Words of Hope
I always thought that the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3 inspired me because these three men were willing to go into the fire. I longed to be faced with a giant crisis and answer with a triumphant “throw me into the fire.” But, as the last two…
In Advent and Christmas we consider the coming of a child into our world. This year such considerations are 24/7 realities in my life since Allison and I received our first child, Estella Mae, less than three weeks ago. Unto us a child is born! I cannot help but…
Is a life-threatening illness, a major life change, or just plain old age forcing you to face your own mortality? Is your eventual death looming like a dark cloud over your life? Are you sure of what will happen when you die? How are you dealing with your questions…
Two summers ago my husband and kids became really excited about the idea of having sheep. Our home is situated on ideal land for them. That was the only reason that I thought supported the idea, but their enthusiasm won over. One afternoon they brought home nine…
In our world today, submission is almost universally viewed as a negative quality. However, submission, when understood in the context of Jesus’s life, is a beautiful and freeing concept. In Mark 8:34-35, Jesus tells his disciples that “If anyone wishes to come…
III. THE INHERITANCE OF HOPE Consider the Christian believer’s hope. Think about three things. First… A. THE SOURCE WE CAN TRUST Where can you get 100% reliable truth about the future, including reality beyond death? There is just one place –the Bible. Look again…
“What do you hope your obituary will say?” I am not asking you. I am telling you the first question interviewers often ask Ray Kurzweil. He is an inventor who has given us the flatbed scanner, optical character recognition technology, a reader for the blind, and an…
You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the parents on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those…
I have been thinking about this phrase. It is used often enough. You may hear a frustrated employee say it; you can hear a spouse who has just about had it repeat this common refrain. I was at a funeral this week and one of the people who shared used the phrase “I…
How am I doing? Well, it’s kind of surreal to enter some anniversaries: diagnosis, surgery, and start of chemo. In February we were able to be in Florida on an amazing retreat for families who are dealing with terminal illnesses. Yes, the “T” word, not one I like to…
The love of your life is gone. Or has never shown up. Your family is all but destroyed by broken relationships. Or a deeply valued friendship has slowly waned away. Dreams have shattered and hope seems forever lost. Endless prayers weren’t answered in the way…
Are there friends or family members whom you rarely hear apologize? Their apologies may be long overdue. Here is the problem: we have a natural tendency to gloss over what we have done wrong. Perhaps we hope that if we don’t say how self-centered or thoughtless…
Our family is gradually recovering from the loss of our son Jonathan at age 43. He died on October 12, 2011, after being diagnosed with stage 4, untreatable colon cancer. It was hard to wrap our minds around those words when we first heard them. It still is…
I long to find rest at home. To be still. To be with those I love. To feel settled. How do you define HOME? It could simply be a place to eat & sleep when you get home from work, a space to decorate and make your own, a prized possession that must be sparkling…
We often think of grief as a response to death, but grief comes from other losses too. Families facing a young parent’s illness grieve the loss of health, loss of finances, loss of productivity, loss of relationships, loss of opportunities, loss of future plans, even…
– Blog Post written by Bobby Conti, Legacy Retreat attendee and now volunteer. Far-off, unknowable, unrelatable. Are these words you use to describe God? It is not uncommon for people to feel that God doesn’t know what they are going through, especially in…
I have been volunteering for Inheritance of Hope for almost four years. In those years of witnessing amazing moments, my eyes have been opened to the significance of support and encouragement. I want to focus on the loving assistance that we volunteers strive to…
– Blog post written by Daniel Carillo In the first chapter of his Gospel, John gives an account of how Jesus selects the apostles. Interesting approach – John doesn’t give an account of each apostle’s first encounter with Jesus. Instead, he focuses on four –…
My dad was diagnosed with very rare stage 4 lymphoma in his eyes when I was 15. It was a pretty tough time for my family. Doctors didn’t think he was going to make it, but thank God he did. My family had gone through a lot of tough things in the past, but I always…
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life,…
Spring! Here in the northeast, spring has finally sprung! Temperatures have risen into the 70s. The sun has reintroduced itself, thawing the weary denizens of winter’s harsh sting. Tiny buds can be seen on some trees and bushes, barely perceptible, but…
I read an article this week that really impacted me. The writer sat at a playground with a friend/acquaintance and they chatted as they watched their kids play. They had spent many hours at this playground on different days and yet they barely knew each other. I…
My hands feel very full right now. I have a son who just turned 4 years old, a 20 month old son, & a 6 week old daughter. My maternity leave just ended so I’m jumping back into the “real world” a bit this week. My to-do list is growing &…
There is a beautiful blond 7 year old girl named Ana battling a brain tumor. She already fought it once when she was three and then was given a break until this past Fall when it reared it’s ugly head again. Her parents are facing some very tough decisions…
March 18 of this year would have been Inheritance of Hope co-founder Kristen Milligan’s 40th birthday. Though something about that number creates discomfort for those reaching it, Kristen was not the sort of person to be bothered by a number. I know I am not alone…
I live in Minnesota and we have had quite a wintry March. We had several feet of drifted snow everywhere we looked, and temperatures in the single digits as the calendar flipped past March 21 . . . Spring! It is hard to believe in the promises of Spring when Winter…
February is sometimes referred to as the month of love. We celebrate Valentine’s Day and there are many reminders to spend time with our loved ones. As an Inheritance of Hope volunteer, I recently saw an amazing amount of love at the January Legacy Retreat®. The…
This morning I woke up to a very dense fog. It was so foggy, in fact, that I could not see my next door neighbor’s house. I knew that it would not remain like that forever but it sure was gloomy and difficult to get on with the day when I couldn’t see past…
Inheritance of Hope co-founder Kristen Milligan died on October 26, 2012. The following is part of a Bible study series she wrote. If your church, Bible study, team, or group has interest in experiencing together this study from Kristen’s unique perspective as a…
Saturday morning my family and I awoke feeling very cold . . . our furnace was out, brrr! We checked into having it repaired and realized it would be better to replace it entirely. But the earliest day they could install our new furnace was 6 days out, so that…
After taking some time to process the tragic shooting at the elementary school in New Town, CT & speaking to some some IOH families over the holidays who recently lost a parent, it makes logical sense to cling to those we love even more. Yet, I’m still…
Joy to the world! The Lord has come: let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare him room and heaven and nature sing. Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns: let men their songs employ while fields and floods rocks hills and plains repeat the sounding joy….
A snowstorm left my family and I stuck at home, which gave us time to put a puzzle together. As we sorted the pieces, I found myself wondering what we all must wonder when the puzzle is still completely fragmented . . . “How are these pieces going to fit together to…
Last week the amazing tree in Rockefeller Center was lit for all to see, decorated with 30,000 lights and a Swarovsky crystal star on top. Beautiful! The sight of a lit tree at Christmastime evokes a response in just about all of us. I was intrigued when I came…
The calendar still says November, but most everyone’s attention has turned to Christmas. I love Christmas! Time together with family, sweet treats, beautiful lights, lovely music, and gift giving to honor the greatest Gift ever given . . . Jesus Christ. But I find…
With Open Hands: Part 1 A few years ago I was in a book study with a few people who read the book “With Open Hands” by Henri Nouwen. I was a new mom at the time with my first son about 15 months old. He was at that “separation anxiety” stage where he clung to me…
Inheritance of Hope co-founder Kristen Milligan died on October 26. The following is part of a Bible study series she wrote. If your church, Bible study, team, or group has interest in experiencing together this study from Kristen’s unique perspective as a…
As I felt led to run a marathon, I looked into the training program that was suggested by our wise Team IoH leader, Lisa, and I quickly realized that the training itself was far from my reach. The first week began with a five mile trek, and I was having difficulty…
Earlier this week, my family and I were walking on the grounds of a chapel in St. Augustine, FL. While strolling through this beautifully manicured piece of our nation’s history, I came across a statue of St. Francis of Assisi, who is highly revered in the…
I have come across many people in the past several years who talk excitedly about a very exclusive club — the Cancer Club. There is no ID card or dues expected when you are a member of this club. There are no official meetings, no speakers, no banquets. The…
Peace. It does not mean being in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. How do you do that? When there are true storms pounding down on us and looming in the distance how do…
Have you ever had a season in your life (either long or short lived) when you felt like you just could not make sense of the world around you? Like everything swirling around you was just too big to grasp? Maybe you have heard a bit of bad news & then more…
After recalibrating their regard for the holiness of God and the ark, David leads Israel by bringing the ark into Jerusalem. David knows how to make an entrance! 2 Samuel 6:12-19 and 1 Chronicles 15-16 depict an exuberant celebration. There are many instruments…
The other night my family and I stopped at a new convenience center in town that is way better then your average gas station. Yes, they sell gasoline, snacks and drinks but they also have a full deli and a pay-by-the-ounce yogurt and topping bar. Well, as we got out…
“Show kindness whenever possible. Show it to the people in front of you, the people coming up behind you, and the people with whom you are running neck and neck. It will vastly improve the quality of your own life, the lives of others, and the state of the…
2 Samuel 6 is not often cited as a favorite Bible story. It features God killing a well-intentioned man, an immodestly dressed and wildly dancing king, and a fierce marital spat. Could such a story have any value for us today? This story is situated near the end of…
I received the following on a card from my grandmother and I have had it displayed next to my bed since then. It really spoke to me. Live Deep Never stop learning, playing, or finding wonder in the world around you. Live the length of your life, but live the depth…
In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus tells a story which has become widely known, even beyond Christian circles. The basic plot is this. A traveler is attacked half to death and left on the road; two religious leaders pass by, but an outsider has compassion and helps the…
My family and I moved into a new house this Spring and I have really enjoyed setting up my new home. I have moved around furniture and trinkets until things look the way I want them to look. I am nesting. Nesting is defined as: 1. To build or occupy a nest. 2. To…
A few weeks ago we returned from the May 2012 retreat in Orlando, Florida. This was a special retreat for me because it was the first time I was able to invite a family I knew personally to come on a retreat & see them be cared for & enjoy a few days…
I love to do puzzles, but it is much easier if you have the box top “big” picture to guide you. Life is not like that. We do not have the “big” or the “whole” picture at any given point. We get one puzzle piece at a time and over…
Today it is rainy outside. Here in North Carolina the pollen has finally subsided and the trees are full of green leaves. We are in the midst of spring. I was just sitting at my kitchen table with my young boys watching them eat their breakfast. They are ravenous as…
It’s that time of year to start thinking about a training plan for your summer or fall race. Training for a race can often be extreme… like, going out on a 20 mile run on a Saturday morning … or, swimming a mile and then jumping on your bike…
Many of us would prefer a life that is not subject to extremes, yet some of us cannot avoid extremes, even if we try. When I was 5 my father was diagnosed with leukemia. This was one of life’s extremes that everyone in my family would have changed at the time if we…
I live in the mountains and it still amazes me how awe struck I can be at any moment. The mountains are the same, but with just the right light and any given time of year they look different. They look more beautiful and breath-taking everyday. Some days it is…
I just spent a few days at the beach with my family for Spring Break. It was wonderful! My parents recently moved into a condo that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and I really enjoyed standing out on their balcony and listening to the waves come in and out constantly….
Kristen Milligan’s Testimony (Joy and Peace Through Suffering) from Skyland United Methodist Church on Vimeo.
I used to attend a class at a local gym called “Power.” We did dynamic weight lifting and by the end of the class almost every muscle in my body was shaking. After weeks of training, I started seeing real results! I could lift my kids and…
Who doesn’t love a quick fix? Our culture is often criticized for its impatient desire for instant gratification, yet ancient stories in the Bible are full of quick fixes. Jesus’ miracles feed thousands, calm storms, heal severe diseases, exorcise demons, and even…
I feel extraordinarily thankful to be here this Christmas with my husband and my children. There was a moment a few months ago when I wasn’t sure … so much so that my Christmas shopping was complete in early September. I love that I will be here on…
During this season of thanksgiving, I feel I should give thanks for so many things: 1) I am thankful for my health but more than that I am thankful that I have learned to be intentional about this day as we never know when it could be our last. 2)I am thankful for my…
The Marine Corps Marathon finishes with an incline for the last .2 miles of the 26.2 mile race, ending at the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial) in Arlington. The memorial depicts the 5 Marines and 1 U.S. Navy corpsman that raised the American flag using a…
Isn’t it interesting how much being a parent teaches us? How profoundly God uses children to chip away at our selfishness … My 10-year-old son and I were on the golf course on Father’s Day this year. Rather than pleasantly enjoying each other’s company, we were…
There was a couple who took a trip to England to shop in a beautiful antique store to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques and pottery, and especially teacups. Spotting an exceptional cup, they asked “May we see that? We’ve…
Two years ago, my four boys ages 8-15 knew nothing about cancer. The oldest 3 had been to Haiti numerous times and had begun at young ages to grasp poverty, political corruption, and the need to work for change, but they were unfamiliar with cancer. Little did I…
A 95 year old man gave his son some advice: “Do you want to know the secret of a long life?” “I guess so,” the son answered. “No left turns,” the father said. “What?” the son asked. “No left turns,” he…
Every morning when I send my kids off to school I say a prayer with them . We pray for God to protect them throughout their day and they often ask for help with their spelling tests or a good lunch option in the cafeteria. 😉 But I always end the prayer this way,…
In 2001, I was diagnosed with life-threatening cancer. Six years later, after I had regained my strength, my husband went into kidney failure and was in need of a kidney transplant. It was this past week in 2007 that my husband received a kidney from a wonderful…
A few years ago I read a great book series by Beverly LaHaye and Terri Blackstock. The Seasons Series follows the lives of four women who live on the same cul-de-sac of a neighborhood suburb. One of the books begins as a mom is cleaning and putting away the…
My father-in-law is a Chaplain in the Air National Guard. He is currently deployed to Manas, Krygystan where he is serving at the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Chapel. This Transit Center ministers to many permanent party staff and also to hundreds of service men and…
This month’s devotional is the final of a 3-part series by Legacy Retreat attendee Cheryl Broyles. Nine – Energize: During our break climbing Mount Shasta we drank water and ate to keep up our energy. An amazing energy gel called GU, smooth creamy chocolate…
This month’s devotional is the second of a 3-part series by Legacy Retreat attendee Cheryl Broyles. Five – Faith: The statistics show 70 % of the people attempting to climb Mount Shasta fail and never make it to the peak. Our guide felt it was not due to…
This month’s devotional is the first of a 3-part series by Legacy Retreat attendee Cheryl Broyles. I’m a long term survivor of what is considered “terminal” brain cancer. After living through 3 recurrences, 4 brain surgeries, radiation and chemo – many…
30 days from today Inheritance of Hope will be welcoming 16 families from all over the country to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida for a trip of a lifetime!!! As I get to know these families, I am amazed at some of the similarities. In my mind I already see the…
Do you ever feel as though you are doing the Gideon? No, it is not a new line dance; it is more of a dance with God. Do you remember Gideon from Judges 6-7? Arguably the weakest man in all of Israel, God chose him to deliver the Israelites from the Midianites who had…
I finally feel almost completely recovered from a surgery I underwent this past fall (see Waiting Room devotional). The surgery was difficult, and I questioned whether I would survive the procedure. I then questioned whether I would survive the recovery. To be…
This month’s devotional is written by Inheritance of Hope staff member Aaron Hedges. John 11:38-44 tells a fascinating story. Much significance is packed into the short account, and we too easily overlook details that give the story life and richness. Let’s…
“They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” — Daniel 3:27 As I write this devotional, Inheritance of Hope is hosting its first Legacy Retreat…