Devotionals for the Heart: Trusting God to write the story of our life

Trusting God with the Threads
A devotional by Joyce M. Averils

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”—Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)

This past week, I found myself in a quiet, unplanned moment of purpose.

I had a chance conversation with a young college student who reminded me just how much we all long for direction and reassurance. As we talked, she mentioned she was majoring in criminal justice and had been thinking about going to law school. But then her voice softened, and she said, “I’ve heard law school is really hard…and even then, there’s no guarantee I’ll have a good life if I become a lawyer.”

Her words stirred something in me. I could see the hope in her eyes, but I also saw the fear—fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of disappointment. And I understood. Because I’ve been there.

I shared with her a bit of my own journey—how I went to law school, became a lawyer, and eventually a judge. I didn’t sugarcoat it. I told her the truth: There were some high moments and some hard ones. I made mistakes. There were seasons when I cried out to God, wondering if I had missed something, messed up something, or misunderstood His plan for me. But I also told her this: There are no guarantees that law school—or any career path—will automatically lead to a good life. A good life isn’t found in a title, a paycheck, or a five-year plan. A good life is found when God is at the center of it.

I looked at that young sister and told her, “If you give God first place in your life, He will walk with you through every season—the joyful ones and the painful ones. God will make your life beautiful in His time.”

As I said those words, I smiled, because I meant them. My life doesn’t look like what I imagined it would. In some ways, it looks completely different. But I can say with confidence and peace: God is making it beautiful.

I’ve come to see life as a tapestry. If you’ve ever looked at the back of a tapestry, you know it’s not pretty. It’s a mess of threads and knots and loose ends. But flip it over, and you see the beauty of the design. Every knot has a purpose. Every thread plays a part in creating the picture.

That’s how God works with our lives. From the outside—or even to our own eyes—it may look jumbled and chaotic. Maybe it feels like nothing is coming together. But God is weaving something intentional. Something eternal. Something beautiful.

There’s an old gospel song performed by Shirley Caesar and the lyrics say we shouldn’t take anything for our journey. What that means is this: We shouldn’t resent or try to discard the experiences, good or bad, that have shaped us along the way. Every moment, even the painful ones, has value. I feel that deep in my soul. Every trial, every setback, every hard “no” that led to a better “yes”, and all of it has been part of the tapestry God is weaving in me.

Your life may not look the way you thought it would. Maybe divorce, illness, childlessness, unemployment or heartbreak have left you wondering if your story is still worth telling. I want you to hear this: God is not done. He is still writing. Still weaving. Still creating beauty.

Isaiah 61:3 reminds us that God gives us “a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” That’s not just a poetic promise, it’s real. He is the only One who can turn our ashes into something glorious.

So, wherever you are today, whether you feel like the back of the tapestry or haven’t seen the pattern come together yet, hold on. Trust the Master Weaver. He’s not finished with you yet.

And when it’s all said and done, you’ll look back and smile too, knowing that through every twist and turn, God was making it beautiful.

Let’s Pray: Lord, thank You for being the Master Weaver of my life. Even when the threads feel tangled and the pattern is unclear, help me to trust that You are creating something beautiful. May my life reflect Your glory, even in the waiting. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “I Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey” by Shirley Caesar. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “God is in This Story” by Katy Nichole & Big Daddy Weave. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “When It’s All Been Said and Done” by Robin Mark. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Joyce M. Averils is an attorney by education and a retired judge who currently works as a Life Purpose and Business Empowerment Coach. 

She attended the University of South Carolina where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities and Social Sciences, with a concentration in Political Science in May 1981. Upon graduation from the University, she attended The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, where she graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in June 1984. Joyce was admitted to the Georgia Bar in November of 1984.

During her legal career, she served as the legal advisor for an episode of the American television program “Designing Women”. She also successfully argued a zoning case before the Georgia Supreme Court.

Today, she is the founder of Averils Omnimedia, LLC. It includes Her RICH Coaching where she helps high-achieving women of faith create a purpose-aligned life and business through coaching programs, workshops, and retreats. She recently launched 26th & Alden Paper Design House which will release its first paper product in early 2025.

Joyce believes that God created women to accomplish the extraordinary by living their purpose, calling, and assignment. He has chosen every woman to fulfill a calling that is hers alone. And if she does not answer that calling, then that work will never be done. Joyce knows that there are people who are waiting for help that only God can give and only God can use His people to help each other. Joyce believes that we are called by God to help each other. She wants to answer that call and inspire others to answer it too so we can be of service to God.

Her life verse is John 17:4 (NIV), “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” In addition to being an entrepreneur, Joyce currently serves as the Associate Teaching Director for the Community Bible Study International class in Georgetown, SC.

Joyce makes her home on the coast of South Carolina.

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Connect with Joyce:
Website: www.herrichlife.com
Facebook Ministry: www.facebook.com/groups/thepurposealignedwoman
Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/coachlabforaspiringchristianwomencoaches
Facebook: www.facebook.com/@HerRichLife
Instagram: www.instagram.com/herrichlife
Email address: joyce@herrichlife.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we need to learn how to number our days

Numbering Our Days
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

—Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

When God created us in His own image back in Genesis 1:27, He also designed us with an internal clock.

Only He knows the exact moment when our time on earth expires. We are clueless when we try to determine our life’s span, although many of us desperately try to figure it out, especially when we try to stave off death by taking any number of vitamins, special diets, or guaranteed exercise programs to postpone the inevitable.

But God isn’t interested in us scrambling around trying to number the days of our lives. He already sewed that up. In Psalm 90:12, God calls us to do more than just buy stock in the most recent Fountain of Youth. He calls us to make every one of our days count—for eternity.

Okay, that sounds daunting, right? We tally up the scores for our good days and our bad days, hoping that the good days will somehow counterbalance the bad ones. Then, maybe, our eternity will be in Heaven, and not in Hell. That will never work, but God has a plan.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to Earth in the form of a helpless baby and grew into a man, the Son of Man. He began to teach people about God, His Father. And because He is God, He never had days when He was bad. He went through His life only doing good—our sinless Savior.

Then the evil in people killed the Son of God—crucified Him, and then buried His lifeless body. But three days later, Jesus rose from that grave, defeating death and all the evil that tries to rule us. And because of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, we can accept His sacrifice for our own sins and believe in Him as our Savior. That decision leads us to not just good days, but the best days as we prepare for our life in Heaven with Him forever.

So, today counts, but with another question: “How?”

The possibilities are endless! Because we believe in Jesus as our Savior from sin, we are God’s children, His men and women. We read His Word, the Bible, and gain wisdom. We are just and kind to every person we meet. We respect the other eight billion human beings who share the planet with us. And we tell as many people as we can about the living Jesus who died for us so that we wouldn’t have to die eternally for the sins we’ve committed. We teach them to turn away from their sinful lives and to trust Jesus with their todays and their tomorrows.

Most of all, throughout each day, we are obedient to our Lord. He tells us to love God and to love all those eight billion image bearers of God. And not just like them, either. Jesus tells us we are to love them as much as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). And that is hard. So, we try to obey, and the Lord Jesus helps us to do it. We won’t ever be perfect at loving others as we love ourselves, but our honest attempts are what count. They make our days count.

And now for the best part: Our obedience leads to the ability of our hearts to gain more and more of God’s perfect wisdom. It grows more love, more kindness, more goodness, more of everything that creates connections between us. People draw close to new life in Jesus. And we have whole new families of people we may not know, but who share the love of Jesus with us. And our hearts grow fuller and richer with His love in us. These are the days that count, for today and for all eternity.

Let’s Pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your salvation. Thank You for Your wisdom. Please give us Your strength as we walk through our days and as we make them count—for You. It’s in Your Name we pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Teach Us to Number Our Days” by Marty Goetz. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Karen Marstaller is a retired high school teacher who spent most of her career challenging creative students to write. Her heart is for her readers. 

She writes to encourage them, to make them laugh, to show them that life is a beautiful journey, and regardless of their past, to show them that there is joy ahead if they will just keep looking.

Karen and her husband live in central Texas in a sweet little home that they completely remodeled. They enjoy spending time with their family, which includes seven precious grandchildren.

Most of all, Karen writes in obedience to the command to love your neighbor, to offer a cup of water to those who are dying of thirst, and to comfort others with the comfort she has received.

You can reach Karen by emailing her at this address: klmarstaller@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Learning to take a step of faith and trust God

Step of Faith
A devotional by Tessa Huckstep

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” –Matthew 6:34 (KJV)

Worry and fear can be nearly paralyzing when considering an unknown future.

There are so many “What ifs?” in this life. Such as, "What if I fail the exam? What if the test comes back positive? What if life never gets better than this? What if God never shows up?" 

These questions make us feel suffocated in our hearts, minds, and souls. If we allow these fears, worries, and doubts to continuously enter our thoughts, we are destined to start believing our future is bleak and hopeless. We begin to believe we are justified in our worries and things will always turn out badly.

But such a negative focus could not be further from the truth. Maybe the test will come back positive. Maybe we will experience the worst possible scenario in our situation. God never promised our lives would not be filled with problems and sorrow. However, God did say that He would never leave us (Hebrews 13:5). Additionally, Jesus promised that the victory is already His because He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

We will face trials, heartache, and failure. No one can claim the remainder of their life will work out perfectly and without problems. Your future does hold difficult seasons, but you were never meant to walk in those seasons alone. Our Heavenly Father walks beside each of His children in the darkest of valleys and the highest of mountaintops.

Lay your future in the hands of the Creator. He knows all things in the past, present, and future. God knows every worry that consumes our thoughts and He is calling us to release them to Him. Today, will you release your fear, your worry, and your doubts? Remember: There is no dark valley along your life journey that God’s Light cannot break through. There is no worry that the peace of God cannot still. The peace of God passes all of our human understanding (Philippians 4:7). His peace is so strong that it can ease our worry even though the situation that is bringing our worry remains.

I know that God is the One who directs my paths (Proverbs 3:5-6) and leads me toward a future that I am uncertain of (Jeremiah 29:11). I also know that God is calling me to release the worry that is weighing me down. He continues to whisper just one simple request, “Trust Me.”

Trust is a choice. It is a step of faith. Will you choose to trust the Lord Jesus Christ and simply take one more step of faith today and every day of your life on Earth?

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for offering Your peace and presence to us. Please help us to release our worry and fear to You. Grant us the faith to entrust our future to you and simply take another step of faith. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Trust Me” by Crystal Lewis. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Tessa Huckstep grew up in rural Illinois. She was born to Christian parents and has known Jesus Christ personally since the age of five. 

Currently, Tessa is attending community college and majoring in elementary education. In the future, she plans to teach in the public school system, hoping to bring the love of God with her.

Tessa enjoys being active in her local church. She serves as a co-teacher for the two-to-five year old class where there is never a dull moment.

It is Tessa’s passion to be a girl after God’s own heart and through her studying of God’s Word, Tessa longs to draw closer to her Savior. Through her writing, she longs to take others with her on this journey of faith.

Tessa loves all things Regency, needlework, and dainty teacups of every size.

When she isn’t writing or studying for exams, she can be found in the kitchen with more flour in her hair and on the floor than in the bowl, though the mess is always half the fun!

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Connect with Tessa:
Blog: https://beautifulbeloved937002841.wordpress.com/

Devotionals for the Heart: Courage

Don’t Be Afraid
A devotional by Dr. Jessica B. Turner

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

—Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

Throughout my faith journey, I’ve realized that there are Bible verses that commonly serve as anchors to many. These words can be held onto when life gets a little rocky or brought out when you need an extra dose of courage to take the next step.

Deuteronomy 31:6 is one of those scriptures for me.

When I was preparing for my girls to start kindergarten, I chose these words as a reminder that not only is God always with me and there is nothing to be afraid of, but He is always with my children. This truth allowed me to walk in peace despite my rising anxiety surrounding this new chapter of uncertainty. It also allowed me to teach my girls of the power of God’s promises. While they may be scared about starting school, their God would always be by their side.

For years, I associated the commands of Deuteronomy 31:6 with big, scary action, whether that action was voluntary or not. Some of these actions for me included: Starting a podcast when I knew nothing about the process. Moving forward with having another child when the pain of loss was still fresh. These are just a few of the times where I revisited the promise of God’s presence providing the courage I needed to move forward.

But what if I was missing a piece of the picture because I always saw courage as this loud, adventurous move? What if courage was sometimes quiet? What if it could be associated with inaction?

Early on in December 2022, God revealed to me this alternate view of courage. I was meditating on the words I had read so many times: “Be strong and courageous.” During this quiet time with God, I began to see that “courage” can look very different depending on the season of life you are in. And in that moment, courage took on the shape of a quiet surrender instead of a flashy leap of faith. It meant pausing to sit with the Lord while holding on to His promises—both in His word and in my arms as I held my sweet baby boy.

Courage was an invitation to trust God with my provision, my influence, my talents…my everything!

In closing, I’m asking you the same question that God asked me while I was reading my journaling devotional: What might courage look like for you today?

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for being a constant source of support and companionship in my life! I can always count on You to be by my side no matter what I am facing. Lord, reveal to me what courage looks like to You in the season I am in. Is it to take the first step towards a dream You have placed inside me? Or is it to pause and simply be with You? Help me to trust in You for everything including desires that are simply paused for a season. I love You and I trust You. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Trust In You” (song) by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

Along with Jessica’s career change came the discovery of who Jesus Christ really is and how He was the missing piece for her to be able to move forward in past trauma that she had suppressed for decades. Jesus walked alongside Jessica as she underwent a transformation like none other.

God transformed Jessica’s life from a broken mom who struggled with depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and PTSD from witnessing an attempted suicide, to using her experiences to make her a powerful vessel for Him. To this day, God enables Jessica to touch the lives of others through her often unfiltered, yet inviting form of storytelling.

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: New Year 2023 edition with new writers!

Dear Reader Friends,

Tomorrow (Jan. 1, 2023) marks the start of a New Year!

And it also begins another part of our devotional journey!

I am excited to announce that this year, we have a total of 23 writers who have agreed to write devotionals for my blog's tri-weekly series, “Devotionals for the Heart”!

This is the introduction post.

As always, we have writers who will contribute original devotionals on a monthly basis and a quarterly basis. We also have a team of backup writers who will fill in when one of my regularly scheduled writers cannot meet their deadline on time. Scroll down to see pictures of ALL of my writers (new and old) then read their author bios and starting on the first Monday of January 2023, read the first NEW devotional for this year!

God-willing, a new devotional will be published every Monday/Wednesday/Friday of every week for all of this New Year 2023.

I hope and pray that God blesses you this New Year with His Peace, Hope, Joy and Love!

May this devotional series bless your heart too.

Love,

Alexis A. Goring, MFA
Founder of "God is Love" blog

~*~

Read on for the author bios and photos of my NEW devotional writers for this year...

Author Bio:

The only child of a single parent, Aubrey Taylor filled her younger years by creating characters and writing stories. This ended around age sixteen when music, friends and part-time jobs began to fill her time. After that came college, work, marriage, and children.

It wasn’t until the world was beginning to come out of the COVID pandemic that God led her back to her love for writing, coupled with a passion she’d always had for history. It was time to start a new adventure! Her current long-term project is Gott Mit Uns, a German-perspective 20th century historical fiction series.

Aubrey lives in Upstate New York with her husband and three children. She’s busy keeping the home, caring for her family, doing research for and writing her books.

Aubrey enjoys music and is involved with the worship ministry at her church as well as a German choral group. She also plays gigs occasionally with friends as a singer and acoustic guitarist. After all that, she finds time to sketch, craft, and hike.

She is a lover of Jesus Christ, The Holy Bible, history, German culture, tea, and cats.

Aubrey has a special heart for those who struggle with severe anxiety, depression and PTSD.

~*~
Author Bio:

Casey Wayne is a wife and mother of two children.

She enjoys time with her family doing simple things like movie nights and cooking together.

As a devotional writer, Casey strives to share her story with relatable honesty, showing how God is faithful throughout the big and small moments of life.

She has a heart for encouraging the faith walk of other moms, praying they gain a deeper connection with our Heavenly Father.

Her family lives in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia.

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Author Bio:

Essie Taylor is an author, educator, minister, youth advocate, recording artist, podcaster, and improviser. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Rockford College.

She is a veteran educator of Bilingual Education, English as a Second Language, and Spanish Language Acquisition with National Board Teacher Certification. She is an advocate of lifelong learning, language learning, and multiculturalism.

Essie is the CEO of KenMar Press, an author agency, and The Essie Faye Collection. Essie is the author of Finding the Love You Deserve: 30 Lessons in Self-Love & Acceptance, and Finding The Love Your Deserve: A 60-Day Healing Journal For Women of Faith.

She is deeply committed to motivating minorities, women, and youth to pursue God while chasing their dreams and carving out their life’s path. She loves God, people, and helping others.

Essie has been a Christian for nearly all of her 39 years. She was born again at 15 years old. She has been a bilingual worship leader and interpreter for 10+ years. By the grace of God, Essie helped to establish bilingual ministries at five churches in her young life. She is a survivor of domestic violence (verbal and emotional abuse) and marital abandonment in a prior marriage.

Essie is a Chicago native. She lives in Chicago with her husband Donald Taylor II.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

~*~

Read on for the author bios and photos of my OLD devotional writers returning for this year…

Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey.

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God, and she is currently working on another devotional book that will be introduced in 2023.

This is Angela's third year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book is titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in another publication from Proverbs 31 Ministries, called Living Unbroken.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing and speaking.

Angela is a Mom Life Coach. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. These tools equip them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson for 18 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 10) and Ryan (age 5). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling.

She treasures spending quality time with her family.

~*~
Author Bio:

Chaplain Paul 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 Columbia Union College (WAU) in Takoma Park, Maryland.

He has subsequently earned four graduate degrees–a Master of Divinity from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, 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.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

Along with Jessica’s career change came the discovery of who Jesus Christ really is and how He was the missing piece for her to be able to move forward in past trauma that she had suppressed for decades. Jesus walked alongside Jessica as she underwent a transformation like none other.

God transformed Jessica’s life from a broken mom who struggled with depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and PTSD from witnessing an attempted suicide, to using her experiences to make her a powerful vessel for Him. To this day, God enables Jessica to touch the lives of others through her often unfiltered, yet inviting form of storytelling.

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

~*~
Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning journalist, author, blogger, editor, writing coach, and devotional writer with thousands of articles to her name.

Since 2010, she has served as the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism, which has won 123 journalism awards during her tenure. She is the author of Feed My Sheep: A 40-Day Devotional to Develop a Heart for Hunger Ministry (2019) and More Like Jesus: A Devotional Journey (2018) and the editor of a number of other books from her newspaper’s Advocate Press, which she helped found in 2017.

She has won more than 100 writing awards and is a seasoned speaker and frequent contributor to Crosswalk.com, Christianity.com, and BibleStudyTools.com, among many others. She has a weekly faith blog at JessicaBrodie.com and is part of the team at Wholly Loved Ministries, with her work included in many of their devotionals and Bible studies.

Brodie holds a Master of Arts in English, and she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in communications/print journalism from Florida International University. Born and raised in Miami, Brodie now lives in Lexington, South Carolina, just outside Columbia. She has also lived in Ohio and in the mountains of western North Carolina. She and her husband, Matt Brodie, have a blended family of four teenage children and stepchildren.

Brodie has written several novels and is actively seeking publication through her agent Bob Hostetler of The Steve Laube Agency. Her novel The Memory Garden won the 2018 Genesis contest for Contemporary Fiction from American Christian Fiction Writers, and her novel Tangled Roots won a third place Foundation Award in Contemporary Romance at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in 2019. 

She is finishing the third in the series, Hidden Seeds, now.

~*~
Author Bio:

Karen Marstaller is a retired high school teacher who spent most of her career challenging creative students to write. Her heart is for her readers.

She writes to encourage them, to make them laugh, to show them that life is a beautiful journey, and regardless of their past, to show them that there is joy ahead if they will just keep looking.

Karen and her husband live in central Texas in a sweet little home that they completely remodeled. They enjoy spending time with their family, which includes seven precious grandchildren.

Most of all, Karen writes in obedience to the command to love your neighbor, to offer a cup of water to those who are dying of thirst, and to comfort others with the comfort she has received.

~*~
Author Bio:

As a wife and Marmee to three adult children and one brand new daughter-in-love, Kerry Sue Teravskis'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.

~*~
Author Bio:

Sarah Cole’s interest in writing began in grade school when her poem was published in the local paper. As she got older, her mother’s chronic illness inspired her to design a line of greeting cards. Since then, she has written for her college newspaper and two community newspapers where she wrote restaurant reviews and articles for their “Best of” spread.

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

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

Since 2022, Sarah’s devotionals have been published in The Secret Place by Judson Press, as well as David C. Cook’s Devotions and The Quiet Hour. To this day, she smiles, pinches herself and gives God all the glory.

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

~*~
Author Bio:

Tessa Huckstep grew up in rural Illinois. She was born to Christian parents and has known Jesus Christ personally since the age of five. 

Currently, Tessa is attending community college and majoring in elementary education. In the future, she plans to teach in the public school system, hoping to bring the love of God with her.

Tessa enjoys being active in her local church. She serves as a co-teacher for the two-to-five year old class where there is never a dull moment.

It is Tessa’s passion to be a girl after God’s own heart and through her studying of God’s Word, Tessa longs to draw closer to her Savior. Through her writing, she longs to take others with her on this journey of faith.

Tessa loves all things Regency, needlework, and dainty teacups of every size.

When she isn’t writing or studying for exams, she can be found in the kitchen with more flour in her hair and on the floor than in the bowl, though the mess is always half the fun!

~*~
Author Bio:

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

She writes poetry and encouraging spiritual blog posts.

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

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

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

~*~
Author Bio:

Monique M. Anderson is a writer, creator, wife, and bonus mom. She was born and raised in Mount Vernon, NY, where she still resides. She released her always present yet hidden talent of writing to the masses in June 2019.

Monique always felt like God was chasing after her but was never ready to surrender. Finally, she reached a point in her life when things started going left, and she no longer felt in control. At this point, she was ready to hand over the reins to God. After forming her relationship with God, she always felt compelled to share the revelation’s that His Word gave her. She felt The Holy Spirit prompting her to write but was afraid of what people might think. So, her writing started in her journal. The journal turned into a book and the book into a blog.

Her obedience provided more opportunities. In late 2021, Monique became a partner with the notable YouVersion Bible App as a Content Creator. With her first Bible plan debuting in December of 2021, she will continue to provide content for the app as long as God allows her to.

In 2021, God revealed her prophetic gift and how He wants her to use it. Monique always felt compelled to pray for others but had no idea God would use her in this way. Through this gift as a prophetic intercessor, she’s not just writing about what God can do but showing what God can do.

Since God has shown her who He created her to be, she now feels it is her life’s work to help those taking their first steps in their walk with Jesus Christ. She is doing so through her blog, prayer, and soon-to-be-published works. She is excited to extend her reach to YouTube, podcasts, and speaking engagements soon.

Her blog is the stepping stone to fulfilling the vision God gave to her: “Sharing God’s revelations so we can all better reflect his image and fulfill His purpose.”

~*~
Author Bio:

Patricia Russell is a worship leader, songwriter, speaker and compiler of her 2020 best-selling 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 travelled 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 33 years. Together, they serve the community through their local congregation in various capacities. 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 watched 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.

~*~

Read on for the author bios and photos of my backup devotional writers for this year...

Author Bio:

Anthea Kotlan is a recovering perfectionist with a passion for coffee and tea.

For almost a decade, she have served in the Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast as a women’s ministry leader. Recently, she became part of a team serving women at the Provincial level (the Women’s Leadership Network part of ACNA’s Next Generation Leadership Initiative).

Anthea writes and blogs about soul tending and discipleship, focusing on the psalms on her blog/website.

She is a mom to two amazing adult daughters, a wife of a bi-vocational Anglican priest, and Gran to two grandbabies with another on the way. Recently, Anthea worked with her husband to help plant All Saints, Conroe, which is a brand-new Anglican church plant in Conroe, Texas.

~*~
Author Bio:

Cherie Mendez is a New York-based actress and model. Network appearances include Blue Bloods and Bull (CBS), Power (STARZ), and Hunters (Amazon).

 

She got her start in modeling at the age of 18 when she was offered a contract to work with an agency in Paris. Over time, she worked for clients such as Mary Kay Cosmetics, Clarins Skincare, Garnier, Lancôme, and Wella.

In recent years, Cherie has been sharing about her faith in God on Instagram where she has an audience of over 30k followers. She is compelled by love to encourage women to understand their identity in Jesus Christ.

It is her goal to bring to light what God’s Word says about our self-worth. She does this by sharing encouraging stories on how she overcame the many struggles that models and actresses typically face.

Some of the topics Cherie loves to write about are:

· Coping with rejection

· Finding your purpose and using your talent for God’s glory

· How God always looks at the heart and the meaning of inner beauty

· Understanding that we are all a work in progress and God is not done with us yet

Cherie and her husband Jimmy live in Upstate New York. They are thankful to have been married for 30 years.

~*~
Author Bio:

Janis Van Keuren has been captivated by the heartbeat of people’s stories since her early years as a writer. Working in the professional field, she developed skills to weave those narratives in a way that intrigued readers.

Janis garnered an award of excellence as a journalist while employed in public relations for a major company in Los Angeles. The tug to stay home and cultivate a family pulled her from a professional life. However, shortly after that, the Lord called her to launch a publication for a small Christian community with a focus on His work in people’s lives.

After Janis worked in education for several years, the Lord drew her back into writing for the Christian publication, 4Tucson. In addition, her inspirational articles and devotions have appeared in various Christian publications, including a Guideposts compilation, Divine Interventions: Heartwarming Answers to Prayer, and a story in their upcoming publication, In His Time.

Janis taps into her deep faith in Jesus Christ to reach hearts for Him. She leverages her decades of communication experience, both in speaking and writing, to minister to women and bring clarity to her projects as an author.

She and her husband gather joy when surrounded by their family and traveling through God’s creation.

Janis can be found writing inspiration and stories on her website.

~*~
Author Bio:

Kathleen Rouser is the award-winning author of Rumors and Promises, her first novel about the people of fictional Stone Creek, Michigan. She is also a multi-published author of historical and contemporary romance written for the Christian fiction book market. She is a longtime member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and My Book Therapy’s Novel Academy. 

Kathleen has loved making up stories since she was a little girl and wanted to be a writer before she could even read. She’s in the grip of God’s grace and is a fan of the three Cs: cats, coffee, and chocolate.

She is mother of three adult children and a former homeschool instructor. Kathleen has worked as a mild-mannered dental assistant and a Community Bible Study kids’ teacher. She lives in southeast Michigan with her hero who is her husband of over 40 years. They have two sweet cats who found a home in their empty nest.

Kathleen is represented by Linda S. Glaz of the Linda S. Glaz Literary Agency.

~*~
Author Bio:

Michelle Medlock Adams is a best-selling author and an award-winning journalist, earning top honors from the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Hoosier State Press Association. 

Author of over 100 books with more than 4 million books sold, Michelle is also a New York Times Bestselling ghostwriter and has won more than 70 industry awards for her journalistic endeavors, including the prestigious Golden Scroll for Best Children’s Book in 2020, 2019 and 2018 for How Much Does God Love You?, Dinosaur Devotions, and My First Day of School.

Since graduating with a journalism degree from Indiana University, Michelle has written more than 1,500 articles for newspapers, magazines and websites; acted as a stringer for the Associated Press; written for a worldwide ministry; hosted “Joy In Our Town” for the Trinity Broadcasting Network; blogged twice weekly for Guideposts from 2013 to 2015; written a weekly column for a Midwest newspaper; and served as an adjunct professor at Taylor University three different years.

Today, Michelle is Chairman of the Board of Advisors for Serious Writer, Inc.; an online instructor for the Serious Writer Academy; and a much sought-after speaker at writers conferences and women’s retreats all over the United States.

When not working on her own assignments, Michelle ghostwrites articles, blog posts, and books for celebrities, politicians, and some of today’s most effective and popular ministers.

Michelle is married to her high school sweetheart, Jeff, and they have two daughters, Abby and Allyson, two sons-in-law, two granddaughters and two grandsons.

She and Jeff share their home in Southern Indiana with a miniature dachshund, a rescue Greyhound/Lab mix, and two cats.

When not writing or teaching writing, Michelle enjoys bass fishing, cheering on Indiana University sports teams and the Chicago Cubbies, and all things leopard print.

~*~
Author Bio:

Mirachelle Canada is a writer, playwright, screenwriter, and theatre director/producer. She resides in Northern Virginia with her feline Shiloh and loves hiking through Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Forest.

She earned her M.F.A. in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University and is an alumnus of Act One: Hollywood Film & Television Writing Program. Mirachelle is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW)'s National Chapter and Virginia Chapter where she serves as the treasurer. She hones her writing skills through The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild and Your Novel Blueprint.

Along with her devotional contributions and occasional novelettes, she is working on her first historical fiction novel set in pre-WWII London, about an American vocal prodigy caught up in espionage, secret musical codes, and double agents disguised as friends.

~*~
Author Bio:

Sharon Musgrove is a self-proclaimed sociologist. The opportunities opened to her, over the years, have led her on a fascinating journey observing human behavior.

She has a diverse background in business, fitness, and health industries. This background led her to a unique position writing curriculum and teaching for two private, Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both programs primarily served women in the homeless community.

Sharon has traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the rural Maasai communities. She’s been privileged to participate in Leadership camps for maturing young women. These annual camps have a mission of encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often abused young Maasai girls.

Identifying personally with the brokenness of the women she’s served, Sharon sees all people as needing more encouragement regardless of cultural or socioeconomic status. Within these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its transformative power has become her passion.

In her leisure time, Sharon enjoys her garden, health food, travel, and a good story. She and her husband, Jeff, divide their time between Oregon and Hawaii. They have two grown children.

Currently, Sharon is encouraging others via her inspirational blog, but prefers sharing face to face. Additionally, she is studying Christian fiction writing.

~*~
Author Bio:

Writing stories that take the reader on a journey of discovery into a deeper relationship with God through His Son (Jesus Christ), has been a lifelong goal for Tema Banner. She enjoys history and continues honing her knowledge of history and writing skills to create those stories.

God is her guiding light and the reason for every endeavor in her life. She is a member of the South Carolina ACFW chapter as well as a former member of her local Romance Writers of America (RWA) chapter, Carolina Romance Writers.

Tema has served as president and secretary of her local RWA Chapter, Carolina Romance Writers. She is the honored recipient of the Harold Lowery Service Award, presented by the Carolina Romance Writers.

God has gifted her with a loving husband, two children and four grandchildren who are the delight of her life.

In her spare time, she gardens and digs into genealogy for nuggets to use in her stories. 

                                                                ~ The End ~

Devotionals for the Heart: Spur On

Spur On
A devotional by Malinda Fugate

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." 
–Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV)

Jesus Christ changed everything. 

The very first believers were learning how to transition from their Jewish rituals to follow Christ, and it wasn’t as simple as attending church once a week. Yes, they gathered together regularly to worship and learn (and often shared a delicious meal!), but their new lifestyle required a daily difference. Letters from Paul and the other apostles helped them as they walked by faith in the Lord.

The writer of Hebrews knew that changes from Jewish tradition to Christianity took some adjustments. He took care to discuss how God remained faithful and consistent while fulfilling His covenant though His Son. The people knew and believed that Christ died and lived again, so now what would they do about it?

Suddenly, God was closer to His people than ever before. No longer was a priestly mediator required; Jesus did that once and for all! So what is the response to an up-close God? The answer remains for us today as true as it was for the early believers. Hebrews 10:22 makes the priority clear: “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.” Snuggle up closely.

Spend as much time with Him as possible. Additionally, we are to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). Christian life is full of challenges, but survival is possible because of our God who keeps promises –  including promises to care for us, fight for us, and never leave us. 

Life in Christ begins in our individual hearts, but we are not intended to walk with Him alone. In the very next breath, the writer of Hebrews speaks of community. “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together…. encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25). To “spur” is to urge, and most of us can’t help but think of a cowboy’s footwear, motivating his horse to gallop! From our hearts overflowing with God’s love, we spill onto one another to encourage and support. 

We can inspire enthusiastic action that glorifies Him!

The early church had the uncertainty of newness, and thankfully we have the opportunity to learn from our spiritual ancestors. They probably could relate well to some of our modern challenges, like a charged political climate that divides friends and family or the pressure to focus on our individual selves while the Lord calls us to be community-minded. Christ was as countercultural then as He is now! 

These instructions were meant for such times as these. They are a prescription for the ills of society. Jesus goes against the flow and through His word shows us how to live the best life in Him. It starts inside and works its way out as the kingdom of God spreads quicker than a mustard plant, heart to heart in a growing community of brothers and sisters in faith. When we are actively living God’s word, it affects everyone and everything around us.

As we draw near to God who holds our hearts, let’s look at how we can spur on one another. Sending a text, email, or hand-written note of support goes a long way to lift up a loved one. Invitations to serve and worship the Lord together strengthen the body of Christ. 

When we see someone stepping out in faith, strengthening their cause with our time, money, and prayer glorifies God and fulfills His instructions to spur. James tells us we can’t just hear the Word, we have to do what it says. 

Take action today to be intentionally close to our Heavenly Father and pull someone else in close with you. What can you do today to encourage a sibling in the faith?

~*~
Author Bio:

Malinda Fugate writes from the heart. 

Though she serves full time as the Children’s Education Director at a church in Southern California, she is also a crafter of words published in books, including The Other Three Sixteens (May 2020 release with Ambassador International), Bible Time for Active Kids, which is an activities-based devotional that is available for purchase on Amazon, and The Pen and the Sword: Connecting With the Word of God, which is an interactive creative writing journal. 

Malinda earned a communications degree with a theatre emphasis from Azusa Pacific University, then worked behind the scenes at the Los Angeles Salem radio stations, including The Fish and KKLA.

Her writing includes children's faith resources, commercial copywriting, and various faith-based stage and screenplays. Malinda lives by the beach with her pup, Yoshi.

When she's not writing or working at church, she might be creating art, reading, or exploring the many adventures to be found in the Los Angeles area.

~*~
Connect with Malinda:
Website: www.malindafugate.com
Blog: https://malindafugate.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/malthestar/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malthewriter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malthewriter/

Devotionals for the Heart: Road Trip

Anyone Ready for a Road Trip?
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

 – Galatians 5:22-25 (NASB)

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” 

–James 1:3-4 (NASB)

Anyone who has lived in the Midwest knows that getting from one place to another often requires a long road trip. I’m sure this is probably true in other parts of the world as well, but it definitely feels like we Midwesterners have the corner on that market. In the fall of 2018, our daughter went off to a college northeast of where we live, and to visit her requires a five-hour-plus drive, which is a pretty short drive if you ask us locals.

We made an overnight trip there last weekend, and while my back hurt from sitting and I was bored looking out the window at one more dead corn field, I thought to myself how nice it would be to have a transporter like in Star Trek. One minute you’re here and the next minute you’re there. No long car rides, no legs falling asleep. Just the joy of being with the person you want to visit.

Then I suddenly recognized that the journey is part of the whole experience. If it didn’t take time to get from here to there, what might I miss out on?

The phrase “enjoying the ride” is not naturally in my vocabulary, but as I’ve gotten older, I realize how much we learn getting from point A to point B. I shouldn’t be in a hurry to dismiss the time spent “in-between.”

This probably isn’t a brand new thought for you, but it was good for me to have a reminder of several important things. The fact is, long journeys take patience. They take endurance and perseverance. If you are traveling with others, they take grace and kindness. They take wisdom and faith. They allow us to learn contentment and gratitude. In the end, we might even gain a good measure of peace from acquiring that batch of skills.

Funny, isn’t it, how those lessons look a lot like the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22 and the list that James wrote?

God rarely shows us a whole map. Sometimes we don’t even know exactly where we’re headed. But I love that no matter where we are going, He is already there. I love that He is with me while I’m traveling. And I love the thought that sometimes He will carry me when I’m too tired to continue on my own.

A journey starts with a step. Road trips can be fun. The journey through life will have many steps, a bit of fun, fellow travelers, and lessons to learn.

Let’s travel well, friends. And I promise I’ll wave and smile when we pass on the road.

My Prayer: Loving Father (God), thank You for being both the Way and the Guide. Forgive me when I am too focused on what I want and I miss out on what You have for me. Give me the wisdom and strength to help others as we journey together. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Glynis Becker writes devotions and inspirational fiction, hoping someday to have a published novel on her resume. 

She has co-written several screenplays, including the film Sinking Sand, available on DVD and digital streaming. 

Glynis, whose childhood was spent all over the country as an Air Force brat, has called South Dakota home for many years, along with her husband and two teenage children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting. You can find her at www.glynisbecker.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: God's care

Under His Wings
A devotional by Ginger Solomon

“He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.”~Psalm 91:4-8 (NLT)

This chapter in Psalms has long been one of my favorites. I fully understood these verses for the first time a few years ago. When we moved to Alabama, we bought land in order to raise chickens and maybe a few other things as the years progressed. And we did. We had chickens for probably ten years before I got tired of dealing with them.

In that time, we only had ONE hen who took it upon herself to lay eggs and brood (sit on the eggs so they’ll hatch) outside of our nesting boxes. I generally didn’t allow my hens to brood, because other hens would lay their eggs in the same box, and I couldn’t tell which were which. And as soon as you start messing with the eggs, the brooding hen would leave.

Anyway, she had three eggs, only one of which survived. She was a good momma, and whenever I would come around to check on her and the chick, she’d pull that baby under her wing and squawk at me.

Eventually, I ushered them back in with the other chickens. She was very protective of her baby, leading it around and teaching it things a baby chick needs to know. If another hen or the rooster came near, her feathers would plump, and she’d make warning noises. I think they were meant to scare off the offenders, but also to call her baby back to her side, because invariably the baby would hustle toward her.

This Psalm remains one of my favorites. Many times, I’ve been in a spot where I was scared or at the end of myself. I called out to God, sometimes on my face and sometimes just sitting in a chair because I couldn’t work up enough energy to even fall to my knees. He always responded. One time when my kids were still pretty small and needed a lot, I remember being in my room, listening to a Nichole Nordeman song (Holy) and crying out to God. I was on my knees with my face on the floor. It was naptime and I was tired. So very tired. And God met me there. I felt a PHYSICAL hug. Even now the experience brings tears to my eyes. It gave me the strength to get up off the floor and continue being the mom He had called me to be.

I truly think that at that moment in my life, God tucked me under His wing and provided a little protection from the fiery darts aimed at me. Because let’s be honest, having littles (I think at that time I was a homeschooling mom with seven kids, 13 and under) feels like someone is throwing fiery darts our direction. The house is never clean. The clothes are never all washed. Dinner is rarely on time. Someone always needs something. Life is busy. (Don’t get me wrong; I wouldn’t give up that time in my life for anything. I learned so much.)

But it is a season. And all too soon it’s over. My baby is 13 now, and several of my kids have moved away. My house is quieter. It no longer echoes with the pitter-patter of young feet. (Now I hear a few stomps from the size 10+ shoes.) The chorus of laughter from many young mouths is now a distant memory.

These days, God’s wings protect me from different things, but I hope to never “grow” so much that I think I’m too big to need his shelter. And if I do venture forth, I want to always listen to His warning of danger.

What’s your favorite verse and why?

~*~
Author Bio:

Ginger Solomon is a Christian, a wife, a mother to seven, and a writer—in that order (mostly). 

She writes or reads inspirational romance of any genre, and if she’s busy homeschooling, doing laundry, or fixing dinner, books are on her mind.

She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, president of her local writing group, and blogs regularly for InspyRomance.com and at gingersolomon.com.

Music CD Giveaway: Nichole Nordeman "Every Mile Mattered"

Dear Blog Readers,

Today, I’m reviewing Nichole Nordeman’s new CD “Every Mile Mattered” for Flyby Promotions. You’re in for a treat because they’re offering one copy of Nichole’s CD to one lucky winner!

Word to the wise: Even if you do not win this CD, buy it because it’s packed with God-given messages that will inspire your mind and encourage your heart as your journey through life.

Before we dive into my review of this captivating CD, let's learn a bit more about the artist behind the music, Nichole via snippets of her professional bio!

A top Christian artist with four No. 1 and seven Top 5 singles under her belt — along with nine Dove Awards including two Female Vocalist of the Year wins — Nordeman stepped out of the limelight to work on saving her marriage and raising her babies. The union didn’t last, but she says she’s still grateful she made that decision because she wouldn’t have forgiven herself if she didn’t give it her full attention. She also didn’t have to miss a minute of her children’s all-important early development, and was still able to feed her creative urges by writing for other artists. As for her post-divorce journey from a place of isolation and loss to acceptance and strength, Nordeman says, “As hard as it was to start over, a lot of beauty came from those ashes.”

Every Mile Mattered, Nichole's new CD, released in July 2017. She's said that she identifies strongly with “Sound of Surviving,” inspired by the story of Demonte Bell, a popular young employee of a smoothie shop across from a celebrity-filled L.A. workout studio who was shot 28 times in a random drive-by. Miraculously, he managed to survive, and went to the studio to thank those who had supported his recovery efforts. After slowly inching his way forward on crutches, he told the roomful of teary-eyed people staring in disbelief, “I’m still here.”

“I just thought about so many people who are saying those three words in the middle of cancer, in the middle of divorce or addiction or in the middle of deep loss and suffering,” she explains. “They’re saying to the darkness, ‘I’m still here.’ It’s an anthem for anyone who’s in the middle of a fight. It’s easy to write a song after you’ve won the battle, but when you’re in the middle of it, it’s maybe even more important to say those empowering words. To your struggle. To yourself. To God.”

~*~

Doesn't it feel like you know Nichole now? She's pretty awesome! I don't know her personally but I've been a fan of her music since my college years. So I was delighted to receive this new CD of hers for free in exchange for an honest review.

Let's move on to my review of her new CD! :) 

Every song is rated between 1 and 5 stars. Here’s the meaning of each starred rating:

5 stars = Wonderful! I love it!

4 stars = Great song and lyrics, I really like it!

3 stars = Nice tune but not too spectacular

2 stars = I really do not like this song

1 star = Not worth listening to

~*~
Song #1: Every Mile Mattered
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This song is rich in imagery and solid in composition. I loved the way that Nichole started the song like a story and encourages the listener to know that every mile in their life journey mattered. It’s a reminder that all of the tears and trials made me into who I am today. All of the pain and all of the joys amounted to life as I know it now. Nothing was wasted. God brings beauty out of brokenness and paints masterpieces out of pain.

Song #2: You’re Here
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This song is a beautiful reminder that no matter what you’re going through or how far away it makes you feel from God, you are not alone because God is still here. He’s right there with you in the storms of life. He wants you to stay close to Him and trust Him to help you survive the storm.

Song #3: Dear Me
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This song is like a journal entry that Nichole wrote to herself. It starts off slow and melancholy then takes flight. Like looking out the window inside an airplane flying over the sunrise, these lyrics give a beautiful view of God’s Love for humankind. It’s a beautiful story of transformation concerning how God took someone from barely believing in him to blossoming into a good understanding of God’s heart of compassion. It’s a glorious melody. Makes me feel like I’m fully immersed in a movie or moving through beautiful scenery like the Lavender Fields in France.

Song #4: No Longer
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This song is a goodbye to a faithless life. It’s a hello to a faith-filled life, a progression toward falling in love with Jesus Christ and going on a journey with Him. She no longer is afraid and bound to living a “safe” life. She’s traded her comfort for an adventure, following God’s lead and allowing Him to take her on a journey beyond her wildest dreams.

Song #5: Lean
Rating: 4 stars
Review: The first few notes of this song sound similar to “Here with Us” which is a Christmas song by Joy Williams. But after the first bar, this song shows that it’s clearly an original by Nichole. It’s deep and retrospective. She shares how she learned how to lean into Jesus. It’s a reminder of how God is truly Jehovah Jireh (Provider) and is strong enough for us to lean on Him.

Song #6: Hush, Hush
Rating: 4 stars
Review: A beautiful reminder of God’s unconditional love for us. This song spoke to me. I felt like this is what God tells me when I’m upset or depressed and just not understanding. I love the line that says “You don’t have to have all the answers”. I like how this song encourages me to rest and trust God to take care of everything. He’s more than capable of taking care of me. He wants me to “hush”, calm down and trust Him completely. Thank you, Nichole, for this beautiful reminder!

Song #7: Listen to Your Life
Rating: 4 stars
Review: The opening line to this song made me LOL. Nichole says, “I hear voices, don’t think that I’m crazy.” The second line says, “I can hear my heart trying to tell my head take it easy.” I totally related to it. I love how the lyrics in this upbeat melody encourage me to listen to my life. What is God trying to tell me? What do I need to pay attention to? What do I need to let go of to hear God’s Voice?

Song #8: Beautiful Day
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This song fades in and echoes at the start, Nichole’s voice is barely a whisper for the first few moments of this tune. A soft and gentle touch carries the listener through this song from start to finish. It makes me think of beautiful days on the beach in the summertime. Sitting on the shore, listening to the ebb and flow of the ocean. It’s very relaxing. I think the message in this song is about appreciating every day of life that God gives you. It’s a beautiful day when you let God’s Grace shine through it.

Song #9: Sound of Surviving
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This song is my new anthem! I’ve played it on repeat every single day since receiving this CD a few weeks ago. It’s amazing! I relate to the message and love how toward the end of the song, Nichole encourages the listener to say, “I’m still here.” She tells us to “say it to the pain”, “Say it the rain”, “Say it to your fear.” I love it! This song makes me want to fight for my life and never give up. It’s a gorgeous way to remind the listener that we can do ALL things through Jesus Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13)! I love every second of this song…such an inspiration! I’m still here!

Song #10: Anywhere We Are
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This song is a reminder that every person on planet Earth will experience trials BUT we are more than overcomers with God on our side! We must choose to trust Him and remember that anywhere we are in life, He is there and He’s able to help us through any situation that life serves.

Song #11: Slow Down
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This song is a tribute to Nichole’s children. It’s about how fast they're growing up and how she wants them to slow down. It’s a song about cherishing every moment in life. It’s clear that as a mother, Nichole wants to hold her babies while they're still small enough to be held. She wants to keep them close to her heart even when they grow up and go to college. Ultimately, it’s a maternal love song with a simple message: No matter how old her babies get, she’s going to be there for them because she’s their Mother and she loves them with all of her heart. It reminds me of the perfect parallel: We are children of God, He loves us with ALL of His heart and He will always be there for us through every stage of our life.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this CD which I received from Capitol Christian Music Group via FlyBy Promotions. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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Connect with Nichole and buy her CD:
Official website - http://nicholenordeman.com

Buy links – iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon

She has a book “Slow Down" coming out in August, pre-order here:
http://slowdown-book.com 
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Enter this music giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of Nichole's new CD by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below: 

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