Ashlie Miller

By Ashlie Miller

Are you enjoying the gifts of the season yet? No, I’m not asking what you purchased on Black Friday or during the two weeks of sales before Thanksgiving. As much as I love Thanksgiving, I am not even talking about the time with family gathered around a turkey or a television screen filled with football games. 

Consider the gifts in the skies that this season brings! Meteorologist Brad Panovich posted on Facebook shortly after the change back to standard time that “Early sunsets are viewed by more people. Darkness also allows more viewing of astronomical events. It’s not all bad!” He also reminded followers that this is a return to standard time. Standard – as in normal. Yet somehow, we easily slip into discontent and remorse over what we have lost rather than seeing what we have regained. 

Seasons of nature are gifts from the Creator! When did you last watch the sunset with a child or an elderly friend who typically has an earlier bedtime? Each evening, a curtain is drawn to close the day and signal the beginning of a dazzling nocturnal display in the heavens. 

“We make ourselves present to delight in your handiwork, O Lord. We make ourselves present to revel in his unique, one-time display of your dynamic and infinitely-faceted glory.” (“A Liturgy for Sunsets” from Every Moment Holy by Douglas Kaine McKelvey, 2021.)

Many astral events occur late at night – I have a star-gazer who often asks to wake up at odd hours of the evening and early morning to look at the skies. But now, we can see some of them earlier. When was the last time you spread out a blanket or chair to take a look up? 

When was the last time I did? I will admit these early nights have me wiped out and loving the snuggly sensation of being wrapped up in bed with a book or magazine. Perhaps we could take just one evening a week to look up as the Creator meets us in the vast cathedral with ceilings covered in a breathtaking masterpiece! Rather than complaining about “kids these days,” maybe we woo them into the miraculous space met with wonder, praise, and gratitude, and there they rethink the allure of the hypnotic LED glow of portable devices as they watch a supernatural show in the heavens with us.

“O Spirit of God, draw praise from us here in this cathedral of creation, beneath this starry dome. Awaken our adoration in this place where we are so very small – and yet so greatly loved.” (“A Liturgy for Stargazing” by McKelvey.)

If we allow it, there is much awe that can capture even the most cynical spirit during this autumn season. In the busyness of the shopping season, see the gift of earlier nights and embrace them for the opportunities of wonder, praise, and gratitude they can provide, and consider sharing that with a loved one. 

Ashlie Miller looks for twinkles in the sky in Concord, NC with her husband, Chad, and their five children.

By Ashlie Miller

“It feels like 11 p.m., and it’s only 6 p.m.!” Several nights this week, children have found me wrapped in a blanket (with the a/c on because it is unseasonably warm, even for NC) and snuggled in my bed, anticipating bedtime. Yes, standard time can hit us hard. Falling asleep is not always the problem; waking at 5:00 a.m. is the conundrum – ask any young mom of toddlers and infants. I have more difficulty shutting off my brain to fall asleep as I age, so I occasionally pop a natural sleep aid like melatonin. On other late nights, I wake up with a random thought like – “What was the next line to the song I learned in 2nd grade?” – which prevents the completeness of a good REM cycle. Unfortunately, when that hits at 3 a.m., it is not a good time for a melatonin rescue.

These are times when remembering things I am grateful for can be helpful. For those who are already deep in their Christmas movie watching, a song from “White Christmas” comes to mind:

“When I’m worried, and I can’t sleep

I count my blessings instead of sheep

And I fall asleep counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small

I think of when I had none at all

And I fall asleep counting my blessings.”

What does the Bible say about how to rest and have peace?

Psalm 116:7 – “Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.”

Proverbs 17:22 – “A joyful heart is good medicine.”

Proverbs 15:13 – “A glad heart makes a cheerful face.”

Recalling God’s bounty with praise and contentment brings gladness and rest!

Isn’t it something that our Creator enabled us to have a memory? Why is that? While some may say it is a natural instinct developed for survival with disregard to a Higher Being engaged with our life, why do we remember more than places to find provision? Why do we feel grateful to someone for things and experiences? Why do we express (or at least SHOULD express) thankfulness? Food for thought.

I can thank my Father for giving me a mind to remember. I can then be grateful for a heart that wants to express thanks rather than having a sense of deserved entitlement. Next, I can regularly utter thankfulness audibly as outward praise and inwardly as that never-ceasing prayer – because prayer is not always an ask but also a language of thanks.

Is your heart troubled this season? Does it struggle to find rest? Foster a spirit of gratitude through prayer and praise. May you fall asleep counting your blessings!

Ashlie Miller is thankful for so much in her journey of life with her husband Chad and their five children in Concord, NC.

By Ashlie Miller

This year, many lawn adornments for Halloween were larger than life and maybe larger than death. November 1, many cleared out the skeletons and made way for Christmas, perhaps mixing a few pumpkins in with their nutcrackers.

During 2020, there was such a longing for Christmas in our household that I broke our tradition of waiting until after Thanksgiving and put up some decor earlier than usual. We all needed a sense of hope that year. I am no Scrooge. As you may recall, we incorporate Christmas in July to help us press on for the year. 

How quickly we can change gears from an ominous celebration of death to one of cheer. Instead of being a season of cheer, however, Christmas can be a time of dreary loneliness and dissatisfaction that can leave us feeling empty.

How can we be full as we enter? Although Thanksgiving is not a Church holiday, I see a Divine placement for us in the busy West – a moment to pause and to praise, to reflect and express gratitude. Why have we, as a nation who initiated this celebration, seemingly drifted from its original intent? Other than looking forward to a huge feast, how many of us take time to wonder at God’s provision and presence?

From a grateful heart, a busy season becomes a cheerful season as we seek to pour out goodness on others, filling our calendars with people more than mere things to do, see, or buy. December will ask me to give much of myself – not just financially but mostly my time and attention. The month can drain even a full sponge, but being filled to the brim is a good place to start. Those filled with gratitude are springs of life, equipped to navigate busy seasons with grace and joy. 

What does the Bible say about a heart of gratitude?

A guarded heart will be a wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23), bursting forth with a mouth that can speak life (Luke 6:45).

If we overflow with words like that, they can be healing words in a rough season for others (Proverbs 16:24).

Gratitude helps us navigate through any season (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

It makes beautiful experiences (like experiencing God’s presence) even more joyful! (Psalm 95 and 150, for starters).

By all means, put the skeletons back in the closet (or in the storage shed you had to rent to keep those massive ones) and start putting up the tree, but please, please don’t do a disservice to yourself and others by skipping over a pause for praise in November. Love others enough to want to share healing words, yourself enough to want to be full of joy and contentment, and God enough to give Him the gratitude He is due. Maybe start with thinking of one thing to be grateful for each day.

Ashlie Miller adorns her door this month with a harvest wreath circling the verse Psalm 118:1. Her pastor is her husband (Chad), and they parent five children in Concord. 

By Ashlie Miller

Who doesn’t love a fall weekend getaway? Sometimes, it can be spontaneous, with less pressure to have things in order at home before embarking. However, many of us still handle a few things before leaving for even 48 hours – taking out the garbage, removing smelly foods from the fridge, and wringing out the kitchen sponge or rag. No one wants to come home to a foul odor after breathing in the refreshing air of the Blue Ridge Parkway, apple cider from the orchard, or comforting candles at the general store. Have you ever returned home from such a trip only to be welcomed by the souring stench of a sitting sponge?

We can be like soured sponges in life, too – soaking up many good things but never wringing out the goodness within. Last week’s column spoke of the peace Jesus left for Christians in Matthew 24 when considering “times like these” (or end times as Christians refer to it). He told the disciples and future readers of the gospel to be careful who they listen to, not to be alarmed by what transpires, and trust God to keep them – all very sound, peace-giving counsel.

Jesus’ words did not end there. Those words led to His following command – proclaim this gospel to the world. How interesting – when asked for help by the disciples, Christ first calms and assures but then leaves them with the charge to go and tell the life-saving message of deliverance from the wrath to come because “the end is not yet.” After preliminary warnings through natural disasters and wars raging, we have time to declare a life-giving message – truth from the gospel. 

What does it look like to proclaim? We often turn our heads to our local pastor or even to the missionary we support as responsible for evangelizing and sharing the gospel. We, however, are not exempt from personally sharing. The great commission is for all Christian believers. We do our best to live lives of integrity, hard work, and joy at work or school. We make the most of opportunities to discuss where the joy comes from. When neighbors or others need practical help, we offer practical comfort (like an encouraging word, a hot meal, babysitting, or using our tools) and seek to cultivate time to discuss eternal things. In relationships, we share our story, God’s story – a story of redemption from sin. We can even use the myriad social media platforms to share the message of hope (people are scrolling to find it).

Those with a living relationship with Jesus have a heart full of hope. Suppose we are content to keep it to ourselves. In that case, we will no longer be a sweet-smelling fragrance but become a souring stench to our Savior and those around us. Someone who does not open themselves to the vulnerability of sharing the message may come across as personable in public, shaking hands and kissing babies, yet never genuinely share warmth in private relationships at home with their family or by welcoming the stranger. They look like a sponge full of hope but are filled with stagnated water. Yuck! Do we greedily hoard the hope of the gospel? Smelly sponges either get tossed or undergo a thorough cleansing process and become willing to be used and wrung out.

If you have a life-giving message, you are not destined to sit or soak in comfort and peace. When alarmed by what we see unfolding before us, we can spend time sharing conspiracy theories or the latest viral news feed, or we can do what Christ said – warn but also introduce people to hope along with it.

Ashlie Miller is a pastor’s wife and homeschooling mom of five children who often wait in the car far too long while she wrings out sponges and throws out the trash before an adventure. 

By Ashlie Miller

Headlines, social media, even at church – you can’t escape talk of recent events in the Middle East or the natural disasters that have made 2023 a record-setting year. Your local pastor or the one you tune into via podcast, radio, or television may have brought it up as a prayer point, interrupted a sermon series to speak from Revelation, Daniel, and other Old Testament passages, or brought Christ’s words to warn or encourage Christians. Why all the fuss? As well as being the world’s religious center, God also sees Israel as the geographic center (Ezekiel 5:5).

At my church, our pastor (my husband) shared Christ’s words about days like these, which you may have heard Christians refer to as “end times.” The highlights of Christ’s message to his disciples, when they asked about the timing and signs of Christ’s coming and the end of the age, come from Matthew 24:

Be careful who you listen to (verses 4-5). Warnings of false teachers who had already crept into the church abound in the epistles (letters to the first-century Christians). If you wonder if false teachers pose a threat today, tune into your favorite podcast, streaming network, or social media. TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms are the new pulpits and podiums where many can say too much and hardly anything. Charisma leads the way, where anyone with enough charm or resources can influence the masses. Open your own Bible and read along while you hear someone preaching. Examine the scriptures they quote in the context of the whole passage. Are they using human reasoning or only current social contexts while ignoring specific scriptures? Warning flag! It may be time to keep scrolling or unfollow. 

Do not be alarmed (verses 6-8). Rather than panic or despair as the world groans even physically through massive earthquakes, droughts, fires, floods, and nations rage (verses 6-8), we can remember that God is still good despite the evil in the world. Joni Eareckson Tada, a Christian author, artist, and speaker with quadriplegia, once said, “Sometimes, God permits what He hates to accomplish what He loves.” Christians can remember that God is faithful, fulfills his promises, and accomplishes His plans despite and sometimes in spite of how man chooses to operate. The world may seem to be falling apart at times, but the end is not yet (verses 9-13).

Trust God to keep you (verse 13) – “those who endure to the end will be saved.” Remember the Sunday school song, “He’s got the whole world in His hands”? Consider also Colossians 3:3, if you believe in Christ as the way to God, dying to yourself, “your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

How kind that our Savior would remind us of these things to calm us down in times like these. That seems like enough, is it? Christ says more than that. If you want the “spoiler alert,” read verse 14 of Matthew 24. Next time, an incredible challenge and charge to Christians.

Ashlie Miller is wife to her pastor, Chad Miller, and mother to five children, all residing in Concord, NC.

By Ashlie Miller

While many proclaim the joys of autumn, for others, the fall brings a sense of dread of living through dark, cold isolation. I can recall dreading the season when I lived in a house with fewer windows than I have now, feeling suffocated by the lack of light. 

While reading through the Gospel of John with our church in both large gatherings and small groups recently, I came to a scene of such darkness and hopelessness. I wonder if you can relate. 

It had been dark – not just that early morning, not just at midday a couple of days before – but in the atmosphere of the brothers, those who had followed closely. Though Jesus communicated that He would not be the political messiah or social justice warrior their people longed for to ease their pain, they still hoped there would be more. Mary Magdalene had also followed closely, watching the One who had forgiven her, radically changed her, and truly loved her give sight to the blind, heal the sick, and even raise the dead. Perhaps she had also hoped with wonder at this strange idea of a “the kingdom.” But no, all that was gone – brutally killed and buried. 

Wrecked with grief, she does the one thing she can to continue serving Jesus, going through the motions of ministering to Him, even if it were an empty charade now. It was still dark – at the tomb and in her spirit – but surely it could not get worse. Wait! The immovable rock sealing the tomb has been moved. Had someone arrived before her, stepping into the cherished role of caring for His body? NO! His body is missing! She runs to the disciples, hoping they can help her make sense of this tragedy upon a tragedy. As two of them have their own experience at the tomb, Mary is still perplexed, unable to understand it all now. Absorbed in tears that further cloud her mind and vision, she sits outside the grave, squinting to see men in white sitting in the tomb. One asks why she weeps. Choking down tears as she tries to call out His name, she can only say that she does not know who has taken her Lord and where they have laid Him. 

Then, another man, coming out from among the flowers, asks why the tears and for whom she is looking. Again, she pleads for answers so she can serve, the one thing that can bring her joy at this point. Then, with clarity, this gardener, this tender of the soil and growing, living things, says one simple word – “Mary.” The name was common enough during that time, but the One speaking it makes the difference. She knows that voice and realizes the speaker knows her. He is not dead! Hope is not lost! The darkest night and morning are over! Though gentle and lowly in heart, He is the mighty conquering victor over death and the grave! 

Things are very different now. No longer needlessly going through the motions of service, she can serve joyfully at promises fulfilled, hope and peace being present in a Person. 

It may seem odd to write about the resurrection in autumn. But in a season marked with things fading and a future glimpse of the coming season marked by little to no life, you may be painfully reminded of a personal season marked with much darkness, sadness, and loneliness. Your judgment is off. You want to believe what you know is true, but so much in your face screams otherwise. Tears are not cleansing – they are clouding. Take heart – the Lord sees and is not far off. Cry out those tears of honesty and frustration! He hears. He will call your name soon. Continue to serve. It may seem routine, but it is the best thing you can do now. Recall God’s past faithfulness to His promises.

However, remember the only way to recall what is true is to abide in the truth. God’s Word is that unchanging, life-giving Truth. 

Ashlie Miller is wife to Chad (a pastor in Charlotte) and homeschooling mom to five children in Concord, NC. You may contact her at ashliemiller.com. 

By Ashlie Miller

Along with crimson reds, warm embers, intensely deep purple leaves, fruits and berries, and pecans & acorns, autumn also brings teachable moments in the brown falling leaves, the winds, and the rains. Many life lessons can be learned in autumn related to change and life cycles. The season provides small examples of how to gently present to children the idea of overwhelming topics like aging and death.

When my teens were very young, I came across this quote: “Youth is like spring, an over-praised season more remarkable for biting winds than genial breezes. Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers, we more than gain in fruits.” ~Samuel Butler

When was the last time you stopped to value those in the autumn of their lives? The quote above reflects that embrace. We praise the young for their input and seeming knowledge in our society. We glorify, edify, and value all things in youth culture. Yet, in the passion and ambition of the young, often “biting winds” knock over everything in their path. I was guilty of that as a young teen and adult, viewing those over middle age who appear mellower to have given up, trading vigor for apathy or compromising their passion.

I recall when I was a young parent with little boys eager to venture on an autumn nature walk in the neighborhood. One neighbor had several pecan trees, and we picked up a few from the ground and even from the tree for observation. What a lesson we were about to learn about life and people!

With apologies to columnist Darrell Blackwelder, the actual horticulturalist, I humbly share our observations. Not knowing much about harvesting pecans then, I assumed that anything we saw – green nuts on the tree, fallen nuts on the ground – was all up for grabs and ready to taste. We learned the hard way – pecans are only edible the closer it gets to what looks like rotting (at least to an unlearned observer). Never eat the pecan straight from the tree when it is green – you can’t! It is tough getting into the green casing or husk. If you succeed, the nut is not mature. However, a cracked, wrinkly shell is on the verge of a real treasure.

I learned a lesson that day that I have kept with me and changed how I spend time with people. Spending time with the young as a sounding board is essential as they journey with passion and ignorance. In remembering where I was, I can value where I am and share with them. But what a treasure to spend time with those in autumn years who have perhaps mellowed some but have sweet wisdom!

Titus 2:1-8 provides instruction on that very thing – the older spending time with the younger – both learning and teaching. Consider making space this week to grab coffee with someone outside your age bracket. You may teach or learn something valuable.

Ashlie Miller is grateful to the green ones who pull her out of her routine and share their passion along with their woes as well as the ripe ones who have a sweetness to savor and wisdom to share.

By Ashlie Miller

Do you have that certain itch with the recent transition to autumn – that either has you craving pumpkin spiced latte or warm apple cider, a longing for a bowl of chili and cornbread, and the desire to pull up a seat by the fire pit? Perhaps you want to slow down and spend time with friends and family, embracing the joy that comes with this season’s harvests.

Though I do not come from a Jewish background, I have learned a little about the beauty of Jewish feasts over the years as a homeschooling mom, thanks to the lovely curriculum we have found. We are entering the season of Sukkot, or the Festival of Booths. This marvelous feast is celebrated annually as part of the harvest season outdoors in temporary booths or shelters. During this time of feasting, participants may reflect on the many years their ancestors traveled through the desert and rejoice at God’s provision through that time. While I do not know how closely that relates to our American Thanksgiving, it certainly stirs those feelings in me.

How lovely it must be (and must have been) to regularly join together to feast on the bounty of God’s provision while celebrating with family and friends outside, sharing food. How lovely it can be for us, in this harvest season, to also slow down and invite friends, family, and neighbors to our backyards to savor the goodness of comforting foods and encouraging conversations accompanied by the smells, sights, and other delights only provided in the great outdoors.

I have great memories of times around many campfires either at a campground, on a church property, or in the backyards of friends. I can recall testimonies shared by my elders and being captivated by their stories – some silly and some serious, but both significant to who they have become. I even recall weeping and tears around many campfires – tears of sorrow over sins and tears of joy over victories.

I miss those days, and I hope to reclaim them. We are in such a hurried age of tremendous disconnect despite the personal devices (and vices) that should make us more connected with other people. Does this generation know these simple joys of slowing down, sharing our life stories, and feasting on small, even unimpressive meals – like a bowl of chili – that can provide great comfort and hope? Will it be lost on us? It will if we do not take the initiative.

Stories of God’s faithfulness in the lives of people I know have always encouraged me. Hearing them in intimate places like a backyard campfire makes them unforgettable. Who will help reclaim this joy and share their backyards as a temporary booth for feasting and remembrance to create a permanent place of hope and care?

Ashlie Miller is a pastor’s wife to Chad and a mother of five in Concord, NC. Share your campfire stories with her at ashliemiller.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Do you prefer to immerse yourself in nature or a good book? Students have been discussing general revelation versus special revelation as it relates to knowing God as Creator and Jesus as Savior in a “Foundations in the Faith” class at our homeschool co-op. In case you are unfamiliar with these terms, in Christianity, we believe God reveals attributes of His character through creation. Upon realizing there must be a Creator, we are inclined to pursue finding out Who He is and why He created (as outlined in Romans 1:20-21). This search leads us to the Scriptures to discover these answers, further drawing us to the plan of Salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

Last weekend, to kick off the fall season, our family ventured a couple of hours towards Hendersonville to spend some time at Stepp’s Hillcrest Apple Orchard and then to hike in Dupont State Forest. The apple orchard provides so many “taste and see” opportunities (Psalm 34:8) – all that variety! Why would a Creator delight to give so many flavors and colors of one type of fruit? The joy we receive from slicing into a freshly picked apple or simmering down apples into a sauce is a true gift. Then, hiking a park with several waterfalls is a feast for the senses – the rushing roar of the waterfall, the spectacular splashes we can see and feel, and even the smell of nature. 

My five-year-old son proved that the wonder and awe of these experiences and the presence of a Creator were not lost on him. Watching him discover the sound and the massive power of the energy in the falls as we approached was overwhelming to his small frame. After taking in the sight, his first question was, “Mom, is this heaven?”. He was not parroting an overused phrase. These were the best words he could find to express his joy. Later, throughout the hike, he declared, “This is the best vacation day of my life!”. The wisdom of toddlers and kindergarteners is refreshing! We can learn so much from them. 

What makes your draw drop when you explore nature? Or when was the last time you allowed yourself to wander to wonder? Many “ologists” (biologists, geologists, etc.) get lost in books and theories; I wonder if they miss the awe aspect of what they study, forgetting what likely lured them into the field in the first place.

We in the West have plenty of access to special revelation through Bible apps, multiple translations and versions of the Bible, and ample churches that still teach biblically. However, we must also couple that with general revelation by enjoying God’s creation. 

How can you do that soon? Plan a trip to an apple orchard, a hike, or a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. How can you get lost in wonder today? Savor each bite of your food, watch the critters gather for winter, or spend time with a kindergartener in the backyard. I promise you’ll be able to get lost in the wonder of it all!

Ashlie Miller plans to get lost in wonder with her family either in the backyards of Concord, on day trips to hike, or driving for fall foliage color.

By Ashlie Miller

As a teen and young adult, I babysat often. One of the boys I spent time with loved to build obstacle courses through the house – over, under, through, across, around. Challenges like these are fun when you are a child not so much when you are an adult. We see them as impediments and stumbling blocks – sometimes quite literally when our bare feet discover scattered Legos on the floor in the middle of the night!

In the life of a Christian believer, many hindrances can get in the way of doing the things God wants us to do, particularly for others. What obstructs the door of hospitality in our lives?

Anna began hosting within her home with little confidence. Social anxieties can be crippling and feed lies that speak into our hearts – “You are not enough” or “This event will not be impressive.” However, Anna puts faith in who God says she is, leans into what He is asking her to do, and trusts Him to take care of her limitations so that she does not have to rely on herself. She beautifully demonstrates a welcoming atmosphere and engages with each guest, even when there is a houseful, as I have witnessed.

While you, the host, may not be shy, there may be family members in your household who are introverted and can be overwhelmed by too much “peopling” – spending time with people. In Lizzy’s case, one child joins the group for the meal but then is welcome to enjoy the quiet of his room while others receive a dose of hospitality from his Mom. Lizzy still shares hospitality with the child as she takes note of his own needs and addresses and accommodates appropriately, but does not let that obstruct developing this trait in her home.

For some, like Ellie, the hurdle can be fear of lacking the gift of organization and pulling things together just so, though guests do not bear witness to that. The greatest lesson we can learn from our limitations is that simple is better than perfect. Consider that for yourself. When visiting another home, do we truly feel most welcome when everything is ideally in line, or do we feel more like family when flaws are present that we graciously overlook or maybe even embrace? The end goal of hospitality is not to impress but to welcome, include, and have opportunities to express care.

Then, there is the restriction of our personal calendars. Being intentional with hospitality will demand a ready, willing spirit and forethought. Wishful thinking and dreaming of a perfect time and setting can get stuck in a world of intentions. Sometimes, we have to grab life by the calendar, looking at our days, remembering our routines, and scheduling time to connect with others on a specific day. We must also cultivate a life of open hearts and homes to bring people into our routines. We may have to plan preparation or even recovery days if “peopling” drains us (introverts, I’m talking to you…er…us). We may have to push through exhaustion. Still, the end result – sharing the Light of Jesus through personal connection and welcoming others into outlives – is worth it!

What could happen if we looked at our gloriously busy fall and winter seasons ahead of us and planned to include others in our homes? What could change for them, us, our communities, and beyond?

Ashlie Miller navigates literal and figurative obstacles regularly in pursuit of hospitality in her home in Concord. You may contact her at ashliemiller.com.