Hope in a Connection

Sometimes God shows up in unexpected places and connects us to people we need to know. As I boarded a plane today for my annual trip to Carol Kent’s Speak Up Conference in Michigan, a special memory and “hope connection” came to mind. A few years ago a friend and I were on an Arizona…

Friendship: A gift from God

“God, please bring my son a friend.” Soon after I prayed this prayer 21 years ago, my 3 year old only son Jake’s pre-school teacher told me about an emerging friendship between my son, and another young boy, Joey, also an only child. A playdate was arranged at McDonalds and over time their friendship led…

Look Up!

Since my last post I’ve been in a season of transition. I’ve slowed my pace, released some of my work, activities and relationships in order to examine my life, replenish, and reconnect with God and my family after several months of extreme schedules and circumstances in my life. I declared “40 days of renewal” for…

Will Work For Food

Will work for food This thought startled me as I walked into the grocery store on Wednesday, January 8 for my daily coffee and time with God.  When the thought came again a few minutes later, I knew it was God.  I’d been praying for God to provide scholarship funds for many spiritually hungry people…

Meaningful Memory

Give up your seat!   I had no idea how this simple thought would start a chain reaction of connections and spreading hope, ultimately making a memory for me and many others that ranks as one of my favorites in 2013.   I was seated on a plane minutes before takeoff a few days before Christmas. My…

A Christmas Gift From The Heart

Guest Blog By Alice Stephens We had been gathering small gifts and wrapping them for weeks prior to the Christmas party. My sister Pat, a mother of eight, worked full time and still took time to plan an annual trek to the local nursing home to play the piano, sing carols and make sure everyone…

Hope Rocks

One Thanksgiving I surprised our neighbors with a gift I called “Hope Rocks”. It included: a bag of rocks, a sharpie, and a glass bowl I could tell by their puzzled look I needed to explain. So I shared about our family’s outing the previous Thanksgiving when we exchanged formal dining for quad riding and…

A Gift of Going Home

My husband’s question caught me off guard. I pondered the possibilities. Finally, I knew what I desired: A trip home to see my family. Living several hundred miles apart from my family for over three decades has been more difficult than I thought it would be, especially after having children. Through the years they’ve missed…

Hope at the River

What place or setting inspires or encourages you? Snow capped mountains? Lush green forests? Tropical sandy beaches? God created a variety of landscapes for us to enjoy. Nature’s beauty can soothe or refresh our soul. Since the beginning of time people have found hope and enjoyment in different places. Adam and Even enjoyed the garden….

The Gift of Prayer

“God, please let mommy have a baby in her belly”. I’ll never forget hearing my young son’s prayer, twenty years ago. I was content being a mom to an only son after our journey through a miscarriage, infertility and adoption, yet Jake longed for a sibling.   I’m convinced a young child’s trust and unwavering faith…