163 results for tag: Ashlee

A Prayer of Hope and Encouragement For Thanksgiving

Father, if directed by my flesh alone, thanks might not pass from my lips easily today. My heart aches for the little ones who are missing from our family gathering. Their absence is felt deeply; their empty chairs taunt me. I am undone. In my sorrow, I call out to You, “How long, O Lord? How shall I endure this terrible affliction? These empty arms are more than I can bear!” I bring You my tears, my brokenness, my longing.  I know Your mercy will be enough. It always has been. You always have been. My cries matter to You. Each new day greets me with fresh mercy. My heart, shattered by grief, is being made whole once again. If left ...

Prayer: Our Most Essential Strategy

Grief is often accompanied by a myriad of temptations: anger, bitterness, fear, and despair, just to name a few. But God has provided us with everything we need to overcome these temptations, and to move forward in our sorrow with His strength. In this series, we will be studying the various pieces of our spiritual armor, and how each of these pieces uniquely equip us to cling to the hope we have been given in Christ. We’ve spent the past several weeks together studying the armor of God and learning how each piece uniquely equips us to overcome temptation and find strength to endure in the midst of our sorrow. Although we ...

The Child Born to Save

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be studying Isaiah 9 together. In this passage, Isaiah gives us insight into the incredible hope that was given through the birth of Christ. Join us as we discover how the grieving mother can find comfort, especially in the holiday season, in the following descriptions of Christ. The Child Born to Save “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah ...

Tenderly Cleansed

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be studying Psalm 139 together. This Psalm is used often (and rightly so) to demonstrate the value of human life, and God's care for us from even before we were conceived. What can we learn about God's tender care for us and for our babies from these verses? How does a greater knowledge of these truths offer hope and comfort to us in the midst of grief? Tenderly Cleansed “Search me, O God, and know my heart!Try me and know my thoughts!And see if there be any grievous way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting!” Psalm ...

Links for Hope Moms: Fall 2019 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 Fruit of the Wilderness} // "What’s the point of the wilderness anyway? I’ve asked that question numerous times when I’ve been lost in the desert, wondering if I’d ever find a way out. People told me that God was working, but since I didn’t know what He was doing, I secretly wondered if He was doing anything at all. I didn’t choose the wilderness. No one does. It’s a dark place of loneliness, rejection and despair. But it also cultivates the most life-giving ...

The Breastplate of Righteousness

Grief is often accompanied by a myriad of temptations: anger, bitterness, fear, and despair, just to name a few. But God has provided us with everything we need to overcome these temptations, and to move forward in our sorrow with His strength. In this series, we will be studying the various pieces of our spiritual armor, and how each of these pieces uniquely equip us to cling to the hope we have been given in Christ. A few weeks ago, my husband and I sat down on the couch together to rest after a long day. Just moments after our backs hit the cushions, we heard the sound of heavy footsteps overhead. Assuming that one of our children was ...

Able to Stand

Grief is often accompanied by a myriad of temptations: anger, bitterness, fear, and despair, just to name a few. But God has provided us with everything we need to overcome these temptations, and to move forward in our sorrow with His strength. In this series, we will be studying the various pieces of our spiritual armor, and how each of these pieces uniquely equip us to cling to the hope we have been given in Christ. The days and weeks that followed the loss of my precious baby were filled with a battlefield of emotions and temptations. After becoming so intimately familiar with the frailty of life, I found myself fearful ...

The Strength of His Might

Grief is often accompanied by a myriad of temptations: anger, bitterness, fear, and despair, just to name a few. But God has provided us with everything we need to overcome these temptations, and to move forward in our sorrow with His strength. In this series, we will be studying the various pieces of our spiritual armor, and how each of these pieces uniquely equip us to cling to the hope we have been given in Christ. I left the hospital with empty arms, an empty womb, and a broken heart.  In those early days of grief, there were always three little sets of eyes on me, observing the path their momma was choosing through the sorrow. ...

Links for Hope Moms {Summer 2019}

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. {How to Deal with Grief} // "But grief is not something to be distracted from, overlooked, ignored, or avoided. There’s no timetable and no way to rush through it. Grief is not something that we just have to trudge through or endure until a certain amount of time has passed. The journey we take through the wilderness of grief is necessary. There are important things that take place there. There are things we learn, experience, and walk through in that wilderness that will ...

Finding Grace on Mother’s Day

I was fourteen weeks pregnant. It was Mother’s Day weekend, and we had gathered with my husband’s extended family for a reunion. There was a buzz of excitement from everyone because my first ultrasound appointment was scheduled for the next day. All afternoon there were hands gently caressing my belly and guesses as to the gender of this newest addition to the family. I was radiating with joy as we left to drive home later that evening. This sweet babe was already so loved, and it was an incredible blessing to be surrounded by so many people who were anticipating this little one’s arrival nearly as much as I was. I couldn’t wait ...