Devotions – Is This What You Are Looking For?

September 29, 2015

Thoughts on the Movie, “The War Room

Yesterday we saw the movie, “The War Room.” Folks if you know my life or have been in one of my many prayer closets that I’ve built where I lived, you know this movie is right up my alley. I believe every person who calls themselves “Christian” that lives in America or who attends a church at least semi-regularly should see this movie before it leaves theaters. Lori and I were the only ones in the theater and I got to stand and shout and praise Jesus as loud as I wanted through the whole movie. What a blessing. At the end, I was down on my knees there in NC, praying for people to make their own prayer closet.

After Lori encouraging me to do it, I am going to begin to share some ideas for anyone out there that wants to start their own prayer closet. The book I published in 2013, just before Malachi was born is entitled, “The Warrior’s Manual,” and inside the book I have a whole section on prayers we can pray as well as types of prayer, prayer strategy and on making your own prayer closet. These articles will be published right here so keep your eyes open over the next weeks.

It is so cool to watch a movie that shares the heart GOD gave me back in 1992 when I made my first space for prayer in my bedroom in Statesville, NC with a huge cross and a bean bag chair where I sat and prayed and read the Word of GOD for hours. In 1995, I built my first prayer closet. Now, I have had 11.

I’ve moved a lot while doing ministry and church planting.

Here is a clip from the movie that really speaks on being on Fire for GOD.

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September 16, 2015

Finding Where The Father Is Working & Joining

I have found my great love again for ministry. We have just begun ministering through counseling and prayer at the local food bank with an amazing pastoral team and food bank veterans with a food bank that has been around 20 years. After 4.5 hours of serving, counseling and praying for 40 families today with the amazing team, I found myself in the middle of Isaiah 61. Reminded me of Blood n Fire Ministries a good bit, for all my old BNF peeps.

In my community and the people who serve it. I love the families we served. I am so thankful for all the families that would allow us to be a part of their lives. Just so thankful today. GOD bless the good things that are happening in our world. I am encouraged today by these amazing people.

I just wanted to say that if you are out there and you are wanting to get in the middle of GOD’s heart for your community, find a way to serve with Sporit Filled people who are Jesus centered and service hearted. The challenge is doing our outreach and service in Jesus’ name unapologetically and yet at the same time not being the kind of people that force our faith on people. This wonderful balance allows everyone involved to breathe and receieve.

What an awesome thing to be a part of something like this. Go find your fit in your community. If you are only doing things for yourself or your family with no other care for others, you are missing out on the best part of Christianity. “The Son only does what HE sees HIS FATHER doing… The FATHER is always at work.” Now all we have to do is find where HE is working and join HIM.

We just found where HE is working in our town. Have you found the places in your town?

Just do it!

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September 11, 2015

May We Never Forget

As time moves on and we get older, there is a new generation coming up under us that were born after the year 2001. They will never remember exactly where they were the moment they got the news. They will never remember the sting of losing someone dear. They do not have the shared history of those of us who do remember the fateful day of 9/11/2001.

This is not the post you think it is. I am not writing to say that we need to remember to carry our baggage and pain. I am not stirring nationalism or pride. And believe me, I am not trying to forget what happened either.

May we never forget. May we never turn our eyes. May we hold tightly to the dear values that brought us through that time. Today, take a moment to remember. Share a GOOD story from one that you lost. Share a GOOD memory from one that laid down their life. Remember the flags, the police, the firefighters, the national guard, the military and more that rose to the occasion as heroes. REMEMBER!

Never forget! It’s the least we can do for the price that was paid that day. Simply remember.

And as you do, also remember the day when all of Congress held hands and prayed. Remember how the flags were draped over buildings and rubble with honor instead of burned and desecrated. Remember when our military were celebrated for their valor. Remember.

Then point your eyes to those who are terrorized today around our world and instead of turning a deaf ear or looking away or even as some horrid people have done in kicking refugees when they are down, let our patriotism rise and let us pray for a nation, our leaders, the world and allow GOD to speak into us how we could get involved in helping others this day in memoriam for those who gave so much!

Remember!

Thank you to all who served on 9/11/2001. Thank you to everyone who serves today.

And now I pray, “thank you, LORD for allowing me to live in this great nation called America. May I never forget the great responsibility you have given me in this land of opportunity. And LORD, be with all who have lost both before and today. I will remember you, LORD. Remember mercy, today.”

Amen.

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August 5, 2015

From the Front Porch

Over the last few weeks there have been a ton of folks that have been sharing things they are reading and discussing on social media sites. And I’ve just had some thoughts on all the different distractions we have allowed to take our focus.

As I spoke to someone today on the phone, I went on this little side thought and Lori thought it was worth a share. So, be warned before you listen, it’s about the “crap” we take in. My advice, regulate what you take in and regulate what you look at and listen to. And remember, whatever you put in is what you will get out in the long run!

Anybody want some pie?

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July 13, 2015

Christus Victor

Isn’t it amazing that we view our reality through the lenses in which we wear? I mean, if you wake in the morning with a headache, is the day a “headache” kind of day? If we wake in the morning and there are storm clouds and pouring cold drenching rain, does that affect the way you see the day? I mean, really it’s hard to see the sun when the clouds are blocking it.

However, isn’t it true that the sun is always shining whether the clouds block or not?

This is the way I see the days and times in which we live. The sun is shining whether or not there are clouds in the way of my view. I awake and choose to remember the sun is shining whether I see it or not! The clouds don’t change the reality. They simply impede my view of reality.

I have learned over the years that fads and movements have a tendency of running their course and where one generation a pendulum swings one way, the very next will in rebellion swing that pendulum the opposite way.

Does the pendulum’s swing change anything about the reality that what is in the Bible is what it is? No. Truth is truth. The WORD is the WORD.

Let’s ask another question. Is Christ on the throne? Is HE? Is HE on the throne when the Nero’s of the world rule? Is HE on the throne when the church is under pressure or persecuted? Is HE on the throne when we are afraid or things are unknown? Yes. HE has NOT fallen off the throne!!!!! HE has NOT changed, shaken or even been surprised.

Jesus is on the throne. Here is the reality… Christus Victor! Christ is already Victor! HE is victor in our atonement. HE is victor in our struggle. HE is victor. Enough said. People can say what they want. Nothing changes HIS victory.

Therefore I can live in that reality. Nothing else matters. Are there clouds some days when we wake? Yes! Do they change the fact that the sun is still shining and burning and alive?

NO!

Grrrrrrrrrrr!

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July 10, 2015

The Spiritually Lazy Saint – Oswald Chambers

I wanted to share this devotion from Oswald Chambers’ book, “My Utmost for His Highest.” It spoke to me today. I wonder if we can identify with this passage?

Read on:

The Spiritually Lazy Saint

Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together . . . -Hebrews 10:24-25

We are all capable of being spiritually lazy saints. We want to stay off the rough roads of life, and our primary objective is to secure a peaceful retreat from the world. The ideas put forth in these verses from Hebrews 10 are those of stirring up one another and of keeping ourselves together. Both of these require initiative- our willingness to take the first step toward Christ-realization, not the initiative toward self-realization. To live a distant, withdrawn, and secluded life is diametrically opposed to spirituality as Jesus Christ taught it.

The true test of our spirituality occurs when we come up against injustice, degradation, ingratitude, and turmoil, all of which have the tendency to make us spiritually lazy. While being tested, we want to use prayer and Bible reading for the purpose of finding a quiet retreat. We use God only for the sake of getting peace and joy. We seek only our enjoyment of Jesus Christ, not a true realization of Him. This is the first step in the wrong direction. All these things we are seeking are simply effects, and yet we try to make them causes.

“Yes, I think it is right,” Peter said, “. . . to stir you up by reminding you . . .” (2 Peter 1:13). It is a most disturbing thing to be hit squarely in the stomach by someone being used of God to stir us up- someone who is full of spiritual activity. Simple active work and spiritual activity are not the same thing. Active work can actually be the counterfeit of spiritual activity. The real danger in spiritual laziness is that we do not want to be stirred up- all we want to hear about is a spiritual retirement from the world. Yet Jesus Christ never encourages the idea of retirement- He says, “Go and tell My brethren . . .” (Matthew 28:10).

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December 15, 2008

Experiencing GOD | Devotional | Monday, December 15, 2008

Monday, December 15, 2008

___________________

You guys out there that no me can appreciate the fact that this is the devotional passage for today! I love this passage and it is interesting to me to see it here on one of my favorite journals since I believe that this is one of the key verses for the church this year.

Very neat.

Well, I just thought I would share this with ya’

Enjoy!

___________________

He Has Shown You

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

God never conceals His expectations from us. We never have to guess how we should live. In response to the misguided ways in which people sought to please God, the prophet Micah clearly explained what God does and does not expect. The people asked: Should we come to God with many offerings? Should we bring a thousand rams and ten thousand rivers of oil? Would God be pleased if we gave our firstborn child to Him to express our devotion? (Mic. 6:6–7). Micah’s response was straightforward: “He has shown you, O man, what is good.”

Micah listed three things God desires. First, He wants us to show justice. The desire to receive justice is not enough. We must also be absolutely just in the way we treat others. If we have given our word, we should keep it with complete integrity. If we have people working for us, we should treat them as fairly as Jesus would. We should act justly in every relationship.

Second, we are to love mercy. The knowledge that we have received undeserved mercy from God should motivate us to show mercy to others. We must resist the temptation to retaliate against those who have wronged us, choosing to show them mercy instead.

Finally, God requires us to walk humbly with Him. God does not ask us for spectacular acts of service—He asks for humility. At times we try to make the Christian life far more complicated than it is. We may hide behind questions about the Bible or uncertainty about the second coming of Christ. We can allow ourselves to become distracted in order to avoid confronting what God has clearly told us to do today. If we strive to be completely obedient in the basics, the more complex assignments will become clear.

February 5, 2007

the Thread 2.5.2007 Volume 3.3

thread
Good Morning! (Welcome Message)

Welcome again to the second official version of the Thread Online. I hope that you have enjoyed our new way of doing our newsletter. If you are not receiving the newsletter and you would like to, please email us at: dustinhedrick(at)tapestrychurch.org. Of course, please change the “(at)” to the @ sign. We do this to keep from being spammed.

Also, let us know if there are other types of content or columns that you would like to see here. I am contemplating adding a column for the creative. And before I do, we need you to send your poetry, song lyrics or whatever to be added here. The Thread has a few thousand readers now and this is your opportunity to have your creative works published and shared worldwide.

Tapestry, I would also like to say that I truly love you guys. This year has been an amazing year already with all the growth, the change, the new faces, the new worship, the new ministries and the maturing ministries that have been here a while. We are now nearing our third year as a church and we have made great advances. I simply want to say again thank you for calling me your pastor and for calling the Tapestry Home! And if you are a newer person, just entering the doors or contemplating visiting, come on in. This is my invitation! Dinner will be on me when you do!

Thanks for staying with us and we pray that the Lord continues to richly bless you and yours!

Love you guys!

inspire
Inspire! (Quote of the Week)

“Most people don’t recognize opportunity when it comes, because it’s usually dressed in overalls and looks a lot like work.”
-Thomas Edison

Is This What You Are Looking For?

Category: Devotions

He Has Shown You