Devotionals for the Heart: How to love someone who is experiencing grief

How to Love Someone Whose Grief Hides Behind a Smile
A devotional by Patti Schultz, Ed.D.

Note: July is Bereaved Parents Awareness Month. It is a time to remember and sit gently with those who carry the weight of losing a child, at any age or stage.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

—Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

She's the first face you see on Sunday mornings with bright blonde hair, a hand on the door, blue eyes that crinkle at the corners because the smile is the real kind, the kind that reaches all the way up. In her thirties, she remembers names, personal life stories, prayer requests, and little triumphs to cheer you on and praise God for.

What most people at the door don't know is how many babies have been said goodbye to. Enough to be a soccer team. But that number is carried quietly. It is folded small enough to fit behind that smile every week. No one hears about the nurseries never used, the due dates that came and went with empty arms, or the anniversary dates only a numb, grieving couple remembers. The bulletin still gets handed over. “How was your week?” is a question that still gets asked and meant.

It's easy to mistake this kind of joy for a life untouched by sorrow. But grief rarely announces itself. More often, it greets you warmly at the door and goes home to a quiet house. You don't have to have buried a child to know someone carrying an absence like that. And once you know, a natural question follows: What do I do with this?

If you know a woman who is suffering in silence and want to help, just love her well. Here are a few good ways to do that:

Say the name. If you know the name(s) of the child(ren), use them. Avoiding the name does not protect them from the pain.

Remember the date, not just the moment. A due date, a birthday, a loss anniversary. A short text like “thinking of you and (the baby’s name) today” on that date means more than anything said in the immediate aftermath.

Let go of timelines. Grief doesn't resolve on a schedule. Someone can be five, ten, or twenty years out and still be undone by a certain song or an aisle at the store. It is not a setback. It is pure love with nowhere to go.

Sit in the discomfort instead of filling it. You don't need the right words. “I don't know what to say, but I'm here” is often more healing.

Psalm 34:18 does not say God is close to the healed or those who've moved on. It says He is close to the brokenhearted. It is present tense, in the middle of the breaking. But Scripture doesn't stop at describing God's posture; it gives us one too. The Apostle Paul wrote these words in the Bible: “Mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15) and “Carry each other's burdens” (Galatians 6:2).

Notice that neither verse says “fix” or “explain”. They say mourn with and carry. That's the whole assignment—walk close enough that she isn't carrying it alone.

Let’s Pray:

Lord,

You see the empty chair and the dates that ache. Be close to every parent carrying a loss the world can't fully see. Give me eyes to see the grief hidden behind a smile and the humility to know I won't ever fully understand it. Take away my need to say something perfect and replace it with the willingness to simply stay. Show me the names, the dates, and the small moments where love is needed most. Mold me into someone who mourns with those who mourn.

In Jesus’ Name.

Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Do It Again” by Elevation Worship, Cover in ASL. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Because He Lives” by Caleb & Kelsey Cover / ASL by Megg Rose. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Yet Not I But Christ in Me” by CityAlight/ ASL Cover. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Every Single Tear” by Scott Krippayne. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “The God Who Sees” by Nicole C. Mullen. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Why God is our stable Rock in troubled times

God is My Rock and My Fortress
A devotional by Heidi Lewis-Ivey

“The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

—Psalm 18:2 (KJV)

There's a verse I keep returning to when everything feels unsteady.

King David didn’t write this verse (Psalm 18:2) from a place of comfort. He wrote it after years of being chased, betrayed, and nearly killed. He wrote this verse after watching the ground shift under him over and over again. What he landed on, after all of that, wasn't a strategy or a self-improvement plan. It was not a person. He landed on the Lord. David didn’t say, “the Lord helped me build something stable.” He said, “The Lord is my rock.” The difference is everything not “God helped me get stable,” but “God is my stability.” David didn't build it. He didn't earn it. He just stopped looking elsewhere and stood on what was already holding him.

That’s the difference I want to sit in today.

Notice how many words David uses to say the same thing: Rock. Fortress. Deliverer. Strength. Buckler. Horn of salvation. High tower. Seven images, one truth, said seven different ways.

I don't think that's poetic excess. I think it's what happens when one word isn't enough to hold what you're trying to say. When you’ve been steady in some ways and shaken in others, strong in some ways and terrified in others, you reach for every word you have because no single image captures the whole of what you need God to be.

A rock holds your weight. A fortress keeps danger out. A deliverer reaches in and pulls you from where you are. A high tower lets you see what’s coming before it arrives. David needed all of it because life doesn’t threaten you in just one way. It comes at you from every direction, and so his language for God had to come from every direction too.

Here's what stands out to me most: David doesn't say God gave him a rock. He says God is the rock. That’s not a small distinction. A rock you’re given can be taken away. God the “rock” cannot. If my stability depends on a job, a relationship, a season of life going well, then the moment any of it shifts, my stability goes with it. But if my stability is God himself, nothing that changes around me can touch the foundation because the foundation was never any of those things to begin with.

I think this is why so many of us feel unstable even when nothing is technically wrong. We've built our sense of safety on things that were never built to hold that weight such as: achievement, other people's approval, the absence of conflict, the illusion of control. Those things shift constantly because they were never rocks. They were just things that looked solid until the weather changed and we realized they were like sinking sand.

David is naming something different. He says, “My God, my strength”. He isn't crediting his resilience or his track record. Not in how well he’s holding it together. He’s naming where the strength lives: in God, and nowhere else. The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV), “for my strength is made perfect in weaknesses.”

I want to be honest about something: Saying “the Lord is my rock” doesn't make the storm disappear. Remember: David wrote this after the danger, not instead of it. The men were still after him. The years of running were still real. The fear in the moment it was happening was not fake just because he later wrote a psalm about trusting God through it. Faith here isn’t the absence of fear, it’s what David reached for in the middle of the fear.

That matters, because I think a lot of us quietly believe that needing to lean on God this hard means something has gone wrong with our faith. It hasn’t. King David, a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), needed seven different metaphors to describe how badly he needed somewhere solid to stand. If he needed that many, we’re allowed to need ours too. One of my favorite places to stand is Romans 8:18 (KJV). It says, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Let’s look at our anchor text (Psalm 18:2) again and focus on where David wrote these words: in whom I will trust. That phrase sits in the middle of the verse and it’s easy to read past it, but it's doing a lot of work. Allow me to explain: Trust isn't a feeling you wait for. It’s a decision you make, often while the feeling is nowhere close. David didn’t say “in whom I feel safe” he said, “in whom I will trust.” Future tense. A choice being made in the middle of the hard place that hadn't been resolved yet. He was choosing to trust the rock before he could fully feel its solidity under his feet.

That’s most of what trust looks like, if I'm honest. Not the calm certainty we picture, but the decision to keep standing on something you can’t fully verify yet because you’ve decided it’s trustworthy, not because the ground has stopped shaking. My late pastor used to tell me, “Faith is not needing to know the details.” We learn to trust God when we can’t see nor trace Him.

If you’re in a season where everything you used to lean on feels unreliable—people, plans, even your own resolve—I don't think the answer is to try harder to make those things solid again.

I think the invitation is the same one David found his way to. Stop asking the shifting things to hold your weight. Instead stand on the thing that was never going to move. Not because it will remove what you're facing. David still had men after him. The storm doesn't always pass just because you’ve named your rock correctly.

But you can be in a storm and still be standing on something solid. That’s not nothing. That might be everything. My rock. My fortress. My deliverer. My strength. My high tower. My buckler. My horn of salvation.

Let’s say it the way David did with all seven words because one was never going to be enough. Let these words be true before it fully feels true because that’s where trust starts. Not at the end of the storm, but in the middle of it, on a rock that was never the one shaking to begin with.

Let’s Pray:

Lord,

You are my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. You are my God, my strength, the one in whom I choose to trust not because I always feel it, but because I have decided You are trustworthy. You are my buckler, the horn of my salvation, my high tower.

I confess that I have spent seasons leaning on things that were never built to hold my own strength, other people's approval, plans that felt solid until they weren’t. Forgive me for asking shifting things to do what only You can do. Teach me to lay my weight down on You instead, even when I cannot yet feel the ground beneath me.

I will not pretend the storm isn’t real. The danger David faced didn’t disappear just because he knew where his strength came from, and mine may not either. But let me be like him—afraid and trusting at the same time, shaken and standing at the same time, in the middle of the storm and still fixed on something that isn’t moving.

Where I am unstable, be my rock. Where I am exposed, be my fortress. Where I cannot save myself, be my deliverer. Where I have no strength left, be my strength. Where I need to see what’s coming, be my high tower.

I will trust You. Not because everything is resolved, but because You have never once stopped being who You said You are.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Cornerstone” by Hillsong Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Great God” by Tasha Cobbs Leonard. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “My Help (Cometh from the Lord)” by VaShawn Mitchell (ft. Maranda Curtis). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Way Maker” by Sinach. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “He Will Hold Me Fast” by Keith & Kristyn Getty. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

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

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

She lives in Boston, MA.

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

My Review for "The Story of Everything" documentary film

When Momentum Influencers Network (MIN) asked me to review “The Story of Everything” feature-length documentary film by Sypher Studios, I agreed because it sounded like a wonderful opportunity to explore how scientific findings can prove the existence of a divine Creator. We are not here by accident. Life has purpose. And we are not alone because the Creator (God) of all that exists is always with us. I also thought this film would be a good resource for people who doubt God exists and believe there’s no life after death.

But before I share my review with you, I’d like to share a few words from Momentum Influencers Network about this film:

After a successful nationwide theatrical run that sparked conversation across faith, science, and culture, “The Story of Everything” is now available to purchase on Amazon Prime Video!

Inspired by Stephen C. Meyer’s bestselling book Return of the God Hypothesis, the cinematic documentary invites audiences to explore one of humanity’s oldest—and most consequential—questions: Does the evidence point to a universe shaped solely by blind chance, or is there evidence of purpose and design?

Synopsis: “The Story of Everything” is a cinematic exploration of the cosmos that reveals the hidden hand behind our universe. From the precise laws that govern the stars to the intricate patterns found in every living cell, the film traces evidence of intentional design throughout nature. Whether examining distant star-forming clouds or the spiral structure of DNA, we discover a consistent signature woven into the fabric of existence.

~*~

My Review for “The Story of Everything”

“The story of everything has purpose, that behind everything there is an author. The alternative is that none of that is true. We are the result of blind and impersonal processes that did not have us in mind.”

This quote (above) was mentioned toward the end of this feature-length film. But it holds the meaning of the film’s title. After hearing it, I knew that’s why this production was called “The Story of Everything”. It really shows how the core message of this film was to present two main schools of thought: Belief in a Creator of all things vs. Belief that we were created by nothing and our life has no real meaning. I think these are important points to explore as part of the human experience on Earth. As a believer, I’ll always point you to Jesus Christ. He is the Savior of humankind and the His divine light breaks through the darkness in our world. Like a popular Christian bumper sticker says: “Know Jesus, know peace. No Jesus, no peace!” I have found this saying to be true in my everyday life.

But Jesus Christ is a true gentleman. He’s not going to force you to believe in Him. He always gives humankind the freedom to choose who we will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).

If you are on a search for truth but don’t want to start with a Bible yet, start with this film then pick up The Holy Bible (you can buy a physical copy or read it via Bible Gateway online for free) and ask God’s Holy Spirit to help you understand the words you are reading. It is key to ask Him to teach you as you read because the Bible is understood through a spiritual lens, not a lens of doubt or a carnal mind.

Speaking of truth, this other quote was also mentioned in the film, “Sometimes the path toward the truth leads through beauty. And that is an important window. We need to be willing to open that.” Those words resonated with me because I never thought about my search for truth like that before. This film is filled with profound messages that will make you think and challenge you to decide what you believe.

On a lighter note: The set designs for most of this movie looks like it is from the 1970s. Many of the people who were interviewed or spoke on camera also were dressed in a way that looked like eras of the past. However the set design and clothing style did not take away from the points made in this movie.

If you have a scientific mindset or are curious to know how everything we see in space and experience on earth was created, then this movie is for you. Every detail is designed to make you think and ponder Biblical truth supported by science when it comes to the questions, “Is there a Creator of everything? Is God real?”

This movie might help you answer those questions.

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

~*~

More information:

"The Story of Everything" is available for purchase on Prime Video via this link.

Church and Homeschool Resources:
https://www.thestoryofeverything.film/resources

#TheStoryOfEverythingMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Interview with Nichole J. Suvar about her new nonfiction book

Interview with Nichole J. Suvar about her book, I Don't Have to Hold It All Together: Cultivating the Peace of Eden When Feeling Overwhelmed

Alexis: Why did you write this book? Share the story behind its creation.

Nichole: Anxiety has been a part of me for as long as I can remember.

I have memories of panic attacks in early elementary school. It wasn't until I was 36 years old that I received a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder and major depression. At that time, I started what I call a healing journey. I saw a doctor for medication, started seeing a counselor, and began learning tools that I could use to help me address this overwhelming anxiety.

One thing that kept coming back to me as I went through this healing journey was thinking about Eden and how absolutely lovely and perfect it had to have been. Coupled with my struggle with an anxiety disorder, was perfection, and the striving for control. Because we believe that when we can control things, it helps us feel less anxious.

I would often ask myself, what part of this life that I'm experiencing right now was good back in Eden, but now it's just a little distorted because of the fall.

And because I was thinking through that quite a bit, it led me to think about different areas that God has left here for us, different attributes of Eden, that we can cultivate in our lives to better understand our Father, our Creator, and to know His peace more deeply.

Alexis: In your book, you talk about God and His creation. How did your faith in God impact your writing of this book?

Nichole: The only reason I wrote this book is because of Jesus Christ. I tried for years to manage this anxiety on my own. I thought I had to get it all figured out and had to get myself together before I could be of any use in the Kingdom of God.

Because of that, I wasn't taking it all to the Father (God) and asking Him to help me relieve it. I saw those verses in Scripture that tell us to “cast our cares on Him” and “not to be anxious about anything” as commands, not invitations. But when I started seeing my Father as One who wants to come alongside me and relieve me of these burdens, it helped me draw closer to Him rather than hide from Him and shame.

Alexis: You talk about how you lived with undiagnosed anxiety for over 30 years. How did you survive? Share how your life changed after your illness was diagnosed and treated by doctors.

Nichole: Survival is a great way of putting it because I survived, but I was not thriving. I just held on and white-knuckled my way through life. I kept myself busy. I got a lot done. As a high-functioning anxious person, I had a lot of things on my plate, and I could get a lot of things done because anxiety was fueling all of it. But if I really allowed myself to stop and slow down, the anxiety would overwhelm me. So, I just kept moving.

I tried to read my Bible more and pray more, but it came to a point where I felt shame because I just could not get a handle on the anxiety. It wasn't until I had a diagnosis and realized that this generalized anxiety disorder is more than just someone who doesn't have enough faith and they're worried about something, but it was an actual thing going on inside of my body.

And when I could see it that way, my perspective changed because I saw it as something in my body that wasn't functioning as it should. And I have to keep bringing it back to God every day, looking to Him to be the strong One to bring me through it. Instead of being the strong one and relying on myself, I have to admit that I am weak and trust Him to be strong.

Alexis: Why do you think there is a rise of anxiety in our culture?

Nichole: We have access to anything and everything. We know way more than what we need. We are handling way more in our brains than we need to. We're moving through life at increasingly faster speeds. We know way more than what our brains were made to really handle. And we are connected at all times.

Because of that, we don't have these times where we have the space to really rest. We are not spending nearly as much time with our Father (God) as we should. A lot of that is replaced by screens, endless to-do lists, and crammed schedules. Plus, social media is prevalent and always gives us a reason to compare and feel like we're behind. All of that adds up to a culture of anxiety.

Alexis: If you could speak into the life of every person living with anxiety, what would you say to encourage them in only a few sentences?

Nichole: Anxiety can come from a lot of different directions. Sometimes the root is unconfessed sin we need to bring before God. It could be a relationship that needs to be addressed. It could be an actual diagnosis of something, meaning our hormones or brain chemicals are unbalanced. There could be a lot of reasons for the anxiety.

Regardless of the source, we need to take it to Jesus first. We need to bring Him into it with us. He wants to meet us in the middle of it and to help us. And so, our first step is to invite Him in.

You can struggle with anxiety and still have a deep relationship with Jesus. Struggling with anxiety does not disqualify you in the kingdom of God. Just make sure that you're taking it to Him instead of trying to handle it yourself.

Alexis: You made an interesting point about how we as humans have always been chasing peace in all the wrong places. Why do you think it’s like that for us?

Nichole: The fall distorted things and made us start to think that we were in control.

When we're in control, we start to believe we're also in control of peace. But the problem is, we manufacture the peace instead of going to our Father (God), the true source of peace. We're trying to build it ourselves by controlling situations, people, places, and things.

It's the enemy's lie to keep us focused on our own things, thinking that we can control it. Because when we believe we can control it, we aren't taking it to God.

Alexis: What is the solution to our ongoing search for peace?

Nichole: Jesus. And we need to see that every part of our life needs to be brought to Him, every little bit. Nothing is insignificant for Him. And when we are bringing Him into the middle of everything, even the messy parts, He is ready to carry it for us. He is ready to meet us there, be with us, and carry us through.

Alexis: How did God teach you to let go of perfectionism, control and endless activity?

Nichole: It is an ongoing lesson as I continue to learn more about how anxiety affects me.

I see that when I pursue perfectionism, control, and endless activity, I am leaving less room for God to be God. When I chase after perfectionism, control, and productivity, I'm putting myself on the throne.

And sometimes, in some seasons, it has to be a daily giving up of that throne. I want to keep putting myself on it, but God has shown me time and time again that when I'm willing to let things be less than perfect, allow him to be the One in control, and to actually embrace rest, I can walk into a deeper relationship with Him.

Alexis: You said that your book invites people to return to the garden God created, one where true peace is designed. What do you mean? Please explain how this will help them as they journey through this life on Earth.

Nichole: In my book, I talk about seven attributes of Eden that are still present here today, helping us access God's peace and know Him better. I call these things God's design for mental wellness. He does not want us to live in a state of overwhelm and hurry. He wants us to live with a trusting heart, resting in his provision and not our own.

When we look to cultivate these Edenic attributes in our lives, it has to be intentional. Think about when you start a garden, you have to do your part, which involves getting seeds, tilling up the ground, planting the seeds, and even giving them a first watering from a garden hose. But then after that, the sunshine, rain, little sprouts, blossoms, fruit, and vegetables—all of that comes from God.

We have to be intentional with our part in cultivating the garden. We have to go in and pluck out weeds, but all of the increase and growth and provision comes from God. And when we are cultivating these parts of Eden, we're doing the parts that we can, and we're trusting God to bring the increase, to bring the peace.

Alexis: You’ve mentioned that God’s original plan holds the answers to our deepest desires. How so? And what was His original plan?

Nichole: His original plan was for humans to be in the garden with Him, to walk in communion with Him, to be in complete rest and peace, to be surrounded by beauty and perfectness. That is God's original plan. So, when we look at His original plan, what parts of Eden has He designed for us to still enjoy today? And those are the attributes that I discuss in my book.

Alexis: You’ve said that we don’t have to keep searching for peace because it’s been available to us all along. What do you mean by this powerful point?

Nichole: The peace that’s been available all along comes from God. We try to manufacture our own peace by checking off the to-do list, organizing more things, and getting our schedule the way it should look.

We believe that when we have those in a certain way, we will be able to calm the chaos, and we'll feel more peaceful. But the truth is, all of that is manufactured by us, and the peace attached to it is fleeting. But God's peace is permanent and steadfast, even in the middle of any kind of chaos.

That is the peace that's been available to us all along.

Alexis: What do you want readers to take away from your book?

Nichole: I want the readers to experience life with their hands open, not grasping for control or creating their own comforts, but looking for ways God is providing for them and meeting them in the middle of their overwhelm, anxiety, and chaos. I want them to see how they can have a deeper relationship with Him when they choose to let Him be the one holding everything together, not them.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Nichole! 

~*~
Author Bio:

Nichole J. Suvar is an author and speaker who knows what it feels like to live overwhelmed, rushed, and stretched thin by anxiety. 

Now, through her books, devotions, podcast, and speaking, she helps women slow down, understand what’s beneath the overwhelm, and step into a more grounded, purposeful life—one that reflects the peace God designed for them. She has published five books, her latest being I Don’t Have to Hold it All Together, Cultivating the Peace of Eden When Feeling Overwhelmed.

Nichole lives with her family in Northern Indiana. She collects chairs—the more colorful, the better—thinks all the best food is in sandwich form, and will stop everything to read a map. She’s a fan of hiking, cozy cardigans, and Earl Grey Tea, and she’s learning that life unfolds better with open hands instead of tightly held fists. 

You can connect with her at livewithintent.org

~*~
Blurb for Nichole's book:

In the beginning, God poured His love into a garden.

The Bible begins with the story of creation. God builds a beautiful world . . . and a garden. In the garden of Eden, creation drank of God’s goodness and lived in His perfect peace. Yet since the fall of humanity, we’ve all struggled to find or create our own versions of Eden. We’ve been chasing peace in all the wrong places.

Nichole Suvar knows this all too well. Living with undiagnosed anxiety for over 30 years, she’s tried to build a garden of Eden through perfectionism, control, and endless activity. These self-made solutions only deepened her unrest.

I Don’t Have to Hold it All Together invites you to return to the garden God created, where true peace was designed, and discover how His original plan holds the answers to your deepest desires. Weaving personal stories, practical wisdom, and insights from experts, Nichole explores the deep truths embedded in God’s original garden, truths about communion with God, purpose, community, the goodness of creation, boundaries, true rest, and more.

The rise of anxiety in our culture reflects a broken search for peace. Readers are invited to cultivate a life that seeks after God’s original plan of peace and comfort and identify areas in their life where they have built their own false Eden.

The peace we’ve been searching for isn’t something we can create ourselves; it’s been available to us all along. Come receive His gift.

~*~

Buy Nichole's book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books-A-Million

Devotionals for the Heart: When you realize God is writing your life story

All the Little Stories Becoming One
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”—Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Have you ever looked back on your life and been struck by how it all seems to fit together like a pattern you couldn’t see while you were living it?

I released my third Christian contemporary novel recently, Hidden Seeds, and during an interview with a news publication, something hit me like a splash of cold water: these books are an echo of the work I’ve been doing for the last 16 years.

Sixteen years ago this month, I was hired as editor of a Christian denominational newspaper called the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, and my life has changed in so many wonderful ways since. I was already a Christian when I started, but my faith walk deepened significantly once I took the position. How could it not? I was surrounded by pastors and church leaders consistently modeling discipleship, day after day. And as the primary writer for the publication, month after month—for 16 years—I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to write about churches, pastors, and everyday Christians doing God’s work. That work takes every imaginable form: coffee ministries, reaching the unchurched through robotics, faith-based summer camps, mission trips, and so much more.

As I spoke with the interviewer, I heard myself say: “So many of the people, the ministries, and the stories from these last 16 years as a Christian journalist are peppered throughout the entire series of novels.” The realization was profound—and it filled me with overwhelming gratitude.

These 16 years have shaped me on a soul level like nothing else. I’ve always been grateful, always loved this work, and I’ve always known I’m blessed to hold this position. But it had never quite hit me this way before. Now I understand: Being a storyteller has changed me. In the telling, I’ve been transformed, inspired, and made new. To learn firsthand from the people who lived these stories, then to share them with others? What a glorious thing.

Now, looking back over the books I have written—and knowing the story for Book 4 that is already taking shape in my mind—I see how these years and all their stories are intricately woven into the characters and the town. As the saying goes, “You cannot pour from an empty cup.” Well, apparently, I’ve been pouring from a cup brimming with evidence of God’s people doing his will all across this state. That abundance lives in the pages of the Advocate . . . and within my novels.

Life gets hectic, and our thoughts get weighed down by daily concerns and distractions. We forget to step back, to take the long view, to marvel at what God is doing in the full sweep of our lives. It reminds me of watching my kids grow. Because I’m with them every single day, I don’t notice the slow climb from 4-foot-11 to 5-foot-1 to 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-10—until one day I look over and realize they’re taller than I am. That’s what happened to me in this moment of recognition.

God is the master storyteller, and He weaves all our little stories into His grand narrative—even when we can’t see it happening.

So, I want to ask you: What stories are quietly accumulating in your own life right now? What experiences, relationships, or seasons might be more connected than they appear? We don’t always get to see the pattern while we’re living inside it. But it’s there. God is writing something in you, through you. And one day, if you stop and look, you just might catch a glimpse of the whole beautiful design.

Let’s Pray: Lord, thank You for the opportunities you give me in life. Even if I can’t see the plan, I know you are behind the scenes, working it all out for your good and your glory. Help me hold fast to gratitude and trust your will and all the ways you are using me. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “God is in This Story” by Katy Nichole. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Glorious Unfolding” by Steven Curtis Chapman. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Just the Beginning” by Kurt Carr (feat. Vonnie Lopez). Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

Her two Christian contemporary novels, The Memory Garden and Tangled Roots, are Amazon bestsellers and her third novel, Hidden Seeds, is out now and is a #1 New Release. Learn more about Jessica’s writing ministry and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com. 

She has a YouTube devotional, and you can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism.

Devotionals for the Heart: When the birds of the desert sing praise to God

The Dawn Chorus
A devotional by Colleen C. Howard

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

—Matthew 6:26 (ESV)

This morning, my heart was touched by the Sonoran Desert’s fusion of colors and textures. I’ve lived here all my adult life, and it never ceases to amaze me.

If you’re unfamiliar with the desert, you might think it’s a desolate place filled with sand, cacti, and minimal vegetation. You would be right about the sand and cacti, but the desert offers much more. It’s a place of diversity, with Palo Verde trees, palms, and the grandeur of the saguaro cactus. Snow-capped mountains tower in the distance, and green velvet mesquite shrubs along the trails tell a story of God’s majesty and creativity.

What I love most about living here is the daily announcement of God’s morning mercies. Just before dawn, the chorus begins. The sun peaks over the tangerine horizon, and the birds of the desert sing praise for this glorious day. I close my eyes and listen. Joy fills their melody and washes over my soul. Oh, how I wish you could hear their song as they thank our Heavenly Father (God) for another day and all the possibilities it will reveal.

Even though the birds don’t make plans, God’s care for them is never-ending, and with each sunrise, they express their gratitude in song. If God cares for these magnificent creatures of the air, I can’t begin to fathom how much more God values us. We can learn something from the birds that soar effortlessly through the skies. Just like us, they don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but they seem genuinely surprised when the sun comes up, greeting each new sunrise as if it were the first they’ve seen.

Our God is a God of wonders, and His love encircles us with tender mercies. It’s astounding how many of His bounties escape my notice. The sun rises each morning and sets each evening. He holds the planets in orbit, and gravity keeps our feet on the ground. He created the stars in the sky (those in our view and beyond) and knows each of their names. This stirs my heart, and I ponder how many of God’s wonders have I neglected to see.

No one knows what today, tomorrow, or the day after will bring. But we can lift our voices and join the chorus with grateful hearts. God cares for the birds of the air and supplies their food. Yet, we are even more valuable to Him. When I hear these birds each morning, my entire being shifts into a posture of praise. Take care to listen to these fantastic creatures of the sky. Be still before the Lord, give thanks, and watch what He will do.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are the God of wonders! Help us to wake up each morning with a holy expectancy of what this day will bring. Teach us how to listen to these fantastic creatures of the sky. Help us to be still before You, thank You with a grateful heart then imagine the possibilities. Thank You, God, that your love for humankind is everlasting. Help us to fully embrace every new day with exuberance. Help us to praise You because your love has no boundaries and your grace is never ending. Praise be to God! In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~ 
Song of Reflection #1: “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” by Austin Stone Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Morning Glory” by Dr. Juanita Bynum. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “God of Wonders” by Third Day. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Colleen C. Howard is a follower of Jesus Christ, educator and writer. She lives with her husband in the Arizona desert where the sunsets are spectacular, the summers are relentless and the winters are a little slice of Heaven. 

Colleen earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. This degree opened opportunities to write science curriculum, develop district programs, work with Arizona teachers, community leaders, and more. With NASA Grant funding, she was also able to work with teachers all over the country and expand their knowledge of teaching science as a collaborative effort.

Over the last few years God has placed a strong desire in Colleen’s heart to shine a light on God’s presence throughout ordinary days and encourage women in their faith walk with Him. Although some days bring trials and others bring joy, Colleen believes that if you fix your eyes on Jesus then you will see the heart of God.

Colleen’s writing has been published in the following online publications: Living By Design, Her View From Home, Inside Out Worldwide, Inkspirations, and in anthologies like From Ruins to Restoration, Mountains Moved: 45 Devotions of Bold Faith, and The Miracle of Prayer. She is a monthly blogger for Dressing in God’s Love.

~*~
Connect with Colleen:
Website: authorcolleenchoward.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Core Themes in this film are:

1. God as the Perfect Father

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

2. Healing the Father Wound

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

3. Forgiveness Through God

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

4. Identity as a Daughter

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

5. A Message to Fathers

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

Why Angel Matters

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

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

The tone and style of this film is:

● Emotionally honest and vulnerable

● Hopeful, healing, and faith-centered

● Reflective rather than preachy

● Personal and relatable

● Uplifting without minimizing pain

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

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

~*~

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

Captivating. Poignant. Transformational.

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

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

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

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

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

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

~*~
Watch the trailer for He Calls Me Daughter here.

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

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

~*~
#HeCallsMeDaughterAngelMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

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

My Review of the She Reads Truth Spiral-Bound Notetaking Bible

When Momentum Influencers Network (MIN) asked me to review the She Reads Truth Spiral-Bound Notetaking Bible, I readily agreed because I love reading God’s Word (The Holy Bible) and sharing it with everyone!

But before I share my review with you, I’d like to share a word from Momentum Influencers Network and a few notes from me about this product:

The She Reads Truth Spiral-Bound Notetaking Bible experience was designed with special attention to the details to make opening your Bible every day even more enjoyable.

These details include:

• Spiral-bound CSB, like you’ve never seen before

• Beautifully illustrated key verses

• Wide margins for journaling, notes and prayers

• Daily reading logs for accountability

• Five volumes, perfect for portability

• Built-in community with other women through She Reads Truth

• Additional study helps like timelines, maps, charts & book introductions

Before reading this Bible, I was familiar with the She Reads Truth ministry for women. I must admit, this notetaking Bible does not disappoint!

~*~

My Review of the She Reads Truth Notetaking Bible for the New Testament:

The first thing I noticed was how big and heavy this product is…so huge that you would think it contains the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation inside. But true to the title written horizontally on the far-right side of the cover, this book only contains the New Testament (Matthew through Revelation) of The Bible.

I found the spiral ring binding of this book to be a bit problematic because it often got stuck when I tried to open the book and turn the pages. I also think that while the cover subtle gray cover with a hue of gold and bronze is pretty, the font size for title of this Bible is too small and can almost be missed where it is positioned.

The first page you see when you open this book is neatly laid out, clearly written and easy to read. The designer and publisher used white space perfectly on this page. I think it is impressive that two women (Raechel Meyers and Amanda Bible Williams) were the general editors for this edition. It is also impressive that the publisher (Andy McLean) has a Ph.D.

I appreciate the letter from the editor for the readers on the second page to the right. The tone was warm and welcoming. The letter was very comprehensive in describing who this edition is intended for (women) and how to get the most out of your Bible reading experience with the added details that speak to the heart of women who are following Jesus Christ.

The Table of Contents was neatly laid out and centered on one page. The next page instructs you how to read the New Testament. It is followed by a reading log that spans four pages. It is there where you can note the date when you studied each chapter of each book in this Bible.

This is followed by two pages spent on introducing the reader to the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) which is the translation for all the Scripture within this book. After that is one page explaining the abbreviations, you will see as you read this CSB translation. I thought this was helpful.

I liked the artwork on the back of the page that tells you are about to start reading the New Testament with the book of Matthew. The artwork features blue mountains and white cloudy skies. A Bible verse is written in the center. The color scheme calms your mind and prepares you to read God’s Word.

Before you read the first verse, there is a page that leads you into Matthew with a historical timeline, Biblical background, tells you the message and purpose of Matthew then provides a note of thanks for this book.

When you turn the page, you will see a detailed map of The Passion Week in Jerusalem. On the right page, you will see a detailed outline of this book (Matthew). The next page starts with verse one of chapter one of Matthew. I appreciated how easy it was to read because of the larger than usual font size and extra space between each verse. I also liked the lines set across the wide margins of every page so I can take notes as is the purpose of this edition of the Bible.

All the books in this Bible have the same format, layout and details that I described in the first book (Matthew). I appreciated the consistency and attention to detail.

The final page with text on it lists the names and titles of the people who contributed to this beautiful Bible and made it ready to read. I appreciated that they gave credit where credit is due.

After the page that lists the contributors, there are a few final pages that are each completely blank. Perhaps that is intended for the reader to take more notes, write a journal entry or create their own artwork based on what they read in this Bible.

Overall, I like this edition for women and recommend it to every female not only in the She Reads Truth community, but worldwide.

~*~

Order your copy today wherever books and Bibles are sold. Here’s the purchase link: https://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/she-reads-truth/

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

#SheReadsTruthNotetakingBibleMIN

#SheReadsTruth

#SheWritesTruth

#ChristianStandardBible

#MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Devotionals for the Heart: When you're tired of being tested by God

How Much Testing is Needed?
A devotional by Terry Overton

“And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.”

—Deuteronomy 8:2 (ESV)

I laughed at a meme on social media and shared it on my page. The meme made me reflect on how we often look back at old photos and are surprised by how young, how thin, or different we looked, unaware of it at the time.

After my initial laughter, I considered it more deeply. I have certainly changed, mostly through facing difficult experiences and challenges. While time now shows on my face or in the color of my hair, the change that matters most has happened within. Changes that happened during overwhelming tests of loss, family crises, and health issues. At times in the years that passed, I wondered, “How much testing is needed? How much more, Lord?”

But then I went back to Scripture, and I was reminded that I am far from the first person to ask that question. I think of Moses who born to a Hebrew woman but raised by Pharoah’s daughter in the royal palace of Egypt. It was a world that did not welcome him as a Hebrew boy, yet he was raised in riches. Later, Moses would return to a humble heritage and be tested beyond anything I can comprehend.

Although Moses had been raised within the royal court of Pharaoh and called by God to lead the Israelites to freedom from slavery in Egypt, he would later spend 40 years in the wilderness and never enter his destination (the Promised Land). That season likely felt like a detour that was far removed from purpose. Yet it was in the desert, in obscurity and humility, that God shaped Moses into a leader who learned to depend fully on Him. God did not waste a single day of it. Moses at last led the people of God to the edge of their promised land. But this had to happen after years of being shaped by God in ways he never would have chosen for himself.

Similarly, the Bible story about Joseph offers another perspective. He was disowned by his brothers, sold into slavery in Egypt, and while there, he was unjustly put in prison for a crime he did not commit. Joseph’s father gave up hope of ever seeing Joseph again after his other sons told him a wild animal had killed Joseph. His father didn’t know the true story about Joseph’s brothers selling Joseph into slavery. After a while, Joseph’s father gave up hope of ever seeing his favorite son again. Yet, after unbelievable hardship, testing, and dedicated work while Joseph was in Egypt, God enabled Joseph to save the family that disowned him. His journey reminds us that testing serves a greater purpose.

These Bible stories are only a few examples about how God tests us before He blesses us. Testing often feels like an interruption, a delay, or even a defeat. Yet throughout Scripture, we see a different truth—testing is God’s tool for preparation, revealing what we cannot see or know in comfort. Testing is part of God’s plan for us. It prepares us for where He wants us to be and for our purpose.

The greatest test with a purpose was what God planned for His own Son (Jesus Christ). Jesus lived His life in human form on Earth. He suffered. He rejoiced. He mourned like we do. Jesus traveled without provisions. He endured ridicule. Humiliation. Ultimately, he died on a wooden cross. None of that was outside the plan of salvation that Christ and His Father (God) put in place to save humankind well before we knew we needed to be saved by Him. The story of Jesus shows us something important: Testing is not always about escape. It is about obedience.

Each of these people I mentioned in the Bible stories were tested before they were used by God. Each of them had no idea while they were being tested and in the throes of despair, that God was still writing their story that would end in victory. Their stories reveal that what seems uncertain now can have significance later.

What looks like the end of your story may be the very place God is writing the most important chapter. Trust Him in the wilderness. Trust Him in the waiting. Trust Him in the suffering. He has never wasted a season. Not one.

Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, I won’t pretend the testing doesn’t hurt. But I know You are not absent in it. Help me hold on long enough to see what You are building. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “God is in this Story” by Katy Nichole & Big Daddy Weave. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “It is Well with My Soul” by Audrey Assad. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Terry Overton is a retired university professor of educational and school psychology. She has an Ed.D. in Special Education and a Ph.D. in Psychology. 

Her professional experience includes teaching public school, teaching at the university level, and being a college dean.

She has two children, seven grandchildren, and one great granddaughter.

Her previous writing and publication experiences include textbook and journal articles in the fields of special education and school psychology. She now seeks to answer God’s call to share the good news and grow the church by writing Christian books and devotionals.

Over the years, Terry’s books have won the Mom’s Choice Award, Christian Indie Award, Firebird Book Awards, American Writing Winner Awards, Bookfest Winner Awards, Pencraft Award, Reader Views Silver Reviewers Award, and International Book Award Finalist. Her writing examines real world events with a Christian worldview. She enjoys writing for young children, middle grade readers, YA fiction, and adult level novels.

Terry’s background in teaching adults and children shine through her stories that often include a character with educational or learning challenges. Her Christmas series, The Oddball Ornaments, features a box of misfit ornaments who first learn the meaning of Christmas and then discover the meaning of forgiveness. In The Underground Book Readers series, one of the main characters is on the autism spectrum yet is one of the leaders of the group of teens. Book one of a new series, The Messiah Brigade, features an awkward middle school nerd who helps his school turn around a bully gang of kids. Adoption and family issues are the focus of her new book, Charlotte McMaster and the Messenger Angel.

Terry lives in Texas and enjoys reading, taking pictures for devotional posts on social media, visiting with her family, playing golf, and writing.

~*~
Connect with Terry:
Website: https://www.authorterryoverton.com
Blog: https://terryovertonbooks.com
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/overtont

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,

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

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

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

Song of Reflection #3: “Worn” by Tenth Avenue North. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: God's mercies and faithfulness in our life

Between These Walls
A devotional by Colleen C. Howard

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

Years ago, while house-hunting, my husband and I walked into a new house that had never been occupied.

We’d seen multiple listings and expected this one to disappoint like the others. As I lingered in its not-quite-finished rooms, a distinct feeling hovered over me. This felt more than just another listing. It was meant to be our home.

Somehow, I knew our teens would become adults between these walls, and we would grow older. Life would happen here. Sorrows and sadness, laughter and love, and the seemingly ordinary days that sometimes take your breath away would wash over our hearts and move us forward in life. God gave me a tiny glimpse of the future, and I was certain it would occur in this home.

Thirty years ago, we moved into this brand-new house, and it became our home. But in 2025, the time to say goodbye was knocking at the door of our hearts. We had to answer these important questions:

What will we leave behind? A house that served us well. It survived the desert heat, winds, and monsoon rains. Its walls, roof, and foundation are still in good condition despite the passage of time. But when we step out, we’ll leave behind our home and a piece of ourselves.

What will we take with us? Memories. Between these walls, there were celebrations—birthday parties, graduations, and anniversaries. Loved ones were lost while we lived here, and we mourned. Five grandchildren were loved, prayed for, and rocked to sleep in our arms. Five generations of our family have graced this house with their presence and their precious memories will remain in our hearts forever.

How will we say goodbye? With sadness and fondness. God saw us through victories and defeats, anger and reconciliation, and a multitude of unexpected events. Each moment we’ve spent here has reminded us that we’re part of God’s family, and His faithfulness is never-ending. Our hearts overflow with gratitude for the grace, comfort and mercies we’ve received from our Savior (Jesus Christ) while living between these walls.

We’re three decades older now. Our children are grown and our grandchildren are teens and young adults. When our moving day arrived, we said a heartfelt “Goodbye” to this home that served us well and a hearty “Hello” to the new adventures God has planned for us. Praise be to God, who is always faithful, good, and His love is never ending.

Let’s Pray:

Dear God,

Thank You for your faithfulness to us. We move through time and seasons seamlessly without giving it much thought. Help us to navigate our days with grace and heighten our awareness of your presence in our lives. Help us to notice the signs of shifting seasons and prepare us for the changes to come. As seasons come and go, we will turn to you our Lord and Savior. Praise be to God. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” by Carrie Underwood ft. CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Colleen C. Howard is a follower of Jesus Christ, educator and writer. She lives with her husband in the Arizona desert where the sunsets are spectacular, the summers are relentless and the winters are a little slice of heaven. 

Colleen earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. This degree opened opportunities to write science curriculum, develop district programs, work with Arizona teachers, community leaders, and more. With NASA Grant funding, she was also able to work with teachers all over the country and expand their knowledge of teaching science as a collaborative effort.

Over the last few years God has placed a strong desire in Colleen’s heart to shine a light on God’s presence throughout ordinary days and encourage women in their faith walk with Him. Although some days bring trials and others bring joy, Colleen believes that if you fix your eyes on Jesus then you will see the heart of God.

Colleen’s writing has been published in the following online publications: Living By Design, Her View From Home, Inside Out Worldwide, Inkspirations, and in anthologies like From Ruins to Restoration, Mountains Moved: 45 Devotions of Bold Faith, and The Miracle of Prayer. She is a monthly blogger for Dressing in God’s Love.

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Connect with Colleen:
Website: authorcolleenchoward.com

Devotionals for the Heart: How to be still and listen for God's whispers

God’s Whisper Always Cuts Through the Chaos
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”— Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Have you ever been to an orchestra concert?

My son plays the viola in an orchestra, so we’ve been to plenty over the years.

Before the concert gets started, everybody’s warming up onstage, and it sounds like a chaos of noise. But then, at last, a single note rings out as the concertmaster plays, and the other string instruments strive to match that note, perfectly in tune. In an instant, chaos becomes order. Soon enough, the conductor onstage lifts his or her hands, and beautiful music begins to soar.

I think of that chaos sometimes when I think of our world. Everybody’s busy doing their own thing and experiencing their own troubles. People are born and they die. Marriages begin and they end. We go about our work and rush around in traffic and weave in and out of our days, and it’s all just . . . noise sometimes. But then a single note rings out, God’s whisper! His beautiful breath of life. And suddenly our ears attune to Him. Our voices become slow and steady, our work stills, and we—along with all creation—turn to honor the One, the Creator, the Alpha and the Omega, the Lord God Almighty.

I imagine that’s how it will be in the end days when the trumpet sounds. I imagine that’s how it was in the Garden of Eden when God spoke the universe into creation. I imagine that’s how it was when Elijah so desperately craved hearing God’s voice in his darkness and finally realized it was there—not in the wind or the earthquake or the raging fire, but in the whisper (1 Kings 19:11-13).

God speaks order into creation quite often. What can we mere human beings do but stop everything and listen? We are so busy and distracted all the time, my friends. All of us that distraction is a tool Satan uses to confuse us and skew our priorities. But we serve a God of order, balance, love, and perfection—not chaos. I imagine that is why Psalm 46:10 (NIV) resonates with so many of us when in that verse, God said, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Be still, all you people. Settle down all your rushing to and fro. Bask in God’s timeless knowledge and merciful peace. We are not God, and we are not gods. But we are oh, so blessed, to belong to Him. May we surrender our hearts, our minds and our souls to him daily—now and forever.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly God, thank You so much for Your calm, true, perfect, and steady presence and love. Help us look to You even the world feels like chaos. Help us remember You are the truth and nothing else matters. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Be Still and Know” by Steven Curtis Chapman. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Speak” by Bethany Music. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

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

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

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