She Gave Her Heart

LAST CHANCE!  May is here and we will be hosting our 4th Annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 12th. YOU can help in two ways.



ONE. WALK - call guest services (732.350.1187) to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk.

TWO. Sponsor Victory Call for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call). Go to Family Freedom Walk Support . Be sure to designate your gift to FFW: VC

Our goal is to raise more funds by the Victory Call team than the men raise for the Freedom Fighter's team. Last year Victory Call subscribers raised $5,350.00 and Freedom Fighter’s subscribers raised $100.00. Victory Call WON, by ALOT! In reality, the Addiction Recovery ministries won because together we raised $43,136.00!!

Come join in the fun. Please?



1 Samuel 1:10-11  "Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. And she made this vow. 'O LORD of Heaven's Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the LORD, his hair will never be cut."

Hannah was a woman who prayed for years for a child. She was ridiculed and shamed for being childless. Hannah wanted a child so desperately. Each year Elkanah and his 2 wives and children would travel to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord. This year Hannah was overcome with sadness and cried out to the Lord for a son. And if God would answer her prayer she would give him back to the Lord. She would dedicate him for his whole life in the Lord's service.

Hannah wanted a child so much that she was willing to give him back to the Lord! What a sacrifice...just to be able to have a baby she is willing to give him back to the Lord!

This may be hard for us to understand...but women sacrifice to have children all the time.

There was a young woman in my church in 1998. Her name was Bonnie. She was married and had 18- month-old beautiful twin girls. When she was 18 she was diagnosed with a very severe heart condition. She was told she could never have children because the strain would be too much for her heart. But she took the risk because she wanted children so much. In May of 1998 her heart had become so weak she could no longer care for her girls. She was put into the hospital to wait for a heart transplant...the only hope in saving her life.

I received this note from Bonnie in early May. Bonnie wrote:

"Before I went into the hospital I bought a book called God's Little Devotional Book. It's the first devotional book I've ever bought. Before each story there is a Bible quote and a brief observation. This is one of my favorites. 'Rejoice evermore. In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus Christ Jesus concerning you.' 1 Thess. 5:16,18"

Bonnie was rejoicing....she was giving thanks...even in her dire situation...she needed a heart and needed it desparately to live, yet she found much to rejoice in.

Bonnie not only received one heart... but two within 2 weeks' time. But her body rejected both and on June 1, 1998 Bonnie went home to be with the Lord. She knew the risks of having her babies, that it may cost her life. She also knew the risk of the surgery.

Bonnie made sure she wrote letters to her girls so that when they grew up they would know she considered her sacrifice worth it just to have her beautiful girls...if just for a brief time.

Bonnie literally gave her heart for her children. You see, I don't think Bonnie's heart could be replaced. As a mom she sacrificed it all for her children.

As we celebrate our moms this Mother's Day may we all remember the sacrifices that they have made on our behalf and thank our God for all of them.

MaryAnn Kiernan

MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 38 years, have 2 married sons and are the proud grandparents of three grandsons and two granddaughters and one grandchild on the way! She serves at America's Keswick as a Biblical Counselor and also as Intake Coordinator for the Colony of Mercy. Her life verse is Romans 8:28.