Devotionals for the Heart: How God taught me to always be thankful

How God taught me to always be thankful
A devotional by Regina Marcazzo-Skarka

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

When I stood on the reception line waiting to greet attendees after my 31-year-old son’s celebration of life, I was grateful for the love I felt from family and friends who traveled from near and far, and for the kind words spoken about my son.

I knew he was a warrior for Jesus Christ and that through his love for Christ and the Godly life he modeled, this world was a better place. But the magnitude of the number of lives that were changed because of his example was mind-blowing.

After two celebrations of life, I learned that my precious boy ministered to so many different people. What was more amazing was how those who learned more about his life at the services felt the desire to change their own lives and seek Christ.

An over 80-year-old relative came up to me crying saying that she wanted to be like my son. A younger relative said it was time to rethink his life and my son’s former classmate came up sobbing and said he wanted to follow Jesus. Those words did not take away the pain of losing him, but they did demonstrate the awesome works of our God.

I chose 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 as the anchor text for my devotional today because the verse relates to so many areas of life, even the hardest ones such as losing a treasured child. I could see the value of all three commands during the many months of endured hardship while he was sick.

“Rejoice always” is a command and a reminder of how we are to live at all times— no matter what is going on in our lives. Praying continually does not mean that we should sit bowing in prayer day and night, but it does refer to having an ongoing conversation with God throughout the day—and if you are anything like me, I talk to God many moments throughout the night.

I am thankful for the way God used my son to change others, to point them to Him. I am thankful that God trusted my husband and I as his parents. I strive to carry on my son’s legacy of sharing Christ with others, not with words, but with my life. I am thankful for countless blessings throughout my son’s two bouts with cancer: one when he was 18 and the other at 30. During the illnesses and in the time in between there were so many miracles and so much good living.

Will sadness and longing to see him linger? Will anger and questions asking God “Why?” continue to swirl in my mind? Of course! But one thing I am sure of is that my God is faithful and He works all for the good of those who love him.

Why do I rejoice always? It’s simple: I am a child of God and His word tells me to rejoice. Why do I pray continually? Because I need to converse with God all the time. Why should I be thankful in all circumstances? It’s also a command and it is important to note that it is “in” all circumstances, not “for” all circumstances.

When I recite the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, I realize how difficult and easy it is to say the words “rejoice” and “be thankful in all circumstances.”

In the deep sadness that I continue to feel and the longing to hug my son and tell him how much I love him I am reminded that his ministry did not end the day he took his last breath here on earth. The life he lived for Jesus remains in the minds of those who are still here, spurring them on and reminding them to make every minute count on this earth whether they are healthy or not, going through a dark time or joyfully dancing in the light. I know that is my plan.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,

Thank You for your love and for your perfect plan. Help us to recognize that You are in control of all things and though we may not understand the why, we can surely trust You. Help us to rejoice always, pray continually and to be thankful in all circumstances. Help us to point others to you with our lives. We love you. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Praise You in This Storm” by Casting Crowns. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Even If” by Mercy Me. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Worn” by Tenth Avenue North. 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.

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

Devotionals for the Heart: How God wants us to respond when we're tested

When Your Patience is Tested
A devotional by Erica J. Hill

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

—Galatians 5:22–23 (NIV)

Some days I must remind myself that I need the fruit of the Spirit before I even walk into work, especially when I know my patience may be tested by coworkers who try every bit of it.

The old me would have quickly told them where to go. But once I began seriously following God, I realized something had to change. Many days I find myself praying Lord, help me display the fruit of Your Spirit today. Because it is often in the smallest daily frustrations that our spiritual fruit is truly revealed.

The world has a way of testing us repeatedly, tempting us to respond in ways that contradict the fruit God is growing within us. In Galatians, the Apostle Paul describes the fruit of the Holy Spirit. These nine virtues together form the evidence of the Holy Spirit working within a believer. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are all part of the same spiritual fruit that should be evident in the life of a believer.

Years ago, if someone spoke to me the wrong way, I had plenty of sharp words ready to say. Now I pray that God will hold my tongue and allow His Spirit to guide my words. Without His help, I might still have something unkind to say.

If I am honest, forbearance is the fruit of the Spirit I struggle with the most. I once believed that if someone mistreated me, I should instantly clapback. But Scripture teaches that forbearance means patiently and lovingly enduring the faults of others without retaliation. My words could be cutting, and in trying to bring someone else down, I only ended up lowering myself. God had to teach me that winning an argument is not the same as reflecting the character of Jesus Christ.

But what about the people we must see every day, the ones who drain our time and energy or seem determined to disrupt our peace? Those moments are when the fruit of the Spirit matters most.

Over time, God began to teach me to see people differently. Sometimes the person who talks constantly is not trying to be irritating; they may simply be lonely. The one who complains often may still be learning how to practice gratitude.

Displaying the fruit of the Spirit can look as simple as giving someone five extra minutes to talk when you are ready to rush out the door. It is not about preaching to others or quoting Scripture at them. It is about allowing the Spirit to shape our responses. When we remain steady in Christlike character, others will begin to see that fruit in our lives.

This does not mean allowing people to ignore your boundaries. Healthy boundaries are important. Sometimes displaying the fruit means respectfully saying, “I’m not comfortable discussing that.” Other times it means calmly addressing an offense or examining our own hearts to understand why certain behaviors trigger us so deeply. I have also noticed that the fruit of the Spirit becomes hardest to display when I am tired or overwhelmed. When I take on too much, lose sleep, or try to control everything according to my own plans, my patience grows thin.

That is when I must remind myself to slow down and lean on God instead of my own strength. When the Spirit is at work in us, love replaces irritation and patience replaces frustration. What begins in our hearts becomes visible in our lives, the very fruit Paul describes in Galatians 5:22-23. The fruit of the Spirit is not something we produce on our own; it grows as we remain connected to God and allow His Spirit to shape our hearts day by day. And when the Spirit leads our responses, others don’t just hear our words—they see Christ in the way we live.

Food for thought:
Which part of the fruit of the Spirit do you find most difficult to display in your daily life?

Let's Pray:
Lord, help me to reflect the fruit of Your Spirit in every situation. When I feel impatient, remind me to slow down and respond with love and gentleness. Guard my words, guide my actions, and teach me to see others with compassion. Shape my character so that my life reflects You. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Songs of Reflection #1: “I Need You to Survive” by Hezekiah Walker. Listen to it here.

Songs of Reflection #2: “Refiner” by Maverick City Music. Listen to it here.

Songs of Reflection #3: “Spirit Lead Me” by Influence Music & Michael Ketterer. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Erica J. Hill is a wife, mother, and proud grandmother living in Georgia. 

With a career spanning both elementary education and higher education, she has served as an elementary and middle grade English Language Arts (ELA) teacher and now works as an administrative assistant in higher education. Currently pursuing her master’s degree in Instructional Technology and Media Center Specialist, Erica’s love for learning and teaching runs deep.

Raised in the Southern Baptist tradition, she has faithfully served as a Sunday School teacher and now as one of the youth directors at her church. A lifelong writer at heart, Erica once set her passion aside to pursue other career goals—but recently felt God’s undeniable tug to pick up her pen again, this time to write for His Kingdom.

She is currently working on her first book, Worthy. Whole. Woman. It is a devotional that she hopes will be an encouraging resource created to uplift and empower women—especially women of color—to walk confidently in their God-given identity.

Through her words, Erica blends faith in God, personal reflection, and practical wisdom to inspire women to heal, grow, and embrace the fullness of who God created them to be.

Originally from Atlanta, Erica now calls Macon County home, where she lives with her husband and children. In her free time, you’ll usually find Erica curled up with a good book, working on DIY projects, or planning her next travel adventure.

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Connect with Erica:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leahsgrace2931/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahsgrace2931/

Devotionals for the Heart: How Easter points us to the Creator of Life

We Are a Part of the Easter Story
A devotional by Alicia Searl

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”—John 3:16 (NIV)

This beloved verse gets to the heart of our faith, portraying three key points:

Point #1: God loves His creation.

Point #2: God sacrificed His Son to save us from a fallen world.

Point #3: God gives us a choice in this life.

Easter isn’t only a story about a sinless man that lived a perfect life and died on a wooden cross. He (Jesus Christ) wasn’t just a man that loved others and performed miracles—He was the miracle for us! When we dig into the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John…all books in the Bible), we discover that this story is the most powerful story of all time. It’s a story wrapped in hope and healing, grace and truth, and where sin meets beautiful redemption.

Jesus painstakingly suffered on that cross because it was all a strategic plan from God. It showed and encompassed His very nature. His righteousness. His wrath and judgement. His ultimate, unfailing, and sacrificial love. Sadly, it also depicted our human nature that is bound by cruelty and worldly transgressions. Satan tried to win. But Easter shines a light in the midst of darkness.

Acts 4:11-12 (CSB) tells us, “This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders,
which has become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.” According to John 14:6, Jesus Christ is the only way to God. There is no other way to be saved in God’s Kingdom.

Jesus came in human form to save us from this harsh world and our own sinful flesh to flip the script and rewrite the story—our story. We celebrate Easter and honor our Savior because it isn’t just any story; it is a story where we have the opportunity to be a main character. Jesus is inviting us to play a crucial role and continue to share His righteousness, love, and truth with a lost and broken world.

The Easter season is a time when we have the distinct honor of celebrating the Author and Creator of this life. The One who writes our story and uses it to whisper hope, weave in healing, and project truth to everyone He places in our lives. Our purpose this side of heaven is simple: Love God by loving others.

We love others by sharing the powerful, true story of Easter! Christ’s life shows us how to love. His death gives us a pathway to redemption. His resurrection proves that He is not of man, but of God. If Jesus didn’t resurrect on that glorious third day, we would have no hope of an eternal life. We would be bound by our sins. Forgiveness wouldn’t matter. We would never be reunited with loved ones. Our testimony and confessions of faith would be pointless. Yet, Jesus rising from the grave is the pivotal plot twist that allows us to share the story of a man that led a devoted life, humbly walked the long and treacherous road to calvary, endured brutal beatings and was executed on a cross in shame on purpose for all of mankind! The Son of Man defeated death, so we don’t have to (Romans 6:23).

That is the hope we carry. May love and faithfulness never leave us (Proverbs 3:3) as we cling to the greatest story ever told, all while holding our head high knowing that we have the privilege of being a part of it!

Let’s Pray: Oh, beautiful Savior, how can we come before You with gracious hearts and even begin to truly understand the gravity and magnitude of Your love? Your story that weaves unwavering and unconditional love and grants us a pathway to peace and eternity is something we do not want to ever take for granted. Give us a way to share Your story with others and testify about how You have impacted our life. We long to give You glory this Easter, Lord. In Your Name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Because He Lives (Amen)” by Matt Maher. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “My Redeemer Lives” by Nicole C. Mullen. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “What a Beautiful Name” by Hillsong Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Just to Know You” by Mark Schultz. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Alicia Searl is a Christian author, writer, coach, and speaker who is passionate about sharing God’s Word to spread hope and healing. 

She is a contributing writer for iBelieve, Crosswalk, Christianity.com, and Your Daily Prayer. She has authored two devotionals, several Bible studies, a children’s book and coloring book top comfort grievers.

When she isn't writing her heart on a page, she enjoys sipping an oat milk latte while soaking in a bit of peace on her back porch swing. Otherwise, she is playing house with her rowdy little family of five or handing a hammer to her hubby for their next DIY project.

~*~
Connect with Alicia:
Website: https://www.aliciasearl.com/
Blog: https://www.aliciasearl.com/blog
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliciasearlwrites/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliciaSearlWrites
Email: alicia.searl@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When God calls you to be strong in heavy warfare

Be Strong: Why the Warfare Has Been So Heavy
A devotional by Heidi Lewis-Ivey

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

—Ephesians 6:10 (KJV)

Early one Tuesday morning, the Lord woke me with a shout: “Be Strong!” I knew immediately what He meant and I knew it was not just for me.

I have been walking through a season of overwhelming challenges, the kind that leave you literally speechless. When I asked the Lord what was happening, He spoke clearly to me: The assignment of the enemy has been to silence your voice.

Maybe you can relate. Maybe you, too, have found yourself muted by circumstances, overwhelmed by spiritual warfare, or quietly wondering why the attacks have been so relentless. The moment the Lord uttered those two words “Be Strong”, I was immediately anchored in Ephesians 6:10 (KJV) that says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

Notice it does not say be strong in your own strength, your own resolve, or your own resilience. It says in the Lord, in the power of His might. That is where our strength lives. And the warfare we are experiencing is often the very sign that something significant is at stake.

Heavy Warfare Means You Have a Voice Worth Silencing

The enemy does not waste his resources on things that do not matter. If he has assigned a coordinated, relentless attack against your peace, your words, your confidence, or your ability to speak then it is because what flows from your mouth carries weight in God’s Kingdom.

Scripture confirms this in Isaiah 59:19b (KJV) saying, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.”

A flood is not a mild nuisance. A flood is an overwhelming force designed to submerge everything in its path. If you feel submerged, it is because the Spirit of the Lord is about to raise a standard and you are standing right in front of it.

Do not misread the intensity of the warfare. The enemy is not attacking you because you are weak. He is attacking you because of what God is about to release through you. Be strong!

Strength is Not the Absence of Struggle—It is the Decision to Stand

Being strong in the Lord does not mean you feel invincible. It does not mean the pressure is not real, or that grief is not heavy, or that the silence has not cost you something. It means that during all of it, you decide this: I will not lay down my assignment.

Ephesians 6:11-18 (NIV) describes the full armor of God. Let’s read it below: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Every single piece of that armor is meant to help you do one thing: stand. “Having done everything, stand” (Ephesians 6:13). God is not asking you to win the battle in your own strength. He is asking you to stand while He fights.

The wiles of the devil are strategies that are calculated, patient, and layered. What has felt like random hardship may be a carefully constructed attempt to wear you down until you sit down. This is the moment to put on every piece of God’s armor that He describes in Ephesians 6:11-18. Remember that our spiritual armor includes these elements: Truth around your waist. Righteousness on your chest. The gospel on your feet. Faith as your shield. Salvation covers your mind. The Word of God in your hand. And prayer that is unceasing covers it all.

You may be weary. Stand anyway. Be strong!

Your Silence Is Not Your Defeat

There are moments when God allows us to be brought low not to break us, but to strip away everything we have been leaning on outside of Him. The silence the enemy intended as a weapon, God is using as a wilderness. And wildernesses, in Scripture, always precedes a new dimension of power and purpose. Remember these Bible stories: Jesus Christ came out of the wilderness in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14). John the Baptist emerged from the desert with a voice that shook a nation. The silence you have endured has been preparing something in you that could not have been formed any other way.

Listen to this clearly: The enemy's goal was for you to stay silent. God's plan is for you to come out of this season with a testimony so undeniable, so forged by fire, that it breaks chains in the lives of people who hear it. Your voice restored, refined, and rooted in what God has walked you through is what the enemy feared all along.

Do not let the devil and his evil forces win. Open your mouth. Praise before the breakthrough comes. Speak the Word over your life even when your voice trembles. The flood is meeting the standard. Be strong!

Let’s Pray:

Father God, I come before You in the name of Jesus. I thank You that You are not surprised by this season and that before I ever felt the weight of this warfare, You already had prepared a way through it. You woke me with Your word telling me to “Be Strong!” You have not left me to face this alone.

Lord, I confess that there have been moments when the pressure silenced me and when the enemy's flood felt higher than my faith. But Your Word declares that when the enemy comes in like a flood, You raise a standard. Today I stand on that promise. I receive that standard. I declare that what the enemy meant to silence; You are about to amplify for Your glory.

Strengthen me now not in my own might, but in the power of Your might. Let my mouth—the very thing the enemy came after—be opened wide and be filled with Your praise, Your Word, and Your testimony. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Encourage Yourself” by Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Trust in God” (feat. Chris Brown & Isaiah Templeton) by Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Soul’s Anthem (It Is Well)” by Tori Kelly. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Stand” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Heidi Lewis-Ivey is an affirmed prophet and an internationally acclaimed speaker. 

She impacts audiences with her authenticity and bold style of delivery. She has had the opportunity to minister in Trinidad, St. Thomas USVI, Manchester and Liverpool (England).

Heidi is an award-winning and bestselling author. She is the author of Can I Rest Awhile? and Black Girl Cry: What Black Women Need to Know to Amplify Their Voices. She is a co-author in Soulful Prayers (Volume 1 and Volume 2) and Soulful Affirmations. Heidi is the convener of the Encountering the Courts of God movement and the founder of Visions International, a training ground for five-fold ministry gifts.

She holds a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership from Norwich University and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Boston University. Heidi is the CEO of Nael & Associates Inc and franchise owner of Patrice & Associates recruiting firm. She is a member of the Pentimenti Women Writers Group, a former mentor with Year Up, former board member for Friends of Young Achievers, and a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Strategist.

Heidi is the proud aunt/great aunt of 14 nieces and nephews and two bonus nieces. They are her joy. The older nephews have become her protectors.

Heidi is an NFL football fan. As a child, she taught herself the game. In 2017 she won her NFL.com fantasy football league. Heidi is an avid reader (Audible listener) of romance novels, a lover of purses and handbags, and a tea snob who believes bling is always appropriate.

She lives in Boston, MA.

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Connect with Heidi:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamheidi01
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/heidi-lewis-ivey

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we should patiently wait on the Lord

Waiting on God
A devotional by Colette Christopher

“I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.”

—Psalms 40:1 (NLT)

I don’t believe there is ever a time when people who believe in God aren’t waiting on God for something. Whether it’s for the opening of a door, salvation for family and friends, a breakthrough or something else. There seems to always be a season when we have to wait for God’s response to our petitions.

There are times when God answers our prayers immediately and there are times when we have to wait. But if you are like me, we like the immediate responses to our prayers because it feels good. On the other hand, when we have to wait and the answer seems so long in coming, we lean toward giving up.

There have been times in my life when waiting on the Lord seemed to last forever and I felt that God hadn’t heard and wasn’t mindful of my pleas for help. In those moments I can recall persisting in prayer even when the pleas weren’t as intense as when I just started. The biggest things that I noticed is that during those moments, my faith was being built up.

King David told us in Psalm 40:1 that he waited patiently on God. This couldn’t have been easy, but David knew the God he prayed to would deliver him. When we wait on the Lord like David, our patience can be tested. In the Bible it is recorded that King David started praying to God about a certain matter several chapters before Psalm 40 started. If you read chapter 37 through chapter 39 then you can hear David’s original pleas for help. Like David, we who pray to God have a track record with Him. Over time, we understand that He responds in His perfect time and according to His perfect will for our lives. God is never late and never early. He is always right on time. We limit Him with our physical idea of time when we forget that God exists outside of time.

God already knows the petitions of your heart, the urgency of your need, the dire straits that you are in. He sees you. God cares for all humankind and understands our struggles. Therefore, He gives comfort to us about this practice of waiting on Him. The Bible says in Isaiah 40:31 (NLT), “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

What can we take from the posture of waiting? The fact that it requires patience. It’s not something we necessarily like to hear, but it’s a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) that we need in our Christian journey. We can take hope in the fact that the Lord inclined His ear to David and heard his cry then and it’s the same for us today. As long as what we are praying for is in alignment to the word and will of God for our lives, God will not only hear but will deliver us.

The requirement is patience, and if that’s an area that you are struggling with then let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us to not grow weary, to reflect on what God has done for us in the past and be reminded that He is still the unchanging God.

Before I close this devotional, I’d like to leave you with a word of encouragement: There are prayers that I have been praying that have taken decades to come through. There were moments when I wondered if they would ever be answered. But God did answer me in His perfect time, and He was always right on time.

Friends, don’t look at the length of time it takes to receive a response from God. Instead, look at what He is producing within you as you wait.

Let’s Pray: Spirit of the Living God, I pray today that You will meet us at the point of our needs. Strengthen those who are weak and feel like giving up. Remind them that You are still the unchanging God and there’s absolutely nothing that’s too hard for you to do. Show up today, Lord. Put a new song in their mouth. May You, gracious God, be magnified today. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Wait on the Lord” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Spirit of the Living God” by Meredith Andrews. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Promises” by Maverick City feat. Joe L Barnes & Naomi Raine | TRIBL. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “In the Waiting” by Vicki Yohe. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Colette Christopher is an empowered woman who inspires women to be who they were created to be. Her core message is empowerment. She is an author, certified life coach, podcast host, and trainer with the Maxwell Leadership team. 

Colette believes that an empowered woman empowers others and is powerful in knowing who she is and what she can accomplish. Colette is on a mission to impact the lives of the women assigned to her, whether she is their coach or trainer or shares a word that will transform their lives.

Colette utilizes her Christian principles as the base of all her engagements. She is passionate about fulfilling her life purpose of empowering women to know who they are, rebuild their confidence, and use their voices as tools to uplift themselves and others.

​​She is the founder of the M.E.E. Movement L.L.C., a faith-based empowerment ministry business that helps women of faith rebuild their confidence and use their voice to walk in their purpose through life coaching, mentoring, and empowerment speaking. Colette believes in using the gifts God has given her to help women be who God has called them to be and ultimately fulfill the purpose for which they were created. She lives by Romans 8:28 (NIV), that promises, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

A native of Jamaica, Colette resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is the mother of two beautiful young women, a son-in-love, and two grandsons. Colette enjoys reading, writing, watching good movies, and chatting with her daughters and friends.

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Connect with Colette:
Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2367935
Email: Colettemarieonline@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Hope for when you don't truly feel okay

The O.K. No One Else Saw
A devotional by Patti Schultz, Ed.D.

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

—Hebrews 6:19a (NIV)

“O.K.” Perhaps you whispered that word again last night.

Maybe into the dark of your bedroom. Maybe in the car after you finally made it out of the parking lot, or in the shower where no one could hear you fall apart. That small word, barely a breath. O.K. As if saying it enough times might make it true.

I have pressed it into empty nurseries. Into hospital corridors. Into the silence after infertility treatments and the particular grief that has no name, no grave, and no casserole brought to the door. I have grieved children who arrived in my heart through adoption only to be carried away before they were ever placed in my arms. I have kept watch beside neonatal incubator in the small hours, willing tiny miracle bodies to hold on.

Hope and heartbreak are not opposites. They are, so often, the very same breath drawn in the very same moment, from the very same breaking place. I am somewhere between broken and becoming. Maybe that is where you are, too. Maybe grief is not tied to any particular date on the calendar. Maybe it simply follows you, loyal and uninvited, into each new morning.

If that is where you are, I want to sit with you here for a moment. Not to fix it. Not to hand you a map out. Just to be here, beside you, in the rocking. Grief is not a failure of faith. It is love with nowhere left to go. And it is holy.

In John 11:33-35, we see that Jesus Christ wept at the tomb of Lazarus. Not after the miracle. Before it. He stood in sorrow with those who were broken open by loss. He did not explain it, or rush past it, or offer a silver lining. He stood in it then. He stands in it now.

Did you know that “O.K.” is one of the most versatile words in the English language? Linguists marvel at how this small expression can bend itself to almost any role. It can be an adjective when saying, “She’s going to be O.K.” An adverb, when saying “Things are going OK, I suppose.”

But grief knows a different one. That exhaled, barely whispered interjection you say to yourself in the quiet after the worst has happened. The one that is not a promise. It is just a breath. It is just: I am still here.

There will be well-meaning people who will speak O.K. over you like a doctor giving a prognosis. “You’re going to be okay.” They will press it against your shoulder like a warm hand. And they are not wrong. But on the days when that assurance feels like a country you cannot find on any map, I want to offer you something sturdier than optimism.

An anchor.

The writer of Hebrews (a book in the Bible) was speaking to people who understood grief and displacement deeply. They were exhausted, persecuted, unsure if the hope they had staked their lives on was real. And into that trembling space, these words were released: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

An anchor does not stop the storm or make the waves lie flat. It holds you. It allows the boat to rock—and grief will rock you—without letting you be swept away entirely. Hope is not a feeling. It is a tether. A soul held fast, even when it cannot yet stand on steady ground.

You don’t have to be further along than you are today. Maybe O.K. is not yet an adjective that describes you. Maybe today it is only that quiet interjection, the exhaled acknowledgment. Still present. Still, somehow, held.

Maybe what you OK’d today took tremendous courage. You got out of bed. You answered a phone call. You let someone bring you a meal. You gave yourself permission to keep going, even when going felt impossible. That quiet, private O.K. you gave yourself—the one no one else saw—it counted. It is enough.

God does not need you to be fine to be near you. He does not need you to have arrived somewhere better before He shows up. He is the anchor, not the destination. He holds you in the middle: in the rocking, in the gray, in the season when O.K. is the most honest and the most courageous word you can manage.

What does O.K. feel like to you today? Bring that word, exactly as it is, to God. He can hold every version of it. O.K. You are still here. So is He.

Let’s Pray: Lord, I am somewhere between broken and becoming. I am not always certain I believe the O.K. that people speak over me, but I choose to believe in You as the anchor that holds even when I cannot feel the line. Be near to me in this grief. Let hope be not a feeling I must manufacture, but a foundation You provide. Tether me to You today. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: ASL Cover of “Held” by Natalie Grant. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: ASL Cover of “Even If” by Mercy Me. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: ASL Cover of “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Sound of Surviving” by Nichole Nordeman. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “The Anchor Holds” by Ray Boltz. Listen to it here.

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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.

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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: For when you're searching and praying for peace

Need Peace?
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”—Luke 2:14 (NIV)

We sing songs with these words. We read these words. We want these words to be a reflection of our life. We want peace. We want God’s favor. We want peace in our homes, at work, school, in our personal lives. Above all else, we just want peace.

Is it only the quiet we crave? The silence of the forest, the roaring of the ocean waves, the absence of people? Are we so busy with our daily to-do lists that time away from it all is most desired? Is that what we equate with peace?

Or is it much deeper?

This word “peace”, in the Greek is “Eirene” and it means peace—literally and figuratively. It also means a state of national tranquility, exemption from war, peace between individuals, harmony and security. According to the Blue Letter Bible, there is a connotation of prosperity, there is peace, and there is peace. There is peace after the small children go to bed, and there is peace on a larger scale when the weapons of war are laid down and a peace treaty is signed. There is peace when forgiveness is sought and given. There is peace when we lay down our desires to God and allow Him to have full reign in our lives.

If we look closely at Luke 2:14, God’s peace is for those on whom His favor rests. It is not a one-size-fits-all type of peace. We all crave this peace, but there is a condition: God’s favor. God’s pleasure. It does not say God’s love. We know from John 3:16 that God so loves the world that He gave His only Son to die for our sins and in turn we receive eternal life with Him. His pleasure is another matter.

For years, I have sought to find passages in the Bible that speak of God’s pleasure. This has been a quest for me ever since I came across Ephesians 5:10 (NLT), that tells us to carefully determine what pleases the Lord. The Apostle Paul is telling us to search for this pleasure. We can find it by searching the Scriptures and seeing what God has to say to us as we read His Word.

First and foremost, we have the best definition: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV).

It’s about faith. It’s about belief. It’s about belief in God and God alone. It is not about me, my ways, my stubborn tenacity, my selfishness. It’s about letting go and letting God. It’s about seeking Him and pleasing Him in the seeking. This starts with our believing He is good, kind, compassionate, loving, for us and everyone.

Simple as that.

But it is not always that simple for us to understand and apply to our life because we tend to complicate things. We allow our selfishness to be in the driver’s seat of our lives because it is hard to trust anyone, let alone God, whom we cannot see. But to have this peace we crave, we need to please God with our faith in Him. When we do this then we can receive His peace—and I would say, in abundance.

This begs the question for those of us who know Jesus Christ but are not knowing, nor feeling His peace. Perhaps we are wondering, “What am I doing to cause this lack?” I believe that it boils down to pleasing God and asking ourselves these questions: Have I stepped away from trusting God in all areas of my life? Have I allowed Him in most areas, but not all because I’m not ready, not willing to fully give that over, or because the very thing that gives me pleasure is actually a stumbling block to my having His favor rest upon me? Is this why I don’t have peace?

This is what I’ve learned: When I find I am in turmoil in life, I need to pause and look at my heart and my eyes. Are they on the Lord and in His Word? Am I genuinely seeking God even though I do not fully understand, but fully trust Him?

It is here, on our journey, where we can find, receive and rest in God’s peace.

Let’s Pray: Father God, I need You. I need Your peace and I recognize that I do not have peace because of me. Because of my holding on, my wandering heart, my stubborn rebellion, my independence, and not letting You have full reign in all areas of my life. I fully, finally and completely, give You all. Everything. And I thank You for the peace that is mine because of this step of obedience. Please give me Your perfect peace. In Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “God and God Alone” by Steve Green. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “I’ll Give You Peace” by Sandi Patty. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “God's Favor” by Donald Lawrence and The Tri-City Singers. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

As a wife and Marmee to three adult children—two of whom are married—and a new grandson, Kerry Sue’s life is very full. She met her husband in college and served on the mission field with him for a few years before settling down back in the States to raise their family. 

Kerry Sue’s family was a homeschooling family for 20 years and they enjoyed it immensely. For the last 26 years they have lived on a small farm in Northern California where they have raised many farm animals, along with growing and preserving their food. Kerry Sue’s family farm has been a great source of enjoyment and a place to host many family gatherings. She maintains an open-door policy for dear friends—old and new.

Following and serving Jesus Christ is an integral part of Kerry Sue’s life as well as her family’s. Whether it’s singing in the church choir, teaching children or leading and lecturing at a women’s Bible study, Kerry Sue loves to demonstrate her love for Jesus by giving to Him in service. She’s been a blogger for more than 10 years, a Bible study writer for six years, and a devotional writer for more than four years.

Kerry Sue feels led to write about finding God’s Sovereignty in our suffering because of her own journey of more than five years with broken feet. She hopes to to encourage others with her faith walk and real-life stories.

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Connect with Kerry:
Blog: https://www.sovereignblog.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.teravskis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksteravskis/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sovereignblog