Stories of Hope in Hard Times

As a homeless mother of six children, LaTarsha Holden began having dreams that she was speaking to people all over the world. On today’s episode she shares her journey from homeless to PhD and motivational speaker. Episode Discussion Points How she went from being homeless and being squatters living in an abandoned house to getting her PhD. What a pastor told her (that made her mad) and was the ca...

A few weeks ago I had a listener reach out with a question about how she can learn to trust herself after being abused. Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife joins us again to answer this question. Question From a Listener "I was sitting here, going thru some rather rough moments the past few days with this journey of healing from abuse that I'm on, and came upon a question that is really difficult for me....

Can a person with a bipolar disorder live a normal life? Julie didn’t know she had a mental health issue until she was in her late twenties, and once she got help learned to thrive. Episode Discussion Points Changing the World One Story at a Time As a teen she started exhibiting symptoms of Bipolar disorder, but didn’t get diagnosed until her twenties So, Julie got into alcohol, and that is why wh...

The story of my son getting stuck on a boulder has some amazing life lessons and parallels we can draw from it about leaning on God and trusting Him to help us get unstuck. Episode Discussion Points The story of my son Jacob getting stuck on top of a boulder outside of Yosemite National Park. How I saw him and sent my husband to help him down. What my husband did to help him off the ledge How this...

There was a day when the lights seemed to go out in Sara’s daughter, and the struggle for her life began as she battled depression and suicide. She shares the hard lessons learned as she struggled to find God in her extremity. Episode Discussion Points Why she loves to read more than watch movies Why life not turning out the way we expect can be a good thing (but maybe we don’t see it right away)...

Merry Christmas! As my gift to you this holiday season, I wanted to share with you the story of my newest story, A Broken Down Holiday: One Mother's Journey to Finding Christmas Again. Enjoy listening and have a joyful season. #tamarakanderson #storiesofhopeinhardtimes #podcast #hope #God #hardtimes #story #holiday #christmasstory #abrokendownholiday #mary #widow #gifts #merrychristmas #JesusChris...

What do you do when you have a family mystery in your family history? Is there any hope of resolving unsolvable adoptions? Listen to Wendy share the story behind how she became a genetic genealogist. Episode Discussion Points What she does as Vice Chair for the Daughters of the American Revolution, Art/Heritage contest each year. What got her into genetic and forensic genealogy The fascinating sto...

What lessons can we learn from Mary the Mother of Jesus? I have found several which we can apply to our lives today. 5 Lessons from Mary Mother of Jesus These lessons are taken from the Bible in Luke 1:28-44 When we feel troubled, continue trusting in the Lord. God calls ordinary men and women to do extraordinary things. It's okay to talk to God and ask questions. Submit to the Lord with faith. If...

An aneurysm left Jeff paralyzed, but with miraculous perseverance he pushed himself daily to not only walk, but live life to its fullest. Episode Discussion Points As a 5-year-old the aviation bug bit him as he watched planes take off and land You don’t get do-overs in life, so spend time with family and loved ones while you can. Live with no regret. The death of her father and sudden death of his...

Some of the amazing miracles that happened as I felt God guiding me to start a new project--writing a holiday booklet, A Broken Down Holiday. Episode Discussion Points The phone call and invitation to participate in a book signing with Richard Paul Evans which started the process. The idea that popped into my head at the airport of the story I should write. The strict timeline which seemed impossi...

Episode Discussion Points She was born during WWII in Czechoslovakia, and her family escaped to Denmark She immigrated to the United States alone as a 19-year-old A year after she came to California she married her husband and began to mother his two children. They eventually had 4 more children. The day that changed everything when her husband’s airplane went down and he died along with her two l...

Tired of being tempted and not knowing what to do? Today we look at a pattern Jesus used to battle temptation with the truth and see how we can apply it today. Episode Discussion Points Tired of all of the adversary’s increasing temptations Go through the story in Matthew 4:1-11 where Jesus is tempted How Satan says “if” to make us doubt Jesus knew who He was and I’m sure he affirmed it in his min...

Sheldon has battled depression, impulsivity and negative thoughts for many years, and in this episode he teaches tips and tactics to overcome these challenges and replace them with positivity. Episode Discussion Points Some of the fun things he has built with his kids Mythbusting the perfect person/family “Everybody is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” Satan is attacking more frequently C...

Just what do baby chick hatching, a little boy under a blanket and feeling like God is forsaking us have in common? On today’s episode we talk about all three of these and how they teach of a merciful God who wants what is best for us. Episode Discussion Points Story of my son’s Kindergarten teacher having baby chicks hatch in her classroom How my son mimicked what he saw by grabbing his blanket a...

Jessica wasn’t sure why she started having hiccups when she was a teen, but was finally diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. She shares positive lessons learned from her diagnosis and how she grieved the loss of her brother. Episode Discussion Points The new book she is writing about a French Countess in the 1800s who had Tourette Syndrome which will be called “Madamn” This is important to Jessica be...

Justin Anderson shares the story of why choosing a good battle buddy was important while doing “killer push ups” during basic training and how this relates to God and life. Episode Discussion Points Justin shares how during Army Basic Training he had to do “Killer Push Ups” and what that looked like. At first he chose a friend (who was smaller than him) to spot him during Killer push ups, but why...

Lynn Taylor tells about his recovery from a car accident (which nearly derailed him from becoming a fighter pilot) and a heartfelt experience God had with him as he helped one of his sons. Episode Discussion Points The incredible story of how he became a screenwriter and how his story is going to become a movie. The car accident that derailed his dream The miracle that happened for him to be relea...

Do you hate waiting? Today we talk about 9 action steps based in Bible stories that you can take while you wait for God to open a door. 9 Biblical Actions to Take While Waiting Keep Working Pray Be Patient in Suffering Keep the Faith Repent Trust in God’s Timetable Remember Vengeance is the Lord’s Love and Kindness Work on obtaining the characteristics like hope, diligence, peace and purity Psalms...

Reverend Christopher grew up being bullied which morphed into defending and loving all those who are bullied in life—no matter their race, religion or sexual orientation. He is on a mission to raise the love and kindness meter in the world today. Episode Discussion Points How he sees and photographs hearts everywhere in nature. Moving so many times as a kid he experienced bullying and became a def...

How to Cling to Hope with Long-Lasting Trials Have you ever felt discouraged…like you wanted to give up? That whatever trial you have been facing has been long and hard and seems to never end? That you’ve been trying—so very hard to find the solution to your problem…but you can’t seem to figure it out?  What can you do to keep going?   Today I am going to share with you a great story fro...

Teinamarrie dreamed about competing in a Miss America pageant and making a difference in the world. She did both, and teaches us how to love all people—including those who have AIDS and are LGBTQ+. But love must always start within ourselves. Episode Discussion Points Her experience with the Miss America Program How she learned to be elegant (for a tom girl) Why she kept going even when she didn’t...

Have you ever wondered if you always have angels with you? Vinney shares what he has learned about angels, love and agency since his near death experience. Episode Discussion Points Where our spirit guides are beside us, and why we have more than one. Ancestra/Family guide (usually stands on your right) Spirit guides part of your spirit family (stands on your left) Also have guardians and higher g...

When Vinney had an incredible near-death experience, he learned just how much God loves him, and how much he should love himself. Listen as he shares his incredible journey to heaven and back again. Episode Discussion Points How Vinney died and what he saw. The miracle that saved him physically (even though he was dead) The smothering fear he felt when he realized the body he was watching was his...

What do you do when you feel you or someone you love is in a dark place? How do you turn up the light? Episode Discussion Points Story of my husband and I visiting Natural Bridge Caverns near San Antonio, Texas How dark and isolating true darkness feels We all pass through dark times Bible verse John 8:12, "I am the light of the world. He that followeth me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall ha...

Stephanie has battled bulimia, depression and the loss of loved ones in her life. Listen as she shares how leaning on God and family have helped her pull through with faith. Episode Discussion Points Stephanie’s struggle with bulimia as a teen which followed her into adulthood. How she finally talked to her husband about her struggle with bulimia and his response which helped her change—”Let’s do...