Ashlie Miller

By Ashlie Miller

Inevitably, when I cook a supper that emanates a fragrance throughout the house, someone finds their way into the kitchen to get a little taste before the meal. “What are we having?”, they ask while pots bubble or pans simmer. The answer is clear by the power of simple observation, but that question is an expression of hopefully being offered a little taste. Sometimes, though, manners are tossed aside, and hands snatch a sample. Like many other cooks, I will often taste before presenting a meal to ensure the seasonings are just so. I remember my mother having a little sample bowl and spoon handy, often consuming most of her meal before she sat down to a small serving with the rest of us.

You could call these samples a foretaste, though it’s not a word we often use today, except in some worship songs. Recently, our congregation sang two songs with that word: “Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine” and “What a foretaste of deliverance.”

I think about my children and husband getting a little taste of a meal I know they will love. The foretaste in no way satiates, but it does whet the appetite.

God does much the same for us on earth. What a kind God to offer us foretastes now on earth of a much greater appetite satisfied in eternity!

For His chosen people, the Israelites, though they went through times of exile, He promised to return them to their homeland. For Christians, as God’s chosen people in a new covenant, He promises an eternal land. 

As a child, I only thought that was heaven – which would be enough – but as I matured, I learned about the new earth, where God makes all things new. He will gloriously remake an Eden that was tarnished and destroyed.

When Jesus left heaven and came to earth as a human, some of His miracles revolved around raising people from the dead – a widow’s son, a 12-year-old girl, and Lazarus. In Lazarus’ case, he had been dead for days. “Lord, by now, he surely stinketh,” the Bible says. In all cases of those resurrections, they were temporary. Those people eventually died. However, I wonder if the resurrection of Lazarus from a tomb was a foretaste of Christ’s own resurrection, demonstrating to His disciples and the nonbelievers and critics that He had the power of death and the grave. 

Even Christ’s resurrection, which we celebrate this weekend, is a foretaste of the resurrection of the saints – those who put their trust in Jesus as Lord. The one who has the power of sin, death, and the grave surely has the power to raise His own children from eternal death and destruction for an everlasting life of dwelling with God in a beautiful land. 

Has God raised you from seemingly impossible depths? Do you have an inexplainable sense of homesickness for a more perfect place? Perhaps they are foretastes.

This Resurrection Sunday, whether you are gathered at church to celebrate Christ’s resurrection or at a stove, sampling the delicacies of a meal you will share with family, remember that it is all a foretaste of something greater. 

Ashlie Miller will celebrate the resurrection early Sunday morning as her husband, Chad leads the congregation of Mission Bible Church in Charlotte, NC. You may email her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Do you remember object lessons in school or, better yet, volunteering as a participant? What are some of your most memorable ones?

If you were to visit our home over the coming week, you would see us preparing for our family’s favorite object lesson and tradition –  a Christian observance of Passover Seder as we approach Resurrection Sunday (Easter). It is a tradition my family began enjoying when our older children were much younger, and many are celebrating this weekend through April 20. While we are not Jewish, a study on Biblical Feasts as part of our homeschool journey opened our eyes to the beauty of this celebration that we implement in our own way.

Growing up in the South, I knew the importance of Easter Sunday. However, we did not observe a traditional or liturgical Holy Week. So, as you can imagine, I always wondered why “The Ten Commandments” would air each year at that time. “Why aren’t they showing a film on the crucifixion instead?” I would ask.

It would be young adulthood before I realized the significance of the Passover, even for the Christian. The sacrifice of the Holy One Incarnate – Jesus Christ – epitomizes the importance of Passover for us. The Spotless Lamb who took our sin upon Himself. The one who set us free from the bondage of slavery to sin (and ourselves) and brings us into a land of hope and promise.

While many will have had their feast this weekend, we usually reserve our Passover remembrance for the Saturday before Resurrection Sunday. It is a time to invite other families or individuals to join us.

We will cover our table with a dark blue cloth divided by a white runner to symbolize the parting of the Red Sea as the children of Israel escaped from Egypt. Scattered across the table, you may see small drawings, Lego figures, or other small toys presenting the 10 plagues (I promise it will not look as graphic as it may sound!). We thoughtfully make our way through symbolic elements of a meal reminding us of the Passover. Rather than alluding only to the freedom and deliverance of the bondage of slavery in Egypt and the hope of an Elijah to come prepare the way for a Messiah, as Christians, we save a seat for the promised return of a Messiah who has already come.

We also included once-a-year treats like matzah ball soup, potato latkes (a favorite around here), and chocolate-covered matzah crackers. My local Publix and Harris Teeter take out the guesswork and hunt for recipes thanks to boxed varieties of soup and latkes.

Why do we focus on Passover during this time if we are not Jewish? Our senses of smell and taste serve our memories well. We long for our children, friends, and neighbors to experience the lesson of Jesus as Messiah and our Passover Sacrifice. With a few modifications, Passover Seder becomes pivotal to our experience for Resurrection (Easter) Sunday.

Can someone pass the latkes and chocolate matzah?

Ashlie Miller and her family celebrate this season with Passover Seder and delicious Resurrection Rolls. You can contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

What is on your honey-do list? In our area, keeping heat out or in, depending on the season, is usually on the checklist. Last year, on the honey-do list, my husband and sons worked on replacing the seal around our front door to better prevent drafts (and insects) from coming in. While it does seal very well, we must intentionally pull the door completely when shutting. Careless closing results in a door left ajar.

One morning in late fall, my son left for his welding class early. I was occupying my usual morning spot on the couch, enjoying some quiet time reading. Early as it was, I had no need to go towards that door, which is by the staircase leading to the children’s rooms, for about an hour. Once I did, however, I noticed a draft and light coming from the door. Eek! Thankfully, it was not standing wide open; no birds flew in. But it was an open door – one I assumed would be closed.

Later, I thought about how often we pass open doors in people’s lives. As a Christian, my eyes and heart should regularly think about open hearts for the gospel – that is, to be evangelistic. My husband often reminds the congregation at church to pray for God to open our eyes to such open doors and then to open our mouths to share. It is easy to assume that people who are currently closed to discussing the hope we have in Jesus will always be closed to such discussions. Sometimes they are. Sometimes, a heart is so hardened that its door is vaulted and sealed with a “no trespassing/no soliciting” sign on the door. Those are very sad and discouraging relationships. 

However, sometimes, doors that were once thought to be irrevocably closed become ajar, much like my front door. Often, a tragedy or deep sense of dismay cracks the door of a heart, allowing a little light to trickle in. While we may normally pass by a literal door like that and close it, assuming it is not an invitation for us to enter, doors ajar in hearts are another matter. A watchful eye may be gazing through the crack with a heart silently begging for someone to walk by and notice. We cautiously push the door slightly wider, beckoning them to join us or let us in. 

People, like nature, go through seasons regularly. What is true and steady in a person’s life in one month may vastly differ in three months. As one who can be shy to warm up to invitations, I have also learned that a firm no does not necessarily mean a final no. Growing up, I often waited on a sideline or against a wall to assess situations and people before jumping in. 

We will undoubtedly see such hearts come to church on Resurrection Day in a few weeks, along with many other “Chreasters” (those who only visit the church on Christmas and Easter). We can ignore them, say, “See you next holiday!” or engage them in a relationship. Ask them how life has been, and look into their eyes to see if there is a longing for something more. Has a door been left slightly opened?

Maybe seasons in life have you longing for something more; perhaps you have questions about that one thing you vowed you would never consider. You may not have intentionally left a door open, but could circumstances have been divinely aligned to bring you to another point in life? Are you willing to open that door wider to a relationship with the Creator and Savior?

By Ashlie Miller

If someone asked you the difference between idle time and leisure time, could you clearly articulate that? I recently read that idle time is stolen time. We should be doing other things during our productive times, but we allow temptations, even shallow, meaningless ones, to captivate our minds and bodies. You are often left feeling guilty as a result of wasting time. On the other hand, leisure time is earned, often after hard work. No guilt needed! Yet, how often do we struggle to fully enjoy leisure?

While we may know the differences and struggle to avoid idleness, we can also be guilty of enjoying leisure time. Productivity and efficiency are the monarchs ruling our time, most often. Accomplishing a task can consume the best of caregivers, and allowing children to enjoy discoveries frequently turns into an organized time of study and lessons. I can be as guilty as the next, especially as a homeschooling mother. 

In our quest to find our purpose and higher meaning (which oftentimes only means getting our never-ending task list done), we often miss the simplicity of basking in the daily delights we rush past to be more productive. Gardening becomes a chore of necessity rather than something to enjoy. Instead of choosing fiction to read, we feel our reading time must be an investment to master doing something.

Rather than further elaborate, I offer a few stanzas from a poem that served as a good reminder in the midst of teaching my children:

“Leisure”                                                                                                                          by W. H. Davies

What is this life if, full of care,
 We have no time to stand and stare?—

No time to see, in broad daylight,
 Streams full of stars, like skies at night:

No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
 And watch her feet, how they can dance:

A poor life this if, full of care,
 We have no time to stand and stare.

I hope you get to enjoy some well-earned leisure time. Did you work hard all week, even if something is unfinished and will still be there next week? Then, make time to enjoy a guilt-free walk after dinner. Do you feel bad for time misspent? Tighten up the reigns on the time you steal this week. Lock yourself out of that app that is a thief to your productivity. Work hard and enjoy guilt-free leisure next weekend. 

Ashlie Miller is preaching to herself on this one. You can send her your own admonishments on how to enjoy guilt-free leisure to mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Sometimes, the daily memories feature on Facebook catches me off guard. Does that ever happen to you? You post something of great importance, worthy of sharing with the world, or at least your “friends,” and when it pops up later as a memory, you say, “Oh yeah, I forgot all about when my cat did that, or I had that burger at that one place.”

Sunday morning, I was surprised when I noticed my memory feed featured a video I had shared a few years ago. A video of me. I am not an influencer nor share home videos, but something happened five years ago on that day that made me stop. Made me want to share something encouraging and hopeful. By now, if you rewind the tape in your own mind, you are having that “a-ha!” moment of March 16, 2020 – the day the world shut down. I was not fearful, but I knew many families would be distressed over being at home for two weeks (well, that is what they told us, anyway); I longed to encourage them and share helpful tools to thrive while surviving.

You may have that date etched in your mind for all eternity. But, for a moment, it took me a second to reconcile that it has been five full years since that fateful day. 

A lot has happened since half a decade ago in my life, your life, and our world. But we made it. We may have suffered great loss. I would have to sit and think long and hard to find anyone who has not in the last few years. Some have significantly suffered physically, emotionally, and financially, to say the least. But we made it.

When all my children were much younger, I can remember it took a herculean effort to get them all ready and out the door to arrive someplace on time with smiles on our faces. When someone at church would say, “You made it!”, I would often jokingly quote the end of Acts 27:44 – “some swam and the rest on planks or pieces of the ship!” It is not my life verse, but I pulled a lot of life from it. 

This verse comes from a gripping account of Paul surviving one of the few shipwrecks he endured. Paul is on a ship set for Rome along with other prisoners and a centurion. A few chapters before, in Acts 23, God had told Paul that part of his purpose was to spread the gospel to the Jews and then the Gentiles in Rome, specifically. But, the course to that end was not smooth sailing or even to make it to safe harbor. What a sail that was! On this voyage, there was much reason to fear as a south wind violently blew the ship into a raging storm!

But Paul remembered the words of the Lord to him, that he must stand before Caesar. Paul was certain of God’s word, so Paul told the men to “take heart, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island” (verses 25-26). At least he was both certain and honest about the reality of the matter. 

A fortnight after embarking, Paul encouraged the shipmates in peril to take sustenance and give thanks to God. They lightened the ship and braced for the worst. After striking a reef and running aground, and prisoners avoiding being killed by the soldiers (thanks to Paul), they were ordered to jump in and swim or find something to float on. Amazingly, they all arrived safely, even if “the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship” (verse 44).  But they made it. 

As a mom of small children, I have often felt that I have barely made it or made it on “pieces of the ship.” It is not smooth sailing all the time, is it? 

We may feel entitled to complain. We may have endured struggles that have changed us in the last five years – wrecked us, even. But, we are here. We can offer gratitude and worship, complain and feel discontent, or be driven to ask the great question – “Why?”. Where have the last five years left you?

Ashlie Miller and her family live in Concord, NC. You may contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Fasting is a term many people are familiar with because it does not always necessitate a religious observance. Intermittent fasting has become a health choice for many. You can fast from certain meals or specific ingredients like sugar or foods like carbs. Cutting out media is often the choice for a mental or emotional fast. 

We are now in the season of Lent, where many do without a vice for 40 days and hopefully commit to prayer to prepare themselves for Easter.

There are many scripture passages Christians consider when fasting. We see Moses fast for 40 days before receiving the 10 Commandments. There is the fast Queen Esther held before approaching King Ahasuerus. Many Christians do a prolonged Daniel Fast, eating only fruits and vegetables. Even Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness, enduring temptation from Satan. Jesus also gives guidelines for one’s appearance during a fast (Matthew 6:16-18). Sometimes, as Christians, the goal of fasting can be to have what many call a spiritual breakthrough or pray for specific end results. Perhaps God might act favorably upon one’s request in exchange for denying one’s desires. 

One chapter worth reading on true and false fasting is Isaiah 58. God’s chosen people thought they could pull one over on Him, pretending to worship the Lord and serve Him with delight in hopes of returned favor, but God could see through to their hearts (not that their actions left much to hide). They were guilty of oppressing their own people, for starters, and many more gross atrocities you can study in the Old Testament. They dare to question why God does not seem to hear and respond to them during their fast. 

God explains the type of fast He chooses to see – “loosening bonds of wickedness, letting the oppressed free, sharing bread, clothing the homeless, pouring out oneself for the hungry, satisfying the desire of the afflicted” (Isaiah 58). He promised His people to be their guide and strength during a proper fast and that they would flourish and be called repairers and restorers of their place as a light shining among the nations. 

It’s as though the evidence of self-denial isn’t in an altar show of worship but in sharing among the people, their own people, whom they were overlooking and mistreating horribly. Could it be that pure self-denial is not just doing without for one’s own sake but to bless someone else? I can easily do without cheesecake and deny myself the temptation most of the year. If someone made me a homemade, decadent cheesecake and, as an act of will, I put it in the fridge for a few days and waited, I would justify myself with a reward at the end of the week. But, the real test would be complete self-denial – giving that cheesecake to someone else and maybe even watching them enjoying it. (Don’t get any ideas!)

How does that translate to self-denial in periods of fasting? Would it look like investing your time into prepping a meal for someone else as you pray over their family? Could it be ignoring the distraction at your fingertips to sit quietly on the porch, lifting prayers for your neighbors? Can one prayerfully purge gently worn or excess clothing to donate to the local women and children’s ministry? When hangry pangs come – could one conquer oneself by extending grace, mercy, and hospitality to those trying patience during a fasting period?

While I cannot answer those questions for you, it appears God told His people that the evidence of pure self-denial and worship that pleased Him meant sharing. How could you share during your next period of fasting?

Ashlie Miller does indeed love a good cheesecake but would question whether giving it to a frenemy during a fast was a word from God or just a frenemy. You can email her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com with your thoughts.

By Ashlie Miller

The remarkable thing about reading God’s Word daily is that you never know when your surroundings or current events will align with the passages. More than serendipity, it is like a tactile learning opportunity God ordains to deepen the lesson. 

Last week, my husband and I attended a Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse event in Colorado called “Sharing Hope in Jesus’ Name.” While there, my Bible reading plan had me in Isaiah 55:1:  “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.” Then verse 6-7: “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way; and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” 

The ESV Study Bible notes point to the “urgent tone and universal scope of the invitation.” What hit me most was the comment, “Thirst is not a problem but an opportunity.”

You likely have lived in North Carolina long enough to know that these organizations operate in this way. Both are often first on the disaster scene. The “orange shirts,” as Samaritan’s Purse trained volunteers are called, arrive early on the scene. Meeting physical needs is a conduit for them to bring the hope of the gospel of Jesus. “Blue shirt” chaplains from Billy Graham’s Rapid Response Team connect with people to meet spiritual and emotional needs.

It opens my eyes to how I teach my children what helping our immediate community should look like. Yes, we can and should deliver meals, help our neighbor pick up limbs after the windy storm, and step in in numerous ways. But do we ever share the “why” behind the actions? What moves Christians to do these things as compared to just another NGO? Offering water to the thirsty is a nice action that can refresh temporarily, but Jesus offers water that quenches an eternal thirst (John 4:14), and Christians alone are those water-bearers. 

 Helping during the aftermath of a disaster makes us feel good and does a great deal of good. The days and weeks after Hurricane Helene were evidence of that. With that adrenaline, we can all do hard things. It’s rewarding. But if Christians miss the open door that God presents to them, it’s just another need someone else can meet.

God calls the thirsty, “Come.” Christians have access to the soul-quenching water that many do not quite realize they also need. Physical needs, moments of crisis, and disaster provide needs to meet but often expose deeper anxiety that a person has spent a lifetime trying to self-soothe unsuccessfully. The crisis is not a problem to solve; it is an opportunity for something more.

The next time a neighbor has a crisis or a disaster hits close to home, will you be able to see the difference between the need and the opportunity?

Ashlie Miller and her family live in Concord, NC. You may contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

What comes to mind when you envision a revolving door? For many, these doors are portals, evoking childlike wonder – well, unless you are an impatient business person needing to get into or out of your building and get stuck in one in such awe.

Or your mind could go to something more jaded, considering the many businesses whose employee retention looks like an ever-rotating system of revolving doors. Gone are the days of young employees entering a small business and staying with a sense of loyalty and hope of slowly moving up the ladder. Today, any discomfort or challenge is reason enough to leave even a good company.

Many times in life, we often look at proverbial closed doors as securely locked, vaulted doors that prohibit future access. How frequently have you encountered a young, green student considering a college, a job opportunity, or an internship who sounds dejected because currently all positions are filled? It happens more frequently than likely expressed. But wisdom and time remind the seasoned that often spaces open up – someone’s life drastically changes due to a death in the family or an illness, a better opportunity presents itself for them, or they are not a good fit for an establishment. The list can go on with the vast number of situations that are unique to each individual. The persistent young heart sees these once-closed doors for what they are – a revolving door of opportunity. 

It is not limited to the young either. Even this week, I had a relaxed meeting with a friend sharing the blessing of an ideally suited job that blessed her family and became available to her because a spot opened up – one that seemed securely locked in for another. After months of thinking the door was closed, she felt a nudge to pursue the position. A revolving door made space for her. 

Are you feeling dejected because the path that seemed so sure for you seems blocked? Perhaps God is working in the life of the person currently occupying your seat. They have a journey, as well. While I am not suggesting that you pray they are fired or something bad happens to them, perhaps you can pray that God’s will be done in their life and yours. Pray they can see where God is leading them or whether or not they are suited for the position or path. Pray that the one over the position (an employer, a guide, a trainer, etc.) can quickly assess this person and their gifting and challenges and how they fit within the company, ministry, organization, or team. 

Do you see the dimmed eyes of a once-hopeful pursuer of a dream? Encourage them to keep dreaming and practice the art of persistence and growth. 

The door may be revolving.

Ashlie Miller and her family live in Concord, NC. You can email her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

It has become a common reflection that January drags on, but February is over before you realize it even began! Well, usually, that is the case. However, many may argue that with Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of six more weeks of winter, it has been more like Februweary – neverending. Are there seasons you wish you could speed up? It is a sentiment that is as old as legends. 

In Book of Virtues, William Bennett includes a story in the anthology about a young boy (Peter) eager to get through the boring and mundane things of life (like school days) to have fun and enjoy life. One day, an old woman meets him in the woods and offers him an extraordinary gift – a shiny ball filled with a golden thread. Ever so slowly, the thread dispenses from the ball with the passage of each moment. A word of caution accompanies the gift – the child may speed time by pulling the thread but can never put the thread back into the ball. Thus, careful consideration before tugging the string is a must. Also, he may never tell a living soul about this magical gift, or he will die.

Peter thoughtfully considers pulling the string while at school to rush towards playtime. After a while, that is not enough, and he is ready to be through with school years altogether. As you can imagine, the boy wishes to rush through many other struggles and heartaches – learning a trade, waiting to marry his sweetheart, years in the military, hard times as a family man, and the sickness of loved ones. Finally, as he ages, he notices his mother has, too, a little too quickly and then dies. He looks at the ball, whose thread has turned to silver and then a dull gray, and realizes that while he has gotten his wish to hurry time, he has also rushed life for himself and others. In his desire to get through mundane, tedious, difficult, and hard seasons in life, he now looks back on missed days accumulated as years with those he loved. Much of life was in both the tedium and the hardships.

We may not be assisting our moments and days away with a magical ball, but the lure of technology, numbing entertainment at the tip of our fingers, and mindless scrolling are but a few of the aids that have stolen our time. Are we conscious of the time we are losing? Are electronic devices the magic ball pushing us through time instead of experiencing seasons gloriously or even mostly unremarkably? Perhaps you can think of other things getting in the way of relishing simple joys.

Christians understand the need to make the best use of time (see Ephesians 5:16). Sometimes the best use of the time is not in our productivity or arriving at the goal but in the slow process of investing in the precious lives about us – little people in our shadows, cherishing those in the winter of life, appreciating those with whom you live and should love daily but most likely take for granted.

What will you see as you look back over your life – memories to cherish or missed opportunities – even in the uneventful or difficult seasons? How are you cherishing and investing today? There are still a few days left this short month – redeem the days you have ahead.

Ashlie Miller has enjoyed a very boring winter with her family in Concord, NC. You may connect with her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

When was the last time you were gobsmacked by love as a recipient or by learning of someone else’s love for another? I’m not talking about another predictable Hallmark love story or a fictional reel on social media created for views. I mean a genuine love story that defies all reason and logic – someone expressing utterly selfless love, and perhaps the recipient doesn’t reciprocate, seems aloof to it, or flat-out rejects it (and no, I’m not alluding to parents and teens).

Our congregation at Mission Bible Church has been reading through Hosea in our reading plan and learning more through a sermon series. The gripping story of Hosea and Gomer is one for the ages. While that is an intriguing story (I would love to have dinner with Gomer as one of my “who would you like to have dinner with from the past?” hypotheticals), it pales in comparison to the greater story God wanted His children to see. 

The divided nations of Israel and Judah both fell into rejecting God (one had a few better kings, but both nations had real issues). Hearts were prone to wickedness. They combined forms of true worship with wicked, pagan worship – child sacrifice, for example. The spiritual leaders of the temples built for their own God were either drunk or bought out for money to do the bidding of wicked kings. When God would woo them, they would put out a stiff hand of rejection. When He would allow them to fall into the hands of pagans they admired as a way to discipline them and give them what they thought they wanted, they still would not return fully to Him in humility. Hosea 11:4 says God “bent down to them to them and fed them”, but verse 7 shows that the people were “bent on turning away from [Him].”

God has perfect feelings. He expresses further in chapter 11, “Though they call out to the Most High, He shall not raise them up at all.” He follows that immediately with, “How can I give you up…How can I hand you over…? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.” God had every right to reject them as His people, or at least in the eyes of modern man. But God says, “I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath” (Hosea 11:9).

Imagine the modern-day advice if you were in a similar situation. You may have experienced someone taking advantage of you, not appreciating all you selflessly do, or turning on you to pursue something or someone contrary to all you hold dear in your life with them. The modern advice: “cut them out” or “cancel them.” In our imperfect human forms, sometimes that is the best way to survive in our broken world. But God can take it because His goal is to have His children back. 

How can He do this? Why doesn’t He wipe us off the face of the earth when we betray Him and reject His love for us?  Because God is faithful to His promises, to His divine character, and to what He reveals about Himself: “The Lord, our Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (fun scavenger hunt – look up this phrase or derivatives of it throughout the Bible).

The holy, perfect nature of God is merciful and patient. It flows from Him effortlessly. Wow, what an unbelievable love – one that pursues us in various ways, sometimes allows us to be left to our own devices, and is faithful in His love towards us! Have you been gobsmacked by it yet?

Ashlie Miller writes from Concord, NC. You can email her at: mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.