. Unbeknownst to me, the cabin was quietly situated across a hill of cattle grazing on grass so peacefully. Looking at them, I was reminded of the passage in Psalms which says, “He owns the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalms 50:10).

The statement in context has to do with sacrificial offerings and was a rebuke of sorts to the people for their religious efforts as He didn’t need their offerings rather all of them for He is the ultimate sacrifice and what they were offering was already His anyway.

In that moment two things happened, first I realized, He doesn’t need my works and failed efforts at orchestrating and making my life come together, rather He simply needs my obedience. Second, the phrase “He owns the cattle on a thousand hills” became alive and resounded within me.

If the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it (Psalms 24:1) than He has all that I need. I have to stop striving for what already is mine through His atoning sacrifice which made me His daughter and entitles me to all that it His through my God given birthright. He will supply all my needs according to His riches and glory (Philippians 4:19). He already knows what I have need of and my hearts desires (Matthew 6:8). Though doors may seem closed He opens doors no man can shut (Rev 3:8). He is working together everything to my good (Romans 8:28).

That folks right there is holding on to His promises. The same is true for you. Whatever situation or dream deferred you may be facing seek out His word and cling to His promises. You are His child and He only wants good things for you.

Blessings and don’t forget today whose child you are.

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By Ashley Shepherd

My daughter just turned 3, this fall marks my officially prepping her for prek here at home. I’m not doing anything formal by any means, but rather making an attempt to be more intentional in introducing her to new concepts as well as covering things she already knows to keep them fresh in her mind. As such, I picked up a few workbooks to aid in the endeavor and she absolutely loves them.

The other day we were working in one of her workbooks, she was to circle the pictures that had two pairs of shoes. The shoes were broken up in sections, but being young and new to all of this she just saw a page full of shoes, so when I told her to count the shoes, she counted one section and then proceeded to count the shoes in the next section. It wasn’t until I covered the other sections with my hands that she began to grasp the concept.

In that moment I realized, in the same way, God often times hides things from our view so our perception is altered and we can better grasp the bigger picture. If He reveals all at once we risk missing out on the tiny details, the fundamentals that hold everything together.

Not knowing the end result seems scary, but in the end it’s for our good. Trust in His plans for you today. Don’t lean on your own understanding, because there is greater depths to the things He has in store that our carnal minds can’t comprehend.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

I’ll leave you with the words to the chorus of a familiar hymn, perhaps you know it, rest knowing He holds your future.

Because He Lives, by Bill Gaither

(Chorus)
Because he lives
I can face tomorrow
Because he lives
All fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because he lives

Blessings!

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Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM

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By Ashley Shepherd

The day was drawing to an end, it had been a very long day full of birthday celebrations, and yet, though evening, I still had very much to do, all of which required multiple trips back and forth to my car. The only problem, you guessed it, I lost my keys, not once, not twice, but three times.

The reason, in the midst of all the chaos, my focus had been pulled in all types of directions and upon being interrupted time and time again, I simply laid my keys down any old where vs their allocated space.

Thankfully, in those moments, my brother was right there with me to say with a little chuckle, “looking for these” as he dangled the keys in the air. In the same way, God is always beside us taking in the moments of our lives and is ready and willing to help if we only ask.

I can’t help but think though, what if in those moments instead of becoming distracted and consumed by all that was around me, what if I took a moment and shifted my attention to Him? His word says, “You will keep perfectly peaceful the one whose mind remains focused on you, because he remains in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)

I don’t know about you, but the next time I tackle something head on I want to do it with a peaceful heart instead of an anxious one. Will you endeavor with me to invite Him into all the little day to day activities? He truly does care about the little things.

Blessings!

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Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM

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By Ashley Shepherd

Psalms Chapter 46 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

The Lord is a refuge, a place to which one flees in times of trouble.

Can it be said of you, that you run to Him in times of great peril?

He is ever-present, will you run to Him today?

Let Him be your fortress, your shield, your benefactor.

Be still before Him today.

Blessings!

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Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM

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By Ashley Shepherd

Ever since I can remember, my hearts cry has been, Lord I want to do your will. For the longest time I was afraid I would some how miss the mark and land outside God’s perfect plan for my life. It wasn’t till most recently that I am learning God’s will is more about being than doing.

Doing comes from a heart of devotion based on duty to ones master while being has all the more to do with relationship in proximity to Him. The problem is, though my desire to do what is right is a springboard to greatness, if not met in His perfect timing, there is a tendency to miss what He has in store for the here and now.

I love what Steffany Frizzell Gretzinger says, “ones a prophet hears, he cannot hear, and ones a prophet sees, he cannot see.” That isn’t necessarily to say that I am a prophet by any means. It’s merely to say that once God reveals Himself and His plans, it’s easy to get horse blinders and miss out on everything else going on around you.

That is why I think sometimes God only shows us things in glimpses, because when greater revelation comes greater responsibility is requiered. Revelation requires trust.

What God said to me in the depths of my soul is, those to whom He is revealing He is entrusting with His greatest secrets. The desires, hopes, and dreams in your heart are the very things I’ve spoken into the recesses of our soul like a father speaks over His children while they are yet young.

That is why I think Habakuk 2:3 says, this vision is for an appointed time and though it terry wait for it (paraphrased).

There is a maturing process that launches us into the plans and purposes He holds for us. The very trials we are facing right now are the training grounds in which
He is using to temper us and produce character that will sustain is to the end (see Romans 5:3-5 and James 1:2-4).

Delayed revelation is not His withholding Himself from us, it’s His refining us. Take heart He is not punishing you dear one. Do not grow weary in well doing for at the proper time, you will reap a harvest if you do not faint (Galatians 6:9).

This is the promise I leave with you today, Psalms 84:11 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Blessings!

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Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM

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