Author Interview with Hadassah Treu about her memoir titled "Satisfied"

Author Interview with Hadassah Treu about her book Satisfied:

Alexis: Congratulations on writing a memoir titled, Satisfied: Why Getting What We Want Is Not the Answer! What inspired you to share your story?

Hadassah: Thanks! God utterly surprised me by imprinting on my heart in the Fall of 2019 that I should write a memoir of the most difficult years for me and my marriage when I struggled with infertility, anxiety disorder, and panic attacks. These were also the years of the greatest spiritual growth I experienced.

I was not thrilled at the prospect. But the Lord continued to pull at my heart, and I said “yes” with a trembling heart. This project felt like I needed to climb Mount Everest. In March 2020, the first draft of my memoir was ready. Then, I began the revisions and completed them in about a month.

My next step, in blessed ignorance and naivete, was to start pitching the memoir to agents and publishers. Rejections kept piling on. I was disappointed and couldn’t understand. Then, at the end of June 2020, my world suddenly turned upside down. My husband died on the fifth day of July 2020, at age 55. My whole world died with him. The person who was my best friend, my closest person, and my family was gone. I lost the life as I knew it, the life I deeply cherished.

One day it dawned on me that the Lord, who is never late and never too early, urged me to write the memoir of our story with my husband precisely before his untimely death. I knew that I would be incapable of writing this memoir after his death. It would have been too painful. This new understanding brought me a little comfort, reassuring me that God is, as always, in control of all events and details of my life and that He remains trustworthy. I don’t need to understand completely to trust Him.

God surprised me again in September 2025 when a publisher signed a contract with me that led to the release of Satisfied this October.

Alexis: When I read your book, the first thing I noticed was that it read like a fiction story and unfolded with every page turn like scenes in a movie. Only it is not a work of fiction. This is your real life, pain, hope, and disappointments on paper for the world to read. How did it feel to openly share your heart with the readers?

Hadassah: The memoir reads like a fiction story, but it is the true story of my life and marriage. Openly sharing my heart with the readers feels scary. It makes me feel vulnerable and exposed. I share with the readers my most intimate thoughts, feelings, fears, insecurities, and struggles. It takes a lot of courage and faith to do this because this is my story, and my legacy in a way.

Alexis: How did your faith in God help you survive heartbreak and loss?

Hadassah: My faith in God was the foundation for surviving heartbreak and loss. I think without having God as my helper, healer, and sustainer, I would have totally collapsed. Practically, my struggles and pain drove me every day to my knees, seeking the Lord desperately and learning to discern His voice and to put my hope in Him and not in desired outcomes. His Word also played a crucial role in my survival. I was truly hanging on His words, on the comfort, reassurance, and promises in them. I wrote and prayed my own Scripture-guided prayers and declarations, and this was a big source of strength.

Alexis: How was your trust in God affected when He didn’t answer your prayers the way you wanted Him to over the years?

Hadassah: It was challenging to keep trusting God over the years during which I desperately wanted to become a mother. It was really a battle to keep my faith and keep living by faith and not by sight. Surely, this was one of the biggest tests of my faith. What helped me was seeking God in prayer and the habit of spending time in His word. It was His word that sustained me and built up my trust in Him despite the unanswered prayer and unmet expectations. I made the constant choice to trust Him. Here are some of my “trust declarations”:

I will trust the Lord when I can't understand His plan and purposes.

I will trust Him because He knows me and knows what is best for me.

I will trust the Lord when the pain blinds me.

I will trust Him because He never changes and is worthy of my trust.

Alexis: What advice, based on your journey, do you have for married women who long to be a mother but cannot conceive?

Hadassah: My advice is not to give up on God and their dreams. This is a spiritual battle to keep your faith in God, first and foremost. Keep trusting and seeking God, keep surrendering to Him and desiring His will above everything else. Be confident that He loves you and knows best. His plan is perfect. Rest in His love and sovereign plan, and providence for your life.

Alexis: Toward the end of your book, you talked about birthing babies—not real human babies but ministries such as your blog. Tell us more about that. How did God help you turn your pain into purpose?

Hadassah: This was a long process, but God never wastes anything in our lives. When we surrender to Him, He can turn every pain into purpose, and every mess into a mission. In my story, it began with God’s call to start writing a blog. My blog OnTheWayBg was born in May 2017. I still remember the excitement and joy. I held a baby in my arms! Not the biological baby I wanted, but still a baby!

I was full of God-given confidence that this was just the beginning. I was sure God would fulfill His promise and make me a joyful mother of many children—spiritual sons and daughters, ministries, books, and much more. A vast territory, an uncharted land, stretched before me. I had rediscovered a passion. I had a new goal, one to encourage and help believers grow and mature in their relationship with God by grasping their identity and purpose in Christ.

I had a new mission, one of empowering and equipping people to advance in their faith and put their hope in God. Now my blog is heading to its 10th anniversary and is in the 100 Top Faith Blogs ranked by Feedspot in 2025 and 2026. God made me also a prolific writer of many articles, poems, and books in English and Bulgarian.

Alexis: What has God taught you about His goodness and faithfulness to you even when He doesn’t give you what you want?

Hadassah: God taught me He remained the same God because He doesn’t change. He is the same regardless of how our circumstances develop. He remains dependable, trustworthy, faithful, good, loving, and caring. Most importantly, He is fully in control and completely sovereign over our lives. We can trust His wisdom, power, and love.

I also learned that even when God doesn’t give me what I want, He still gives me other amazing and wonderful things because He is a generous Giver. I didn’t receive the miracle I wanted (a biological child), but I experienced many other miracles in my life, which I call the miracles of transformation. I have changed profoundly. My thinking has changed, my husband and marriage have changed, my life has changed for good. God is always working.

Alexis: What lessons have you learned about forgiveness and surrender in your faith journey with Jesus Christ?

Hadassah: Forgiveness and surrender are the cornerstones of a fruitful and peaceful life. I can compare my faith journey to a wrestling match that led to rounds of deeper surrender, acceptance, forgiveness, and trust. Some important milestones of this wrestling were when I learned I was infertile and when I learned that I was not pregnant after the embryo transfer. Also, when I finally faced and dealt with my anger and disappointment, and my controlling desire.

I learned that without forgiving (others, myself, and even God) and without submitting to His will, there is no way to become internally healed and at peace. Forgiveness and continuous surrender are the path to peace, strength, joy, and satisfaction in the Lord. This is the only way to get rid of our self-centeredness and become more God-centered.

Alexis: Who is your target audience for this book? Share how you hope it will help them.

Hadassah: This book is for you if:

• You are facing infertility, the loss of motherhood dreams, or the pain of unanswered prayers.
• Your marriage, intimacy, or expectations for family life have left you feeling heartbroken or unseen.
• You often feel that you are not enough, not fulfilled, or unsure who you are beyond your circumstances.
• You are disappointed with life and searching for faith, identity, healing, and purpose in the midst of uncertainty.

The book will help you discover how releasing the need to control every outcome can open the way to peace, healing, and a more honest relationship with God. Surrender becomes not a defeat, but a courageous choice to trust amid uncertainty.

Through the book, you will explore the possibility of finding identity and purpose beyond motherhood, marriage, achievement, or the fulfillment of long-held desires. Even in the valleys, new meaning can take root.

Alexis: What was the most beautiful part of writing your story? Explain.

Hadassah: The most beautiful part of writing my story was seeing the pattern and realizing that everything made sense. Being able to trace God’s hand in weaving all the threads of my life through the years was beautiful and amazing.

Alexis: Now that your memoir is released, what’s next for you?

Hadassah: I will continue to share my story in my writing and speaking. The next thing that I believe God has for me is to finish my third coaching program on mental health and recovery from addiction and help people as a trauma recovery and resilience coach. I am already a certified trauma-informed and human flourishing coach.

Alexis: Thank you for the interview, Hadassah! Would you like to share closing thoughts?

Hadassah: Thanks for this opportunity, Alexis! It was a joy for me! Blessings to your readers.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hadassah Treu is an award-winning bilingual author, blogger, poet, speaker, and spiritual growth coach; a communication specialist and translator, holding a master's in international relations, living in Bulgaria. 

As an author of five books (two poetry books and three non-fiction books) and co-author of fourteen devotional and poetry anthologies, Hadassah loves to encourage and motivate people to stand firm in the faith and grow spiritually by applying biblical truths in their lives. Her book, “Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become a Birthplace of Blessings” is a must-read for any Christian who is seeking spiritual gain after a season of losses and suffering. Her new book, “SATISFIED: Why Getting What We Want Is Not the Answer”, released in October 2026, offers a language for grief, permission to wrestle, and a deeper vision of a fruitful life.

Featured on over 100 faith-based platforms and podcasts like Her View from Home, The Upper Room, (In)courage, Living by Design, Proverbs 31 Ministries, COMPEL Pro Blog, she is a hope-bringing speaker and writer that is in the Top 100 Faith Blogs ranked by Feedspot in 2025 and 2026. Hadassah is a professional member of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) and COMPEL Pro Training member, leader, and contributor.

Hadassah is no stranger to suffering and loss. From the platform of her greatest pains, equipped with lessons gathered on the way, she delivers a powerful message of comfort and hope, found in God's Word.

~*~

Blurb for Hadassah's book:

You prayed. You trusted. You believed it would happen. But what if it doesn't? 

Hadassah Treu thought she knew what would make her life complete: a loving marriage, motherhood, health, and the future she had carefully imagined. Instead, the years brought marital distance, infertility, panic attacks, painful medical treatments, and the lingering consequences of a decision she desperately wished she could undo.

As one hope after another slipped beyond her control, Hadassah faced a question she could no longer avoid: Is God still good when he does not give us what we want?

In Satisfied, Hadassah tells the deeply personal story of a marriage strained by grief and disappointment, a consuming longing to become a mother, and a faith tested when prayer seemed to produce anything but the expected answer. Her journey leads through anger, forgiveness, surrender, and the difficult discovery that even a good desire can become the place where we look for the satisfaction only God can provide.

But surrender does not mean the end of longing. For Hadassah, it becomes the beginning of something larger: healing in her marriage, a new understanding of motherhood and fruitfulness, and a life no longer dependent on circumstances going according to plan.

Honest about disappointment without offering easy answers, Satisfied is for anyone who has prayed faithfully, waited hopefully, and wondered what to do when the answer still seems to be no.

When the life you wanted is not the life you receive, can you still discover that what you have is enough?

~*~
Buy Hadassah’s book on Amazon

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Connect with Hadassah:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onthewaybg/

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

X: https://x.com/onthewaybg

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.at/onthewaybg/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hadassahtreu-author

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/hadassah-treu

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Heart for humankind and a love that lasts

Reflecting on God’s faithfulness and love for humankind
A devotional by Regina Marcazzo-Skarka

“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”— Psalm 100:5 (NIV)

I treasure reminders that show the great power of God’s faithfulness and love.

Being a Christian does not make us exempt from hardship nor does it leave us always giddy with joy. Life can be tough. It can be hard to navigate the ups and downs of the day-to-day unless we recognize that God is in control and He is madly in love with us. This gives us the strength to persevere.

I also love looking back at God’s goodness in my life over the years both before and after I accepted Him into my life. It shows how He loved me unconditionally and protected me long before I knew Him. Have you ever looked back at your life and realized how everything fits together like a puzzle? How many stories can you tell about God’s faithfulness—both the big things and the small?

My husband and I retired relatively early from our careers. We planned a move from New York to Florida knowing that we might have to continue working in some form. But with the cost-of-living skyrocketing after we finalized the decision and moved, I started to wonder if it was a mistake. If I stayed at my job another three years, hitting the 20-year mark, my pension would have been much higher.

I can see now that God knew what he was doing. We moved to Florida, a couple hours away from my son and soon to be grandchildren. Little did we know that those five years would be a precious gift. We had four beautiful years together before my son got sick and we were blessed to be able to take care of him and help with the babies. I realize that we would have lost those five years if we had remained in New York. What a blessing from God!

I could go on and on with stories about how God protected me in situations that could have ended badly.

As a Christian, it’s easy to go through life just going to church, occasionally reading the Bible and fellowshipping with other Christians, but without an intimate relationship with our Savior (Jesus Christ) that includes silent time alone with Him, lots of prayer and hiding His Word in my heart through scripture memorization…I would be shortchanging God and myself.

But how do we get through those difficult days when we are so scattered that we don’t direct our attention first and foremost on Christ?

I am grateful God gives us all the tools we need to live this life here on earth. The problem is that sometimes we do not use them. I look forward to the day that I commit to sit and be still before God every day, emptying my brain for a short period and just focusing on how much I am loved.

One activity that has been key for my walk is having an arsenal of go-to Bible verses memorized to get me grounded and focused on my Lord and Savior. I started the practice years ago but got away from it until this past January when I asked members of my small group if they wanted to join me in choosing a verse every 15th and last day of the month. We individually pick verses that are tailored to our needs to be go to reminders that help us in our walk. Most days before I get out of bed I recite some of those verses. It is always the best way to start my day.

Here are some of those memory verses:

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.”—Psalm 143:8 (NIV)

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”—Psalm 19:14 (NLT)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”—John 16:33 (NIV)

“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.”—1 Peter 4:12-13 (NLT)

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,

Thank You for looking after us even when your love is not at the forefront of our minds. Thank You for being faithful in all seasons, during sickness, financial stress and times of sorrow. Help us dear Lord to remember that you are with us, that Your Word is powerful and that you have a beautiful plan for us. Help us to prioritize spending time with You and to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit that you have graciously given to us. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Great is Thy Faithfulness” by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Known” by Tauren Wells. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Make Room” by Meredith Andrews (feat. Sarah Reeves & Chris McClarney). Listen to it here.


~*~
Author Bio:

Regina Marcazzo-Skarka is a writer, a journalist, and a lover of Jesus Christ, her family, church, mission trips, travel and foreign languages. 

Having traveled to over 25 countries, her exploring the world has only just begun. She has also been part of numerous mission trips both domestic and international. She loves getting to know people, their languages and their culture. A life dream of hers is to speak five languages. So far, she speaks English, French, Italian and some Spanish. Her goal is to improve her Spanish speaking skills and to learn a language with a different alphabet, perhaps Arabic.

Regina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics with a minor in Romance Languages from City University of New York, Hunter College; a Master’s Degree in Journalism from New York University; and a Master’s Degree in Teaching Foreign Language from SUNY Stony Brook. Regina has studied in France. Regina has also studied, lived and worked in Italy.

She taught high school French and Italian for 17 years before retiring from teaching. Prior to teaching, she worked as a journalist, both freelance and as a staff writer for local Long Island, New York weeklies. She also spent two years as a United Nations employee in the Department of Public Information. She currently writes full-time for a weekly newspaper in St. Lucie County, Florida.

Regina is currently working on proposals for two books that she is writing.

She is blessed with an awesome husband of 34 years and two children, their spouses and three treasured grandchildren.

~*~
Connect with Regina:
Website: https://reginamarcazzoskarka.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wipeoutworry/
Email: ginamarcazzo@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When grief overshadows the beauty of springtime

When Everything Blooms and You Are Still Learning to Breathe
A devotional by Patti Schultz, Ed.D.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”—Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

There is something almost cruel about spring when you are grieving.

The world does not slow down for your heartache. The dogwoods bloom anyway. The birds sing their first morning songs before you are ready. Children laugh outside your window, and the sky turns a particular shade of blue that only April knows and somehow, all of it hurts. I have stood at that window myself, feeling the strange loneliness of a world that keeps being beautiful when you are not ready for it. If you have felt that ache, you are not alone.

The Scriptures are honest about this tension. The Psalms are full of people who wept beneath a beautiful sky. Even the disciples, after the resurrection, went back to fishing—feeling numb and not yet sure what to do with hope that felt too large to hold. Grief does not follow the calendar. It does not know that it is almost May.

When God declares, “I am doing a new thing!”, He does not promise we will see it easily or feel it quickly. He asks something gentler: “Do you not perceive it?” Sometimes the new thing is so quiet, so fragile and so unlike what we imagined like a small green shoot that we see pressing through hard ground, a moment of unexpected peace, a morning when the ache, just briefly, lifts. Sometimes perceiving is simply not looking away.

Spring is not a command to feel better. It is a promise that God is still working. Life still comes from ground that looked dead all winter. He has not forgotten you in the cold season, and He has not forgotten you now. You are allowed to sit with your grief while also looking at the flowers. You are allowed to cry tears of sadness while watching a beautiful sunrise. You are allowed to let beauty reach you even when you cannot explain how. That is not a contradiction; it is what it means to be human and held at the same time.

God is making a way in your wilderness, even now. You may not see it whole yet. But spring is His gentle reminder that new things are possible. Even here. Even for you.

Let’s Pray: Lord, the world is waking up around me, and I am still so tired. I thank You for the beauty You have placed in this season, even when I do not know how to receive it. Help me not feel guilty for the moments when it reaches me and be gentle with myself in the moments when it doesn’t. You are the God who brings life from what is dormant. You are the One who makes streams in the wasteland. I trust that You see my desert place, and that You are already at work there, even when I cannot feel it. Teach me to perceive the new thing You are doing, however quietly, however slowly. And until I can, hold me through the ones who love me, in the mercy of each ordinary morning, and in the steadfast hope that You are not finished yet. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “It Is Well with My Soul” (song cover in ASL & CC by Rock Church Deaf Ministry). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Even If” by MercyMe (song cover in ASL with Brandon of the Deaf Millennial Project). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans (song cover in ASL & CC by Rock Church Deaf Ministry). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Held” by Natalie Grant. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Dr. Patti Schultz’s inspiring journey weaves a tapestry of compassion, resilience, and divine hope. 

Formerly a public school principal, professor, teacher, and interpreter for the deaf, she now dedicates her life to a heartfelt ministry rooted in her personal experiences.

As a mother to three miracle boys here on Earth and a member of a heavenly soccer team, Patti’s story is one of unwavering faith and profound love. Her decade-long battle with infertility and recurrent loss fuels her deep compassion for grieving mothers, guiding them toward healing through the comforting embrace of Jesus Christ’s garment.

Patti’s gentle wisdom offers a safe haven for women navigating pain, reminding them they are never alone. Through her ministry, she seeks to envelop grieving mothers in divine comfort, encouraging hope, renewal, and the reassurance that God's love is always near, wrapping them in His compassionate hem as they walk the path to healing.

Living in northern Michigan, she cherishes precious moments with family and community, drawing strength from faith and connection.

~*~
Connect with Patti:
Website: pattischultz.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.pattischultz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.Patti.Schultz
Email: dr.patti.schultz@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: How to handle it when Christmastime hurts

When Christmas Hurts: Celebrating Through Loss and Change
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

—John 13:35 NIV

Turn on the radio or flip on the television, and it doesn’t take long to be reminded this is the happiest time of the year. Except …what if it’s not?

What if, in many ways, this is the hardest time of year for you?

I’ve always looked forward to Christmastime. As a kid, I remember being absolutely giddy with excitement, and it often had nothing to do with what was waiting under the Christmas tree. What caught me up was that glorious buzz of joyful energy from the loved ones all around me—all the laughing grown-ups excited to see each other, everyone dressed up in something festive, all the whispered secrets about gifts and hopes, spinning together to create what felt like a magical time.

Later, when I grew up and had my own kids, it was exciting just to watch them experience that Christmas joy for themselves—going to church, singing the hymns and lighting the candles, picking out gifts for each other. As the years have passed, though, my circle is slowly growing smaller. My grandparents have all passed away, as have my dad, my stepmom, and my favorite aunt. Beloved in-laws, too. My sister lives hours away, my uncle is clear across the country, and I can’t remember the last time I saw the cousin who used to be my best childhood friend.

Loved ones I used to see every holiday are now people I haven’t seen in ages. Two of our four kids are now off to college, and though they’ll be home for Christmas break, it’s different now that the kids are older. Everything feels different, smaller, slightly off-kilter. More subdued. I’m still joyful, still blessed. Yet the difference feels palpable somehow.

Maybe that’s you—maybe you normally love Christmastime, yet the pang of loss cuts deep right now. Maybe you’ve lost a spouse, children, siblings, or a close friend this year, and there’s little laughter this season. Every gleam of joy brings along with it a sharp and painful reminder of the one you’ve lost. Or perhaps you’re struggling with difficult health diagnosis, a broken relationship, financial catastrophe, or mental illness. Whatever it is, the holidays are hard for you, and you struggle to gain even a glimmer of cheer.

The truth is that despite the messages around us trying to tell us what Christmas is “supposed” to be and how we’re “supposed” to feel, the reality is that Christmas is none of those things. The expectations we’ve created around this time of year pale in comparison to the perfect truth about why we celebrate it in the first place. We celebrate Christmas because we celebrate the birth of our Savior (Jesus Christ) who is God in human form, word become flesh who lived, suffered, and then died as a sacrifice for our sins…only to rise again and lead us to eternal life (John 3:16).

And so—even as my heart sometimes aches for those I’ve lost this time of year, while all the songs on the radio tell me how things should be—what helps is remembering the real reason for the season. What helps is loving the ones who are around me now, even as I miss the ones who are no longer with me.

Loving the people in my world today is not only a way that I can claim joy in the season, but it’s also a way that I can honor the gift of Jesus Christ and the birth of my Savior. After all, Jesus told His disciples the world will know who they are—His—by their love for one another (John 13:35). Love really is the greatest truth of all and the most important thing to remember.

Wherever you are this holiday season—grieving and heartbroken, happy and content, or a little bit gloomy and cynical—remember this: Love is the one thing that carries on from Christmas to Christmas. The love of Jesus Christ for all of us, and the love we have for each other in His name.

If you’re struggling this year, can I pray for you? Reach out to me privately.

Let’s Pray: Lord, help me to remember the true reason we celebrate Christmas. It’s not the lights or the gifts or the celebrations but the fact that You came into this world, Emmanuel—God with us. You chose to live as a human, then suffer and die as a sacrifice so that we could join You in eternity. What a true gift that is. No matter what my feelings right now, please help me remember this. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “We Are the Reason” by AVALON. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “How Beautiful” by Twila Paris. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. 

Her two Christian contemporary novels, The Memory Garden and Tangled Roots, are Amazon bestsellers. Learn more about Jessica’s writing ministry and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com.

She has a YouTube devotional, and you can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed.

Devotionals for the Heart: Don't give up during difficult times, look up!

It’s Time to Arise!
A devotional by Patricia Russell

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.”

— Isaiah 60:1 (KJV)

For anyone who has lost a loved one through death or divorce, you understand that there is a season of grief that can be challenging for us to walk through.

This time can seem long to others, but time stands still when you are the one grieving. No one can really put a timer on how long that season will last. Whether days, months or years, there is a portion of your heart that knows a deep pain that is like nothing you’ve ever felt before. And then, like turning pages in a book, there is a day when the pain changes, opening a space for joy to take some space and help you to sit up a little stronger. I know this to be true when my father died on a sunny Friday afternoon.

My Dad and I exchanged wishes to have a great day, not knowing it would be our last morning seeing each other. I still remember taking the phone call where I was told of his passing and crying out in shock. Yet the Lord had been with me throughout the day, not only in my thoughts but like a warm blanket that I felt wrapped in the comfort of His presence when I needed it most. Perhaps you’ve known this feeling and pain too—whether a sickness leading to death or the stress of a strained relationship that ends up broken. When the pain hits, our heart feels weak but it's right then we can stretch our hands up and worship with our whole heart. It’s painful and the weight of the pain is heavy. We don’t have to carry it alone. He is present, even in the darkness.

Israel had been in captivity for many years. They obeyed then disobeyed repeatedly yet God had promised deliverance and there came a time when He spoke through his prophet to tell them to “Get up and arise.” The wise king Solomon told us “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV). At this time, the nation of Israel was entering a new season, and it was time to step out of the ashes of the past sin. God wanted them to step out of the memories of repeated disobedience and reconnect with the only One who could save them, deliver and comfort them: their Creator (God), who had called them to be His special people.

King Solomon learned that everything has a time. Wherever you are in life right now you may be wondering, "When will things change? When will the clouds of darkness dissipate? How long will God allow certain things to go on and on? Does He not think it’s time to turn things around? Does He not believe it’s time to bring judgment down on the wicked people?"

You may know this, but I’ll say it anyway: God knows. He is fully aware of everything that is happening in our town, city, county and country. God knows we don’t know everything, but in those times, He wants us to look up. He wants us to get up. He wants us to arise! He wants us to look up to Heaven and look forward in faith. God knows our past, and He has plans for our future. It’s a future filled with hope and promise (Jeremiah 29:11). It’s time to rise.

Let’s Pray:
Dear Lord, I know You are fully aware of where I am and how I’m feeling right now. I look to You in faith believing You see what’s happening in my present, but You also hold my future. So, I trust You and look to You, dear God. Thank You for the light of hope that shines bright because that light is You! In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “I Lift My Hands” by Chris Tomlin. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “He Knows” by Jeremy Camp. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “The Reason for the World” by Matthew West. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Patricia is a worship leader, songwriter, speaker and compiler of her 2020 best-seller anthology Stronger Resilience: Stories to Empower the Mind, Body and Spirit, as well as Lord I Trust You: Words of Encouragement to encourage readers and share life lessons during her cancer journey. 

Patricia writes, speaks, and teaches on the power of God’s Word to heal and empower you to become all that you are purposed for. She has traveled internationally and shared her gifts with audiences to encourage, empower and share life lessons through word and song. Patricia has sung on national television broadcasts and shared the stage with several respected speakers including Anne Graham Lotz and Rev. E.V. Hill.

Her greatest joy is being married to her husband, Wayne, for 34 years. Together they serve the community through their local congregation as well as providing premarital and marriage coaching. They have two adult children, Raquel and Benjamin. As a two-time breast cancer overcomer, Patricia coaches’ others to develop resilience and live life to their fullest.

Patricia has released two gospel music recordings: “Draw Me Nearer” and “Lord, I Trust You”. In March 2022, she launched her podcast “Becoming Resilient” which can be downloaded wherever you get your podcasts and also seen on YouTube.

When not reading or studying, Patricia loves to eat Thai food and spend time with “Lucy” – her daughter’s Yorkie-poo who has taken up room in her heart.

~*~
Connect with Patricia:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrussellsings/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pat.russell.98877/
Email Patricia: patrussellsings@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: How I am learning to surrender all to God

Surrender in Layers: Not One and Done
A devotional by Christine Monteiro

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)

I learned to surrender my parenting rights and concerns to God when I sent my girls from Indonesia to the United States of America last year.

I knew I needed to let go as they grow up, find their way, and spread their wings. I thought that when I had the funeral for my husband, that would be my last surrender.

I thought surrender was a one-time graduation. It turns out that it is more like a subscription model with no cancel button. It keeps going throughout my life. That subscription of surrendering comes with a manual book (The Holy Bible). Reading the Bible will comfort you as you learn how to maintain that subscription.

Recently, I accepted an invitation to meet someone. It was an impromptu invitation, and at first, I was too lazy to go. I just want to spend my Sunday resting and enjoying my alone time. I didn’t plan to go anywhere, but I went anyway. When I arrived, the only available seat was in front of him. I had no other choice, so I sat in front of him. At first glance, I liked what I saw. I liked his knowledge as a Christian; he knows what he is talking about. That attracted me because I was hoping to meet someone who doesn’t only to say he is a Christian, but a man who understands and fears God.

I thought this could be a potential new life partner. Maybe this is what redemption looks like—new love after loss. There was a little hope that maybe he is the one. Much speculation played around in my mind. There are lots of ifs. Long story short, we got hooked quickly. In the beginning, we had a good relationship since we both spoke the same language of ministry. Yet, I wasn’t expecting the tension. He said he loved God. I thought that would mean he’d understand my story and even honor it. But suddenly, the pictures of my late husband made him uneasy. My posts about grief made him feel as if he was walking in my late husband’s shadow and this caused my new love interest to feel small. I didn’t know how to respond because I hadn’t realized I still had so many deep ties to what used to be.

It wasn’t about clinging to the past. I had spent years letting go of routines, security, and the man who held my heart. But now I was being asked to let go again, this time of my solitude. My space. The quiet I had worked so hard to rebuild, and it felt like too much. Like I was being asked to evict a memory just to welcome someone who hadn’t yet earned that space. This hurt me not because it was wrong, but because it was real. This was another layer of surrender. One I didn’t know I’d held so tightly.

I realized something uncomfortable: This wasn’t a surrender like the ones I’d done before. This time, I wasn’t grieving a loss. I was resisting a new beginning. And the resistance wasn’t coming from tragedy … it was coming from me holding onto the past and at the same time, trying to protect my peace in the present.

I had grown used to doing life on my terms. It was a quiet and predictable lifestyle that was all mine. But now, God was asking for something new: space for someone else. Space that used to be sacred, now needs to be shared. And I didn’t want to give it up, not because I didn’t care about this new man, but because I didn’t want to lose myself in the process. In the Bible, the Apostle Paul talks about “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead”. That’s not about erasing our past; it’s about loosening our grip on it so we can receive what’s next. I wasn’t betraying my late husband by making room for this new relationship. I was obeying God by trusting Him with the next chapter in the story of my life.

I thought I was just being asked to let go of cherished memories, but I was being asked to let someone into my life. And that kind of surrender felt scarier than grief. I had become so good at doing life alone that I didn’t realize how tightly I was holding onto it. Peace had become my protector. Routine had become my comfort. Now, love was asking me to trade those things in for uncertainty, for compromise, for presence. It was a new layer of surrender that I didn’t see coming.

Surrender doesn’t always come wrapped in loss. Sometimes it comes in disguise as opportunity, like love. As someone knocking on your door, asking for a place at the table. And in those moments, we get to decide if we trust God enough to say yes.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Father in Heaven,

I thank You for your love in my life. Your never-ending love brings me the security that I need. Even though sometimes as a human, I am longing for more. But I am glad that you never fail to show me your love that is pure and unconditional. Help us to see how much You love humankind. Teach us how to reflect on our lives. Show us how to surrender to You in every aspect of our life. It is not easy but with time and revelation from You, we are able to give all to You. Sometimes we have to hit rock bottom to surrender, but we know that is because You love us. Teach us to be more discerning and sensitive to your voice. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Without You” by Parachute Band. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Press On” by Selah. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “I Surrender All” by Clay Crosse. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “I Surrender” by Hillsong Worship. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Christine Monteiro is a certified transformative coach, writer, and keynote speaker who is passionate about helping others navigate the complexities of purpose, personal growth, and resilience. 

Christine’s journey to becoming a coach started four years ago, following the loss of her husband to brain cancer. That experience left her feeling as though she had lost her purpose—a feeling she deeply understands in clients who she works with now. Through self-discovery and training, Christine found the missing pieces in her life and regained her purpose and drive that now motivates her to help others.

Christine coaches her clients from all walks of life—from young adults to retirees—helping them to embrace change, set meaningful goals, and confidently pursue their dreams. She has received training through Creative Results Management and holds credentials from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Christine also has certifications in Positive Psychology and Mental Health Coaching from Yale and Light University. Her diverse approach to coaching her clients combines empathy with strategic insight, helping them to navigate every stage of life.

When she writes, Christine likes to focus on topics like finding purpose, coping with grief, and achieving personal transformation. As she writes, Christine draws from her own experiences as a single mom and empty nester. She enjoys sharing these insights on various platforms to reach a wider audience and foster community support.

When not coaching or writing, Christine spends her time sipping black coffee and swimming in the pool. She has found that having three independent children gives her a privilege to have a lot of “me time” that she didn’t have when they were growing up.

Devotionals for the Heart: When and how grief can be good for us

Good Grief
A devotional by Kayla de Jong

“Jesus wept.”

— John 11:35 (NIV)

What is grief? Some people would describe it as a dark night. But there is hope!

Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky who was critically acclaimed as one of the greatest novelists in the literary world, once said, “The darker the night, the brighter the stars, the deeper the grief, the closer is God!”

After unexpectedly losing my mom when I was only 21, I found myself wrestling with God in my grief. Hopefully, the insights I have gained on my grief journey can benefit you as well, even if you are not grieving the loss of a loved one. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of grief is “deep and poignant distress caused by or as if by bereavement.”

I’ve learned that grief is not just about death; it is about loss. Perhaps you are grieving losing a spouse through divorce or the lack of relationship with a child or the decision a friend made to stop following Jesus Christ. I believe grief is a good thing if done the way God intended. And knowing how to grieve in a godly way can not only help you grieve but also prepare you to walk with others in their grief journeys.

Let’s read Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (NIV). It says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.”

Knowing that there is a season for everything—happiness and sadness—comforts my soul. I am comforted to know that God does not expect me to feel happy all the time. To me, these verses give Christians the permission to have what society deems “negative” emotions. While this is not a devotional about emotions, I will quickly say that I don’t think God views our emotions as good or bad. However, I think what matters to Him is how we handle them and how they affect our behaviors and relationship with Him and others (and ourselves). Ecclesiastes 3:4 supports this idea by declaring weeping and mourning appropriate for certain times. Notice how we are not instructed to always dance and laugh.

Another concept that has helped me understand grief from a biblical perspective is that God grieves too. And knowing that God expects me to manifest characteristics that are His, this means God expects me to grieve as well. Let’s talk this through: Jesus Christ wept on His way to raise His friend Lazarus from the dead, knowing fully well that Lazarus would soon be alive again. Yet He wept (John 11:35). Why? I believe He was not only showing His followers that it is okay to grieve, but I also love the footnote found in the Amplified version of The Holy Bible that suggests Jesus was angry at the sorrow induced by death.

Now let us look at biblical instruction on grief in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (AMP), which reads, “Now we do not want you to be uninformed, believers, about those who are asleep [in death], so that you will not grieve [for them] as the others do who have no hope [beyond this present life].” In other words, Christians can grieve but not without hope. We know if we continue to follow Jesus Christ then we will be reunited in Heaven with our fellow Christians who have passed away and are no longer living on Earth. When we are in Heaven, we will be fully healed and holy in the Presence of God. Simply put, in the midst of our bereavement, we can choose to rejoice that God has provided a means to eternal life with Him that is far better than this life on Earth.

So, based on these few biblical examples, it seems that grief is an appropriate response to death. God, even though He is omniscient, and death is no surprise to Him, grieves too. However, it is clear that we are not to view death as “the end.” Instead, let it serve to remind you of eternity and salvation and hope from God.

Let’s Pray: God, thank You for giving me hope while I am grieving and let me share this with others who have lost someone or something important to them. Thank You for the time I had with my loved ones who have passed away. Help me to have a healthy perspective on grief. Thank You for comforting me, Lord, when I am sad. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Light of that City” by Allison Durham Speer. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hi! I’m Kayla de Jong! 

I’ve lived in Indiana my whole life and was blessed to have been raised in a Christian household. I have an associate degree in library science and have worked in various libraries for over six years. I love reading and writing!

I have mostly written poems, some of which were published in the compiled works of a local writers guild. I am in the middle of seeking a new career. I would love to be an author, artist, or journalist. But most of all, I would love to be a stay-at-home mom someday.

~*~
Connect with Kayla:
E-mail: kaylagmcdaniel@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Knowing and embracing your true identity

Our Identity is in Jesus Christ
A devotional by Hannah Benson

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. –2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

Dear friend, your worth is not determined by what you do. Does that come as a surprise to you?

As someone whose personality is rooted in uniqueness and identity, I can tell you that I struggle with this frequently. It can go two ways: I am either proud of “who” I am based on what I do (as an actress, writer, daughter) or sickened by it (I’m a sinner who has made mistakes, which can lead me to believe that I am a mistake).

Do you see the problems with that way of thinking? For example: If my identity is tied to my job, then if someone critiques my performance at work or my choice of a career, then I might begin to think they are critiquing me. I may think if they don’t approve of my career choice then that means they don’t approve of me.

At least for now, I believe that God has put me on an unconventional career path. It doesn’t make sense to a lot of people, and sometimes, I can question it myself. But even when I wonder if this really is God’s will for my life, He provides in the most unexpected ways, reminding me that He cares for me.

The other day, God impressed on my heart this message of our identity being separate from what we do. While I am sharing it with you now, this was a message that I needed to hear first.

I thank God for this message because I often need the reminder that my identity is separate from my career, my ministry, my hobbies or even the wrong things I’ve done.

Dear friend, the same goes for you. What do you take pride in? Awards? Accomplishments? Titles? God has given them to you as a gift! But they don’t define you.

What happens if you lose your job, if the title is given to someone else or when your children have left the nest? Who would you be if all that was stripped away?

If you are a child of God, then that is your identity. Doesn’t that make you feel so much better and lighter knowing you don’t have to carry the burden of “who” you are anymore? Take a moment and let this truth sink in: You aren’t responsible for your true identity and it isn’t tied to your performance or the titles you may or may not have.

Rest in the knowledge that He who made you calls you the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8), His beloved (1 John 3:1), His chosen one (Ephesians 1:4).

No other sense of identity will truly satisfy. One day, titles will be stripped away, awards will tarnish, accolades will fade. But you can rest in knowing that God’s love for you will never be stripped away, it won’t tarnish, and it certainly won’t fade.

Let’s Pray:
Dear Father God, thank You that I don’t have to be enough on my own. Because of You, I am enough. You love me, despite all my failures, and You love me whether or not I have a title. Please help me to rest in that knowledge and to surrender to You my “identity”. Please help me to know in my heart that what I do does not define who I am. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Who I Am” by Ben Fuller. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hannah Benson is a Jesus-follower who’s passionate about sharing the love of Christ with others. 

From the time she could hold a pen, she was writing. But it wasn’t until she was sixteen that she began to seriously follow God’s calling to write a novel. Hannah is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and has at least four novels in the works. For the past five years, she has been involved with her local Biblical theater company. She wants to show others the love of Jesus through the creative arts.

When she’s not acting or working on her upcoming novel, you can find Hannah laughing with her siblings, cuddling her little fluffy dog, or reading books (usually historical fiction or fantasy stories). You can read more of Hannah’s writings on her blog or on her Instagram where she strives to write content that leaves others feeling encouraged.

~*~
Connect with Hannah:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahlbensonwrites/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Hannah-Lynn-Writer/100073790792576/
Blog: www.loveunconditional.blog

Devotionals for the Heart: God is still with you in the heavy seasons of life

God is There in the Heavy Seasons
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

–Psalms 147:3 (NIV)

The time in between August 2020 and March 2021 was a heavy grieving season for me. My grandfather died in August 2020, I suffered a miscarriage in November 2020, and my mother-in-law died in March 2021. Fortunately, if you can say that, this wasn’t my first season of grief. I learned the hardship of grief early in life. When I was only 23, my biological mother passed away suddenly.

You don’t think about the passing of your mother. Although it’s possible, you tend to think of her as immortal—someone who will always be there for you. That wasn’t the case for me. Everyone around me still had their mothers, so no one could understand my pain. They didn’t know the void in my chest that never leaves, the constant heaviness that hurt even to breathe. They didn’t understand that a part of me died and I would never be the same.

Since I had already endured the pain of losing a loved one, I thought I knew how this season of grief would be. However, I thought wrong. Each season is different because your relationship with each person is different. Losing a baby is another type of grief, but I’ll leave that story for another day. One difference in this season from the first was my relationship with God was stronger. I want to share three things that helped me in my most recent season of grief.

Point #1: Talking about my memories with my grandfather

My grandfather lived with us since I was 16 years old. We lived in a humble two-bedroom house. I slept in the living room while he slept in my room. My grandfather was involved in many milestones of my life. For example, I took my driver’s test with his car. He helped me purchase my first car. He was present for my high school graduation. When I was younger, I was told that he would go to a children’s boutique in the Dominican Republic to purchase a dress for me as a birthday gift. He did that for the first five years of my life. My mom would then get professional pictures taken of me in the dresses. To this day, I still have the pictures. Sharing all these stories and memories with whoever would listen was helpful for me.

Point #2: Going on a trip to the beach

My husband’s birthday is August 13. Hoping to celebrate, I planned a trip for us to Ana Maria Island. My grandfather passed on August 10—just three days before the trip. I was so conflicted if we should continue with our plans. I wanted to celebrate my husband’s birthday, but I didn’t want to seem insensitive to the situation. Since we couldn’t receive a full refund, we went for three instead of going for four days. I am so glad we went. It’s hard to continue your day-to-day routine when your heart is so heavy, and this trip helped us get out of routine. It gave me time away from everyone to process my feelings and distract my mind for a few days. Also, I feel the closest to God at the beach, which was therapeutic for me.

Point #3: Staying rooted in God’s Word (The Holy Bible)

As I mentioned above, you can’t do business as usual when your heart is heavy. So, your schedule and routine are all messed up. However, in this season of grief, I was intentional about continuing to read the Bible. I continued my daily Bible study plan and enjoyed reading the Bible at the beach. Listening to worship music while going through the miscarriage was comforting. During my mother-in-law’s passing, I signed up for an online Bible Study. Although I couldn’t log on to the calls, I continued to do the study. This helped me stay mentally and emotionally stable.

These three things listed above helped me during my heavy season of grief.

I know that everyone processes grief differently, and grief doesn’t look the same for everyone, but I hope my experience can help one person. If you haven’t experienced grief, I hope you save this message and use it as a resource to help you during that difficult time.

I want to leave you with a Bible verse that came up multiple times during this season and reminded me that God was with me. Psalms 147:3 (NIV) says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

God can heal your broken heart if you let Him. May His love fill the void in your heart.

Let’s Pray: Lord, I pray for anyone who may be going through a season of grief that they feel your presence. I pray they draw closer to you and feel your embrace. Please provide the comfort and strength you provided to me during my heavy grieving season to them. Thank you, Lord, for all of your blessings, in your name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “He Will Carry Me” by Mark Schultz. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Heidy De La Cruz is daughter of Christ, a wife, and a mother. 

She writes poetry and encouraging spiritual blog posts.

Heidy shares her faith and life in hopes of encouraging women. She hosts the podcast, "The American Dream in The Eye of Immigrants" where immigrants share their stories about moving to the United States of America.

Heidy holds a master's degree in Healthcare Administration and bachelor's degree in Psychology. She works as a Medical Coding Specialist.

In her free time she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, watching movies, and spending time with her husband and two kids.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Blog: https://heidyreynoso.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidyreynoso13
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/intheeyesofimmigrantstheamericandream

Devotionals for the Heart: God hears you every time you pray to Him

God is Listening
A devotional by Dr. Jessica B. Turner

“The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

—Psalm 34:17-18 (NLT)

Christmastime is my absolute favorite time of the year! The twinkling lights, the smell of the Christmas tree, all the classic Christmas carols and movies. The mere thought of it all puts a smile on my face! Yet, I realize this is not everyone’s reality. In fact, for many this time of the year can be the darkest of all times.

Grieving hearts are asked to pretend as if all is the same without their loved one. Strained relationships are exposed as the stress of the season acts as a catalyst for disrepair. The allure of sin is amplified as abundant opportunities are presented under the guise of harmless fun. Isolation is magnified as the joy of everyone else seems to highlight one’s own despair.

So many factors at play that can lead one’s spirit to be heavy laden. So many opportunities for the enemy to swoop in and “steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).

But there is great hope for those who find themselves struggling, especially this time of the year, and that hope is found in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He hears our cries. He sees our pain. He carries our burdens. He holds us closer than ever before when our hearts are broken, and our spirits are crushed. If, and only if, we allow Him to.

Scripture clearly says, “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17 NLT). Don’t miss that small detail. He is waiting for you to invite Him into your heart so He can transform it along with your situation.

If you find yourself struggling this Christmas season, find hope in the fact that Jesus is listening, eagerly waiting for the chance to come to your aid because He loves you more than you can ever imagine. Afterall, He sent His one and only Son (Jesus Christ) “to give his life as a ransom for many”, including you (Mark 10:45 ESV).

Once you truly grasp the meaning of Christmas, you can hold tight to the joy of your salvation regardless of your circumstances. And in the true spirit of Christmas, you can continue to share that hope with others who need it most!

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for the best gift one could ever receive—the gift of salvation. Because of the sacrifices made by Your Son, Jesus Christ, I can have an intimate relationship with You. I can come to you whenever I need knowing that You not only hear me but love me. Cover me with your unwavering joy and peace during this Christmas season and beyond. Help me to share your love and light with everyone I encounter so they may know You and the eternal hope that You give. I love You and I trust You. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Pray On" by Babbie Mason. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jessica B. Turner is a wife, mom, and LSU graduate with a degree in veterinary medicine. 

 

After practicing small animal medicine for six years, she traded in her stethoscope to become an online wellness coach, motivational speaker, and writer with a passion for mental health advocacy. This major life change was sparked after Jessica struggled with postpartum depression soon after she birthed her twin girls.

Along with Jessica’s career change came the discovery of who Jesus Christ really is and how He was the missing piece for her to be able to move forward from past trauma that she had suppressed for decades.

Jesus walked alongside Jessica as she underwent a transformation like none other. God transformed Jessica’s life from a broken mom who struggled with depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and PTSD from witnessing an attempted suicide, to using her experiences to make her a powerful vessel for Him. To this day, God enables Jessica to touch the lives of others through her often unfiltered, yet inviting, form of storytelling.

Throughout this process of refinement, Jessica has shared her life story with the world through her social media platforms, in-person events, blog posts, and podcasts. She values the gift of transparency and has discovered that what so many people need to know is that they are not alone. Jessica has walked in their shoes, and she wants the world to know that Jesus is walking with them as well.

~*~
Connect with Jessica:
Website: www.jessicabturner.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicabturner/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicabturner/

Movie Review for "The Thursday Night Club" and a Christmas gift for you!

 

My Review of The Thursday Night Club movie:

Today, I have another movie review for you and a giveaway contest at the end of this post! In case you didn’t know, Pure Flix is like the faith-based version of Netflix. It works the same way the difference is in the content that points you back to Jesus Christ and shows you how much The Creator of the Universe loves you!

Pure Flix is a one-stop shop for faith and family-friendly movies and shows where you can confidently stream in your home with the entire family. With new premium and exclusive original entertainment choices every week, Pure Flix streaming service has the largest variety of high-quality, curated, positive, encouraging, wholesome movies, series and kids' content in one service. Pure Flix is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, alongside AFFIRM Films.

Pure Flix VIP Ambassador program asked me to review the movie The Thursday Night Club. I watched this heartwarming movie earlier tonight (Nov. 26), after it was made available for viewing on Pure Flix. The Thursday Night Club movie drew me in from the start and kept me in my seat waiting to see how the story unfolded.

I’m eager to share my review with you. First, I’d like to describe the storyline in the words of talking points from Momentum then I’ll share my thoughts (review).

Here’s the synopsis of the movie:

This Christmas, be reminded what true friendship and true service to others look like by watching The Thursday Night Club with your family.

The Thursday Night Club centers on a group of best college friends who meet every Thursday night for dinner and juggle their course load, jobs and hobbies. Victor and his daughter Jesse always pick a special Christmas charity project each year. Victor challenges the group of friends to think beyond their own lives, and tries to persuade the group to pick a project they are passionate about. Victor tells them they will see signs from God to guide them.

Everything changes when Victor is killed in a wrong-way driver accident right before Christmas. This group of friends are faced with new opportunities and challenges that push them out of their comfort zones and cause them to grow up in wonderful ways. Such as: Ava has an opportunity to volunteer at an assisted living home. Izzy meets a man working to expand the bone marrow registry and she has an opportunity to be a donor. Randy is reminded of a memory of his absent father. Kevin’s dad is laid off and is forced to figure out how to keep paying for college. Jesse grieves her loss and through the kindness of others, finds her purpose.

Now for my review: 

The Thursday Night Club is a wonderful movie with a whole lot of hope and a whole lot of heart.

I was impressed how the writers made this story filled with plot twists, highs and lows, come together in the most beautiful way. The acting was well-done. The characters were multilayered and unique to their own. I appreciated the diversity of the group of friends whose lives the audience follows as they watch The Thursday Night Club.

There were things that caught me by surprise and there were moments that took my breath away. This movie was incredibly well-done. The casting director picked the perfect people to play each main and supporting character. The director of photography did a great job capturing the scenes in a way that makes the viewer feel like they are in the picture with the stars, watching this movie unfold on set with the actors.

I’d say to gather your family and friends to watch this movie together this Christmas. Enjoy a cup of cocoa or apple cider and be prepared for this story to warm your heart. 

Themes of this movie included: 

Charity

Kindness

Paying it forward

Spending time helping others

Making a difference

Opening yourself to God’s calling and purpose for your life

Signs from God

Partnership with Be The Match (bone marrow transplant awareness)

For more information on the film and Be the Match, go to www.thethursdaynightclub.com

The Thursday Night Club is a movie that will introduce you to Pure Flix, prompt you to join and watch it again and again! And once you’re a member of Pure Flix, you’ll find more content to view that will encourage your heart. So don’t delay, join today!

Speaking of joining PureFlix, they’re offering a special Christmas gift just for you. It’s available to new members onlyfrom Nov. 17 to Nov. 29. It’s a “Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday tie-in” where you can sign-up for a 7-day free trial and then only 99 cents a month for the first two months. Visit pureflix.com to claim the exclusive, limited-time offer. It will revert to $7.99 per month after the promotion. There’s also a “rejoin” offer of $59.99 for the annual membership.

Watch The Thursday Night Club movie trailer:
https://youtu.be/zz_xaYvyDlw

Before you go, enter this contest for your chance to WIN a FREE 3-month Pure Flix subscription! Note: This giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only. The giveaway starts today and ends on Nov. 30. If you're participating in the giveaway for The Thursday Night Club, please note that we cannot accept winners that have won a Pure Flix subscription in the last six months.

Here is the Giveaway Contest link:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f8dcb68c419/?

Disclosure: Many thanks to Pure Flix for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

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Devotionals for the Heart: Life lessons on faith, love and loss of a dear puppy

Until We Meet Again
A devotional by Sarah Cole

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

–John 14:1-4 (NIV)

Tears streamed down my face as I drove past the veterinary clinic.

I said goodbye to my beloved dog Gigi a few days earlier, and her death left me wondering how I would survive.

For months, dementia made the dog I knew disappear. What remained was an imposter who wandered through the house unaware of my presence. One day I had a gut feeling she had little time left to live. God had been warning me for weeks as she became finicky, developed a cough, and no longer played fetch with her favorite ball. Her downward spiral felt like a death in the family, and my heart broke as I slowly lost pieces of the dog whom I loved more than life itself.

That evening I went upstairs to my office, and as usual, she followed me. As I got up to use the bathroom, I looked over at her and she had collapsed, her eyes gazing lifelessly back at me. I knew something tragic was happening and tried to get her to stand up, but she collapsed again, and I carried her limp body downstairs. Just then, a voice interrupted me, telling me not to seek expensive treatment and let her illness run its course. Surely that wasn’t God, I told myself.

The online veterinarian asked me for the color of Gigi’s gums. “Bubble gum pink,” I said. “Not the usual red color of gum disease.” She mentioned the words ‘blood loss’ and ‘congestive heart failure’ and told me to watch her breathing and call my vet the following morning. Until then I hadn’t entertained the thought of losing her at Christmastime, and God reminded me to savor each moment with her like it was our last.

The bond we have with our pets is a piece of Heaven and the reason it is so hard to say goodbye. Their unconditional love is just a glimpse of the overwhelming love Jesus Christ had for us when He came to rescue our lost and dying world. After He spent all night in the Garden of Gethsemane pleading with His Father to prevent His impending suffering, He went to the Cross anyway, because He loved us more than his own life, and He would rather die than spend eternity without us.

The thought of losing Gigi was unbearable, yet her quality of life had diminished, and her continued suffering was not an option. She gave me everything she had, so besides feeding her whipped cream and a McDonald’s hamburger, I would make the one decision she could not make for herself.

On the day I put her to sleep, life as I knew it was over, but I found comfort knowing that one day Jesus will tell her I am coming home. And with a twinkle in her eye, she will tear away from the pack, sprint across Heaven, and stand with Him to welcome me saying, “Mommy, what took you so long?”

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, we are forever grateful to You for sending your Son Jesus to rescue us from the power of sin and death. Help us remember that when losses shake the foundations of our lives, Christ's death and resurrection carry the promise of eternal life for us and for those we have lost. In Jesus's Name I pray. Amen.

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Author Bio:

Sarah Cole’s interest in writing began in grade school when her poem was published in the local paper. As she got older, her mother’s chronic illness inspired her to design a line of greeting cards.

Since then, she has written for her college newspaper and two community newspapers where she wrote restaurant reviews and articles for their “Best of” spread.

Her experience as an administrator in the marketing field gave her the opportunity to write ads for a local business journal.

After a 20-year detour and a three-year season of adversity, God reignited her passion to write. Two divine appointments later, the short story she wrote about her father appeared in the St. Paul Almanac, and a short story about her cocker spaniel Gigi was published in Guideposts (magazine) Mysterious Ways. She believes her adversity was worth the lessons God taught her.

During this year (2022) and the next (2023), Sarah’s devotionals will be published in The Secret Place by Judson Press, as well as David C. Cook’s Devotions and The Quiet Hour. To this day, she smiles, pinches herself and gives God all the glory.

When she’s not writing, Sarah enjoys watching cooking shows, designing cards and mugs, and taking day trips.

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Connect with Sarah:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smittyc65
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@SarahCo45835279
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.cole.52

Devotionals for the Heart: Grief

God of My Closet Floor
A devotional by Cyndi Staudt

“I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.” 

– Psalm 139:7-8 (NLT)

As ribbons of light peeked their way through the blinds, I was instantly aware something was amiss. The familiar fur head piece that typically wove itself around my head was missing. My Harley had never made his way onto my pillow the night before which was quite unusual for him. As my feet found the floor, he wandered his way into the bedroom.

Taking his customary post on the bathroom floor he waited patiently for me to complete my morning dental routine before heading to the kitchen to prepare his breakfast. When the next morning revealed the same odd behavior change, I made a note on my calendar and scheduled a vet visit for a few days later. Little did I know that three weeks, two ER visits and two oncology visits later my faithful feline friend would be gone.

Psalms 36:6 affirms that God cares for people and animals alike. So, I admit without reservation that the sadness and heart break I have experienced since Harley died has been like no other. It has brought me to my knees in moments of weeping where I have asked God why He didn’t just take me too. At times I have felt that I might be swallowed by the grief that consumes me. My shattered heart seems beyond repair. But God.

The Bible tells us God is everywhere but sometimes it feels like He is nowhere. It’s in those moments where we have to walk by faith and stand on the promises God has made in His Word. Promises to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Promises to be near to the broken-hearted (Psalms 34:18). Promises to collect all my tears in a bottle (Psalms 56:8). And the promise that one day God will wipe away all the tears from our eyes, and there will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, and no more pain (Revelation 21:4). Our feelings deceive us, but our God never does. Our feelings may fail us, But God never will. Our faith may falter but God is forever faithful.

It’s easy to feel God’s presence when serving on the mission field or in the midst of a worship night at church. When we are experiencing Holy Spirit highs or basking in God’s blessings His nearness is almost palpable. But He is no farther away and no less God when our world seems to be crumbling around us. When we receive a cancer diagnosis, need a job, our marriage falls apart or we lose a loved one, He is still nearby and sitting on His throne in complete control.

I spent time on my closet floor this morning remembering my final moments with Harley and you know what I discovered? The God of the mountain tops and mission trips is also the God of my closet floor. The God of joy in the morning is also the God of weeping in the night. The God of peace that surpasses all understanding is also the God of profound pain. The God of hope is also the God of the hurting. The God of blessing to overflow is also the God of the broken-hearted. Our house feels like a Grand Canyon of emptiness that only the fullness of God can fill.

My heart harbors a God-sized gap that only He can satisfy. Deep grief is the price of great love.

And He is the God of them both.

Let’s Pray: Gracious Father, when the trials and pressures of this world seem too much to bear, help us remember to draw near to You because when we do, You promise You will draw near to us. You have assured us we will have trouble in this world, but also remind us to have faith because You have overcome the world. In our darkest moments, You are the Light of the world. When we pass through the waters, you promise to be with us. When we go through rivers, you ensure they will not overwhelm us. When we walk through the fire you guarantee we will not be burned and the flames will not consume us. We never have to go searching for You, because You are always near. Even when we don’t see it, feel it, or believe it, You are working and moving on our behalf. You are for us and not against us and are forever on Your throne. Help us to not just read these promises in Your Word but believe them to be truth in our lives. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

*Note from Alexis: Cyndi’s devotional message reminds me of the song “Beauty for Ashes” by Crystal Lewis. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Cyndi Staudt is a Jesus-loving, adrenaline junkie who is devoted to living her life for Jesus Christ until the day she is living with Him. 

With a passion for cultivating a craving for God’s Word, her devotions and Bible studies are saturated with faith and hope to stir your soul to connect with God in deeper, more intimate ways.

Through her writing she hopes to ignite your desire to read God’s Word, invite your heart to experience God’s love, and inspire you to live your live life “souled out” to the One whose love has no limits.

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Connect with Cyndi:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/souledoutcyndi/