Our faith and desire to seek Jesus have the power to inspire and spur others on to praise God.

A wonderful example of this in the Bible can be found in the story of the blind beggar receiving his sight in Luke 18:35-43. As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the commotion of the crowd, he learned that “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” That’s when he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” He was rebuked and told to be quiet by those who led the way, but he continued to shout, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then Jesus stopped and ordered that the man be brought to Him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man responded, “Lord, I want to see”. Jesus said, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” It was then that he immediately received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

This story is so encouraging to me in so many ways. First, I’m reminded that Jesus has compassion on those who are hurting and need a savior. And the good news is, we are those people! God had so much compassion that He sent His one and only son to die on the cross for our sins! (John 3:16)

Second, I’m reminded that our cries for help are not ignored; they land on concerned ears that are ready and willing to help and heal at any moment. Sometimes it may seem like God is ignoring our cries for Help because it feels like our prayers aren’t being answered, but God’s timing is not our timing, and His ways are not our ways. His ways and His thoughts are higher (Isaiah 55:9)

Third, I’m reminded that it’s when we draw near to Jesus that we can hear his voice. It’s then that we are able to hear his questions like “What do you want me to do for you?” And he asks us this very question today; It’s not just exclusive to the blind man, some thousands of years ago.

Lastly, I’m reminded that it’s because we draw near and hear His voice that we receive our healing, whether that be physical healing, spiritual healing, mental or emotional healing, or healing in the future. I believe when we draw near to Christ, a shift begins to happen in our spirit, and we become different in the way we walk, talk, and have our being.

In conclusion, because of our faith to reach out to Jesus in our brokenness and a willingness to draw close, it’s in that closeness to Jesus that others will see the shift that happens from the inside out and will come to know, love, and praise God because of it.

Every one of us was blessed with a unique gift. The Bible highlights a few in Romans 12:6-8 (Motivational Gifts), 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28 (Manifestation Gifts), Ephesians 4:11 (Ministry/Office Gifts), and 1 Peter 4:11.

Some of the gifts listed in these verses are: Prophecy, Service, Teaching, Exhortation (Encouragement), Contributing (Giving), Leadership, and Mercy. Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Distinguishing between Spirits, Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues, Apostle, Evangelist, Prophet, Pastor, and Teacher.

Other gifts can be used for God’s glory, too. Maybe you’re a great singer; you can sing on the worship team at your church, in the choir, start a Christian band, become a Christian artist, and produce your own music, etc. Maybe your gift is writing, like mine, and I have a feeling that if you’re on Substack, you probably have the gift of writing. Your willingness to write what the Holy Spirit puts on your heart is a beautiful way to honor God with your gifts. Especially because it is God who’s given you the gift of writing to begin with.

You have no idea who your God-given gifts could impact with your obedience.

Your gift of singing, becoming a Christian artist, and producing your own music has the potential to reach thousands – if not millions of people to encourage and spur them on in their faith. Music has a beautiful way of doing that.

Your gift of writing has the potential to meet someone where they are, exactly when they need it. Sometimes what you write may not be for the masses. Sometimes, God has you write something for a specific person or a specific group of people. God can use your words; you just have to be willing to write.

Maybe, like my mom, you’ve been called to start a care card ministry where you send out faith-based cards of encouragement every month to women all over the US, some of whom struggle deeply. Those cards make an impact and really make a difference in the lives of the people receiving them. Or maybe you’re like me, sending care packages along those same lines, either way, God uses those things for His Glory and for His kingdom.

And you can be a part of what God is doing if you are willing to partner with Him and commit to using your God-given gifts for the kingdom of God.

So you’ve made it this far, and you may be wondering what your God-given gift is. I encourage you to pray and ask God to reveal your gifts to you because you have them; there may need to be some exploring on your end. Then ask God to use you and your God-given gifts for His purposes and His kingdom. You’ll be amazed at just what God will do.

In the meantime, here are some guided questions to help you discover your God-given gift.

1. Have I asked God to reveal the gifts He has placed within me?

2. What desires or passions has He consistently put on my heart?

3. What do people often come to me for help, encouragement, or advice about?

4. What activities feel life-giving rather than draining?

5. When do I feel most like I’m walking in purpose?

6. What needs or struggles in others deeply stir compassion in me?

7. What problems or situations do I feel drawn to help with?

8. Where do I feel a strong desire to make a difference for God’s kingdom?

9. What doors has God already opened for me to serve?

10. Is there something I’ve been hesitant to try but keep feeling led toward?

In 2019, God told me to get ready for a storm. He said, “A storm is coming, get ready.” I had no idea what that meant at the time. A year later, I developed bipolar 1 disorder and landed myself in a psychiatric hospital for the first time in 10 years. That was the beginning of my 10+ hospitalizations for bipolar disorder in a short span of time. My bipolar disorder was so bad that I had to move back in with my parents after just 4 months of moving out. And during those 4 months of moving out, I was hospitalized three times. Surely this was the storm God had spoken about, right? Well, that’s what I thought. But then in 2023, I became severely physically disabled and riddled with multiple moderate-severe chronic illnesses. The last 3 years have been some of the hardest years in terms of physical illness that I’ve ever experienced while still dealing with my bipolar disorder.

Clearly, the storm God spoke of isn’t over. It seems as if I’m right in the middle of it. But I take great comfort in knowing that there’s a beginning and an end to every storm. So while I’m still struggling and I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here, there will eventually come an end.

While this has been an incredibly difficult season, it’s also been a beautiful season. And that’s somewhat hard to say, but it deserves to be said. I’ve met so many beautiful souls who are also struggling mentally and physically, and made some lifelong friends. I’ve learned and grown in areas I never would have had I never gotten sick. I’ve also grown drastically in my faith and relationship with God, and I know He is using me in this season to prepare me for what He has next for me. That’s where I place a lot of my hope - in that future. I know He has good things planned for me, even if it’s 1, 3, 5, or 10 years down the line. Or even if it’s not on this side of heaven. I still have an eternity with God to look forward to, and that’s enough for me.

Have you ever found yourself in a similar season? Maybe you’re there right now. Where have you placed your hope?

Here are some verses for comfort when you’re going through a storm:

• “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

• “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you” - Isaiah 42:6

• “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” - Psalms 16:8

• “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” - James 1:12

• “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” - Romans 8:18

A prayer for someone in the middle of a storm

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for who you are and for all you have done, are doing, and will do. Lord, we know we are in a storm. But we know there is a beginning and an end to every storm, and we find our comfort in knowing that you see us right where we are and that you calm the wind and the waves. You are our healer and our protector. We come to you first for guidance and truth. We love you. Thank you for loving us, even when we don’t deserve it.

Amen.

Faith Favorites

Here are some of my favorites this month! These may change month to month, or they may stay the same, depending on how my preferences change each month, but I’ll change them for you from time to time.

Here’s what I’m currently listening to!

My Defender by Tate Butts

I Never Said That (Read Words) by JoshM

Here’s what I’m reading for fun

Victory in Christ by Charles Trumbull

Authentic Happiness by Sarah Rowan

What Happens When You Say Yes To God And Walk In Faith by Lysa Terkeurst

Here’s what I’m studying in the Bible!

The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble

New Testament in a Year (FREE on Kindle Unlimited!)

Lastly, Here’s how you can support me & some helpful resources!

Buy me a coffee!

Consider a one-time donation of any amount via Buy me a coffee instead of (or in addition to) committing to a monthly subscription here on Substack. As always, any donation is greatly appreciated.

Tap/Click me to buy me a coffee!

Subscribe Monthly for $8

Your monthly (or yearly!) subscription helps support me directly and helps with things like bills and medical expenses.

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Subscribe now

Do you need a Bible?

I’d love to send you a Bible for FREE if you live in the US! Just click the link and fill out the form with some brief information and i’ll send one your way!

I'd like a Bible!

But before you go… Have you heard the good news?

At the end of every newsletter from now on I want to share just a paragraph or two on what the Gospel is in easy terms so that if you haven’t heard the Good News, you can and if you haven’t been given the opportunity to give your life to Jesus, you’re able to.

Essentially, in the beginning, God created a perfect world and made humans to live in it according to His good design. But when Satan deceived the first humans, sin entered the world and has affected every person ever since. Because of this, we all fall short of God’s perfect will for our lives. That’s why God sent Jesus—fully God and fully man—who lived a perfect, sinless life. Out of His great love for us, God gave His Son to take the punishment we could never pay ourselves. Now, anyone who turns from sin and trusts in Jesus is forgiven, made right with God, and promised eternal life with Him. This isn’t something we can earn by being “good enough”—it’s a gift of grace that God freely offers to everyone.

If you’d like to receive the good news today and receive Jesus into your heart, repent of your sins (this means to turn away from your sins), believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for your sins and rose again, and then invite Him into your life as your Lord and Savior, often through a personal prayer, to become a new creation in Christ. This act of faith and surrender is a personal decision and commitment between you and God.

An example of a prayer you could pray to invite Jesus into your life is as follows, but I invite you to make it personal:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen

I want to choose the ‘even if’ faith and trust that no matter what my life looks like, God’s got me, and He is 100% still worthy of my praise and my following Him.

An example of ‘even if’ faith in the Bible is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who faced the blazing furnace. They were firm in their faith when Nebuchadnezzar summoned them and confronted them about not worshipping his gods. Because of this, Nebuchadnezzar threatened to throw them into a blazing furnace for their failure to conform. Their response was “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18)

Another example of ‘even if’ faith found in the Bible is the story and life of Job. Job faced suffering and immense loss—children, wealth, health—and facing God’s apparent judgment. But he says, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;” (Job 13:15a)

There are many other instances of ‘even if’ faith sprinkled throughout the Bible, and I invite you to discover them yourself. I encourage you, like Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Job, to pursue and ‘even if’ faith.

How can we pursue an ‘even if’ faith today?

You can start by shifting your focus from outcomes to God’s character.

Focus on His:

• His nearness (Psalm 34:18)

• His goodness (Psalm 119:68)

• His sovereignty and wisdom (Romans 11:33)

• His presence in suffering (Isaiah 43:2)

You can practice small acts of obedience, such as praying even when you feel unheard or opening Scripture even when your mind feels foggy. Release your need to feel in control of the outcome. Trust God with your story. And lastly, don’t be afraid to depend wholeheartedly on God in every aspect of your life.

This made me think - that carton of strawberries could easily be compared to a group of friends and the process of mold spreading from one strawberry to the surrounding strawberries cold be compared to the process of how we become like those we surround ourselves with.

This is why it’s so important who we choose to associate with on a daily basis. Who we surround ourselves with affects us mentally, spiritually and sometimes even physically.

Here are some verses from the Bible about this topic:

• “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” - 1 corinthians 15:33

• “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” - Proverbs 13:20

• “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.” - Proverbs 22:24-25

• “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” - Proverbs 12:26

• “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers.” - Psalms 1:1

Life has been hard lately. I just got over being sick with COVID for the third time, and my other chronic illnesses love to rear their ugly heads. I know it’s all Satan’s way of keeping me distracted because this year God has instructed me to start sending care packages of my own! But since I had been sick, I hadn’t felt up to working on them. Thankfully, I felt up to working on them exactly a week ago from when I’m writing this and the first round of packages will be going out in less than a week. But my illnesses definitely slowed me down.

I hope you are well and I hope the new year is treating you well also. This new year feels off to me. It doesn’t feel as exciting or refreshing or renewing as other new years have. Have you noticed the same? Or maybe it’s just me. Either way, I hope it’s treating you well.

Here are some verses on new beginnings to encourage you in this new year:

• “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” - Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

• “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” - Jeremiah 33:3 NIV

• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” - Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

• “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” - Psalm 40:3 NIV

A Prayer for New Beginnings:

Faithful God,

As we enter this new year, we come as we are—carrying what the last year held and trusting You to meet us here.

You are the beginning and the end, and Your mercies are new this morning. Even now, You are doing a new thing, though we may not yet see it.

Order our steps. Teach us to walk by faith and not by sight. When hope feels fragile, be our strength; when the future feels uncertain, be our peace.

We place this year into Your hands, trusting that You who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it.

Amen.

Faith Favorites

Here are some of my favorites this month! These may change month to month or they may stay the same depending on how my preferences change each month but i’ll try to change it up for you from time to time!

Here’s what i’m currently listening to!

My Defender by Tate Butts

I Never Said That (Read Words) by JoshM

Here’s what i’m reading for fun

Victory in Christ by Charles Trumbull

Authentic Happiness by Sarah Rowan

What Happens When You Say Yes To God And Walk In Faith by Lysa Terkeurst

here’s what i’m studying in the Bible!

The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble

Lastly, Here’s how you can support me & some helpful resources!

Buy me a coffee!

Consider a one time donation of any amount via Buy me a coffee instead of (or in addition to) committing to a monthly subscription here on Substack. As always, any donation is greatly appreciated.

Tap/Click me to buy me a coffee!

Subscribe Monthly for $8

Your monthly (or yearly!) subscription helps support me directly and helps with things like bills and medical expenses.

Do you need a Bible?

I’d love to send you a Bible for FREE if you live in the US! Just click the link and fill out the form with some brief information and i’ll send one your way!

I'd like a Bible!

But before you go… Have you heard the good news?

At the end of every newsletter from now on I want to share just a paragraph or two on what the Gospel is in easy terms so that if you haven’t heard the Good News, you can and if you haven’t been given the opportunity to give your life to Jesus, you’re able to.

Essentially, in the beginning, God created a perfect world and made humans to live in it according to His good design. But when Satan deceived the first humans, sin entered the world and has affected every person ever since. Because of this, we all fall short of God’s perfect will for our lives. That’s why God sent Jesus—fully God and fully man—who lived a perfect, sinless life. Out of His great love for us, God gave His Son to take the punishment we could never pay ourselves. Now, anyone who turns from sin and trusts in Jesus is forgiven, made right with God, and promised eternal life with Him. This isn’t something we can earn by being “good enough”—it’s a gift of grace that God freely offers to everyone.

If you’d like to receive the good news today and receive Jesus into your heart, repent of your sins (this means to turn away from your sins), believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for your sins and rose again, and then invite Him into your life as your Lord and Savior, often through a personal prayer, to become a new creation in Christ. This act of faith and surrender is a personal decision and commitment between you and God.

An example of a prayer you could pray to invite Jesus into your life is as follows but I invite you to make it personal:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen

With the help of the Holy Spirit, I created a handmade journal and stationery-making business called Handmade Hope at the end of 2019. Over the next 5 years, I ran the shop, opening and closing it multiple times as I felt the Holy Spirit leading me. That’s when, in August of 2024, I became severely ill and had to close my shop when it was the most successful it had ever been, and while I thought I would just pick it back up when I got better, God had other plans.

First, I never really got better. So the idea of restarting when I got better kind of went out the window. Second, the Holy Spirit made it clear to me time and time again that God wanted me to lay down handmade hope indefinitely. Maybe He would allow me to pick it back up someday and maybe he wouldn’t but all I knew was He wanted my hands off of it. That was incredibly hard for me. And I tried to restart Handmade Hope on my own many times out of disobedience but each time just before hitting live, the Holy Spirit would check me and I would obey once more.

It wasn’t until I fully let go of handmade hope that God blessed me with a new ministry and a renewed way to channel handmade hope. Hope Mail Ministries! Instead of hand-making journals for my business, I’ll be hand-making journals for faith-based care packages that my mom and I will be putting together each month to give to individuals who struggle with mental or chronic illnesses! Our heart behind HMM is to remind weary souls that they are seen, loved, and never alone. I’m excited to be able to handmake journals again, slowly as my health permits (as we will only be sending out 1-3 care packages per month). God knew this was what I needed, and he gave me the idea when he knew I’d be ready for it.

HMM started officially this month (January 2026) and it’s already been such a blessing. Right now we are sending out packages based on the leading of the Holy Spirit, and then we will open a Google form for you to fill out to request a care package for yourself or someone you know!

It’s been three years since I’ve gotten sick seemingly overnight and became legally disabled. Three years may not seem like a long time to some but for me it’s felt like an eternity. There has not been one day that has gone by that I have not prayed for God’s healing hand over my life and I’m sure my parents can say the same. But still that healing has not yet come. And I have to make peace with knowing that it may never come. Or at-least not until i’m face to face with my savior in heaven.

I trust God with my whole life and that means that I must trust Him with not just the good but also the bad and the ugly. My chronic illnesses would most definitely fall into the bad and the ugly categories. But still, i’m choosing to trust Him no matter what the outcome because it’s said in His word that He works all things together for the good of those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28).

I am also encouraged by the heroes of the Bible who have sought healing in one way or another. I’m reminded of the apostle Paul who asked God to take away a thorn in His flesh on three separate occasions (whether he was in need of healing or was chronically ill is all speculation and can only be fully known once we get to heaven) and the Lord responded with “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). I believe His answer is the same for me and for anyone else struggling with chronic illness hoping and praying for healing who are still waiting for their miracle on this side of heaven.

Regardless of the circumstance, we can have faith and a hope in knowing that our healing has already been purchased by Jesus on the cross some 2000 years ago and it’s promised to us in heaven. We can trust that one day we will be healed. but if for whatever reason God chooses not to heal me on this side of heaven, I know he will give me the power, patience, and long suffering to endure these trials with His help through his gift of the Holy Spirit. You can have this assurance too.

I did some soul searching and that’s when the Holy Spirit checked my spirit and I realized, Christmas was never meant to be about the presents under the tree. heck, i’m not entirely convinced the original Christmas even had a tree to put presents under. Christmas has always and should always be about Jesus and his birth. That is what we should be focused on this Holiday Season.

In addition to the focus of Jesus’ birth, we also get to just enjoy each other’s company around this time of year if that’s something that’s accessible to you (i know for many in the disabled community, it’s not.) and that should be of more importance than opening presents even if the goal of presents was to give joyfully to celebrate one another this Holiday Season.

So I know this post was short, but I wanted to remind you that it’s okay if your Christmas or Holiday Season looks different this year. It’s okay if you’re not able to afford a big Christmas or a “Christmas” at all. it’s okay if all you have to offer is yourself and even more importantly, the birth of Jesus.

I wish you all a warm, bright and cozy Holiday Season.

With Grace,

Ashley Hope

I’ve been brainstorming ways to add more value to what I offer here on Substack and decided I wanted to start offering monthly freebies that will be available for you to download! These will be things like monthly computer wallpapers and phone screen wallpapers and calendars for each month!

Other freebies like Bible verse cards, journaling sheets and more will be available as well and some will be available for paid subscribers only as a thank you for supporting me in that way.

So for now, I’ve got 3 downloadable December calendars that you can print or use as a computer background and 3 downloadable phone calendar wallpapers.

You can see the calendar previews below and the download links will be included!

bye for now! '

- Ash

December 2025 Calendar Downloadable Freebies

Download Calendars Here!

December 2025 Phone Calendar Downloadable Freebies

Download HERE

I hope you enjoy the month of journaling. I’ll be active in the chat here on substack to interact with you from time to time to check in to see how your journaling journey with Christ is going. I know you’re in good hands.

I’ll leave the journal prompts below in graphic format as well as text format.

Day 1:
Where am I today emotionally, physically, and spiritually? Write honestly before God — no filtering.

Day 2:
What do I need from God today? Comfort, peace, direction, nearness? Tell Him.

Day 3:
Write out a verse that brings you comfort. Why does your heart cling to it right now?

Day 4:
Name one burden you are carrying. Lay it before God in prayer as you write.

Day 5:
Where did I notice God’s presence in the small moments this week? Even if it felt faint.

Day 6:
Write about a time when God carried you in weakness. What happened? How did He meet you?

Day 7:
What is something I am afraid of right now? Invite God into that fear.

Day 8:
What does rest look like for me in this season? What makes rest difficult?

Day 9:
Write a prayer of honesty that begins with: “Lord, here is what I don’t understand…”

Day 10:
What is one thing I am grateful for today? Why does it matter to my heart?

Day 11:
What lies or discouraging thoughts feel loud lately? What is the truth God speaks over me instead?

Day 12:
Which Scripture or worship song has been on my mind recently? Why might God be highlighting it?

Day 13:
Write about a moment recently where you felt heard, seen, or held — even in a small way.

Day 14:
Where do I feel weary? Write a “Lord, I am tired…” prayer.

Day 15:
What is something I want God to heal in me (physically, emotionally, spiritually)?

Day 16:
What is one way God has been faithful in the past year? Reflect slowly.

Day 17:
What tends to steal my peace? Invite God to speak to that place.

Day 18:
Where do I sense God asking me to trust Him more? How does that feel?

Day 19:
Write about an area where you have seen growth — even if it feels small.

Day 20:
What prayer has remained unanswered? Write about the waiting, and how it feels.

Day 21:
What do I want my relationship with God to look like? Write a prayer asking Him to shape my heart.

Day 22:
Where do I feel lonely or misunderstood? Let God meet you there.

Day 23:
Write a letter to God beginning with: “Thank You for not giving up on me.”

Day 24:
Reflect on a moment where Jesus’ love felt personal to you.

Day 25:
On Christmas Day: Write about what it means that God came near to us. “Emmanuel — God with us.”

Day 26:
What do I need to release before the year ends? A fear, guilt, expectation, or memory.

Day 27:
Where do I need God to breathe new hope?

Day 28:
Write about what brings your soul rest, softness, and peace.

Day 29:
What truth do I want to carry into the new year? Write it as a declaration.

Day 30:
Reflect on how God sustained you this year — in weakness, pain, or waiting.

Day 31:
Write a prayer for the new year, asking for closeness, guidance, and deeper trust.

Happy Journaling

Blessings,

Ashley Hope

Journaling is not only an amazing way to get what’s trapped in your mind out in the open to be pondered and worked through with the Holy Spirit, it’s also a way to grow in your faith as you watch how God’s answered prayers, deepen your prayer life, meditate on scripture, slow down to hear God speak, cultivate gratitude and remember blessings and even foster healing for your mental health struggles.

Here’s how you can make journaling a real, sustainable practice (without exhausting yourself)

Because if you’re like me, you don’t need another “should do.” You need something gentle, realistic, and helpful.

1. Start small. Even 5 minutes is powerful.

2. Be flexible. Use a paper journal, or type on your phone. Use colored pens, doodles, or bullet points — whatever feels manageable.

3. Use journal prompts. When you don’t know what to write, try: “Where did I sense God today?”, “What is He inviting me to release?”, “What am I grateful for right now?”

4. Don’t worry about perfection. Some entries will be messy. Some will be blank pages for weeks. That’s okay. God meets you in the mess.

5. Reflect periodically. Once a month or seasonally, flip through past entries. Celebrate answered prayers. Notice growth.

6. Make it a spiritual rhythm, not a performance. This isn’t about building a perfect habit. It’s about creating space for God, rest, and self-awareness.

Journaling isn’t just another self care practice, it’s a discipline. It’s a posture before God and a way I remind myself that my illness, in it’s ups and downs, that God is present and He is listening and faithful.

If you’ve never journaled before (or haven’t in a while), I invite you: try it for a week (or even just a few days). See what happens. Let God meet you on the page. Trust that He cares about your heart, every line.

Next month, during the month of December, i’ll be sharing some journal prompts here on Substack both in a post with prompts for the whole month and in the chat each day or each week so you can make journaling a part of your day should you choose to now too!

I’ll leave you with a few journal prompts to get you started! Chose your favorite journal, a pen and one or a few of these journal prompts and journal away!

• Where did I notice God’s presence today, even in a small way?

• What is one thing I’m grateful for today, and how can I give God thanks for it?

• What is something heavy on my heart that I want to lay before the Lord?

• Which Scripture has been speaking to me lately, and why?

• What do I need Jesus to help me with right now—physically, emotionally, or spiritually?

• How did God show me His kindness today?z

This month is the month we recognize as the month of thankfulness. I was intentional about being extra thankful this month by following along with Coffee and Bible Time’s month of November gratitude and generosity calendar. Each day I’m greeted with a prompt to be grateful and or generous along with a verse from the Bible that matches that day’s prompt. Some of my favorite statements from the calendar are: “Father, I acknowledge every good and perfect gift is from you”, “Lord make me a cheerful giver, free from fear.”, and “Father teach me to give thanks always in everything”. My favorite prompt from the calendar is: Thank God for one hard thing. That one was hard, but so necessary.

Along with following the calendar each day, I’ve kept a look out each and every day in my own life for things to be thankful for and man there are so many.

One thing i’m thankful for and one of the ways God has blessed me this month is through this book called Victory in Christ by Charles Trumbull. I highly recommend it! I believe it’s .99 cents on kindle if you’re a kindle reader like myself. It helped me see that true victory in life comes when we have victory in Christ and that victory in Christ comes when we lay down our entire being, desires, expectations, dreams, and whatever else we hold on to and allow Jesus to have complete and total lordship over our lives. This realization was so freeing to me and I was able to lay down some of the things I had been holding on to and that is something I am truly thankful for.

What are you thankful for this month? What is a way the Lord has been blessing you lately? I would love to hear your responses!

Here’s what the Bible says about thankfulness:

• Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever. - Psalms 118:29

• Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. - Colossians 3:15

• Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. - Colossians 4:2

• Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

• Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians. 5:18

A Prayer of thanksgiving

Dear God,

Thank you for who you are. You are mighty. You are Holy and we delight in you. Thank you for creating the one who is reading this right now. Thank you for their life. Thank you for sustaining their breath and for keeping them and theirs safe. Thank you that you have and will continue to meet their every need because you are our good good father and our steadfast provider. Help us to ‘faith it’ until we make it and to always put our trust in you because you are more than worthy.

We love you. Thank you for loving us.

In your glorious name, Amen.

Faith Favorites

Here are some of my favorites this month! These may change month to month or they may stay the same depending on how my preferences change each month but i’ll try to change it up for you from time to time!

Here’s what i’m currently listening to!

My Defender by Tate Butts

I Never Said That (Read Words) by JoshM

Here’s what i’m reading for fun

Victory in Christ by Charles Trumbull

Authentic Happiness by Sarah Rowan

What Happens When You Say Yes To God And Walk In Faith by Lysa Terkeurst

here’s what i’m studying in the Bible!

The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble

Lastly, Here’s how you can support me & some helpful resources!

Buy me a coffee!

Consider a one time donation of any amount via Buy me a coffee instead of (or in addition to) committing to a monthly subscription here on Substack. As always, any donation is greatly appreciated.

Tap/Click me to buy me a coffee!

Subscribe Monthly for $8

Your monthly (or yearly!) subscription helps support me directly and helps with things like bills and medical expenses.

Subscribe now

Do you need a Bible?

I’d love to send you a Bible for FREE if you live in the US! Just click the link and fill out the form with some brief information and i’ll send one your way!

I'd like a Bible!

But before you go… Have you heard the good news?

At the end of every newsletter from now on I want to share just a paragraph or two on what the Gospel is in easy terms so that if you haven’t heard the Good News, you can and if you haven’t been given the opportunity to give your life to Jesus, you’re able to.

Essentially, in the beginning, God created a perfect world and made humans to live in it according to His good design. But when Satan deceived the first humans, sin entered the world and has affected every person ever since. Because of this, we all fall short of God’s perfect will for our lives. That’s why God sent Jesus—fully God and fully man—who lived a perfect, sinless life. Out of His great love for us, God gave His Son to take the punishment we could never pay ourselves. Now, anyone who turns from sin and trusts in Jesus is forgiven, made right with God, and promised eternal life with Him. This isn’t something we can earn by being “good enough”—it’s a gift of grace that God freely offers to everyone.

If you’d like to receive the good news today and receive Jesus into your heart, repent of your sins (this means to turn away from your sins), believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for your sins and rose again, and then invite Him into your life as your Lord and Savior, often through a personal prayer, to become a new creation in Christ. This act of faith and surrender is a personal decision and commitment between you and God.

An example of a prayer you could pray to invite Jesus into your life is as follows but I invite you to make it personal:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen

I don’t know about you, but this made my heart ache and it immediately made me draw on the parallels between those times many many years ago and now. This verse sits within a very important historical and theological context that explains why the northern kingdom of Israel fell and what happened afterward. Like the verse said, they practiced a blended religion that looked devout but was disobedient at its core. If we venture further on into 2 Kings 17:41, we see that they continued to serve their idols. But jumping back a bit to 2 Kings 17:34-39 we see that the covenant the Lord made with the Israelites was restated and the Lord says:

“Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them. 36 But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. 37 You must always be careful to keep the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. 38 Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. 39 Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

But immediately after this paragraph, we’re met with the verses 40-41 where it talks about them virtually going back to how they were in the very beginning - “worshiping” the Lord but also serving their own idols and it says that “To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did.” How incredibly sad.

But friends, this is still very much us to this day. The world’s version of religion often acknowledges God but denies His authority. It values spirituality but rejects submission. It loves the idea of morality and good feelings but avoids real obedience. People want something that feels comforting and positive without the cost of surrender. It’s a kind of “customized faith” where bits and pieces of Christianity, psychology, and self-help are mixed together into something that sounds inspiring but isn’t rooted in truth. It’s faith built on preference rather than conviction—something that feels good instead of something that’s actually holy.

We see people say things like, “I believe in God,” or “I’m spiritual but not religious,” yet they still live however they want, chasing success, pleasure, money, or self-fulfillment. It’s that same old pattern: wanting God’s blessing but not His lordship. In a sense, the world “fears” Him but also serves its own gods. And if we’re honest, even as believers, we can fall into that too—when we try to mix faith with comfort, or follow Jesus only when it fits our plans.

But God doesn’t want a halfway relationship. He wants our whole hearts. He’s not after rituals, words, or appearances—He wants surrender. The people in 2 Kings didn’t stop believing in God; they just didn’t believe He was enough. And that’s the same temptation we face today: God plus comfort, God plus success, God plus self. Yet the truth is, it’s not God plus anything—it’s God alone.

This verse is such a reminder for me to check my own heart. Am I truly fearing the Lord, or am I still serving my own “gods” too? Because real worship isn’t about what we say—it’s about who we serve.

Reflection Questions:

1. In what ways might I be “fearing the Lord” outwardly but still serving my own “gods” inwardly?

2. Are there areas in my life where I’m trying to mix faith with comfort, convenience, or control?

3. Do I truly believe that God is enough, or am I still chasing satisfaction in other things like success, approval, or security?

4. What does wholehearted surrender to God look like for me in this season of my life?

5. When I think about my relationship with God, am I more focused on what He can give me, or on who He is?

I am disabled and rely on government assistance to pay my bills. Today, is payday or so I thought. Turns out I was right but for awhile I was stressing because my money hadn’t hit my account hours after it typically did and I had bills that were due today. I kept checking Reddit to see if others had received their money and nobody had received theirs and I started to panic. That’s when God reminded me that I shouldn’t rely on my paycheck as much as I had been relying on it. Essentially He was telling me that I relied more on my monthly paycheck than I did on my Heavenly Father.

This really hit home when I later on came across a video on Instagram randomly of a worship set singing the lyrics “you are worthy of it all, you are worthy of it all, for from you are all things and to you are all things, you deserve the glory.” (From the song Worthy of It All by CeCe Winans). And it hit me. My paycheck is a gift from God. Everything I own is a gift from God. Everything I see is a gift from God. And He deserves the glory for all of it. Those lyrics changed my perspective on so much and I wanted to share this in the off chance they might be an eye opener or an encouragement to you as well.

Another lesson to be gleaned from this happenstance is that God promises to meet our needs. He says so multiple times in His word. He knew I had a bill due today and so I should have been confident that He would make sure I would have the funds to make that payment on time. He always has and He always will.

I have another example from this past week of God’s provision happening right on time. Along with relying on government assistance for finances, I also rely on government assistance for food. With the government being shut down (what crazy times we’re living in, right?), food stamps have been halted. That means I no longer have the funds for food. My dear friend had a friend reach out to her offering to support someone who is affected by the shutdown by purchasing their groceries and my friend thought of me. I was blessed with more than enough money to purchase groceries to support myself for a little while and it has truly been a blessing.

God will provide every. single. time. even if it’s from a complete stranger and for that I am eternally grateful.

I want to encourage you to put your trust in God to provide your every need. He’s a good good father who knows what we need before we even know what we need. If you’re in a situation where you don’t know how you’re going to pay a bill or eat your next meal, pray to God and watch Him show up for you at just the right time. I’m believing in that for you.

Here are some encouraging verses for you to take with you today.

• Philippians 4:19: - “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

• Psalm 34:10: - “The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”

• Psalm 23:1: - “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

• Proverbs 10:3: - “The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.”

• 2 Corinthians 9:8: - “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

  ---

A prayer for peace over unknown circumstances

Dear God,

Thank you greatly for your beloved child who is reading this right now. thank you for who you are and for who you’ve made them to be. I ask for your devine provision over their life. Thank you that you promise to provide for them in every way and that when there is a need, you already know because you are all seeing. I pray that you would give your child peace as they go throughout this day and further throughout this upcoming month and that you would secure them in every way under the shadow of your wings. We love you. Thank you for loving us.

In your glorious name, amen.

Faith Favorites

Here are some of my favorites this month! These may change month to month or they may stay the same depending on how my preferences change each month but i’ll try to change it up for you from time to time!

Here’s what i’m currently listening to!

Fight Like Heaven by Tauren Wells

Get Behind Me (Feat. Zach Williams)

Here’s what i’m reading for fun

Authentic Happiness by Sarah Rowan

What Happens When You Say Yes To God And Walk In Faith by Lysa Terkeurst

here’s what i’m studying in the Bible!

The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble

Lastly, Here’s how you can support me

Buy me a coffee!

Consider a one time donation of any amount via Buy me a coffee instead of (or in addition to) committing to a monthly subscription here on Substack. As always, any donation is greatly appreciated.

Tap/Click me to buy me a coffee!

Subscribe Monthly for $8

Your monthly (or yearly!) subscription helps support me directly and helps with things like bills and medical expenses.

Subscribe now

But before you go… Have you heard the good news?

At the end of every newsletter from now on I want to share just a paragraph or two on what the Gospel is in easy terms so that if you haven’t heard the Good News, you can and if you haven’t been given the opportunity to give your life to Jesus, you’re able to.

Essentially, in the beginning, God created a perfect world and made humans to live in it according to His good design. But when Satan deceived the first humans, sin entered the world and has affected every person ever since. Because of this, we all fall short of God’s perfect will for our lives. That’s why God sent Jesus—fully God and fully man—who lived a perfect, sinless life. Out of His great love for us, God gave His Son to take the punishment we could never pay ourselves. Now, anyone who turns from sin and trusts in Jesus is forgiven, made right with God, and promised eternal life with Him. This isn’t something we can earn by being “good enough”—it’s a gift of grace that God freely offers to everyone.

If you’d like to receive the good news today and receive Jesus into your heart, repent of your sins (this means to turn away from your sins), believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for your sins and rose again, and then invite Him into your life as your Lord and Savior, often through a personal prayer, to become a new creation in Christ. This act of faith and surrender is a personal decision and commitment between you and God.

An example of a prayer you could pray to invite Jesus into your life is as follows but I invite you to make it personal:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen

Thanks for reading!

With love and bunches of grace,

Ashley Hope <3

The other day as I sat in silence I waited for the Holy Spirit to speak to me. I wanted Him to lead me to a passage of scripture that would speak to my heart and He did just that. He lead me to John 14:14 that says: “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” That’s when I felt the Holy Spirit ask me what I wanted. I knew that God wanted to give me my hearts desire, He wanted me to ask Him for what I wanted but I couldn’t answer. Instead I just sobbed. Why was I crying and why was I crying so heavily at this seemingly simple question? Why was it so hard for me to think of or articulate what I wanted from God? To this day, I still don’t know but I do know that the Holy Spirit used those prayers in a myriad of ways that day and I wanted to share a bit about them with you today.

The Spirit’s Way of Healing Through Tears

Healing often begins when the Spirit gently brings buried pain to the surface. Tears may come when He begins uncovering wounds we’ve forgotten about or ignored.

Although this can be painful, this is oftentimes a necessary healing process. The Holy Spirit doesn’t expose our pain to shame us but He does this to free us.

Crying is a form of emotional release, it’s God’s way of letting our bodies and spirits release what’s been kept so tightly bound inside of us for so long.

Psalm 34:18 reminds us:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

In those moments, your tears are not weakness, they’re evidence that the Healer is at work.

The Spirit’s Way of Interceding Through Groans and Tears

When we reach a point of exhaustion, grief, or confusion where we struggle to form or articulate words, the Holy Spirit steps in. Romans 8:26 says, “The Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”

Those moments when tears fall silently or even in a loud jumbled mess can be a form of Spirit-led intercession. You may not even know what you’re praying for, but the Spirit does. He takes those tears and translates them into perfect prayers before the Father.

In these moments, you’re not failing to pray; you’re praying in one of the most authentic ways possible, speaking straight from the soul. Sometimes, the Spirit quiets our minds so our hearts can commune with God in a language only heaven understands.

When I learned of this I was awestruck. I had been familiar with Romans 8:28 but I never knew how deep things really went. How beautiful is it that when we don’t know what to pray and when we’re driven to tears, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us before the father with perfectly translated prayers.

The Spirit’s Way of Cleansing and Softening Ones Heart Through Tears

Sometimes the Holy Spirit uses tears to soften what’s grown hard inside of us. Over time, pain, disappointment, or even just the weight of daily life can build walls around our hearts. We don’t always notice it happening — until one day, something stirs deep within, and the tears finally come.

It’s like the Lord sends a gentle rain to soften dry, cracked ground. The Holy Spirit moves through those tears, washing away bitterness, hurt, or heaviness that’s been stuck inside for too long. In that moment, He’s not just comforting us, He’s cleansing us.

God isn’t put off by our tears. In fact, He meets us in them. Psalm 51:17 says, “A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” When we finally let go and allow the tears to fall, it’s often a sign that something in us is opening up again, that the Spirit is tenderly breaking through and making space for healing, peace, and new growth.

Tears as a Sign of God’s Presence

Have you ever been in worship or prayer, or even reading Scripture, and suddenly felt tears rise up without warning? Those moments can be a sweet sign of God’s nearness. The Holy Spirit often moves our hearts in ways our minds can’t fully comprehend, and sometimes the only response is tears.

They aren’t always tears of sadness. Often they’re tears of awe, gratitude, or simple recognition: He’s here. The Holy Spirit stirs our hearts to feel the weight of His love and holiness, and it overflows through our eyes. It’s our soul’s way of saying, “I see You, Lord. I feel You here with me.”

Tears as Agreement of Truth

There are times when tears come suddenly while reading Scripture, hearing a song, or listening to a sermon, and we can’t even explain why. Often, it’s because the Holy Spirit is revealing truth that’s cutting through to the deepest part of our hearts.

It might be conviction. It might be the realization that God really does love and forgive us. It might be the weight of His faithfulness or the beauty of His promises. Whatever it is, those tears are our heart’s “yes” to the truth.

John 16:13 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.” Sometimes that guidance comes not through a voice, but through tears, it’s the Spirit confirming, “This is true. Hold onto this.”

In conclusion, tears may look like weakness to the world, but to God they are sacred. They can be prayer, cleansing, healing, or revelation — quiet evidence that the Holy Spirit is near and moving within you. Every tear you cry in His presence is seen, held, and understood by the One who collects them all in His bottle (Psalm 56:8).

Let’s close in prayer:

Holy Spirit, thank You for meeting me in my tears. Thank You that when I don’t have the words, You pray for me. When my heart feels hard or weary, You gently soften it. When I cry, You draw near and remind me that I am not alone. Help me to see my tears not as weakness but as a place where You are working — cleansing, healing, and restoring me. Gather every tear I cry, Lord, and use them to water the seeds of new life in my heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Reflection Questions

1. When was the last time you felt the Holy Spirit move through your tears?

2. Is there something you’ve been holding in that God may be inviting you to release to Him?

3. How might you let your tears — instead of your words — become your prayer this week?

September came and went and It must have taken me with it because ya’ll I feel LOST. It’s September 29th as i’m writing this, literally the day before the last day of this month and I just now remembered I was suppose to write my newsletter for this month. All I can say is come Lord Jesus because I have zero idea what i’m about to share in the coming paragraphs of this newsletter. It’ll be as much as a surprise for you as it is for me, haha. I joke, but no seriously, I am so underprepared.

Do you know what this reminds me of? It reminds me of the saying “don’t be caught lacking or don’t be caught sleeping”. Saying that alone is rather vague so let me explain. Just like i’m feeling underprepared for this newsletter, it’s easy to find ourselves underprepared for the second coming of Jesus because ya’ll, He is coming back and He is coming back soon. I truly believe we are in the end times. You can read some of what Jesus said would happen in the end days in Matthew 24:4-14 as well as the end times laid out in its entirety in the book of Revelation for further study if you would like.

It’s one thing to be underprepared for a monthly newsletter. It’s another thing entirely to be underprepared for the second coming of Jesus.

I’m reminded of the parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 where Ten bridesmaids prepare to meet the bridegroom, with five being wise and bringing extra oil for their lamps and five being foolish and not. When the groom arrives late, the wise virgins have enough oil to stay lit, but the foolish ones run out. They are unable to enter the wedding feast because they were not prepared for the delay, leaving them locked out. The core message is to remain vigilant and ready, because “you do not know the day or the hour” of Christ’s return.

This is just one area where we are warned to be alert, awake and ready for the second coming of Jesus. There are many other areas of the Bible where we see this as well. (see verses for further reflection below)

I don’t know about you but i’m convicted. Am I awake and ready for the second coming of Jesus? Are you awake and ready?

Verses for further reflection:

• Matthew 24:42–44 – “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come… So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

• Matthew 25:1–13 – Parable of the Ten Virgins — emphasizes the need to stay prepared with oil in our lamps. (too long to leave here but I would encourage you to go and read it yourself.)

• Mark 13:33–37 – “Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come… What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

• Luke 12:35–40 – “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning… You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

• Romans 13:11 – “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”

A Prayer for spiritual alertness in the present times

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the person on the other side of the screen who is reading this right now. I know you see them exactly as they are and you love them deeply and wholly. Thank you for who you are and all that you have done to keep us safe during these times that we live in today. Thank you for the many blessings we take for granted. Lord, I come to you in prayer and ask that you would open the eyes of this person’s heart, soul and mind to receive all that you’d like them to receive. Keep them awake during a day and age that wants to force them to fall asleep. Never allow them to fall away but hold them close to you. Help them to know that the time of salvation is nearer than when it was first revealed and that time is coming so soon. Help them to rejoice in that and to hold on to that hope.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen.

Faith Favorites

Here are some of my favorites this month! These may change month to month or they may stay the same depending on how my preferences change each month but i’ll try to change it up for you from time to time!

Here’s what i’m currently listening to!

Fight Like Heaven by Tauren Wells

Get Behind Me (Feat. Zach Williams)

Here’s what i’m reading for fun

Authentic Happiness by Sarah Rowan

here’s what i’m studying in the Bible!

The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble

Lastly, Here’s how you can support me

Buy me a coffee!

Consider a one time donation of any amount via Buy me a coffee instead of (or in addition to) committing to a monthly subscription here on Substack.

Tap/Click me to buy me a coffee!

Subscribe Monthly for $8

Your monthly (or yearly!) subscription helps support me directly and helps with things like bills and medical expenses.

Subscribe now

But before you go… Have you heard the good news?

At the end of every newsletter from now on I want to share just a paragraph or two on what the Gospel is in easy terms so that if you haven’t heard the Good News, you can and if you haven’t been given the opportunity to give your life to Jesus, you’re able to.

Essentially, in the beginning, God created a perfect world and made humans to live in it according to His good design. But when Satan deceived the first humans, sin entered the world and has affected every person ever since. Because of this, we all fall short of God’s perfect will for our lives. That’s why God sent Jesus—fully God and fully man—who lived a perfect, sinless life. Out of His great love for us, God gave His Son to take the punishment we could never pay ourselves. Now, anyone who turns from sin and trusts in Jesus is forgiven, made right with God, and promised eternal life with Him. This isn’t something we can earn by being “good enough”—it’s a gift of grace that God freely offers to everyone.

If you’d like to receive the good news today and receive Jesus into your heart, repent of your sins (this means to turn away from your sins), believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for your sins and rose again, and then invite Him into your life as your Lord and Savior, often through a personal prayer, to become a new creation in Christ. This act of faith and surrender is a personal decision and commitment between you and God.

An example of a prayer you could pray to invite Jesus into your life is as follows but I invite you to make it personal:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen

Thanks for reading!

With love and bunches of grace,

Ashley Hope <3

When I got serious about my walk with the Lord I felt the conviction to cut out all secular music and I felt lead to watch things that wouldn’t lead me astray. This is something every believer may face during their walk with the Lord but everyone must make their own decision. Well, recently I found myself watching a series of videos on YouTube of a gal playing a game that promotes crime and violence and I found myself being sucked into it. Almost like It was becoming a mini addiction. The enemy does that. It wasn’t until that night when I felt a strong presence of a demonic spirit in my room while I was trying to fall asleep and after a dream I had later during the night that I realized that I had opened the door for these demonic spirits to enter into my room. Now, I have the authority in Jesus name to demand them to leave and they must leave, (James 4:7) but I shouldn’t have opened the door for them to enter in the first place.

1 Peter 5:8 says “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” This verse is so true and John 10:10 says “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” The devil is looking for ways to enter into our spaces and to influence us in our every day walk with God. We must do our part in making sure we’re not opening doors for the enemy to freely prowl around in our lives through the media we consume on a daily basis.

For some of you reading this, you may already have a strong boundary in place with the media you consume and that is great! But there will be some of you who will feel the gentle tug of the Holy Spirit calling you to let go and lay down some of what you’ve been consuming. For some, it may be an overnight process. You know, rip the bandaid off, for me it certainly was. But for others it may take some time and that’s okay too. Everyone has a different story and a different path to take. But I encourage you to take the nudging seriously and make the changes in your life.

Surprise! After much prayer and leading from the Holy Spirit, I’ve decided to make the monthly newsletters available to everyone. Previously, they were only available for my paid subscribers but I’ve felt it on my heart that God wanted the words in these newsletters to reach more people so from here on out they’re available for all to read! I hope you enjoy.

Can you believe it, August has come and gone just like that.

Someone please tell the year to stop going by so darn quickly, I can barely keep up. This month has been crazy! I feel like i may have said that last month but I promise you this month takes the cake.

I struggle deeply with a handful of chronic illnesses that have rendered me disabled and one of the illnesses I have is called cyclic vomiting syndrome. It’s where your body basically doesn’t stop vomiting unless something intervenes. So for whatever reason, I tend to have these vomiting episodes every august for the last 2-3 years and this year was no different. So like clockwork, the same date as last year rolled around and the vomiting episode started for me and I quickly found myself in the ER not once but twice. Then I was admitted for a few days to get the vomiting under control.

Thankfully, the whole episode lasted around 5 days this year rather than three weeks last year and I am now doing much better. But now, however, i’m dealing with complications from a few of my other chronic illnesses. It just seems like an uphill battle and a never ending cycle when you live with multiple moderate-severe chronic illnesses.

But let me tell you, God has used this month for some mighty good. Through all of my suffering He has brought me nearer to Him and I have felt His presence so strongly in ways that I haven’t in ages. When I’ve been feeling well enough, i’ve been going down into my office and just worshipping and praying and spending undivided time with God and it has reignited my faith which has been such an answered prayer. I wrote a post on feeling like I was in a dry season. I may post it so you may see it probably sometime after this but to have a renewed faith is such an answered prayer.

I want to encourage you today, maybe you’re like me dealing with chronic illness or maybe you’re in a dry season with your faith, know God is near. He has His ears turned toward you and He is waiting eagerly to hear you speak to Him. I’ll share some verses below that have been an encouragement to me. I hope they can be an encouragement to you also.

Verses of encouragement

“I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.” - Psalms 3:4-5

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. The Lord is the strength of his people a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.” - Psalms 28: 7-8

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry” - Psalms 34:15

A Prayer over your month of September

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for the person on the other side of this screen. Thank you for leading them to read this newsletter today. I pray that it’s blessed them in some way. Lord, thank you for their willing heart to learn and grow in the ways of you. I pray that you would give a renewed faith and a hunger to learn and grow in your presence to those who feel like they are in a dry season. Lord, I pray that you bless their coming ins and going outs this month in any and every place they may find themselves. Put your hedge of protection around them and keep them and their families safe. Help them to put on their full armor of God and to stay in your word so they can withstand the fiery darts of the evil one. Keep them strong and sustain them always. We love you, thank you for loving us.

Amen.

Faith favorites

Before you go, I wanted to share some of my favorites of the month! These may change month to month or they may stay the same depending on how my preferences change each month but i’ll try to change it up for you from time to time!

Here’s what i’m currently listening to!

Touch of Heaven by Xtiian

Here’s what i’m reading for fun

Authentic Happiness by Sarah Rowan

The E.A.S.Y Bible Study Method by Ellen Krause, Taylor Krause, Ashley Armijo

Here’s what i’m studying in the Bible!

The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble