Category: Authentic

By Ashley Shepherd

Many times in life we come to a cross road and we’re left to decide, resist change or take a leap of faith. It’s an uncomfortable feeling because it means leaving our comfort zone, the familiar. Change is scary and because of this we tend to straddle the line giving way to compromise. The thing is, you can’t move forward with one foot in the past.

Philippians 3:13b I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.

Will you dare to move forward today? He’ll be with you every step of the way.

Blessings!

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

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By Ashley Shepherd

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you
Except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion),
And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness].

As I read this I was struck by the last phrase, “walk humbly with your God.” I think all to often as we read this portion of the text we gloss over it without truly grasping its meaning. There is a depth to this meaning of which we are called. Thinking over the phrase, I was continually drawn to Enoch and so I began to study about him. In doing so I came across a blog post by a retired minister who so clearly articulated my feelings and thoughts I decided to share it here. I hope it blesses you.

Blog Post By Kirk M. At Christianblog.Com

We all grow comfortable with things the longer we use them. We all grow comfortable with people the longer we know them. The same could be said regarding our walk with God. The longer we do it, the more comfortable we become and the more intimate we are with God.

In scripture walking with God refers to our manner of life and how we conduct ourselves. There are in the Bible four men of whom it is said “walked with God”. I believe it would be highly beneficial for us to meet these four gentlemen and understand a little about them and what they did that earned them this special distinction of being someone who walked with God.

As great as Moses, David, Paul and Peter were; the Bible never specifically states that they “walked with God” (even though we know they did). Three of these four men lived before the Law was given to Moses and thus lived during the time of so-called “unwritten law”.

In Genesis 5:21-24 we see the first man who walked with God:

“And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”

Enoch has the distinction of being the first man who walked with God. It should be noted that in the Hebrew, the word “walked” implies a habitual walking and not just a step here or there. Enoch walked with God for 300 years after the birth of Methuselah. Most of us have problems walking with God for 300 seconds.

All we know from Genesis is that Enoch was 65 when Methuselah was born and he lived another 300 years and “God took him”. This phrase does nothing but generate questions, with wondering where God took him being at the top of the list. Obviously God did something for Enoch which was unique and entirely special for him.

As much as we would like to know more about Enoch, it is not found in Genesis for the above verses are all that is written about him. The only other information we can find that would shed some light on what Enoch did which caused God to say he walked with Him and precipitated God “taking him” is found in Hebrews 11:5:

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”

Without getting all technical, the world ‚‚¬‚Å “translated” would be better understood to be “transferred” or “transported”. Enoch pleased God by walking with Him and as a result God transported him to heaven so he would not see death. How do we please God? Verse 6 tells us:

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

So, as we wrap up looking at the first man who walked with God, we see that it was Enoch who not only walked with Him but pleased Him because he diligently sought Him in faith. There is so much we can learn from Enoch even though there is very little written about him. Whatever he did and however he lived, two things are for certain. Enoch walked with God and he pleased God.

What greater two things could we ever strive for in this life than to be as Enoch and walk with our God and please Him through our absolute faith in Him.

——-

I was challenged by the word “walk” implying a habitual walking and not just a step here or there. This type of walking requires commitment, it requires trust, and a lot of times it requires blind faith which is why I love how the writer referenced Hebrews 11:6. This verse as a little girl was my favorite and yet till today I had yet to fully grasp all that is required to truly have an unrelenting faith and to diligently seek Him. It’s a life of surrender, not my will but your will be done and trusting His will is best. When we don’t follow His lead we settle for second best. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want an Ishmael, I want my promise even if it doesn’t come when how I think it should.

Maybe this to is your hearts desire but you like me have trouble trusting, may I leave a song and encourage you to do as it says, you wont be disappointed.

The Dreams I Dream For You – Avalon

You taste the tears
You’re lost in sorrow
You see your yesterdays
I see tomorrow
You see the darkness
I see the spark
You know your failures
But I know your heart
(Chorus:)
The dreams I dream for you
Are deeper than the ones you’re clinging to
More precious than the finest things you knew
And truer than the treasures you pursue
Let the old dreams die
Like stars that fade from view
Then take the cup I offer
And drink deeply of
The dreams I dream for you
You see your shame
But I see your glory
You’ve read one page
I know the story
I hold a vision
That you’ll become
As you grow into the truth
As you learn to walk in love
(Chorus)
Let the old dreams die
Like stars that fade from view
Then take the cup I offer
And drink deeply of
The dreams I dream for you
Correct these lyrics

He’s dreaming for you, be blessed!

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

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By Ashley Shepherd

Ecclesiastes 3:1

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.

It’s only a season, the short and simple phrase whispered in my spirit. Sometimes we forget, I forgot. You see God isn’t withholding the blessing. He releases the blessing with the answer of a yes in accordance to the seasons of our lives. He answers line upon line, precept upon precept until the fulfillment of the promise is accomplished in our lives.

The deferring of of one promise is to accomplish another in our lives lest one promise cancel out another. One promise builds upon another. The cultivation of a promise takes time.

Think about it, some of the least inhabitable places are those which fail to experience all of the seasons. The clearest of example is that of a desert. Little if anything grows in the desert and promises require our spiritual growth in order to have the capacity to receive them . If we are to grow we must be willing to experience the seasons.

So whatever season you are facing know it is not without purpose. He has wonderful plans for your life.

Blessings!

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

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By Ashley Shepherd

Each night before my head hits the pillow I sneak in and take one last peak of my kiddos and tuck them in. As I stand there and stare at them intently in awe they are mine I study their features and wonder what they will grow to be. These are precious times and I’m overwhelmed with love for them knowing they are a part of me, they are mine.

I see all to often photos of other peoples kiddos captured during similar sacred moments and can’t help but think how our father in heaven who knitted us together in our mothers very womb must do the same. Do you know how special and cherished you are? Take some time today and read Psalms 134, you wont be sorry.

Blessings!

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

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By Ashley Shepherd

My husband had a chihuahua named Yoda when We first got married. I absolutely loved him. He passed a few years ago, but still holds a a very special place in our hearts. He had an adorable little personality and even when he was being “bad” he couldn’t help but look cute. He had this sweet little way of inching out with his paw toward something he wanted when you’d tell him to stay. He just couldn’t resist.

I know this is a “cute” story, but I couldn’t help of thinking how this illustrates our hearts sometimes, “staying” when told but inching out with our hearts ever so slightly towards our own desires.

The truth is, we can obey, yet still disobey if our hearts don’t align with our actions. That’s why every so often we feel this repeated tug in our hearts despite our “thinking” we’re walking in obedience. It’s His telling us ever so kindly, don’t do it.

It isn’t even necessarily that our desires are wrong in nature, it’s a matter of whether or not your hearts affections surpass our affections for Him.

Will you check your heart today?

I John 5:21 Amp

Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)–[from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be).

Blessings!

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

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By Ashley Shepherd

Psalms 91:15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.

I love this tweet. It reminded me of all the different State Farm Commercials where they show people in harms way and then all of a sudden they call their insurance agency and “poof” they come to the rescue. I especially love the buffalo commercial where two guys are stuck in a car with buffalo charging at them and when the insurer arrives he says, sing it again, sing it again, and so they sing the famous jingle, “like a good neighbor, state farm is there” adding, “in my office” in which case they are teleported to the office.

Though funny in nature, I think this is a great depiction of just what exactly Christ does for us. We call on Him and He rescues us and plucks us up from the mire. If you find yourself in a sticky situation, won’t you call on Him today?

Blessings!

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

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By Ashley Shepherd

Ephesians 2:8-9Amplified Bible (AMP)

For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].

Another definition of grace is, the ability to do what you can’t do in and of yourself.

In other words, He Jesus, did only what He could do through His sacrifice on the cross. There was no other way, for in the garden that dreadful night He said, if there be any other way take this cup from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will. A second time He prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done. And a third time, saying the same thing once more.

He asked crying aloud in angst till He bled, not once, not twice, but three times for His cup to be taken from Him yet it was not. Why is it then we strive to earn His love and forgiveness. We’ve got to stop this, as when we do, it’s as if His dying was for not. We don’t have to earn it. There is nothing we can do to deserve it. We just need to accept it. He made His decision long ago on the cross and died for you and me while we were yet in sin. It is finished!

Blessings!

Passage References: Matthew 28:39,42,44 & Romans 5:8

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

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By Ashley Shepherd

Proverbs 24:16 For though he falls seven times, he will get up again; it’s the wicked who fail under stress.

As Dustin always says, “push back the push back.” Don’t succumb to the stressors in life, God is waiting for you to get back up again.

Remember:

He is for you, not against you. Romans 8:31

You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Phillippians 4:13

You are more than a conquer. Romans 8:37

Blessings!

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

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By Ashley Shepherd

If you’ve ever been in a relationship than you know that most go through stages. The first stage of many is infatuation where anything and everything about the person intrigues you and you wait in response to their every move. When they’re not around you, you’re love sick and it’s as if a piece of you is missing. Over time, however, if not careful, one of the other parties will wane in their passion taking for granted the other, the love slowly dissipates, and the longing rescinds. What was passion aflame becomes ashes.

How does this happen, one stops pursuing. The sad part is, He is never the one to stop pursuing, we are. He longs in anticipation to see us return. Those close moments when He’s heard clearest are but moments away if we only return.

Jeremiah 31:3b “I have loved you, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”

Blessings!

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

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