Nourishment Through Words

Welcome to Nourishment Through Words!

Hi there, I’m Ashley! I’m a daughter of God, wife, mother, best-selling author, minister, Bible/English teacher, and certified New Testament Leader and life coach with over 10+ years in various human services. I also work as an assistant house manager for a wonderful organization that aids victims of human trafficking. My passion is Jesus and those He loves! <3

"I believe that just as the body needs wholesome foods to promote health and growth, that our souls need the nourishment that life-giving words can bring!" -Ashley Thompson 

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. –Genesis 2:7

But Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Human beings cannot live on bread alone, but need every word that God speaks.'” -Matthew 4:4

The Bible says that everything was made by the Word of God. That means God created your soul with his words. You have a need for eternal love imprinted on your DNA.

Welcome! If it’s a nice sunny day where you are please sit, relax, open up a window and let the light in. Or perhaps it’s nighttime where you are right now? In that case light a candle, drink something savory and warm. Make yourself comfortable. I’d like for us to get to know each other. But before we begin I want to speak words of life over you!

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Hear his words of grace and love over you! <3

A refreshing word of blessing for you:

I hope you are comfortable now. Let me introduce myself.

My name is Ashley…and you may have guessed it already but my love language is words of affirmation.

I love:

• Pumpkin spice scents!

• Christmas lights on a decorated tree.

• The sound of soft rain pelting on my roof.

• Bunny rabbits (I have owned at least 10 over the years).

• A salty ocean breeze.

• The fragrant smell of a bountiful fall harvest.

• The sweet scents of blossoming spring flowers.

• The merry, musical sound of morning birds singing.

• The warm, brilliant colors of a magical sunset.

• Long leisure hours to think, write, pray or do anything creative.

I crave intimate conversations with close friends in whom my heart is at rest with…especially my husband. I adore dreaming away with Jesus and feeding off his goodness. If I’m feeling energetic, I love teaching children, going on road trips with my husband, holding my beautiful girls Eden and Elena, exploring new places, and meeting new people. Family reunions with my parents, siblings and their spouses are always a treat Above all I love spending time with my Heavenly Father. He is by far the only one that has the ability to breathe life into my soul, cure my sorrows, enter into my deepest heart and replenish my whole being with His Presence. I need Him more than anything else in the world. I came to know Him through a deep and desperate hunger that I never imagined could be filled. But when He touched me He took away all my hunger and thirst and satisfied me with something no words could ever describe. He only has loved me into wholeness.

Through love encounters with Him, I have discovered the sweetness of His Personhood (Psalm 34:8) and I believe His great desire for His creation is that we are made whole by His love. That’s what this blog and everything that I write is about.

“The glory of God is man fully alive.” –St. Irenaeus.

~I hope as you explore this blog that you experience healing, strengthening joy, restorative peace, and a love that makes everything right. May your soul feast on words of life.

Relax and Let Me Pour You A Cup of Coffee!

Hello, <3 

It’s wonderful to meet you! My name is Ashley. If we were together physically, I’d offer you some of my husband’s famous cinnamon cappuccino. We’d walk over to the living room and sit on a plush sofa together. I’d open up a window to let some cool air in and then start my introduction…

“I believe intimacy with God is the most healing balm in all existence, the birthing room of all iridescent creativity and the one pure cure for all of man’s woes.”

I was born on the tropical island of Nassau Bahamas. When I was 5, my family and I moved to a beautiful small beach town in California. At the age of 16, I had an encounter with the Lord and I became a new person. I worked for 5 years at my church’s private preschool and I served 7 years as a youth leader. Mid-way between college I went to a live-in missionary school where I shared a small, one-bathroom house, with 9 other people. My roommates consisted of women from France, England, Norway, Australia and different parts of the USA. The school had about 8 different houses that used to be prostitution brothels. I enjoyed the sights and cultures of those around me. Men and women from Africa inspired me with their dances, their bright smiles and I enjoyed feeling free to eat with my hands. I learned from missionaries around the world under a “luxurious” (wink, wink) white pitched tent where I and the other students had straw for seats and desks. We were centered in an impoverished, high-crime neighborhood. I had some life-changing experiences there. 

When I was 20, I published my first book: Inside the fields of My Heart which I’ve republished as, Romantic Rendezvous for the Soul (a book about pure, divine intimacy). You can read the first story in it for free on my Free Inspiration page or purchase an ebook copy (with all the stories) on amazon by clicking here.  I graduated from community college with my A.A in English and Humanities with an emphasis on Creative Arts. When I was 22, I needed a miracle and a new understanding of God’s love and grace. I left California to attend Charis Bible college in mountainous Colorado. I enjoyed crunching my boots in fresh snow and living at Christ Haven lodge with international Bible students. They became like my second family. You can find a video of me being interviewed about it by clicking here.  After my first year, I married the man of my prayers (my first boyfriend), Stephen McClelland. We finished our 2nd year of Bible college together and I earned my Bachelor’s in Biblical studies.

Two years later, God answered my prayer, and my body became swollen with life. In between pregnancy, I worked as a prayer minister and I also took crisis calls. It was a very stretching and rewarding time to learn how to comfort and pray for those in extremely difficult situations. I am happy to say, lives were saved and some people received the help they needed from God. Racing with my delivery date, I managed to publish my second book Visions of Celestial Love  and finish my Early Childhood Education classes before Eden-Rain was born. My midwives delivered her on a cold winter morning in Colorado. The room was filled with kind and professional doctors who sought to take care of me and Eden’s needs. I’m happy to say that my mother and husband were with me through every minute of labor.

For 5 months, I lived as a stay-at-home mom in a small, Elizabethan-styled cottage, pressed between two majestic mountains and a peaceful creek. The small bed and breakfast cottage was a dream come true. It had a large sauna bathroom (the size of my bedroom) that had heating and a Jacuzzi tub with jets. Whenever family or friends visited, they could be sure to find the fireplace burning, lit fragrant candles scattered about and me in pajamas with weary, star-struck eyes as I marveled at the young life I’d been entrusted to raise. My husband was gone 10-14 hours a day, working and finishing up the optional third-year ministers’ school at Charis. I am so proud of him.

More recently, my husband and I moved to California to put our Bible college education to the test. We want to make disciples and so here we are.” I point to our surroundings as you take a sip of cappuccino. I continue, “For about three years I ran a licensed Christian daycare in this home, until I was hired as the Bible teacher at Monterey Bay Christian School. I’ve become a certified Christian Life Coach. I have now opened up my own practice. For several weeks my husband hosted a radio show called the Encounter (where he shares amazing personal testimonies of people encountering Jesus around him).  He created a website  where he shares a years worth of encouraging messages that he preached when he served as a pastor of a home church in Colorado. I’m often in awe at the grace-gift of understanding and exhortation God’s given him. He has truly changed lives everywhere we’ve been.”

After a year and a half, my husband and I welcomed our second baby girl, Elena Sophia Brielle (radiant light, wisdom and “God is my strength”) into the world. She came like a beacon of light as the U.S faced unprecedented darkness with the corona virus and destructive racial tensions. My pregnancy with her was a constant sweet reminder of the sure promises of God and the beauty of racially blended love. During my pregnancy, God opened up a door of immense favor for me and I secured a literary agent. Together, my agent and I are working toward pitching my book, Romantic Rendezvous for the Soul, to a traditional Christian publishing company.

In Fall 2023, I was blessed to be a part of an anthology book with several amazing women. Together we collaborated our healing testimonies and created the devotional, His Beauty for My Ashes. Shortly after its release, it made it to the best sellers list on amazon! To check it out, click here. 

In 2024, I was honored to join Set Free Monterey Bay, a beautiful Christian organization that provides healing, housing, resources, classes and therapy for victims of sex trafficking. 

I pause in new revere at God’s faithfulness and then smile gratefully at you, “thank you for taking the time to listen to my story. It’s been an adventure since I gave my life to Christ and I hope you feel like the ice has been broken between us. I welcome you to freely peruse my home (this website) and I’m sure we’ll become more deeply acquainted with time. But for now, I’ve so enjoyed being introduced.” 

~p.s: I’m really glad you’re here. 

xoxo

Dearly beloved,

Welcome!

May this page be a foretaste of the marriage supper of the Lamb to your soul. You are the apple of the King’s eyes and the treasure of his heart.

Before you begin, please read the introduction to this sacred topic by clicking here.

I Do: A Story of Being Married to Jesus

I Do, is an illustrative allegory of Ephesians 5:25: Men love your wives as Christ loves the church and gave himself up for her. Jesus gave me this story when I was 19 and it has forever changed my heart. It has brought women to tears and even silenced men as they realize the weight of the bridegroom love of Jesus and his constant forgiveness even when the church commits adultery.

I have chosen to offer one of the stories from my book Romantic Rendezvous for the Soul as a free eBook. The object of this story is to draw your heart ever closer to a life-giving relationship with Jesus where you can be nourished from the inside out. Seeing and beholding Him is the source of every good thing your soul and body needs. This section is offered solely for that purpose. This story and the thoughts that fill it, were written from a place where I have sat and supped with Jesus. I believe being with Him is the most fruit-bearing activity any believer could participate in. He is the author of abundant Life, the Savior of mankind and the source of true freedom.

Therefore, because of Him…I expect these words to be like healing bread soaked in the wine of intimate communion, like refreshing and succulent grapes to your taste and rejuvenating water to your spirit. Our strength and power as believers are found in the loving arms of the King. Our ability to walk in the light is found in listening to His words of truth, our path of peace and eternal joy is found in the reality of His life emanating from our being (the reality of a deep inner relationship). You were created for intimacy with Him. He never created you to work up anything apart from Him. I pray that by just reading this free love-letter you will steal away with Jesus and find Him swelling your entire being with the kind of life that brings unshakable hope and joyful strength.

Strengthen me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples, for I am weak with love. -Song of Songs 2:6 NLT

Romantic Rendezvous for the Soul: Pleasure That Makes You Whole.

Read a free short story about divine romance!

~To read the FIRST story in Romantic Rendezvous for the Soul for free, click here.

~If you were blessed by reading this sneak peek and would like to read the WHOLE book, you can purchase a copy on amazon by clicking here. Please also consider leaving a review, this will give more women the opportunity to hear about it <3

“What a great joy it was to be able to submerge myself into the short sweet encounters with Jesus in the book “Romantic Rendezvous for the Soul” written By Ashley Thompson Mcclelland.
Ashley your personal encounters are illuminated through these stories. They have reminded me of my personal relationship with my Savior Jesus. I used to have an empty seat at the table when I ate or fluff a pillow by mine when I went to bed.
I love the way you describe each person and each heart in your stories. Every one of these beautiful stories is heartfelt. Everyone of these stories carries a strong message. A message of love, a message of faith and a message of the importance of meeting Jesus right where we are. Thank you for the opportunity of being able to share my thoughts on your new upcoming book! May God come alive in each person who picks it up to read it. May God touch hearts and bring souls closer to Him.” ~Ramona Trevino, Pastor/Education Specialist/Author I.M.Dauntless/ Radio Ministry :Blossoms of my Life, KKMC 880am/97.3fm.

🌹“Ashley depicts such a level of intimacy with Jesus so poignantly that I believe it will arouse others’ hearts with passion to pursue a new depth and commitment in their relationship with Him. I pray with all my heart that through her insights seamlessly woven into the stories, the church (men and women) would recognize their one true identity as brides and not servants. The author helps us learn to allow ourselves be loved and healed and no longer driven to meet unrealistic expectations of ourselves and others. I believe that Ashley’s book will facilitate cultivating a fulfilling relationship with Jesus and abandoning religion once and for all! Ashley gives hope to those of us who feel or have felt they have sunk too low in their depravity. She demonstrates and enables us to believe that, no matter how vile our pasts, we can be washed white as snow by the blood of the Lamb and made beautiful new creations. She conveys with a refreshing rawness that nothing is beyond His power and (most reassuringly) His desire to redeem and restore.She illustrates the amazing grace of God with its power to enable us to live holy lives by His spirit and not the letter of the law and religion.
Possibly the most pertinent lesson that Ashley wisely shares in some of her stories is the most painful yet wonderful journey we go through if we choose to face the surrender of our lives and desires to God. Through her writing she gently urges us to come to this place of trust with the Father who loves us beyond our comprehension.The stories are heartwarmingly honest. Ashley has a beautiful gift of using descriptive language which instantly creates pictures in your minds as she relates her stories and makes them so real and alive.
May it lead you into your own passionate journey deeper into the heart of Jesus and to experience wonderful encounters with Him, our eternally faithful and true love.” ~Celina Haywood, Licensed Minister, Former Missionary to Thailand, Beautiful Encourager 💗

“This book is filled with amazing love stories. These stories bring hope to the deepest part of your heart and soul. The writer keeps you engaged so much that it’s as if you are there experiencing the emotions and feelings of the characters. Your heart will race. Your heart will flutter. You’ll feel the presence of the king. You’ll find yourself falling more and more in love with Jesus as you realize and experience the unending love he has for you. If you’re struggling with your relationship with Jesus, this book is for you. If you are grounded and solid in your relation with Jesus, this book is for you. If you want to know him … it’s for you. If you are seeking love ….start here.” ~Pastor Irene Torres, Marriage and Family pastor at Our Father’s House church. Irene carries a powerful testimony of family restoration and transformation. Her passion is to help families build strong and healthy relationships that prosper in unity. Irene carries a gifting to help others see God’s glory inside themselves so they too can rise up and live to bring God glory. Irene has a Bachelors in Christian Leadership and a Masters in Governmental Development.

“The beautifully written Novel, “Romantic Rendezvous for the Soul”, is an apt description of the unconditional love of our Bridegroom Jesus Christ for His Bride. In every human, especially women, there is a deep desire to be loved even when we feel unlovely. Ashley reveals in her book that Christ loves each and every one of us with a great intense desire to have us know this. She brings to life what God’s Word declares about His love for each of us. Jesus is available for a relationship with every person who is searching for love that is unconditional. When we are in a relationship with Him to the degree Ashley describes in her book, we will experience that intimacy with Him. I recommend “Romantic Rendezvous for the Soul” for all who are seeking and looking for such a relationship that only Christ can offer.” ~Jeannie Thompson is an Ordained minister with the Assemblies of God. Since being widowed for twenty years she has continued in full-time ministry pastoring churches in the USA and has been ministering for the last three years in Missions work in Thailand. She was unanimously elected as the senior Pastor of an International church in Udonthani Thailand over two years ago. Her focus is in reaching the lost and forgotten with the gospel message of Jesus Christ to the Nations so that all may hear.