This is the story of how Lori and I met, courted and married. Folks, this is not a normal meeting story. There was a crazy amount of GOD stuff involved. I am so thankful for this video we recorded with an old camera back in 2004.
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When I read this tweet by Dustin, I couldn’t help but think, if I were God why might this be true to me? As I pondered this question I realized, music of this sort is music in it’s purest form and for the most part the songs sang tell a story, a story more often than not filled with laughter, pain, or love. It is a beautiful depiction of honesty and transparency often revealing parts of a person which could never be seen, felt, or touched otherwise.
This reminds me of the psalmist David which was know for such transparency. He wasn’t afraid of raw emotion and vulnerability. This I think is what the Lord longs for even in the midst of the messiness of life. Will you dare to pour out your hearts song before Him today?
Psalms 62:8 Confide in him at all times, ye people; pour out your heart before him: God is our refuge. Selah.
Blessings!
Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM
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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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Have you ever been in a season of unrest, a subdued unsettledness in the midst of the unknown, a time of being pressed at every side with no clear direction from the Lord as all seems silent? In these seasons it’s as if the heart becomes numb lacking all feeling and a weight is laid heavily upon ones chest. The mind wanders in angst and bubbling from within the only thing that surfaces is anger. Not an anger in the truest sense of the word, rather an upset.
More recently, I was able to clearly define all of the above in my own life as frustration. Lately in the midst of my upset when asked what’s wrong, I’ve been saying, I don’t know, I’m just “frustrated.” It wasn’t until tonight that I realized my voicing this was discernment of a more deep-seated issue. I say this to say, pay attention to what your words give voice to.
I’ve been calling my feeling by name, but with out a clear understanding of the word I have been blinded. Proverbs 4:7 admonishes us to “Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” When you have knowledge and when you have understanding, your spiritual eyes become open. Without them, the word says we perish (Hosea 4:5).
The definition of frustration is as follows:
: to cause (someone) to feel angry, discouraged, or upset because of not being able to do something
: to prevent (efforts, plans, etc.) from succeeding : to keep (someone) from doing something
1 a : to balk or defeat in an endeavor b : to induce feelings of discouragement in
2 a (1) : to make ineffectual : bring to nothing (2) : impede, obstruct
A word synonymous with this word is, thwart or block.
That one word “block” surmised exactly what the enemy has been doing in my life, blocking me. This was the exact word used within a word of knowledge given to me as an assault against my purposes in life. In my life their has been a continual pattern of “blocking” and now not only do I know the attack, but I know the battle plan and the enemies weapon of choice – discouragement.
I share this with you as the enemy is not that clever or diverse in his tactics. If you to find yourself in a similar situation or some other pattern in your life has been highlighted by God, take note of it, pay attention and see the victory of the Lord. Your “aha” moment is just around the corner. Don’t merely give way to your feelings or be ruled by them rather invite Holy Spirit to intervene. He gives light to our words, we need only to pay attention.
That being said, discernment isn’t nearly enough, seek God out for your counter attack. As you do, He will highlight the specifics for your given situation. Be intentional in your response to His leading and allow Him to navigate the way.
As you go about your week lets purpose to cover one another in prayer, feel free to make specific requests in the comments section or post the strategies God has given you throughout the week.
Blessings!
Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM
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From the moment I sat down to wright everything around me became a distraction. Suddenly the dog began to whine to go out and be fed, the children that are supposed to be sleeping are now playing and talking to one another, and the sound of my husband in the other room joking with friends online which I generally block out became a nuisance. This in correlation with all the other thoughts inside my head pulling for my attention set me in a whirlwind.
It seems that is one of the enemies greatest tactics, to cause one to lose focus. When we lose our focus we loose our peace. The word says, “You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character]. Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation]” Isaiah 26:3. The opposite is true when we are not fixed on Him.
This is why it is upmost importance as Paul teaches, to take every thought captive that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. II Corinthians 10:5
When you begin to feel out of sorts and your external circumstances are dictating your emotions, it’s time to stop and take inventory and say, these are not my feelings I will not come in agreement with them or give them thought. Reposition your focus and align your spirit with His.
When we do this our hearts become settled. This word settled resonated in my spirit and when I looked up its meaning, in one instance it referred to a settlement, taking up ones residence. In the spiritual sense our hearts become inhabited as the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts. This is the epitome of abiding as referred to in John 15.
True abiding despite circumstance gives fruit to the inner works of His spirit and as an outflow we see love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control demonstrated in our lives Galatians 5:22.
Take time to be with Him today, quiet yourself before Him, and let His presence take root in your hearts today. Peace is possible through Him. He truly does bring out the very best in all of us.
Blessings!
Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM
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The Book – Scotts Elementary School
The school I grew up going to a Scott’s elementary. My mom worked as a teacher so I got to start going to elementary school when I was four years old. It wasn’t official or anything but I got to go as long as I didn’t call her mom and I called her miss Hedrick. I made a lot of friends with the people that run the class ahead of me. So I actually got to do kindergarten twice. Not because I had to go but because I wanted to. In that first year of kindergarten I made a really close friend with the boy that was one year older than me. His name was Joseph Warren.
Joseph
Joseph was the best friend a guy could have. We grew up going to each other’s house like every weekend. He and I love the same things. We both loved he-man. Even though I wasn’t allowed to watch He-Man. We both love to read. We both love to draw. We both love to be in the woods. We both love to play outside. We both were able to get around the farm in the woods and play outside very well. And we love to do all the things the boys do. We used to spend a lot of time down at the creek at his house. I remember this one time we were down there and we got our feet stuck in the salamander mud. I had his boots on however whenever I got my foot out I lost one of his boots and we could never find in that mud. We ran all the way back to the house he went to boots me with one. Is mom near killed us because that. And you can imagine what kind of messed two boys make scrambling into a house to get a shower after being in salamander mother the creek up to their knees.
We spent a lot of time playing in their barn. There is a much better in the entire world then climbing around in barns. We would climb up into the hey we climb around and play it was just the best time the boys could have.
Joseph also had a pony. We had horses to but his pony was the coolest. We would ride that pony everywhere all over the place it was so much fun. His dad even built a corral right outside their house.
Joseph’s dad had chicken houses. Inside the chicken houses they’re being hundreds if not 1000 chickens. We would help them pick up eggs and then we would go play. Chores didn’t feel like chores whenever you did them with Joseph.
Whenever we couldn’t go outside because it’s too cold or too wet we make tents right in their living room. Ms. Marlene would let us move all of the furniture around and take big quilts and covers and sheets and make giant tents. We could play in these tenths for hours. It’s amazing how little you watch TV when you’re having this much fun.
Joseph and I used to spend a lot of time outside catching animals and bugs and all kinds of stuff like that. We would turn over rocks and go down the creek and find him and then we would catch them. After we would catch him we would let them go. Most to the time we would. Once we got done we would go back to the house at dark. We would spend the night’s going to the encyclopedias and drawing and writing everything that we saw. I never knew two boys that would rewrite encyclopedias. We literally did this every time we were together. It’s probably what made me so well read.
When Joseph would come over to my house he was so good to play with me in my brother Shannon. He always included my little brother and we would have the greatest times together as the three of us played.
From the time Joseph was in kindergarten to to the time he was in fourth grade we were thick as thieves. We literally spent every weekend at each other’s houses. They were probably only a couple weekends of the entire years that we knew each other that we did not spend in each others houses. Those are probably weekends for holidays but even as those we would spend any days we have a school together. Whole chunks of the summer we would spend each other’s house too. Since we were only a few miles from each other’s house it was very easy for parents to drop us off. My mom says even to this day it was like we had another brother.
And then there was this one weekend…
I will never forget this weekend to save my life. Joseph it said that he want to come over to my house and then it was his turn to come over. But for some reason I did I didn’t want to get together I don’t really remember why. I actually never told anybody about this except for Lori and a couple others later here in life. But as a child I never told anyone. I guess I felt too much guilt and shame and regret.
Later that weekend my mom and dad took me to my grandmothers house and left me there with my little brother and didn’t tell me what was going on. They had gotten a call from Joseph’s mother and it was not good. There’s been a horrible accident. And I was too young to really know about it. When my mom and dad came back home from the hospital they really upset. They came in and sat me down and told me that Joseph had been in a horrible accident. Even though I forgotten a number of things for my life due to later events, health and trauma, I’ve never actually forgotten this day. On my grandmothers floor I remember I fell down and wept as my mom and dad told me that Joseph was dying. Can you imagine telling your eight-year-old boy that his best friend he was close as a brother was dying after four years of such close relationship? Can you imagine being a child being told that someone that was his near and dear to them as their own self was dying? Some of you’ve experienced this. We have something in common.
As I lie on the floor I remember praying heal him Jesus heal him please heal him.
Joseph was not healed.
I don’t know why I actually expected Joseph to be healed. I didn’t actually know anyone that was healed. The church I grew up and didn’t believe in supernatural healing. And after my prayer wasn’t answered neither did I.
In my head I can still see the image of the funeral at the little church and the graveside. I was an honorary pallbearer. These things stick with you all your life. This loss this emptiness I felt left me in a place where there was something missing. It even hardened me toward God though I love God I just felt like he was very far away. From that moment I begin to pray every day that I could die too so I could be in heaven with Joseph. I often cried and spent time alone in my room. My mom was really worried that I was too depressed. I was too depressed I didn’t want to live anymore. I immediately started having recurring dream. In the dream Joseph and I were escaping a monster. The monster was coming up the staircase at a house that look much like his house. We would run upstairs screaming and hide under the couch. Joseph never made it under the couch. As the monster would grab him I would awaken. I had this dream literally every night. I was tormented at the loss of my friend. And I was fearful of sleeping. I remember that my mom and dad did not like me coming to their room. So because I knew they’d be angry at me and they really didn’t want me nearby I would lie under the edge of the bed and pull the covers and curl them over me from their bed. And I would quietly try to go to sleep and hide under the bed so that I would not be gotten by my fear and I wouldn’t be in trouble with my parents.
Since the depression and the recurring nightmares wouldn’t go away my mom decided to get someone to speak to me. I don’t remember all of the people that tried to counsel me but all I do remember is none of it worked. There was one specific pastor that I love dearly his name was Rev. Raymer and he did try hard. However nothing was successful. Into this day I don’t know that I’ve ever gotten over the loss. I don’t know that I want to. I always want to feel.
I miss Joseph. Much of what I am today is literally built on the kindness and compassion and care I saw in my best friend Joseph. It made it hard for me to care about anyone else deeply. However through healing of God’s touch I would find in my college years that God would not only heal me of my pain but give me deeper love through it.
I would not be who I am today without Joseph.
His name resonates with the story of Joseph in the Bible for me. And now in this season of my life people are saying that I am a “Joseph.” It’s so interesting. This best friend from all those years back had the greatest affect on my life and now part of who I am as a compassionate, open hearted person is due to that little one named Joseph. If for no other reason, I cannot wait till heaven. The same thought is in my mind from all those years back, “I am so glad that Joseph Warren accepted Jesus Christ into his heart as a little boy and that he showed Jesus to me as a friend and that now since Jesus is in my heart I will get to see him again. I cannot wait to see Joseph again.”
BFF!
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But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
There are all kinds of reasons people deem themselves unloveable, perhaps because they’ve not experienced the love of an earthly mother or father or perhaps because they feel they’ve gone to far off the beaten path and shame and guilt plague them. No matter the story, remember this, He chose you in your worst state and deemed you valuable to Him. You have worth in the kingdom and if it were only you He’d do it all again. No one is unloveable and nothing is unforgivable. He’s waiting for you to come Home.
Did you hear that, I think He said it again, “I Love You”……God
Blessings!
Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM
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What is blessing? Is it material possessions, a kind word, something we pray over a meal, a polite remark after someone sneezes?
In today’s society the word blessings is common place and lacks significant meaning. As such, it’s easy to gloss over these words and not allow the reality of them take root in our hearts.
I want you right now where you are to close your eyes and imagine the Father as He extends His right arm and places His right hand on your head in full authority and power as He decrees life and blessing over you and releases your inheritance.
Through this symbolic act He not only accepts you by way of public proclamation as His child, but in the same way He says all that is mine you now have direct access to, you are a mere extension and reflection of me.
It is a call into your place of true identity, out of bondage and into life. Everything that once held you bound is now broken and you are made whole.
Do you realize whose child you are, do you!
Father may the reality of this ring true in the lives of all that are reading. Let the tangibleness of your spirit resonate within them. Shatter limitations, break bondages, and release freedom today. May we all walk in the power and authority you have placed within us. Set your children free and by your divine nature release supernatural blessings beyond human standards.
Blessings!
Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM
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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!
Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM
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“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17New Living Translation (NLT)
The Lord celebrates you and is passionate about you. There is nothing more that brings joy to the heart of the father than His children. You are the apple of His eye, His most prized treasure. He formed you in your mother’s womb. The very imprint of His hands resides on you. He doesn’t make mistakes. He has wonderful plans in store for you. Don’t doubt the father’s love today, allow Him to open the eyes of your understanding so you the breadth, the length, and the height of His Love for you. Dear one, nothing can separate you from the Love of the Father.
Scripture References:
Psalms 17:8, Deuteronomy 26:18, I Peter 2:9, Psalms 139:13, Jeremiah 29:11, Jeremiah 1:5, Ephesians 3:18, Romans 8:38-39
Blessings!
Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM
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If you’ve learned anything about me from my posts thus far, you know, A. God often speaks to me through song and B. He often speaks to me in the car. Today was no different. I’ve learned, we can either invite Him along for the ride or become distracted by all the hustle and bustle of every day life.
Some of the sweetest times with Him as well as the more challenging moments have been in the car. Though my eyes are on the road, it’s as if my mind goes on auto pilot and all the things that would normally consume it just stop. It’s my quiet space where I can block everything else out and focus on Him.
Whether it’s your car or someplace else, be still and know He is God today; you just might be surprised at what He has to say. For me, today, as I did this very thing, I couldn’t help but sing the song Healer by Kari Jobe.
At first it was just a song, and then I took notice of the words, and in the recess of my mind I heard Him ask, “Am I really enough, do you truly believe the words you are singing?”
I was faced with the harsh reality that the unsettledness and discount I was at war with in my own heart was in direct opposition to Him. Yet again, I was reminded of the fact, I must get to the place where nothing else in this world can satisfy, so like Paul, I can say, I have learned to be content in whatever situation I face.
I don’t know where you are today or what you are facing, but if like me their is this heaviness of heart, all I can say is, run hard after Him. Keep Him central so much so that your hunger for Him starves out everything else.
Blessings!
Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM
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This is the story of how Lori and I courted, got married, moved to do ministry in Troutman, North Carolina. It such an amazing thing to see how GOD moved us around step by step and got us to the place we are now. Both good and bad all went to lead us to where we are. I am so grateful for the way GOD has directed. And I am so thankful for every person that has been involved at each place we have been. Amazing!
This includes the story of GOD’s Presence at MAYC which we spoke at as well as the DC Sniper happening. And the story of how we got to stay in DC and minister and plant the Tapestry
(I recorded this story in 2012)
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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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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!
Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM
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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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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!
Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM
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Introduction & Early Life
I’ve been asked many times to write a record of my experiences growing up. So this book is an undertaking of some of those experiences. It’s taken me some years to be able to write something like this. It’s really not easy to write a story about your own life. That’s especially true for someone like me.
I was born in Statesville North Carolina. I grew up on a farm dear just outside of the city. There really isn’t anything special about my early life. My mom was a teacher. My dad was a logger. And I was actually born very sickly. My mom tells a story about me when I was a baby and how I almost died in the night because they couldn’t get me to breathe. When I was a child I had very bad allergies. But no one really knew what allergies were so parents just got upset and they were told that their kids were disobedient or spoiled.
The doctor told my mother that I was spoiled. So she said that’s great I’ll take them home and beat him until he’s quiet. He said wait wait maybe there’s one more thing it could be. Maybe it’s allergies. And that started a long period of tests and pins and pricks and needles. All the way through middle school I will be treated for allergies had him so badly that I could hardly eat anything I couldn’t be around most animals and I was allergic to most things in or outside of the house.
Growing up on a farm is a different kind a life. It’s just a little bit tougher and it’s a little bit rougher. I remember growing up having to do a lot of chores. My dad had to be gone a lot working in the woods. So that left me in charge of doing most things around the house. It was normal for me to have to Chop wood Split wood Stack wood do with the cows or other animals we had big goats and chickens and dogs and all kinds of animals over the years. And then I have to take care of the yard work in the garden work a lot of folks working the garden but I was the one that had to weed it and hoe it and keep it clean.
A normal day for someone growing up on a farm could be the woke up in the morning and took care of the cows and went to school came back from school to care of animals went to a ball practice came back home take care of other chores and then before you went to bed take care of any of your studies by 10 or 11 at night. So even to this day I find it hard to go to bed early and I found myself working until sometimes we hours in the morning and getting up early again just to have prayer and keep going. It’s almost a curse but in some ways the blessing when it comes to being with God.
Growing up on a farm your families little tougher to my mom and dad were a little bit more on the tough side. I really don’t want to get into all the details of my family history but let’s just say that it’s a miracle that I’m still alive.
My dad was a tough guy he was a bit more on the abusive side. There were good times, but he had a lot of trouble after the dissolution of his first logging company when I was a kid. I hated it for him. I’m not going to say a lot about the kind of things I saw him do or that he did to me when I was a kid but what I will say is that when I was in college he accepted Jesus. I prayed for him every night all my life. Actually, I prayed for my entire family every night before bed and before any of the passed away, I talked to them about Jesus, witnessed to them and asked them to receive HIM. Some did. My wife went with me when I confronted my Grandpa Hedrick while she and I were first courting.
As for Dad, I got them to go to a promise keepers rally in Charlotte North Carolina and during the invitation he went forward accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It made all of the years of enduring his anger and issues and struggling with him worth it and I never stop praying and God answered. And now he and my brother have a successful logging company that weathered the down turn in 2009 and is now even stronger.
My Grandmother Hass who lived on the front side of the 80 acre farmland we lived on became a Jehovah’s Witness when I was really young. So, I learned the art of debate from that age. I had to know the Bible because I had to know when my granny, uncle, aunt and cousins were talking about things that we cult belief and I had to know the King James Bible reference to hold them at bay. It is strange when you start that kind of faith life at 5th grade. Needless to say, there were many times we would go head to head over the years about Jesus and the Trinity and end at a stalemate, me quoting Bible reference, them quoting, “The Watchtower.”
It’s really cool because my Granny Hass, one of my cousins and my uncle all accepted Jesus Christ. My Granny accepted Jesus one time after she had attacked me verbally and kicked me out of her house while I was still in High School. At that time and all through college, I was also responsible to take care of her properties, the yard work and barns. I was always working on something from plumbing to mowing to painting sheds. And so, as normal, she would fuss at me for no reason and this time, she accepted Jesus in her heart in my parent’s back yard.
She always had a tough time, but at least she left the Jehovah’s Witnesses. I still have the first Bible that I took her to the store to buy and helped her pick out after she accepted Jesus. It’s held together by a rubber band. She wore it out.
At any rate, I am ahead of my story. I always do that. I am a rabbit trail kind of guy. I hope you can keep up!
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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!
Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM
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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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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.
Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM
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In 2007 I was invited to travel to Tajikistan. And as the story goes, we were held in the airport due to the strangest things happening there. And if you have ever been through T-stan’s airport, it is simply strange anyways. It’s a whole cultural experience. That is by far the only time I have ever had to wrestle with people to get into the building. (Not exaggerating).
And not only that, there were people trying to take drugs out of the country. This is 2007, so it is a whole different world. The customs folks took the drugs, piled them beside the area and ushered people through. So crazy. And that doesn’t even get me started on how you have to bribe everyone to get through security in the first place. (A bribe consists of about $ .50 US).
So, once we get through, the plane is held due to freak storms, we are stuck for hours and when we get to Moscow, we miss our flight which forces us to stay until after our Visas run out. So, we leave that night and stay in the hotel next to the airport which is when I recorded this movie. Once we returned since our Visas ran out over night, we were taken by soldiers who held us at gun point in a small international zone where we had to stay. We could not leave due to the Visas and we could not stay because we had no Visa. They threatened jail for 6 months. And we wrote letters to the Cosnulate begging forgiveness and promising never to allow Visas to run out in Russia again.
Needless to say when I come through US customs even today, they mention three countries I have been to where I had issues and Russian Federation is one of them. They always laugh at me.
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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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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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This part of the story is about my encounter with GOD. I cover my time at UNC, ministering to the Women’s National Championship Basketball team, working at Temple Baptist, encountering GOD through a renewal meeting in Toronto Canada and more.
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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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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!
Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM
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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!
Tweet By Dustin Hedrick
Devo/Thought Of The Day By Ashley Shepherd, Team DHM
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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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