“Storms in life are not meant to break us but to bend us toward God.” (Unknown)

As I sat out on the deck, I prayed cheerfully. “Father, guide me, show me Your glory!” I heard the echo of thunder in the background from the storm that would be above my head in about an hour. I have always loved thunder! Especially the big thunder boomers in Tennessee. It awakens thoughts of what God’s voice would sound like. The thunder that rocks the house brings to mind of what the Israelites heard from God when He spoke from the mountain top (Exodus 19:16-17, 20:18). When I asked God to talk to me, I, possibly like you, expected Him to be joyful and speak, “Bless you my child, you have only joy coming your way!” This time, He had a clearer, different message for me.

     As the storm grew closer, the leaves in the trees began to gently rustle. This is another act of God that I love. Remember the divine intervention when God told David when he was getting ready to attack the Philistines, “Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, ‘You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”? I smiled, thinking, God will give me answers for these difficulties I have been dealing with. But God had something else to say to me.

     Within a minute of hearing the leaves gently sway, the storm came in full force. The thunder sounded like a sonic boom. The torrential rain came in sideways sheets, knocking off the vase of flowers on my table and drenching everything in the screened porch. The wind was relentless. I ran for cover inside the house and listened as the tempest intensified. And then… as rapidly as it blew in, it stopped. No lingering light rain, no echo of thunder in the distance, no whisper of wind. Complete silence. I walked outside, stunned. I was seeking blessings, but God wanted me to seek Him.

     I remember when I was preparing to go to Peru to serve. God allowed me to go through a year-long process of being accepted by an agency and learning about the future work there. And then He closed the door… and was silent. I was shocked, confused, and wondering what to do next. Hadn’t He opened that door? I admit, I went into the entire experience confident I could do the job. I knew a little Spanish. The weather there was perfect every day, 365 days a year! I had been there before. The people were lovely, and I knew it was the ideal position for me… so I thought. But God remained silent except to show me one verse, repeatedly. Psalm 27:4, “One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek; That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.” (NKJV)

     I felt confident in myself going to Peru. God can’t use people who are confident in themselves. God chose that specific verse for me because He would send me to a place I had never been, where I had no knowledge of the language or the thousands of dialects, and where I would be alone for many years. God wanted me to seek Him because He would be all I would have… and He was definitely enough, above and beyond what I could have imagined (Ephesians 3:20).

     So why was God trying to get my attention this time? Storms can be physical or personal. I confess that I have been doing some comparisons lately. Nonbelievers I know have been blessed abundantly. Believers I know have been able to do their dream ministry, and I’ve been chosen to occupy a stationary place over several years. It’s been difficult. I think about my age, how life is nothing but vapor, and I am anxious about not wasting one minute. But God has a purpose for every storm, physical, medical, and personal.

     I’ve learned much in this stationary place over the last seven years out of ministry. Of course, I do have the ministry of raising my disabled son. God has changed my character and is holding me accountable for my vow to Him to write about His faithfulness. He continues to get me to focus on Him and not others. I admit I have been focused on me and my situation too much… and the obstacles, most likely sent by the Enemy.

     Charles Stanley wrote:
“Are you facing something much greater than your ability to handle? Turn your fear and sorrow over to Jesus. Allow Him to take your hurt and disappointment. When He is in your boat, there is no need to worry.” I believe those who suffer the greatest on earth have the most tremendous confidence of sharing in His highest glory.

Remember the disciples in the boat with the storm that hit them (Matthew 14:22-33). Jesus sent the storm and brought them peace.

What is the purpose of your storm? Ask Jesus to show you what He wants you to learn.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:2-6/NKJV)

“… “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come saying ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; …  And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:5-7/NKJV)

“It was a typical day when Joy decided to go down to the beach. She needed answers, she needed guidance, and honestly, she just needed some hope. She was a middle-aged woman who realized that time passed more quickly as she aged. Nothing about her over the past years would draw your attention to her. She was of medium build and much shorter than she desired. Her brownish-blonde hair was past her shoulders now, but no longer had any shine. Her skin was beginning to show her age and the ravages of time. The only outward quality she had was her sapphire blue eyes, but even they didn’t sparkle anymore. The tears had washed most of the glimmer away. She stumbled as she made her way across the rocky, sandy beach, partly because of the unevenness of the path, partly because of her disability. She found a large, sturdy piece of driftwood that looked solid. She sat down to rest. She was so weary, and with her infirmity, and the considerable, unnecessary weight on her shoulders she carried, she couldn’t travel far anymore. She realized she had allowed the world’s trials to overshadow her more than she had noticed. Her outlook no longer represented her name.

As she sat there, the sun’s warm rays felt like a love she once remembered, cupping her face in its hands. The quiet, rippling sounds of the waves began to make her heart beat in rhythm. She deeply breathed in the fragrance of the ocean. The healing sound and scent of the ocean breeze caused Joy to feel more peaceful. Surprisingly, the weight on her shoulders seemed to feel somewhat lighter. A low-piercing noise startled her, and when her eyes opened, she saw a seagull that had landed not far from her. It was focused on the shell it had hurled from the sky, enjoying its morsels, oblivious that she was even near it. She was used to being invisible. Joy laughed inwardly as she observed the waddle of the seagull. It reminded her of herself. Once the bird noticed the intruder, it quickly took flight, and Joy beheld its grace, soaring above the beach. She had once soared, too.

Joy noticed the time on her phone and saw that the sun was beginning to explode into a magnificent palette of colors on heaven’s canvas. She knew she had to leave soon; finding her way back would be too arduous. As she tottered, like the seagull, finding her way down the beach, a smile began to rise, looking at the countless shells, sea glass, starfish, and endless treasures on the caramel-colored sand. She was about to lift her gaze when something shimmered on the ground. She couldn’t make it out until she grew closer. It was a stone, but not an ordinary stone. It was shiny, off-white with streaks of sienna, magenta, a few threads of royal blue, and highlights of gold like Kintsugi pottery. She picked up the stone. It was baked warm from the sun. Strangely, it felt quite weighty for such a small stone, but not too cumbersome to hold. Forgetting the sun beginning to set, she leaned against a boulder and gazed at it. A tear brushed down her face. An explosion of memories came to her as she examined the gold-filled lines on the stone.

Joy felt the Lord was speaking to her audibly. The message was clear, “How long, My child, will you keep running and grieving the losses? You only need to ask and believe; I, too, will fill those dark memories with light and triumph. You no longer need to be just Joy, but Joyful again. I will never leave you nor forsake you. I have seen and collected every tear and written them down. Soon, very soon, you will no longer remember the heartbreak.” Joyful was weeping now. She knew His words to be true. She knew He had been unwavering and had provided for her all her life. When did she lose hope?

Storms would come and go. Sometimes, she had plenty, sometimes a little. Occasionally, she lost everything on this earthly path. But Joyful knew she would never lose her eternal home or His love. She held on to the stone, and even though little light was left to help her find her way, she was no longer worried. She felt like she, too, was soaring. The strength of the small stone reminded her of God’s strength. It wasn’t crushing; it helped her when she was weak. Strength was the word the Lord wanted her to remember. Strength, when others said she was feeble, or dense, or worthless, or medically unhealthy. It didn’t matter what people or doctors said; the above-and-beyond strength didn’t come from medications, treatments, or encouragement from others. It came from God alone.

Joyful kept the stone as a remembrance of God’s faithfulness and vowed that no matter what happened in her life, she wouldn’t forget this moment and all the previous times that God had been steadfast. She didn’t have riches untold, but she was the heir of the God Most High. Earthly things were not at her disposal, but eternal, heavenly riches were in abundance, and she knew that if she spent time with her heavenly Father and focused on His path, He would always help her through each day. Joyful would gather a bountiful bucket of remembrance stones in the months and years ahead.”

This Holy Week, remember all that Christ did for you in this fleeting life and His sacrifice for all eternity. Choose a stone to remind you of His unwavering love and faithfulness.   

And remember to give thanks for the stone that was rolled away! Hallelujah! He is alive!             

(Excerpt from “Waves of Gratitude: Seeing God’s love through the darkest storms.)

Verse references: Joshua 1:5, Psalm 56:8

Proposed release date – November 2025 with Beatitudes Publishing!

Sailing waves refers to “navigating a sailboat or boat through ocean waves, which can be a challenging yet rewarding experience, requiring skill and knowledge to maintain control and safety.”

This is why I’ve chosen to call the updates on writing and publishing, Saling Waves!

Despite numerous obstacles in the first three months of 2025, writing has gone well!

We’ve had an unexpected amount of winter snow and freezing temperatures. Parts of the city went through a period of no water or contaminated water, which closed schools and businesses. My son’s health issues have gone up and then dove down, gone up, and then dove down. Our dog had a freak accident at the dog park, which made her need extra care for a few weeks, including two trips to the vet. My strength improved somewhat with knee surgery, but the surgery didn’t fix the problem entirely. And there were time-consuming events like replacing the lawnmower, then the dryer. Gratefully, the landlord has to replace the oven that just went out a week ago!

But the Lord has been pushing me to continue to fight the good fight of faith and move forward.

I have weighed all the pros and cons of traditional and independent publishing. The gauge is leaning more towards independent due to personal control of writing and a more significant percentage of royalties. Of course, an independent publisher is still needed unless qualified, trustworthy editors, book cover designers, etc., are known. I was given a referral, and the gauge, once again, leaned toward one.

I had a one-hour Zoom meeting with the company owner. She asked me to submit my manuscript, and the team would review it this week and get back to me to see if they would work with me and the manuscript.

I prayed and forwarded it on. Now I wait…

Stay tuned for more writing updates!

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” John 15:16

Chosen is a powerful word. Out of all the definitions of chosen, the one that blesses me the most is “to want; desire.” Do you remember being chosen, or not, as a child at school for games? Have you ever been designated for a prestigious award? The “chosen” word can be both painful and joyful.

In my book, “Waves of Gratitude: Seeing God’s love through the darkest storms,” there were many painful times that I was not picked out but picked on. I learned over the years that earthly choices were nothing compared to being favored by God. “What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that you visit him?” (Psalm 8:4). Despite our apparent insignificance in the vastness of creation, God has chosen us. To be called by the King of the universe is a glorious calling indeed.

This weekend I had the great blessing of attending a women’s gathering at a local church. Now some might not think that it is a memorable event, but to me it was a joyfully overwhelming opportunity! You see, as a single mom with a disabled child, and because of an enormous lack of caretakers for children, elderly, and everyone in between; I had not been to a women’s celebration in over ten years.

The amazing thing God orchestrated, without a doubt, is that I just happened to notice that Kelly Minter, a women’s Bible teacher, author, and singer, was coming into town. I saw the ad months ago before I even had someone to care for my son. For some unknown reason, I had high hopes of attending and registered. A friend and I both signed up to go… and I prayed earnestly.

When there was a notice that my son received a special waiver, which included childcare from an agency, my heart skipped ecstatically, and I thought that I might soon have a little more freedom and be able to attend this conference. The first caretaker that I interviewed seemed perfect. She was even studying to be a nurse! Of course, the day of her first assignment was a no-show. I began to give up all hope of going to the event. My friend and I considered who could take my place to go with her. Strangely, everyone we thought of was obligated to do something else. I was determined to encourage my friend to go by herself, knowing she would likely make friends there. But God already had plans.

Two days before the event, the attendant agency contacted me again. They had another person for me to interview. This was a male helper, which was better for my son. The interview went well, and I asked him to come that day to meet my son and for me to meet him in person. This was the day before the conference.

The guy was very nice and respectful, and my son liked him, (my son has great insight to people’s personalities), but still… I wasn’t sure. By this time, I was begging God to let me attend the conference for teaching and encouragement, but I also knew that these days, even background checks didn’t prove everything. I decided to trust God since He had called my attention to the special program and let this guy be with my precious son. I called the agency supervisor to confirm they had run a background check and that there had been no complaints about this person.

Friday arrived. The caretaker showed up. I prayed out loud for my son and him. I took a deep breath and left.

My friend and I excitedly arrived at the crowded event. We miraculously got great seats near the front and waited for the workshop to begin. The emcees played games with the audience, gave gifts, and then worship began. After worship, Kelly came out. She gave a summary of what she would be sharing that evening and the next day in the three one-hour sessions. And then she spoke the foundational verse of the conference. I almost burst into tears. The verse, John 15:16, has been one of many cherished verses to me. This verse was prayed over me in January 2003 when my church and missions board commissioned me to India. It had been the most incredible ceremony that I had ever experienced. Kelly dug deep into John 15:1-17 in those three sessions and closed the ceremony, singing How Great Thou Art.

Oh God, how great You truly are!

My son was safe and joyful with his new caretaker. I was convinced and refueled for the appointed journey ahead. I was reminded to focus, move forward, and bloom right where I was at and would be.  I knew, without wavering, that this conference was chosen for me.

***In one day, I will begin short update notes of Sailing Waves! Stay tuned in!

“We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith…” (Hebrew 12:2/GWT)

     Every morning, my dog, Riley, has a ritual. She goes outside to take care of business and then comes to the door. When she walks in, I say, “Sit,” or just touch her, and she sits. She knows what is coming next. I have buried a special treat in the living room. She must stay in that sitting position if it’s for one minute or five minutes. Riley knows she can’t move before she hears the command to “search” or “go.” I have noticed every morning, though, without fail, that Riley never takes her intently focused eyes off me. I could be in the kitchen getting a cup of coffee or just wandering around. Her eyes follow me. Even if I leave the room. As soon as I return, you can tell she has been looking in the direction that I left. It’s worth it for her to obey and be alert. There is a marvelous prize waiting. Riley knows she won’t get the goodies if she moves too quickly.

Riley is well-trained.

     As children of God, we are not as well trained. We know and understand that there is a glorious reward awaiting us… better than any special pleasure imaginable. We will one day see Jesus face-to-face and spend eternity in heaven… no mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore (Rev. 21:4), everlasting joy and gladness (Isaiah 35:10). There has never been, nor will there ever be, a gift so grand! We get distracted, though, and take our eyes off the ONE leading us.

     In the world today, there are a million reasons to get preoccupied. It could be we are watching:

• The wealthy continue to have even more.
• Overwhelming natural disasters.
• The political arena.
• Our health declining.
• Biblical leaders fail and fall.
• Questionable changes happening in the U.S. at lightning speed, that make no sense.
• Other ministry workers succeed when we might not be doing as well.
• People are getting promoted over others.
• A nonstop series.

There is always something trying to attract our attention. We must be steadfast, without doubt, even when things in our world seem to be falling apart. We have one HOPE, one Future, one God, who is trustworthy and praiseworthy.

So, sit. Get your focus back on Jesus and His word. Wait for His direction. Then move when he says “go.”

Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9)

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will go strangely dim. In the light of His glory and grace.” (Helen Lemmel)

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. (Psalm 81:10)

The last time I wrote in June, I had hoped to complete the manuscript of my first book by my 65^th birthday, August 5^th. Well, God had other plans as He usually does…

We took a longer time driving to Hope Heals Camp this year. We were blessed to stay in Asheville, North Carolina for a few days and visit The Cove and drive around the city for the first time. It’s devastating now to know that two months later a large area where we were would be tragically wiped out by Hurricane Helene.

We also stopped in Atlanta to visit the new coffee shop, MEND Coffee, created by the people who started Hope Heals. After that brief stop, we had planned on spending a few days in Birmingham, Alabama but God had another schedule change as a torrential storm blew in and we had to hunker down in a hotel in Atlanta.

Two days later we headed to the amazing disability camp that reaches new heights yearly. The most spectacular celebration was watching how well my son did. This was our third summer. The first summer Josh had never been to camp. He didn’t participate very much and was obviously overwhelmed by overstimulation. The second summer, he was still recovering mentally and emotionally from the abuse that had happened to him at a previous school. I was concerned that he would not even separate from me. His buddy from the previous year met him at the car when we arrived. Within a few minutes, Josh perked up and was emotionally healed through that week there. Praise be to God! Grateful to Hope Heals Camp.

This year… well, he blew us away! He conidently got out of the car, shoulders back, head held high, like, I know what I’m doing! He participated in more activities and was able to eat dinner and remain in the huge dining hall, with over 200 people, for the entire, loud, program. This was the first time, being autistic with high sensory issues, that he was able to do it. Josh even stood at the back of the church and watched the entire talent show! This coming year, God willing, he will participate in the show! My gratitude goes to God who gave him peace, and the loving team at camp.

The day of packing up didn’t go quite as well as I expected. I’ve had knee pain off and on for years. Working overseas for sixteen years in a Third-World country probably wore down my aging body some. The journey through the country was not always easy or smooth. But on the last day of camp, my knee began hurting more, so I got out my cane and hobbled around saying goodbyes. By the time we drove two hours to Birmingham I couldn’t get out of the car. I had severe pain and couldn’t put any pressure on my right leg.

By the amazing grace and strength of God, I was able to finally get Josh out of the car, grab minimal luggage, and make it to the bed. God poured His peace over Josh. He was calm for over 24 hours while I lay in bed with cold presses on my knee. The only time I moved was to hobble somewhere for food. Some 45 hours later I had less pain and was able to limp to a church that I had wanted to visit in Birmingham. After church, we began our two-day trip home. By God’s kindness, we safely made it home.

Surgery was scheduled for my knee in September, and God graciously provided a home care person and friends who helped me and my son. The following month, my son was hospitalized with his own medical issues. Gratefully, we both are doing better.

This is the reason why there has been a six-month absence from the blog. I was first discouraged because of the delay in the book, but I know that God’s timing is precise.

The good news?! I’m in the final turn of the book. I have the last chapter to write but am first having a few, handpicked, women, to read the first chapters so that I can fine tune the last chapter. After that, I am still weighing the pros and cons of going with a publisher or self-publishing.

Finally, many Christians pray and listen for a word for God to give them for the new year. God usually gives me one word and then halfway through the year He may change it. I don’t know if His thinking is, “Okay, Deb is not following that word too closely, I better give her something she can work with,” or, hopefully, the new word is becoming a habit, and I graduate to a new one!

Remember, before I share my word for the year, that I have not looked at the blog for six months. God has been speaking to me often about, Redeeming the time. Even though there have been several obstacles in the past six months, there also, admittedly, have been moments where I’ve wasted time. Yes, there should be rest, but even then, we should focus on what is important.

No one knows the number of days he or she has, I have been praying about that often. As long as I have breath, I have a purpose for God. Yes, to glorify Him, but also to be used by Him for His work.

So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:10)

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all you do be done with love. (I Corinthians 16:13-14)

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. (1 Corinthians 9:24)

To be diligent in what God has been teaching me means that I need to focus. Not just attention or observation, but a grounded focus like an anchor, to hold fast, cling to, firmly hold, with diligence.

When I opened my blog to update something, I realized that my last posting in June was titled, FOCUS.  God is good… all the time, (Joan). 😉

So here I am again, Lord, arms opened wide in full surrender… fill my cup to overflowing.

What Egypt trial has the Lord brought you out of this past year?

What word is God giving you for the New Year?

2025 is going to be amazing… just wait and see!

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him. (Psalm 34:8)

Hopeheals.com/camp – If you have someone in your family with a disability, the whole family can attend! Check out the website! Applications for this coming year open on January 21st!

If you want to challenge yourself and experience something amazing, they are always in need of volunteers. Hop on the website and find out details.

Mendcoffee.com

Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them; but do not let them master you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight. When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another. Helen Keller

I am still here, but not writing on the blog now. Any available time that I have to write, I am committed to finishing the book, God willing, by August 5th. A very special day!

We also have a very exciting 12-day trip to Hope Heals Disability Camp in Nauvoo, Alabama! It’s a great highlight of our summer. It’s only a 1-day trip, but we usually do it in 2 days. This year, I need to take a little more rest stops because of a physical condition, but God willing, we are joyfully stopping by Bill Graham’s The Cove and Ruth Bell Graham’s garden. Then, we head to Atlanta to visit the new Mend Coffee shop, welcoming all abilities and hiring those with disabilities.

https://www.mendcoffee.com/

We will finally head to Birmingham, Alabama, to attend church. They have a wonderful special needs ministry, and my son is welcomed with open arms, even just for one Sunday! Then, it will be a week-long time of cherished friends, good food, suitable lessons, and fantastic pampering at camp! We both are looking forward to it. I hope to deliver some copies of drafts of the book there for some feedback.

If you have never checked out Hope Heals Camp, please do! It is free for families with disabilities, excluding transportation. Volunteers raise money to participate, and they need many volunteers! It is genuinely an anointed, blessed event for everyone who attends! It’s full for this year, with a waiting list for people wanting to attend. Maybe it’s something you would like to do next year?! If not, donations are always welcomed to help support this much-needed event.

https://hopeheals.com/camp

I appreciate prayers for travel mercies and covet prayers for completing the book. My goal is that the book is not about me and my story but God’s story through my life. It’s a journey of abuse, rejection, healing, amazing ministries, revelation! And it undeniably confirms Romans 8:28!

Waves of Gratitude: Seeing God’s love through the darkest storms. If God wills, in bookstores before the year ends.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

In Isaiah 1:17, God says, “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause;” but sometimes we don’t see the simple needs before us.

For several years since my return from overseas ministry, I have been praying and asking God, “What’s next?” I prayed and asked. I prayed and pleaded. Finally, I prayed and wept to a seeming void where I perceived God was not listening.

God, you asked, Whom shall I send??

Jumping up and down with my hand up, I’m here! I’m here!

Don’t misunderstand… I have a vision for the future but that takes many pieces to fall into place. I don’t have a problem waiting for that to unfold. I know part of my ministry is completing the book telling of God’s faithfulness from my childhood until now (Psalm 71:17-18). I even know that caring for my adopted special needs son is a ministry. But there seemed to be something missing that I was supposed to do right now. There was! I was just looking at what I thought reaching out to someone should look like, instead of listening to the cry that God was trying to get me to hear.

In my community was someone who needed a listening ear, someone to pray for them, and someone to say, I’m here for you. The person in need was right under my nose.

Sometimes we just need to wake up and smell the coffee.

Pamela Kearney wrote an article sharing about a man, Matthew, who owned a bakery directly across from a funeral home… She went to visit Matthew one day to share a story. “On a bitterly cold December evening, there was a visitation at the funeral home across the street from his bakery. The people bundled up in coats, scarves, and blankets, were lined up around the building waiting to hug the family of the deceased.” Mysteriously, a man appeared out of nowhere, serving hot coffee to these people. Pamela soon realized that Matthew was the man serving the hot coffee that night. He admitted that he felt so bad for the people that he wanted to do something, but that all he could do was make coffee. So he made coffee.

Further in the article, one learns that Pamela’s sixteen-year-old son was the one at the funeral home that everyone was visiting. Pamela was moved by the kindness of this person who didn’t know the people but did what he could do. Pamela responded, “Somedays, I’m burdened with the reality that I can’t do everything to help everybody. I truly do want to make a difference in people’s lives and change the world. I dream big, but I can’t do it all.” Matthew’s words came back to her once again, “All I could do was make coffee, so I made coffee.” Pamela repeatedly asked herself, “What is my ‘coffee’ in this situation?”

The article influenced me greatly. My coffee was reaching out to the person who needed to share. My coffee was seeing the woman in the Dollar Tree crying after a phone call, asking her if she was okay, and then praying for the situation. My coffee could be doing more than just praying for my neighbor going through radiation for cancer. My coffee could be being nicer on the phone when I have to talk with insurance people, and medical staff, and the endless, frustrating calls to call centers. Yet, one action can make a huge difference when people are hurting.

Patiently I will wait for the larger ministry assignment, but in the meantime, I can be the hands and feet of Jesus to a world that is hurting. One cup of coffee could change a life.

(What is My Coffee/Pamela Kearney)

Further article: https://www.pressreporter.com/lifestyles/%E2%80%98we-are-declaring-worst-day-our-life-god-still-good%E2%80%99

We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope. Martin Luther King, Jr.

For over a year I have been trying to think of a name for a ministry I desire to start for single moms with disabled children, believing in my heart that I am called by God to do so. For a long time, I thought of calling it the Snowflake Project, or The Snowman/Snowwoman Project. Why? Because disabled children remind me of snowflakes. Each is different, delicate, and beautifully designed by God. If you know ten different autistic children, you only know one autistic child… none resemble the other. Alone, disabled children can be fragile, but together as a community, they can build into something strong and vibrant. I never tire of watching a special needs child, with their individual disabilities, and usually complex medical issues, grow, learn, and personify the unconditional love of Christ.

Due to political issues, I decided not to focus on the snowflake image. I waited for God to enlighten me.

The other week I was driving somewhere doing one of the hundred things I do as a single mom of an autistic child. There are always appointments, phone calls, paperwork to fill out, and battles to fight. I’m a highly visual learner so I love to, cautiously, sightsee while driving. I can’t even remember where I was when the road sign caught my eye. It was truly an epiphany! It was an intuitive grasp of reality, simple but striking. The road sign read… Good Hope Road.

For eons, the word, hope, has been overused. Not in meaningful terms, but in pointless, superficial ways.

I hope it doesn’t rain.

I hope (fill in the name of your favorite sports team) wins.

I hope I win the lottery!

The good hope is not a blind wish, such as, Hope you have a nice day! Although our intentions are heartfelt, we are just wishing that the day goes well for someone and that they don’t have to deal with the daily normal battles of this world. But the good hope is the hope of God, and everything from God is good. Randy Alcorn says, “To many of us, “hope” sounds wishful and tentative, but biblical hope means to anticipate with trust. We expect a sure thing, purchased on the cross, accomplished and promised by an all-knowing God. Scripture offers solid ground for our hope in Christ.” 

The good hope is unwavering. Paul says it in Romans 15:13. I still haven’t decided which version I like best. They both are encouraging and inspiring…

I pray that God, the source of hope will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (NLT)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises. (AMP)

Abound in hope?

Overflow with confident hope?

Why do we walk around with wobbly hope?

Not only do we have a book [several versions] readily accessible to us, which is spilling over with hope – God’s Word, but we also have our own lives to look back on.

In the book I am writing, Waves of Gratitude: Seeing God’s love through the darkest storms, I am amazed at what God did in my life, how He rescued me, and how He has used the occurrences as an inspiration to me, and to others on this journey. Did I have hope back then in the dark days? No… the choices I had made had me spiraling down into an empty abyss. I didn’t have a measure of hope. In a series of events, I was reminded of Jesus as a shepherd – guide, protector, healer – whom I had accepted as a child. I moaned in complete emotional and physical brokenness. Jesus reached down with His loving, forgiving hands, and pulled me up out of the miry clay (Psalm 40:2). No one is too hopeless to be rescued.

God will take your tiny spark of hope and your mustard seed size of faith and make it into something spectacularly amazing. I am a living, walking, breathing testimony of His goodness and forgiveness. Those experiences have grown my faith and deepened my hope.

I am not always hopeful. As Paul also says, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it but one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14/NIV)

Paul was saying, don’t look back on your failures, keep moving forward towards your calling. I agree with that, but I think it is important to look back and see how God used those failures and wrong turns for your good and His glory.

In a eulogy, titled Glorious Together (October 11, 2012), Pastor John Piper, sharing from Romans 15:13, said there are Six Steps for Abounding in Hope. These are the highlights:

1. The God of Hope – Everything begins with God. If there’s no God, there’s no hope. So, we start with God.
2. The Word of God – All the passages of Scripture, all the promises of God. Believe those.
3. The Spirit of God – If you hope more in God than in physical things or the future, then your hope comes from the Holy Spirit.
4. Faith in God – Simply believing.
5. Joy and Peace – You have joy and peace when you Rejoice in the Lord always. (Philippians 4:4)
6. Abundant Hope – Joy and peace do not produce hope. You are not going to have joy and peace without hope. If you are a hopeless person, where would joy and peace come from? Abundant hope brings joy and peace.

I don’t know about you, but I’m going to follow the good hope road. Oh, it’s a good hope road because it’s a journey. I have stories galore of God’s faithfulness and, I believe that I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13). I have already experienced abundant hope and goodness! Haven’t you?

Give God your spark of hope and your mustard seed of faith and watch what He will do. You can be confident that He will give you the strength and the wisdom, with joy, to face whatever may come. You too can have abundant, overflowing, confident good hope.