1104 results for author: Ashlee Schmidt

Beyond the Grave

For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. -Psalm 16:10 A cool breeze blew this morning as I sat on my back porch with a friend and listened to her pour her heart out about her adult children and the trials they are experiencing. Our mama hearts hurt together but we encouraged each other to keep trusting the Lord and talked about His faithfulness even in the trials. As a Hope Mommy, I have often been told to rejoice because my child is in heaven. And I do. And I hurt because my child is not with me here on earth. I didn’t get to rock him to sleep, to teach him to tie his shoes, to take his prom ...

My Song in the Night

Welcome to Hope Mommies In the Word devotionals. Over the next few weeks, we will be meditating on Psalm 77 together. As we study these truths 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!  “I consider the days of old, the years long ago.” Psalm 77:5 READ: “Yesterday everything was perfect, everything was fine…” The abruptness of trauma can leave us reeling. There becomes a “before” and “after”; a version of your life that has ceased. ...

Hymns of Hope: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Originally written by Charles Wesley in 1739, the hymn, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” draws its inspiration from the second chapter of Luke. “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrap...

A Hopeful Waiting

I have lived two Christmases in the shadow of loss. First we lost our son during birth on his due date at the end of October. With two healthy toddlers, I couldn’t just skip that holiday season. Then six years later, with three growing boys at home, we were surprised with another pregnancy and almost as quickly learned we would lose it. Our baby went to heaven during the end of September. My natural reaction would have been to hold my breath until the holiday season was over. What was there in joy and festivity for me? I was grieving—how could I hang lights, play music, or bake cookies? But each time there were little boys with expectant ...

Moria’s Story

In 2018, my husband, Brian and I had been trying to get pregnant for almost three years. Shortly after, we realized Brian had a low sperm count and he started infertility treatments called Clomid. He had only been using Clomid for two or three months when we realized that we needed to get off of it. I remember laying on the bathroom floor on my knees, surrendering to God and His timing. "Lord, you know our hearts desire to be parents. If You allow us that opportunity, we will raise this child to know You". Only a few months later, we found out we were pregnant—and we had conceived naturally. But the excitement didn't last long when we soon ...

Hymns of Hope: O Holy Night

The world had long been groaning under the curse of sin. Generation after generation pining for the Messiah that had been promised on that fateful day long ago when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden and death spread to all mankind. But this night was not like all the others before it. For on this night a thrill of hope pierced through the darkness and broke forth into a new and glorious day. Weary souls rejoiced on the night when Christ was born. O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shiningIt is the night of the dear Savior's birth!Long lay the world in sin and error piningTill he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.A thrill of hope the weary soul ...

Of Change and Presence

I’m gazing out at my backyard. It is covered in green leaves that will soon be changing color for the fall. Everything here is new to me. This house. The yard. The furniture arrangement. The smells. The look. The colors. A cross-country move will have that effect. The terrain is different—more moisture here, more greenery, more Up North in feel.  And here I sit, pondering what glory will be like. Will it all smell fresh and new? What will the new earth be like? How long I can ponder such questions! God hasn’t given us very much to know about the new earth. My guess is that we wouldn’t be much good for this earth if we knew more. Perhaps ...

My Soul Refuses to Be Comforted

Welcome to Hope Mommies In the Word devotionals. Over the next few weeks, we will be meditating on Psalm 77 together. As we study these truths 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!  “You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.” Psalm 77:4 READ: I didn’t want to fall asleep. I didn’t want to stay awake either… the reality of her absence weighed so heavily upon me, at times I couldn’t breathe. But to fall asleep ...

The Fount of Every Blessing

Robert Robinson was born in Suffolk, England on September 27, 1735. His father died when he was only eight years. As soon as he was old enough, his mother sent him to London to apprentice under a barber. While there, he fell in with a rough crowd and lived a life of trouble. One day, his gang was planning on disrupting a gospel meeting of evangelist George Whitefield. But when he arrived, Robert was touched by Whitefield’s message so deeply that he could think of little else for weeks afterwards. Finally, on December 10, 1755, Robert gave his life to Christ. He began traveling all throughout England in order to listen to some of the best preachers ...

Megan’s Retreat Experience

I found out about Hope Mommies through a Hope Box at my local hospital after I had just birthed my daughter Ellie at 15 weeks when my OB could find no heart beat at my appointment earlier that day. My family had just left and my husband lay sleeping in the chair beside me. could not sleep in that uncomfortable hospital bed and could not block out the traumatic experience i had just gone through having to say goodbye to my baby girl.  The nurse walked in and handed me a box saying, "When you get ready you can look at this. There is a local community of women who donate these to help women who have gone through miscarriage.” In my head all I could ...