1104 results for author: Ashlee Schmidt

I Will Trust in You

Facebook. Such a frenemy. You love it because it lets you stay connected with friends and family, notifies you about events in your area, and allows you to share endless photos of your kid, dog, or what you ate for dinner. But you also hate it. When you see those pregnancy/birth announcements, and it should have been you. When you view those milestone first year baby pictures, but your baby never experienced any of them. When you get the “on this day” reminders, that show belly pictures or bring you back to the worst day of your life. My husband jokingly calls Facebook the devil, and on some days, I’d have to agree with him. But on ...

In the Word: The Prayers of Many

Welcome to Hope Mommies In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be meditating on 2 Corinthians 1:3-11. As we study the truths found in these verses together, we’d love you to use the comments as a place to dialogue with us about what you are learning and share your answers to the questions below. We pray that you hearts will be encouraged as you dig into God's Word each week with us! “As you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many." 2 Corinthians 1:11 READ: “Praying for you!” “You and your family are in my prayers...

I Wish You Knew: Just Ask Me

Often in our grief, those closest to us do not know how to comfort and encourage us. Sometimes they stay away or don’t say anything at all because they are afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing. In this series, we hope to better equip those around us to come alongside a grieving mother—to enter their hurt and offer hope and encouragement, or simply grieve with them. My husband, Spencer, and I are very involved, active people, with no shortage of energy and opinions. In addition to working full time jobs, we lead our LifeGroup, serve in various capacities at church, and have a very active social calendar. We are the people you can ask for ...

A Garden of Hope

I am an artist and I love to garden, so it should come as no surprise that I’m constantly finding inspiration in the outdoors. God blessed me with the ability to find beauty in the seemingly mundane. Every sunset, every flower, every texture and color is a source to pull from and a reminder of how complex, and beautifully awesome our Heavenly Father is. I feel that every season has its own unique beauty, but over the last three years, Spring has taken on a deeper significance. Perhaps it has something to do with my son’s birthday landing in the middle of it, or maybe it’s because the celebration of Easter has a more profound meaning for me now. ...

In the Word: He Has Delivered; He Will Deliver Again

Welcome to Hope Mommies In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be meditating on 2 Corinthians 1:3-11. As we study the truths found in these verses together, we’d love you to use the comments as a place to dialogue with us about what you are learning and share your answers to the questions below. We pray that you hearts will be encouraged as you dig into God's Word each week with us! “He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again." 2 Corinthians 1:10 READ: I felt like I was trapped in a terrible rerun, staring at the ultrasound ...

I Wish You Knew: Speak Their Name

Often in our grief, those closest to us do not know how to comfort and encourage us. Sometimes they stay away or don’t say anything at all because they are afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing. In this series, we hope to better equip those around us to come alongside a grieving mother—to enter their hurt and offer hope and encouragement, or simply grieve with them. People often don’t know how to comfort a mom who has lost a baby. They aren’t sure what to say or how to say it, so they often don’t say anything. In the early months after my loss, I had people tell me they didn’t want to mention my stillborn son because they didn’t ...

When God’s Plan is Different Than Mine

The first time I experienced the heartbreaking loss of a child, I was completely stunned. After having three beautiful and easy pregnancies, I had arrived at my doctor appointment feeling invincible. But as soon as I heard that my little one’s heart was no longer beating inside of me, I was forever stripped of the innocent and naive bliss of pregnancy. I clung to the Lord with every ounce of my aching heart. I spent hours at a time saturating myself in His Word, and laying my brokenness at His feet. I knew that God was good, and that He would carry me through this valley of sorrow. But there was a part of me that wondered if my heart would still be ...

In the Word: The God Who Raises the Dead

Welcome to Hope Mommies In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be meditating on 2 Corinthians 1:3-11. As we study the truths found in these verses together, we’d love you to use the comments as a place to dialogue with us about what you are learning and share your answers to the questions below. We pray that you hearts will be encouraged as you dig into God's Word each week with us! “Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead." 2 Corinthians 1:9 READ: We aren't given any description of the circumstances surrounding ...

You Know God, Who is Enough

“…If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves...

Fulfilled in God’s Purposes

After months of doctor appointments, countless ultrasounds, and many tests, we could no longer deny my son’s diagnosis. It seemed his life would be short, and the doctors didn’t offer much hope for his situation to change. I knew my God was bigger than any doctor or chromosome issue. I prayed like I had never prayed before. I begged God to spare my son. He had already taken several of my babies home to heaven, and I wanted Him to grant me this one request. Late one night, when I awoke from a dream, I sensed God telling me in the silent darkness that He had other plans for my sweet boy—he would not be healed on this side of heaven. My heart was ...