Stories of Hope in Hard Times

Summary Tamara K. Anderson shared her personal journey of overcoming adversity through faith in God's help, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and seeking support from others. She discussed the role of Satan in causing resistance and doubt, and how God can strengthen and empower individuals to overcome these challenges. Tamara also shared practical principles for finding hope and faith in...

In this quick update I share 4 tips that revolve around a Bible verse I have learned by example which have helped me move forward while moving on to my new project: starting Women Warriors of Light. I also share about a giveaway I have going on right now. More details below. As I have started working on my new project, starting my women’s group called Women Warriors of Light there is a Bible Verse...

A few months ago I felt like there was a giant wall in front of me every time I tried to edit a podcast. Here I tell the story of my wrestle with God to try to figure out what He was trying to tell me and teach me. Episode Discussion Points I share some journal entries from October 2022 about how I literally felt sick and ill every time I needed to record or edit a podcast. Brainstorming how to de...

Several years ago I went on a hike with my family in Great Basin National Park to see the Bristlecone Pine trees. What I learned about these trees helped me see more clearly how we can all stay strong during times of adversity. Episode Discussion Points How we visited in October 2019 in Great Basin National Park, and Nathan wasn’t very happy about hiking in the snow. As we approached the grove of...

May I share with you my favorite Christmas tradition? Listen as I share with you a little about our Nativity program that we act out as a family every year on Christmas Eve. Bonus: You can even get a copy of the program in the show notes. Christmas Nativity Program Years ago when I was a little girl we began acting out the nativity each year and have kept the tradition each Christmas Eve with our...

After a move across the country when I was fourteen, Christmas didn't feel quite the same until a knock at our door set in motion a series of events that changed Christmas for the better. Story When I was fourteen years old, my family moved across the country from Virginia to Arizona. This was a hard move for me as a teenager and I had a hard time making new friends. As Christmas approached, it wa...

Debbie learned from her parents example the importance of choosing to still celebrate Christmas even when a tragedy struck their family during the holiday season. Episode Discussion Points Favorite holiday tradition: buying an ornament the different places they went, and getting one for each of her children too (so they could have ornaments when they got married.) This tradition eventually evolved...

Krista shares the story of her grandfather spending his first Christmas away from his wife as a soldier in Korea where he spent a humble and joyful Christmas in an orphanage as he shared a simple gift. She also shares how she has found joy during the holidays even after her daughter has passed away. Episode Discussion Points Holiday tradition—pick any box of sugared cereal for Christmas Morning br...

Rhonda joins us to tell the story of Heidi, who was a young girl in Berlin during World War II and a valuable lesson she learned about Christmas and perspective when things don’t go as you expect. Episode Discussion Points Holiday tradition of having biscuits and gravy on Christmas morning—which goes back several generations. Rhonda has been working with Heidi, an 86-year-old who went through WWII...

Joan shares a poignant story from wondering where God was when she was broke at Christmas time to receiving a Christmas miracle. Enjoy her holiday story of hope!   Episode Discussion Points Making new traditions that fit your family better (like Thanksgiving breakfast) Holiday story being broke Praying to God for help Miracle that happened Lessons Learned Always trust that God is listening—or...

Jo Ann tells the story of a memorable Christmas when she was five-years-old and her Swedish grandmother gave her the gift of tradition. Enjoy this warm and happy holiday memory. Lessons Learned It is important to bring out and pass on traditions from the past and pass them on to future generations in our family. And if you don’t have traditions to pass on, start your own traditions. Gather as fami...

Did you know there are 4 research-based habits you can incorporate into your life to help you live feeling more balanced and with less stress? Join us today as Dr. Michael Olpin shares what these four habits are and why they are so important to living a more happy and whole life. Episode Discussion Points Research has shown if you do at least 4 habits consistently you will get your body and mind i...

Michael didn’t set out to be a college professor, he just wanted to learn to manage his stress, but this quest led him to not only lower his blood pressure but influence tens of thousands to live a more healthy lifestyle. Episode Discussion Points Looking younger than you are has pros and cons The diagnosis and curiosity around “meditation” that led to his becoming a professor of stress management...

I’ve been dealing with some major burnout and strong emotions lately, so I thought I’d share a quote from a book I read recently which really resonated about how to deal with and process strong emotions. Awesome Quote “Acknowledge your emotions. All of them. Even the ugly and scary ones. Resisting them only lets them build up and makes them harder to deal with. Don’t be ashamed of your strong emot...

After trying to unsuccessfully rebound after a few divorces, Coree finally figured out the importance of becoming a whole person through healing with God. She shares her passion to help those who have gone through the pain of divorce find the healing journey that puts them in a position to thrive. Episode Discussion Points Funny story of a snake while she was helping a woman in Paraguay on a heali...

Exhausted? What can you do when you are beyond weary, and how can God help? Listen as I share 7 Bible principles I have learned from being weary. 7 Bible Principles to Remember When You’re Weary 1.     God is With You & Will Help You Isaiah 41:10 10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee ; yea...

Paul was devastated when his son was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, but he came to see not only the power and impact of one life but how God works in the details of our lives. Episode Discussion Points How his birth date ended up changing the outcome of his life. God is in the details of our life—learning to submit to God in all things The story of Mark (their 5th of 6th child) being born Hearing t...

Have you ever poured out your soul and cried before God? Does He hear and listen? Does He weep with us. Listen as I share a particularly poignant Bible Story which has helped me answer these questions. Bible Story of Weeping— John chapter 11 Story of Lazarus dying and his sisters Mary and Marht "Lord if you had been here” moments (verses 21 & 32) When we are weeping—Jesus feels our sorrow (ver...

Sharon cried when her husband was told he was going to go blind, but she learned to adapt to caregiving with imagination and flexibility as she faced each challenge with faith, hope and God. Episode Discussion Points How she became an amateur silversmith When her husband was building homes for Habitat for Humanity during his retirement, she began writing When her husband started having vision prob...

Music is such a powerful tool to connect us to God and has been throughout the ages. King David wrote the Psalm section as songs of praise unto God—and you can tell his mood in the different Psalms. —from psalms of thanksgiving, praise, lament, courage, sorrow, anger, mourning, adoration, meditation. 1. Listen to song about loss and almost crying—broken my heart story—Let us all press on in the wo...

Richie Norton’s life hasn’t been easy, but he has figured out how to ask the right questions and find he values most and live life to achieve what matters most. (And you can too!) Episode Discussion Points The interesting thing his dad told him when he wanted to get a job as a teenager You can be creative and earn money as an entrepreneur Don’t lose meaning in your life. Spend time doing the thing...

There are times when going to church is hard. So why do we do it? Listen as I share 4 reasons I feel a deeper connection to God when I attend church. Going to Church Bible Verse In Ephesians 4:12 we learn a great reason to go to church, “For the  perfecting  of the saints, for the work of the  ministry , for the  edifying  of the body of Christ.”   4 Reasons I Fe...

Haley used to pray she would die because she was so depressed, but chose life when she had a near death experience. Listen to her share her story of hope and healing. Episode Discussion Points Why they call Anorexia “the 10-Headed Monster.” For her, some of her monsters were low self-esteem, depression, negative self-talk, believing you need diet, being a perfectionist, people commenting on her we...

Last year I was pondering about healing and God taught me some powerful concepts that I want to share with you today. Important Teaching About Healing I Learned Through Revelation The power of Jesus Christ can heal and help remove or release any trauma we experience in this physical fallen world. There are no limits on the healing of the soul or Spirit. There are limits with regards to God’s will...

Tracy Rhoades is an outspoken Christian woman who encourages unity among all Christian sects. We talk about the importance of loving and ministering to each other as we abide in Jesus Christ. Episode Discussion Points As a Christian neighbor sometimes you have no idea how to help others (like when their cows get out) but you go and help anyway. How Traci grew up in a small town attending church an...