1056 results for author: Ashlee Schmidt


Kelly’s Story of Hope

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 ...

Reorient Your Heart

Paul reminds us in his letter to the church in Thessalonica that we do "not grieve as others do who have no hope" (1 Thess. 4:13). But what exactly does that mean? In this series, we explore what it looks like to honor God in our grief and examine the ways we can choose to grieve with hope. Broken but beautiful. If someone had asked me how I was doing almost a year ago, right after Paige went home to Jesus, I can honestly say that my answer would have simply been that it all felt broken. But God has patiently and faithfully shown me how to reorient my heart and look at this journey as yes, broken, but also beauti...

Because He Lives

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,Because He lives, all fear is gone;Because I know He holds the future,And life is worth the living,Just because He lives! Because He Lives, Bill and Gloria Gaither Never did the resurrection bring such comfort to my weary heart as when I first found out that my baby’s heart had stopped beating. I was suddenly faced with the reality of death and all that it had stripped me of—all of the firsts and all the memories that would never be experienced, the innocence and care-free naivety of pregnancy, and the sense of “completeness” for our family. Something—someone—would always be missing. Fear and ...

In the Word: The God Who Sees

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be looking at different names of God found in Scripture, and how these different aspects of who He is offer 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 study these names of God along with us! “She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’” Genesis ...

The Wonderful Cross

Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful CrossBids me come and die and find that I may truly liveOh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful CrossAll who gather here by grace, draw near and bless Your name The Wonderful Cross, Chris Tomlin The cross is heart-wrenching and bloody. It is shameful and full of rejection. It is painful, and terrifying, and yet so beautiful. This day that we call “Good Friday” is the day that God watched His only Son die. Our God can and does empathize with us in our sorrow, because He has felt it too. That cross—it is heart-wrenching and bloody. It is shameful and full of rejection. It is painful, and terrifying, and ...

Wrestle Humbly

Paul reminds us in his letter to the church in Thessalonica that we do "not grieve as others do who have no hope" (1 Thess. 4:13). But what exactly does that mean? In this series, we explore what it looks like to honor God in our grief and examine the ways we can choose to grieve with hope. Two pink lines appear and instantly your world changes forever. You begin dreaming of this new life, the precious tiny clothes, the new laughter, and the joy that will fill your home. Your heart swells with love for this child. In an instant your world is brighter.  But then, in another instant your world becomes dark. ...

Kelsey’s Story of Hope

May 27, 2018. My due date. My husband and I once looked forward to this day with so much excitement and anticipation. It might not have even been this day exactly. It could have been a few days earlier, probably a few days later. Regardless, according to our plan it would have happened. But that’s the thing about life sometimes. It doesn’t always go the way you plan—because in October 2017, I had a miscarriage. I was far enough along in my pregnancy to barely start showing. I was far enough along to experience the rough symptoms that I would give anything to feel again. Very few people even knew I was pregnant, let alone knew I suffered a ...

Our Greatest Weapon in Grief

“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18 Prayer—the direct line to our General. Without His strength, our amor is useless in battle. Paul knew that our greatest need in battle is to go to God early and often for help. Through prayer, we call upon God's strength and remain dependent on Him. God wants to be God for us. He wants to be our hope and defender, our refuge and rock, the One who fights for us. The command to pray, which is found all throughout Scripture, is simply an invitation from God to be the ...

Welcome Grief

Paul reminds us in his letter to the church in Thessalonica that we do "not grieve as others do who have no hope" (1 Thess. 4:13). But what exactly does that mean? In this series, we explore what it looks like to honor God in our grief and examine the ways we can choose to grieve with hope. Within a few months of losing our son Jacob just seven hours after he was born, I was walking to the car with my husband and I looked at him saying, “I cannot do this anymore.” Actually, that wasn’t the only time I said that either. I was exhausted. Not only had I carried him to term after a prenatal diagnosis, but now I was learning to live without him. ...

In the Word: The Lord is There

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be looking at different names of God found in Scripture, and how these different aspects of who He is offer 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 study these names of God along with us!  “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right ...