Devotionals for the Heart: The women who taught me how to live and love

Legacy: The Women We Come From
A devotional by Anne Madison

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”—2 Timothy 1:5 (NIV)

Her blood runs in my veins. My mama. Irish. Determined. Strong. Faithful.

Her life was marked with struggles and hardship as she grew up as one of 18 children during The Great Depression in America. It was not easy. Money was scarce, yet Mama never felt poor and never went hungry. As a teen, she married a soldier. Their early years were challenged with separation and the tragedy that war brings. Four kids to raise, foster children taken in as their own, and four premature babies buried. I, her smallest and youngest preemie, survived. Prayers spoken from her hospital bed days before my arrival guided my life long before I ever knew they were spoken. My Mama prayed, “Lord, if you let me keep this baby, she’s yours.”

Mama served homemade meals at 5:00 p.m. sharp. She made handmade clothes, quilts and knit sweaters for all of us. I remember arriving home from school to see her and Grandma unraveling a nearly complete sweater. Mama found a missed stitch, and it needed to be fixed and done right. Her tenacity was a testament to her strength and grit. In the last months of her life, Mama was given a copy of Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. She and God had heart-to-heart conversations as she read her daily devotions. Ever the student, she loved to learn and apply what she learned in her daily life. She frequently spoke of her beloved book and how its lessons guided her daily. I had the honor of reading the devotionals with her during the last weeks of her life. Those days are a precious memory forever etched in my heart. Mama threw off the things that hindered her and finished her race with perseverance. Dying with grace, dignity, and laughter, she taught me how to move forward as I learned to continue life without her.

My Grandma’s Bible, its binding broken, still sits on my bookshelf. She was widowed with six children to raise, and she washed laundry to make ends meet. Three sons off to war returned unscathed, but their young lives were forever changed by the atrocities of serving on the battlefield. They faced nightmares of flashbacks for the rest of their lives. Grandma died before I was born, but her prayers influenced the life of a grandchild she would never meet. Monthly scripture reading bookmarks are tucked in its pages. Handwritten prayers on scraps of paper are penned from a seeking heart. Each bookmark and prayer is a timeless gem of truth, a glimpse into her heart, a heartfelt testimony of a woman doing her best to live her life in a godly way. I never met her, yet we are connected.

They were fierce prayer warriors, my friends, Granny Bobbie and Margaret. It seemed they had a hotline direct to God’s ear. They prayed. He answered. Their faith and wisdom spoke in the lives they lived and shared with those around them. Spouses. Children. Friends. Strangers. All lived in their hearts and in their prayers. Their light shone the way for others. Words of wisdom like “The Bible says” or “And it came to pass” frequently guide my days when I feel overwhelmed.

There are countless other women whose strength has spun itself into the fabric of my life. Women whose lives shaped faith, courage, and wisdom through generations. I consider each of these women to be a living blueprint. A legacy of women living life with all its joys, sorrows, challenges, and heartbreak. Their lives continue to influence generations beyond their earthly years. Their stories echo far beyond my personal family—they are woven through Scripture itself.

Eve was the first woman in human history. The book of Genesis records her story that is often reduced to a single moment of failure, but that is far from the full picture. Her life represents the crux of humanity: to live with the gift of free will, to fall, to repent, and begin again. Eve’s life is a reminder that purpose is not erased by failure. Her legacy speaks of the wisdom of the ages; second chances and new beginnings are possible with God.

Another story in the Bible that leaves a legacy is about the Samaritan woman who was considered an outcast in society. She would walk to the well for water in the heat of the day. Seeking refuge and something to ease her thirst, she arrived with an empty jar. She was burdened with a cloak of social stigma and personal history, yet leaves transformed by truth and grace because the Messiah (Jesus Christ) met her there. Jesus did not belittle her nor did He dismiss her sin. He called it out because of his deep, abiding love for her. He called her to something higher—a calling. He empowered her to cast off the cloak of shame and be restored.

Like the Samaritan woman, our thirst drives us to the well. Her story reminds us that our sin does not define us, and past failures do not disqualify us from our purpose. Rather, our redemption becomes the very testimony that brings hope to others. Her story speaks to anyone who has ever felt overlooked or unworthy, showing that transformation often begins in the most ordinary places when doing the most ordinary tasks.

Finally, let us look at the life of surrender and trust shown by Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was meek, mild, and faithful. Faced with an unimaginable calling, Mary embodied a life lived in faith and trust. Her willingness, her surrender to God’s plan for her life, would cause her to be judged as a cheating woman, unfaithful to her betrothal. Her willingness to say yes to God’s special assignment—even without full understanding—reveals her profound depth of faith. Mary’s life demonstrates a profound truth: Strength is found in quiet surrender.

These are only glimpses of the lives of the women whose lives shaped ours. Women who are strong, determined, faithful, giving, fallen, surrendered, resilient, courageous, and each one touched called by God with and for a purpose. Our lives are bound together in our challenges, our purpose, and our faith.

As I close this devotional, I’d like to share this Bible verse about faith and legacy. Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV) says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

It is God who works in and through us for His glory, for our good, and for the benefit of those yet to come. The same faith that carried our predecessors carries us today. The cloud of witnesses, past and present, is cheering us on. They call us to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and to run our life’s race with perseverance, trusting Jesus all the way. May we honor their legacy as we live out ours, and may we faithfully pass this legacy to those who follow.

Let's Pray:

Dear Wonderful Creator,

Thank You for sending women to speak wisdom into my life. I appreciate the women who taught me how to live and love. I am grateful for those whose stories give me hope that not all is lost in my failures. Thank You for the generation after generation of women you continue to raise as legacy women who love and serve You. Their lives remind us that our purpose is not defined by our failure, but defined by you alone. Grant us courage, determination, wisdom, and steadfastness on our journey as we carry your legacy in us forward to the women whose lives you bring our way. May we reflect your unfailing love and your abounding grace. May all who come behind us find us faithful. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Find Us Faithful” by Steve Green. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Praying Woman” by Anne Wilson & Lainey Wilson. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Truth I’m Standing On” by Leanna Crawford. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Nothing Can Break a Woman of God” by One With God. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “Wonderfully Made” by Ellie Holcomb. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Anne Madison is a devotional writer whose words gently guide women toward a deeper connection with God through personal reflection, scripture, and everyday experiences. 

Based in Iron River, Wisconsin, Anne is continually inspired by the natural beauty around her and the strong sense of community she calls home.

A dedicated journaler for over 46 years, Anne draws from a rich well of spiritual practice and daily life to craft devotionals that are heartfelt, relatable, and deeply rooted in faith. Her writing speaks to women seeking encouragement, stillness, and spiritual renewal amid the busyness of life.

Anne has a unique gift for noticing God in the ordinary. Whether it's a cup of morning coffee, a walk through the woods, or a quiet conversation with a friend, she uncovers sacred messages that reveal God’s goodness and the blessings hidden in everyday moments.

In addition to her writing, Anne is pursuing her certification as a Life Coach through the Life Mentoring School, further deepening her calling to encourage and uplift others.

She finds joy in simple pleasures—quilting, reading, and spending time with her beloved family and friends.

~*~
Connect with Anne:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lessonsinthejourney    
Email: lessonsinthejourney@gmail.com  

Devotionals for the Heart: A life lesson God taught me about motherhood

Motherhood: Learning to Let Go and Let God
A devotional by Erica J. Hill

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your pats straight.”—Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)

Motherhood looks different in every season. Sometimes, the hardest part is knowing when to hold on and when to let go.

Part of my daily prayers for my children includes thanking God for them and asking Him to give me what I need to mother them where they are. My children range in age from a teenage son to a young adult son, and a married daughter in her late twenties who is now a new mother herself. I am also a new grandmother.

I am learning that motherhood never really gets easier, it just changes. What my teenage son needs is not the same as what my young adult son needs, and what my sons need is different from what my daughter needs.

Motherhood has stretched me in ways I never expected. It is more than cooking meals, offering advice, and praying over them at night. It is learning when to speak, when to listen, and when to step back. It is helping them discover their gifts, guiding them through their emotions, and trusting God with the parts of their lives I cannot control.

I remember when I first became a mother. As a young single mother, I was terrified. Even though I had my own mother there to support me, I still longed for my daughter to grow up in a two-parent home. Then, when I found out I was pregnant with my first son, fear crept in again. I wondered how I would raise a boy into a strong young man. I questioned whether I was enough. I thought I could handle potty training and teaching him manners, but I wondered how I would teach him the things a father traditionally teaches a son.

Looking back, I realize that fear has followed me through many seasons of motherhood. There have been nights when I worried about how I would provide everything my children needed. Even now, I sometimes find myself anxious about their futures or concerned about the decisions they may make.

Recently, I heard the Lord whisper something simple: Let go. This is the story of what happened: I had purchased new beds for my sons, and while my husband was making arrangements for someone to assemble them, my oldest son grew impatient. He had outgrown his bed and wanted to sleep comfortably again. He offered to put the bed together himself, but I initially told him no because I was afraid he would mess it up. It was at that moment that I heard the words: Let go.

It dawned on me that one day he would move into his own place and need to know how to assemble furniture. I realized my “no” was coming from fear, not wisdom. I was trying to protect instead of allowing him to grow. Eventually, he put his bed together—and his brother’s bed as well. In that moment, I realized that sometimes our love holds on too tightly, and growth requires us to loosen our grip.

The Bible gives us many examples of both strong and flawed mothers. Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, trusted God with an unimaginable assignment. Jochebed released Moses into God’s care. Hannah surrendered Samuel after praying for him. Lois and Eunice poured faith into Timothy. Yet other mothers mentioned in the Bible and in our modern day, made choices that led their children in the wrong direction. These stories remind me that motherhood has never required perfection —only faith and trust in God.

I am still learning to trust God with my children. I am learning to release fear and embrace faith, and to remember that my children are not mine to control; they are lives entrusted to me for a season. The Bible reminds me in Psalm 127:3 (NIV), “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”

Therefore, I continue to pray. I thank God for my children. I ask Him for discernment. I ask Him to help me meet each of them where they are. Motherhood is not about having all the answers. It is about trusting God in every season. And every day, I am learning to let go just a little more.

And maybe that is what motherhood is: learning to trust God with what we love the most, one day at a time.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of motherhood and for the children You have entrusted to me. Help me to trust You in every season and give me wisdom to meet each child where they are. Teach me when to hold on and when to let go. Remind me that You love my children even more than I do. Help me to walk in faith and not fear as I parent them.

In Jesus’s Name I pray.
Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Trust in You” by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Thy Will” by Hillary Scott & The Scott Family. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong United. 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.

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

Interview with Nancy Naigle about her new novel "Home No Matter Where"

Author Interview with Nancy Naigle about “Home No Matter Where”

Question #1: Congratulations on the release of a new novel! Why did you write this book?

After To Light the Way Forward came out last year, I wasn’t ready to leave these characters behind. I fell in love with Tug and Rosemary’s relationship, and while Nina found her footing by the end, I knew there was more healing to come. That thread stayed with me and wouldn’t let go. Whelk’s Island was calling. And then there was Fisher. He showed up with a quiet strength and a story of his own that unfolded in such a meaningful way. Writing him was a joy.

This book came from that place, wanting to see what happens next when people choose to keep showing up for each other, and for themselves.

Question #2: How does the title “Home No Matter Where” play into the theme of your story?

Home No Matter Where is about discovering that home isn’t a place on a map, it’s the people who hold you steady when life shifts. On Whelk’s Island, three generations of women learn that even when everything changes, love, grace, and connection can lead you back to a place of peace, and a feeling of home.

Question #3: Is the setting of your story, Whelk’s Island, a real location on Earth or completely imagined by your mind? Share how you created this setting for your story.

Whelk’s Island is a fictional town on the coast of North Carolina, but it’s rooted in places that feel very real to me. I’ve always loved the Outer Banks, especially around Kitty Hawk, and those beautiful barrier islands like Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle. When I created Whelk’s Island, I imagined a stretch of coastline that doesn’t really have anything built out yet and let my heart fill it in. I pulled from my own memories of growing up in Virginia Beach, along with years of visiting the North Carolina coast, to shape the rhythm, the charm, and the sense of community you feel there.

It may be imagined, but it’s built from places and moments that are very real to me, and I think that’s what makes it feel like somewhere you’ve been, or somewhere you’d like to go.

Question #4: Why is Whelk’s Island special to the characters in your story?

Whelk’s Island is special to these characters because it becomes home in all the ways that matter. For some, like Tug and Fisher, it’s where they’ve always belonged. For others, like Rosemary and Amanda, it’s where they found healing, connection, and a fresh start. It’s not just a place on the map, it’s where life changes, hearts mend, and people find their way back to what matters most.

Question #5: Tell us about Nina, who is the leading lady of your story. What are the desires of her heart as she tries to heal from her divorce?

Nina is trying to find her footing after a life she counted on falls apart. More than anything, she wants peace, for herself and for her daughter. She isn’t one to ask for help, but when Kendra starts acting out, Nina lowers her guard and asks for help. As she and Kendra both heal, they begin to see that home and happiness don’t have to look the way they used to.

Question #6: Kendra is Nina’s daughter and she apparently is a challenge to her mother. Why does Kendra give her mother such a hard time?

Kendra is giving Nina a hard time because she’s hurting. Her world changed in a way she didn’t choose, and she doesn’t know how to handle it. The anger and acting out are really about feeling lost and unsure. At her core, she just wants to know she’s still safe, still loved, and that her family isn’t completely broken, even if it looks different now.

Question #7: When Nina brings her daughter to Whelk’s Island, planning to spend a restorative summer with Rosemary, who is Nina’s mother, does everything go as planned? Why or why not?

Not exactly, but in some ways it turns out even better than Nina expected. Her relationship with Rosemary becomes a source of comfort and strength. But Kendra struggles more than Nina anticipated, even running away when things get overwhelming. It’s not the smooth summer she planned, but with the help of Tug and Fisher, it becomes something deeper, a season of growth, healing, and second chances.

Question #8: What was your favorite part of telling this story featuring three generations of women (Rosemary, Nina and Kendra) being under one roof for the first time in years? Describe the conflict and the sweetest moments of their time together.

I loved writing the dynamic between Rosemary, Nina, and Kendra because it’s full of love, history, and real-life tension. The conflict comes from each of them handling change differently, Nina trying to hold things together, Kendra pushing back, and Rosemary gently holding space for both.

The toughest scenes to write were when Kendra runs away. I could feel Nina’s urgency and fear as I was writing them, and that stayed with me.

The sweetest moments are in the quiet shifts, softer conversations, shared laughter, and the way they slowly find their way back to each other. I especially loved the family getaway in the mountains. There’s a sense of breathing room in those scenes that lets their relationships settle and grow.

These folks aren’t perfect. But the situations are real and rooted in love.

Question #9: Who is Fisher? Describe his role in this story and explain what makes him so attracted to Nina as well as what draws her to him.

I love Fisher! We first meet Fisher in To Light the Way Forward as the easygoing surfer who’s always willing to lend a hand, just a genuinely good guy. But in this story, he steps forward as the hero, and we get to see so much more of who he is, his backstory, his quiet strength, and even a few hidden talents that make him stand out in ways Nina doesn’t expect.

Fisher has a way of showing up without being asked, which is exactly what Nina needs, even if she’d never say it out loud. He offers steady support without pressure, and that allows her to start letting her guard down.

What draws him to Nina is her strength. She’s doing her best to hold everything together for her daughter, even when it’s hard, and he sees that. And for Nina, there’s something about Fisher’s calm, grounded presence that makes her feel safe in a way she hasn’t in a long time.

Together, they find a balance, he brings a sense of peace to her world, and she reminds him what it feels like to truly connect and open his heart

Question #10: How do the real-world themes of forgiveness, growing up, letting go, and healing from pain play into your fiction storytelling with these characters?

These themes are at the heart of the story because they’re part of real life. Each character is facing something, and their journeys show that forgiveness, growing up, and letting go don’t happen overnight. Healing comes in small steps, in choosing to show up for each other, and in finding hope again, even after things fall apart.

Question #11: Why does it require bravery to start anew? Explain how you showed this in your story.

Starting over takes bravery because it means stepping into the unknown. It means letting go of what you thought your life would look like and trusting that something good can still come from what’s ahead.

In this story, Nina shows that kind of courage. She leaves behind the life she knew and brings her daughter to Whelk’s Island, not because she has all the answers, but because she knows something has to change. That’s not easy, especially when things don’t go as planned.

Kendra shows it too, in her own way. Growing up and facing hard truths about family and change takes a kind of bravery that doesn’t always look pretty.

And even Fisher, with his quiet strength, has his own journey of opening up and letting someone in again.

I wanted to show that starting anew isn’t about having it all figured out, it’s about taking the next step, even when you’re unsure, and trusting that healing and hope are still possible on the other side.

Question #12: In what ways do you hope this beautiful book will impact people who read it?

I’ve always said if one of my books helps one girl through one bad day, then it’s done its job. My hope for this story is that it reminds readers there is still hope, even when life doesn’t turn out the way they planned. That healing is possible, that some relationships can be mended, and sometimes loving someone might mean making hard, healthy choices when it comes to protecting your heart.

If someone closes this book feeling a little more patient, a little less alone, or a little more open to what’s ahead, then that means everything to me.

Thanks for the interview, Nancy! Would you like to share closing thoughts? If so, please write that now.

Thank you for sharing The Shell Collector novels with your friends. You know, this all started with The Shell Collector written as I grieved the loss of my husband.

These characters have walked with me through the toughest times of my life and have become so special to me. It means more than I can say to share their stories with readers. These are the books of my heart. I hope this release, Home No Matter Where, leaves folks feeling encouraged and maybe reminds y’all that no matter where life takes you, you’re never as far from home as you think.

Hugs, Joy and Happiness,

Nancy

~*~
Author Bio:

USA TODAY and ECPA bestselling author Nancy Naigle writes uplifting coastal women’s fiction and sweet romance that feels like a deep breath of salty air. Her stories invite readers to slow down, escape to the shore, and rediscover hope, healing, and the comfort of close-knit seaside communities. 

Her breakout novel The Shell Collector debuted in the Top 20 on the ECPA Bestseller list and was adapted as a Fox Original Movie. Along with beloved coastal reads like Sand Dollar Cove, later brought to life as a movie on the Hallmark Channel, Nancy’s stories deliver heartfelt summer escapes filled with family ties, second chances, and quiet moments of grace found along sun-washed beaches and weathered piers.

A former Senior Vice President at Bank of America, Nancy now writes full-time from small-town Virginia, inspired by coastal traditions, handwritten notes, and the simple joys that make a place feel like home. Her books are perfect for readers who love clean romance, emotional women’s fiction, and feel-good beach reads that linger long after the tide rolls out.

If you’re dreaming of a story that feels like a seaside getaway and a gentle reset for the heart, welcome to Nancy Naigle’s coastal story worlds.

~*~
Book blurb for Home No Matter Where:

Three generations of women confront their pasts and discover it's never too late for new beginnings in this heartwarming novel of second chances and unconditional love—from the bestselling author of The Shell Collector. 

“In Home No Matter Where we travel to beautiful Whelk’s Island, where a close-knit community puts us right at home. Along the way we meet compelling characters caught in realistic storms and learn faith-filled lessons about weathering them.” —Denise Hunter, bestselling author of More Than Friends

Nina is at her wit's end with her teenage daughter, Kendra. Still dealing with her own wounds of divorce, Nina hopes a change of scenery will help. She and Kendra head to the serene coastal town of Whelk's Island to spend a restorative summer with Nina’s mother, Rosemary—bringing three generations under one roof for the first time in years. Amid the island's charm, old wounds begin to heal, and as new friendships bloom—especially with the steady and enigmatic Fisher—light begins to break through the cracks of Nina’s tightly controlled life.

Kendra's reckless behavior continues but Fisher’s intervention during a critical moment for Kendra sparks a sense of hope in Nina that she thought was lost. Still, change is never easy.

As the women navigate the tides of forgiveness, growing up, and letting go, healing begins and new love brings surprises. While Whelk’s Island may not hold all the answers, it has a way of reminding people that moving forward doesn't follow a set path—it requires the bravery to start anew.

~*~
Buy Nancy’s book:

Amazon

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Books-A-Million

Christian Book

~*~
Connect with Nancy:

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

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But most importantly, sign up for my newsletter and stay connected with me on my website www.nancynaigle.com where I post a blog under the FOR READERS tab, and my event calendar is kept, plus I keep subscribers up to date on sales, events and other cool happenings.

Devotionals for the Heart: Learning from the example set by Jesus Christ

Whose Feet Are You Washing?
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

—John 13:14-15 (NIV)

How can we move beyond loving only our own and embrace the radical, foot-washing love Jesus Christ calls every one of us to live out?

Have you ever been caught completely off-guard by powerfully unselfish love for another person? By nature, we humans are pretty selfish creatures. I know I was certainly selfish and rather self-centered for many years until I had my kids. I’m certain I didn’t consider myself terribly selfish or self-centered at the time, but looking back, it was crystal clear.

But as soon as I found out I was pregnant, everything changed. I’m not sure if it was an emotional or spiritual urge or a biological instinct or what, but suddenly I didn’t much care what I wanted. I cared for what was best for my child. I ate foods that were ideal for the baby growing within me, and later when I was nursing, I even cut out coffee because my little one seemed sensitive to it. My whole lifestyle shifted.

That’s what happens in my Christian contemporary novel Hidden Seeds, which releases tomorrow as a paperback, audiobook, and e-book. One of the main characters, Laney, spent many years in a human trafficking ring. It was in jail, after they ran some tests on her and she discovered she was pregnant, that suddenly, everything changed. Determined to do right by her child, she testified against the ring leaders and entered witness protection. Later, she changed her name and hair and moved far away, doing her best to give her daughter a safe and wholesome life—a life nothing like the one she herself had led.

She no longer lived for self but for someone else. For something bigger. It’s not only mothers who experience this, of course, though most of us would be hard-pressed to live unselfishly and sacrificially for someone besides our offspring, biological or not. That’s the very thing Jesus Christ did for us—sacrifice. Unselfish living. Extravagant mercy and generosity. And as Christians, it’s the very thing we’re supposed to model. Yet do we?

Our Savior (Jesus Christ) died on the cross for us. He endured ridicule and suffering for us. He lived in poverty, preaching and teaching for three long years, so all could hear his good news. The night before he was betrayed, as he and his disciples ate their meal at the Last Supper, Jesus stripped off his outer clothing, knelt, and personally handwashed every single one of his friends’ feet. Their feet!

Later, when he resurrected and walked again among his disciples, he taught them that they needed to spend the rest of their lives doing as he did—suffering, serving and teaching others, and preaching the good news to have every corner of the earth, come what may.

Our society teaches us something far different, doesn’t it? We live in a me-first society and have for millennia, where our personal happiness and that of our loved ones surpass every other concern. We protect ourselves, our families, our communities, and our nation at the expense of others. Sometimes that’s because it’s human instinct, but other times it’s out of fear. Yet we, the followers of Jesus, are not of this world. As Christ-followers, we cannot reserve our unselfish and sacrificial love only for our offspring or our family or friends. We must love the whole world that way, even at our own expense.

Jesus said that after loving God, our second greatest commandment is to love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). Therefore, let’s take that seriously and give more than lip service to what our savior commanded. This week, ask God to show you one person outside your inner circle who needs your unselfish love—and then act on it. It may cost you something. That’s exactly the point.

~*~

Song of Reflection: "Know Us By Our Love" by Moriah. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. 

Her newest novel Hidden Seeds, an Amazon #1 new release, is available now as a paperback, e-book, and audiobook. Find it on Amazon. 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: Jesus Christ taught His disciples about prayer

Principles of Prayer
A devotional by Patricia Russell

“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.”—Luke 18:1 (NLT)

Many years ago, a woman in our church made a statement that has stayed with me. She said, “Much prayer, much power. Little prayer, little power.” Prayer is like gasoline in a car. For the car to move forward, it needs fuel. Likewise, we need prayer to fuel our lives every day.

First, prayer is communication between us and God. The disciples of Jesus Christ had seen Jesus pull away from them on several occasions to go and pray. They saw that His ability to do all He did and function the way He did was clearly because He received his power from His Father (God). They heard Jesus talk repeatedly about His Father. They heard and could see there was a connection between Him and God. Keep in mind that communication involves speaking as well as listening. Jesus was willing to teach them how to do this. He did so and taught them what we know as the Lord’s prayer (Luke 11:2-4).

Jesus taught His disciples to pray to their Heavenly Father by first acknowledging the most important things: Praise God and honor His holy name then ask Him to provide for your daily need. Daily repent of sin asking God to forgive you and pray to stay alert to temptation. This was a basic framework on how to pray. This doesn’t seem complicated, does it? So why don’t we pray?

Secondly, prayer requires persistence. Prayer requires hope that what we are praying for will happen. We must not give up. The Bible tells us that we must believe that God can do what we are asking. It is a requirement to believe that He is who He says He is (Hebrews 11:6). Belief in Him comes from reading His Word (The Holy Bible) and praying. Like any great relationship, you have to be consistent and persistent. Jesus taught His disciples persistence in a parable about a friend going to another’s friend seeking assistance because an unexpected visitor has come to visit. His friend tells him to come back tomorrow. But he keeps knocking on the friend’s door until the friend finally gives in, not because of the relationship but because of the persistent knocking on the door. How can you ignore a persistent cry for help? The lesson is don’t stop asking, be persistent in prayer (Luke 11:5-9).

Thirdly, prayer requires persistent faith. As mentioned, when we pray to the Lord we come to Him believing He is God and He is able to do what we ask. Jesus said in Luke 18:1 (KJV), “Men ought always to pray.” The passage goes on to share an illustration of widow who refused to give up on getting the justice she needed. She needed an answer. So, she went to the only one she knew who had the power to change her situation. She was completely focused on going to the judge who was the only one who can respond to her need. Jesus wants us to do the same for us. Go to the One (God) who can do something about your situation. The widow was unrelenting, focused and determined. Her story is a prime example of the fact that seeing and receiving the answers to our prayers requires persistent faith.

How is your communication with the Lord? Do you only speak to Him when you need something from Him or is He the first person you speak to in the morning, during the day and before you to go sleep at night? We put time and energy into our earthly relationships. Is the Lord the center of your life so that He is not an afterthought but a priority in your life? We can be so busy doing the Lord’s work that we forget about the Lord of the work and spend time communing with Him to ensure we are really living and doing what He wants.

Let’s endeavor to grow in our relationship with the Lord. If you’ve struggled in the past, know that He is ready and waiting to hear your cry and answer your prayers of faith. God can send you all the help you need.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for always wanting to keep an open line of communication between us through the gift of prayer. Thank You for always listening to my prayers. Forgive me for looking to others before coming to You first. Thank You for reminding me to never give up and to always pray. Help me to trust You with all my heart and not lean to my own understanding. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “What Faith Can Do” by Kutless. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Take It to the Lord in Prayer” by Aeolians of Oakwood University. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Pray” by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Don’t Stop Praying” by Matthew West. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “My Prayer for You” by Alisa Turner. 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: Why waiting seasons are part of God's plan

Waiting: Seasons of Preparation
A devotional by Jennifer Reese

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”—Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

We all know what it’s like to experience waiting seasons.

Whether it’s the season of waiting that comes before you meet your spouse, or the season of waiting as you end one job before starting the next. Maybe it’s the season of waiting for an answer in the midst of hardship, or for the person you have been diligently praying for and ministering to in hopes of them coming to know the Lord.

Seasons of waiting come in all forms, shapes, and sizes. Some feel harder than others, some feel redundant or purposeless, and some feel necessary yet are still challenging to walk through. It is interesting how no matter how old we are, how many answered prayers we are living in or what life stage we are in, we always find ourselves waiting on/for something.

No matter what it is that we are waiting for today, waiting is always intentional and purposeful in regard to what the Lord is doing in our lives and in His overall plan. Although we cannot always see what He is doing or fully understand why we had to endure a particular season, we can trust that His intentions are good and purposeful, both for our good and His glory.

How can we endure our seasons of waiting well? The answer is simple yet so hard: We wait for God. We seek Him daily, moment by moment. We fight to stand firm in the truth of His Word (The Holy Bible). We run to Him in prayer. We offer up worship with our hearts for who He is and for the fact He has chosen us, redeemed us, and made us new creations in Jesus Christ alone. We seek the help of the Holy Spirit, thanking Him for giving us the power and strength to endure and remain steadfast, despite temptations to quit, worry, be angry, doubt, etc. We learn to view the waiting period as a season of preparation rather than one of little to no purpose.

Oftentimes it is so easy for us to give into the weariness that comes during seasons of waiting. We grow tired of doing good. We grow weary in our faithfulness to the Lord. We grow impatient for the fruit of the harvest. We grow doubtful that any of it matters. It can be tempting to disregard waiting seasons because of our sinful flesh and the fact that in our society we want instant gratification. This can lead us to think anything that takes longer than a few days to achieve or acquire is worthless, purposeless, and not worth our devotion or energy.

However, this is where we must press into the Lord and His strength. We read in Romans 5:3-5 (ESV), “we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Additionally in James 1:2-4 (ESV) we read, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

These seasons of waiting are seasons of preparation for what is to come, whether here on Earth or ultimately in Glory (Heaven). As we seek to keep our faith in God through it all, the Lord is sanctifying our hearts and minds with His truth, that we may be transformed and grow in Christlikeness.

As I reflect on my own seasons of waiting, specifically last year when I was battling various health issues and concerns, it felt like a season that would never end and one that did not serve much purpose at the time. The doctor appointments and tests were overwhelming as everyone just kept coming to the same conclusion, “I don’t know.” As I wrestled to trust the Lord and desired for things to just get better or for answers to be found, I began to recognize this underlying lesson of not only remaining steadfast in hope and faith, but more so the need to slow down in my daily schedule and commitments and begin to find beauty and purpose in the still moments of the day unmarked by productivity and completed to-do lists.

It was a season of growing in the meaning and understanding of the beauty and sufficiency of His grace and glorifying Him more. While I still do not have all the answers that I want, I see now that this season was for His glory which ultimately equates to my good.

As we diligently seek to remain steadfast in whatever season of waiting we are currently enduring, may we remember that the Lord is with us. He is working in us. He is working through us, even despite our weakness. He is for us, and He is with us. He is preparing us for something farther down the road in our lives along with ultimately preparing us for Glory. May we trust Him. May we continue in our faithfulness to Him and our discipline to grow in the knowledge and understanding of His Word.

Wherever you find yourself today, do not quit and do not give up hope. Instead, re-read and meditate on that Scripture, sing that worship song, pray that prayer, share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with that friend or coworker, and ultimately just stand in the faith-filled firm confidence that your season of waiting is ultimately a season of preparation. All of this is for your good and for His glory.

Remember: The Lord’s glory is our good.

Let’s Pray: Father, thank You for this season of waiting. Thank You for the truth that this is actually a good season and ultimately a season of preparation. Thank You that though this may be hard and seem purposeless, You are working all things together for my good and Your glory. I thank You for being by my side, strengthening and sustaining me, never leaving nor forsaking me. I thank You for the fact You are for me and not against me. May my heart trust Your good intentions, perfect wisdom, and sufficient provision so that I may truly walk in peace and hope every day. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “His Glory and My Good” by City Alight. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Wait on the Lord” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “In the Waiting” by Vicki Yohe. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “My Story Your Glory” by Matthew West. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jennifer Reese obtained a Bachelor of Social Work, a Master of Ministry in Intercultural Studies, and certifications in Biblical Counseling. 

Her educational training has afforded Jennifer the opportunity to work with various populations—such as foster care and adoption, refugee women, homeless, under-resourced youth, international students, and local churches. It has been through these experiences that she has seen a need for women of all ages to understand their true identity as a child of God in order to experience the promised abundant life and freedom.

By working as a Biblical Counselor and Coach, Jennifer focuses on helping women and teen girls discover who God is and to know their true identity in Jesus Christ. Through her professional work and ministry, she helps people learn how to carry out their specific purpose and calling in building God’s Kingdom that is not of this world.

On a personal note, Jennifer recently got married on May 24, 2025. The day was filled with abundant joy and peace, bringing glory to the Lord and wonderful fellowship with their closest friends and family. After many years of praying and waiting for this gift, Jennifer is excited to step into this new season and ministry of being a wife and hopefully, one day soon, a mom.

~*~
Connect with Jennifer:
Website: www.rootedandfixed.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/rootedandfixed
Email address: rootedandfixed@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

Interview with Sarah S. Brown, author of "Even the Ashes Bloom" (book)

Author Interview with Sarah S. Brown about her book “Even the Ashes Bloom: Finding Beauty When You Feel Broken”

Alexis: What inspired you to write this book?

Sarah: There were seasons in my life where I felt deeply broken. Disappointment, heartbreak, unmet expectations…the kind that shake your identity and leave you wondering who you even are anymore. And in those moments, I found myself asking: God, what are You doing here? Can anything good really come from this?

As I began to heal, I realized something powerful—God wasn’t just meeting me after the hard parts. He was present in them. Gently restoring, reframing, redeeming. This book was born out of that journey and the answer to a prayer I prayed for many years—that God would use my story to help others.

I wrote Even the Ashes Bloom for the woman who feels like her life didn’t turn out the way she prayed it would. For the one sitting in the aftermath—of loss, betrayal, disappointment—wondering if beauty is still possible.

This book is a reminder that God does some of His most tender, redemptive work right there in the ashes.

Alexis: How did you create the title “Even the Ashes Bloom: Finding Beauty When You Feel Broken”?

Sarah: The title came from this image that kept coming back to me—How, after a wildfire, certain seeds only open because of the fire. They’re called “fire-followers.” What looks like complete devastation becomes the very condition for new life. That felt like my story.

Even the Ashes Bloom is a reminder that the very places that feel destroyed aren’t beyond redemption. They’re often where God is doing His most meaningful work. And the subtitle—Finding Beauty When You Feel Broken—speaks directly to the heart of the reader. Because most of us don’t walk around saying, “I’m in a season of transformation.” We say, “I feel broken.” And I wanted to meet women right there.

Alexis: How did God bring beauty out of the very thing that broke you? Share the story.

Sarah: There was a season in my life where everything I thought my life would be…wasn’t. A marriage that didn’t last. Expectations that unraveled. A deep sense of shame I didn’t know how to name, much less release.

But as God began to untangle the lies I had believed about myself and replace them with truth, He showed me that my identity was never rooted in my circumstances—it was rooted in Him.

What I've come to see now is that the very thing that broke me became the place where God rebuilt me. Not into the person I thought I was supposed to be, but into someone more grounded, more honest, and more anchored in Him than I had ever been before.

He took what felt like ashes—loss, disappointment, shame—and grew something new in that same soil: deeper faith, restored identity, and a hope that isn't dependent on everything going right. He didn't waste a single part of it. And that's the beauty I didn't see coming.

Alexis: What was it like to share your journey through heartbreak, healing, and hope? Was it hard to be transparent?

Sarah: Yes…and no. There were definitely moments when I paused and thought, "Do I really want to say this out loud?" Because once it’s on the page, you can’t take it back. But I kept coming back to this: Someone else is living this too. And if my willingness to be honest could help someone feel less alone, less ashamed, or more seen by God, then it was worth it. I didn’t want to write from a place of perfection. I wanted to write from a place of healing.

Alexis: In what ways do you hope your story will help your readers?

Sarah: More than anything, I want readers to find peace in the middle of pain and uncertainty—and to release the shame that has told them they are too far gone. I want them to rediscover their worth in Jesus Christ, to see how faith can flourish even in barren seasons, and to embrace healing through reflection, journaling, and prayer. And above all, I want them to trust that as long as they are alive, God is still writing their story.

Alexis: What do you mean when you say God is planting seeds of new life in scorched places?

Sarah: Sometimes growth doesn’t look like growth. It looks like loss. It looks like silence. It looks like everything falling apart. But just because we can’t see what God is doing, doesn’t mean He isn’t working.

I know this to be true because I’ve lived it. The areas I wanted to hide, the ones that felt the most barren, those became the places where He began reshaping me from the inside out. Not all at once, and not in ways that were always obvious. Because seeds don’t grow overnight and they don’t grow where everyone can see them. They grow in the dark. In the waiting. In the quiet work that feels hidden but isn’t wasted. Over time, what once felt lifeless begins to tell a different story.

Alexis: Was it hard to make the book part memoir and part devotional?

Sarah: It was a balancing act. The memoir pieces required vulnerability—going back into real moments, real emotions, real memories. And the devotional pieces required clarity—Asking, “What is God inviting the reader into here?”

The most challenging part was making sure the story always served the reader—not just my own processing. But the most rewarding part? Watching those two elements come together in a way that doesn’t just tell a story but transforms one. Because it’s not just about what I’ve been through—it’s about what God wants to do in them.

Alexis: How did God help you find peace in the middle of your pain and uncertainty?

Sarah: Peace looked like small, quiet moments. Sitting with Scripture, whispered prayers, and choosing to trust God when I didn’t understand what He was doing.

There were still questions and uncertainty. That part didn’t magically disappear. But over time, I began to realize that peace wasn’t the absence of pain—it was the presence of God in the middle of it. It was the sense that I wasn’t alone in what I was walking through. That even when everything around me felt unstable, I was still being held.

Alexis: How did God help you release shame and discover your worth in Jesus Christ?

Sarah: Shame has a way of convincing you that you are what you’ve been through. It doesn’t just remind you of your past—it tries to redefine you by it.

For a long time, I carried that weight. I believed the lie that my worth was somehow tied to my mistakes— that I had to spend my life making up for them or proving I was still enough. But God began to show me that shame is not from Him. It’s something He came to remove.

And He didn’t do that all at once—it was a process. Through Scripture, prayer, therapy, and the steady encouragement of people who spoke truth over me when I couldn’t see it for myself, God started to gently unravel the lies I had believed. He kept reminding me that my past does not define my worth—and that I don't have to earn His love. It was already mine. Little by little, that truth began to take root. I started to see the difference between conviction and condemnation. One draws you closer to God, and the other pushes you into hiding.

Over time, I began to understand that my worth wasn’t something fragile I could lose—it was something secure in Christ. I realized that God was never asking me to carry shame. He was inviting me to lay it down. And when that finally settled into my heart, it didn’t just change how I saw myself, it changed how I lived.

Alexis: What has God taught you about how faith can flourish in barren seasons?

Sarah: He taught me that barren doesn’t mean empty.

Some of the deepest growth in my life didn’t happen in seasons of abundance. It happened in seasons where I felt stripped down to almost nothing. The things I once relied on were gone or shaken, and I didn’t have the answers I thought I needed. But that’s where something shifted. Because that’s where my faith stopped depending on circumstances and started depending on God.

In those barren seasons, I learned that faith isn’t proven when everything is going right—it’s formed when you choose to trust God when nothing makes sense. When prayers feel unanswered. When the outcome is unclear. When all you can do is take the next step in front of you.

God showed me what looked like a barren season was a season of preparation. God was strengthening my foundation, reshaping my understanding of who He is, and teaching me that even when life feels still or uncertain, He is always at work.

Alexis: How did reflection, journaling, and prayer help heal your pain?

Sarah: They gave my pain somewhere to go. Instead of carrying everything internally, I was able to process it with God honestly and openly, without filtering or trying to “clean it up” first.

There were moments when I didn’t even know what I was feeling, just that it was heavy. Journaling helped me slow down enough to name it. To get it out of my head and onto the page. It was in those pages that I began to see patterns—lies I had been believing, fears I hadn’t acknowledged, and places where I was still holding on instead of letting God in.

Prayer became less about saying the “right” words and more about being real with God. Sometimes it was just a sentence. Sometimes it was silence. But it was a space where I could bring everything—the questions, the anger, the grief—and trust that He could handle it.

Reflection helped me look back and recognize something I often missed in the moment: God had been with me all along.

Even in the seasons that felt the most confusing or painful, I could begin to trace His presence—through people, through small moments of provision, through the quiet ways He sustained me when I didn’t think I could keep going.

It didn’t take the pain away overnight. But it helped me process it, release it, and slowly begin to heal instead of just carry it.

Alexis: What is the BLOOM framework? How does it work?

Sarah: The BLOOM framework is a simple, intentional way to move from reading to transformation. Each chapter ends with this rhythm:

• Believe – Anchor yourself in a core truth
• Linger – Sit with Scripture and let it speak to you
• Observe – Notice what God is doing in your life
• Offer – Respond through prayer
• Magnify – Shift your focus to God’s presence and respond through action

It’s not meant to be overwhelming. It’s meant to be invitational. My hope is that readers don’t just close the book feeling inspired but equipped.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Sarah! God bless you and your book.

~*~
Author Bio: 

Sarah S. Brown is a Christian author and speaker who helps women anchor their identity in Christ and find renewed confidence through life’s hardest seasons. 

A former teacher, she contributed to Hope for the Holidays, A Year of Hope, and bestseller Stories of Good Grief, Vol.2. Sarah was named a Woman of Influence by the Nashville Business Journal. Her book, Even the Ashes Bloom, invites readers on a faith-filled journey from brokenness to spiritual renewal. 

Sarah lives in Tennessee with her husband and two sons and believes strong coffee and shared stories can change the world.

~*~
Book Blurb:

Have you ever wondered if God could bring beauty out of the very thing that broke you? 

In Even the Ashes Bloom, Sarah S. Brown invites you on a heartfelt journey through heartbreak, healing, and hope. After walking through the devastation of divorce, Sarah discovered a God who doesn’t discard broken soil—He restores it. Through her story, you’ll find comfort in knowing that your pain isn’t wasted, your story isn’t over, and God is already planting seeds of new life in the very places that feel scorched.

Part memoir, part devotional, Even the Ashes Bloom weaves together Scripture, storytelling, and soul-nourishing reflection to help you:

• Find peace in the middle of pain and uncertainty
• Release shame and rediscover your worth in Christ
• See how faith can flourish even in barren seasons
• Embrace healing through reflection, journaling, and prayer

Each chapter ends with Sarah’s signature BLOOM framework—a guided rhythm of believing, lingering in truth, observing, offering prayer, and magnifying God’s presence in your life. Perfect for personal reading, small groups, or quiet time study, this book will meet you tenderly in the ache and remind you that God’s grace writes better endings than we ever could.

Even when all you see is ashes, God is already growing something beautiful.

~*~
Buy Sarah’s book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books-A-Million

Walmart

~*~
Connect with Sarah:

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

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorsarahsbrown/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorsarahsbrown/

Website: sarahsbrown.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When the press is part of God's plan for you

Hardship Produces What You Never Knew Was Inside
A devotional by Heidi Lewis-Ivey

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”—2 Corinthians 4:17 (KJV)

Long before olive oil found its way onto kitchen shelves and dinner tables, someone had to press the olive. Not gently. Not carefully. The stone wheel rolled over it with full, crushing weight and only then did the oil flow. The most valuable thing inside that small, humble fruit was never going to come out on its own. It required the press.

Now think about your life right now. The weight you’re carrying. The pressure that seems relentless. The season that is lasting far longer than you thought you could endure. What if, just what if the press you are under is not punishment, but process? What if God is not squeezing the life out of you, but drawing something priceless from you?

The Press Has Always Been Part of the Plan

The Garden of Gethsemane—the very place Jesus Christ went the night before His death on the cross—means “oil press” in Hebrew. Jesus, on the most agonizing night of His earthly life, chose to go to a place named for crushing. It was there, under the weight of what was coming, that His surrender produced the salvation of the world.

Nothing about that night felt like victory in that moment. But Heaven knew what the press was producing. Let’s read about it in Isaiah 53:3-5 (KJV). It says, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Christ was bruised so that peace could flow. That is the theology of the press. Not that suffering is good, but that in the hands of a sovereign God, nothing is wasted. Not one tear, not one sleepless night, not one moment of pain that you thought would break you.

Suffering Has a Produce

The Apostle Paul was not a man who wrote about suffering from a distance. He was well acquainted with suffering. Paul was shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned, and abandoned. He knew what it felt like to be pressed from every side. And yet he teaches us that every step is producing something.

Let’s read more about this in Romans 5:3-5 (KJV). It says, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Tribulation produces Patience then Experience that turns into Hope, which results in God’s Love Shed Abroad. Every step in that chain has weight and purpose. Tribulation is not a dead-end, it is producing patience. Patience does not grow in comfort. Experience is not produced on easy days. And hope the kind that maketh not ashamed is produced in the exact moments when hope seems hardest to hold onto.

What the Press Produces in You

Think about the people whose faith has moved you most. The ones whose testimonies stopped you in your tracks. Chances are, they were not people who had easy lives. They were people who had been pressed and out of that pressing came depth, compassion, resilience, and an anointing that simply could not have come any other way.

God is not interested in producing a shallow version of you. He is after the gold. And gold, scripture reminds us, is tried in fire. Let’s look at 1 Peter 1:7 (NIV) to explore more of that this means. It says, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

Your faith is being tried, yes. But it is also being proven. Every time you choose trust over fear, praise over despair, and surrender over control, the press is producing something eternal in you.

You Are Not Being Crushed—You Are Being Prepared

There is a difference between being destroyed and being pressed. The Apostle Paul knew it. He lived it. And he made sure we understood it. Let’s read what he says in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (KJV). He wrote, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”

Troubled on every side but not distressed. There is a boundary on what this season can do to you. The press is real, but it does not have the final word. God does. And what He says about you is that you and I are being prepared for greater fruitfulness, for deeper influence, for a testimony that will set someone else free. Hallelujah!

The olive doesn’t get to choose the press. But it doesn’t have to. Because the one holding it knows exactly how much pressure is needed, and exactly when to stop. The Lord knows the same about you. Let’s read Job 23:10 (KJV) for more knowledge about this. It says, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

Be Strong and Let the Press Do Its Work

In my devotional published on this blog last month, we talked about what it means to be strong. But strength is not the absence of pressure it is the decision to trust God in the pressure. It is believing that the One who allowed the press is the same One who will catch every drop of what it produces.

You are not being punished. You are not forgotten. You are not too far gone. You are in the press and what is coming out of you is more valuable than you know. Your tears are not wasted. Your endurance is not invisible. Your faith, tried in this fire, is orchestrated by Heaven and will be used in ways you have not yet imagined. Hold on. The oil is coming.

Let’s Pray:

Lord, I don’t always understand the press I’m in, but I trust the hands that are holding me through it. Help me to remember that you waste nothing. That every hard thing is being worked together for good. That I am not being destroyed; I am being prepared. Help me to surrender to the process, to give thanks in the midst of it, and to believe that what you are producing in me is worth every moment of the pressing. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

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Song of Reflection #1: “Greater is Coming” by Jekalyn Carr. Listen to it here.

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

Song of Reflection #3: “Blessing in the Storm” by Kirk Franklin. Listen to it here.

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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

"He Calls Me Daughter" (film) is now streaming online via Angel Studios

When Momentum Influencers Network (MIN) asked me to share more about the film titled “He Calls Me Daughter”, I agreed because my life was positively impacted through watching this film a few weeks ago and I believe this documentary would make a significant difference in the lives of females who are suffering from father wounds and struggling in their faith walk with Jesus Christ.

He Calls Me Daughter will start streaming via Angel Studios this April 23. Angel is a platform for deeply personal, healing-centered stories rooted in faith.

Before I share my review with you, I’d like to share words from Angel Studios about this film: He Calls Me Daughter is a deeply personal and emotionally powerful film that explores what it means to carry a father wound and what it takes to heal from it. Through raw storytelling and spiritual insight, the film reveals how unmet needs from an earthly father can shape identity, relationships, and self-worth. But it also offers a path forward. One rooted in the love of a Heavenly Father who restores, redeems, and redefines what it means to be a daughter. This is not just a story about pain. It is a story about healing, forgiveness, and identity.

Here’s some additional info from Angel Studios with some notes from me:

What happens when the one meant to protect you is the one who hurt you?

Now there’s a movie filled with real-life stories and ending with practical resources to help you heal those wounds from your earthly father and show you the pure, healthy and protective love of your Heavenly Father.

This documentary is for: Women navigating pain, abandonment, or broken relationships with their fathers. Faith-based audiences seeking healing, identity, and restoration. Parents, especially fathers, who want to better understand their role and impact. Viewers drawn to emotionally resonant, testimony-driven storytelling.

Core Themes in this film are:

1. God as the Perfect Father

Even when earthly fathers fail, God’s love remains constant, personal, and healing. He steps into the gaps left behind and restores what was missing.

2. Healing the Father Wound

The “father wound” shapes how daughters see themselves, love others, and relate to God. This film brings language and clarity to that pain, while offering hope for healing.

3. Forgiveness Through God

Forgiveness is not easy. It is a process made possible through a relationship with God, who enables true release and restoration.

4. Identity as a Daughter

At the core of the film is a powerful truth: your identity is not defined by what you lacked, but by who calls you His.

5. A Message to Fathers

Fathers play a critical role in shaping their daughters’ sense of worth and security. This film is both a wake-up call and an invitation to show up, love deeply, and lead well.

Why Angel Matters

Angel provides a home for stories that go beyond entertainment and into transformation. He Calls Me Daughter is the kind of film that resonates deeply but is often overlooked by traditional platforms. Angel ensures stories like this are seen, shared, and experienced by the people who need them most.

This film speaks directly to the pain many women carry but rarely name. We want women to know: Healing is possible, even from deep father wounds. Your identity is not defined by your past, but by your Heavenly Father. Forgiveness is not weakness, it is freedom. Fathers have the power to shape, protect, and affirm their daughters.

The tone and style of this film is:

● Emotionally honest and vulnerable

● Hopeful, healing, and faith-centered

● Reflective rather than preachy

● Personal and relatable

● Uplifting without minimizing pain

If your relationship with your dad left wounds, this film is for you.

Call to Action: Watch He Calls Me Daughter now on Angel and experience a story of healing, identity, and restoration. Join the Angel Guild to support more stories that bring hope, healing, and truth to the screen.

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My Review of “He Calls Me Daughter” (film):

Captivating. Poignant. Transformational.

Those are three words to accurately describe this film aptly titled “He Calls Me Daughter”. If you are a female who has had a complicated relationship (or no relationship) with your earthly father so much so that it has distorted your view of your Heavenly Father, then this movie is for you.

Filled with real-life stories and testimonies from women in the real world, this movie will touch your heart and transform your mind to see God as who He really is—a loving Heavenly Father who will heal your wounds inflicted by your earthly father if you let Him.

This movie highlights the pain of several women—a few who are not well-known but have influence and the rest who are famous, including Christian comedian Chonda Pierce and Lynsi Lavelle Snyder-Ellingson who the owner and heiress of the In-N-Out Burger company that is popular in the state of California. The testimonies shared by these ladies are both heart-touching and heart-wrenching at the same time. But the powerful point in everyone’s story is how God has touched the broken hearts of these women and carefully restored their faith in His Love which is greater than the love any earthly father can give his daughter.

I like how this movie showed a full-circle journey for each woman featured. I also appreciated how they featured stories that a variety of women from different backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures and backgrounds can relate to. This movie leaves no stone unturned in getting their core message across to women who are hurting.

This film was worth the time I spent watching it. At the end of the film, the hosts talk to the audience for a few minutes to point them to a resource you access by scanning a QR code. The resource is a curriculum for women who need help healing from their father wounds.

I highly recommend this documentary to all females who are suffering from father wounds and need a healthy dose of hope and healing from their Savior.

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Watch the trailer for He Calls Me Daughter here.

Visit the official website for He Calls Me Daughter film here.

Join “He Calls Me Daughter” via Angel Guild:
https://www.angel.com/guild/join/he-calls-me-daughter

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#HeCallsMeDaughterAngelMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

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