1104 results for author: Ashlee Schmidt

In the Word: God is Merciful

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be looking at different characteristics of God—specifically reflecting on how each aspect of His character offers us hope in the midst of our grief.  As we study together, we encourage 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 the infinitely beautiful character of God along with us!  “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your ...

Receiving a Fatal Diagnosis

Each child gone ahead from among us is a precious person made in the image of God—and all having been made into Hope Moms, we together declare motherhood in each of our journeys. We are eager to go above and beyond in showing honor and love for one another (Rom. 12:10, 15). Through this series, we honor each other’s experiences of motherhood in love through our shared God of hope. I still remember exactly where I was and what I was wearing when I got the phone call. My husband and I were still grieving the loss of two children through back to back miscarriages when I found out I was expecting again. Three pregnancies in one year was ...

Kelly’s Story

I remember standing at the funeral of a friend’s baby, stillborn at full term, ten years ago, completely inconsolable, sobbing, and unable to pull myself together. Much to my husband’s dismay, I just wouldn’t let him console me. All I could say to him was, ‘I just don’t want to ever have to do this!’ Yet I knew it was very likely I would have to do that exact same thing at some point in my life. You see, I have always known I have a balanced chromosome translocation. My parents had a stillborn baby, with no warning signs, at 36 weeks. And after that had tests done to see if there was any reasoning behind it. They discovered then that my ...

Secured: Security in the Promises of God

In March 2017, Hope Moms from all across the country gathered in Giddings, TX for the annual Hope Mommies Retreat.  Together, they spent the weekend sharing the stories of their precious babies, and finding that Christ can indeed comfort the brokenhearted, often through the hands and tears of another sufferer along the way. The theme of the 2018 retreat was "Secured." In this mini series, our retreat speaker, Lindsey Dennis, takes us through Psalm 91:1-4 in order to give us a greater picture of the security we have been given in Christ. "He will cover you with His pinions,     and under His wings you will ...

Fathers of God’s Comfort

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Fathers, God’s mercy towards us is not merely given for our own comfort in affliction, but so that we might also display His mercy as we comfort others. I am not a very compassionate person by nature. My first reaction is typically truth before grace. While I am thankful for the ways God has allowed me to speak truth for His glory, I am called to give a ...

In the Word: God is Near

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be looking at different characteristics of God—specifically reflecting on how each aspect of His character offers us hope in the midst of our grief.  As we study together, we encourage 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 the infinitely beautiful character of God along with us!  “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in ...

Secured: Security in Death

In March 2017, Hope Moms from all across the country gathered in Giddings, TX for the annual Hope Mommies Retreat.  Together, they spent the weekend sharing the stories of their precious babies, and finding that Christ can indeed comfort the brokenhearted, often through the hands and tears of another sufferer along the way. The theme of the 2018 retreat was "Secured." In this mini series, our retreat speaker, Lindsey Dennis, takes us through Psalm 91:1-4 in order to give us a greater picture of the security we have been given in Christ. "For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler     and from the deadly ...

Abigail’s Story

“Unfortunately, this baby has some things wrong with her.” Those words will forever echo in my memory. My husband and I were at the hospital for a routine 20-week ultrasound for our second daughter. She had a strong heartbeat and was very active, but the exam took longer than it should have, and anxiety started to creep in. When the doctor told us that all was not well with our baby, the bottom fell out of my heart. The doctor went on to explain that our baby had multiple serious physical defects, and more testing was needed to determine the exact nature of her condition. After answering our questions and going over a number of different ...

Links for Hope Moms: Summer 2018 Edition

We want to share with you links to posts, videos, and resources from around the web to uplift, help, and encourage you in your walk with the Lord as you grieve. {The Beauty of Lament In Sandra McCrackens New Album} // "The psalms drive us to God, seeking His light in the darkness of earthly toil. They give voice to our protests and frustrations. They provide a framework and vocabulary for approaching God, even when He seems distant. The protests and expressed frustrations of lament might seem beneath the Christian believer, but they are all over the pages of Scripture. McCracken isn’t voicing frustration just to vent. This is not an album ...

Secured: Security in the Character of God

In March 2017, Hope Moms from all across the country gathered in Giddings, TX for the annual Hope Mommies Retreat.  Together, they spent the weekend sharing the stories of their precious babies, and finding that Christ can indeed comfort the brokenhearted, often through the hands and tears of another sufferer along the way. The theme of the 2018 retreat was "Secured." In this mini series, our retreat speaker, Lindsey Dennis, takes us through Psalm 91:1-4 in order to give us a greater picture of the security we have been given in Christ. "I will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”' Psalm 91:2 There ...