Ashlie Miller

By Ashlie Miller

As mentioned before, I love beach combing. Maybe you do, too. My treasures often vary depending on the beach we visit. Sea glass finds me at North Topsail. Holden Beach recently delighted me with my largest shark’s tooth find. When you know where and what to look for, landing upon a discovery brings immense satisfaction!

I especially like learning about what lies beneath my feet from other beachcombers, some of who are legendary – up at 4am, often after a storm, scouring the shores while the rest of us slumber. This year my two teen sons astounded us all – not by their finds but rather by the fact that they willingly woke up at 5am to scour the beaches and watch the sunrise. One morning, they met a legendary beachcomber and learned about something new to us all – pirate glass. Sea glass is familiar, but what was this “pirate glass”? My sons learned that in Blackbeard’s day, the infamous pirate’s rum bottles would be disposed of in the sea. Time has broken them into shards and smoothed them into rocks with evidence of air bubbles once caught in the glass-making. Not all pirate glass is from that time, but don’t tell my boys.

Armed with this new knowledge, we temporarily changed our hunting strategy. It invigorated our search. It is incredible how new revelation can change the value of what may have been overlooked before you and stimulate your appetite to find it.

What a metaphor for life, and we can also see parallels in Scripture. The disciples were so notorious for not “seeing” what was true in front of them that Jesus had to physically heal a blinded man as an object lesson of how the disciples needed to have the eyes of their hearts opened (Mark 8). We read of a Divine encounter two disciples had on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24). They thought they understood the events, but it took Jesus to remove the veil from their hearts. Likewise, Paul, writing primarily to Gentile Christians in Ephesus, prays that their hearts would be enlightened to know the hope they were called to (Ephesians 1:18).

Many boast today of having open minds and arms, but too often, the eyes of our hearts are closed. What might we be closing our eyes to?

Before going about your day, consider praying Psalm 119:18-19

“Open my eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of your law.

I am a sojourner on the earth;

hide not your commandments from me.”

Happy treasure hunting!

Ashlie Miller loves hunting for treasures of various value with her family of 7 in Concord, NC (and beyond!). You may contact her at ashliemiller.com

By Ashlie Miller

Do you have a unique, odd, or profoundly personal family tradition? It seems strange to consider family traditions when resting in the heat of summer, taking a break from the usual routine. Or you may be smack in the middle of an annual summer vacation tradition. In either case, you may have noticed the resurgence of a winter holiday in the hottest part of our year – Christmas in July.

What is with that? Is it a made-up moment for the Hallmark Keepsake collector awaiting the release of an ornament in July? Has Hobby Lobby conspired in July to bombard the market with swags of artificial pine, glistening decorations, or the too-early scent of cinnamon emanating from candles? Is it a new marketing ploy to get money from your pocketbook in a summer sales slump? 

I want to offer another possibility. Five summers ago, I recognized we were in the midst of what my husband called a “fertilizer year.” You may have a less-than-polite term for that type of year. Due to personal trials in and outside the family dynamic and a recent terminal physical diagnosis of a loved one, we all felt a bit hopeless. It is easy for cynicism to creep in during those seasons. Usually, gratitude would be the antidote for such sadness. Still, at that moment, it was difficult to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). I realized we needed a balm to heal our despair. For that season, our cynicism required an encounter with wonder. We needed medicine for our spirit (“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” – Proverbs 17:22). Where would we find that in the middle of July?

Operation: Christmas in July began that year. I did not intend for it to become a tradition. We backed into it. We did summer versions of winter fun – a melted snowman cookie instead of a gingerbread house; swimming instead of ice skating; ice cream cones instead of snow cream; watching Christmas movies; even drawing names to shop at the thrift store for a surprise gift. What memories we made that year! We still had much to face. The year was not over, and more heartaches lay ahead, but we momentarily took the sting out of a painful season.

But why? Why did eating, playing, and watching television – things we would likely do in some form anyway – fill us with hope and wonder? It was more than a mere distraction. It is because the wonder and anticipation point to something even more extraordinary. It is akin to the Advent season of winter – the waiting for the Promise. It is a shadow cast by another promise that awaits the Christian believer. 

Even those not of the Christian faith have a sense of this built into their hearts and minds – a desire for hope. A longing for something to right the wrongs, to bring closure to struggle, or to give us a reason for continuing. 

How fitting that Christmas in July came for us at the midpoint of a brutal year. How fitting that during a severe heatwave covered in smothering haze, we can stop briefly to remind ourselves that this is not the end; something lovely is ahead. We are closer to it than we were a month ago. In our struggles, we can come up for air, look at the temporary reality of our situation, and realize we will make it through somehow. There is more ahead than our present earthly, temporary reality. Now that is worth celebrating!

Ashlie Miller accidentally begins many traditions in her family of seven in Concord, NC. She can be contacted at ashliemiller.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Instead of the isolation of a she-shack, I prefer porch life. On my porch, in the early mornings, I hear the birds utter their call with a steady stream of “tch-tch-tch-tch” in the background as the sprinkler waters the lawn. Neighbors pass by walking their dogs or just getting in some steps before it is too humid. My observations are pleasantly interrupted by a darting hummingbird visiting the feeder. Although alone, clearly, there are visitors. My favorite visitor is the One I meet with early – Bible open, pen ready to make notes. 

Occasionally, my porch may have other visitors, someone dropping off something or picking up someone, another to pray with me or even for me. Other times, it may be a noisy afternoon of watching my children playing gel-blasters, blowing bubbles, drawing hopscotch, riding bikes in the cul-de-sac, or cooling off in the sprinkler. 

In the evenings, what may begin with my husband and me reflecting on the day broadens to a family experience. The night may include a board game, a round of cards, hunts for lightning bugs, or lazy conversations. 

It is a place of solitude, reflection, refreshment, and visiting with others. Often, wisdom meets me there. There is something sacred about the porch, and I am in good company when I see its value.

Israel’s King Solomon built an impressive porch among his other architectural achievements. It was such an essential place in Solomon’s day that even Herod constructed a similar structure and called it Solomon’s Portico.

Solomon’s porch was a solid structure supported by columns and was the entry to the temple. My porch is the first place of welcome into my home and is supported by columns. I hope others feel strongly supported and welcome into my life and home as they seek counsel, friendship, or accountability.

The king’s porch had a roof and could be enclosed on the sides. Likewise, mine is covered with a roof, providing shade from the sun and shelter from the rain. A porch can be a place to share your heart, concerns, and dreams with a friend in privacy but look with hope as we look upward and outward. 

I imagine Solomon walking his porch for Divine inspiration. Romans 1:20 speaks of how God’s divine attributes can be clearly seen by looking at creation. A porch is a great place to reflect on God as you study His Word and observe creation.

Even Jesus and his disciples enjoyed porch life. Christ taught on the porch during the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22-23). Likewise, the apostles preached (Acts 5:12) and healed in Jesus’ name while on the porch (Acts 3:11).

Your house may not have a porch. Still, the porch can be a symbol of something we can all have access to – making space in your heart and life to welcome others, provide loving support, a shelter from the outside world accompanied with hope, a place for inspiration, learning and teaching, and meeting someone in their deepest need. How can you cultivate “porch life” in your home and heart today?

Ashlie Miller makes room for friends on her porch in Concord. You may contact her at ashliemiller.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Like me, I am sure many of you with a lawn have been looking for the coolest part of the day to do as much yard work as possible. Usually, that is early morning or later in the evening. One morning last week, as I pulled a few weeds, I noticed many ants coming up with the roots. Oh, those pesky things! But, I would be wise to slow down and take note.

Even if you are not familiar with the Bible verse Proverbs 6:6-8, you may know the fable or even the older cartoon about the wise ant who prepares in the summer to gather her resources and sustenance needed for the winter. In the fable and animated version, she is compared with the lazy grasshopper, left hopeless and alone when the hard times come his way.

In case we missed the lesson from the ant, Proverbs 10:6 is more direct – “He who gathers in the summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.” The choice to work hard does not just provide a reward but also keeps us from disgracing those in our environment.

As summer continues, we will see examples of creatures gathering and storing – squirrels, chipmunks, mice, beavers, and many birds preparing for their future. Indeed, it benefits their immediate community; after all, one can observe the hierarchy in ant colonies and bee hives to see how each serves a distinct role. Their unity and dedication to their work also serve the greater ecosystem. The top of the food chain benefits from the perseverance of the humblest creatures.

Though it is pleasant to observe animals working in their systems, often we view our work as a curse, not a blessing. “Ugh, it’s Monday again!” We view diligence and persistence as great character traits and qualities but not the gifts they are from our Creator to provide for ourselves and those who depend upon us. As a generation conditioned to value autonomy and individuality above community, we also often miss the impact of our diligence upon those around us, unlike ants and honeybees, who each know their role.

Like summer, my season on this spinning sphere is also too short. I have a job to do. How will I approach the beauty of my work? Do I value my work as a gift to others, not just a way to fulfill myself? Can I step back and see how my diligence impacts my immediate dependents and the community?

Get up early this week, and spend some time in personal reflection as you see the loveliness of work among creation.

Ashlie Miller occasionally observes ants when she is not busy chasing 5 children along with her husband in Concord, NC. You may contact her at ashliemiller.com.

By Ashlie Miller

As is true for many North Carolinians, our family’s official summer vacation kicked off with a recent trip to the coast. For many of us, it is a place to relax, clear our heads or pray as we meander through sea foam, pebbles, shells, sharks’ teeth and sea glass. Maybe it is because we can finally pause and, on a tiny scale, see the vastness of our Creator that this vacation spot holds a special place for many of us. I can imagine the hundreds of thousands of pieces of sand I have scooped in my hand while forming a drip castle. How many more millions and billions of pieces have I walked upon? How many more are hidden under the shores?

As I build sandcastles with my children, I am reminded of Psalm 139:17-18, which became a favorite passage from the Bible many years ago:

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.

How astounding — the God of all Creation has an abundance of thoughts for me! Not just a few, lumped into a pile of common thoughts for humanity, though that is important, too. He has unique ideas for me, Ashlie Miller. After our trip, one of my sons mentioned an online article he found showing macro lens photos of grains of sand. The miniature pieces of geometric art, each piece varying from the next, amazed him! How much more so, the idea that God has a vast array of thoughts, plans and love for us. He is much more than the God of deism, far removed from regularly intervening and being involved in the small nuances of our lives.

This verse from Psalms ends with the idea that if we fell asleep counting all of His thoughts for us, we would wake up still counting them. What love He has for you and me! What love I long to have for One who would love me like that! My love will never match His magnitude or scope for me, but I want to live my life showing Him how much I love Him.

I hope you have a lovely summer and venture to one of our beautiful North Carolina beaches. Be prepared to be overwhelmed by God’s goodness and share it with others. I cannot wait to share more thoughts from my coastal meanderings over the coming months.

Ashlie Miller might be spotted beach combing along the North Carolina coasts this summer when she is not home with her family of 7 in Concord.

By Ashlie Miller

Like a modern, online edition of the white pages, it is easy to learn someone’s family surname or maiden name, thanks to Facebook. You may find many family tree members through just a few clicks on sites like ancestry.com. Last names and family trees have always fascinated me – from where they are derived and their prominence in certain countries, states, and regions.

The family who welcomed me after my father died and my mother remarried was the Lawrence family. Most of my life, I recall seeing a framed, cross-stitched piece that said, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches… (Proverbs 22:1)” in my Grandparents’ home.

I have witnessed this truth within this family, well-known for embracing as family those who were not family by blood – foster children, adopted children, step-grandchildren, and close friends. If you speak this name in the towns nearby, you are met with a positive response. Every time. It is not a family of extravagant means, but there is extravagant love. There is integrity in this name, good character, and godly wisdom. 

But not all of us were blessed with “good names” in our family of origin. There may be generations of hurt, betrayal, and even hate that our family name connotes. Shame at mentioning the last name. Maybe an association with an infamous family name raises an eyebrow at the checkout line. You may avoid using that name when placing an order.

It could be that you have not rightfully earned the honor that comes with your family name of origin. You may live in shame for bringing disgrace upon those who have loved you well. When others find out to whom you belong, there is a moment of disbelief that you are their child or grandchild. You were brought up better, after all. 

Is there hope? Can we ever lift our heads? Yes! In Revelation 2:17, God speaks of giving to those who overcome (those who have trusted Christ as Savior and have endured) a white stone with a new name written upon it.

When we trade the identity we were born with for a new spiritual identity and are called “Christian,” we receive a name that we do not earn but one that is gifted to us by grace. When our Father looks at us, He sees His child. He bestows us love and blessing that we could not merit alone. We want to live in a way that reflects that name and brings honor. Sometimes, we may stumble and cause others to wonder in disbelief that we belong to Him, but He loves us and can transform us. 

Have you thought about not only who you are but whose you are? How has a “good name” brought you comfort and given you renewed purpose?

Ashlie Miller and her family of 7 of live in Concord, NC. You can share with her about your family story by contacting her on ashliemiller.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Let us begin with a controversial statement – watermelon tastes best sprinkled with salt. I can already see the email notifications lighting up! I am a Southern gal raised in Southern ways. My earliest watermelon feasts occurred at my grandparents’ home on Sam Wilson Road in Charlotte. We would sit at a newspaper-covered picnic table adorned with dull knives and a salt shaker. Today, I still prefer a watermelon with salt. It enhances the flavor, whether it is already sweet or needs some help.

Any food connoisseur, from the home cook to the high-end chef to the passive foodie, could list many foods whose flavor is enhanced by a pinch of salt – bitter coffee or chocolate, sour grapefruit, even a salad. Although a common seasoning, it does extraordinary things. It both suppresses less-than-desirable or offensive flavors and enhances the lovely ones.

It is no wonder that Jesus refers to salt when He commands His followers to be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13) or when Paul says to season our conversations with salt (Colossians 4:6).

Salt is helpful in many ways – gardening, cleaning, preserving, and offering sacrifices; it was even a commodity in ancient economies. As Christians, we can see many metaphors of how that relates to our walk in Christ among the people we encounter daily. However, as we finally officially enter summer and you likely will pick up a watermelon to enjoy, let us consider how we can add flavor to our conversations and relationships with others.

If salt suppresses things that are not desirable – like conflict – how can I diffuse such things in conversations? I could avoid partaking in a juicy piece of gossip under the guise of a prayer request. It may mean that I speak up for someone not around to defend themselves. It may also mean avoiding flattery – speaking kind things to someone’s face that I would not say about them to others – with the intention of personal gain.

If, like salt, we are to enhance the desirable flavors of things – how can I intentionally work towards edifying someone? I might send someone a note of encouragement on a job well done or a thank you for a kind gesture extended my way. I may see someone who is down or struggling through life and pray with them or speak life into their spirit. Sharing scripture is a great way to succeed in that.

Although, like salt, we may be merely common, we know that God chooses to use the simple to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27). By observing something as humble as salt, we know that a little can go a long way in making a profound impact on the lives of others. We do not have to wonder about what profound things we can say. When we walk in the Word and pray to our Father in heaven, we can have confidence in the words He can use to suppress the bad and bring out the good.

What steps can I take today to be the right pinch of salt, balancing conversations to point upward toward Christ and eternal things and outward for the good and building up of others?

Tune in next week for more controversial statements like – pineapple on pizza is delicious! (I kid, I kid).

Ashlie Miller enjoys her salty watermelons on the back porch of her Concord home with her husband and 5 children. You can contact her on mrs.ashliemiller.com to let her know if you prefer your watermelon with or without salt.

By Ashlie Miller

While many meet Mother’s Day with joy and appreciation, Father’s Day often comes differently. There may be situations where the father is not physically or emotionally present in the home. Father’s Day has always been a little different for me because my father passed away when he and I were young. Due to the unique circumstances of his upbringing, I do not have a connection to his ancestors or close friends from his childhood. Because he died young, few adult friends can share memories with me.

For many years, I struggled in my grief process. Like many of my generation, I have few photos of my dad or me with him, nor do I have many material possessions that belonged to him. There are not many tangible mementos to prompt my recollections. As you can imagine, and maybe experience yourself, I yearn to have memories that keep him alive in my heart and mind. I am grateful for those who did know him and who share memories – any memories – with me so that I can envision who he was.

There are many studies regarding the antidote that gratitude can be for depression and anxiety. Remembering good things and expressing thankfulness for a person or a season in life can be a salve to soothe aching hearts. In the Bible, Paul often begins his letters with gratitude for the people he is writing to. He mentions remembering and giving thanks for them even when he is about to confront a problem. Gratitude helps. Psalm 112:6 talks of how the righteous will be remembered forever. Again, when we reflect on their memories, gratitude helps.

This Father’s Day, I am asking you to do something for yourself or someone else who may not have their father on this side of eternity and will approach this day with sadness. First, reminisce with gratitude that you had your father for as long as you did – the gift God gave you in giving Dad to you. Reflect on the good moments and even how you overcame the tough ones. Let the gratitude slowly melt away that sadness.

Secondly, ask others for their memories of your loved one. It can be cathartic, and you can often learn things that will encourage your heart about your loved one that you never knew. Through small stories, I have learned how sweet and kind my father was and how he was easy to be around.

Finally, if you know someone who has lost a father either recently or decades ago, would you consider sharing a favorite memory about that person with the loved one? It does not matter how small or trivial it is to you. That memory can add to the tapestry of who the person was to those around them. If the person helped direct you or guided you in a way others may not know, share that. Express your gratitude for the role – however small or profound – that they had in your life. Those impactful memories will impact their loved ones today.

These types of memorial days can be overwhelming to many people. We can seize the moment to allow thankfulness to do its work in us or help others along the way to grow through the lifelong process of grief. We can help make it a Happier Father’s Day.

Ashlie Miller is the daughter of the late James T. Hughes, who lived an all too brief but important life in North Carolina and served as a Marine.