reNEWed HOPE: a new direction and fresh perspective!

Hello friends, my sisterhood! I’m back and ready to roll…it’s been quite busy for me lately but in a blessed way, not a burdened way. I’ve been working and growing things, praying over many things. One of which is the new direction of HOPE FOR HER HEART! So many new, fresh, exciting things to share with you!

Let’s start from the beginning of why I created this ministry. Hebrews 6:19 says, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.” Hope is what keeps us anchored, your soul is sacred and special to the Lord and He wants to protect it, but as it is anchored it’s stronger as well. Not only is His hope that He gives steadfast, His love is steadfast, as well as unconditional and eternal. The Lord, the God of the universe, the Creator of everything, the Almighty wants to have an intimate relationship with YOU! Why? Because not only is He Almighty God, He is YOUR DADDY!
Hope for Her Heart, is just exactly what it means. Simple truths that give hope to women and girls everywhere. Whose heart is being sustained by hope? Who is SHE?

She is the insecure teenager girl, who’s shy and insecure about her beauty and her potential. She is the rebellious girl who likes to push the limits and bend the rules but really seeks some type of structure and consistency. There are young girls at middle and high school age that are in the midst of trying to find their identity, finding out who they are supposed to be but most importantly who God created them to be. She needs motivation for the dreams of the future of a college and career young woman. She is the single mom, the stay at home mom, the working mom, the lonely widow or divorcee struggling to find courage to love again, the pastor’s wife, the single woman waiting for her prince to come, the young college girl, the career woman. She is the Christian church girl, who’s always been marked as a “goody goodie” her whole life and has trouble having grace upon herself but pours grace on others. Hope: something for every woman at every stage in their life. Encouragement for the struggling single mom trying balance things and make ends meet. Comfort for the lonely and brokenhearted widow or divorcee. Peace and advice for the busy mom of a toddler or teenager. Every woman has worth, and needs encouragement, for SHE is a princess, a daughter of the King. This is HOPE FOR HER HEART.

For every woman, of every walk of life whether she is strengthening her faith and walk with Christ, or a seeker eager to learn more about this love of Jesus that has captured her soul. To grow this simple blogging ministry into a non-profit organization: a network of women’s ministries and charities, places where women and girls can volunteer together to serve and impact the lives of other women and girls.

So here’s the news!

• HOW DO YOU LIKE OUR NEW LOGO?! This fresh new look was crafted and created by my best friend and I. Bridgett, is the owner and creator of She Matters Box (www.shemattersbox.com) This logo encompasses an anchor (Hebrews 6:19), the cross in the middle of the anchor, and a heart at the top of the anchor.

 

• Hope For Her Heart is partnered with our sister ministry She Matters Box, a business that delivers a little bit of sunshine to your door each month! This box is filled with wonderful items ranging from journals, devotionals, t shirts, jewelry, cards, and little trinkets; all designed and created to help women grow in their faith and relationship with Christ. Portions of the proceeds go to benefit charities as well. Check out http://www.shematters.box.com. Bridgett and I have been working more and more fervently and passionately in prayer and what we call “creative collaboration”.

 

• New blog bible series WOMEN OF THE WORD launching in January! Each devotional narrative will include an introduction to the chapter/book of the Bible, such as the setting, cultural context, and character as well as characteristics and virtues in her (or that describe her), perspective-telling her story from her own point of view-her hopes, her dreams, her fears, her struggles, her lessons learned, and most importantly her faith. Each section will highlight three aspects: Her Hope, Her Story, Her Prayer, and reflection/prayer with reflection questions, Scripture based guided prayer points just for you! Get ready to dig into the Word through the eyes and hearts of women who lived it!

 

• Book of the Month: Each month we will highlight a new read by well-known and new authors in women’s ministry circles.

So here’s a question for you, what topics or added features would you like to see? How can we as sisters help each other grow?

Don’t forget to follow us on and please share the love and encouragement with your friends!

⦁ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hopeforherheartministry
⦁ Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/hopeforherheart
⦁ Twitter: @hope4herheart
⦁ Instagram: @hopeforherheart

With love in Christ, Heather (and Bridgett)

 

Women of the Word: A Series of Women of the Bible and Their Stories

Have you ever wondered how it must have felt to be woman or girl living in Biblical times? Society and the world in general were much different. Customs and cultures were different. Family, your work, and your faith meant everything; much like it does today. Women however weren’t mentioned as much in ancestry and genealogy throughout the Bible because names and inheritance were passed down through fathers to sons. Women’s opinions and leadership weren’t discussed near as much, but that doesn’t mean that they didn’t have a voice or leadership. There are many women in the Bible mentioned by name for their role they play in important, life-changing, historical events in the Bible. After all, without mothers who gave birth how would any of us be here?

Too many times throughout history, there’s a common misconception of the past that women were “to be seen and not heard”. In my humble opinion, I’ve seen numerous stories of women in the Bible and throughout the course of history worldwide that have challenged that stigma and rumor because they were called by God to make a change someway somehow. So we are going to take a little journey back through time and into the hearts and minds of women and girls who walked those same dusty roads that Jesus did. The women who walked, talked, and did life together with their husbands like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob-just to name a few! Scripture itself says God created woman to be a helpmate to man; neither inferior nor superior. Genesis 2:18 says “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Ladies, we were handcrafted carefully and uniquely by God. He doesn’t make mistakes; He saw that everything He made was good. He makes beautiful things, with beautiful purposes. So in this next series we are going to explore the depths of each of these women’s hearts. To walk in her shoes, or sandals so to speak. To feel what she felt. To know her story, not just her name.

Each devotional narrative will include an introduction to the chapter/book of the Bible, such as the setting, cultural context, and character as well as characteristics and virtues in her (or that describe her), perspective-telling her story from her own point of view-her hopes, her dreams, her fears, her struggles, her lessons learned, and most importantly her faith. Each section will highlight three aspects: Her Hope, Her Story, Her Prayer, and reflection/prayer with reflection questions, Scripture based guided prayer points just for you! Get ready to dig into the Word through the eyes and hearts of women who lived it!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: JANUARY 2017, WE BEGIN OUR SERIES!

-Your Sister in Christ,
Heather

The Truth About Mean Girls by Heather H.

The Truth about Mean Girls

The popular 2004 movie, “Mean Girls” gave everyone an inside scoop on what it’s like to be a high school girl. Although a lot of the movie was exaggerated for laughs, a lot of it can be true. Girls can be vicious, admit it. We’ve all had our heart broken by a boy probably at least once in our life, or been picked on by a guy (that’s their way of “flirting”) but let’s face it no many how tears you’ve shed of a silly boy the wounds from our fellow females can hurt worse. Why do we do that, huh ladies? Is there a reason, logic or science behind our motives? First things first, bullying is not cool. We know that girls and guys are definitely wired differently in the way we think and interact with others. We know that guys loves a healthy dose of competition to stroke their ego a little bit, but guys don’t hold on to grudges like girls do. Sometimes I’d actually rather hang out with my brothers and guy friends than some girls because the fellas are less dramatic! I love my girlfriends though! Guys will throw a few punches maybe and have a few words, then be friends again five minutes later and be all like “hey bro, I’m sorry man”. Girls on the other hand, we can be very competitive as well, but usually do not show it until that green-eyed monster comes lurking up and sneaks out of us, not quite as loudly and angrily as The Hulk, but more manipulative and cunning…you guessed it, the green-eyed monster called JEALOUSLY.

In last week’s article, I talked about body image, self-esteem and the media trend of “body shaming”. Since when did it become okay to slam someone or shame someone because of their size? We, as ladies are constantly comparing ourselves to each other! I’m just as guilty, I’m only human too my sister! Sometimes it can be comparing our weight or clothing size as we already mentioned. Sometimes, (for any of my elementary and middle school girls) it could be that little girl that sits next to us in class who has the cutest new Disney Princess or Lilly Pulitzer notebook and book bag to match and we just have plain ole wide-ruled spiral bound notebooks and a hand me down book bag and last year’s outfit while she’s sporting a new wardrobe. Or it could be that head cheerleader who’s so popular that every guy wants to date, and your crush just asked her to prom instead of even glancing in your direction. Even grown-ups deal with the same thing, the woman in the cubicle next to you-your “work bestie” got the promotion and you didn’t. Or someone is getting more hours than you while your shifts get cut back. What about the new girl who is “stealing” your friends? (Let’s be honest, she’s not “stealing your friends” she’s just trying to make friends, including YOU!) Or let’s get real, you see some girl supposedly flirting with your man! Oh no she didn’t! Ladies we all face real life situations of petty jealously! But what about the words some girls same that cut us to the core, or when your best friend lets you down, or worse…stabs you in the back? Girls don’t throw punches and fight it out like boys do, girls use words and gossip and manipulation…also the worst tactic making someone feel left out.

The question is WHY?! Girls this is not all fun and games. Words hurt, the Bible even speaks of it in James 3 saying that the tongue is hard to tame. Instead of getting jealous, or feeling better than or less than one of your sisters in Christ, celebrate each other! Instead of trying always “one up” each other, why not help each other up? Each of us face a lot of the same things, sometimes you just need another woman whether older and wiser or a girlfriend your age to share and talk with. We are all in this together ladies! We are royal daughters, not jealous nasty monsters who thrive on manipulation! Whatever things are honest and noble, full of virtue-think on these and do these things! (Philippians 4:8, Proverbs 31). One of the most important things I can leave you with is, if you have been hurt by mean girls or bullied in the past…or maybe you were or are that “mean girl”…the bottom line is grace and forgiveness. Forgive those who have hurt you, and reach out to those you have hurt…show grace to yourself and others. Love each other by lifting each other up.
-Your sister in Christ, Heather