The Notice

Are you a creative person who struggles to find a place to contribute to the local church?  Or do you wish more creative things were happening at your church? Join me as I welcome singer, actress, and casting director Anne Miranda, as we talk about the vulnerability creative individuals face, why it's challenging for churches to understand the creative mind, and how ultimately God affirms us.

Have you ever wondered how best to use your talents for God? Do you feel guilty if you don't use them? Is there a difference between talents and gifts? Listen in as we explore how we feel when no one notices our gifts, what the purpose of our gifts are, and ultimately what is eternal. Join me as we discover how God notices us through our talents.

Do you ever wonder if your story is worth telling? Or are you excited to share with the world what God has done?  Join me as I talk with author Sarah de Orlando about her memoir book Love Letters from Poland. We discuss how God blessed her on an extended business trip in Poland, how deep He wants to reach us, and how He touches us in the most intimate of places.  Listen is as we see how her story...

Have you ever had an idea that you thought would make a good book?  Or has God laid something on your heart to write about?  On this episode of THE NOTICE, my husband Dick, who spent many years as a journalist, will actually interview me about the book release of A Firm GRASP, Feeling validated in a notice-me world.  We’ll talk about why I wrote the book, the process, and the upcoming launch parti...

Do you often grumble, whine, and criticize people, situations, or ideas? Does it bring you joy?  With all the negativity surrounding us, is a cure for complaining even possible? Stay tuned for this episode where I welcome Kim Wahl, co-author of the book, The Complaining Cure. We talk about how we can become more aware of our words, develop new attitudes, find freedom from negativity, and take noti...

Have you ever wanted an eyewitness to your life? Or wished you had a fan club?  Since God created us for community, we are naturally propelled to find someone, anyone to take notice of us, to cheer us on. But what if we don’t have a fan club? On this episode of THE NOTICE, we get a sneak peek into one of the chapters in the book, A Firm GRASP about the significance of having a fan club and how God...

Maybe you have wanted to adopt but the financial cost squashed your dream. Or you have a family member who is considering adoption. Join me as I talk with adoptive parent Marcy Bursac, and author of the book, The Forgotten Adoption Option. We talk about what it’s like for children to feel unnoticed, what it’s like for the parent who wants to adopt, and how God takes notice of us through the proces...

Are you experiencing a transition?  Join host Susan Hoekstra as she discusses noticing God in transitions in this special Easter episode.

Do you find yourself in roles where you support others behind the scenes? Sometimes “playing second fiddle” can give us joy unmeasurable, while other times, it can leave us feeling unnoticed. Join me for this episode where I talk with speaker, author, and three-time surrogate mother, Tiffany Jo Baker. We discuss the different supporting roles God has placed her in, the rewards and challenges of be...

Do you ever feel overstimulated?  Do you wish you could just get away from it all, breath in the fresh air, hear the waves, and connect with your senses? Join me on this episode where I discuss our senses and how our culture affects our sense of well-being. We talk a little about self-awareness and how taking notice of God just makes sense. 

Do you believe that Jesus offers us peace, joy, and rest, but struggle to experience those promises?  Is it that God isn’t noticing us or do we find it challenging to trust? Join me as I welcome bible teacher, author, and vodcaster, Angie Baughman. We talk about our struggles to trust God, discover new ways to surrender, and how trusting and noticing go hand in hand.

What would it be like during a pandemic, to have to quarantine four times? Tune in for this episode as I welcome Lisa Ghilardi Hudson, author of the book Finding Blessings While Fighting COVID-19: Facts, Feelings, and Faith during My Quarantines.  We talk about what it was like for her husband to be one of the first people to contract the virus in the state of Washington, the lessons she learned b...

Do you ever long for others to notice you?  Give you the time of day?  Sometimes it feels like nobody sees you at all. The need may be unconscious, but it's still there, especially when we feel unappreciated or have an excessive need for compliments.  It's there every time we feel like we're not good enough. Join us for this episode of THE NOTICE where we talk about what it feels like to be invisi...

Join host Susan Hoekstra for a special Christmas episode where we talk about her favorite Christmas carol and ways we can prepare our hearts for the arrival of Jesus.

In this season of hot topics, do you find yourself walking on eggshells with others regarding political, cultural, or racial views? Or perhaps you find yourself easily offended when others dominate the conversation? Listen to this episode where we talk about awkwardness, communication styles, feelings, and how we can take notice of God when voicing our opinions. 

Are you tired of trying to move past experiences or relationships that have caused hurt or confusion? Do you cringe when someone says "Get Over It" because you're feeling stuck? Tune in for our next episode, as I talk with Sally Livingston, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and author of the new book, GET OVER IT. We discuss what "it" is, the power we have to respond, and how God notices us w...

It is estimated that 50% of all women will experience hair loss in their life.  But what would it be like to be completely bald? Tune in, as we talk with Nekeyta Brunson, esthetician and owner of Uncovered Beauty Studio. We hear about what it was like for her to grow up with alopecia, a condition which causes baldness.  We’ll talk about the insecurities that come with baldness, and how God has hel...

The political culture in our country has become polarized. Even as Christians, we are aligning ourselves more and more with one particular party over another. What if we took notice of how God wants us to engage in the world instead of anchoring our identity on one particular party? On this episode I welcome author Aaron Schafer about his new book The Politically Homeless Christian. We discuss how...

Are you someone who is living with contact physical and mental conditions that limit your productivity? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 20% of US adults are living with chronic pain. Listen in for this episode, where I speak with writer and blogger, Debbie Patrick, who lives with chronic pain. You’ll hear her story, her passion for providing a sanctuary fo...

Do you know someone who lost their job? Losing a job is one of life's most stressful experiences. Perhaps it's you who is struggling, or you're the wife, wondering how to best support your husband through a job loss. Listen in, as we talk about how unemployment feels like a roller coaster, how it affects our feelings of being good enough, and share fifteen different ways to get through unemploymen...

Did you know a sunflower’s is heliotropic? Which means at it's healthiest, it faces the sun. Like the sunflower, we are at our healthiest when we face God. Yet, there are times we try to get from other sources what should rightfully come from God. Listen in on this powerful conversation with Jack Magruder, Executive Pastor at Trinity Church. We talk about those sunflowers, a little about Gideon. a...

Do you know anyone who seems to take messy too far? Perhaps they experience distress when trying to let go of their possessions. Tune in, as we talk with celebrated author Cynthia Ruchti. We discuss her new book, Afraid of the Light, a beautiful story which focuses on the heart breaking issues hoarders face. We learn how God takes notice of us in the mess and how we can live a life hemmed in hope....

Have you taken the time to write someone an email and gotten no response? Or posted an encouraging comment on social media which no one acknowledged? Listen to this episode, where we talk about what it feels like when we're ignored. We hear stories, consider conclusions, and discover new ways to offer mercy. You won't want to miss this episode where we learn how to notice God when feeling ignored....

Are you coasting through life on autopilot without a clear sense of direction? Has society's definition of success left you empty and striving for more? Isn't it time to notice God at His word and step into the life you were created to live? Tune in for this episode where we talk with Lucy Ann Costa-Quattrone, author of the book, Strategic Faith. We discuss the struggles of complacency and how not...

With racial tensions erupting in our country, are you at a loss of what to do? Are you concerned your words may offend? How do we celebrate diversity? Listen in as we hear some racial stories, encourage our brothers and sisters of color through a newly written song, and take notice of three ways we can respond to racial tensions.