Devotionals for the Heart: When you're tired of being tested by God

How Much Testing is Needed?
A devotional by Terry Overton

“And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.”

—Deuteronomy 8:2 (ESV)

I laughed at a meme on social media and shared it on my page. The meme made me reflect on how we often look back at old photos and are surprised by how young, how thin, or different we looked, unaware of it at the time.

After my initial laughter, I considered it more deeply. I have certainly changed, mostly through facing difficult experiences and challenges. While time now shows on my face or in the color of my hair, the change that matters most has happened within. Changes that happened during overwhelming tests of loss, family crises, and health issues. At times in the years that passed, I wondered, “How much testing is needed? How much more, Lord?”

But then I went back to Scripture, and I was reminded that I am far from the first person to ask that question. I think of Moses who born to a Hebrew woman but raised by Pharoah’s daughter in the royal palace of Egypt. It was a world that did not welcome him as a Hebrew boy, yet he was raised in riches. Later, Moses would return to a humble heritage and be tested beyond anything I can comprehend.

Although Moses had been raised within the royal court of Pharaoh and called by God to lead the Israelites to freedom from slavery in Egypt, he would later spend 40 years in the wilderness and never enter his destination (the Promised Land). That season likely felt like a detour that was far removed from purpose. Yet it was in the desert, in obscurity and humility, that God shaped Moses into a leader who learned to depend fully on Him. God did not waste a single day of it. Moses at last led the people of God to the edge of their promised land. But this had to happen after years of being shaped by God in ways he never would have chosen for himself.

Similarly, the Bible story about Joseph offers another perspective. He was disowned by his brothers, sold into slavery in Egypt, and while there, he was unjustly put in prison for a crime he did not commit. Joseph’s father gave up hope of ever seeing Joseph again after his other sons told him a wild animal had killed Joseph. His father didn’t know the true story about Joseph’s brothers selling Joseph into slavery. After a while, Joseph’s father gave up hope of ever seeing his favorite son again. Yet, after unbelievable hardship, testing, and dedicated work while Joseph was in Egypt, God enabled Joseph to save the family that disowned him. His journey reminds us that testing serves a greater purpose.

These Bible stories are only a few examples about how God tests us before He blesses us. Testing often feels like an interruption, a delay, or even a defeat. Yet throughout Scripture, we see a different truth—testing is God’s tool for preparation, revealing what we cannot see or know in comfort. Testing is part of God’s plan for us. It prepares us for where He wants us to be and for our purpose.

The greatest test with a purpose was what God planned for His own Son (Jesus Christ). Jesus lived His life in human form on Earth. He suffered. He rejoiced. He mourned like we do. Jesus traveled without provisions. He endured ridicule. Humiliation. Ultimately, he died on a wooden cross. None of that was outside the plan of salvation that Christ and His Father (God) put in place to save humankind well before we knew we needed to be saved by Him. The story of Jesus shows us something important: Testing is not always about escape. It is about obedience.

Each of these people I mentioned in the Bible stories were tested before they were used by God. Each of them had no idea while they were being tested and in the throes of despair, that God was still writing their story that would end in victory. Their stories reveal that what seems uncertain now can have significance later.

What looks like the end of your story may be the very place God is writing the most important chapter. Trust Him in the wilderness. Trust Him in the waiting. Trust Him in the suffering. He has never wasted a season. Not one.

Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, I won’t pretend the testing doesn’t hurt. But I know You are not absent in it. Help me hold on long enough to see what You are building. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “God is in this Story” by Katy Nichole & Big Daddy Weave. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “It is Well with My Soul” by Audrey Assad. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Terry Overton is a retired university professor of educational and school psychology. She has an Ed.D. in Special Education and a Ph.D. in Psychology. 

Her professional experience includes teaching public school, teaching at the university level, and being a college dean.

She has two children, seven grandchildren, and one great granddaughter.

Her previous writing and publication experiences include textbook and journal articles in the fields of special education and school psychology. She now seeks to answer God’s call to share the good news and grow the church by writing Christian books and devotionals.

Over the years, Terry’s books have won the Mom’s Choice Award, Christian Indie Award, Firebird Book Awards, American Writing Winner Awards, Bookfest Winner Awards, Pencraft Award, Reader Views Silver Reviewers Award, and International Book Award Finalist. Her writing examines real world events with a Christian worldview. She enjoys writing for young children, middle grade readers, YA fiction, and adult level novels.

Terry’s background in teaching adults and children shine through her stories that often include a character with educational or learning challenges. Her Christmas series, The Oddball Ornaments, features a box of misfit ornaments who first learn the meaning of Christmas and then discover the meaning of forgiveness. In The Underground Book Readers series, one of the main characters is on the autism spectrum yet is one of the leaders of the group of teens. Book one of a new series, The Messiah Brigade, features an awkward middle school nerd who helps his school turn around a bully gang of kids. Adoption and family issues are the focus of her new book, Charlotte McMaster and the Messenger Angel.

Terry lives in Texas and enjoys reading, taking pictures for devotional posts on social media, visiting with her family, playing golf, and writing.

~*~
Connect with Terry:
Website: https://www.authorterryoverton.com
Blog: https://terryovertonbooks.com
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/overtont

Book Spotlight on "God, Where Are You?" by Dominique Young

GOD, WHERE ARE YOU?: The Book That Started as A Cry!

A guest post by Dominique Young

The book “God, Where Are You?” was not something I dreamed of writing since I was young. 

In fact, I never actually thought I was capable of writing a book. This book came from navigating a place of pain with God and learning that He is with us in our pain.

Let me tell you the story.

When I was pregnant with my second son I was struggling with mental health issues, depression, anxiety and what I what I would later find out was perinatal psychosis. To be honest I had been struggling with my mental health for years before this point, but I kept it hidden.

I thought that being a good Christian and having the right faith meant that I didn’t go through these things. The presence of mental health struggles in my life made me feel like I was an unworthy embarrassment to Jesus Christ. I wanted to fix myself before anyone else found out I was a Christian imposter.

So, I kept my mental health struggles silent, I went into prayer lines and never told the person what to pray for and just said “pray as the spirit leads” hoping that someone would pray the exact right prayer to make all this pain go away. I read all the books on how to pray. But nothing was working and one day, after a massive mental breakdown I landed in a mental hospital on a 72-hour hold, because after taking myself to the hospital voluntarily and explaining to the doctor was happening, he surmised that I was a danger to myself and others.

This was the moment that changed everything and little did I know that this would be the moment that would be the catalyst for this book. I cried in that hospital asking over and over again, “God, where are you?” After being released I was determined to find God. I was determined to understand why He wasn’t helping me.

This search for God took me on an amazing journey of reading the Bible cover to cover multiple times, starting Bible studies with groups of women and listening intently as they shared, learning from each person in the room, enrolling in seminary and spending countless hours in prayer. What started out as a complaint to God and a frustration at God for not healing me the way I wanted ended up being a journey of amazing discovery.

It wasn’t until 2023 that I realized that God wanted me to write a book, and not just any book, a book that walked alongside people on journey of discovering God in the middle of pain.

My personal journey was really broken into three phases, I didn’t realize that when I was walking through it, but in hindsight I could see it clearly. First, I found myself. I was hiding and without coming out of hiding, I wouldn’t be able to see God. My face was so very masked and as you know masks at times disrupt your vision. Next on my journey I found God. I found that He was with me in ways I could never imagine, which actually confused me because if He is with me why didn’t He stop the pain? 

That question brought me to the leg of my journey that honestly, I am still in today which is learning that it’s about more that God zapping away all my problems it’s about God being with me through them and me being with Him through them. It’s about relationship.

I felt led by the Holy Spirit to walk with others on their journey in 2023. I hope to encourage them through my own story to be willing to discover God within the pages of their own story.

Honestly “God, Where are You?” did not start out as a book in my life. It began as a cry and that cry turned into a tear-filled journey. And that journey, by God’s grace and through the support of Jevon Bolden (my literary agent) and NavPress (my book publisher), it is now a book that can serve as a travel companion for others on the journey of finding God in pain, grief, depression, and darkness.

~*~
Author Bio:

Dominique Young is the founder of Faith Mamas Inc./Faith Family Worldwide), a community of 6,000+ Christian women and a private app serving over 1,700 believers. 

She helps others break free from fear through Scripture and has been featured on the “Don’t Mom Alone” and “Refreshed Moms” podcasts.

Dominique holds a psychology degree from Hampton University and is pursuing her MA in Theology at Fuller Seminary.

She is also a devoted wife and mother of four.

~*~
Book Blurb:

Here is a safe space for your deepest questions and your hidden pain.

If you’re silently suffering under the weight of depression, anxiety, shame, grief, and spiritual doubt, Dominique Young helps you discover the nearness of a God who does not shy away from your brokenness. In this safe space, you are invited to take off your mask, confront your hidden pain, and be seen by God for who you truly are―beloved.

Far from a quick fix or feel-good message, God, Where Are You? is a vulnerable, faith-filled journey that uses heartfelt storytelling and practical tools to help you wrestle with real emotions and deep questions―like how to deal with failure, how to find your true identity, and more.

Practical tools include:

Tracing God Devotionals: Explore Bible verses at the end of each chapter and learn how to recognize God’s character and presence even in hard places.

Reflection Questions: Through self-examination, you can heal deeply and receive clarity, healing, and personal revelation.

Prayers: Each chapter includes heartfelt prayers that bridge raw emotion and spiritual intimacy, modeling honest and hopeful dialogue with God.

God, Where Are You? is not just a book to be read―it’s a healing journey to be walked. With authenticity, compassion, and biblical grounding, Dominique is your traveling companion to uncover the life-giving truth: even in the silence, God is near.

~*~
Buy this book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books-A-Million

Christian Book

Walmart

Devotionals for the Heart: What makes a true friend who loves unconditionally

A Friend Loves at All Times
A devotional by Ashley Martin

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”

—Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)

Jetlag clung to me like fog after returning to the USA. I had only been home from Greece for 24 hours, and the reality of daily life rushed in with full force.

Piles of laundry spilled from the hamper, the refrigerator was bare, and both the dog and cat demanded attention because they had run out of food and patience. My houseplants drooped in silent thirst. My little boy craved attention, and my husband had left for a business trip at dawn. I stood in the middle of the kitchen, exhausted and emotionally frayed. “God, I feel overwhelmed and lonely right now,” I whispered in prayer. “Help me.”

Just then, my phone buzzed. It was Lindsay. “I am coming over,” her text read.

God answers like that. He knows precisely when to send the right person at exactly the right time. Lindsay understands me in ways words cannot always capture. Sometimes, her simple presence brings the calm my soul aches for. We met at Eufaula High School in Alabama. As we both taught eleventh graders, we began chatting between classes and after faculty meetings. A shared love of ‘90s music, travel, and true crime documentaries sparked our friendship, which quickly deepened. We spent every spare moment together until another relationship—my alcohol dependence—took over. I withdrew. But after I entered recovery and reached out with trembling humility, Lindsay embraced me without hesitation. Grace flowed through her, and our friendship was not only restored but transformed.

Then came the night that changed everything. The phone rang in the middle of the night, and Lindsay’s voice trembled with grief as she spoke about her 8-year-old son, Cade. He had been killed in a tragic ATV accident. I rushed to her side. In the quiet devastation of that moment, as I held her hand, she whispered through tears, “This is why you got sober.” Her words pierced through the pain. That moment bound our souls in something sacred—suffering shared, comfort offered, and love that did not wane. Two years later, when my son arrived two and a half months early, wrapped in tubes and uncertainty, Lindsay stood beside me again. She was one of the first people to cradle him with steady hands and unconditional love.

True friendship is forged not just in laughter but in the crucible of crisis. Lindsay and I have borne each other’s burdens—grief, growth, motherhood, and battles of the soul. Her love has been a steady echo of God's faithfulness in my life. Proverbs 17:17 came alive for me through her presence in my life, portraying a love that shows up, love that stays, and love that shines brightest in the darkest nights.

Lindsay's friendship has shown me the very heart of Proverbs 17:17—a living example of what it means to love unconditionally and to be there in times of trouble. The verse offers a timeless truth about the nature of authentic friendship: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” Written by King Solomon, this proverb is part of a larger collection of wisdom literature in the Old Testament of The Holy Bible. It is intended to guide readers in godly living, relationships, and moral decision-making.

In ancient Hebrew culture, familial bonds were central, but Solomon elevates friendship to a similar—if not deeper—place. A true friend does not just appear in moments of ease but remains constant through life’s storms. The “brother” in adversity refers not just to biological kin but to someone who rises to the occasion, stepping into a role of spiritual brotherhood when trials hit hardest.

In today's world, where relationships often suffer from busyness and surface-level connections, Proverbs 17:17 reminds us to be present, faithful, and sacrificial. True friendship means showing up when it’s inconvenient, offering a prayer when words fail, and staying when others walk away. Whether in seasons of celebration or sorrow, godly friends embody Christ-like love—steadfast and unwavering. This verse reminds us that lasting friendship is not accidental but cultivated through loyalty, compassion, and courage in the face of hardship.

Let’s Pray:

Lord, thank You for the gift of faithful friends who reflect Your love in our lives. Help me to be the kind of friend who shows up in both joy and sorrow, offering grace, strength, and presence just as You do. Teach me how to show the agape love that Jesus Christ has for us, with everyone all times. Help me to stand firm in adversity as a true reflection of Your heart for humankind. Thank You for helping me to love others like You love me. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “My Friend” by Crystal Lewis. Listen to it here.

~*~

Author Bio:

Ashley Martin is a history teacher who has transitioned into a being a professional Christian writer and speaker. 

She felt a calling to the ministry at the age of eighteen, having known God from a young age. However, her struggle with alcoholism hindered her from pursuing this path. For nearly twenty years, Ashley taught history while battling her addiction. In 2013, she entered treatment, and at that point, the barrier between her and God finally came down.

Since then, Ashley has been sharing her story and developing her ministry. For the last nine years, Ashley has been married to her husband, West. Together, they have an eight-year-old son named Grant, and Ashley has a fourteen-year-old stepdaughter named Cameron. They call Alabama home, and they enjoy traveling the world as a family.

Nowadays, Ashley continues to teach history to middle school, high school, and college students. She also works for an online women’s ministry named Called Creatives.

~*~
Connect with Ashley:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashley.klages.54/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleymartinministry/

My email: ashleyclairemartin@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Humility

Humble in Heart
A devotional by Christa MacDonald

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” –Matthew 11:29 (NIV)

The world is in crisis. It’s been there before and will likely be there again, but this is the first worldwide crisis I’ve ever lived through, and it’s...a lot. 

If you, like me, have a high-risk household, you’ve probably been socially isolating. I haven’t seen the inside of anything other than my house, Costco, and my workplace since March. And that last one has been infrequent. I work from home now with my youngest son’s desk next to mine in a work/school amalgamation that has sometimes been challenging, sometimes quite wonderful.

Between politics, social upheaval, and a deadly pandemic, it’s downright fractious in our country right now, even outside a high-risk bubble. Folks are hot-tempered, and shouty, even those of us who claim a saving faith in Jesus Christ. It’s not good. I’ve been thinking a lot about how to live through this mess of existential dread, stress, and difficulty. When faced daily with a new challenge, I keep thinking of how being a Christian must inform my choices and guide my actions. “Jesus take the wheel” is a fine saying, but what does that truly look like in real life?

We need to start with who Jesus is and what He wants from us. The verse above sums it up for me. Jesus is the Son of God, but He’s also humble in heart and gentle. When we give over our lives to Him, we find rest (not more work, more struggle, more strife). Our job is to be as like Him as possible. Over and over, the New Testament calls us to humble ourselves, live in peace, be patient with our brothers and sisters, bear one another’s burden in love. This is what God wants from us. He wants our love for one another to stand out, to show that we are His. “Agape” in the Greek of the New Testament’s writers, means a non-reciprocal, giving love that doesn’t expect anything back. That’s how God loves us, and that’s how He calls us to love others.

What does that look like in real life? For me, it’s a reminder to be patient with others, to be humble, and when tempted to add my voice to the cacophony, to turn off my computer and put down my phone. I have no business putting that out in the world. As a Christian, I have a reason to resist rising to every insult, holding a grudge, or taking offense. Every moment that I walk through this world, I am a witness for Jesus Christ. I need to live my life in a way that tells others that I am under Jesus’ yoke.

When it gets hard, I try to reach for that peace. The peace of knowing that God is provident and whatever happens, it will be for His Glory and that He will be with me through every second of it. Jesus has not abandoned us to work it out for ourselves. We have Scripture and the Holy Spirit to guide us. Prayer is a wonder. 

If you’re struggling right now, and so many of us are, reach out and take hold of the tools that God has given us to dig us out of the deepest of pits. Unburden your heart, trust that God has heard you and that whatever the answer, He is with you. 

You’re not alone, Christian. There are millions of us on this planet with you. 

I’ll be praying for you.

~*~
Author Bio:

Christa MacDonald is a 2017 ACFW Carol Award finalist for contemporary Christian fiction. 

A native New Englander, she was inspired by her travels through the north woods of Maine to write The Broken Trail, which would become the first in the Sweet River Redemption series published by Mountain Brook Ink.

Christa's writing focuses on the real-life challenges of the modern world, love’s sometimes crooked path, and the redemptive power of Grace.

When not working or writing Christa can be found ferrying her kids around, reading, or attempting something crafty.

She and her husband live with their three kids, two cats, and one dog along the coast of New England. Connect with Christa at www.christamacdonald.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Look up! There is Hope on the Horizon!

Look to the Horizon
A devotional by Christa MacDonald

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 

– 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)

A company I worked for years ago went through a change in ownership at the height of the Great Recession. The new owners made numerous changes – the office's location, the database we used, they even swapped Macs for PCs. My easy part-time job became a lot more complicated. What I didn’t know at the time was that God’s Providence was at work. My husband’s industry was hit hard by the downturn and just after he was furloughed, I was offered full time and additional responsibilities. In short order, I went from team member to leader, to supervisor, to manager.

Generally, when the job I'm doing gets tough, I keep my head down and work harder. That job was demanding and all-consuming at times. The COO coached me to avoid focusing only on what was right in front of me – today's task and crisis – and instead to shift my focus upward, and to look ahead. What's coming next? What's on the horizon? His advice was to avoid preoccupation with what’s going on this minute so you don’t miss what opportunities and challenges lay head. If all you ever deal with is the day-to-day stuff, you're never going to see real progress.

That advice applies to life. Too often, when in the middle of a trial, we can be overwhelmed, lost at sea, so focused on treading water that we lose sight of the horizon. As tough as it is for us, as Christians, we need to resist the temptation to let the sufferings of today keep us focused on this present moment, on ourselves and on our pain.

As the verse says above, we need to fix our focus on the eternal. Amid historic pandemic, daily protests, cultural clashes, and a contentious election, refocusing isn't the most straightforward task. It's noisy around us. The way that news and other media saturate our environment amplifies the noise. We live in an individualistic, humanistic society that teaches us to think of our own small world first, as if our own troubles are paramount. Add to that the ‘breaking news’ constant stream of crisis into whatever peace we manage to create at home, making it feel impossible to concentrate on anything else.

As dire as our situation may seem, it's not eternal. We serve a God of Providence, and we can put our faith and trust in Him to be with us in our suffering. With our lives in God's hands, we can get back to work. God has placed us on this earth to serve Him, share the Gospel, and love our neighbors.

"He has told you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8 (ESV).

Every day, we need to look to the horizon ahead, choose to look upward and focus on the eternal. God is with us. Who can stand against us?

~*~
Author Bio:

Christa MacDonald is a 2017 ACFW Carol Award finalist for contemporary Christian fiction. 

A native New Englander, she was inspired by her travels through the north woods of Maine to write The Broken Trail, which would become the first in the Sweet River Redemption series published by Mountain Brook Ink.

Christa's writing focuses on the real-life challenges of the modern world, love’s sometimes crooked path, and the redemptive power of Grace.

When not working or writing Christa can be found ferrying her kids around, reading, or attempting something crafty.

She and her husband live with their three kids, two cats, and one dog along the coast of New England. Connect with Christa at www.christamacdonald.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Brokenness

Brokenness

A devotional by Nanci Rubin

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."
–Luke 4:18-19 (KJV) 

Most of us at some juncture in our lives have gone through or will go through a crisis, a time of bitter disappointment and rejection. Those are the times when we cling to our friends, family and appreciate the support they give us via love, prayer and standing in the gap until we are over this season of disappointment.

But there are occasions when we face catastrophic events. Events that leave us broken. 

Those times are painful, so painful that it hurts to breathe, you don’t want to get out of bed or see anyone. When we are broken, we are irreparable and can no longer be used. That’s the way it feels and you don’t care. The world can go on without you, all you want is to be left alone because in your eyes, it’s over. And this can be a dangerous time spiritually if we isolate ourselves.

The enemy of our souls wants nothing more than to get us away from the Body of Christ (our church family), distract us from prayer and hope to have us blame God for the horrendous pain we are experiencing. Job’s friends and his wife tried to get him to turn against God. 

They even suggested that Job's plight was his fault, that he must have sinned. No, one doesn’t have to be in sin to have one’s world fall apart.

“In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” –Job 1:22 (KJV)

We live in such a disposable world. When something breaks, we just toss it out and replace it. Unfortunately, many hurting people believe this is their fate when they have been broken. But Jesus said in Luke 4:18-19 that He came to heal the brokenhearted. God has anointed His Son Jesus Christ to heal those of us suffering in brokenness.

Romans 8:24-32 gives us the prescription for healing. The Holy Spirit is interceding to our Heavenly Father on our behalf and praying the Father’s will for our lives. We are encouraged that whom He called he will justify. And not only justify, but glorify. Knowing God and following His Son Jesus Christ gives hope to your heart. 

Read Romans 8:24-32 (NLT):

"We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hopefor it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)"

"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

"For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory."

"What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?"

Closing: 

When you find yourself in a state of brokenness, read Romans 8:24-32 as medicine for your soul. It will heal your heart and give you a hope. 

God loves you and He wants only good things for His children. He is a good, good Father. No matter what you’re going through, you don’t go through it alone. He is right there with you, waiting for your SOS call. Let Him help and heal you.

~*~
Author Bio:

Nanci is a poet and short story writer published in Cypress News, Family Times E-Zine, Free Verse and the Commonwealth of Poetry. 

She belongs to RWA, ACFW, and Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild where she’s enrolled in his novel writing program.

Nanci lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and cats, Romeo and Juliette, along with their newest member of the family, Roni who is a seven-month-old Goldendoodle.

Recently, Nanci completed her debut novel, A Betrayal in Cross Keys. It is an Amish romance that she has placed in her agent's capable hands. The rest is up to God.

Thankful Thursdays: God is Always There for you and me!

It’s Thursday and I’m thankful for the fact that GOD is always there!

Earlier this week, I had a rough night. It was well past midnight so it was too late to call most people that I knew who have expressed that they want to be there for me.

So, I decided to send a text message to my Bible study group members from church. I used the Group Me chat app on my phone to do this. I simply wrote, “Please pray for me.” Within minutes, one of the group members responded directly to me using the private chat function so that only she and I could talk.

She simply responded with a message on prayer that she found online. The original author is unknown. This is what the message said:

Prayer Is Not Passive.

Prayer is powerful. Prayer is purposeful. Prayer is intentional.

Prayer is active warfare that engages Heaven and exposes every snare and trap of the enemy. In fact, prayer has the power to destroy every generational bondage that has plagued your family for years.

Prayer destroys yokes. Prayer disarms the weapons of the enemy. Prayer disrupts the forces of Hell and engages the armies of Heaven. Prayer breaks cycles and dismantles curses. When you pray, darkness flees. 

When you pray, addiction is defeated. When you pray, rejection repels and no longer has authority over you. When you pray, bitterness breaks. 

When you pray, sickness and disease leaves. When you pray, God steps in and favor rolls out before you. When you pray, peace surrounds you and joy engulfs you. When you pray, Heaven hears you. 

Prayer is the key that unlocks doors. Decide to engage God. 

God is listening!

~*~

God knew that I needed to be reminded that He is always there for me and that He hears every single prayer. So He sent this message to me through another one of His servants who is a member of my church family.

This message on prayer encouraged and inspired my heart. I felt strengthened as I read it because I remembered that prayer should be my first and last resort when I feel troubled. Read Psalm 46.

Prayer is the ultimate lifeline because it directly connects us with the Creator of the Universe (God). He is higher than any earthly power. He is wiser than the wisest and the most able to help us in our time of trouble. Seek Him first!

In closing, I’d like to share a song by CeCe Winans. The song is called, “He’s Always There.”

Be encouraged, dear hearts. God loves you with ALL of His Heart!

Sincerely,

Alexis A. Goring
Founder of “God is Love” blog

Thankful Thursdays: Lifelines

It’s Thursday and I’m thankful for lifelines!

According to Google, a lifeline is “a thing on which someone or something depends or which provides a means of escape from a difficult situation.”

God has placed people here on this earth to be there for us, people who we can turn to when we need help. For some, it may be your Mama or Papa. It may be your Grandma or Grandpa. It may be your Auntie or Uncle. It may be your cousin or closest friend. Sometimes, it may even be a professional counselor, therapist, psychiatrist or another licensed medical professional.

Did you know that as humans, we have a lifeline who will always be there for us? Professionals that you see face to face are limited to their office hours but God is available 24/7/365.

There’s a song by Mandisa called “Lifeline.” It is about how God is our greatest and most reliable lifeline. We can call on Him morning, noon and night. The Bible says that NOTHING can separate us from His love. 

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Now, this isn’t to discourage you from seeking professional help from another human who God placed on this Earth to help you. It’s okay to talk to Jesus AND a therapist (or another mental health professional).

I know that not everybody can afford to pay a professional to help you. So today, I’m including a list of resources that we have within the United States of America that can serve as your lifeline. I know that not all of y0u who read my blog live in America. I would encourage you to find resources within your home country that can be of service to you when you need help. But for those of you who live in the U.S.A. and need help, I hope that you will reach out to the trained professionals who operate the resources that I have listed below. Please note: A few of the resources I’ve listed are not free services but most on the list are free!

My prayer for you is that you won’t be afraid to seek help when you need it. If you’ve ever contemplated suicide, I’d caution you to NOT do it! Yes, it would end your pain but it would also end your hope, your future joy and everything that God wants to send into your life as a blessing. So please do NOT give up but do LOOK up to the One (GOD) who is ready and willing to help you through anything you’re going through! And if you feel like your prayers are not going past the ceiling and you need additional support, then reach out to the trained volunteers in the free services that I’ve listed below.

Please note: I’ve copied and pasted the words from my Google search for each resource with the exception of K-LOVE (I wrote that description).

~*~
 Short List of Resources:

Resource “Crisis Text Line”: The free, 24/7, confidential text message service for people in crisis. Text HOME to 741741 in the United States.
Website - https://www.crisistextline.org

Resource “K-LOVE” Christian Radio: Reach out to the K-LOVE Pastors, Prayer Ministry and Care Team who want to listen to you and pray for you.
Website - http://www.klove.com/ministry/prayer/

*You should be able to submit a prayer request online even if you live outside of the U.S.A.

Resource “Better Help” (not a free service): Online Therapy with a Licensed Counselor. Available Anytime, Anywhere You Need It. The Time is Now to Put Yourself First. Don't Wait, Start Therapy Today! Therapy On Your Schedule. 100% Private Environment. Make a Positive Change. Get Happy, Start Therapy. Therapy From Your Couch.
Website - https://www.betterhelp.com

Resource “Faithful Counseling” (not a free service): Affordable, Professional Counseling from a Biblical Perspective. Unlimited Counseling. Counselors Available 24/7. Professionally Licensed. Readily Accessible. Therapy Anytime, Anywhere. Types: Depression Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Relationship Counseling…
Website - https://www.faithfulcounseling.com

Resource “National Suicide Prevention Lifeline”: We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
Website - http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Resource “Hope Line”: Offering caring non-judgmental listening and referrals in times of crisis. Suicide.
Website - https://www.hopeline-nc.org/

Resource “Lines for Life”: We are here 24/7 with free, confidential, and anonymous help! Our highly trained staff and volunteers provide immediate assistance, compassionate support, and resource referrals that can put you on a path to healing. Texting on the Lifeline, Alcohol & Drug Helpline and Military Helpline is available 8am – 11pm PST daily. We’ll reply as soon as we open back up. Please remember help on the phone is always available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Website - https://www.linesforlife.org

~*~
Closing Thoughts:

God loves you. Remember that. Reach out to Him. He’s only a prayer away and He’s more present in your life than you may think!

Be encouraged, friends.

Love,

Alexis A. Goring
Founder of “God is Love” blog

Book Review: Love Life Again

I've spent the last few months serving on an author's launch team for their new book. The author's name is Tracie Miles and her new nonfiction book Love Life Again: Finding Joy When Life is Hard, releases tomorrow (Wednesday, August 1)!

Today, I'd like to share my review of her book and a nice meme that she created (see it toward the end of this blog post).

Enjoy! 
~*~

My Review of Love Life Again (book) by Tracie Miles: 

Rarely do I read a book from beginning to end in one sitting. Oftentimes, I read a few chapters then start scanning for the main message. But Tracie’s writing commanded my attention from the Acknowledgements through the Conclusion and the stories in between really tugged at my heartstrings.

Bible verses are intertwined into each scene shared from Tracie’s life in every chapter. A “Love Your Life Challenge” wraps up each chapter, complete with an imperative written in bold font followed by a reflection question which leads to a call to action, leading to a prayer written by Tracie for the reader and concluded by a short list of activities you can do to make you smile.

As an author, Tracie is very transparent in how she shares her heart. She’s unafraid to take you behind the scenes of her life from her dealing with the aftermath of her divorce, to a teachable moment on self-esteem that she shared with her daughter, to talking about a time when she was driving on the road and she felt God call her minister to a pregnant woman who was considered by most as what the Bible calls “the least of these”. Tracie also shares stories of other women that she’s known along the way.

Each story that Tracie shares is touching and teaches a life lesson to the reader. Her writing style is warm in the midst of her personal heartache, informative like a news reporter, kind like the heart of a minister, and seasoned like a veteran creative storyteller.

As a woman of faith, Tracie does not leave Jesus Christ out of the picture. She weaves in themes of salvation, hope, and healing throughout the book! It was delightful and very encouraging to my heart because she reminded me that God is with me no matter what I go through in this life. There’s always hope for your heart when He is in the picture…and the good news is, God I always in the picture. The Bible says that He will never leave you or forsake you even in your deepest despair.

I truly enjoyed reading this book! Not only because it was hard to put down but because I related to so much of it. This book is well-deserving of a five-star rating and I’ve already thought of two people who I believe will benefit from reading it. Well, done Ms. Miles. Bravo!

*I, (Alexis A. Goring), received a complimentary copy of this book (Love Life Again: Finding Joy When Life is Hard) from the author’s publisher for me to read. My opinions in this book review are my own.

~*~
Author Bio:

Tracie Miles is a national speaker and author with the internationally known Proverbs 31 Ministries and has spent the last ten years inspiring women to live intentionally for Christ.

Her newest book is Unsinkable Faith: God-Filled Strategies for Transforming the Way You Think, Feel and Live. It was released in April 2017.

She is also the author of two best-selling books, Your Life Still Counts: How God Uses Your Past To Create A Beautiful Future and Stressed Less Living: Finding God's Peace In Your Chaotic World. She is also a contributing author to the popular Zondervan NIV Women's Devotional Bible, and the Proverbs 31 Encouragement for Today Daily Devotional Book.

Tracie is a monthly contributing writer for the Proverbs 31 Ministries Encouragement for Today daily devotions, which reach nearly one million people per day around the world with encouragement from God's Word.

Connect with Tracie at her blog at www.traciemiles.com, or on any social media platform.

Devotionals for the Heart: Rest

Rest on This
A devotional by Quantrilla Ard

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." –Matthew 11:29 (ESV)

I remember as clear as day the moment it happened. We were headed to the boys’ first day of school, joy and excitement in tow. Book bags and lunches packed, we began the commute to their new educational facility and new educational journey. Out of the blue, the car started to spin, and things began to go dark. I immediately asked my husband to pull over to the side of the road because I wasn’t feeling well. Concerned, he asked me what was wrong. I couldn’t speak. I began crying as I felt an increasing loss of control over my body. What was going on?

Several doctor and specialist visits later, the words I heard gave me relief, but not answers. “We can’t find anything wrong with you,” the doctor stated matter-of-factly. “Have you been under any stress recently?” he asked. Of course I have, I thought to myself, I’m a wife, mother of three, student, entrepreneur, friend, and daughter along with probably five more hats I probably forgot I was wearing. I was exhausted just thinking about it. I simply admitted that there had been several major changes that occurred in our lives lately, and I just hadn’t slowed down to process them. I hadn’t slowed down.

As followers of God, our goal is to have His nature replicated in us; part of having His character is following His example. Yet we often overlook one very important example He set. Rest. Intentional Rest. What had been missing from this very harried time in my life was rest. I always pushed it to the side, assuming I would be able to catch up on it during some unscheduled time over the weekend that never came. It became the ever-elusive carrot dangled in front of my face to keep me moving ahead. I had hit a brick wall, and my body was paying the price.

We are not honoring the temples God has created and told us He would dwell in when we dismiss rest. I have finally realized that pushing myself to go past my limit is a form of selfishness and self-harm. It not only ignores the example set for us by God after creation, it perpetuates a harmful example for our children and others in our sphere of influence with whom He has entrusted us.

I believe with my whole heart that rest is where we commune with God and solidify our relationship with Him, and I must admit, the times where I have rushed a hurried life along are the times where I feel the most disconnected from Him. 

Today, I am making more time to rest. Physically, mentally, and spiritually. 

I pray that you too will join me and do the same.

~*~
Author Bio:

Quantrilla (Quanny) Ard is a faith-based personal and spiritual development writer who lives in the D.C. Metro area with her husband and three littles. 

In addition to being a dedicated wife and mother, she is an entrepreneur, doctoral student, and curator of all things lovely.

As a woman on her own quest of shining a light on the shadowy, hidden places in her life, she writes as the PhDMamma about things she knows to be true in hopes to encourage others to do the same.

Her spiritual goals and her love for Christ propels her quest to share the journey with other women: to walk alongside them and encourage them with words, deeds, and wisdom. Quanny believes in the power that is within collective strength, community, and fellowship.

You will find her wherever people are sharing stories of triumph.

~*~
Connect with Quanny:
Website - https://www.thephdmamma.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thephdmamma
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/qyard08
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/quannyboo/

Cozy Christmas Reads: Cynthia's story

Christmas in the Midst of Crisis
A guest post by Cynthia Ruchti

It’s impossible to approach Christmas apart from what’s going on in our lives—good and bad. But the wonder is that Christmas is God’s answer to what we’re facing.

Do some Christmas memories bite into your soul like the springs of a worn-out chair in need of restoration?

· An uncle refuses to come to the holiday celebration if his brother will be there.

· Christmas celebrating has lost its luster in light of the medical crisis the family’s facing?

· Memories won’t be the same in the assisted living center that now substitutes for the family home that once served as the gathering spot?

· Unforgiveness is an unwelcome guest at every holiday meal?

· As in “The Heart’s Harbor” in A Door County Christmas, the relationship you thought was solid has disintegrated?

· Imagine how Christmas festivities with a sweet Babe in a manger would feel to a couple who’s lost a child that year.

· How offensive Christmas lights must feel to someone whose world is darkened with depression.

· Television commercials about loving families gathered around a feast spread on the table before them must grate on those without a family or food or shelter, or whose family is estranged or bickering or missing a loved one.

We all know people who dread the holidays, who cringe at the mention that Christmas is coming. Many don’t necessarily approach Christmas with uninterrupted joy and unshadowed peace, with excitement and anticipation and an overflow of love.

All around us are people who are broken, worn-out, run-down, in need of repair, gouged by life’s injustices and injuries, faded, unprotected, uncared for, missing something vital…

What was really happening in the region around Bethlehem when Jesus appeared on the scene?

Jesus was born into a political firestorm that threatened the lives of babies like Him and sent waves of fear through their parents. Herod was ordering the murder of baby boys two years and under. Travel was hard and fraught with danger. Thieves abounded. Racial tension. Family heartaches. Financial difficulties exacerbated by taxation. Homelessness. The world had been waiting for answers to prayer for hundreds, thousands of years.

The same kind of chaos we see around us now.

The Christmas card Bethlehem picture doesn’t show the armed guards, the fear, the hopelessness.

But that’s exactly why Jesus came. Because the world—and we—are a mess without Him.

In “The Heart’s Harbor” novella that kicks off the A Door County Christmas novella collection, Amanda is reeling from the realization of how hollow that Christmas promised to be for her. But although drafted into a task for which she felt ill-suited—coordinating the legendary Christmas Tea for the Heart’s Harbor Inn—she soon found that it was in serving that she got her feet underneath her again. And that finding someone with whom she could serve side-by-side filled a gaping hole. The crisis of her Christmas disappeared as she served others and turned her attention away from her heartache to the needs around her. Discovering someone else who joined her in that adventure was an unexpected Christmas gift.

So much about the first Christmas was unexpected. The world had waited so long for a redeemer. Until Christ was born, hope was a promise, but an intangible. We humans have always had trouble with intangibles in our relationships.

SHOW me you love me.

SHOW me I can trust you.

SHOW me you care.

It’s been the same in our relationship with God. We listen to His Words, hear His stories, understand His truths. But the arrival of Jesus on the scene was, in a way, God’s response to a world that cries out, “SHOW me!”

Hope was born in a tangible way at Christmas.

Jesus’s birth proved once again that God keeps His promises—all of His promises. Hope soars when we grasp that concept. Life can be hard, harsh, hurtful, but still hope-hemmed.

The Christmas story we’ve come to embrace and honor isn’t rooted in applauding winter or venerating a generous St. Nicholas. Its foundation is an historic moment—when God became Man and dwelt among us. It’s recorded for us in Luke chapter two in the Bible. But more than that, it’s imprinted on our grateful hearts.

~*~
Author bio:

Cynthia Ruchti tells stories hemmed-in-hope through award-winning novels, nonfiction, devotionals, and through speaking events for women and writers. 

She is the professional relations liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers, connecting the organization with retailers, libraries, book clubs, and readers. 

Cynthia and her husband live in the heart of Wisconsin, not far from their three children and five (to date) grandchildren. 

~*~
Blurb for Cynthia's story "The Heart's Harbor" in A Door County Christmas:

Amanda Brooks retreats to picturesque Egg Harbor in Door County, Wisconsin, to escape an empty holiday season in her Chicago apartment. Peace on earth is what she needs but instead finds herself in charge of the Heart's Harbor Victorian Inn and its legendary Christmas Tea. Quirky guests, a bare-bones budget, an antisocial puppy, matchmaking owner, and the innkeeper's match-resistant son, Jordan, deepen Amanda's doubts that Christmas and love have anything in common.

~*~
Connect with Cynthia:
Website - www.cynthiaruchti.com
Twitter- https://twitter.com/cynthiaruchti
Facebook - facebook.com/CynthiaRuchtiReaderPage
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3176814.Cynthia_Ruchti

~*~
Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below: 

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A Prelude to Christmas: Virginia's book about changes, disaster and hope

Welcome Virginia Smith to the blog. She's here to talk about her holiday novel, A Goose Creek Christmas and she's giving away a copy of it too! 

Here's the blurb for Virginia's book: Al's Goose Is Cooked!

Forced into early retirement, Al Richardson knows what his wife will say when she hears the terrible news. Millie will insist that they open their B&B early. Where will that leave him? Carrying luggage and waiting tables? No way! He needs time to come up with another plan. With the help of an unlikely accomplice, Al spends his days scanning want ads and frequenting out-of-town coffee shops in an effort to hide his secret from all of Goose Creek-including his wife.

Millie is too busy to notice Al's odd behavior. Between planning a huge Christmas party and holding tight to the reins of newcomer Lulu Thacker-whose tacky decorating schemes are sure to infuriate Main Street business owners-she has no time for anything else.

One thing is certain: In Goose Creek, no secret stays hidden for long. The most holy of holidays is swiftly approaching. Is Al in for a Merry Christmas or a Marriage Crisis?

~*~

Enter the book giveaway contest by filling out the Rafflecopter widget below for your chance to WIN a copy of Virginia's book: 

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Enjoy the interview with Virginia!
~*~
Interview with Virginia Smith, author of A Goose Creek Christmas:

Alexis: What a unique title for a Christmas story! Tell us how you chose it.

Virginia: To be honest, I didn’t choose the title. My publisher, Harvest House, chose it. My latest series is Tales from the Goose Creek B&B. The Christmas book is the fifth installment in the series, and I have a lot of fun with the small-town (and sometimes small-minded) residents of this town.

I hear the next question coming – what was my original title? Al’s Goose is Cooked at a Goose Creek Christmas. Yeah, a little wordy, but I like the humor of it! Still, anything with ‘Goose Creek’ in the title is fun.

Alexis: Tell us about your story’s hero Al Richardson. Describe his personality, family life, his heart and goals.

Virginia: Al is a stodgy, old-fashioned, perpetually scowling man in his early sixties. He and Millie have been married for almost forty years, and he loves her with a depth that sometimes takes his breath away. He is slightly OCD, and likes structure. Anything new introduced to his ritualistic, controlled life throws him for a loop.

Alexis: Where does Al work? Does he like his job? Why was he forced into early retirement?

Virginia: Al has worked as a computer analyst for the same company for nearly thirty years. Being an extremely logical thinker, computer programming is where he shines. When a new—and younger—boss forces him out, he’s beside himself. This is exactly the kind of change Al detests.

Alexis: Tell us about Al’s wife Millie. What is her role in this story? Describe her looks, heart, character strengths and flaws.

Virginia: Millie is everybody’s sweetheart, the kind of mother and grandmother we all hope to have and to be. She loves Al from the bottom of her heart, and is confident that she knows what’s best for him even when he doesn’t. Her current goal is to turn the charming Victorian-era home she convinced Al to buy last year into a B&B. That, and she needs to keep a tight hold on the reins of her friend, the overbearing and often tasteless Lulu Thacker.

Alexis: Why does Al want to keep his early retirement a secret from Millie?

Virginia: Al agreed to buy and renovate the Victorian-era house last year mostly to keep his wife happy. (Read their hilarious history in The Most Famous Illegal Goose Creek Parade and Renovating the Richardsons.) He conceded to her scheme to open a B&B, even though he would much prefer to spend his retirement years traveling the country in an RV. He is sure that his forced early retirement will cause Millie to accelerate her plans to open the B&B, and he can’t stand the thought of becoming a lackey, at the beck-and-call of his wife’s scheme. He sees himself reduced to carrying luggage and waiting tables, and is determined to do anything to avoid that fate.

Alexis: What role does Lulu Thacker play in this story? It looks like Lulu is the source of some major conflict. Tell us about it.

Virginia: Lulu is such a fun character! She’s blatantly tactless and completely unaware that she’s viewed as a crass loudmouth. She adores Millie, who stood up for her when she assumed the job of Goose Creek’s Main Street Manager. (See The Room with the Second-Best View.) But her lack of decorating taste causes a major rift among the town’s outspoken business owners.

Alexis: Who was the most fun character to create and write in this story? Why?

Virginia: I absolutely love Al. He’s an amazing character, and one of the few males I have felt entirely comfortable portraying in fiction. His struggles are so realistic, and so understandable and sympathetic to all of us. He’s my hero!

Alexis: Who was the most difficult character to portray? Why?

Virginia: Without a doubt the most difficult character over the course of the five Goose Creek books has been Frieda, the owner of the Freckled Frog Consignment Shop. She is everything I dislike in real life–opinionated, judgmental, loud-mouthed, and prejudiced against anyone who doesn’t think exactly as she does. But I have enjoyed putting her in situations that make her squirm. (Is that awful of me?)

Alexis: Tell us about Goose Creek as the setting for your story. Is it a city? A town? Paint a picture of it with your words.

Virginia: Goose Creek is based on Midway, Kentucky, a very small town not far from my birthplace. Like Midway, Goose Creek was one of those towns in the 1800’s that cropped up around the railroad, and to this day a railroad track runs down the middle of Main Street. All the buildings there are historic, and sadly half of them are crumbling and empty. But the residents are lively, fun, enthusiastic and dedicated to the preservation of their town.

Alexis: What was your favorite part about writing this story? Why?

Virginia: I’ve lived with the Goose Creek crew for a couple of years now, through five books. I love them all! Christmas is my favorite time of year, so how could I not want to spend that most holy of holidays with the people I love?!

Alexis: What’s the moral of this story?

Virginia: I didn’t set out to write a story with a moral. I never do. My goal in writing is primarily to entertain readers—and myself! But in the end, most of my stories do end up with a moral. I guess this one would be “honesty is the best policy.” Al resorts to deception in order to maintain his personal dignity, and in doing so almost damages the relationship he values most.

Alexis: Complete this sentence: I want my readers to ___________________ when they read this story because ________________________________.

Virginia: I want my readers to laugh out loud when they read this story because they fall in love with the characters and resonate with their hilarious but heart-touching circumstances.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Virginia! Do you have any closing thoughts?

Virginia: Just this–MERRY CHRISTMAS! May your holy day be filled with love and laughter!

~*~
Author bio:

Virginia Smith is the bestselling author of thirty-one novels (and counting), an illustrated children’s book, and over fifty articles and short stories. 

An avid reader with eclectic tastes in fiction, Ginny writes in a variety of styles, from lighthearted relationship stories to breath-snatching suspense. 

Her books have been finalists in many prestigious awards, and two of her novels received the prestigious Holt Medallion Award of Merit.

~*~
Buy Virginia's book:
Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble

~*~
Connect with Virginia:
Website - www.VirginiaSmith.org
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ginny.p.smith

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