Listen Here

In this episode, Iris shares the raw truth about her struggle with rejection and how God healed her and brought her to a place of personal reflection and growth.

The Landmark

Start here!

The Remedy for an Overwhelmed Heart

I have been acquainted with this feeling before.  One more errand to run.  The school project that was mentioned for the first time the night before it was due.  The paper that has to be submitted before Friday at 11:59 PM. The emails, texts, and voicemails that all need a response. Loads of laundry that […]

Finding the Rainbow after the Storm

This week, I faced another milestone in the year of the firsts. David’s 53rd Birthday would have been Tuesday. I searched my phone for one of my favorite pictures of us and could not find it. I made a mental note to organize my photos and I started thinking about so many things in my life […]

What Do You Do When You Don’t Know What To Do?

Another Sunday morning approached and I wondered why the things that we pray so earnestly to receive are the very things that keep us praying….and fasting…and praying some more? It may be the prayer for peace on the job. Or a prayer for your marriage. Or a prayer for your children. There is not an […]

Three Things to Remember During a Storm

Recently, two of my cousins and I traveled to Buffalo, New York for the funeral services of a cousin who was killed in a traffic accident. Although the reason for the visit was not joyous, being with family–many of my cousins I had not seen in quite a few years–was refreshing. We were careful in […]

Expressing Gratitude While Navigating Grief

Are you ever prepared for the reminders of a story that didn’t end as you planned? I put all the boundaries and laid a framework to guard my heart and protect my emotions as we prepared for my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. The Sunday before Thanksgiving, I attended a grief support group to learn about surviving […]

Flourishing After Loss

Today’s blog post was written by Dorina Gilmore-Young. This devotion is from her latest book, Breathing Through Grief: A Devotional Journal for Seasons of Loss which was released this week. It is my prayer that this sneak peek of the book brings encouragement to whoever may be grieving. I HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT: KILLING PLANTS. […]

This is What Pain Taught Me

Have you ever seen a person wearing a t-shirt indicating they were in pain? You know the kind of t-shirt that boldly states the wearer is “Fabulous at 40” or “Fierce & 50” –those t-shirts are attention grabbers, but I’ve never seen a t-shirt that glorifies or brings attention to a person’s pain.

3 Ways to Reset Your Heart’s Rhythm

Have you ever experienced a hurt so deep and so unexpected that you didn’t know what to do? Have you ever been blindsided by job loss, relationship problems, or financial woes and wondered how much more could your heart take? Have you ever experienced a blow so devastating that you felt the literal wind had […]

I REFUSE TO DWELL IN HURT

Once while traveling in Virginia, I passed a road sign that intrigued me and made me wonder about the people who dwelled there. 

The sign was an exit for Hurt, Virginia. As I looked at the sign, I thought: “What kind of people live in Hurt?”

Reflection 2022 – The Grace to Cross Over

This is the final episode of Hidden Jewels, but I will continue podcasting, just with a new name and a new mission.

I pray that you will be encouraged as you cross over into the new that God has prepared for you