She Rises and Shines, P. O. Box 180334, Casselberry, FL (2026)

10/24/2026

DEVOTION--When Love Fades and God Remains
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 (ESV)

I crossed an ocean to surprise my fiancé. He had a surprise of his own.

My cousin joined me for three weeks in Europe. We planned to explore London, visit my brother in Nuremberg, Germany, then surprise my fiancé at his Air Force base in England.

In London, we found a bed-and-breakfast and explored Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and St. James’s Park. In Germany, my brother and his friends filled our week with a concert, a b**r festival, and a circus.

Finally, we headed to England to see my boyfriend. As we traveled on the train, I imagined his delighted disbelief. When we arrived at the base, my heart raced as he approached and kissed my cheek. He asked what I was doing there since he had told me to save my money and not make the trip.

“Thought I’d surprise you.”
My embarrassment replaced excitement.

He urged us to stay in Banbury, farther away from the base. His cold tone confused me. We should have spent hours holding each other. Instead, he sent me in the other direction.

Over the next two days, he showed us the countryside but seemed reluctant to spend time together. After two years of letters, I felt unwanted. My heart refused to accept what my mind recognized.

One afternoon, he parked outside our guesthouse and told me he had to cut the afternoon short. So, I asked, “What are you doing?”
“Washing clothes.”
“What are you doing after that?”
“Drying them.”

After a long pause he told me he was seeing someone else.
Pain stabbed my chest. Why had he kept writing without telling me? I sarcastically thanked him for our brief tour of England and slammed the car door as I got out, sobbing all the way to our room. My hoped-for reunion had ended in heartbreak.

Building Beauty and Strength from Within

Heartbreak can leave us feeling discarded and unseen, but God never turns away from the wounded. Psalm 34:18 reminds us that “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

In the middle of emotional chaos, it is easy for us be completely broken. But we need to remember that God is present—through every stabbing wound and every sobbing tear. Our pain often becomes the place where we draw closer to God and His comforting hope.

Questions to Reflect On:

1. Have you ever felt totally let down and abandoned by someone you loved?
2. How do you stop to sense God’s presence in the midst of heartache?
3. What broken place in your heart still needs God’s healing today?

Prayer

Dear God, when others break our hearts, You remain faithful and tell me that You are near to me. Heal the parts of me that feel unloved and rejected. Teach me to trust You more, especially when I am falling apart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

10/23/2026

DEVOTION--Love, Longing, and Trusting God in Uncertainty

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)

Mom said I couldn’t date until sixteen. At fifteen, my heart had other plans.

Infatuation turned to true love as I flirted with one of the guys in my Christian youth group. Just over two years older than I, he had shoulder-length, silky brown hair that kept me spellbound. Mom’s restrictions didn’t deter me. My heart fluttered all the more when he brought me daffodils he had picked from his mother’s garden. I knew I would marry him one day.

On my sixteenth birthday, we officially announced we were dating. He showed his commitment with a heart-shaped ring set with a faux diamond. My love swelled.

Our dreams soon faced a challenge when the Army drafted my boyfriend. He opted to enlist in the Air Force. We professed our love for each other and planned to marry after I graduated from high school. He left the state for basic training, then made one quick trip home before deploying overseas.

Our letters traveled thousands of miles to and from England. One time I wrote to ask if I could visit him overseas after graduation. He wanted me to save my money and told me, “I’ll see you soon enough.”

Who cared about the cost? Surprising him sounded like fun, so I asked my older cousin to join me. Together, we planned a three-week escape to Europe.

Building Beauty and Strength from Within

Young love often carries the thrill of adventure, yet sometimes with the ache of emotional uncertainty. How often do we make plans yet others want us to wait, not giving us the answer we want? Though we make our own plans and act on them, God wants us to ask Him and trust Him—especially when things don’t unfold the way we hoped.

Proverbs 3:5 urges us to lean not on our own understanding. We do not always know the full story. But God does. He uses situations and circumstances to shape our patience and teach us over time to physically wait. When our hearts are tied to people or plans, we must remember to anchor them in the One who holds tomorrow.

Questions to Reflect On:

1. When have you made plans that didn’t align with another person? How did that affect you?
2. How can you trust God’s timing when you want to have certainty in your future?
3. In what ways is God asking you to surrender your will to His will? Are you listening?

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for guiding my heart when my emotions get away from me. I want to stay focused on Your plans and not mine. Help me trust You when uncertainty puts fear in my heart and impatience in my actions. You see the bigger picture. You can be trusted. Help me walk in Your light and not my emotions. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

10/22/2026

DEVOTION--Restored and Still Valuable

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3 (ESV)

Quitting my day job took only seconds. Worry kept me company all that evening.

While walking home from the family flower shop due to an argument with my uncle, my thoughts run amok. His cutting words had crushed my spirit. After everything I’d done—how could he turn on me like that? I spiraled into a pity party, letting fear and hurt erode my hope. Where would I work? What about family holidays?

I loved my family. Everything I did was for the family. And now this? I felt betrayed, worthless, and insignificant. I just knew they would all band together and make me the brunt of it all.
Mom’s encouragement, gone. Windmill cookies, gone. No more customers or phones ringing off the hook. Now, I was on my own without family to guide or direct me.

Then the phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Honey, don’t hang up—please forgive me,” my uncle said. “I found a twenty-dollar bill stashed next to the register. She quit before I could fire her. I want you to come back. You’re too valuable to us.”
His insistence jolted me from my despair.

Relief surged through the cracks of my bruised spirit. I returned to work still hurting, but thankfully, the healing eventually came. My uncle explained the legalities of accusing her and helped me understand how I let my emotions get in the way.

Thankfully, prom season fast approached—a time that always lifted my spirits. I focused more on the guys in formal attire picking up their orders than on the awkward argument my uncle and I had shared.

Building Beauty and Strength from Within

Words sometimes hurt—especially when they come from the people we love most. Hurtful words from those less close to us are often easier to dismiss. Whether intentional or thoughtless, words can pierce our hearts and splinter our confidence. Psalm 147:3 reminds us that God sees our pain, heals our broken hearts, and binds them with His love.

The healing process begins when we stop looking for apologies or acts of contrition to erase the hurt and heartache. They are nice to have, but may be only superficial. When we allow God to use both time and truth to bind up our emotional wounds, He restores to us the certainty of our value and the knowing of our worth that we feel we have lost.

Questions to Reflect On

1. When have you been accused or deeply hurt by someone close that you trusted?
2. How has God helped you begin to heal from emotional wounds?
3. What does it mean to you that God calls you “valuable” even when others don’t?

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for being the healer of my broken heart. Please help me forgive and let go of the deep wounds that I hold close. You alone wrap my wounds with Your healing salve and restore my self-worth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

10/21/2026

DEVOTION--When Integrity Costs You

“Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.” — Proverbs 28:6 (ESV)

Trying to do the right thing cost me more than I expected.

One day at the family flower shop, my uncle asked me to keep an eye on a young female employee. He suspected her of stealing cash from the register and wanted to catch her in the act. I watched with a composed determination until the moment when her eyes focused on mine as she put a paper bill in her pocket after making a sale. Taking initiative, I darted through a doorway to confront her, losing sight for a split second.

When I demanded to see what she had in her pocket, she sneered, denied my accusation, and turned her pockets inside out.
Outraged, I went straight to my uncle’s office and told him what had happened.

“You can’t accuse her like that. Why would you do that? What were you thinking?”

He implied some kind of government regulation but his stern words pierced my fragile heart. What she did was wrong. She stole. I had reached my breaking point. After all my hard work and dedication to my family I couldn’t understand how she’s the one who stole money, but I’m the one in trouble?

I looked him in the eyes. “I refuse to be treated like this. I quit.”
In a rage, I grabbed my purse and jacket and stormed out the back door.

Pride kept me from considering to return. I couldn’t face the humiliation and agonized as the reality of my situation sank in.
What will I do?

Building Beauty and Strength from Within

Integrity doesn’t always yield immediate rewards. Sometimes, doing the right thing will cost us our character, connections, and careers. Though we might not be honored and celebrated for standing up for what’s right, God knows and blesses integrity. He is the ultimate judge.

Proverbs 28:6 reminds us that a life of integrity is far better than a life of deceit. Even when laws of men contradict the laws of God, He honors people who reflect His character, even if the world rejects it.

Some people might think that a fruitful life is gained through deceit and trickery, but God wants us to walk with integrity, receiving our gain by walking with Him.

Questions to Reflect On

1. Have you ever been accused or misunderstood for doing “what is right?”
2. What can you do when people lack integrity and are blind to the truth?
3. How can you keep from feeling anger when you been wronged?

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for Your keeping me rooted to Your Truth regarding integrity. Help me honor You, even if it costs me everything. Give me the courage I need to speak with integrity and strength I need to stand against injustice. I trust You to stand up for me when people misjudge me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

10/20/2026

DEVOTION--Blossoming Under Pressure
“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

Mom taught me more than floral design; she helped me believe in myself.

Working with my mom definitely improved our relationship as she patiently taught me the art of floral design and management. “You can accomplish anything you set your mind to, sweetheart. Don’t let others deter you from your aspirations.” Her encouragement inspired me to keep going.

Working at the flower shop gave me a sense of purposeful passion. I inherited my grandparents’ work ethic, that bordered on perfectionism with speed. Constructive criticism, though given in love, stretched me and boosted my proficiency. Working with family, day in and day out, wasn’t always easy. Yet somewhere between the fresh flowers and the Italian fury, confidence and independence began to take root.

Little by little I learned from the experience of the best. As my adolescence converged into young adulthood, I found my independence and confidence blossomed. By twenty years old, I had mastered many areas in the floral industry, but I must say that working for relatives did take its toll.

Building Beauty and Strength from Within

God's promises in His Word are true and stand the test of time. Galatians 6:9 calls us to faithful perseverance: “Let us not grow weary of doing good…” That’s easier said than done, especially when the pressure to perform is high or the rewards feel delayed. But, in due season, we will reap the rewards and see the efforts of our fruit. God promises us that.

No matter our situation or circumstances, our efforts will pay off. We just need to keep going. When we grow weary, we set a chain reaction in motion that will take us to a place we shouldn’t go. God wants us to keep moving forward with a desire to leave a beautiful legacy and faithful character. Even when frustration and offenses come our way and appreciation feels scarce, God still wants us to push forward by depending on Him to be with us, and to strengthen us. Giving up is not an option.

When we feel overwhelmed, we need to trust that God is doing something much deeper in us. Don’t give up. The harvest will come.

Questions to Reflect On

1. What areas in your life do you feel exhausted and fatigued in doing good?
2. How can you help yourself remember God's promise to bring a harvest in due season?
3. Who has helped you seek to do good and how have they encouraged you?

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for surrounding me with family, friends, and others, who have believed in me more than I have believed in myself. Strengthen me to not quit especially when my life feels heavy and burdened. I choose to keep doing good and reap the harvest in Your perfect timing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

10/19/2026

DEVOTION--When Love Takes Work
“Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV)

Roses, carnations, and strong opinions filled our family flower shop.
By my mid-teens, I worked regularly at my grandparents’ flower shop, whether I wanted to or not. There, I learned firsthand how hard work, sacrifice, and enduring love held a family business together. Though our ideas, thoughts, and views often clashed, I loved my family. Every day after school and most Saturdays, I worked to please the family and show them they could count on me.

Oh, the hustle and bustle of that flower shop. Besides daily orders and weekly weddings, our busy season began with Thanksgiving and went through Memorial Day. Verbal orders came from all directions. Mom wanted me to fill orders or wait on customers. My aunt pressed me to add more flowers to my finished arrangements. If I didn’t, she hopped into the delivery van and added them herself. Whenever I added more, my penny-pinching uncle demanded I take them out.

With so many adults giving directions, I struggled to know whom to listen to. With challenges daily, I felt obligated to work hard, respect my elders, and keep the peace as best I could but daily frustration wore my patience thin and weakened my tolerance.

Hot Italian tempers sometimes flared, but working with family also made life easier. I could always count on them. Through good times and bad, we stuck together. Coffee always percolated in the workroom, and windmill cookies kept us fueled. When we worked late, Chinese food, burgers and fries, or pizza was ordered for the entire crew. Food soothed whatever tensions lingered.

Building Beauty and Strength from Within

Working with family, friends, or new acquaintances isn’t just a workplace, it is an extension of who we are—an expression of our hearts. Amid order or chaos, love should hold us together.
1 Corinthians 16:14 reminds us “Let all that you do be done in love.” Love must be our motivation behind all our actions.

Honoring others, showing up for them, and unselfishly serving them are all acts of love. Whether in family life, in social circles, or work settings, we are called to let love be our motivation. It's not about pretending to love others but to have a sincere intension to love them.

Questions to Reflect On

1. What loving traits do you express at your work place or home environment?
2. Are you serving others due to an obligation you feel or because of genuine love?
3. In what ways can you change your mindset to love others who challenge you?

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for loving me and being my example of how to love others. I want to do all things in love but sometimes it is hard. Help me show Your love to those I meet in my daily encounters. Please guide my actions with love rather than reactions with irritation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

10/18/2026

DEVOTION--A Legacy of Work and Grace

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” — Colossians 3:23 (ESV)

Some choices landed me in trouble. One led me to my destiny—the family flower shop.

My mother’s parents married in July 1905 and moved from Palermo, Italy, to the United States. With high hopes, they settled in Niagara Falls to pursue the American dream.

In 1920, they purchased property to open a flower shop and greenhouses. Their growing family lived in a small three-bedroom, one-bath apartment above the store. An old wooden staircase off the back porch led down to the workroom. Lush foliage, blooming annuals, and an array of decorative pots filled the attached hothouses.

With humility and patience, they taught their ten children the principles of hard work. After they passed away, the second generation took over. Two beautiful, oval-framed pictures of Grandma and Grandpa hung above the flower shop’s main doorway, honoring their legacy.

Everyone had their role. My uncle ordered flowers and handled payroll. One of my aunts designed arrangements, and the other helped customers and managed billing. My mom organized the workroom and the orders awaiting fulfillment. She also designed arrangements, kept meticulous notes on customers’ purchasing patterns, and attended local floral shows.

Occasionally, Mom dragged my brothers and me to the shop as one of our “grounded” punishments so she could keep an eye on us. Watching her work amazed me. I admired her talent and knowledge.

One Saturday morning, Mom woke me. “Honey, I need you to help at the shop today.” Sleepy-eyed and groggy, my fourteen-year-old body got out of bed and obeyed her. Though we clashed occasionally, I loved my mom and wanted to make her happy. Besides, it was for the family.

Building Beauty and Strength from Within

We have a choice when we work—we can express joy or we can reveal obligation. When we work with the right mindset, it can become worship to God. Colossians 3:23 calls us beyond duty and toward wholehearted dedication.

No matter where we work, or whatever we are doing, we need to remind ourselves that God calls us to do it heartily as if doing it for Him, allowing His grace to adjust our attitudes. This will honor God. He sees our efforts. He knows our intentions. Our work should reflect His glory when done with Him in mind.

Questions to Reflect On
1. What can you do to view your work as an act of worship to God and not an obligation?
2. Are there jobs or chores I resist that God is using to shape my character?
3. How can I pass on a legacy of a God-honoring work ethic to my family?

Prayer
Dear God, thank You for Your Word that teaches me to work heartily for You and not for men. I choose to serve You, through the lives of others, even when others have personally hurt or offend me. Fill me with grace to serve them in a way that honors You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

10/14/2026

DEVOTION--A Façade of Faith
“Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!” –Deuteronomy 5:29 (ESV)

Joining a church youth group offered two things I wanted: time away from home and a chance to finally earn Mom’s approval.

My two older brothers belonged to a Catholic youth group and enjoyed spending time there with their friends. So, I joined them, hoping my façade of godliness would keep Mom happy. Twice a month, the Barnabite priests led our Bible study and social activities. Of course, I favored the free time and the hour-long bus ride. Since the bus picked us up first and dropped us off last, I had plenty of time to build friendships.

One time, our group took a memorable trip to Washington, D.C. Did we witness on the streets or study the Bible? No. Did we go sightseeing? Absolutely. Crazy, but my strongest memory from that trip was the pyramid of empty b**r cans my guy friends built in their hotel room. To this day, I have no clue how the chaperones missed it—or why they ignored it.

Meeting friends at my youth group became my favorite pastime. One year, I even won their “Sweetest Girl” contest. Finally, I felt noticed and accepted by my peers. And Mom? She was very happy for me and approved of my involvement—but it was all under the pretense of Christianity.

Building Beauty and Strength from Within
Sometimes we allow ourselves to put on a façade in order to look good to the outside world. We fear unwanted truths to be revealed or maybe the embarrassment of shame due to our actions. Unfortunately, many individuals look at performance and acceptance, rather than the pursuit of growing spirituality.

In Deuteronomy 5:29 we see that God speaks through Moses with a longing: “Oh, that they had such a heart as this always…” God’s desire has always been for His people to follow Him with wholehearted sincerity. While outward actions can seem impressive, it’s the consistent posture of the heart that truly matters to God.

It’s easy for us to give in looking for external approval but what God truly desires is our inner transformations. This verse calls us to sincere godly devotion, and not the pretense of spirituality.

Questions to Reflect On

1. How do you live out your faith sincerely rather than having it be a performance?
2. In what ways might you substitute the façade of godliness for true relationship with God?
3. How can you discipline yourself to consistently seek God and obey HIm in all you do?

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for loving me and having patience with me as I turn to You to do what is right. Please remove any façade I may put on to pretend who my authentic self by stripping away my false motives. Teach me to value the things You value. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

10/13/2026

DEVOTION--God Knows Where I Am

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” — Psalm 145:18 ESV

No more letters. No more visits. No more phone calls.

Life without Dad devastated me. Nothing filled the void his death left in my heart. The thought of a good and loving God slipped away. No way would He allow this pain.

Sure, I called myself a Christian. I even attended a Catholic school because Mom wanted us to stay true to our traditional roots. God gave her strength when she needed Him. But I couldn’t find Him.
When a priest refused to forgive her for not supporting the parish enough, religion became a sham to me. Mom wanted to give more money to the church, but she struggled financially after the divorce. When Dad died, Mom received nothing. His wife got everything. Only Social Security helped support the five of us children until we turned eighteen.

Why couldn’t that priest show her compassion? His refusal soured my faith in the Catholic Church and widened the distance between me and God.

Rarely did I see Mom cry, but one morning, while she sipped her black coffee, I caught a glimpse of her tears.
“You okay, Mom?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” She wiped her cheeks. “You need something, honey?”
“No, do you?”

After a long pause, she spoke with confidence. “A priest might kick me to the curb, but God knows where I am. I may not be the perfect mom, but God knows what I am. It might look like I’m a nobody, but God knows who I am. I choose to trust Him this day.”
Tears filled her eyes as we hugged. Her trust almost persuaded me that God cared. But I still doubted His care and secretly rebelled against organized religion, its rules, and its doctrines. Whenever possible, I avoided church.

Building Beauty and Strength from Within

Trusting God doesn’t always erase our struggles, but it keeps a quiet flicker of faith alive in our darkened hearts—a reminder that God still knows where we are.

Psalm 145:18 reminds us that “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Even in seasons of doubt and pain, God never turns away from us. While people—yes, even church leaders—may fail, God sees, understands, and draws near to us.

Questions to Reflect On

1. When, if ever, have you felt let down by the leaders in a church?
2. What truth do you cling to when traditions of men disappoint you?
3. When you feel discarded by people, how do you move forward knowing God sees you?

Prayer

Dear God, Please forgive me for turning from You and not calling on You first. Thank You for being there anytime I call on You and for strengthen my faith. Help me look past the disappointments from people who fail me that cause me to rebel and blame You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

10/12/2026

DEVOTION--When the Unthinkable Happens

“Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.” –Psalm 119:76 ESV

We knew what it meant when Mom called all of us children together in the dining room—or so we thought. But this time, her silence frightened us more than any punishment we might have expected.

Life at home felt like a slow churn of misbehavior and consequences. While Mom worked hard to keep things afloat, my siblings and I often acted out to relieve the boredom. With five teenagers in the home, someone was always grounded. I tried to persuade my younger sister to help me with chores. Grounded. My older brothers would sneak out and drink alcohol or break curfew. Grounded. Frustration ensued when the younger two, whom Mom favored, escaped punishment.

On November 14, 1970, when Mom called us all into the dining room again, her silence was deafening. I hadn’t seen her this rattled since the day my parents divorced. With Dad in California and us living with Mom in Western New York, all the responsibility for our family fell squarely on her shoulders.

What happened? Who got caught? How long will the culprit be punished?

But instead of punishment, we received heartbreak. Her body trembled as she said the words that shook my world: “Your dad passed away this morning.”

Words failed me.
Not Dad.
He was only forty years old.
I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

Building Beauty and Strength from Within

There are moments in life when grief hits like a wave—sudden, shocking, and soul-crushing. That kind of pain leaves us speechless, struggling to understand a reality we never wanted. Psalm 119:76 reminds us that God’s steadfast love will comfort us.

When we receive unbearable news that breaks our hearts—a bad report, an accident, even the unexpected death of a loved one—we can trust God’s promise that He will comfort us. He sits with us in the silence. He sees every tear. His comfort may not always come in the way we expect. We may not feel His presence right away—but His comfort will come—with time, with truth, with tender reminders that we are not alone.

Loss and bad reports can change everything—but they don’t change God’s love. We can carry the memory of loved ones and still carry hope while trusting God to sustain us.

Reflection Questions

1. What loss still needs God’s comfort in your life?
2. How are you able to find hope in your grief, knowing God will comfort you?
3. What memory of someone you’ve lost brings you comfort?

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for comforting me when my world falls apart, when I receive a bad report, or when heartbreaking news overwhelms me. Help me seek You first and turn to You for comfort rather than seek the world’s comfort. Give me opportunities to reach out to others and comfort them just as You have comforted me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

She Rises and Shines

10/24/2026

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