Devotionals for the Heart: Why we should trust God and not lose heart

Don’t Lose Heart
A devotional by Erica N. Bryant

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”—Psalm 27:13-14 (NKJV)

Waiting has never been one of my strengths.

Every day, I ask the Lord to help me cultivate patience in my life. One of the passages He gave me is Psalm 27:13-14. It has become one of my life verses that I carry close to my heart.

Psalm 27 was written by King David. Scholars cannot pinpoint a specific time in is his when he penned this psalm. Some even say that it may be two psalms combined. But what matters is the feeling behind the psalm. David was going through something hard, and his words are still so relevant and relatable.

When life gets tough, it's easy to quit, give up, or lose heart. Trials have a way of pushing you past your breaking point. Hurt, pain, betrayal, and abuse can make you abandon your hope and turn away from what is true. David experienced all these things, too. But for David, there was something that kept him anchored in the brutal winds and waves of life. That something was hope in the Lord and hope in the promises God has made to him.

David was confident that he would see God's goodness in his lifetime. When David said he will see the goodness of God “in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13), he was declaring that he would not die before he experienced the fullness of God’s promises. He would live to see it happen. What God promised him would come to pass and because of that hope, David refused to give up!

This is the kind of hope we should have. When we face hard trials, quitting seems logical and even reasonable. But hope in God goes against logic and reason. It is rooted in faith in a Heavenly Father who is able and willing to shine His goodness on us in ways that bring life to dead and impossible situations. Even in the waiting season of our lives, when we confidently trust that we will see the goodness of the Lord, we will experience His promises fulfilled if we hold on to Him.

When things look bleak, when you feel like you can’t take one more thing, and when it seems like it’s all over, hold on to hope. Wait with confidence in God’s promises, knowing you will experience God’s goodness in your life.

When you feel like you want to quit, remember Jesus Christ. Have you placed your faith in Jesus? Do you believe that all God’s promises are fulfilled and confirmed in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20)? Don't believe the enemy's lie that says you were made to suffer or that things will always be bad. Counter that attack with Biblical truth and believe you will see the goodness of God in the land of the living.

Embrace this beautiful truth found in Psalm 27:14. It says that as we wait on the Lord, He will strengthen our heart. He will help us stand strong and bravely endure even the fiercest storm. He will help us have courage when we need it most.

Friends, don't lose heart! Believe in God’s goodness, mercy, and loving kindness. Remember: Jesus has overcome the world! Keep the faith so you can see His goodness in the land of the living!

Take some time to think about these questions below or write them down in your journal. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you can grow and then take steps to live out God’s Word:

Question #1: Is my faith firmly rooted in the hope that I have in Jesus?

Question #2: Do I truly believe that I will see the goodness of the Lord, or am I skeptical?

Question #3: Am I courageously facing the storms in my life as I confidently wait on the Lord?

Let’s Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Waiting is hard, and I am often impatient. Yet, today, I choose to trust You. Help me to anchor my hope in Your promises. Strengthen my heart as I wait on You. Fill me with courage to face every storm and remind me that Your goodness is coming in the land of the living. Teach me to hold fast to hope, confident in Your faithful love.

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: “Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Don’t Lose Heart” by Steven Curtis Chapman. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Promises” (feat. Joe L Barnes & Naomi Raine) by Maverick City | TRIBL. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Erica N. Bryant is a passionate Bible teacher, speaker, and author who desires to see believers live in the complete freedom and joy of the Holy Spirit. 

As the founder of Sparrow's Song Ministries, Erica invites a community of believers to get to know God by falling in love with His Word. Through Bible study resources, devotionals, teaching, and mentorship, Sparrow's Song encourages others to grow in intimacy with God and walk daily in the power of His Holy Spirit. She began The Word W.O.R.K.S. campaigns to help believers walk in Wholeness, Obedience, Righteousness, and Kingdom Success.

Erica is a writer with several published works including devotionals for adults and children, topical and textual Bible studies, and Scripture journals. In her debut book, Dwell: Living Life Fully Knowing that the Holy Spirit Lives in You, Erica draws from her own journey of healing from childhood trauma, rejection, and the struggles of fear and anxiety. With honesty and hope, she invites readers to embrace the life-giving truth that God's Spirit resides within them. Erica believes that when you know the Holy Spirit dwells in you, everything changes.

Erica is a passionate speaker who effectively communicates God’s Word with clarity and conviction. She speaks a relevant word to hearers and ministers to their hearts, inspires practical application, and empowers them to grow in faith and purpose.

Erica is a devoted wife and loving mother who actively serves in various roles at Strait Gate Deliverance Center, where her father, Bishop Jerome Rogers, is the Pastor and Founder.

Ultimately, she is just a girl in love with God and she is a soldier for Jesus Christ.

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Love for you is deep, true and forever!

God’s Deep Love for You
A devotional by Essie Faye

“However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.”—Deuteronomy 23:5 (KJV)

Lately, I can’t help but think about the importance of grit and perseverance.

So many things and people in life can discourage us from living, if we allow them. Some life challenges may include being evicted from your home or experiencing a home foreclosure. Some people are suffering in silence in a toxic relationship. Others are wallowing in grief from the loss of a loved one. Perhaps you are suffering from the grief of disappointment in your current state in life. There are women who experience pain from an infertility journey that seems never-ending. Countless numbers of patients are each fighting a terminal illness. Through it all, it is important to know that God loves us. His profound love for us blesses us in ways that we could never imagine (Romans 8:35-39).

God’s love for us blesses us with His favor. Favor is the unearned, unmerited kindness of God. Because He loves us, He is good to us, even when we were His enemies. Even when we deny His very existence, God is good to us. Even while we are shouting obscenities about Him and accusing Him of wrongdoing, He loves us and is kind to us, extending mercy and grace. God has mercy on us. He doesn’t give us what we deserve (Romans 6:23). Instead, He extends grace and gives us what we don’t deserve: God’s grace and the free gift of salvation (John 3:16-17).

God’s love for us blesses us with protection. Animals protect what they love; it’s second nature. Humankind also protects what they love. We get this attribute from our Heavenly Father (God). He made us in His image and likeness. We are His children. God has commanded His angels from Heaven to protect us in our daily lives and watch over us while we sleep. He does this because He loves us.

God’s love for us blesses us with abundance. God provides for His children because He is concerned about our well-being. He provides our physical needs: food, shelter, water. He also provides our spiritual needs: nourishment, communion, character development, and fellowship. God provides our social needs: divine connections and partnerships. God provides our financial needs. He promises to supply all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19) who is His Son.

God’s love blesses us with favor, protection, and provision in the face of life’s difficulties. Because of His love and through faith, we can do hard things. When life gets tough and insurmountable challenges arise, we can do hard things. When life circumstances seem unbearable and current situations appear hopeless, we can do hard things with the help of Christ. Because He was victorious, so are we when we place our faith in Him.

All things work together for the good of those who believe in God (Romans 8:28). All things are not always looking good, nor does everything always feel good. But it is all working together to bring you into your place of purpose. God’s love works to turn every curse in our lives from the enemy into a blessing from our Savior.

Call to Action:

1. Receive the blessings from God’s Love.

2. Rest in God’s favor, protection, and provision.

3. Love God in return.

4. Demonstrate your love for God by obeying His Word and living according to His standards.

5. Remember: God’s love blesses you to do hard things. All of it—the good, bad, and ugly—is working to make you into the person God ordained you to be.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for loving us so passionately and so deeply. Your unconditional love looks at our faults and loves us still. Your love for us is a complete blessing that we don’t deserve. You love us still. We make mistakes yet You love us still. We offend You. You love us still. We reject You yet You love us still. We ignore you. You love us still. Your love is inescapable and incomprehensible. Help us to receive the blessings of your love: favor, protection, and provision. And help us to love You in return. Expand our capacity to love You passionately and to serve You intentionally. Teach us to have the kind of faith that please You, God. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayers.

In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “God’s Favor” by Donald Lawrence and The Tri-City Singers. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “For The Good” by Riley Clemmons. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Good And Loved” by Travis Greene & Steffany Gretzinger. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Essie Faye is a woman of faith. 

She’s a bilingual author, educator, speaker, psalmist, and interpreter.

Essie is the author of the “Finding the Love You Deserve” series for women and teens. She is deeply committed to motivating minorities, women, and youth to heal themselves, love and accept themselves, and pursue God while chasing their dreams and carving out their life’s path.

Essie is a Chicago native.

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Connect with Essie:
Website: www.essiefaye.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_essie_faye/
Read Essie’s YouVersion Devotion Plan here:
https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/58980-grow-through-it-7-healing-practices-that

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we should never stop praying to God

God Rewards Relentless Prayers
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, “Grant me justice against my adversary.”—Luke 18:3 NIV

“I just can’t do this anymore. I am tired. I am done. I quit.”

Have you ever uttered these words? Or been the listener to them? When life gets hard, we want to give up—on our marriage, our pain, our financial duress. Fighting is so much harder than walking away, it seems. However, there are times when true grit is longed for, required and rewarded.

Are you in a situation where the tough has got going so long ago that the distant past seems, well, quite distant? Perhaps what started out as a passing affliction or momentary trouble has taken over, consumed your life, pocketbook, and emotional tank. Have you more than once wanted to throw in the towel, or have already quit?

Jesus Christ shared a parable in the Bible to give us His desire (and reason) for prayer. In Luke 18:1 (NIV), Jesus tells us to “always pray and not give up”. He knows perseverance and persistence in prayer is not only vital but powerful for our faith walk with God. Are you asking how this is possible? Let me explain with some questions for you to ponder: Do our prayers change God’s mind? Do our prayers change our circumstances from what God has intended all along? What does sovereignty of God mean for us in modern times?

These are tough questions that may not be answered in our lifetime. But we can know from Scripture that Jesus is concerned about our prayer life. He knew in Bible times and this modern era that we would want to give up. He knew life would get hard and doubts would plague our minds or shake our faith in Him. Jesus knew we would face obstacles that appear larger than life. He knew a doctor’s office, the unemployment line, the courtroom and an empty holiday table would be part of life here on earth.

Jesus knew the true enemy (Satan) would be relentless in pursuing us with dashed hopes, unfinished business, broken relationships, mortgages and car payments. God is Sovereign, He knows all. And He wants us to know He is with us through it all. God promises to always answer us when we call on Him—even when we offer Him our relentless, wild and desperate prayers. He welcomes us into His Throne Room and He wants to help us. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) says, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

This is the definition of a real walk with a loving Heavenly Father. Only God can handle the big prayers we send up to Him. Only God can handle it and truly comfort us when we lose it, mourn, and cry out in agony. Only God can wipe away the never-ending tears that emerge from experiencing a sad, life-changing event.

What are you facing or contemplating today? What situation has you fretting and feeling like giving up? What is God saying to encourage you to keep pressing on? We all have problems and situations that we have spent a long time—days, months, years—praying for, asking God to intervene. Let us not grow weary in praying.

We are given permission by Jesus to pursue Him relentlessly, all day, every day with our requests. Big or small. Long or short. As you read Luke 18, you can see His compassion and desire. His love. His care.

Let us knock and keep on knocking at God’s door and coming boldly before His Throne with our requests. May we not stop petitioning our Savior until we receive justice, answers and a blessing from Him.

Let’s Pray: Father God, sometimes the fact that our prayers can change your mind seems impossible to believe. We may fear that we will wear You out with our relentless pursuit of You as we ask for your justice, mercy, healing, and answers to our life problems. But You literally are all we’ve got when we have nothing left to give, take, follow or hold onto—except You. This is everything. You are everything we need. You are enough! I lay myself at Your feet, exhausted, but in a posture of prayer, thanksgiving and worship. Thank You for hearing me, Lord. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Don’t Stop Praying” by Matthew West. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Everything” by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: "Pray On" by Babbie Mason. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

As a wife and Marmee to three adult children and one brand new daughter-in-love, Kerry Sue’s life is very full. She met her husband in college and served in the mission field with him for a few years before settling down back in the United States of America to raise their family. 

Kerry Sue’s family was a homeschooling family for 20 years and they enjoyed it immensely. For the last 23 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 our 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 eight years, a Bible study writer for two years, and a devotional writer for about one year.

Kerry Sue writes about finding God’s Sovereignty in our pain and suffering.

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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/

Devotionals for the Heart: Don't Quit!

Get back up, again!
A devotional by Chaplain Paul Anderson

“Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home; for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.” –Proverbs 24:15-16 (ESV)

I have learned that failing and falling are essential to excellence. When I learned to ride a bicycle, I fell. Several times. When I learned to skate, I fell, several times. When I became more confident and began learning tricks on the bicycle and my skates, I fell again, often. But, I fell with a bit more grace and with determination, then I got back up and tried again.

In karate classes, one of the first and most important lessons is how to fall, how to roll and how to quickly recover. When learning to play scales on my flute and cello, I did not get it right. As I practiced, over and over, my hand placement and breathing became synchronized with the notes on the sheet music. Pretty soon, instead of noise, I was making music.

The text above is one of 30 wisdom sayings found in the middle of the book of Proverbs. The first of them is in Proverbs 22:17. They are what I call a compendium for character development. They were written in Hebrew, but they seem to reflect a similar collection of wisdom sayings from Egyptian literature, attributed to the philosopher Amenemope. This may suggest that character and faith development is similar in every culture.

The development of a person’s character demands repetition in failure. The repetition creates confidence. Confidence leads to mastery. In the process of falling, failing and recovering, grit and determination become a part of our personality. The fundamentals of success become automatic.

In contrast, when a person does not fall, fail and learn how to recover and try again, there is less confidence. Fear, unwillingness to persevere, closed mindedness, shortsighted pessimism and lack of adventure are traits that accompany those who will not risk falling or failure. These are those who are overwhelmed when they meet crisis and calamity.

By the time I was five years old, I was riding my bicycle without training wheels. Since then, I have almost always owned a bicycle. Last year, while following my son who was also riding his bicycle, I fell, again. We were about two miles from home. As life had taught me, I got up, mounted the bike again and rode home.

The gospel singer, Donnie McClurkin, popularized this concept with his song “We Fall Down.” He said, “We fall down, but we get up. For a saint is just a sinner who fell down and got up.” Falling is not failure and failure is not fatal. Failure in deeds are lessons learned. Failing to try is failure indeed.

As you rise and meet today, do so with the confidence learned from the times in your past when you fell or failed. You are still here. You know what did not work. Get back up, again. Do it, again! Instead of being bitter, get better!

Let’s Pray: Dear God, thank you for today. Please unfold Your desire for me. Put within me the grit, discernment and desire to grasp what you have placed out there. Help me to use Your mercy and gifts to be all that I can be and to help others. Make me a blessing in the path of someone else. If I should stumble and fall, if I should fail in some endeavor, please make me rise. Make it so that when I rise, that I learn, that I grow and that I thrive. Be with others who like me have fallen or failed. Put within them the buoyancy and resilience to get back up again. As they do, let them see success and be successful, for your glory and according to your will, I pray. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

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Author Bio:

Chaplain Anderson served for 20 years as a U.S. Navy Chaplain. Over 26 years of active duty, he was promoted through the ranks from Seaman Apprentice (E2) to his final rank as Commander (O5) in the Chaplain’s Corps. 

Prior to his Naval career, Chaplain Anderson pastored in the Allegheny East and Potomac Conferences of Seventh-day Adventists. His undergraduate preparation for ministry was completed at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Md.

He has subsequently earned four graduate degrees: a Master of Divinity from Andrews University in Michigan, a Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland and a Masters of Sacred Theology in Religion and Culture from Boston University. His Doctor of Ministry degree was conferred by Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Chaplain Anderson also completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He also holds certifications in Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Civil Mediation, Alternative Workplace Dispute Resolution, Temperament Analysis, Marriage Enrichment, Workforce Diversity, and is a certified Life Coach.

You may connect with Chaplain Anderson via email at this address, psanderson75@gmail.com.

Read with Audra: Blog tour stop for "She Dreams" by Tiffany Bluhm

Welcome to my blog's stop on the "She Dreams: Live the Life You Were Created for" book tour coordinated by Audra Jennings PR!

Today, we're featuring my review of this book by Tiffany Bluhm and other fun features related to her book like a special giveaway contest!

Enjoy!

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My Review: 

This book, She Dreams: Live the Life You Were Created for, is a true gem! I read the entire book in one sitting and found so many shiny treasures within, from the author’s voice to the life lessons imparted and the beautiful inspiration of the content that shines forth on every page.

Tiffany Bluhm, the author, has a unique storytelling voice that really shines through in this book. The first example shone within the first few pages when the author said, “So if you are a painter, bust out the brushes. If you are a writer, sharpen that pencil or get out that computer. If you are a runner, grab those nifty running shoes. If you are a singer, then saaang, girrrl.” (She Dreams, page 8).

I love that the book editor didn’t require that the author spell the word “saaang” correctly as “sang” and didn’t require that she change “girrrl” to “girl” because it stayed true to the author’s unique voice. When I read that line, it made me think of my own friends who talk like that and it also sounded like I could actually hear the author speaking to me in the relaxed, flavorful manner in which a friend would speak to a friend. It warmed my heart and made me laugh because I could hear her humor in the way that she said those words. Her writing style makes you feel like she’s talking to you about life in person, as a she would with a good friend, while you each enjoy a cup of coffee or tea.

The author continues to drive her point home in the following sentences on page eight of her book. She wrote, “If you are a helper, start helping. If you are a giver, give generously. If you are a peacemaker, build bridges toward peace. Do what makes you uniquely you! You do you, friend. No one else can. You’ll never regret doing what you love—unless it’s illegal or harmful. That would be bad. Go ahead and regret that—or better yet, don’t do it. But if something sparks joy in you and blesses others, then go ahead and get at it! Because you, my darling, were created to pursue the dreams of your heart.”

Throughout this book, the author maintained an encouraging tone of voice and captivating storytelling style. She wasn’t afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve by sharing a few personal stories from her own life experience in dealing with everything from racism to heartbreak and she didn’t hold back in sharing valuable life lessons that she picked up along the way.

This is a book written by a woman for the hearts of women. The author, though only in her early thirties, has been seasoned by life in ways that sometimes take a lifetime for others to experience.

The author is a dreamer and throughout her book, she encourages her target audience to dream not only for the sake of whimsical wonders but for the fact that God placed a dream in their heart and it is their duty to fulfill it.

She Dreams is written in a way that helps women push for courage, grace and grit—all factors that are necessary to making their God-sized dreams come true.

I love how the author brought God into the picture in almost every chapter, showing the reader that faith in God plays a major role in making the dreams that He’s given you come true. In the summary of her book, the author writes, “God in His goodness breathes new dreams within our hearts and revives the dreams that have died, inviting us to trust Him as we dream impossible dreams that only He can bring to pass—because God not only gives dreams; He fulfills them.” And to that, I as the reader, said “Hallelujah, Amen!”

The messages in this book are adequately supported with Bible-based examples as the author dares the reader to “dream the impossible dreams the Lord is stirring in your heart, reclaim any broken dreams, and trust God for the victory.” She touches on how to pray to God about your dreams, how to obey God as you pursue what He has in store for you, reasons why your God-given dreams are not just for you but are to bless others, and she talks about how your failures can be the catalyst to helping your dreams come true. Most of all, she directs her readers to God as the wise Dream Giver.

I believe that the author achieved her goal of helping her readership discover their dreams and walk into their destiny as they trust God to help them achieve the impossible. I’d recommend this book to every woman with a God-given dream on her heart.

*I (Alexis A. Goring) received a complimentary copy of She Dreams: Live the Life You Were Created for from Audra Jennings PR. My opinions in this honest review are my own.

  

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About the book:

Say yes to the dreams God has planted in your heart.

Every woman was born to dream—to live a life of beauty, passion, adventure, and purpose. No matter how big or how small they are, our dreams push us to become women of courage, grace, and grit. God in His goodness breathes new dreams within our hearts and revives the dreams that have died, inviting us to trust Him as we dream impossible dreams that only He can bring to pass—because God not only gives dreams; He fulfills them.

In this six-week study we will look at Moses’ journey to live out the God-sized dream given to him, exposing the ancient wisdom and truth God offers for every woman with a dream beating in her heart. With timely truth and encouraging accounts of God’s heart and hand in the life of Moses as well as in the lives of ordinary women, author Tiffany Bluhm will dare you to dream the impossible dreams the Lord is stirring in your heart, reclaim any broken dreams, and trust God for the victory. Throughout the study you will identify:

- The role of prayer as you grow into your dreams.
- The importance of obedience as you pursue what God has for you.
- Why your dreams are a blessing not only to you but also to others.
- How your failures can be a gift that help your dreams become a reality.
- The life-changing love, power, and wisdom of the Dream Giver.

Get ready to discover the role you are designed and destined to play as you partner with God for the impossible!

In addition to the book, there is a Bible study guide with leader helps and DVD available.

Links to purchase

Read chapter 1 for free.

Download chapter 1 of the audio book for free.

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About the author:

Tiffany Bluhm, author of the She Dreams trade book and Bible study, is a speaker and writer who is passionate about helping women come to know their value and purpose because of a loving, redeeming God.

In a style that speaks to women right where they are, she shares insights from a life spent chasing after Jesus while walking alongside women from suburbia to the inner city, jails and brothels, and the slums of Kolkata.

Tiffany speaks regularly at conferences and events, and writes for a number of websites, print publications, and popular blogs, including the YouVersion Bible app, Deeply Rooted Magazine, and ScaryMommy.com.

She lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and two sons, and blogs at TiffanyBluhm.com.

Learn more at www.SheDreamsBook.com.

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Connect with Tiffany:
Website - www.tiffanybluhm.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TiffanyABluhm/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/TiffanyBluhm

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A Video about the book:

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Enter the Giveaway Contest:

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Words of Faith: God Restores

Lessons of Love and Faith
A Words of Faith story by Tawnia Ramirez

“We are people of faith,” was the declaration given to the doctor when he suggested removing Dorian from life support. It had been nearly a year since the motorcycle accident that taught each person gathered in the room the meaning of love, faith, and hope. The room was filled with family and friends. After giving glory to God, Dorian’s grandfather acknowledged that if doctors had had their way, “We would be observing the one-year anniversary of his death instead of celebrating his 23rd birthday."

Throughout the day I watched in awe as Dorian prayed, thanking God for his mercy while acceding to the plan he knew God had for his life. He sang spontaneously, laughed, told jokes, and culminated the day’s events by walking with assistance across the room to shouts, applause, and many tears. This day would not have been possible without the unfailing love of God, our Father and His precious Son, Jesus—Jehovah Rapha, the lord who heals you.

I thought back to the early morning call I received from my daughter. “Mommy, wake up! Dorian’s been in a motorcycle accident…,” she wailed into the phone. I listened in horror as she explained how her best friend since childhood was near death. His injuries were extensive. In addition to incurring a brain injury received on impact, he had broken his neck, arm, and leg, his lung had collapsed, and his eye socket was crushed.

After consoling my daughter with the word, I hung up and earnestly began to pray. Love compelled me to pray with an urgency and fervor I had yet to experience in my lifetime. I prayed based on God’s promises given in his word. “God loves Dorian more than any of us ever could,” I told myself. I was comforted. 3 John 1:2 (KJV) tells us, “Beloved, I wish above all things that you mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” This meant that God wanted him to live.

I have watched God’s love unfold during this process. The physical accomplishments: removal from life support, emerging from a coma, speaking again after months of silence, and eating without a feeding tube were all evidence of God’s love. His love was not only for Dorian, but for those who loved him as he assuaged each of us during moments of weakness. I watched my daughter’s faith expand as she trusted and relied on God’s Word. From going out of town in weekly increments to be by his bedside to posting scriptures on his hospital walls; she continued to encourage Dorian and show him the love of God through her actions. Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) became our battle cry when faced with setbacks and doubts. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

The most incredible act of love was watching Dorian, who in spite of his own circumstances, reassure a new patient that brighter days were ahead. There were similarities with their lives and injuries. The young soldier, like Dorian, had served his country; he was in the Army and Dorian was in the Navy. He sat in a wheelchair as his body appeared painfully contorted. Without the ability to speak, his hopelessness and sadness spoke volumes through his eyes. “I was just like you,” Dorian said from his own wheelchair. “You are going to walk again. I know you can do it.” I watched as he stuck out his fist and patiently waited for the young serviceman to touch it with his own.

After attending church with him the next day, my family and I began the trip from North Carolina back to Virginia. I rode home with my heart so full of God’s overwhelming love. I know we went to celebrate Dorian’s birthday but I felt that I was the one who received the gift. There is still an uphill climb towards total restoration. But I know he will reach his goal of walking completely on his own and not needing a wheelchair by his 24th birthday. Knowing God has an expected end for Dorian produces the hope needed to fuel our faith during this journey.

~*~
Author bio: 

Tawnia L. Ramirez was born in Brooklyn, New York. She spent her formative years between homes in Roanoke, Va. and Brooklyn. She earned a B.A. in Political Science from Saint Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia.

Ramirez is a contemporary Christian fiction author who believes that reading should be an unforgettable encounter. Having shared some of the experiences some of her characters have encountered, she has the innate ability to reach people on a personal level by transforming her readers so that her characters’ experiences become their own.

It is her goal to share the Word one story at a time; specifically as it relates to women and the issues they face by creating real stories that every reader can identify with during each stage of their lives. In her debut novel, she skillfully takes her readers on Janaye’s tumultuous journey to find Something More Than This.

Tawnia has been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) since 2008. She was named Best New Christian Author in 2009 by Christian Storyteller. Tawnia and her husband currently reside in Virginia with their three daughters. She is currently working on her second novel. To schedule Tawnia for a book club meeting, interview, reading, book signing, or other appearance, e-mail her at this address, contacts@tawniaramirez.com.

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