Category: Blog

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!

Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
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!

Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
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!

Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
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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By Ashley Shepherd

It’s interesting, sometimes the very things in life we are to hold actually have a hold on us. What if anything in your life are you holding onto a little to closely? Anything you can’t let go of ultimately is of to great of importance to you. This is why the Bible says, it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven (Matthew 19:24). For this reason, it is all to important that our possessions not posses us.

We are admonished not to store up for ourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21).

It’s not a matter of never having nice things, it’s a matter of what has your heart – the Creator or man made creations? I don’t know about you, but I want Him to have not just my heart, but all of me.

Take time today to take inventory of your heart and your surroundings and see if there is anything cluttering Him out today and choose to let go of whatever it is. As you let go, ask God if there is anyone you can bless with what you are releasing.

Just wait and see, as you allow yourself to be a conduit of blessing to others in this way a greater level of blessing will come your way. It may not be material blessings in nature, but blessings none the less because He knows He can trust you with what’s always been His.

Blessings to you and yours!

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

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By Ashley Shepherd

He brought me to His banqueting table, and His banner over me, is love.

Song of Solomon 2:4

What a beautiful depiction, Song of Solomon demonstrates Christ’s love towards us, the Church, His Bride. Another translation reads, “His intent towards me is love.” There is a banner of safety and protection found in His love.

All to often I think we forget His intent towards us and there is this apprehension to approach Him for fear of rejection or that somehow we are to unlovely in His eyes. Know dear ones, there is nothing that can separate us from the love that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39).

The price for our misdeeds was nailed to the cross. As I John 4:17-18 says, “This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

Jesus paid the price all we have to do is receive His free gift (Ephesians 6:8-9).

Rest in this assurance and keep pressing into Him. His grace, the power to do what we can’t do in and of ourselves is more than enough.

Therefore dear friends, “Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].(Hebrews 4:16 Amp)

Blessings!

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

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