Heart2Heart Women

Thrive This Season: Don’t Just Survive

/ Mikki Halbach

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”—John 10:10

If you’ve spent any time scrolling social media lately, you’ve probably seen it too—posts, reels, articles, and even “expert” tips on how to SURVIVE the holidays.
Survive?
Really?

If the birth of our Savior—God putting on flesh and stepping into our messy world—isn’t a reason to THRIVE, then what is?

And yet… we all know how it goes.

By December 1st, we’re knee-deep in wrapping paper, cookie crumbs, shopping lists, “dirty Santa” gifts, school programs, office parties, and endless “bring a dish to share” reminders. And our calendars fill as fast as our carts. The pace quickens. The noise gets louder. And suddenly, the season meant to bring peace on earth feels more like chaos in aisle seven.

But what if we don’t have to settle for the frantic version of Christmas?
What if this year could look a little different?
When my kids were younger, we did a craft project that involved glitter — the innocent-looking, shiny, sparkly kind. Everything was going smoothly until one of them bumped the container. And when I say bumped, I mean it went airborne like glitter had just been waiting for its chance to launch.

It. Went. Everywhere.

In their hair.
In the carpet.
Under the table.
In the dog’s fur (he sparkled for days).
In the grout between the tiles.
Weeks later, I’d still catch a speck shining on the edge of a lampshade or stuck to a sock fresh out of the dryer.

It didn’t matter how much I swept or wiped — the glitter kept showing up, catching the light, reminding me of a moment long after the mess was “cleaned up.”

And as ridiculous as it sounds, that glitter taught me something.

Just as Glitter Doesn’t Stay Put…Neither Does Joy

Glitter spreads.
It sticks.
It shows up in places you weren’t expecting.
It doesn’t ask permission.
It reflects light even in the dim corners.

But it only spreads because someone touched it.

And joy — real, God-given joy — works exactly the same way.

We tend to believe joy is something that happens to us. When the house is peaceful, when the plans go smoothly, when the cookies come out perfectly, when people behave the way we hope they will.

But biblical joy doesn’t behave like that.
Joy is not fragile.
Joy isn’t dependent on perfection.
Joy doesn’t wait on circumstances to improve.

Joy spreads wherever it is handled…
noticed…
touched…
and embraced.

Much like glitter, joy has a surprising way of showing up in unexpected places when we make space to truly engage with the things that produce it: God’s presence, God’s Word, and God’s peace.

Let’s Embrace the Glitter!

We rush through December touching everything but joy.
We handle stress, obligations, commitments, expectations, comparison, pressure, and noise.

But joy?
Peace?
Stillness?
Worship?

We rarely pause long enough to let them cling to us.

Yet thriving doesn’t start with a perfect holiday season.
It starts with touching what carries God’s presence — the things that sparkle with His goodness.

When you slow down to breathe in His Word…
When you choose gratitude in the middle of the mess…
When you stop scrolling long enough to pray…
When you laugh with someone you love…
When you say no to something that steals your peace…

You’re touching joy.
And like glitter, it spreads.

It sticks to you.
It shows up later when you least expect it.
It makes even the messy places shine.

Jesus Didn’t Come So You Could Just “Survive”

He came so you could have life — abundant, overflowing, joy-filled life.

Life that sparkles even in the chaos.
Life that spreads to the people around you.
Life that reminds you that no matter how busy the season becomes…
you are held, you are loved, and you are not alone.

This year, don’t settle for holiday survival mode.
Touch what matters.
Let joy cling to you.
Let peace settle over you.
Let the light of Christ show up in unexpected places — just like glitter.

Takeaway Thought:

When you slow down enough to touch the things that carry God’s presence, His joy and peace begin to cling to you—and transform your whole season.

Prayer

Lord, as we step into this season, help us slow down and remember what really matters. When things start to feel rushed or overwhelming, steady our hearts and draw our attention back to You. Let Your joy cling to us in the everyday moments and let Your peace guide the pace of our days. Use us to bring a little glitter and love to the people around us. Make this a season where we feel Your presence in real, simple ways.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

In His Love,
Mikki💜

Passing the Test: Turning Trials Into Triumph

/ Sandra Bivens Smith

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

Although I have been out of school going on 60 years, I can still recall those painful nights of studying for a test. I say “painful” because my dad, being one who put great stock in learning, was my tutor. He would quiz me for what seemed like hours until I either got every answer right or I ran from the room in tears. Little did I realize how, in those painful study sessions, dad was not only preparing me for the test I would be having in school, he was preparing me for the difficult, and sometimes more painful tests of life. Daddy didn’t pressure me to learn because he was cruel, on the contrary, he did it because he loved me and wanted only the best for me. Just as  my earthly father helped to prepare me for my test at school, my Heavenly Father, through the trials He sends and through the tutorship of His Word, prepares me for all of life.

Becoming a Christian is easy, being a Christian, not so much. Jesus Himself told us this in John 16:33, “…In the world you have tribulation…”There is a saying “you are either coming out of a trial, in a trial, or getting ready to go through a trial”. That pretty much sums up life doesn’t it? Even the Christian life? Yes, even the Christian life, especially the Christian life. 

When James tells us to count our trials as joy, he is telling us that it’s not about the size or even the severity of our trial, it’s about our attitude. Look at the rest of John 16:33 “…but take courage; I have overcome the world.” Whatever testing we may be going through, Jesus has gone before us and He has already won the victory on our behalf. 

Maybe you have wondered, as I have, why God would make His children go through hard times. God tells us why in 2 Chronicles 32:31, it says “God left him to test him that he [we] might know all that was in his [our] heart.” God knows us. He knows all about us. He doesn’t test us so He can know but so we can. God sends us trials to  test our faith and reveal to us:

  1. The strength of our faith (whether we press on or give up.) 
  2. The character of our faith (whether we face the trial with confidence or go crawl under the covers.)
  3. The humility of our faith (whether we try to go it on our own or turn it over to God)
  4. The focus of our faith. (whether we are engulfed by worldly things or things set above). 
  5. The affections of our faith. (Our trials test what we really love.)

Knowledge is power. So then, our trials, having revealed the measure of our faith, inform and empower us to do what is needed to strengthen our faith. After all, isn’t stronger faith the goal? Remember the little boy’s father in Mark 9, “I believe; help my unbelief”? (Mark 9:24b)

Trials cannot destroy true faith because true faith is a gift from God, and true saving faith is forever. We are secure because God has given us an undying faith.  

Trials most often come without warning. They can cause us to feel overwhelmed, as if we are drowning – going down for the third time. We struggle against them until we realize that there’s no way out but through. And yet, James tells us to “consider it all joy”? How do we do that? We look upward and forward. We look ahead to what God is doing. We look beyond the temporal to the eternal. I think Paul put it this way – keep your eyes on the prize [my translation]. 

James gives us five things that are required for us to persevere through our trials. If we commit to put these disciplines into practice James tells us we will not simply endure the trials, we will be blessed in them (v.12).  

Five things that are required. 

  1. A  joyous attitude. v.2
  2. An understanding mind. v.3-4
  3. A submissive will. v.5
  4. A believing heart. v.6-8
  5. A humble spirit. v.9-11

We are not in this alone. Remember, our Father is sovereign and He meets the needs of His own. God is always with us and He has a plan. He is powerful enough to work that plan. He is wise enough that we can be confident it is the right plan. He is faithful and will never put us through something that He doesn’t give us the grace to endure.

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”.

Philippians 4:19

Faith is a gift from God. The kind of faith He gives endures the test. The more faith is tested, the more it’s proven. And the more it’s proven, the more confidence you enjoy in that faith, and the stronger your hope becomes. True faith will persevere, it doesn’t matter what happens. One of the things that trials do to us is put us in a position where no human resources can solve the problem. Our senses tell us to value pleasure, to value what makes us happy – Faith teaches us to value God and His work. Sense tells us to value earthly security, earthly protection, earthly support – Faith tells us to value divine grace poured out in the midst of suffering.

In Psalm 81:10 we read, “I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt,” “Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.” Don’t you like that? That’s how God is. He doesn’t say, “Here’s a morsel you undeserving wretch.” He says, “Open your mouth as wide as you can and I will fill you.”

God doesn’t want us to simply survive the test; His desire is for us to come out on the other side triumphantly. To do that we need to know who our God is. We need to have a sound understanding of His nature.

Our God is:

Immutable. He doesn’t change, He doesn’t alter. The character of God is fixed and established. He doesn’t need to change, never has, never will. 

Sovereign. There is no power that can thwart His plan.

Faithful. He is the strength of your heart. He will fill you with joy and courage when you put your trust in Him. 

George Whitefield said, “All trials are for two ends, that we may be better acquainted with the Lord Jesus and better acquainted with our own hearts.” Seems to me those could be pretty good words to remember when we are struggling to turn our trials into triumphs. 

For Further Encouragement 

“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing.” (Psalm 37:7)

“O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me.” (Psalm 131)

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint”.  (Isaiah 40:28-30)

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you”. (Matthew 5:10-11)

“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full”. (John 15:11)

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us”. (Romans 5:3-5)

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ”. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.  (1 Peter 5:10)

*This devotion was inspired by a sermon series “How to Endure Trials”, John MacArthur, 1999.

Grace and Peace,

Sandra

Lessons From the Garden

/ Sandra Bivens Smith

He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit. -Jeremiah 17:8

Full disclosure. I am not a gardener. As a matter of fact, I would be the first to admit that when it comes to plants of any kind, I have what could be called a “black thumb”. However, those who do know about such things will tell you that understanding root depth is crucial for successful cultivation.

According to the experts, deep-rooted plants have the ability to access water and nutrients from deeper soil layers, making them more drought-tolerant and resilient. Because they can penetrate deeply into the soil, they are also able to reach sources of water from deep underground. This allows plants with deep roots to sustain themselves and withstand a period of drought during hot climates. Deep roots also provide a stronger support system and are better anchored to withstand strong winds. Having deep roots provide the right stability, moisture, structure, and access to nutrients; resources which helps them survive a variety of conditions during tough conditions.

I am told that when you water a plant it is important to water deeply, otherwise in their search for water, the roots will grow toward the surface of the soil, making them weak and unable to withstand drought and other adverse conditions.

Are you seeing my point?

Our spiritual growth is much like a plant, the deeper our roots, the stronger our faith. So, how do we develop deep roots of faith?

We till the soil through prayer.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. – John 15:16

We water the soil by studying God’s word.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. –Psalm 1:1-3

We produce fruit by walking in the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. -Galatians 5:22-23

We harvest the fruit by sharing the gospel.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. -Luke 10:1-2)

Just as a well-rooted plant withstands storms and drought, our faith flourishes when it is firmly rooted in Christ. Deep roots don’t grow by accident—they’re cultivated through intentional time in prayer, consistent study of God’s Word, a Spirit-led life, and a willingness to share the hope we’ve found. The deeper our roots, the stronger our witness and the steadier our hearts, no matter what comes our way. So dig deep, stay grounded, and trust God to bring fruit in every season.  

Grace and Peace,

Sandra

“Finding Peace in Letting Go: Trusting God’s Plan”

/ Mikki Halbach

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and 
supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made 
known to God” – Philippians 4:6

I remember studying Philippians years ago, in an Aglow Bible study group, and hearing the leader telling me I should stop worrying. My kids were still pretty young at the time, and I thought, “Anything? Like nothing? Really, God?Impossible!!”

It’s not that I doubted God or didn’t trust what He was saying to me in His word. It was just that with 4 kids, endless sports and activities, a house full of things to do,and church and ministry commitments, I couldn’t help thinking “but I have so much to worry about!”

I know I probably wasn’t alone here. If you’re human, you worry. It’s almost like we can’t help ourselves. We worry about money, our kids, our aging parents, our jobs, our futures, our health, the list could go on and on. Life demands so much from us and as much as we try our best to keep up, it often feels like more than we can handle. So,what do we do? We worry!

But Philippians 4:6 commands us to NOT do exactly that. Yes, it literally tells us, “don’t worry.”

In Matthew 6:25-34, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us “Don’t worry” five times in these 10 verses. If Jesus tells us to do something once, of course we recognize it’s important, but FIVE TIMES, we better be paying attention.

But why would Jesus tell us not to worry? Should we not care about all these critical areas of our lives? Our kids, our homes, our marriages, our jobs? Yes, we should care and do our very best to handle those situations and relationships exactly as the Lord wants us to.

Worrying means we think we are the only one that can handle a situation, that we are the only one in control. As much as we hate to admit it, we must understand, we are not the one in control. This is actually great news. There is so much peace in knowing that the outcome of our lives is not entirely reliant on us and our decisions. God is the one who is truly in control. 

One of my life verses for the past year has been 1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety upon Him because he cares for you”. I have come to realize that more often than not, my worries and anxieties come from my need to control, and my need to control comes from pride.

Thinking we can control anything, tends to show itself in 3 areas:

We want to control others. Yet that is not what God has called us to do. We can influence, instruct, encourage, guide – but we cannot control. People must answer to God for themselves. In Acts 20:30, the Apostle Paul had done all he could for the believers at Ephesus when he finally said, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified”. When we are tempted to try to control others, we must put them in God’s hand and remove our own.

We want to control our circumstances. Only God can do that. No amount of manipulation or effort can make right all the wrongs in this world. In Genesis 27, Jacob’s pride caused him to scheme and connive instead of leaning on God. In Genesis 32 Jacob’s anxiety (or worry) was taking over as a result of his earlier scheming. If we try to control our circumstances as Jacob did, we will, as Jacob did, bring consequences that only increase the anxiety and worry we try to avoid in the first place.

Control issues are spiritual issues. The real issue is: Will I trust God?

We want to control our lives. But the Lord tells us that we must yield, not control. We are not able in our own power to do what is right, but under the control of the Holy Spirit we can. (Romans 6:13) When we are tempted to take control, we must stop and commit our needs to God, who alone has the wisdom and power, to rule the good and overrule the evil. 

If you’re anything like me, giving up control is easier said than done. So, what is the solution? Here are some ways that can help us fully trust God instead of worrying ourselves to death.

#1. Acknowledge

Admitting we have a problem is the very first step. Recognizing our pride, and understanding that thinking we can control that which we cannot, is really just making ourselves an idol. Acknowledging the problem is the foundation for getting free from our worry and need to control.

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is 
the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” – Proverbs 19:21

#2. Surrender

Once we’ve acknowledged we are not in control, we can surrender the circumstances to God. He already knows we are not going to win on our own and is just waiting for us to raise the white flag.

The start of surrender is doing exactly what Philippians 4:6 tells us to do; fall to our knees and pray. Tell God why we are worrying and what it is that we need, then thank Him for all the times He took care of a situation in a way that we could have never done on our own. 

I have countless examples of times God has stepped in and resolved a situation in miraculous ways as well as examples of times when I didn’t allow God to step in and my own plans ended in disaster. I also have examples of times in my life when God did not answer exactly as I prayed but had something better in store for me. I must trust that His ways are so much higher than mine, so even in those situations, I can fully trust Him.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways 
my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” – Isaiah 55:8-9

#3. Rest

We must understand what rest means. Rest looks different for everyone. Mirriam Webster defines rest this way; cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength.

The idea of rest used to be a real struggle for me because I thought rest meant going to bed earlier or doing nothing other than sitting around watching TV. The truth is, neither of those things give me true rest. For some, rest may mean gardening, journaling, napping, or cooking. I have come to learn that reading a book, hanging out by the pool, or as an extrovert, spending time among lots of friends, is what gives me rest. Rest is you doing what spiritually, mentally, and physically refreshes you.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I 
will give you rest”. – Matthew 11:28

#4. Ownership

If you’ve given your life to God, your life is no longer your own. The Bible makes this clear in Jeremiah 10;23, O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps”. When we remember that we belong to Him, it’s easier to surrender, to submit to Him. If we’ve devoted ourselves to God, we need to then be Spirit led. God owns us. We are His creation. If we can gain this higher perspective, we can overcome our control issues. As a result, we will live a more joyful, free, and victorious life. 

I am a visual person, and I recently ran across a practical method for this step. Make a list, not the typical “to do” list, this list is a bit different. Whenever facing any situation that is causing you worry or anxiety or when you are tempted to take total control, take a sheet of paper and draw a line straight down the middle. On one side write “What I Can Control”, on the other side, write “What Only God Can Control”.

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs 
his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9

Some things are our responsibility, we can’t just be idle and expect God be a puppet master. We must prayerfully ask God to give us discernment, to show us what belongs on our list and what should only belong to God AND we must be 100% OK with that.

Philippians 4:6 is followed by verse 7 which says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” That peace, that surpasses all understanding, can only come from Christ. We can’t find it on our own, it ultimately comes from giving up control and worry and recognizing that no matter what we face here in this life, it is preparing us for that which comes next. 

Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are 
wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an 
eternal glory that outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on 
what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is 
temporary, but what is unseen is eternal –2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Heavenly Father, I pray that you will give us peace in our hearts and the wisdom to go straight to you in our times of worry, anxiety, and fear. Help us to know, deep down in our hearts, that you are the one in control and you want the very best for us. Show us daily what is ours to do and what we must leave to you. Remind us that your plans are perfect, and are not for our temporal pleasures, but for your eternal glory. We love and trust you Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Your Heart Sister,

Mikki 💜