Mother’s Day Reflections on God’s Plan

WHAT IS MOTHERHOOD ALL ABOUT? Lisa shares how her journey of motherhood is not quite what she expected and yet, even through the pain and sorrow, it is so much more.

Lisa shares from her heart the path of motherhood and how it is rarely smooth. "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." (Hebrews 12:11) Happy Mother's Day. I write that with the hope that many of you will feel blessed today. Perhaps you will spend the day with your children. Maybe they will call from another state, drop by for a visit. They will tell you how much you mean to them. Or. . . maybe not . . . Celebrating motherhood can be bittersweet for many. Some of you still long to be a mother, others of you have children in heaven. Some of you just. . . struggle. I am one who is struggling. I love … [Read more...]

Mother’s Day Videos That Will Touch You

SOME OF THE BEST MOTHER'S DAY VIDEOS whether your children are young, old, or living in heaven. Touching!

Here are some of our favorite Mother's Day videos for the many emotions you may be experiencing today. If you are wondering if you are making a difference to your children... Steven Curtis Chapman sings "One Heartbeat at a Time."     If you have lost a child who is now in heaven... What Makes a Mother   or "Held" with Natalie Grant (This is How it Feels)   If you have adopted a child and are thinking about his or her birthmom today... Mark Schultz sings "Everything to Me" to his birthmom   If you have lost your own mother... "Goodbye For Now" by Kathy Troccoli (get a tissue) Troccoli wrote this song as well as performing it.   or "When You Come Home" with Billy … [Read more...]

How Can We Model Christ As a Servant When We are Hurting?

CAN WE MODEL CHRIST AND BE A SERVANT WHEN WE ARE IN A LOT OF PAIN? Yes, even when we are hurting or in physical pain, we can still serve others, because we have Christ as an example who was still serving right up until He left this earth.

This Easter, as you consider how you can be serve others and have a servant heart, Julie reminds us Christ did it even though He was in deep pain. "He went away a second time and prayed, “My father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” (Matthew 26: 42) This year when thinking of the last days of Christ on this earth I thought about one of His last acts as a servant (King). He washed His disciples’ feet. He washed their feet all the while knowing that He would be going to face His most tormenting time on this earth. Jesus had warned His disciples about what was to come and He had explained to them many times what was going to happen; yet it seemed they were oblivious to … [Read more...]

He Lives

HE LIVES! HE LIVES! Although we may grow sad at the death of Jesus during the Easter season, never let yourself forget He lives and this is the greatest gift ever given.

He lives! As millions of people take a moment today to reflect on Good Friday, remember, He lives. Debbi shares. . . “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” (As quoted by Christ, John 11:25) If man die shall he live again? This has been a question for humans from the beginning of time. Life is so very precious and brief. We live with love and therefore desire that we again will be with loved ones after death again. Ancient cultures from Egyptians with mummification to Indians and tribal burials, all have indicated that man will have an afterlife. Even today this question still ponders the mind. Some may place their trust in things such as reincarnation or … [Read more...]

“Shh! The Choir of Angels Are Singing to Me Again!”

HAVE YOU LOST SOMEONE PRECIOUS THIS YEAR? Christmas can be difficult when someone you love is no longer with you. This #devotional is a nice reminder that what awaits us in heaven can be a blessing while we are still on earth.

Have you ever needed to hear that choir of angels to get you through a tough time? Kerryn shares how poignant God's gifts can be. “All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God” (Revelation 7:11). Many were praying for my precious mother-in-law, who was battling cancer for the second time. Nineteen years ago she had battled breast cancer, with great success, but then, eight months ago, it resurfaced throughout her lungs and spine. Two days ago we celebrated her life in a large and special funeral. This precious lady dedicated her life to the Lord through active service, as treasurer or committee member on … [Read more...]

Seeing Glimpses of God through our Pain and Problems this Christmas

HOW DO YOU SEE GOD THIS CHRISTMAS THROUGH ALL THE PAIN? When your body is zapped of strength and crying out in pain, it can be hard to see any joy of the Lord. This #devotional is a nice reminder of where to look.

Has the pain and weariness this month blocked your glimpses of the Lord? Bronlynn reminds us of how we have to look! “Do not I fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:24). We all want Christmas to be a joyful, happy time, but that may be difficult. Pain can dampen our spirits and limit activities. The self-absorbed mindset of our society tries to rob Christmas of its true meaning long before the month of December. Finances, relationships, or circumstances can contribute to a less than joyful mindset. When bombarded by these negative conditions, it is easy to feel not only a loss of joy but even a loss of God’s presence during this special time of year. I came across a quote from C.S. Lewis that prompted me to … [Read more...]

Decorating Our Life With ‘Ornaments’ All Year Round

CAN WE DECORATE OUR LIFE WITH JOY ALL YEAR ROUND? When you live with illness, it can be hard to get those ornaments out for the holidays, but sometimes, we can leave them up, as they may hold precious memories, even if they are a little bit bittersweet.

Do you have a special ornament you keep out all year long? Laura explains the preciousness of Christmas ornaments in her home. "When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. (Matthew 2: 10-12) We bring the ornaments out every year since 1976 when my mother purchased them. There is Santa, snowman, mouse and dog; one for each of the four kids. When I was old enough to have my own home mom gave them to me for my tree. They bring both … [Read more...]

The Spirit Of Christmas Loses It’s Sparkle When I Focus On My Illness

DOES THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS LOSE ITS SPARKLE WHEN YOU ARE ILL? It sure can! So how do we find our sparkle again? This devotional has a cute little story to remind us how to discover our sparkle again! #devotional

Do you ever feel like illness has caused you to lose your sparkle? Kerryn puts it all into perspective. “The Lord their God will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown” (Zechariah 9:16). Excellent! Mum has gone to the neighbor's house for a cuppa and a chat and I have just enough time now, I thought to myself. The sparkle and lure of Christmas presents was too exciting to wait for. I knew exactly where they were, and now was my opportunity. Carefully unlocking the door to the back room, I sneaked in! The key to the cupboard was sitting on top of it. I remember my 11-year-old heart pounding in my chest from a combination of guilt, excitement and … [Read more...]

Giving Yourself Grace to Change Christmas Traditions

ARE YOU BUMMED OUT THAT YOUR ILLNESS PREVENTS YOU FROM ALL YOUR HOLIDAY TRADITIONS? It can be hard to accept that you may not be able to do everything you usually do, but give yourself grace to find what really matters. #devotional of encouragement

We can't always keep up with our Christmas traditions, but Fiona explains that it's about the reason for the season, not the activities. "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-12) As Christmas approaches, we realize that Christmas can bring so many different thoughts and feelings for people. Even when you “usually” do things one way, there can come a time when that has to change. As I approached Christmas last year, I knew it would be different for me. Having a time of treatment in hospital just prior to Christmas I actually didn’t know what I would be doing or feeling when I was … [Read more...]

How Illness Adds Understanding To a Silent Night

DOES CHRONIC ILLNESS MAKE YOU WANT A SILENT NIGHT THIS SEASON? OR TO BE PART OF THE PARTY? Actually, we can tend to want BOTH! Right? The chaos and errands are very difficult for one who is ill, but this devotional explains how we can also find what really matters. #devotional

Have you ever wanted both a silent night and yet to also be involved in the festivities? Laura shares her reflections. "When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.' So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them." (Luke 2:15-19). Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright. . . As I listened to these beautiful words at my son’s school Christmas concert I couldn’t help but … [Read more...]

The Biggest Gift Of All At Christmas

WONDERING WHAT THE BIGGEST GIFT OF ALL IS AT CHRISTMAS? As kids we all want the BIG gift, but as we grow older and find that happiness doesn't come from material things, we realize the best gifts, the biggest gifts, are still for each of us!

As children, we likely all crave the "biggest gift" but Kerryn explains how that big gift is something we can still rejoice for today. “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). It was Christmas morning! Bouncing out of bed, wide-eyed and bursting with excitement, I hoped to be first to see the gifts. I was disappointed to find my two younger brothers were already pointing their fingers and clawing at the locked glass doors to our lounge room. They had first viewing, but that disappointment quickly disappeared. The twinkling lights on the Christmas tree shone majestically, highlighting the brightly wrapped presents that had multiplied under the tree … [Read more...]

The Pain of That First Christmas

THE PAIN OF THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS - have you ever considered that even during the first Christmas -- Christ's birth, there was a hole lot of pain. #chronicillness

Have you ever considered the pain that so many experienced during the birth of Christ? God understands your pain today, Bronlynn shares. "While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son” (Matthew 2:6, 7). Those few verses incorporate so much more than Christ’s physical birth. They are impacted by events beforehand and afterwards, and they include pain. Have you ever considered that everyone involved in that first Christmas experienced some kind of pain? Mary experienced the pain of separation from family and endured months of ostracism and gossip beforehand. She then faced the exhaustion of travel and painful childbirth in very uncomfortable surroundings. Afterwards, she … [Read more...]