Heartstrings Ministries

Beauty for Ashes

6/19/2015

“Of one thing I am perfectly sure: God's story never ends with ashes.”
~Elisabeth Elliot

You are never hopeless or worthless to God. He is always able to reach in, and make your life new and whole again when you submit yourself to Him.

"He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of despair."
~Isaiah 61:3

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Isaiah 52:7

6/14/2015

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We Are Comforted So We Can Comfort

5/11/2015

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Photo credit: www.rpministries.org

We Are Comforted So We Can Comfort

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” ~2 Corinthians 1:3-4

It is hard to imagine when we are in the midst of suffering and grief that anything good can come of our tragedy. However, it was exactly at that time that I needed to feel that some good could come from losing my grandbabies. I needed to feel that their deaths were not in vain, that their lives and passing meant something, somehow.

As I journeyed through my grief, I looked for ways to bring meaning to the loss of Isabella, Isaiah and Abigail. Eventually, I discovered that because I walked through the valley of the shadow of death, I was uniquely able to comfort others in their time of mourning. My suffering through the stillbirths of my grandchildren, gave me a deep love, compassion and understand for other parents and grandparents after the passing of their beloved little one that I doubt I truly could have had before.

So, while I never would want to experience trials and tragedies, I am comforted in the knowledge that the Lord brings good out of those terrible situations by comforting me so that, in return, I have the blessing of comforting others in their troubles. God is never nearer to us than when we are sharing His love and compassion with another hurting soul.

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Happy Mother's Day!

5/10/2015

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"However motherhood comes to you, it's a miracle." ~Valerie Harper

Moms of angels, foster moms, biological moms, adoptive moms, step-moms, grandparent moms, moms-in-law, spiritual moms, moms-who-hope-to-be....Wishing you all very Happy Mother's Day!

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The Most Treacherous Journeys Lead to the Greatest Miracles

12/3/2014

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The greatest miracles always come after the longest, most treacherous journeys. Mary certainly would have rather avoided travelling across country...on a donkey...in her very pregnant condition. But she held on because she knew that her salvation--our salvation--was about to be born.

Some Bible scholars estimate the journey to Bethlehem would have taken Mary and Joseph about four days to travel. The roads were not paved back in those days and there were no modern-day conveniences, like hotels, gas stations or restaurants. All they needed for their trip had to be carried with them, strapped onto the donkey or carried on their backs. Their limited food supply would have to be rationed out. Drinking water was scarce. The couple would have to sleep at night on the hard ground. It was a treacherous and tedious trip for sure, and one they no doubt wished they could have skipped altogether, but was forced to undertake by order of the government. Mary was carrying the Messiah in her womb, why didn't God intervene to prevent them from the necessity of taking this terrible journey?

Life is often like that. We wonder why God seems to hold back and allow bad things to happen to us and those we love. We struggle through our own treacherous journeys. Journeys of grieving over a loved one lost, coping with job loss and financial hardships, praying for healing in our cancer-stricken bodies. We all have difficult roads we have to travel, journeys we do not want to take.

The good news is, God is faithful. While it is hard to understand God's ways, and we won't have answers to all our "whys" this side of Heaven, we can rest in the assurance that the Father is faithful and He has a plan for what we are going through. He will make a way for us and take care of us in the midst of our journey.

Are you feeling discouraged and worn out from a difficult journey in your life? Just hold on, your miracle is on it's way!

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

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Check Out My Guest Post at the Bring Back Jesus Blog!

12/1/2014

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My friend, Patty, over at the Bring Back Jesus blog asked me to write a guest post for her blog. Hop on over there and check out my article, 3 Gifts to Give Your Children This Christmas. While you're there, check it out. She has awesome giveaways, plus neat craft ideas and tips for keeping Christ in Christmas this holiday season.

Also, check out her Facebook page: Bring Back Jesus

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Timely Article from Still Standing Magazine: Grateful and Grieving

11/28/2014

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Wanted to share this article with you as were are in the midst of the holiday season. The holiday seasons brings a mix of emotions for those who have experienced loss. This article touches on the struggle that bereaved parents face this time of year.

You can link to the article by clicking Grateful and Grieving.

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Give Back During the Christmas Season in Memory of Your Baby

11/13/2014

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The Christmas season is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration, however, for bereaved parents (and grandparents), Christmas is often a time of deep grief and longing for the memories they wanted to make with the child they lost.

Christmas for children in foster care, as well as for many needy children, is also a time of grief and loss. Grief for the family they are separated from, a longing for the storybook Christmas morning they watch other families enjoy on TV, wondering if they will even have a gift to open or if they will be forgotten and overlooked.....again.

Heidi Faith, the founder of Stillbirthday, herself a former foster child and bereaved mother of the child she miscarried, wants to bring hope to foster children and healing to bereaved moms this year.

Read Heidi's blog post about her vision, and how you can have The Courage to Christmas Shop, at www.stillbirthday.com/2014/11/13/courage-christmas-shop.

Find a Stillbirthday Doula in your area, www.stillbirthday.com/find-doula

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Encouragement to Keep CHRIST in Christmas

11/13/2014

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My good friend, Patty, is on a mission to put Christ back into CHRISTmas. In her effort to encourage families to remember Jesus this holiday season, she has designed a beautiful blog and Facebook page that you can follow. Full of yummy recipes, step-by-step craft instructions with pictures, ideas for new Christ-centered traditions, uplifting articles and even giveaways! There is something new every day!

You can visit her pages at:
Bring Back Jesus on BlogSpot
Bring Back Jesus on Facebook

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National Day of Rememberance

10/15/2014

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Proclamation 5890 was signed in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan declaring October 15th as Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day. This day of remembrance then spread to Canada, and now is also observed in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Today, we light a candle in honor of the babies we've lost.

Today, I honor my grandbabies:
Abigail Raine, born sleeping 2/4/2011
Isabella Faith, born sleeping 2/9/2012
Isaiah Nathaniel, born & passed 2/10/2012

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<<Previous

Beauty for Ashes

Isaiah 52:7

We Are Comforted So We Can Comfort

Happy Mother's Day!

The Most Treacherous Journeys Lead to the Greatest Miracles

Check Out My Guest Post at the Bring Back Jesus Blog!

Timely Article from Still Standing Magazine: Grateful and Grieving

Give Back During the Christmas Season in Memory of Your Baby

Encouragement to Keep CHRIST in Christmas

National Day of Rememberance

Crystal Niehoff

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